Rex stood back and watched as the members of the Bad Batch boarded the Havoc Marauder. Although he was sad to see Echo moving on from the 501st, he also felt great pride how much Echo had grown, and in some ways matured, since being a frightened shiny on Rishi. But Rex knew it was for the better to let his little brother go. Now that Echo was more machine than man, he would be better off with the group of clones who were also defective in their own ways.

Echo briefly glanced back at Rex, then looked up at Hunter, who was staring down at him expectantly.

"Comin'?" he asked.

Echo hesitated. There was something that had stuck in the back of his mind ever since Rex and Tech freed him from stasis. Someone had been missing from the rescue team. Someone that he knew for sure would have come along to save him from Separatist clutches, and who'd been with him at the Citadel, where all of this started.

Fives...

"Hold on, there's something I need to ask Rex about." Echo finally spoke.

"Sure. We'll stick around, just don't take too long." Hunter ran his fingers through his shaggy black hair and stepped aboard the Marauder.

As Echo ran back to Rex, the captain felt a twisting in his belly. He had a good idea of why Echo was coming back to him. Rex felt a sort of dread knowing what Echo would ask about, since neither had brought it up before. Rex didn't want to bring it up knowing how much Echo had gone through while in Separatist clutches, and part of him honestly hoped that Echo wouldn't think of his old squadmate. But that was impossible. No clone would ever forget his closest brother, the brother he grew up with and fought alongside throughout his life.

"Rex?" Echo inquired.

"Changed you mind, soldier?" Rex asked, trying to sound lighthearted, as if he had no nagging suspicions.

Echo shook his head. "No sir. I wanted to ask about Fives. Where has he been through all of this?"

Rex bit his lip, then placed a hand on Echo's shoulder. "Here, come with me." Rex instructed, leading his former squadmate in the direction of the barracks.

"What's going on?" Echo asked, but Rex remained silent. He didn't want to say anything until he knew for sure that they were alone.

"Where is Fives?" Echo repeated, true to his name. As they stepped into the barracks, Rex looked around to make sure it was empty. Good. He wasn't sure exactly how Echo would react to finding out about what happened since his supposed death at the Citadel. Rex led Echo to a bunk and the two sat down together. Echo was unnerved by Rex's stone cold expression; it was one he'd rarely seen in the past but knew that it meant nothing good. Now it was Echo's turn to feel twisting in his belly.

"Fives..." Rex began quietly, gently taking Echo's hand into his own and sighing through his nose. It was rare for him to struggle for words, and the fact that his throat felt like it was closing up wasn't helping.

"What happened to him? Where is he?" Echo asked almost frantically. Rex looked down at his lap, unable to keep back the tears pooling in his amber eyes.

"He... he's gone... Echo, I'm... so sorry..." Rex managed to get out, a wobble in his voice that Echo had never heard.

"What?" Echo couldn't believe what he had just heard. Was this really happening? Had anything that had happened on Skako or Anaxes real, or was he still in stasis and just having some bizarre dream? But when Rex looked him in the eyes and he saw not just the tears but also the pain, he knew that this was real. Echo was in shock, unsure of what to say. He felt a pain in his chest, as if his heart had been torn straight out, and his vision turned fuzzy. The last time he cried felt like eons ago, in the aftermath of everything that went down on Rishi. And it was for the exact same reason- mourning lost brothers. Droidbait, Cutup, and Heavy. But Fives... the one brother he was closest to throughout his whole life and the one he thought he would fight alongside for the remainder of the war...

"What happened to him?" Echo managed to finally ask, his voice breathy from trying to contain any sobs. He blinked and that caused the tears to overflow.

Rex managed to steady his voice. "He was shot. Went through his heart." That's all he was willing to share. The circumstances surrounding Fives' death were still very bizarre and unclear to Rex, and he also didn't want to say too much. Just kept it simple and to the point. He gently placed his hands on Echo's shoulders, hoping it would bring him even just a little bit of comfort.

"I'm so sorry brother... I did what I could," Rex whispered as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Echo's. At that point Echo was unable to contain himself and collapsed against Rex, who held him close to his chest and gently stroked his now bald head in hopes of comforting his little brother. Among Echo's sobs, Rex could hear him quietly whispering his squadmate's- no, his best friend's- name over and over. Rex felt his heart break all over again. He didn't expect any less of a reaction when he knew that inevitably Echo would ask about Fives, but it didn't make it any less painful. He felt his own tears flow as he hugged Echo tight, but managed to keep himself together. He felt the need to be strong for his little brother in his time of grief.

"I- I-" Echo struggled to get his words out.

Rex gently took Echo's face in his hands so he could look up at him. "What is it, little brother?"

Echo took a few shaky breaths. "I just wish I could see him... even just once more..."

Rex gently ran his thumb along Echo's cheekbone, wiping away a tear. "I understand... but you know what?"

"What?" Echo whispered.

Rex felt even more tears threatening to come out as he spoke. "He loved you. He loved you until the day he died."

"And- and I still love him," Echo sobbed, but didn't vocalize his next thoughts. Maybe if I was there I could've saved him.

Rex hugged Echo close to his chest, allowing his little brother to cry out his sadness. After a while, Rex wasn't sure exactly how long, Echo finally quieted down, his tears spent. He sat up and looked Rex in the eyes.

"Thank you sir," he whispered.

Rex smiled a little bit. "No, no more 'captain' or 'sir'. 'Rex' will suffice."

Echo returned the small smile, but there was still some sadness lingering in his eyes. "Thank you, Rex. For everything." They both leaned in to touch foreheads again.

After a few minutes, they both stood up. Echo momentarily looked down at the ground before looking back at Rex. "I'm still going to go with the Bad Batch, but I'll miss the 501st."

Rex smiled at his little brother. "You do what you feel is right."

Echo paused for a moment. "I think that's what Fives would've wanted for me."

Rex wiped his eyes quickly. "And he would be so proud of you."

Echo held out his left hand, his organic one, and Rex took hold of it and squeezed gently. "I guess this is goodbye then," Echo said sadly.

"Take care of yourself soldier," Rex instructed.

"I will... Rex."

-Fin