Okay, so... my 99 theory has a few holes in it. Namely, the symptoms of down syndrome don't line up as well as I thought.

Buckhunter made an explanation that, admittedly, makes way more sense.

Here's a fluffy one shot.

The bad batch walks into 79's and find a clean table to sit at. A server droid comes over to take their orders. Hunter covers Tech's mouth, "he'll have the minimum of alcohol."

Tech pouts as everyone except Echo orders something stronger.

Echo looks at Hunter, "why did you do that?"

Crosshair snickers, "the last time we were here Tech asked one of the droids on a date after a few drinks. He nearly cried when she said no."

Wrecker complains, "yeah, I lost three credits."

Hunter rolls his eyes. "he's also our designated driver and we don't need him flying drunk."

Echo nods in understanding.

When their drinks arrived Crosshair took his and wandered off to flirt with a female twi'lek. Wrecker chugs down his drink and runs off to dance. Hunter nursed his drink as he watched the patrons mingle. Tech pulled his legs up onto Wrecker's seat and leans his back on Hunter while working on his data-pad. Echo listens to everything going on around him while memories play before his eyes. A few minutes later Crosshair comes back with a very attractive lady. He smiles and pokes Tech. Tech blinks up at him as he gestured to her, "look at her, isn't her nose too beautiful to pick?"

a weird squeaking noise comes from Tech as what he said registered.

Echo quickly realized that this was Tech laughing. This constant weird squeak.

The lady rolls her eyes and walks off. Crosshair wanders off to find Wrecker.

A few weeks later the 327th had called in for back up. The batch had flown in to bail them out. During the fight a reg had somehow gotten his butt plate lost, tearing the body glove in that area.

Wrecker points at him, "Tech, look! It's a full moon!"

Tech did not look amused until Crosshair tilted his head and commented, "looks more like a crescent to me."

Tech Squeaked.

Echo watched as Wrecker pouted, handing Crosshair four credits. The trooper checks and runs off in embarrassment.

Wrecker crossed his arms, "how come you can make him laugh but I can't?"

"you can't think that hard."

Echo wondered what Tech found funny. He remembers a joke that always made Fives crack up and goes looking for Tech. He finds him working under the main console. He taps on him, "Tech, I've got a joke for you."

Tech pulls himself out and look at him, "can it wait?"

"it'll only take a second."

"very well." he puts down the tool and watches him.

"what flavor is the color nine?"

Tech freezes as his brain tries to wrap around what he just said. He turns his head and blinks at him, "what?"

"what flavor is the the color nine?"

Tech thinks about it with a confused smile before answering, "soft."

Echo laughs, "it took you a minute."

"that literally made no sense."

"made you smile didn't it?"

"that's not the point."

"yes it was." Echo gets up, "I better let you get back to work." he leaves the room.

Tech climbs back under, muttering, "what flavor is the color nine, that's not even a joke."

Echo come back in, "I just remembered another joke. Do you want to hear it?"

"is it anything like the last one?"

"no."

"fine, what is it?"

"two clones walk into a bar, the third one ducks."

Tech looks at him and fights back a smile. Echo smiles, "I'm getting warmer. How about, The other day, my wife asked me to pass her lipstick but I accidentally passed her a glue stick. She still isn't talking to me."

"get out." Tech says, obviously trying to hold it in.

Echo smiles and leaves again.

Tech continues working while mulling over, "would that work on Crosshair?"

please review, maybe leave a joke I could use for another fic. (no cussing, no inappropriate subjects)