Chapter Text
Tano had enthusiasm, but she lacked training.
And that worried Rex, because despite himself, he was quickly growing to like the snippy little togruta. So here he was, struggling to distract himself with meaningless paperwork, his mind drifting without cease to how he could keep his new vod’ika safe in the middle of the war.
With a growl, he slammed the datapad down and stood up, stalking out of his private room. He barely heard the durasteel door hiss shut behind him as he hurried away, his feet carrying him faster than his mind could stop them.
Within a matter of minutes, he found himself outside the door to the room that had been assigned to Commander Tano. Before his mind could convince him not to, he rapped on the door, the clanging of the cold metal against his fist jolting through him.
Moments later, the durasteel door whooshed open, revealing Tano. She was still wearing the same outfit she’d been wearing when she’d arrived on Christophsis - a dark red bandeau top and skirt with white tights, along with dark red boots and fingerless gloves, as well as a purple sash.
Hardly practical for fighting, Rex thought briefly. Perhaps he could convince her to add at least a bit of armor to her ensemble, like Skywalker and his former master, Kenobi, had. Perhaps some greaves, or vambraces…
“Captain Rex?” Ahsoka asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“Commander,” Rex acknowledged. “I, uh, I wanted to discuss your – your safety in battle.”
Tano titled her head to the side, her blue eyes inquisitive as she regarded the clone captain.
“I’m not quite sure what you mean,” Ahsoka said at last. Rex looked down and rubbed the back of his neck, somewhat bashfully.
“My vod’e – brothers – and I, trained for years on Kamino. The Kaminiise created and trained us to be among the greatest soldiers in the galaxy,” Rex explained. “I know that you’re a jetii, and that you have training of your own – we learned on Kamino that Padawans learn together for years along a strict, structured regimen of academics and combat.”
Tano listened quietly as Rex continued.
“But I also know that none of that training was specifically about fighting a war,” Rex finished.
“Maybe, but we aren't soldiers,” Ahsoka reasoned. “We're peacekeepers – and we’re trained as such. The Jedi Code often prevents us from going far enough to achieve victory.”
“The Jedi Code won’t stop your enemies for going far enough to achieve victory,” Rex said softly.
For several moments, the silence stretched between them, and Rex worried that he had overstepped.
“What do you propose?” Ahsoka said at last.
“Train with me,” Rex said. “I can teach you – hand to hand combat, battle strategies, military terminology – anything you’d like that would be helpful in the war.”
~~~
Ahsoka had taken to Rex’s form of “training” with surprising vigor, enthusiasm, and competency.
When they had started training, it quickly became evident that Tano wouldn’t be able to win fights using the style of hand-to-hand combat the clones had learned on Kamino – she was too small, didn’t have enough weight or power to maneuver an opponent the same way the clones did. But the Padawan never backed down from a challenge – especially when it was something her vod’e could already do with ease.
Instead, she worked with Rex to adjust the fighting style, combining what the Captain knew with her lightsaber forms and combat styles designed to be effective for smaller combatants.
Ahsoka took to battle strategies and military terminology with a similar ease and determination, despite her general distaste for coursework. She worked tirelessly with the vod’e – usually Echo – to bring herself up to speed on what they already knew. Attack formations for aerial combat, strategic battle planning for planet side assaults – if there was something relevant to the 501st’s success in battle, she made sure that she knew it.
It wasn’t long before the vod’e began whispering that she was mandokarla – that their vod’ika had guts and spirit. That, if it were ever possible for a jetii to be recognized as such, she was the epitome of Mandalorian virtue.
Yet, despite her growing prowess in hand-to-hand combat, battle strategies, military terminology, Ahsoka was still vehemently resistant to specific aspects of the clones’ ways of making war.
One specific aspect, in particular.
“Master Obi-wan says that blasters are clumsy and random,” Ahsoka argued. When none of the gathered clones deigned to respond, the Padawan continued. “That they’re uncivilized. He says that a Jedi Lightsaber is a much more elegant weapon – for a more civilized age.”
Rex snorted at that – but it was Fives who spoke up.
“Is that what this war is? Civilized?”
“I – no – but,” Ahsoka stuttered, clearly searching for an argument. She latched onto an old one. “The Jedi are peacekeepers, not soldiers. That is the weapon of a soldier.”
Rex had to refrain from rolling his eyes as Ahsoka gestured to the blasters laid out in front of her – all the preferred weapons of her closest vod’e. From Fives’ DC-15 blaster rifle, to Hardcase’s Z-6 rotary blaster cannon, to Rex’s twin DC-17’s.
Rex had no intention of letting their vod’ika anywhere near Hardcase’s Z-6 rotary blaster cannon, but the other blasters were fair game.
“And what if you lose your lightsaber on the battlefield?” Jesse challenged.
“Or what if it is damaged?” Hardcase added.
“Then I will use my other skills - hand-to hand combat, the Force,” Ahsoka argued back.
“Do, not – and I cannot stress this enough -make me explain why punching a droid is a bad idea,” Kix deadpanned. “Kicking is also out – no matter what Commander Cody says.”
“I’m not helpless without my lightsaber,” Ahsoka grumbled. “I do know how to use whatever is available to me.”
“Exactly – you need to be able to use all the tools available to you,” Rex grinned like a nexu, knowing he had his vod’ika well and truly cornered. “Like a blaster.”
Ahsoka deflated, knowing the her vod’e had won.
“Excellent,” Fives announced, clapping his hands together. “I recommend starting with Rex’s DC-17’s – they’re more of a precision weapon than the DC-15 blaster rifles Jesse, Kix, and I use, but they’re also smaller and easier to carry.”
“Ideal if you’re planning on only utilizing a blaster as a last resort, instead of as your primary weapon,” Jesse added.
Ahsoka sighed, and gingerly picked up one of Rex’s DC-17’s. She was so focused on examining the weapon that she didn’t notice Rex’s soft – and undeniably proud – smile.
“DC-17’s are considered a heavy blaster pistol, useful for close-quarter fighting and as a back-up weapon,” Rex explained. “Fives carries a pair as well – most commanders, captains, and ARC troopers do, even if they only use it as a back-up weapon.”
“You use yours all the time,” Ahsoka observed lightly as she tested the weight of the blaster in her hand.
“I do,” Rex admitted - but he did not elaborate on his personal choice. “They’re one of the most reliable and easily the toughest model of blaster pistol we clones have in our arsenal. Well-balanced, quick-firing, and lightweight. DC-17’s are also powerful – despite their small size.”
“Kind of like you, vod’ika,” Hardcase joked, earning himself a ribbing from Kix.
Ahsoka nodded once more before looking up at Rex, her eyes already shining with that familiar determination.
“Show me how to use it.”
Rex grinned.