(So I know we had a cliffhanger chapter last time but...)

There was really no avoiding it at this point. Echo and Fives had been asking her to go out with them for the past few hours. They wanted to take her clubbing like they had asked before the first night she went out.

"I still feel bad about going out without you two the other night," she argued, "I really don't think you will have fun with me."

"Dagger, it's ok. We know why you wanted to go, just wish you would have told us first," Echo said.

"Boy, you should have seen the Captain flip out when he realized you were missing," Fives said.

Dagger rubbed the back of her neck, "Did he really?"

"Oh yeah," Fives chuckled, "He almost tore Appo a new one when he reported that you were unaccounted for that morning. Oh and you should have heard his reaction to Dogma and Hardcase's theories."

"Listen, it's hard to not get upset when those two di'kuts get together," Echo said before changing his voice to impersonate Dogma, "I never trusted Dagger and now he left his helmet and deserted the unit."

Dagger scoffed in shock, Fives picked up imitating Hardcase, "Chill out Dogma, Dagger would never leave us. He probably just got kidnapped."

The trio broke into laughter at that. "Wow, did he really say that like it was a better alternative?"

Fives nodded as he and Echo started to strap on their freshly cleaned armor. Dagger lounged across Echo's bed as she was already in full uniform. She knew that eventually they would convince her to go out with them so she had suited up for the occasion.

"Besides, Captain said you could leave the barracks as long as you had someone with you. If you come with us there will be two people with you. I bet the two of us can keep the one of you out of trouble," Echo said.

She laughed, "Out of the three of us I don't think I'm worried about me being the one who gets into trouble."

"Guess you will just have to come find out," Fives said in a sing-song voice.

Dagger slumped back against Echo's pillows in mock defeat, "Fine, I suppose I shall go with you. If nothing else to keep you two from getting lost."

Echo's cheeks flushed as he blurted out, "Or you could just stay in my bed all night long."

Dagger laughed, not realizing the implications of his words, "Maybe when we get back we can push your bunks together and have a slumber party. Like that night on my first mission before we took over the fortress."

"Wait, you slept with Dagger without me? Echo I'm hurt," Fives said holding a hand to his chest.

Echo's cheeks flared even brighter and he quickly put on his helmet to hide it, "You know it wasn't like that you little shit. Dagger was cold and I didn't want him to freeze to death."

"Awww the classic spooning for warmth was it? So maybe that is why you li-"

"Enough Fives, I'm thankful for Echo's help. There is no need to tease him about it now."

Echo, who was panicking inside of his helmet, was only able to nod his appreciation to Dagger. Fives let the subject go, but his devious smirk remained, "c'mon you two. Let's go raise some hell and show Dagger what it's like to party with the 501st."

Dagger allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and waited as Echo attached his freshly ironed kama. He did want to look nice after all. Then they all left together.

~B~

79's was in fact a clone bar, and it seemed to be very busy. Dagger followed closely behind Fives and Echo as they made their way over to a table where Hardcase, and Jesse were waiting for them.

"It sure took you a lot long enough," Hardcase said in greeting as he moved over to make room for them at the booth.

"Yeah well I'm buying the first round so how does that make up for it," Echo said.

There was a chorus of cheers from everyone at the table. Alcohol was always a sure fire way for everyone to have a good time. Everyone shouted what they wanted at Echo and he promised to do his best to get everything.

Dagger stopped him by grabbing his arm at the last second. She shouted over the pounding music, "Grab me a straw."

"What the fuck is a straw?" Echo asked.

"Oh my god, Commander Cody was right," she said.

"About what?"

"Just ask the bartender for a straw in my drink he will know what you are talking about," she said.

Echo nodded his head and went to the bar. She listened mindlessly as Fives told a story of him and Echo going through ARC training. Dagger scanned the club, it was just as busy, if not busier, than Luna's was the other night. There were many more clone troopers and the place was filled with colorful armor reflecting the lights. The music was different too, at Luna's it was a lot of pop music. Here there was rock playing through the speakers.

She nodded her head to the beat, it would seem that she preferred this music. Hardcase nudged her in the arm, "Better than the tunes we get on the radio isn't it?"

Dagger laughed, "If I have to listen to anymore cantina jazz I think I might lose it."

Hardcase laughed with her, his eyes scanning the room haphazardly. She could tell he was jittery, the poor guy always had more energy than he knew what to do with. She laughed to herself as she found herself hoping he didn't start a fight tonight out of boredom.

Echo came back in time to interrupt her train of thought. He placed a variety of drinks in front of everyone. There was a range of colors and appearances to all of them. Fives downed his drink in full before it even hit the table and Echo rolled his eyes.

Much to the numbered clone's dismay, Jesse slapped him on the back as he took his last swallow causing him to cough and spew droplets all over the table. Dagger recoiled in disgust and Fives exclaimed, "What the fuck Jesse?"

The man just shrugged, "Wanted to make sure you weren't choking."

Hardcase shook his head, laughing, "It is a well known fact that Fives has no gag reflex. We tested it remember?"

"What the f-" Dagger started.

Jesse had to interrupt, "While not having a gag reflex is great, that does not mean he can't choke."

Echo slid in next to Dagger and she looked at him and asked, "How do y'all know Fives has no gag reflex? That sounds awfully suspicious to me."

"Don't tell me you believe in the taboo Dagger," Echo said looking down at her with an unreadable emotion.

"What taboo?"

"You know," he said, "some brothers think it is taboo to be with a brother, think it's gross or not right."

Dagger shook her head, "That's not what I meant. Do people really think that?"

Echo nodded and she spoke again, "That's just awful. We all fight for each other and we can't even be accepted by our own brothers. Who the fuck cares who you get with? They don't like it, they should mind their own damn business."

"I'll drink to that," Echo said with a smile. He held up his glass to the center of the table and proclaimed, "Cheers!"

There was a chorus of cheers from everyone who still had a drink to drink from. Dagger clinked her glass with the others, then she slipped the straw under the lip of her helmet and sipped the golden liquid. She had to admit it was not as good as what she had the other day, but it would do.

Fives spoke up, "This music is so much better than that damned radio we got on the Resolute. I think my ears are going to orgasm."

"What's an orgasm?" Hardcase asked, pausing with his drink halfway to his mouth.

Fives snickered but was interrupted by Jesse who wore a devious smirk, "It's when you fold paper to look like birds and shit."

"No bitch, that's oregano," Echo said with absolute certainty.

Dagger's eyes flickered back and forth between the speakers. Listening to this conversation was like watching a train wreck. Her cheeks were flushed bright red and she was thankful for her helmet to hide her face from them. She grabbed Echo's shoulder strap and pulled him closer so she could whisper in his ear.

"Echo, oregano is a spice. Origami is paper folding. Orgasm is what happens at the end of sex," she explained as quickly and consisly as she could.

Now it was Echo's turn to flush bright red. He flinched back as if he had been burning. Just as quickly he leaned back in and whispered hurriedly in Dagger's helmet sensor.

She nodded, "It's called that too. It's ok, you just didn't know the word."

Echo let out a hard breath of air, "Ok, I was about to say. I do not need a lesson in sex ed from my partner... Hold up, have you ever had sex before? You did go home with the beautiful woman that night and stayed at her place."
She smacked her helmet approximately where her forehead would be as he wiggled his eyebrows at her. A quick glance showed her that everyone at the table was looking at her intently.

When she had waited just a moment too long Fives spoke up, "Well don't keep us in suspense, did you get laid or not?"

"No," she said softly, shaking her head.

Echo seemed to relax in, what was that emotion he was showing? Relief? And everyone else just grumbled. Fives smiled, "Hey it's ok kid. Don't think that it's a bad thing to be a virgin."

She nodded, grateful for his reassurance. The silence stretched for a moment too long and Fives slammed his hand on the table, "I'm going for more drinks. You wait here."

"Why do I have the feeling that he is going to do more than just get drinks," Dagger asked.

Echo looked at her with just as much dread as she felt, "I'm sure it will be fine."

Was he trying to convince her or himself?

Jesse and Hardcase seemed to be laughing at the situation. The latter's attention was caught by something shiny on the dance floor. If Dagger were to guess it was a glittery dress. Whatever it was, Hardcase was up in a flash to go investigate. Jesse followed soon after promising to keep him out of trouble.

Echo slid over to the middle of the round booth to make a bit more room for Dagger at the edge of the table. Dagger slides her now empty glass to the center of the table.

He leaned back against the padded seat and stretched his arms across the back. His long arms almost reached all the way to where she was reclining at the end of the booth. She stretched her legs until her calves were resting on the corner of the table and her feet hung in the air. Echo looked at her for propping her feet up and she just shrugged, "Feet aren't on the table, you can't yell at me."

He laughed and grabbed a tooth pick from the center of the table to chew on it. He tapped lightly on her shoulder plate to the beat of the music. They were both just chilling together and Dagger felt at ease. It was nice, amid the chaos of the club to just relax with her best friend.

She looked over at him and he looked back at her expectantly. She realized that this was the closest thing to eye contact that she ever got. She could see his eyes and he could never see hers, "Does it bother you?"

He tilted his head, fingers stopping their beat, "The war?"

She recoiled a little at that, "I mean that's not what I was talking about, but if you wanna get deep with that one uhhhh…"

"No, no that can wait for another time, or never even. What were you asking about?"

"Not making eye contact? I can see your eyes, but you can't see mine," she said, she almost regretted bringing this up.

Echo thought for a moment, chewing on his wooden toothpick, "Nah, not really. I mean I wonder all the time what you look like under that helmet. I just…"

Dagger looked at him and put her arm over his on the back of the seat, "You just what?"

"I just want to be good enough for you to trust me to show me your face. I just want to be there to help whatever is going on inside your head," he said honestly, his eyes filled with sadness.

Dagger looked down, unable to look at the strong emotion that filled his eyes, "I do trust you Echo, more than anyone else in my life. I just know that you wouldn't like what you saw under this helmet. I am a mistake, I don't even know why the Kaminoans kept me, a defect in the system."

"I refuse to believe that," he said shaking his head, "Whatever they told you Dagger, you are not a mistake. Don't believe them. There is a reason that Captain and the General are on their way to Kamino right now. They are going for you because you did not deserve the treatment that you got during training. You are one of us, no matter what you look like."

She nodded, "Thank you Echo. I couldn't ask for a better brother than you."

They shared a moment of silence before it was shattered by Fives sliding into the other end of the booth, "Hey boys, so I was just talking to a friend of mine a-"

"You have friends?" Dagger jabbed. Fives laughed along with her and just smirked instead of retaliating like he was known to do.

Dagger jumped as a soft touch landed on her shoulder, right in the crease between her chest plate and shoulder, "I'm the friend."

The voice was soft and distinctly feminine. Dagger looked up sharply to see the twi'lek standing beside her. She had a beautiful light purple hue to her skin and glittery silver jewelry that caught the light of the club.

"Oh geez you snuck up on me. Hello ma'am, would you like to sit?" she said as she started to move over closer to Echo.

She hummed playfully, "I think I would."

Before Dagger could move anymore she was throwing her leg over Dagger's lap and sat on her thighs, straddling her completely. Dagger took in a breath of air, her hands hovering awkwardly, "Well hello there. Um could I possibly interest you in a seat that is not on me?"

She laughed, "You must be new, sweetie. I know almost everyone who comes in to 79s. I guess you could say I have a type for clones."

"Well then I don't think you are going to like me much. I was just telling Echo that I'm not quite the same as everyone else," Dagger said. She had no idea what to do in this situation. She looked over the twi'lek's shoulder at Fives who was lounging back just watching. What the hell was he trying to do?

"My name's Marian and I think I'd like a chance to get to know you a bit. Fives did say what a great soldier you are. Won't you let a girl indulge in her fantasy a bit?"

She reached up for her helmet and Dagger quickly grabbed her hands, "the helmet stays on."

Marian smiled, that wasn't a no, "I can work with that. I like a bit of mystery anyway."

Echo was looking back and forth frantically trying to figure out what to do with himself. Fives grabbed him and pulled him around the booth, "Hey, let Dagger figure it out on his own and just enjoy the show in the process."

Dagger had no idea what to do with the girl sitting on her lap. She didn't push her off even though she knew that she could easily dislodge her if she wanted to. She went to settle her hands on the seat, but Marian caught them and placed her hands on her hips.

She could feel the soft fabric of her slinky black dress. There were two high cuts in the fabric that exposed her thighs. Dagger could feel every movement of her hips as she swayed to the beat.

"Oh honey you haven't ever done this before have you?" Marian asked.

Dagger shook her head quickly, "I'm not even sure what this is ma'am."

The twi'lek laughed, "I'm an entertainer darling. Enjoy the show."

Dagger sat back against the seat and kept as still as she possibly could. What the fuck was going on? How did someone even move like that? She peaked over the woman's shoulder as she swayed to the side. Fives and Echo were both watching with open mouths.

Marian leaned in and she could feel her breath tickling her neck. Dagger grunted at the sensation it caused. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was strange. She had been slipping between emotions, but it was as if a bucket of ice was thrown on her as she reached her hand's behind Dagger's back which was arching off the seat.

Her fingers connected with her blacks, right over one of her most sensitive scars sending a tingle of pain straight up her spine. Dagger flinched violently, she realized she was not safe here and this should not be happening.

She shook her head quickly and grabbed the lithe woman by her hips and hoisted her up. Dagger all but dropped her on the booth next to her as she stood. Marian yelped in confusion at the quick action.

Dagger slammed her fist on the table and leaned over Fives menacingly. She jabbed her finger at him and shouted, "Don't ever do that again. I don't need to meet your friends if they are going to hurt me."

With that she stormed away, she needed a drink. The second he got over the shock of being yelled at by Dagger, Fives scrambled after her. Echo apologized profusely to Marian, who in all honesty was taking the situation very well. She even told Echo to apologize to Dagger when he had calmed down for her. He promised that he would and he quickly followed his brothers.

Dagger made her way to the bar, ignoring Fives' calls for her to stop. She caught the bartender's attention and ordered the strongest shot he had. The man looked her up and down right as Fives and Echo came to a stop behind her, "Aren't you a bit short to be a clone trooper?"

Fives bristled beside her as she stood ramrod straight, "excuse me?!"

The bartender responded, "Well I mean you are short. What are you defective?"

Dagger was shocked into stillness but Fives did not hesitate to act. As if he was jumping over a fence; he planted his hand on the bar and vaulted over with skilled power. The man backed up as fast as he could, but nothing could outrun Fives' fist that was already headed for his face, "No one! I mean no one gets to talk to my brother like that!"

It only took a moment for the bartender to respond with punches of his own. Dagger was in shock, she tried to jump over the bar to pull Fives off of the man he was fighting with. Suddenly Echo's hand was on her shoulder and he shook his head, "Stay here."

Then he proceeds to jump over the bar just like Fives had and also attack the bartender. People were screaming and there was broken glass everywhere. The music was cut off and everyone in the club was looking at them. The man grabbed Echo by the chest plate and spun him into the glass shelves which shattered on impact. Fives dove headfirst at him in an attempt to headbutt him, except he slipped on the alcohol on the floor and ended up slamming his own nose against the other's forehead. This seemed to do more damage to himself than his opponent.

It seemed like seconds later and there were sirens blaring outside. If Dagger wasn't wearing a helmet she was sure that her eyes would have popped out of their sockets with how wide they went.

She jumped over the bar, much less elegantly than her brothers, and desperately tried to pull Fives away from the man he had in a headlock. The soldier was screaming something unintelligible at him that Dagger really didn't have time to decipher right now. Oh no the cops are in the club. Echo also seemed to realize this and tried to get Fives to release him.

It was too late, by the time he did let go the police droids were already surrounding them. Fives, who had been on a rampage, was now subdued and sulking.

Dagger glared at him and Echo as all three of them were put in cuffs, "I hate you right now. You fucking dipshits."

The coughing bartender started screaming as they were being escorted out of the bar, something about how they were never allowed back into his club. The entire club was watching as they were walking out. Hardcase and Jesse right at the front of the crowd. Jesse was obviously holding back Hardcase to make sure he didn't do anything stupid to also get arrested.

It seemed that all three had the same collective thought because at the same time Dagger, Echo, and Fives yelled to Jesse, "Don't tell Rex!"