"We have to do what?!" Rex yelled furiously.

"Things around here might not be like your clone antics, but it gets the job done" Garm flicked his tongue out.

"I think we can find another way to get money" Rex snarled, "Come on Ahsoka"

He tugged at her arm, but she wouldn't budge.

"Rex..." she started, "I know you might not like it but he's right"

Rex looked from Ahsoka to Garm in shock.

"B-b-but" he stuttered.

"Trust me. I'll be fine. We'll be fine" She assured him, landing a small kiss on his cheek.

Lux flinched, crossing his arms and giving a small huff.

Rex still looked unsure, "What if you get hurt?"

"I can handle myself" Ahsoka pointed out, "Don't worry about me, we have to get out of here"

Rex nodded slowly, turning back to Garm.

"Ok" he muttered solemnly.

"Garm what did you have in mind?" Ahsoka asked.

"There's a salt mine not that far from here" he suggested, "Pays about ten credits an hour"

Rex shivered, his face suddenly grim. They were going to a mine. Like the mine he had to work in at the slave processing facility on Kadavo. Rex shivered at the thought. He was whipped if he didn't work hard enough, and the lashes left permanent scars. Rex clenched his fist, a threatening look falling across his face.

"No! We aren't going to mine like some slaves!" he yelled.

Realization hit Ahsoka harder than a boulder. The mines reminded Rex of when he was a slave on Kadavo. Ahsoka's heart ached for him, but this might be the only way to get the money they need. He didn't have to go to the mines with her. Ahsoka was fine with Rex doing another task for credits.

"Rex" Ahsoka comforted, "It's alright"

"No!" he cried, laughing on the edge of hysteria, "It's not! I'm not working in a mine again"

Ahsoka sighed, "You don't have to, I will"

Rex looked taken aback, "Ahsoka please!"

She put a hand up, a stern expression on her face. Rex's lip curled out of a mixture of surprise and anger.

"I'll go too" Lux spoke up for the first time in awhile.

Rex whirled around to look at the boy. If Lux was going, so was he. He wasn't going to let him kriff up the relationship Rex and Ahsoka had. He would go, even though he was terrified to be in a mine again. What other choice did he have? Sit back and watch as this shavit brain took Ahsoka from him? Not on his watch.

"I guess I'll come too" he muttered, shaking off his fear.

"Rex, you don't have to" Ahsoka started.

Rex took Ahsoka's hand and their fingers intertwined. He delicately nudged the side of her cheek with his thumb before giving a soft smile.

"We need to get out of here" he pointed out, "And this might be our only chance to get the money to buy a ship. I'm coming"

Ahsoka's eyes darted back and forth and she stepped closer to him.

"Are you sure?" she asked, a worried look plastered on her face.

Rex hesitated, contemplating his decisions. He wanted to get off this planet, but was this the way to do that? He was terrified to go back into a mine, but they needed the money.

"Yeah" Rex decided, "I'm sure"

Ahsoka sighed, a sympathetic look in her eyes. They turned to the skrilling, who looked terribly bored and was resting his chin on his hand.

"Where is this mine again?" Ahsoka asked.

Garm smirked, "I'll show ya"

It didn't take them long to arrive at the large mine, bustling with many people. The workers were swinging their pickaxes and hammering at the rocks in front of them. Most of the crowd was in a large area surrounded by rock walls, only a small ladder to help them get out. Others were in the several tunnels close to the larger group.

Rex went stiff, walking very cautiously closer and closer to the source of the clinking of pickaxes. Ahsoka noticed his tenseness and rubbed his back for reassurance. He gave her a forced smile and continued forward.

"Well here we are" Garm hissed, motioning to the mines.

"Who's in charge around here?" Rex questioned suspiciously.

"A trandoshan named Loomai Tekt" Garm spat, "He'll get you all set up"

This time it was Ahsoka's turn to get uncomfortable. That name sounded very familiar. She choked back a cry of terror when she realized. Loomai was one of the Trandoshans that hunted her for sport on Wasskah. She recalled how she nearly escaped with help from the wookies. If they hadn't helped, well then she wouldn't be here today.

Garm began calling for him, screaming his name and causing much unwanted attention. Ahsoka shrinked back into Rex. She had a bad feeling about this. All the workers were skinny, you could easily see their ribs and there were many bruises on their thin bodies. Rex seemed to notice too as he pulled Ahsoka a little closer to him and a shiver ran down his body. Ahsoka grabbed his hand and rubbed her thumb over his wrist. Their fingers wove together and Rex's face went pale. Finally Loomai jogged over, a wicked grin on his face.

"Garm!" he called, "What have you brought me?"

Garm snorted, "Some workers for your mine"

Loomai crossed his arms and carefully examined the group. A gangly, brown haired, boy, a short, fiery, togruta, and a tough, hardworking, clone. A horrible grin spread across his face and Ahsoka squeezed Rex's hand.

"I'll just let ya handle them" Garm muttered sauntering away.

Loomai looked between Rex and Ahsoka thoughtfully.

"I see we've got a couple" he jeered.

"You've got a job for us or what?" Rex growled.

Loomai laughed, "Do I have a job for you? Look around"

"When can we start?" Ahsoka pressed.

Loomai rubbed his chin with his hand, "So many questions. How about now?"

He tossed the squad pickaxes. Rex caught it with ease in one hand. Ahsoka caught it with the force, letting it fall into her hand. Lux on the other hand fumbled around, dropped it, then picked it back up. Loomai rolled his eyes and nodded for them to follow him.

Loomai took them to the tunnels, where there were at least twenty large holes. He began explaining what they would have to do. He implied that the more salt they got, the more credits they could earn. He also told them that they only got to eat if they found salt. This made Rex regret his decision more and more. This trandoshan was treating them like slaves, like animals. He didn't like it one bit. Ahsoka didn't like it either. She couldn't stand the way he was looking at her. Like she was some prize waiting to be won.

"Get to work" he growled pushing them towards a large tunnel, before walking away.

They did what they were told. Slowly chipping away at the stone, trying to find salt for money. Ahsoka wondered what her master would think if he saw her like this. But her master was gone. In his place was Darth Vader.

Rex began to mine next to Ahsoka. He looked over to see Lux on her other side. Rex cursed under his breath before hitting the rock harder with his pickaxe. Lux just had to be here. They mined for hours, still not a crumb of salt in sight. Loomai kept checking in on them, mainly on Ahsoka. This made Rex sick. He didn't want anyone else close to her except himself. He came again, for the tenth time today, Rex was on the verge of just slinging Ahsoka over his shoulder and leaving.

"It doesn't look like you're getting much done little lady" he purred leaning closer to her.

Ahsoka could feel his breath on her neck, making her skin crawl. The hair on the back of her neck stood on edge and Ahsoka tried to ignore the hollow feeling as her stomach churned and twisted.

"Work harder" he ordered.

She swung the pickaxe down with more force, breaking off a large piece of rock.

"I said harder," he growled.

The trandoshan took out a long whip and raised it behind his head. Rex's eyes grew wide and he rushed to put himself in front of Ahsoka right as the whip came down. It lashed his chest, ripping his shirt and piercing his skin. All the memories came back and Rex's head started to spin. The aching pain filled his body and adrenaline coursed through his veins. Loomai was surprised and Rex took the opportunity to grab him by the collar of his shirt.

"Don't you dare touch her" Rex snarled, picking him up off the ground.

Loomai clawed at Rex's hands but it was useless. Nothing was coming between Rex and his love. Ahsoka. Rex threw Loomai back into the tunnel wall. Loomai scrambled to his feet and hastily ran away. Rex glared at him as he ran, not taking his eyes off the atrocious trandoshan.

Suddenly the ground rumbled under Rex's feet. Ahsoka looked to Rex and yelped in terror. The tunnel shook violently, then the rocks started to fall. The tunnel was collapsing.