A series of short AU vignettes about Echo if he had returned to the 501st instead of joining Clone Force 99 during the closing months of The Clone Wars.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. I am simply a lifelong fan with a wondering mind who likes to write.
Two: Mission Prep
A smile crept across his face as his hand ran over the curves and lines of the jetpack. He'd missed flying. General Skywalker's plan was a proprietary blend of insanity and genius. The perfect balance. Those were his favorite kind of plans, especially when they involved a jetpack.
After some negotiating, he secured the device to his back with one hand. His artificial scomp arm wasn't much use in the process, but at least he hadn't had to ask Jesse for help. As any good brother would, he'd gladly help only to spend the rest of the cycle mocking him about it. Echo wasn't in the mood for that anymore. Only Fives could get away with that anyway. Halfway to the door he stopped in his tracks.
Fives.
Fives would have loved everything about their plan on Yerbana, from sneaking in under a bridge to General Skywalker pretending to surrender, to a surprise air assault. He wouldn't have been able to contain his excitement, his downright giddiness during the mission briefing. It would have become one of his favorite stories to tell at 79's as he tried to woo a busty Twi'lek into his lap for for evening.
It wasn't his first mission without him, but at one point or another since his liberation he was abruptly confronted with the reality that his counterpart wasn't just a shoulder away anymore. He looked at the '5' he painted in his new helmet and smiled.
You'll be sad you missed this one, Vod. But tell you all about it someday.
Author's note: These musings are my take on a character and my be different from yours. I welcome constructive feedback for the sake of growth, but please refrain from just commenting about not liking the story or my interpretation. Rather than complain, feel free to write your own. I'd love to read it.