BATTLE SCARS [✓]

× Chapter Forty-Three: Farmer's Deed ×

"How is he, Kix?" Mal asked when both herself and Jesse returned back. "I can't tell. I need to remove his armor to see the full extent of the damage."

Mal panted heavily, looking around, hoping to find someone around or at least find some kind of shelter. "Wait, those animals.."

"They're domesticated." Jesse finished both of them looking at each other. "It has to be a farm."

"And when there's a farm-" "There's usually a farmer." Mal nodded, looking to Kix. "Alright, Kix, take Rex on your speeder. Let's find the homestead for this farmer."

"You got it." Kix acknowledged, both himself and Hardcase helping the Captain up to his feet and laying him on the cot connected to Kix's speeder. "Alright, let's get moving before anything else happens."

-
Mal and the others approached a house, nodding to Jesse confirming it was the Farmer's home. Just as she came to a stop, a Twi'lek woman appeared at the door, aiming a gun at Mal, making her raise her hands.

"We want no trouble here." She said, Mal nodded slowly. Jesse brought his speeder to a stop as well beside her. "Easy with that weapon, ma'am. We're here as friends." Jesse said, while slowly taking off his helmet.

"State your business."

"Please, our Captain's been hurt. We need-"

"I'm no doctor. So just-"

"We have a medic, miss. We just need a place to tend him overnight." Kix explained, Mal immediately hearing rushing footsteps and saw two small children running out of the door.

"Mommy, who's-?"

"Get back inside, both you."

"Oh, Mom." The kids went back inside, Mal smiling slightly under her mask as she watched. "Look, there are some benches out back in the barn. It's the best I can do." The woman said, pointing to her barn.

"That'll be fine, ma'am. Thank you." The woman nodded, about to head back inside her home, until she looked at Mal's belt, seeing her lightsaber. "You're a Jedi?"

"Padawan. Um..I hope that isn't a problem." Mal mumbled, looking from her lightsaber to the woman. The woman shook her head hesitantly. "No..not at all."
-

"What? What happened?" Rex asked, looking up to see Kix and Mal hovering slightly over him. "Commando droids took a potshot that would've gone straight through your heart had it been two inches to the left." Hardcase explained.

"I can't move my arm." Rex said, trying to lift his left arm. "You have some nerve damage." Mal mumbled, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"Understood. Now patch me up and let's get on with it." Rex said, mainly to Kix, while sitting up from the table, making Mal and the others look at each other. "You don't get it, Rex. You're in no condition to go anywhere."

"Commander Trek is right, sir. It will heal, but it'll take time." Kix explained, Rex looking back glaring at him."We're getting under way, Kix. That's an order."

"Sir, as the team medic when it comes to the health of the men, including you, I outrank everyone. So I respectfully order you, sir, to get some-" Kix was interrupted by a throat clearing and the five looked over, seeing the woman from earlier standing a few feet away with a plate of fruit in hand.

"Excuse me. If there's not enough-" She began, Jesse cutting her off respectfully with a raise of his hand. "That's plenty. Thank you, um.."

"Suu." The woman replied, before seeing a dark figure race past her and Mal looked down, seeing the little girl from earlier that had ran outside when they arrived. "I told you to stay in the house."

"I couldn't help it, Mom. It got away. You look like my daddy." The little girl said making Mal look at Rex with wide eyes and an amusing look in her eye.

"Wha-?" Rex's glare tightened when he looked at Mal and all she could do was cough to cover up her laugh.

"Shaeeah. Don't bother the soldier. Now get inside with your brother." The woman, Suu, said before the little girl slightly groaned. "Yes, Mom."

"My husband is away delivering our first harvest. Do you require anything else?"

"No. Thank you, Suu." Suu nodded, walking out of the barn and leaving the others to still look at him with an amusing face.

"Resume the search without me. Jesse, you're in command. I'll be fine." Rex said in defeat, Mal's smile slowly disappearing hearing the disappointment in Rex's voice.

"Commander, I think it's best you stay here." Kix said after handing Rex his blaster. "Yeah, probably. I trust that Suu and the family will look out for him till tomorrow, but..I get this feeling like something's gonna happen."

"I do too. Watch out for him?" Mal nodded, tapping her lightsaber at her hip. "You got it."

Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase walked out of the barn, leaving Mal to prop herself up on a stack of straw nearby, watching over Rex. "I'm sorry, Rexter."

"For what?"

"I should have noticed the shot. I should have noticed it and maybe you wouldn't be injured right now." Mal explained, swing her legs lightly. "No. You couldn't have noticed. Those droids tend to hide themselves good."

"Yeah, well, you shouldn't be disappointed for getting benched."

"I'm not."

"Please. I may be a Jedi, but I don't need to read minds to know when someone's stuck in the mud, and you, my friend, you're stuck in the mud and I'm trying pull you out. Those men are just trying to make sure you get better. That's it. So, this isn't really benched, more like a 'I broke my leg and it needs a few weeks in a cast' situation." Rex looked up, seeing the girl shrug with a nod, letting him know that she was serious and looked away.

"Why did you stay behind?"

"As stubborn as you are, someone's gotta make sure you don't lose your marbles." Mal joked, making Rex scoff. "I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm just joking, Rexter. Master Kenobi would have wanted me to stay anyway, considering Grevious is out there and I could get hurt like the last time we encountered him." Mal explained, fiddling with her hands. "Get some rest, Rex. I'll be here."

Rex nodded, resting his head back down on the table he laid on and fell into a deep yet uncomfortable sleep.