Taken off the Leash Part 2 By Mark Stise Rex and War Dog exited Anakin’s chambers inside the Jedi temple. “I’ll stay here at the command center and feed you all the current reports we have.” “Yeah... fine…” War Dog sneered as the two clones walked back toward the landing by. The Timber Wolf Commander was about to ask Rex for permission to vent his anger. This whole situation with Commander Tano was eating away at the clone’s insides. But Rex seemed to know; he always knew what was on his friend’s mind. “Sound off, Timber Wolf!” “This is wrong, Rex, I can’t believe someone like Commander Tano could kill any clone or be responsible for what happened here in the Jedi Temple. We should be in the Outer Rim blast’en Clankers.” Then War Dog paused, “Not hunting one of our own.” And it was War Dog who seemed to know from the concerned look on his Battalion C.O. face. Rex had to be wondering if he complete the task assigned to him. “I’ll complete my mission sir.” Then he turned away, “That doesn’t mean I have to like it…” **** War Dog was on a speeder bike heading for the lower levels. If Rex’s intel was right, Ashoka was somewhere in or around the level 1300. Alone with his thoughts the former Arc officer’s mind wondered to a time not long ago. When he and Rex had it out when it came to pulling solo missions. ****Flashback just 2 months earlier.**** War Dog stormed down the halls of the Resolute itching for a fight, he clinched his fists together and clenched his teeth. He had his fill with Rex pushing his reasonability off on Gunther. He walked up to his battalion C.O. ‘s quarters and knocked on the door. “Come!” Rex said from inside and looked to see who it was as the door opened. He was still packing from the upcoming mission as War Dog walked inside. “War Dog.” He nodded to his led company commander. “Off on another mission, Rex?” The clone said as he walked up to the table where Rex’s helmet was. He rubbed the outline of the Jaig eyes that were painted on his C.O.’s helmet with his gloved hand. A decal like this was only awarded to clones for extreme heroism and bravery. Rex had been one of only a select few Captains to be placed in charge of his own battalion. “Yes… Gunther will be in change while the General and I are away.” Rex said casually he was more concerned with getting ready and he was sure given War Dog’s former ARC status he could keep a secret. “Yeah… Gunther is always put in change.” The Timber Wolf Commander snapped. “Now War Dog, you’ve only been Captain a short time and can’t put you in charge of the battalion.” Rex snickered. “What are you talking about?” War Dog snapped. Rex knew that insubordinate tone and glared at his officer. “You got a problem…Captain?” “Yes sir I do.” The clone glared back, “I left the ARC’s because I wanted back to being a ground pounder. I don’t run off on missions with Jedi! And I don’t shirk my responsibility by passing it off to a Company Commander every chance I get!” Rex had enough, “Now you get this straight Captain, if the General needs me then that is all there is to it. I don’t really care if you like it or not! That is NOT your decision to make, are you reading me?” Rex glared back at War Dog and when he saw the expression of anger on the clone’s face. “You’re dismissed Captain!” “Sir…Yes…Sir.” War Dog turned and walked out of his friend’s quarters. ‘Just who did Rex think he was talking to?’ War Dog said to his self as he began walking down the hall. He more than anyone knew what it was like to try and make the adjustment from special operations back to regular fieldwork. It was clear to him that Rex was missing those days. Even as an ARC Trooper War Dog didn’t have the clearance necessary to look at the mission on Rex performance records that earned Rex not only his Jaig eyes, but a prominence of holding the rank of Captain and put in command of his own battalion. The more the Timber Wolf commander thought about it the angrier he became. “NO!” He said clinching his fist and stormed back to Rex’s quarters. It had to be said. It had to be done. Just like himself, he left Special Operations to become a grunt. He was sure Rex’s was missing those days, but he had no right to keep abandoning his men. The clone stormed back. It had to be said. And it had to be done. He pounded on Rex’s door. “WHAT?!” Rex opened the door and yelled at War Dog. “I have had enough with you.” War Dog poked Rex in the chest hard enough to push him back. “You are going to listen and you are going to listen real good!” The clone poked him three more times forcing his way into the room. “When I was a Shiny I would have jumped into a Sarlacc pit with a Thermol in each hand if I thought it would impress you!” War Dog motioned with his arms and leaned closer to Rex purposely intruding on his battalion commander’s space. “But lately all you seem to do if run off to the Twilight with the General. You leave Gunther in change of the Battalion and forget about your men.” The Timber Wolf Commander snarled at Rex his temper was ready to explode. “So tell me, what happens if we get attacked by the Seppie fleet? Or we’re called away on a mission? Do you think Gunther can do what you can? Does he have your tactical sense? But you wouldn’t know BECAUSE IF WE WERE EVER CALLED ON A MIISSON YOU WONT BE HERE. WHY? BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GO OFF ON SOME SOLO MISSION AND PLAY WITH THE JEDI! The first thing you taught me about being a good leader was caring about your men! YOU SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT RULE!” War Dog vented his anger that had been building for some time. Rex sneered his temper was now equally angry, he grabbed War Dog by is chest plate and pauldon and using his feet to swept the legs out from under the disrespectful officer. The Timber Wolf Commander landed hard on his back. “Now you listen, and you listen good. You had better make sure this comes in that thick skull of your’s real clear because I am only going to say this to you once. Don’t you ever, and I mean EVER tell me that I put my troopers second to anyone! You above all people. Have you forgotten your less then perfect past?” Rex looked at War Dog who was lying under him and in a defensive posture, but never dare throw a punch. “GET...OUT!” War Dog walked down the halls, what had he done? He had broken nearly seventeen army regulations if not more. He pissed off the one person that was ever there for him. Any friendship or closeness that he and Rex shared was now destroyed thanks to his bad temper. War Dog had only been promoted to Captain less the six weeks. Now he had all but thrown it all away. No amount of saying I’m sorry would undo what had just happened between him and Rex, the clone he idolized when he as a rookie trooper. He walked into the Timber Wolf barracks at looked at his second in command. “Clear the men out Bull, I need time to myself.” As his men filed out of the barracks War Dog took his helmet and smashed it against the wall over and over again venting all then hostility out before collapsing on to a trooper’s bunk. He felt lost as he leaned forward and ran his fingers through his hair. ****End of Flashback**** War Dog pulled up to a local sweet shop and got himself a cup of caff and something to eat. The owner obliged eagerly after all having a clone here was like having added security free of charge. The Timber Wolf Commander recalled how he stood at attention in front of Rex’s office door even before the sentry was supposed to be on duty. War Dog remembered how Rex never looked up at him as he entered his office and after letting him stand outside for a while before calling him into his office. The clone smiled to himself as he drank his caff and eat the pastry and remembered how he offer Rex no explanation for his action. No excuse for his conduct, only a heartfelt apology. War Dog told Rex that his actions were unworthy of a Republic Officer, a Trooper of the Grand Army of the Republic and a clone of the 501st. He would freely accept any punishment, disciplinary action of incarceration that Rex saw fit to impose on him. War Dog would ask for no mediator, advocate or anyone to stand with him in his defense. Rex looked at him and was just as gracious, War Dog was willing to allow Rex to end his career right then and there. His reputation would be ruined, but as humbled and sincere as his led infantry commander was Rex showed that he could still be gracious. Both their tempers were flying that night, and if War Dog promised not to speak of act that way again. Then Rex was willing to look the other way and pretend as if the incident never happened in the first place. War Dog smiled as he sat in the shop and remembered, the bond between him and Rex grew that day. Clones were all brothers, and the term brother was used generally as a sign of great respect or meaning. Just as Tup and Fives were the best of friends… brothers. War Dog and Rex were also. The former ARC leaned back in his chair and thought about his mission and the men he lost not even two weeks earlier. He hated having to bring Commander Tano in. But he had his orders. This…. Would be is last mission in special ops. He knew if he explain it to Rex he would understand. War Dog had to be what he was bred for. He used to think being like battalion C.O. was the best way to show his thanks. But War Dog knew at this very moment he was a Grunt and a good one. There was nothing wrong in being a simple infantry clone. This was what he was and what he would remain until the end of the war. War Dog stayed inside the shop as two figures walked by. One was a tall and lanky female the other short female wearing a cloak to cover the horns of a Togruta. War Dog could not believe his luck, they had simply walked right past the widow he was looking out of. “Well, well, what do you know.” The taller female ran ahead as if looking to make sure the way was clear. Please post comments on how or if you like the story Joanne Beck Wicker Man Erin Gaffney Rachel Lee Steve Welnicke James AntoineDarren Elliott Domminik Elliott
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:37:58 +0000
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