DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

"SNIPERRR!" roared the voice of Garm as the 222nd made a protective circle around Cresh, Siysa and the prone form of Tarn.

Cresh had instinctively covered his lover and his children with his body in case any more shots were fired their way. The others fired in the direction of the fleeing sniper, with a few men being sent after them. When he was positive that it was safe, Cresh got off his family.

"You guys ok?" he asked, looking them over.

Siysa nodded her head, whilst the twins whined slightly, probably from all the commotion. A groan nearby caught his attention and Cresh instantly went over to Tarn. He removed his helmet, holding the captain's upper body in his arms.

"Medic!" He yelled." Kir I need you over here! You're gonna be ok vod. Don't worry"

Tarn weakly smiled, looking at the smoldering hole in his chest. The captain shook his head.

"N..nah..thats..it for me brother. Clean through. I see killshots like this before. Trooper never makes it." he responded.

Cresh expression dropped, sadness clouding his features. This clone…this man..his brother risked it all to reunite Cresh with his family. He risked his own livelihood and peace. Now because of him, Tarn's family would be without a father. Because of him..

Cresh felt a weak punch on his chest and looked down to see Tarn smiling weakly.

"Hey..I know that expression…Don't go blaming..yaself now. I'll do it all over again if I could." Tarn said as he took Cresh's hand into his own, gripping it with all the strength he had left.

"I don't have much left..but look here brother. Promise me..promise me you'll take care fo Zuri and my boy. Promise." he said, his expression one full of determination.

Cresh nodded, smiling at his brother.

"I promise Tarn. I'll look after them as if they were my own. " Came the Arc's response.

Tarn weakly chuckled, his grip starting to lessen.

"Good..that's all..a dying man..could ask for.." he finished, his hand falling from Cresh grasp.

Tarn's body went limp in Cresh arms, his head lolling to the side, a single tear escaping from his dead eyes.

Cresh held the body to him tightly. Though he didn't know Tarn ong, what eh did for him would forever place Cresh in his debt. He had saved his family and for that the arc would be forever grateful. He looked down at his fallen brother, a small smile forming on his face.

"You asked me what I would name my daughter vod. Your last words helped me think of it. Kar'ta brother. Her name will be Kar'ta. It means heart in Mando'a." he said, gently laying the arc's body down.

Kir came to him, kneeling down beside the fallen captain.

"He was a good man. He didn't have to stick his neck out for me and Siysa but he did. He was a true brother until the very end. That shot though it made no sense. They went for hm when you and Siysa were right there, vulnerable." Kir questioned out loud.

Cresh stood up, picking up his helmet and putting it back on his head. He was certain he knew who the culprit was and if hsi hunch was right then he was too far gone for him to make a difference.

"That's because we were never the target." the arc stated, anger lacing his voice like venom.

He turned his back, motioning for some of his men to retrieve Tarn's body and escort Siysa and the twins to safety.

"Kir lead us to where Tarn hid you and Siysa. We need to get to his family..fast. Garm, come with us, Haru and Sif will stay with Siysa." he finished.

Garm, Haru and Sif nodded, while Kir went to catch up with his already departing commander.

"What's going on, sir? Are They in danger?" Kir asked, worry evident in his voice.

"Aye ner vod and that's exactly why we have to get to them as soon as we can." Cresh stated.

Kir, catching on to the urgency in his voice, moved forward,waving them towards him.

"This way then. Follow me." he stated, leading them to where he was hidden.

"Demagol.." Cresh thought in his head. "This will be the last time you and one every take a brother's life in front of my eyes." he said, clenching his fist tightly.

~OOO~

"Just this way. We're almost there!" said Kir as he led them through the city alleyway.

"This is where Roller went off too. We haven't been able to raise him on comms either." Garm chimed in.

Cresh didn't like this at all. Things weren't looking good. Not whatsoever.

Kir led them to a home and Cresh's heart dropped when he saw the door had been broken down.

The trio rushed in, weapons raised and at the ready. Inside they found Roller laid out on the ground, a blaster wound in his chest and a Zabrak women he assumed to be Zuri.

Garmchecked Roller's vitals, and shook his head. The trooper was dead. Cresh smashed his fist into the wall in anger.

Were they too late? Had he failed?

"Wait sir! The child. He's still alive..but barely. His mother had took the brunt of the shots. She was wearing armor underneath her clothes." Kir yelled as he hovered over the fallen from of Zuri, checking the small hybrid child she was protecting.

Cresh was instantly at his side, looking over the small child. The boys eyes were half opened, yet he reached for him, taking the arc's finger into his hands.

There was still hope yet. Tarn's legacy would live on.

"Get a medevac here stat. We're getting him outta here." Cresh said as he gently took the boy into his arms.

He was gonna make sure he lived.

~OOO~

Demagol listened intently to republic comms. He heard Cresh call for a medevac, from the home of the deserter. The arc shook his head, looking at the trooper left in charge of the assassination. Forty-Two stood helmet less, in attention alongside the rest of their revenue in their temporary base of operations.

"Ahhh my dear Forty-Two looks like you failed to ensure the death of one of the targets." he said, wrapping his arm around the troopers shoulder. He could see the slight discomfort in the soldier's face.

"Welllll..I wouldn't count it a complete failure. We managed to take down the deserter and his woman, so I'ld say its not too bad. Not like the kid could spill any republic secrets, no?" he said, tapping the trooper on the back.

"Don't worry. I won't worry about what pour wonderful leader will say. I'll handle this personally..we have much to speak about..Dismissed." Demagol said coyly.

"Oh and Forty-two." he called, causing the trooper to halt and look back towards him.

"Sir?"

"Keep the scar…Looks nice on you.. Gives me an idea." he said, once more grabbing the trooper in a "brotherly" embrace.

"I think i'll bless you with a name now. Scarface..Yes..Scarface." He said, quickly removing a knife from his waist and using it to quickly slice up his brother's face. The trooper dropped to his knees, holding the bloody ruins of his face, He didn't even scream.

Demagol twirled the flicked the blood from the knife, twirling the weapon in his hands.

"That's a good name for you to go by..Especially with those..heinous wounds you got. A present from me to you..little brother~" Demagol cooed, as he left, leaving the newly named Scarface to his own devices.

And thus another chapter down, with this arc slowly reaching its conclusion. Decided to do a shock drop to celebrate the 4th. I hope you all liked it. Next chapter will be coming next week. Enjoy the remainder of your day and may the 4th be with you all.