Cejanr (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

49

The keerdak landed in the middle of the village square, and Rex slid from its back. Already, Poletecs were noticing their arrival as the others landed nearby. Rex ignored them to help Echo slide from the creatures back. Echo grunted on landing, and his knees buckled. He would have fallen if Rex hadn't slung his arm over his shoulder and took most of his weight.

Echo was still shivering hard, and was cold to the touch even through his gloves. Rex wished he had his kit with him to wrap him up in the blanket from his bedroll, but that was on the ship.

The Poletec leader said something, and once again, Tech stepped forward to translate.

"He says that, while he is impressed with our taming of the keerdaks, we have broken our word and brought the war to his village." Tech said. Anakin looked uncomfortable, but Rex stepped forward, after helping Echo sit.

"Translate for me." Rex told Tech before looking at the Poletec chieftain. "The TechoUnion, who claim they are neutral, are the other residents of this planet. But, in practice, they have broken their claim and chosen a side. We did not wish to bring war to you. But now it has come to this despite our mutual wish to protect your people."

Rex took a deep breath and glanced back at Echo. Echo pressed his thin and cracked lips together, then nodded.

"Look at what they've done to one of ours. One of my people. They took him from us, breaking wartime laws, and experimented on him. They tried to turn him into a weapon against his brothers. We had no say in the war either. We had no say in it coming to this planet. To your village. Now it is time for you to chose a side, and we will do our best to defend your village when the attack comes, whether you side with us or not."

Tech finished translating, and there was a moment of tense silence. Then the Poletec leader spoke. Tech slumped slightly in relief.

"He sees your plight, and will aid you in defending the village. The jedi will always have a friend on Skako." Rex also relaxed, closing his eyes and allowing himself a moment of mental rest before opening them.

"Alright, let's get to work."

They had precious little time to spare, but they managed to get rudimentary defences up. Crosshair took up a position on the ridge, with Anakin and Echo a ledge about halfway up.Rex had given Echo one of his 17s, and hoped the droids never found him. Wrecker and Tech were also up top, stationed another large rock to shove down the mountainside. 

Hunter and Rex marshaled the Poletecs, making sure they were somewhat prepared for the forces that Hunter felt rapidly approaching. All too soon, the warning was sounded. The TechnoUnion was here. And they brought only their finest.

The droids were dumb, and easy enough to take care of. Then came tanks. Rex heard a thunderous rumble behind him and threw himself to the side as the boulder slammed through the village and cleared a path through the rubble. Wrecker was right behind the rock, shooting down any droids he could see that his handiwork didn't take care of. 

A poletec was fighting with their swordlike prefered weapon, and Rex ran over. The poor thing thought he was coming for them, not seeing the squad of droids coming up just out of their line of sight. Rex slid past the taller creature, drawing the fire of the droids while returning his own as he came up in a crouch. 

Instinctively, he and the poletec turned back to back as more droids appeared around them. Despite a technological disadvantage in using a crude blade to a blaster, the poletec seemed to know just where to strike to disable the droids. Working together, they pressed back the droids in the immediate vicinity. 

Rex glanced over his shoulder at the native and gave a nod, not really knowing how else to tell them 'Good job.' He fired at an errant droid over the poletec's shoulder, and this time the native didn't so much as flinch. He said something in that echoey and resonant language his species used before carefully copying Rex's nod, making the clone laugh a little.