Chapter Text
Rex thinks he does his job well. He knows how to corral his men, in and outside of combat. He can be strategic when necessary. He knows how to use his environment to his advantage. He's become an expert at wrangling their General into making some– some , he's not a wizard– reasonable decisions. He can be a leader to follow and he can be a brother to lean on when the moment calls for it. All-in-all, he likes to believe he has a wide range of skills that help him every day.
However… he will admit, he can have gaps in his knowledge. For one thing, he's never been the best of covert operations. He has, to his embarrassment, a tendency to trip over his own feet and cause disruptions. Not the best for being sneaky.
And while he's more than capable of being the person someone leans on as he drags their injured body to the medical tent, he's always struggled with finding the right words when hope is low and despair is festering like a wound. He's never had a way with words– not like Fox or Ponds do. All he can do is hope to emulate them.
Another gap in Rex's knowledge stands right in front of him.
Skinny, and wearing not a single piece of armor, is a young girl.
"Hi! You're Commander Rex, right?" the girl says. She's small, just a cadet really, and if she was a clone Rex would guess her to be around eight years old. Either way, clone or not, she's far too young to be on a battlefield.
"It's actually Captain Rex, Sir," Rex corrects in his politest voice. Commander Tano– she's not a General just yet, since she's a jedi in training– seems friendly enough, but he doesn't want to jump the gun and be overly familiar. Rex and General Skywalker have built up rapport after countless battles together, allowing for the camaraderie they share. It would be nothing short of presumptuous to try and act like that around the new commander.
"Oh– sorry," Commander Tano winces, shoulders hiking up at her own words.
"It's fine, Sir, no harm done," Rex assuages.
"Well, I'm Ashoka Tano, and it's nice to meet you, Captain Rex," the Commander hurries to say, sticking out her hand a bit awkwardly as she tries to cover up her blunder.
Rex accepts the handshake, trying to gentle his grip when he feels just how small her fingers are between his. Yes, they're calloused from wielding a lightsaber, much like the General's, but his hand still easily dwarfs hers.
"Pleasure to have you here, Sir," Rex says, breezing past the mis-ranking, much to the Commander's obvious relief, her posture slumping into something more casual.
"So, my master said that you could show me where everything is?" the Commander asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet and clasping her hands behind her back. She smiles cheerfully. "I don't even know where I'll be staying, Skyguy ditched me as soon as we got back on the Resolute." She rolls her eyes.
Ah. Yes. Rex has already had General Skywalker come to him complaining about that new nickname. Rex has actually heard plenty about Commander Tano despite never officially meeting her. Apparently, she's "snippy."
She reminds him of Fives already.
"I can do that, Sir," Rex says, adjusting his bucket beneath his arm, turning away from the cargo bay of the ship where Rex has been helping direct traffic flow and help take stock of their supplies after their latest battle. "Where would you like to go first? I can take you directly to your rooms or we can head to the canteen to get you some food."
"Food definitely," Commander Tano says with an emphatic nod. "I haven't eaten since I got here."
Rex's hand, raised to call over Dogma to take over the inventory check, pauses mid-motion.
"... Sir, you arrived here yesterday morning."
"Yeah, I'm really hungry."
No wonder General Skywalker dislikes Commander Tano so much. She's basically a tinier and more smiley version of him. Also, Rex is going to strangle the General the next time he sees him for not thinking to feed their new jedi. Isn't that Childcare 101? Not forgetting to feed them? Even the Kaminoans manage that.
Rex finishes the beckoning motion, with a sharp call. "Dogma!"
The trooper hustles over at a light jog. "Sir?" he asks. He glances at their new jedi. "Commander?"
Rex calls back attention to himself by handing over the datapad he's been using. "Take inventory for me, I need to get the Commander to the canteen and then settle her in her new quarters."
Dogma salutes. "Yes, sir. Would you like me to send off the supply requests as well?"
"Send them to me so I can sign off on them."
The last time he didn't look through the supply requests, the troopers managed to sneak in a (denied) request for liquor and candy. He's not dealing with upset natborn Resource Management again if he can help it. It wasted far too many hours of his life that day.
Dogma deflates a bit, thoroughly seen through. "Yes, Rex." He glances at the Commander. "Sir, I mean."
Commander Tano waves a hand flippantly. "No need to be all formal around me," she says. "I'm not going to get upset or anything."
Dogma tilts his bucket differentially. "As you say, Sir."
Commander huffs a bit at the formal address but doesn't push it further.
Dogma excuses himself and Rex turns. "Follow me, Sir. The canteen should be serving dinner right about now."
Ahsoka makes a groan of relief. "Finally! I'm starved."
Rex holds back a snort since he's not wearing his bucket to hide it. "I'm sure you are, Sir." He tilts his head, looking down at the Commander who needs to almost trot to keep up with his longer strides. He slows down incrementally at the sight. "When was the last time you've had water?" he asks, noticing the way she seems to lag, even with her perky mood.
"Uh… I went asking around and got a water bottle from one of the troopers, but I lost it near the end of the battle." She grimaces. "It's been a while."
Did General Skywalker literally do anything to prepare this kid for battle?
Grabbing his own canteen from his hip he offers it up to the Commander as they step into the elevator.
"Thanks," she says with great relief, immediately knocking it back for a long drink.
By the time the elevator doors open and they step out into the hallway, the canteen is back on his hip and empty. Voices echo down the metal halls, idle chatter and laughter making the air feel alive. Troopers in both their blacks and scuffed plastoid are traveling the halls, as they pass they stop to salute their new commander. Commander Tano awkwardly returns the gesture, seemingly uncertain of the proper response.
As they come up to the open doors to the canteen, he stops and holds out an arm before Commander Tano can pass him. She looks up at him curiously, eyebrow raised in a way that looks too much like General Skywalker for them having just met.
"Sir, when you enter a room– like the canteen, the bridge, or the training rooms," Rex says, "A trooper will announce your presence, and everyone will stand and salute."
Commander Tano crosses her arms and frowns. "Um, okay."
Rex withholds a sigh. General Skywalker took to his position of command much more naturally than was expected for a natborn and Rex had to give very little guidance. It seems it will not be the same for the padawan. It's expected, Rex supposes. From what he understands, Jedi get no military training and General Skywalker is a notable aberration.
"When they do this, they can't sit back down until you acknowledge them. Do you know what to do?" he asks.
Commander Tano's crossed arms tighten around her. "Why do we have to do all this formality? Can't we just tell them they don't have to?"
Rex gives his best sympathetic smile. "Sorry, Sir, that's not how troopers work. You'll have to pry military protocol out of their cold dead hands." It's been trained into them since they were decanted. They probably dream about it. Rex knows he has. Not to mention he can't imagine what would happen if a natborn reported them as being 'out of control' or 'disorderly.'
Commander Tano sighs, hands dropping to swing down at her sides despondent. "Fine," she groans. "What do I do?"
"All you need to say is, 'At ease,'" Rex says. "If you want to be formal, you can tack on 'soldiers' or 'troopers' to the end. And you return their salute."
The Commander rocks back onto her heels, still frowning. She looks, for a lack of better word, uncomfortable.
"Just make sure to project your voice, Sir," Rex instructs. "You don't need to yell, but make sure you aren't whispering either."
Commander Tano nods, only looking a little bit more assured.
"Ready to get something to eat then, Sir?" Rex asked, gesturing to the doors.
Taking a fortifying breath, Commander Tano gives a jerky nod, and heads for the doors.
The canteen is loud, as always, with voices of vode bouncing off the walls mixing with the sound of metal eating utensils against metal trays. The tables are separated evenly and filled to the brim with recently off-duty soldiers. Some tables are rowdy, with friendly shoving prevalent and faces pulled into laughter and grins. Other tables are calm as cards are held with one hand and they eat with the other. And some tables are quiet, heads bowed and food eaten slowly as the deaths of their brothers linger heavily on their shoulders and minds. No large battles are without consequence.
Within moments of their entrance, a trooper is leaping to his feet with a salute.
"Commander in the canteen!"
Rex places a hand on Commander Tano's shoulder when he sees her hand twitch and her mouth open to preemptively speak.
The troopers leap to their feet, hands snapping up in a salute as a chorus of, "Sir!" rings through the air. Once the echo has died down, he squeezes the bony shoulder beneath his fingers. Commander Tano swallows, gathers herself, and speaks with a surprisingly steady voice.
"At ease," she says, giving a strong salute. It's at the wrong angle, and her fingers are crooked, but her confidence makes up for it. He makes a note to himself to teach her the correct form later.
The soldiers, acknowledged, slowly sit back down and go back to their cards, conversations, and grief. The volume returns to its previous levels.
The Commander lets out a soft sigh of relief, hand dropping back down.
"Good job, Sir," Rex congratulates, dropping his own hand.
Commander Tano sends him a smug grin, chest puffing up with pride. "I know," she says, hands popping onto her hips. Oh yeah, she's a perfect match for General Skywalker. She's practically a mirror image, just with an extra helping of sass on the side.
Both of them grab a tray and get in line, and Rex can't help but laugh at the face she makes when she sees their food options. It's only when Rex and the Commander have commandeered the end of one table for themselves that she leans forward and says to him in a low voice, "Is this really what you guys eat? All the time?" She pokes her spoon into vegetable mush.
"Unfortunately, yes," Rex confirms. "Sometimes when we're docked on a planet we can get some better food, but that never lasts long and this is the clone standard."
Commander Tano scowls but it quickly fades into a tired frown. She eats and doesn't make a complaint about the taste, but it must be palatable enough because she doesn't grimace or wince. "I'm gonna have to ask Skyguy for extra food or something," she says, plopping her face into one of her hands as she spoons the vegetable mush into her mouth.
"Is the food that bad, Sir?" Rex asks. He supposes it's a rather large change from what she's used to eating, but surely it's not that inedible to her. She's not gagging or looking sick.
Commander Tano looks to the side, watching absently as a trooper wins a game of slapjack with uproarious laughter and teasing. "No, but Togruta," she points to herself with her spoon, "Need more meat than humans. I'll get sick if I don't get a certain amount."
That… would certainly pose a problem. Troopers tend to survive on bean-mush and protein bars. Meat is a rarity in the canteen, and usually only lasts about a week if they do happen to get a shipment of it.
"We'll figure something out, Sir," Rex promises. "Until then, I'm sure we can make a pit stop to pick up some for you."
Commander Tano sends him a grateful smile. Now that she's sitting down and eating, the last two days seem to be catching up to her and her body is slumping forward, nearly dropping into her food as she eats. Her hand shakes as it shovels the food, and the hand bracing her head wobbles beneath its weight. She looks properly exhausted, her skin covered in dirt and scrapes, even the white color of her lekku is dampened by the grime that clings to her.
Eyeing the scrapes that he can see on her exposed arm, Rex speaks up. "Tomorrow, I'd like to take you to the armory if you're willing, Sir."
She gives him a slightly blank, slightly confused look over a spoonful of veggie mush.
"Sir." Rex thinks of a way to put this delicately. "You aren't fitted with armor, supplies, or anything at all. It'd be best if we get you kitted out as soon as possible."
Commando Tano puffs up. "I have my lightsaber!" she defends.
Rex fixes the Commander with a look he reserves for stubborn shinies. "Sir. You wore a tube top. Into battle. Just one blaster bolt and you would've been out for the count." He speaks again before Commander Tano can protest. "One stray bolt and you could lose an arm, Sir."
Commander Tano groans, and slumps backwards, pushing her empty tray forward. "But armor's so heavy."
"You get used to it," Rex says. "Anyways. I just got you as a Commander, I'd rather keep you for a little while longer."
Commander Tano sighs. "If you insist."
Rex exhales sharply. "I do, Sir." He glances at both their empty trays and stands up. "Ready to head to your quarters, Sir?"
Commander Tano nods. "Yes, yes, yes," she exclaims with blatant exhaustion. "I can't wait to take a sonic. I think there's dirt in my pants."
Rex barks out a surprised laugh. "I bet there is, Commander. I'll show you the way to your bunk so you can get that fixed."
She smiles. "Much appreciated, Rex."