Hay mates! Here's a new one for ya! Kinda shorter than others, but I think it makes up in content =P

Andrew: Haha, true there mate! But it might take a bit for that to happen

Oceanera12: xD I guess you'll find out this chapter, eh?

Lady K Guest: Hey, it's fine! English isn't my mother language either! And thanks for the kind words! Hope you continue to like it!

Guest: Hah, happy to hear you liked it!

sunburst223: Ah, sorry about that then - hopefully this one clears it up a bit ^^"

Guest: Who knows?

Ally Bee Budworth: Ahhh thank you! So glad to hear you enjoyed my works! =D

YetAnotherGuest: Well, you're not wrong (and yeah, it's kinda what I'm going here)

Guest: Ah, happy to hear that! Thank you! And we'll all just have to wait and see what happens =P

Okay mates, here we go! I really liked writing this one, so I hope you enjoy it!
Read, review and enjoy~

Chapter 9

Rex walked down the hall towards the room Krell was supposedly staying. He hadn't gone to check on the tech boys, but he heard their chatter from the control room. The twisting feeling in his gut never went away, but as he got closer, it started feeling sick.

"I got bad feeling about this," he said to himself, the door in sight.

Just before he actually did reach the door, it opened and Pong himself stepped out, eyes staring down at the soldier.

"Sir!" Rex instantly gave a salute, clicking his heels together.

"Captain," Krell had his arms behind his back as he spoke. "Have you been able to restore communications?" the question made the blonde take a double take. That wasn't what he expected to be asked.

"N-No sir," he said soon after, covering up his shock. "…How did you know they were down?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"I tried to contact General Kenobi and congratulate him on successfully destroying the enemy supply ship."

The two stared at each other, one calm and collect, the other feeling chills up his spine and barely suppressing a shiver. His instincts were screaming at him to move, to run and get away because this was wrong. There was a pressure coming from the Jedi, one that threatened to crush the soldier. It was… terrifying.

"Is something the matter?" the words came to his ears weakly, muffled almost as Rex felt sick enough to almost throw up. What was this? From behind the General, he could almost see shadows or tendrils of mist emerging, licking the walls and ground. A voice followed them, but he couldn't understand or really hear anything.

"Perhaps you should have someone have a look at you," the feel of the Besalisk's hands on his shoulder made his body numb and turned his legs to jelly as he collapsed on the ground, heaving up empty. The cold which wrapped around him was unlike anything he's ever felt, and it made him tremble. His breath shuddered and as the shadows seemed to close in on him, an ear piercing scream emerging from it.

Fixer, Patch and Scar rushed to the tower as soon as they were able. Frost sounded panicked as he called them, saying the Captain had collapsed in the hall and that the General had told them to get him into a medical wing.

"What happened?" Fixer asked immediately as he saw Rex trembling, propped up against a wall. His eyes found Pong standing by, looking bored as hell. But there was something in his eyes… Like he seemed mildly surprised. Maybe he expected Kix to be here as well.

"I am unsure," Krell said, looking from the medic to the blonde. "We were speaking one moment and the next he was on the ground."

"We need to move him," Scar said, kneeling next to Rex as he and Patch checked his vitals.

"Can you tell what's wrong?" Fixer was already working on getting the blonde up.

"Best guess? Exhaustion. I doubt he's slept more than three hours since we arrived on Umbara," Patch said as he helped moving the Captain.

"Great, this just keeps getting better and better," Fixer grumbled. First the Umbaran fighters, then Kix and now Rex? What's next?

"Let's go. Hopefully he'll get better soon…"

As the medics carried off their unconscious brother, Krell never took his eyes off them. He frowned when they were out of sight and turned back around, to head to his room.

"It would seem I was correct," he said to himself. "Some clones are sensitive to the Force."

He woke up with a start, his body jerking upwards and his lungs greedily taking in air. So much so, that he started choking and barely kept himself from throwing up empty yet again. His eyes stung and he could only see blurry images, but he could tell he was in the medical wing. The calls from around him showed there were others as well, and soon enough he felt hands on his shoulders, pushing him back down.

"Captain, you need to calm down!" he wasn't sure who it was, but he managed to do as he was told and felt something on his neck. Stimpak.

Moments later, he could breathe normally, his vision cleared and he only caught slightly to clear his throat. However, he felt incredibly cold and could still feel himself shiver, even under the blanket wrapped around him.

"Wha-?" he couldn't speak yet though, wincing at how his throat hurt. Luckily enough, Scar reached for a bottle of water and handed it to him, before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You collapsed during your meeting with the General," the medic explained as best he could, concern and worry in his eyes.

"I… I," Rex couldn't really explain what happened or why, just that the feeling was still creeping around in him.

"Patch said it's because of exhaustion and we pretty much agreed," he added, a sigh escaping him. "You need your rest, Rex."

"I know," the Captain said, his shoulders dropping. "It's just… There was something back there… At least, I think it was…" his memory of it was fuzzy, unclear, like a dream, but he knew it wasn't normal.

"Here," Scar handed him a protein bar. They aren't many clones are given, and usually reserved for long battles so they can keep pushing on without feeling too tired. "I know you won't sit and rest like you're supposed, so at least take this."

"Thanks," Rex managed a weak smile as he took the bar. He had work to do.

"Where is he?"

"Hey, c'mon, calm down!"

"He just woke up man!"

"I need to see him!"

The commotion caught Rex's attention as he was getting ready to leave the medical wing. He turned and saw brothers trying to keep an angered Kix away.

"REX!" the medic yelled and everyone seemed to pause as he moved towards the Captain.

"Kix-?" Rex never saw the punch coming, and it knocked his head to the side as the medic barely kept his balance.

"They're dead!" Kix screamed as the blonde held his jaw, turning back to the younger man. Kix was visibly shaking, his breath coming in quick and harsh. "They're all dead because you sent them away!"

"Kix!" Appo called from nearby, moving closer. The others weren't sure what to do.

"Don't you dare!" the medic spun around, his glare stopping the Sergeant in his tracks. "W-Were you even going to tell us?!" he turned back to Rex, voice breaking. "Or were you just going to pretend it was all okay?!"

"Kix…" Rex felt a lump in his throat as a familiar scene flashed before his eyes.

"Bishop is dead because of you Rex! He trusted you and you let him die!"

"Jezdec, calm down! If you don't they're going to take you away!"

"Let them! I'm gonna die either way, right Captain? How do you plan on leading a whole battalion and get everyone out alive, when you couldn't even save two brothers in a small team?!"

"You gave the go ahead! You let them out! They're dead because of you!" Kix moved forward, aiming another punch, only to have the blonde grab his arm.

"You need to calm down and think about what you're doing, Kix," somehow, to everyone's astonishment, Rex remained calm, his eyes unwavering.

"It's not fair…" the medic spoke through gritted teeth as he lowered his head. "It's not fucking fair…" he trembled in the Captain's grip, tears slipping down his face.

"…" Rex wanted to say that life for them isn't fair, that they don't get any fairness. But he couldn't. This was far too similar to what he already experienced and he couldn't stand a repeat.

"I don't want to live anymore…" the whisper froze everyone as the medic collapsed on the ground, released from the blonde's hold. "I just want the pain to end…"

"…Scar, see to him will you?" Rex kept his voice form and cold, for fear of having it crack and losing himself in his emotions. "Make sure he's okay."

"Yes sir," Scar moved quickly, picking up the fallen brother and getting him to his feet.

"The rest of you, back to your places. We still have work to do."

"Understood!"

Rex stepped out of the medical wing and felt the air on his face. He took a deep breath, calming himself as memories continued to torment his mind. It's been a long time since he's last had memories of Jezdec and what happened…. And now of all times.

He turned towards the hanger and started walking there. He had to make sure that what Kix was saying was true. He wouldn't go on blind belief – not again. He just hoped that by the time this was all over, the poor medic wouldn't have to face the same fact as his old squad mate.

"Tup, Dogma, any news?" the Captain asked as the rookies gave quick salutes.

"Well…" Tup looked at his brother, anxious.

"We saw signals that, Umbaran fighters did crash and were destroyed… Many, if not most…" Dogma started, looking away.

"And our fighters?" the blonde managed to keep his voice steady.

"…Crashed…" Tup said when he saw his friend didn't want to. "No idea where or when, but their signals are dead on any channel and frequency we check."

"…I see…" it was hard to swallow, but he managed. "Turn it all off and get some rest. We'll see what happens next soon. Hopefully, we'll get our communications and sensors back up."

"Copy that!" the rookies gave finals salutes as the older man left the hanger.

"…Did you see his face?" Tup asked when Rex was gone.

"Yeah… Solid punch. Wonder who got him," Dogma couldn't think of anyone.

"Yeah but, his eyes… He looked so… lost."

"…"

"Any sign of the 501st boys?" Cody asked as the pilots and fighter units checked for any last enemies.

"No, nothing," Broadside reported in.

"All clear on my end," Killer said.

"Only craps and clankers," Eagle added.

"Has anyone been able to contact the airbase?" Cody asked, worry gripping his heart.

"No, communications are blocked. We can only get ours around here, and they're probably dead on the surface," the way Fiddle said it made the Commander wince. Dead. Yeah, that's what he was afraid of.

"I'm going down there," Ahsoka spoke up, glancing around the debris in the air.

"Commander Tano, you need permission to do so," Cody didn't like it, but in a situation like this, they had to follow protocol.

"Permission granted Commander Tano. Say hello to the men for me," Obi-Wan cut in, the relaxed tone in his voice putting many at ease.

"Thank you, Master Kenobi. I'll report back as soon as I can," Ahsoka couldn't help herself as she smiled, changing directions as she flew.

"May the Force be with you…"

Rex was outside again, and he looked up at the tower. A cold engulfed him again as he tried to recall what happened back there and why exactly. But he couldn't think of anything solid.

"…I need to get back up there," he told himself, biting his lip. Yeah, but how? Getting past Krell would be near impossible, especially if he's going to his room. He needs a plan.

"…Dogma!" he called and turned back towards the hanger, a nervous smirk on his face. "I need a favor from you and your silver tongue!"

"General Krell," Fangs spoke up as the Besalisk watched the layout of the base again. "Dogma is requesting your presence in hanger 9-4," he added quickly.

"What could he possibly need?" Pong frowned, clearly annoyed.

"Didn't say sir, just that it's important."

"W-W-What are you gonna say?!" Tup was in a full panic as Dogma shook by the control panel, looking pale.

"I um… I don't know yet…" he admitted, swallowing hard.

"Y-You don't know?! DOGMA!"

"Hey, I'm trying okay?! It's not easy! Don't put more pressure on me!"

"We're both gonna die…"

"…Probably…"

Rex was causally patrolling not too far from the tower when he saw Krell exit and grinned to himself. Whatever Dogma did to get him out worked, and he had to remember to thank the rookie after he was done.

Not hesitating, the Captain moved towards the tower and quickly passed the halls to get to where he needed to go. It was surprisingly easy to find the room – he just followed the apparent cold and uneasiness he felt before. That, and he memorized the whole place.

He snuck past the tech experts, who were chatting among themselves and down the hall. He froze in the middle actually, because of the familiar feeling from before.

"I have to do this," he told himself and pushed forward, hands clenched and teethed gritted. Whatever lay behind those doors, might explain at least some of what's been going on.

There was some hesitation as he opened the door, but closed his eyes and did it anyway. The room was dark, but there was that box the General collected before, and there was light coming off it. Neon blue, but it made the place more creepy.

He couldn't see what was inside it, but he spotted a datapad on the table, as well as a small computer. He didn't know how much time he had, but he couldn't keep himself from checking all of it. And he went for the computer first.

"What the-!" he took a step back, seeing his own file open and free to read on the computer. And it's been thoroughly read, by the looks of it. Fives was there as well, along with the rest of some of 501st more known soldiers. Those files are supposed to be sealed and off limits – only their own General and a few others had access to them. So how did Krell get it?

He couldn't really check anymore, so he went to the datapad and feared what he might find there. And what he did, chilled his spine.

"This is our newest experimental development. With the help of the Techo Union, we are able to use it as counterintelligence. It is, thus far, untested, and you shall be the first to see it in action. Take care of it, Krell, as it is a valuable strategic item."

He looked at the box and swallowed as he looked back at the datapad. There was more under, about how to properly use whatever this was and what it can do and all that. What bothered Rex most, was the codename. Echo Effect.

He found the code and with shaky hands, set down the datapad. He walked closer to the box and entered the code, and started feeling sick again. The world seemed to spin as he leaned on the edge to keep himself steady. And then-

"W-What is this?" it was low, whispered and shaky as his eyes saw what was inside.

Wires and small machines connected from the box to a person. But it wasn't just any person, it was a clone. The eyes and the face couldn't be mistaken, even if he looked more machine than human. Pale skin and murky eyes, all sorts of contraptions, wires and connectors spread over the man's body. There were glowing lights around the head, and it made Rex all the more sick as he heaved empty on the side.

"What have they done to you?" he whispered, arms shaking. He didn't know who, it was. But then he recalled the code name. Echo Effect.

"Echo…?" a shuddered breath and he couldn't breathe. "No… It – It can't be!" he screamed in his mind, unable to look away from… this.

He couldn't think, couldn't move, couldn't speak, breathe or do anything as he kneeled there, leaning on the box, staring at the hollowed face of a long supposed dead brother. But why was he here, in Krell's room? Did the bastard even know?

"We are able to use it as counterintelligence." He recalled what the message said and opened his eyes wide. Was it… Did they turn Echo into something that could gather intel from anywhere and, probably, mess with communications? Was it all because of Krell that they couldn't reach anyone? Just what was going on?

Suddenly, there was a familiar sound of lightsabers being activated, as blue and green light filled the small room. Stiffly, Rex turned his head to the side and saw none other than Pong Krell standing there, mostly covered in shadows.

"My dear Captain," he started and the blonde couldn't move, even to reach his blaster. "You have seen too much."

"…Why?" the word was weak and shaky, but Rex tried his best to glare. He knew it was pointless, this bastard could see right through him right now. Could probably see through him all along.

"Someone like you would never understand," the anger and hate in the tone reached the pit of Rex's core and somehow, his body instinctively reached for his blaster. The world seemed to slow down for a few seconds as Krell jumped forward, lightsabers in the air and Rex aimed his pistols. And in a moment, it was all over.

Ahsoka didn't like the coldness she was feeling as she got closer to the airbase. It was wrong. But she managed to ignore it, as she landed and saw some of the boys gathering around the landing area.

"Commander Tano!" they called and she smiled as she jumped out of her fighter. But seeing them, and the feeling the Force around them… Her smile dropped and she couldn't help the look of sadness and pity on her face.

"Hey boys, how're you all doing?" she tried to ask, but their own expressions were grim.

"…A lot's happened…" she saw Appo and her heart skipped a beat. Where were the others who usually stood out? Fives, Hardcase, Jesse… She couldn't see a single medic. But lastly…

"Where's Rex?" her tone carried a pinch of panic as she couldn't even sense him.

"He's-,"

"I have given him a task," Krell walked up, hands behind his back, his usual frown on his face. "Young Padawan Tano, I did not know of your arrival," he gave a small bow of the head.

"I came as soon as the battle topside was over. Master Kenobi gave permission, if you think that might be a problem," Ahsoka said clearly and bluntly, arms folded.

"Not at all. I am glad to have you here," Pong ginned. "Come, I must ask about-,"

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" someone yelled and before anyone knew it, Umbarans were swarming the airbase, some of their fighters fly overhead and even two of those spider tanks making their way closer.

"Everyone, get ready to fight!" Ahsoka called and activated her sabers, defense position ready. So much for getting a break.

Cut! Hahaha! A cliffhanger! ...I'm so sorry xD I couldn't resist! And this one is short, well, because I wanted to keep some suspense. But yeah, a lot of stuff is revealed here, and I'll continue to work my way through this... mess I've created. We'll see how well that goes, eh? xD
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and thanks for reading! Do review and tell me what you thought!
Till next time~