Cuyanir (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

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Rex stared off into the distance as three starfighters launched. He had told them that he couldn't help them when they got caught. Shaking his head, he turned back to taking inventory. He already knew he would do everything in his power to help them. Krell was coming. He threw open the doors to the inventory, and stormed over to Rex.

"My deck officer tells me that three starfighters were just launched. I thought I ordered those fighters to be locked down. Explain." Rex flinched at the general's volume, and turned to face him. 

"I authorized a recon of the delta in preparation for the attack on the capital. I thought it would us an advantage on the missiles." Rex sighed. Krell turned several shades of blue and green, his face pale with rage. 

"You took it under your own authority to launch such a reconnaissance?" He growled, his voice lowering to a deadly soft tone. Rex refused to back down this time, staring the general in the eyes. He didn't care if he saw it as a challenge.

"Oh, yes sir." He said evenly, keeping his tone as light as possible. "I'm sure the report will make your strategy more... effective." Krell growled, and shoved him back a few steps. 

"I. want. that. report. As soon as they are back." He snarled, and marched out with out any indication of dismissal.  Rex stepped out and nearly ran into Tup and Dogma. Dogma... 

"Where are you two going?" He asked, looking them up and down, trying to act like he didn't already know. Tup and Dogma looked at eachother, but stayed quiet. 

"I asked you a question, troopers." He barked. Tup took a step back from him.

"We... we wanted to speak with the general, sir." Dogma's voice was tight. 

"Regarding what." Who's a bad actor Cody? he forced himself to keep a straight face. 

"A... personal matter." Dogma looked away from Rex, suddenly finding the concrete floor to be very interesting.

"Why don't you tell me," Rex started, "And I'll report it to the general." Dogma looked uncomfortable, and Tup stepped in. 

"On second thought, it's not important." His mouth twisted. Rex nodded. 

"That's what I thought." Rex scowled, and the two troopers walked back to the barracks. He rubbed at his eyes tiredly. He finished the inventory, he had finished his perimeter checks. He wanted a nap. He turned and followed the troops back to the barracks. Dogma already left, but Tup stayed to wait for him. 

"I tried, sir. I honestly tried to protect them." He apologized. Rex looked at the shiny. 

"I know you did." Suddenly, there was a loud boom from the sky above. Rex and Tup turned to look at where it had come from, where there were a mass of fireworks as two little fighters streaked away and came to settle back down in the hanger. Two fighters. Rex's smile vanished as he ran to Jesse and Fives. They both looked grim. 

"Hardcase did it." Fives said. He looked slightly shell-shocked. "He blew up the ship." Rex helped them out of the fighters. He heard the whir of a door, and found Appo and two other officers standing there. 

"General Krell would like to see them in the tower." Appo's voice was even and emotionless. Rex nodded, and motioned to the two troops behind him. They followed Appo to the tower. 

"You wanted to see them... Sir?" Rex asked, his blood pounding in his ears. 

"Indeed." Krell's voice was surprisingly calm. It was even scarier than if he had yelled or snarled at them. "It seems they have accomplished a very brave act." Rex tensed. "Unfortunately, they've also committed a serious crime, by directly disobeying my order." There was the snarl. Rex took a deep breath to calm himself, and stepped forward. 

"With all due respect, sir, the order to attack the cargo vessel was mine." Rex's voice shook in the slightest, betraying his fear. "If there was a punishment to be given, it should be directed towards me." His voice lost the tremble as he attempted to take the punishment. "i'm their commanding officer."

Fives didn't like what Rex was trying. "General, Sir, Captain rex is attempting to take the blame for actions that were solely mine. I knew what the consequences were, but the supply ship had to go down."

"Fives!" Rex gritted out. Fives had stopped listening. 

"I request that his admission of guilt be denied and full blame placed on me." Fives snarled. 

"Oh, do you?" Krell's lip twitched. "You intentionally countered a direct order. And now you have the audacity to ask who should bear the punishment of your insurrection!" Krell showed Fives back a step.  "Let me be clear on the punishment for treason committed by ARC 5555 and CT 5597." Krell lowered his face to Rex's, getting so close that he could smell the besilisk's foul breath on his cheek. "They will be courtmarshaled. They will be tried. And they will. be. executed." His yellow eyes were brighter than normal, like the prospect of killing the troops delighted him. Rex leaned back away from him, trying to avoid the spittle that flecked his face. "Make no mistake. They will pay the price for crossing me."

Krell turned away and stared out the window. Appo came and cuffed them before removing their chest and back plates, leaving them all but half naked in their blacks. He tore the two pauldrons from Fives's shoulders and cuffed them, dragging them away to the hold.

Rex stood there stunned. After a moment, he walked up behind the repulsive general. "Sir, I respectfully request that you reconsider the courtmarshal of Fives and Jesse." He asked, trying to sound meek. 

"The actions of ARC 5555 and CT 5597 were a clear act of treachery and disregard for my command." Krell said, all trace of ange gone from his voice. "If punishment isn't swift, their defiance might inspire others to follow suit. You're right captain." Krell turned and placed a hand on his shoulder in what seemed to be a bizarre display of almost affection. "I don't think I can wait for the formal courtmarshal. I will have them executed immediately. Thank you Captain, for bringing that up." 

"Sir?"

"Dismissed. The execution of the traitors will occur at 0600 hours tomorrow."  Krell turned back to the window. 

"Yes, sir." Rex nodded his head. Good soldiers follow orders. He had a massive headache. He marched out of the command center tried to make his way as quietly as possible to get to the detention level. He found Jesse and Fives's cell, and stepped in cautiously. 

"What's the word, ori'vod?" Fives asked. Jesse was flopped nearby and tapping on the floor to annoy the umbaran prisoner beneath them. Rex blew out a short breath. 

"I'm sorry, Fives. I tried everything, even begging for the general to reconsider." He hung his head.

"Rex?"

"He decided you were too dangerous to live. You will face a firing squad tomorrow at 0600 hours." Rex said, sinking to his knees. His eyes were hot and prickly, he wanted to cry. Fives put a hand on his shoulder. 

"You did what you could, Ori'vod. I knew what he would do as soon as he got ahold of us. I would do it again, no hesitation." Fives sat next to Rex, who leaned against the wall. The cell door was open, but neither of the prisoners made a move towards it. "When I die, I die knowing that the capital has no arms shipments, that you guys can take it. I die knowing my life helped ensure the capture of Umbara." Jesse nodded his assent. Funny, these were the men who had less than twenty four hours to live, and they were consoling Rex about the fact that they will die. It felt like it should be the other way around. 

Finally, he had to go. "I'm sorry, Euk Vode. I will find a way to fix this. I promise." Rex backed out of the cell and the blue plasma shield flickered back to life. Fives gave him a sad smile. He watched the two as long as he could, the elevator taking him up and up until they were small dots against the blue. The prickly heat in his eyes was gone. Krell would pay for making him kill his brothers. One way or another, he would pay. 

Rex left to gather all of the brothers who loved Fives the most. He had a disloyal firing squad to get together. 

A/N ~ Almost forgot. Anyways, the Rexsoka reunion is close! Poor Rex, he needs a hug. Thanks for the reads!