"So, " said Rex, his gaze lazily intent as she turned her attention back to him. "What's our General up to?" It was such a simple question, and yet she couldn't answer it. Not only because of security, but because her throat was suddenly closed tight with fear. Rex leaned forward. "Little'un?" "I'm sorry, " she said, gulping. "I can't tell you. " He exchanged glances with Coric. "But he's in trouble?" Mute, she nodded, then realized her hands were clutched tight and sweaty in her lap. Any second now she was going to cry. Stang. "He's been in trouble before, " said Coric, trying to sound a lot more confident than he felt. "He'll get out of it. He always does. " "He always has, " she corrected him. "But this time... " "You know where he is?" said Rex, fiercely frowning. She nodded. "And you-we-can't go in after him?" She shook her head. "Ever?" said Coric, taken aback. "Or just not yet?" "I-I don't know, " she whispered. "Please, you can't say anything to anyone. This has to stay between us. " "Don't worry, " said Rex, and dragged a hand down his face. "Stang. " Torrent Company was so cheerful. It broke her heart to see them laughing, teasing, roughhousing, as though they didn't have a care in the world. Because if they knew what she knew... Rex sat back, pretending he wasn't upset. "What have you seen, Ahsoka? What's the Force shown you?" She was under strict instructions never to discuss how the Force was getting harder and harder to read. She mustn't mention it even to Rex and Coric, whom she trusted with her life. Of course, this once she didn't have to lie. She hadn't seen anything, though she'd nearly passed out trying. "All I get is a feeling, " she said, keeping her voice low, though there was so much noise in the room. "Like I'm about to be sick, all the time. " "I know that feeling, " said Coric, trying to joke. "D'you reckon I could be a Jedi, too?" Rex stuck an elbow into his ribs. "Some Jedi you'd make. You'd give the other Padawans nightmares. " "Now look what you've done, Captain, " said Coric, miming heartstruck sorrow. "You've gone and hurt my tender feelings. " They were trying to cheer her up. Distract her. Distract themselves, too. For all they were hard men, seasoned soldiers, not given to softness or sentimentality of any kind, they adored their general.
Clone Wars Gambit: Siege
