Heyy everyone, sorry for the late update! Stuff is happening and these things are getting a tad hard to write (keeping it kinda mysterious, following my main idea, giving everyone enough screentime...) so the updates will be kinda slower, sorry... Hopefully it won't kill the mood for any of you! ^^

YetAnotherGuest: Heh, yeah, maybe, who knows? You can actually find out in this chapter =P

Darth Pancake: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

turbolesbian3000: Ah, sorry for all the heartache mate xD And I will, no worries! (Though you may regret it)

Andrew: That's great mate! Give here some (very belated sorry) best wishes from me ^^

Oceanera12: I'm sorry mate, but I laughed way too hard at this and could only say "Appropriate reaction" xD As for Rex... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

OakyTheOaktree: Hah, guess we're all going to have wait and see what happens eh? xD

So, yeah, some more stuff happens here, some plot development and some insight into the 112th! Yey?
Read, review and enjoy~

Chapter 11

"Everyone! Group up!" Ahsoka called as she deflected enemy fire. But only a few of them actually gathered together – most kept their distance.

"They're coming in from everywhere!" Appo managed to blast a few of them.

"How did they breach the base? Did we not set up security systems?" Krell growled lowly, using the force and pulled an Umbaran fighter from the air, crashing in into the Umbarans.

"Must have been a malfunction or something!" Boomer managed to say before he got hit in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground.

"We can't hold them off – they've got a full assault squad here!" Kano spotted the incoming tanks and fighters raining death from above.

"We can't leave – we've got too many wounded and missing!" Slasher yelled over the screams and explosions, checking on Boomer.

"Look, there!" Ash pointed at the edges of the base, where Umbaran soldiers were dragging clones away and into empty hangers or prison blocks. "They're taking prisoners?"

"This is not good!" Ahsoka thought, eyes going from the fallen to the captured. She could also feel the ground shake as the spider tanks walked, eliminating waves of soldiers in one fell swoop.

"I'm going to go look for Rex! He has to have a plan! Maybe I'll run into Fives as well!" she said, unable to see or read the horror and sadness coming off her brothers.

"Don't bother. He's dead," Pong said emotionlessly, and her body turned numb.

"…W-What?" she barely managed to react to blaster fire coming her way, her head swimming. She forced herself to focus, to try and find that familiar flicker in the Force but there was none.

"He was patrolling near the tower – it was the first target. He is either dead or captured. We cannot waste time on a dead man," the Besalisk continued, throwing one of his sabers and slicing apart an incoming wave of Umbarans.

"Commander, what are your orders?" Appo asked and Tano froze for a few seconds. The world seemed to move slowly, she could see the blinding lights as soldiers fell, hear their screams their pleas. She saw the fires and the smoke rising from the base and saw the abled helping the wounded. They can't win.

"Everyone, this is Commander Tano! I'm ordering a retreat! Help anyone you can and move into the forest!" she said into her communicator, fingers shaking and voice stuffy.

"You're running away?" Krell asked in disbelief, sounding angered even.

"Yes, we are! We can't continue to fight like this – we'll die!"

"Victory to death, youngling," Pong gave her a hard look, before jumping in the air and landing further away from their small group.

"Master Krell!" she couldn't believe it. Was he seriously going to continue fighting like this? Or was he buying them time?

"Commander!" Appo gently took her shoulder. "We need to leave!"

"Right, let's go! I'll cover you!" she swallowed as she turned her back to the tower, to her friends and brothers. She felt like she was betraying them all, but there was nothing she could do right now.

"We… we had a plan," Fives started weakly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "To destroy the supply ship."

"And you succeeded," Reeve said, giving a small nod. He had sat down on a nearby chair, sending away any onlookers and letting the medics work.

"At what price?" Jesse was clenching his fists, eyes hard. He almost moved again, but managed to stop himself before that.

"You're all still alive, aren't you?" there was a sadness in the Captain's tone as he looked at them, his broken gaze casting them in silence.

"Things would have been better if Krell had just – just," Jesse couldn't even word it, but the 501st saw the tension rise around them. The medics stopped, staring at them with wide eyes and Reeve cursed under his breath.

"General… Krell? You were working with him?" one of them asked, his gaze slowly moving to the Captain. "…Did you know?"

"…" Reeve closed his eyes and refused to speak or look at anyone else.

"Did you know why he left?" another medic hissed and Fives and Jesse suddenly felt like they were intruding on a personal matter.

"I did," the Captain said simply, looking at them with emotionless eyes. "What of it?"

"He got to manipulate, break and destroy others – and not just any other battalion. The 501st! The ones we look up to! How could you just-!"

"What was I to do?" Reeve's anger suddenly flared as he stood up. "He left us here alone, for the first time since I can remember. I didn't see it important as to why – and if I remember correctly, neither did anyone else!"

There was a tense silence in the tent now, as the medics shrunk into themselves and the Captain looked exhausted and guilty. His next words were a whisper and he turned his back to the newcomers.

"Better them than us."

"C'mon Kix, work with us here…" Patch said quietly as he checked over his brother.

"…I'm fine," Kix insisted, but didn't struggle against the cold tools.

"Yelling and punching our Captain doesn't really show that," Scar sighed, looking over at the scans they did.

"He deserved it," Kix winced as the words left his mouth, but didn't try to deny them.

"You can't blame him for what Fives, Jesse and Hardcase did. They knew what they were getting into," Fixer gave him a steady glare.

"…"

There was silence for a few more minutes as they worked, before screams and yells got their attention. Seconds after, the sounds of fighters and tanks moving around made their hearts skip a few beats.

"Umbaran attack?" Scar asked, walking closer to the door and seeing a group of brothers getting blown to bits.

"We can't fight them like this – there's too many wounded!" Patch glanced behind himself and saw the hurt brothers either trying to show they can fight or looking in worry.

"Lock down the doors – we can't let them in," Fixer said as he saw one of the less injured soldiers working on the panel.

"What about the others?" Kix was looking between all of them in shock.

"We can't risk it – I'm sorry," Fixer said and set a hand on his shoulder.

"…I'm not going to sit here and let them all die!" Kix shrugged off the arm and made a mad dash for the closing doors. The yells and calls of his brothers were lost on him as the echoes of battle filled his limbs with adrenalin. He dropped down and slid across the floor under the door just in time, before it closed and he stood in horror at what he saw.

"I'm surrounded!"

"Can't shake them off!"

"Anyone got a clear shot?"

"Hold on, I'm on my way!"

"There's too many!"

Cody clenched his fists and glared at the battle before his eyes, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. This was a massacre. And where were their reinforcements? If this goes on, the entire division could be lost.

"Everyone, converge on me – we'll strike at the heart of this enemy," Kenobi said as every pilot seemed to let out a breath of relief. But it didn't last long as they had to continue the battle, already exhausted.

"Commander! We've got incoming fighters!" Algo called and Cody spun around, eyes wide. He was about to order evasive maneuvers and to help, when Log cut in.

"They're our sir! Reinforcements have arrived!" the wave of relief washing all of them in the command room could almost be seen as the Commander turned back out.

"Everyone, backup has arrived!"

"Apologizes everyone, we got careless," General Tiin said as he flew in overhead, blasting the nearest enemies.

"It's quite alright – you're here now," Obi-Wan replied as he led a squadron. "Now, how about we take care of these Umbarans and see if we can provide some assistance on the surface?"

"Sounds like a plan to me."

He was running just like everyone else, following the ones at the front into the forest. The Commander's order had gathered them together and they were moving.

"Anyone seen Tup or Dogma? They were in a hanger near the tower!" an older brother called as he looked around.

"Haven't seen them sir!" Ink answered, but there was a shake in his voice.

"Kriff! I'm staying here in case someone else comes around – you follow Lieutenant Luv to the rendezvous point!"

"Sir-!" Topaz tried to speak, but the veteran cut him off.

"That's an order rookie! Now go, get out of here!"

And just like that, they were running and moving again. The planet was as inhospitable as before, but now things seemed more crazy. In his head, he tried to pretend it was all just a simulation from Kamino as he and his brothers ran. The battle at the airbase was getting further and further away, but he felt like a traitor. Leaving his brothers to die back there, even if he was just a rookie, felt wrong. But he wondered how many veterans have felt this way? Maybe it was part of becoming a soldier.

"Hey, Sunny, you okay?" Ink asked him and he shook his head to clear his mind.

"Y-Yeah, yeah, fine… Just," Sunny hated his how voice trembled. "This is insane…"

"Yeah, true there," Seal said and gave out a nervous laugh. "But hey, at least we're still together, right?"

"Right."

Seconds later, the ground shook and a turquoise light seemed to appear all around them. A spider tank walked in from the high trees and Sunny was frozen there, staring at the weapon of death. There were screams all around him as brothers tried to fight or flee, but as the tank charged its cannon, he fell to his knees, shaking. Death awaits, he thought and closed his eyes. A moment later, there was indescribable pain, before it all vanished and he felt nothing at all.

"Lieutenant Luv, come in! Where are you and your squad?" came a broken staticy voice in an abandoned helmet as bodies lay all around the small field.

"Lieutenant? Answer me! Lieutenant!"

"Lieutenant? Answer me! Lieutenant!" Ahsoka was nearly pleading into her com. link, before closing her eyes and putting a hand over her face.

"Commander… If," Appo started, standing by her side. "If they couldn't make it, we need to leave… There are others counting on us. Different rendezvous points we've set up."

"What's going on here?" she whispered, fear in her eyes as she looked at the Sergeant.

"…A lot has happened. But I think it's best we discuss it when we're someplace safe. Umbaran's are likely scattered all over in these woods," Appo let out an exhausted sigh. If Rex really was… dead or captured, then he's the one who replaces his command.

"Let me just – just do a quick scan. To see how many are alive and where they're gathered most. And to try and find Rex or Fives," she kept the last bit to herself as she sat down, legs crossed and heard the boys moving around her in a protective circle.

"Focus…" she said to herself, exhaling and concentrating on the Force flowing around her. It was wild and rapid, biting and almost cutting, but she endured it and expanded her focus from the woods. She sensed the others, the older ones leading and directing, the younger ones scared and confused… The dead and the dying in the woods, multiple flickers vanishing in an instant. It made it hard to breath.

Taking a shuddered breath, she continued and tried to move closer to the airbase, but just when she cleared the fog around it, she hit a wall. It sent a shockwave through her body, making her yell and lean on her knees, panting.

"Commander?" Kano asked as the others looked around for any danger.

"I – I can't… sense anything inside the base…" she said fearfully, eyes wide. "Not a single vode, not the Umbarans… not even Master Krell."

"…" the boys shared a look as Kano helped her stand, since she was still in a bit of a shock from the sudden block she ran into.

"We should get moving… Do you know where the others are?" Appo stepped closer.

"Yeah, I can lead us there…" Ahsoka nodded weakly.

"Sir!" Reeve heard just as he left the tent, his expression more tired than before. He didn't linger after the small outburst inside, and the medics returned to what they were doing, even if more silently. The two 501st soldier didn't say anything either, but he could clearly see the pity and sadness in their expressions.

"Yes?" he saw a rookie medic rushing to him, looking out of breath.

"The – The third one! 9112 finally finished the surgery!" he explained, but his expression didn't seem to mirror the good news.

"How is he?" the Captain swallowed a lump in his throat. He was there when they found this trio and he saw the damage on the third one – didn't look good at all.

"Alive," the kid said firstly, but his expression was still sorrowful. "But… Well," he fumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

"What it is?" now Reeve was starting to worry as he glanced at the main medical tent.

"His head sustained the heaviest damage and… well, we had to work on the most critical parts first so…"

The kids next words seemed to shake the old Captain's world as a chill went up his spine. Of all the things to happen… He closed his eyes after the news, shaking his head even, and needed a few seconds to fully accept it.

"…Should we tell his brothers?" the kid asked in fear, eyes going past his superior and to the tent behind him.

"I'll tell them… It's best if they're prepared for it," Reeve said with a small nod. "Tell 9112 to get some rest – he's been on his feet for a few days now."

"He looked ready to fall down actually, but will do sir!" the rookie saluted and ran off again.

Reeve let out a tired sigh as he watched him and couldn't help the pity that came to his eyes. There were so many young brothers here… Krell always seemed to get them early. And none of them had names. Any they managed to get on Kamino were dismissed and discarded once they joined this battalion. Maybe it was easier for them than the older ones… They haven't gotten a real chance to use the name, so it might have been easier to revert back to numbers. It doesn't make it right or any less painful, but it makes it easier for the Captain to tell apart the new and the old. After all, it seems they all have that same broken and empty expression now…

"So we're stuck here now?" Fives said more than asked, a sigh following.

"Seems like it…" Jesse mused, staring at the top of the tent. "At least we're all together eh?" he tried to lighten the mood, even giving a weak smile.

"Haha, yeah, true enough," the ARC let out a small chuckle, before reaching carefully with his hand to the burned spot on his head.

"Hey, Jess?" he said quietly, staring off. "Do… do you think we can be what the Jedi are?"

"…What do you mean?" Jesse blinked, looking at his brother. "Force Sensitive?"

"Y-Yeah…" Fives cleared his throat, scratching his neck. "I told Rex before but… I um…" he swallowed before looking down at the other man. "I've been having dreams. Like, weird dreams, but they seem like stuff Ahsoka used to talk about. Seeing the future and all that," he explained, throat stiff and voice low.

"What kind of stuff do you see?" Jesse wanted to understand, but it was something he couldn't really wrap his head around.

"Like… It's happened twice now," Fives started, biting his lip a bit and putting his hands together on his lap. "I saw – heard," he closed his eyes, unable to really explain it. "…Echo. I – I heard him in those dreams and… And not just him. I – I think Rex was there too, as was Krell and… and someone I can't name," just thinking about it made his body cold and his throat felt stuffy again. If he closed his eyes, he could almost see the dream again.

"A lot was happening and I was confused as hell, but… I know it was Echo." He opened his eyes and saw Jesse staring at him in disbelief.

"Second time it happened… was just before I woke here," a nervous smile was on the ARC's face as he looked away, feeling a stinging in his eyes. These memories… they weren't present to remember.

"The airbase was being attacked… Rex and Krell got into a fight but I couldn't see what happened after. It – it was dark and hard to see and ended so fast I couldn't-!" he took a deep, shuddered breath before continuing: "And – and Ahsoka was there, but she – she," his voice kept breaking and he had to swallow again. "She was fighting Krell."

He paused, catching his breath and turning back to see Jesse still looking confused and unbelieving as his brow furrowed. Fives was shaking now, his body cold and he bit down on his lip to avoid his teeth chattering. Why was he so damn scared? Because of the Force? Is that it?

"Fives…" Jesse said with a sigh, rubbing his face with both his hands. "That's-,"

"Crazy, I know, but-!"

"I was going to say weird, yeah, but… I don't know, feels entirely possible? You saw what Krell is like – I wouldn't put it past him to do some of this stuff."

"…And what about Echo?"

"…I honestly don't know… A recording maybe? Your memories?" there was a pause as they only looked at each other, puzzled and worried.

"Ahem!" Reeve cleared his throat and got the attention of the two 501st boys. They seemed shocked, and wondered how much of the conversation he actually heard.

"I got some news for you two," the Captain said stepping closer and saw them tensing, likely knowing what the news would be about.

"Your friend-,"

"Hardcase," the two said immediately, knowing he likely had no idea what the man's name was. But given so few brothers here had names, they just had to make it clear.

"Hardcase," Reeve gave an acknowledging bow of the head. "His surgery is finished, however, there are some… complications."

"What kind of complications?" Jesse nearly got up again, but Fives put a hand on his chest to keep him steady.

"…His head took the brunt of the damage and since there were other, primary injuries to take care of, our medics didn't – couldn't work on it fast enough," the Captain avoided looking at them.

"You're ignoring the question!" Jesse was feeling his heartbeat rise and breathing was becoming harder. He can't lose another brother. Not like this.

"…His memory won't be intact. 9112 said Hardcase will have gaps and missing pieces. Amnesia. How much, he can't tell. But your friend, your brother, likely won't remember the last few weeks at least."

The silence in the tent was deafening. Jesse was choking on air, unable to form words or even move as Fives started with wide eyes and an open mouth. Amnesia. Seriously? He's alive, that's fantastic, but if he can't remember…

"I'm sorry," Reeve said and it sounded like he's said so many times, he doesn't believe in its meaning anymore. "But at least his duty won't be hindered. He's still a fully functional soldier."

"And is that all that matters?" Fives had no idea where his anger came from as he stood up. Maybe from all the carp he's had to deal with from Krell, or all the things he wishes he could have said to Rex back then. But it was burning his insides and he had to let it out.

"It's how this works – the system we're in. We can't escape it, he won't get off easy because he can't remember," Reeve managed to keep calm, but his eyes narrowed.

"That may the system, but it's wrong!" the ARC clenched his fists. "I'm not just another number! None of us are!"

Another silence as Fives seemed surprised at his own words, Jesse was still looking in horror and Reeve seemed taken back. It lasted a few seconds, before the 112th soldier lowered his gaze and spoke up.

"…I used to believe that," the Captain said quietly, as if scared someone would hear him. "There used to be so many of us with names, even when Krell was our General… But he changed one day, and forced us to numbers."

"Then why-!"

"Because you either did as he said or you got killed!" Reeve's own anger sparked, but his eyes carried only sadness. "My former squad mate, Loto, was killed – neck twisted by the Force – because he dared to speak back to Krell. Young brothers were getting slaughtered in suicide missions and we didn't even have names for them! And all the while, here I was, carrying a name so many wished they could have!" the Captain was torn between anger and sadness as he spoke.

"I wore it like a badge of honor for a long time, before I saw what it really was. A mark. His mark on me, one I am never going to escape. I don't have my name because I earned or deserve it. I have it, because he allowed it! Since then, it's been a chain of shame…" his voice dropped as he started at the floor.

"So, forgive me if I don't share your view on our lives. Because here? In the 112th? You are just a number. I try my best to help the rookies, or ease the veterans, but in the end, I'm more broken than any of them. I'm the oldest one here," a humorless laugh escaped him as the two finally saw tears in his eyes.

"I can't even do what some others have… Take my own life, on my terms. Because that'd mean leaving everyone here behind. I can assure you, Krell is not going to be happy. Having a broken Captain like me by his side is easier than trying to find a new one…"

"Things are calming down," Tup said quietly, leaning over the edge of the hiding place. He was nervous, but at least he wasn't alone.

"This is crazy," Dogma whispered back, gripping his blaster close to his chest. They hid as soon as they could and managed to remain so while the Umbarans attacked all around. They wanted to help, but the logical parts of them told them they'd only get killed or captured. So, they stayed away and watched to try and find a chance to escape.

"Is that… General Krell?" Dogma asked in shock as the Besalisk landed by the tower entrance. For a few seconds, he felt relief because a Jedi could handle these bastards easy. But a second after he landed, Pong deactivated his sabers and the Umbarans seemed to… greet him? They certainly weren't attacking him.

"What the-?" Tup asked in fear as they saw the Jedi talking to an Umbaran who seemed to be the leader, given the additions on his armor.

"Shh!" Dogma hissed and pulled his friend back behind the wall just as some Umbarans turned towards their spot.

"Is – is he working with them?" the question seemed to echo in both their heads as they felt cold. So cold. And watched.

"W-We need to move!" Dogma was shaking, entering a near panic as his voice was hardly raised. But before either could really move, something big and menacing jumped behind them, lightsabers drawn and a smirk on the Besalisk's face.

"What have we here?" Krell asked, voice sadistic as the two soldiers trembled under his sheer strength. It was like they were suffocating and couldn't even aim their weapons.

"Take them to the lab – we have more volunteers," the General said and suddenly Umbarans surrounded the two and cuffed them.

The two couldn't even speak as they continued to stare the monster before them, bodies cold and almost numb as their minds tried to understand and process what the hell was going on. They just knew it wasn't good.

Cut! Phew, we were jumping all over the places weren't we? Hopefully it wasn't confusing ^^" If any of you have questions, feel free to ask and I'll try my best to explain (without spoilering the story)
Thanks a lot for reading! I hope you enjoyed and if you did, please review! I love hearing what you lovely mates think! =D
Till next time~