Decoy (Rex)

2: Captain Rex

Her eyes travelled up and down his body, analyzing him for any signs of weakness. She took in the lines around his eyes and the markings on his helmet, which was resting in the floor.

"Captain Jaig," she guessed, hoping she was right.

"Wrong."

"I was joking," she breezily said. "I obviously know your name."

"Then what's my name?" He asked, not moving an inch.

"Fine!" She gave up, throwing her hands in the air. "I do not know your name."

"You're under arrest!" He declared and motioned for her to step forward.

She stood from her seat and glided toward him, her skirts falling to the floor. He let his guard down slightly, thinking he'd won, and she struck.

She grabbed his wrist and twisted, making him drop the blaster. She caught it before it hit the carpet and held it up at his face.

"Impressive," he commented.

The sleeve of her dress had rolled up marginally, revealing a tattoo that peeked out from underneath. He looked at it, but before he could really tell what the symbol was, she shook her arm, making the sleeve roll back down.

"Now, you can't tell anyone that I am not actually Padmé," she threateningly said. "Do you swear?"

"No," he answered. "I serve under her hus... a man who would want to know. I can't just keep that secret from him."

"Then you will die," she said and held the blaster up to his chest, right at his heart.

She hesitated, not wanting to kill an innocent person, but it was either him or her.

"Wait!" He said. "Why don't you tell me who you are, and where Senator Amidala is, and I might let you walk out of here, free."

Free.

"I am a Nobody," she huffed. "And I don't know where she is."

"No one is nobody," he raised an eyebrow. "And why are you masquerading as her if you don't know where she is?"

"I can't tell you that," she sighed. "Who are you?"

"I am Captain Rex of the 501st legion," he proudly stated. "I serve under General Skywalker and Commander Tano."

"All I can tell you is that Padmé instructed me to do this," she said. "That is all."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Rex questioned.

"She figured one person would figure it out, so she left a note in case it happened," she slid her hand into the folds of her dress, showing him a slip of paper. "Here is her note, explaining that she chose me to act as her while she is gone."

Rex read it and handed it back to her. "Why did she have to leave?"

"She wouldn't tell me," she shrugged.

"Why did she pick you?" Rex inquired. "What about her handmaidens?"

"They went with her," she told him. "And I guess she picked me since I look like her. We've never met before. She found me on the streets and told me this was what I must do."

"Fine," Rex reluctantly said. "I will allow you to continue with your charades."

She sighed in relief. "Thank you."

"What's your name?" Rex asked as she handed him her blaster back.

"981," she said.

Rex furrowed his brow. "A number?"

She bristled. "You're a clone. Don't you have a number?"

"But I have a name too," Rex reminded her. "Are you a clone?"

"No, I'm not a clone," she shook her head. 

"Then what are you?" Rex asked and put his blaster back at his waist.

"I am a Nobody," she bitterly said. "Now leave me, I have guests coming tomorrow, and I must pretend to be someone I've never met."

"I know the senator fairly well. I can always help you," Rex offered. "I can teach you about what she's like, and pose as your guard. Since this is important to her, I'll help."

"Thank you!" She gushed. "I'd like that very much!"

He smiled kindly at her. "It'll be my pleasure to help with something so important that doesn't involve shooting clankers."

"Clankers?" She repeated.

"Droids," Rex explained.

She sat back down, and checked to make sure her tattoo was hidden.

"We need to give you a real name," Rex decidedly said. "A number isn't a name. All of my brothers would agree with me on that."

"Alright," she agreed. "Any ideas?"

"It's your name," Rex chuckled. "You think of something."

She thought about it for a while before shrugging. "I can't think of anything."

"Ranov'la?" Rex proposed. "It fits you."

"I don't know that word," she frowned. "Is it in another language?"

"It's Mando'a," Rex told her. "It means secret."

She considered it for a moment. "I like it. Thank you, Rex."

"You're welcome," Rex said.

"When can you help me? I now you're busy with the war, but I really don't know anything about senate life, or Padmé," Ranov'la hopefully asked.

"Actually, we're on break while Anakin has some Jedi stuff to do," Rex said. "I'll be here for a while. I mean, not in this room, just on world."

"Great!" Ranov'la cheered. 

She got up and went to the refresher, and wiped her face clean of the makeup that made her look even more like Padmé. She returned, feeling much better without the itchy powder covering her face.

Rex took in her features, her features, not Padmé's.

Her lips were thinner than Padmé's, and her eyes had a bit more green in them. Her hair was a bit curlier, but was tied back and tucked behind a hood, that had fallen off.

"Do you want to have a tour of the senate first, Ran?" Rex asked.

"Ran?" Ranov'la snorted. "Is that supposed to be a nickname?"

"I'll find a better one," Rex grumbled.

"And I've already gotten a tour from one of the handmaidens as she told me what I was to do," Ranov'la said. "I'd like to have some sleep if that's alright. It's been a long day."

"Alright," Rex walked toward the door. "I'll see myself out."

"Goodbye, Rex," Ranov'la waved. "See you tomorrow morning?"

"See you tomorrow morning," Rex confirmed.

Then he was gone.

Mando'a translations:

Ranov'la~~~~~ Secret

She has a name now!