Chapter Text
Anakin knew that his presence in the force was overwhelming. He also knew that his Captain’s presence in the force was small, and hidden. Obi-wan had once compared the large contrast between them to a man screaming at the top of his lungs under a spotlight and another standing quietly in a dark corner. Between that and the fact that Anakin was a Jedi general and Rex was a clone captain, Rex tended to be overlooked when he was standing next to Anakin. So, it came as a bit of a shock when Anakin, Obi-wan, and Rex had a run-in with Count Dooku, and Dooku addressed Rex first.
“Captain, how kind of you to join the Generals here, they could certainly use someone competent to back them up,” Dooku mocked.
“Dooku,” Anakin began, “You won’t-”
“Skywalker, was I speaking to you, or the Captain?” Dooku interrupted.
Anakin looked deeply offended by the lack of attention.
“Captain,” Dooku addressed Rex again, “You really are wasting your talents with the Republic.”
Rex remained silent. He wasn’t sure why Dooku was addressing him and not with of the Jedi with him, but he assumed it was some kind of trick. After everything that had happened after Umbara, Dooku must know that Rex wouldn’t betray the Republic, so why act this way? Greeting him like an old friend, claiming he had talent? One look at Anakin gave Rex his answer. He was just trying to rile up the General, and it was working. Before Rex or Obi-wan had the chance to stop him, he’d attacked Dooku.
“Anakin!” Obi-wan scolded, jumping into battle with him, “I thought we agreed we’d wait to engage!”
Rex, with practiced ease, ignored the bickering of the generals. He backed away from the fight, finding a place to stay while he took a shot at Dooku. The Sith, while he was holding his own against the two Jedi, was fully distracted by them. He wouldn’t notice Rex until it was too late… assuming Rex made the shot. If he missed, attention would be directed to him once again, and he’d loose the advantage.
So, he thought to himself, just make the shot.
He hit Dooku on the right side of his chest.
The Sith crumbled to the ground. Anakin and Obi-wan froze.
“Nice shot!” Anakin turned to face Rex as Obi-wan went to check on Dooku.
Then, just as Obi-wan was approaching, Dooku opened his eyes and flung both Jedi into the wall with the force, knocking them out cold.
Kark.
“Did you know, Captain,” Dooku paused to stand up, “That unlike your Jedi, I were armor under these robes?”
Dooku felt at the blaster shot, then grinned.
“A higher power shot may have killed me,” Dooku said, “But you didn’t use one. Perhaps, Captain, you were scared of hitting one of them?”
Rex stayed silent, glancing in between the injured Jedi and the Sith. Dooku ignited his lightsaber.
“I suggest you put down the blasters, Captain,” Dooku said smoothly.
Rex knew he couldn’t fight a Sith Lord by himself. That was absurd. So, he lowered his blasters and dropped them on the floor, keeping eye contact with Dooku the whole time.
“Good,” Dooku said menacingly, “I hope you continue to be cooperative; it will make this whole experience much easier. Though, I can’t say I expect cooperation, given our little history.”
“What do you want with them?” Rex demanded.
“Straight to business, I suppose,” Dooku sighed, “I want nothing from your Jedi. I simply wanted to make you an offer.”
Rex scrunched his nose, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, but allowed Dooku to continue.
“I have seen your tactics in action, Captain, and I’m impressed,” Dooku said slyly, “I’ve studied the operations of the 501st. Many of your General’s tactics are good, of course, but they’re nearly suicide missions. Yours are effective, safer, almost genius, I’d say.”
“Get to the point,” Rex glared at him.
Dooku grinned.
“How would you like to be a General?”