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After repeated setbacks on the planet Anaxes, an elite clone squad is deployed to investigate the tactical advantage if Admiral Trench's Separatist Forces. This special unit, called the Bad Batch, infiltrates Trench's cyber center to steal a strategic algorithm capable of predicting the Republic's every move. What our heroes found was a live signal from the ARC trooper known as Echo, a clone long believed to be dead.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka Tano, Lux Bonteri and Commander Fox proceed with a dangerous mission to unearth more corruption within the Galaxy...
With a clank and a splutter, the old, worn out freighter ungraciously set down in the landing bay in the space port of the capital of Oba Diah. Inside the craft, the occupants were jostled about in their seats as the rusted bag of bolts touched down, sparks flying from the control panel as wiring came undone. Lux actually recoiled as a small fire broke out on the wall opposite his seat, only for the flame to be quickly extinguished by a ceiling-mounted fire suppressor.
"You couldn't have gotten something a little more sporty, Soka?" he quipped with a sarcastic tone, only to get a sly smirk from Ahsoka in return.
"We are trying to be inconspicuous, DARLING," she playfully jeered, earning a chuckling fit from Fox as he rose from his seat, followed by Ahsoka before leaving the cockpit, a grumbling Lux following close behind. Once outside of the freighter, the trio could see that they landed just a few clicks from the Palace, the home and base of operations of the Pyke Syndicate, the towering structure looking even more imposing with the fading light.
But, the group knew that now wasn't the time to get cold feet.
"Alright," Ahsoka began, "I'll make my way toward the west entrance. It should be right near their main database. Go set the charges at the east entrance, and when I give the signal...light it up."
Fox loved the sound of that.
"With pleasure," he said with a sadistic smile, the gleam in his eyes seen clearly through the dirty goggles he wore. With that, Fox bolted toward the east entrance, but stopped when he noticed Lux wasn't following. Stopping in his tracks, Fox looked back with confusion and agitation, only for his frame to relax when he saw Lux embracing Ahsoka, their lips dancing in a passionate kiss.
"Be careful Soka," Lux whispered after breaking the kiss, earning a playful smile from his girlfriend.
"I'm not the one who needs to be careful, Lux," she teased before turning away and running toward the west gate of the Palace, leaving lux staring in the middle of the crowded bazaar.
"Alright lover boy," Fox teased as he grabbed Lux's arm, pulling him along so as target into position, unaware that the trio had been watched by a hooded figure, the undercover Republic agents reflected in their black visor.
Within minutes, the three were in position. Ahsoka nonchalantly browsed the bazaar so as not to draw suspicion, her eyes on the west gate, which to her surprise was lightly guarded; five pyke guards at best. Meanwhile, near the west gate, Lux and Fox were walking in what many would assume to be a leisurely stroll along the the east wall of the palace. But, unknown to any bystander, they were discretely dropping thermal detonators along the base of the wall. And once they approached the east gate, which was also guard by five or more guards, the two broke away from the wall, planning to just blend in with the crowd of the bazaar.
Fishing his com out of a pouch on his belt, Lux held the small device to his mouth.
"Soka, everything is ready. Let us know when...'
"HEY! YOU TWO!"
Lux and Fox froze at the metallic sound of the pyke guard's voice. Apparently they were not as inconspicuous as they had hoped to be. AT this point, Lux began to panic.
"Soka, we've been spotted," he urgently whispered, his heart pounding a mile a minute as he heard the footsteps of the pyke grow louder.
"THIS A RESTRICTED AREA! STATE YOUR BUSINESS!" the guard called, training his blaster on the two men's backs as he approached. For a split second, the two thought it was all over...
That is until they heard Ahsoka's voice over the com.
"Light it up."
Grabbing onto Lux, Fox dive behind some dura-tseel crates, the sudden move surprising the guard who fired a shot from his blaster, the bolt barely missing Fox's head by mere inches. But, once the duo were safely behind some cover, Fox pulled out remote detonator. Triggering the explosives lining the wall.
Within minutes, it was absolute...
Chaos.
Well, that wasn't any different from the usual mess that was Fort Anaxes. But, a particular Jedi and group of clones weren't going to be around for much longer for it to be a problem to them. Walking away from the command center, Anakin, accompanied by Rex, Fives, and Hunter were discussing the details involving the upcoming mission.
Or rather, proposed mission.
"Word is the General Staff isn't a hundred percent onboard with this mission," Hunter quipped, clear skepticism of his own laced in his voice.
"I'll admit," Rex added, "the idea that Echo is alive is a long shot. But it's the best lead we have."
At this point, Fives was starting to get a little fed up with all the skepticism.
"Echo IS alive," he interjected, "I know he is." Looking toward the ARC trooper, Anakin could sense the anxiety and sheer determination from him, and if he was being honest, it greatly unnerved him.
"Well let's just remember," Anakin butted in, "the primary objective's to find out how Trench is counter our tactics. whether it's Echo behind it or not."
"Well, if you ask me," Hunter added in, "it sounds like a trap. But, me and the boys will tag along, if only to say 'I told you so.'"
"We need the go ahead from the Jedi Council first," Rex added. Upon hearing this, Five's eagerness became more apparent as he stepped forward.
"If you're so certain they'll approve the mission, then let's get going."
Anakin, who quite frankly was becoming annoyed with Fives, rolled his eyes. Anything to calm him down, he thought to himself, but first...
"Alright Fives, relax," Anakin said, clear annoyance in his voice, "we'll get going after I talk to Padme. I'm late enough as is. Come on Rex."
"Right behind you, sir," Rex said as the pair began walking toward the barracks, leaving Fives and Hunter alone.
"Come on, Hunter," Fives said, "let's get to the ship."
As the pair walked toward the shuttle on the airfield, passing by formations of the newly arrived 41st Battalion, Hunter decided to strike up a conversation with Fives.
"So the rumors are true," he began, "The General is married to the Naboo Senator."
Looking to Hunter, who was sporting a sly smile, Fives couldn't help but laugh at the question.
"Yeah, but the boys in the 501st kinda already knew that."
Hunter, upon hearing this, let out a grunt of a laugh, followed by a few moments of silence.
"You know," he began again, "me and the boys have had plenty of time to read up on what you did a month ago. Pretty gutsy if you ask me."
"I just did my duty," Fives said with a sheepish smile, which did not go unnoticed by Hunter, who playfully nudged his brother in the side.
"Well," he began, "doing your duty saved the galaxy. You're a hero. And a lucky one too, if your Jedi Lady-Friend is any indication."
Shoving Hunter playfully, the two clones laughed as they ascended the ramp to the Havoc Marauder to join the rest of the Bad Batch, but not before Fives noticed some nose art of a very familiar senator.
"You realize the General is going to make you take that down, right?" Fives quipped as he gestured to the provocative image of Senator Amidala, earning a shrug of the shoulder's from Hunter. Needless to say, Fives was right, for few minutes later, Anakin and Rex joined them, with the former taking obvious offense to the nose art.
"That is not staying there," Anakin hissed to Rex. But, given the fact that they were in a hurry to leave, which kind of tipped Fives off that the mission request had been denied, but they were going through with it anyway, made Anakin put the matter aside. After making all the necessary preparations, the small squad made their way off Anaxes before jumping to hyperspace.
Their destination: Skako Minor.
Back on Oba Diah, Lux and Fox were in a hot mess.
Following the explosion, the two stuck to the plan and made themselves scarce. Or at least tried to. But, when you are two suspicious individuals running away from a blast after being held at blaster-point, it was no surprise that several guards would be chasing after them. Running through the bazaar, the two men did everything they could to shake off their pursuers, from weaving between civilians, knocking over crates, anything.
They were so busy running that they didn't notice that hey had passed the same hooded figure that had been watching them, the Mandalorian female just staring at the chase before running off into the shadows.
But, while Lux and Fox weren't faring too well, Ahsoka's end of the mission was going along swimmingly. When word came in about the explosion on the east side of the Palace, the meager number of guards at the west gate went to reinforce the east gate, leaving behind a couple of their comrades, which Ahsoka could definitely sneak by with ease.
Climbing up onto the roof of a nearby stall, Ahsoka, after taking a deep breath, jumped over the wall, using the force to amplify her leap. And, with a stunning amount of grace, tuck and rolled on the ground inside of the compound. Looking around, Ahsoka was relieved to see that she had gotten in undetected. Not wasting a single moment, the young togruta bolted for the palace, sneaking past several guards as she made her way inside, taping into the force to map her way through the facility.
Too bad Fox and Lux weren't faring as well as her.
Try as they might, the two men just couldn't shake their pursuers.
But in matter of seconds, that became the least of their worries, for as they rounded a corner, the two came face to face with a squad of guards, their blasters trained on them. Thinking they might be able to double back and find another way, the duo were wrong as the pykes pursuing them rounded the corner, pointing their own blasters at them. And despite trying to find every possible way out of their current situation...
The two came to the inescapable conclusion that there was no chance.
And so, with great reluctance, the two raised their hands above their heads, surrendering the the criminal organization, the guards quickly escorting them away, unaware that they were being observed from the top of a far off cliff by three hooded figures, Mandalorians following a lead on an enemy working with the pykes. And one was very intrigued by the scene she had just witnessed.
"What do you think?" she heard one of her subordinates ask. the same one who had encountered Fox and Lux in the bazaar.
"I wasn't sure if the togruta was the Jedi I encountered on Carlac," the leader responded, "but seeing her with Lux Bonteri, I am now certain it is her."
"What are they doing here?" the subordinate inquired, "her presence could compromise or mission."
"Perhaps," the leader concurred, though the tone to her voice conveyed a warning edge, "but remember, we and the Jedi have a common enemy..."
There was a brief pause, as if the leader was in deep thought, hat is until she spoke again.
"Let's keep track of her...she may be of use to us."
Meanwhile, in the city of Purkoll on Skako Minor, Wat Tambor glided across the durastell floor of a research chamber inside one of his main facilities. The chamber itself was dimly lit, the only light coming from the computers and control panels, as well as two electrical coils on either side of the system, ripples of purple electricity causing a buzzing sound from the static.
"We are receiving an incoming transmission from Admiral Trench on Anaxes," a blue-skinned Skakoan addressed Tambor.
"Put him through," Tambor ordered as he moved toward one of the communication monitors on the console. With a faint hum, the projector displayed the six-eyed face of Admiral Trench.
"Pardon the intrusion, Minister Tambor," the harch admiral apologized, "but I have disturbing news."
"You may proceed Admiral," Tambor responded with a nod.
"An infiltration team of clones has traced the algorithm signal to Skako," Trench warned, "I believe your operation there is in jeopardy."
"The Republic would not dare attack us," Tambor argued, "the Techno Union has corporate neutrality."
After clicking his fangs, Trench offered a very convincing counterargument.
"You seem to forget, Minister Tambor," Trench began with a frown, "that with the arrest of Senator Saam, the neutrality of the Techno Union has been revoked."
Taking a moment to contemplate Trench's words, Tambor knew he was right.
"I accept your reasoning, Admiral."
"And even if your neutrality had stayed intact," Trench continued from what I have seen," Trench continued, "from what I have seen, that would not have mattered to these Republic operatives."
"Then we shall be ready for them," Tambor said, determination in his voice.
Needless to say, the Republic infiltration team's arrival on Skako Minor didn't quite go as planned. As soon as they landed, the group was attacked by a group of locals, the poltecs, primitive warriors who rode massive flying reptiles known as keredaks. One of the natives, later identified as the chief of a local tribe, had abducted Anakin. But, thanks to Crosshair and Tech, the latter hooking a grappling line to one of the flying beast, Hunter was able to hitchhike the way to the poltecs' village, where, after a brief scuffle, managed to free the General. Unfortunately,their was a slight communication issue. But, not for Tech.
"Tech," Hunter called, holding his blaster to the poltec chief's head, "translate what he's saying."
After punching in a few codes into his wrist com, Tech was able to pull the poltecian language on his helmet visor, allowing him to translate what the natives were saying.
"He says he does not want our war on his planet," Tech translated, "that is why he took our leader."
Anakin, finally understanding that this is all a misunderstanding, decided it was best to try and explain themselves.
"We didn't bring the war here," he explained to the chief, "it was Wat Tambor and the Separatists."
With some difficulty, Tech was able to translate what Anakin was saying in poltec. In fact, it almost sounded like he was trying to talk backwards. Stepping in, Fives decided to explain the reason for their arrival.
"Tell him we apologize for what's happened," he began, "but tell him, the enemy is holding one of our men prisoner in Purkoll. As soon as we rescue him, we will leave his planet. FOR GOOD."
As soon as Tech explained this to the chief, the latter, after a moment's thought, began to speak.
"He says he will give us scouts who will lead us to Purkoll," Tech translated, "from there, we are on our own."
"Any help is better than no help," Anakin sighed.
"I'll say," Fives quietly quipped to himself.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka was making her way through the corridors of the Pyke Palace, her senses on high alert for any potential threats while still using the force to hone in on the pyke central data-base. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps from ahead, Ahsoka quickly hid her self in a shallow alcove. Luckily, the shadowy corner offered plenty in terms of camouflage, as the two pyke guards passed by without glancing her way.
Stepping out fromt he alcove, Ahsoka continue don her way, keeping her senses up as she made her way further into the facility. But, just as she rounded the corner of the corridor, loud metallic sounds could be heard from behind a nearby door. Curiosity getting the best of her, Ahsoka made her the door and, after using the force to determine that one was behind it, entered a vast chamber consumed in heat and warm glow of furnaces, the flames heating massive containers filled with, from hat Ahsoka could see and smell, spice.
She was standing in the middle of a refinery, used to make powerful drugs that the pykes sold on the black market. Ahsoka realized she must have been staring for too long, as she was pulled from the thoughts of a door whooshing open form overhead. Quickly finding a place to hide, Ahsoka looked up to see a pair of guards leaving a room that seemed to house several computers.
"Gotcha," Ahsoka whispered as she realized she had found her way into the pykes database. Unfortunately, just as she began making her way to the ladder that would lead the platform that overlooked the refinery, a voice shouted out.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Looking to the source of the voice, Ahsoka's eyes widened at the realization that she had been caught by a trandoshian worker worker on one of the lower levels, who quickly turned to another worker.
"SOUND THE ALARM!"
Within seconds, Ahsoka was forced to go back the way she came, running through the corridors as the sound of several footsteps followed behind her. She was especially lucky to avoid several blaster bolts that had been fired by the pursuing guards. Luckily, Ahsoka had taken some time before the mission t re-hone her skills in agility, making it easy for her to doge and weave between blaster bolts and around corners.
Unfortunately, as she rounded one corner, she had just enough time to let out a loud gasp as stun blast was sent in her direction, swiftly knocking her unconscious as the guards pursuing her ran around the corner, finding their leader, Marg Krim, blaster in hand, standing over the incapacitated togruta.
"Take this filth to the detention block," he ordered before turning away, a smug smirk forming on his he heard the young woman let out an unconscious moan.
Back on Skako Minor, on a small cliff formation, the Republic team, lead by two poltec scouts, now had a clear view of tall, spindly spires that extended high above the dense cloud cover. Turning to the group, one of the scouts pointed toward the towering structures, speaking in his native language. Off course, Anakin had a good idea what he was saying; they had arrived at Purkoll. With a nod, Anakin dismissed the two natives who then began to descend the rocky slopes back to their village. Looking behind him toward his team, Anakin allowed a sly smile to form on his lips.
"Hope no one's afraid of heights," he quipped. Although it was meant to be light-hearted, Anakin's smile soon fell as three of the four Bad Batch members immediately turned their attention to Wrecker, who sheepishly looked away.
"I ain't scared of nothing," Wrecking bluntly replied, although his attentions was soon draw to a sharp drop of to the side of the cliff they were on as he continued, "it's just, when I'm up real high, I have problem with gravity."
"Speaking of problems," Tech chimed in, typing away on his wrist comm, "I'm no longer picking up Echo's signal."
Upon hearing this, all members of the group cast an incredulous look toward Tech.
"I-I don't understand," Fives wavering voice sounded, "you said the signal was coming from the city."
It was at this point Tech pulled out his personal data pad as he tried to regain the signal.
"Well," he stressed, "it's possible there is a latency issue. What with all these atmospheric disturbances."
"Or maybe," Hunter chimed in, a dark edge to his voice, "they sent the signal to lure us into a trap, and your friend is actually DEAD. I can't be the only one thinking that?"
At this point, Rex had had enough of the Bad Batch's attitude.
"Listen," he said in hard voice, clearly trying to attain dominance over the current situation, "every mission could be a trap, this one is no different."
"We've been telling you," Fives butted in, he voice laced with a venomous tone, "that signal is being sent by Echo himself. HE'S ALIVE!"
"I think you two are letting your personal feelings get in the way," Crosshair chimed in, slowing turning around to descend the rock formation, "because you left him for dead at the Citadel."
Looking to Fives, Rex could see his brother clench up his fists. It was clear the situation was getting out of hand. Before Rex could counter Crosshair's claim, Fives spoke.
"WE-HAD-NO-CHOICE!" he practically screamed, "YOU HEAR ME?!"
Crosshair, clearly unfazed by Fives's hostility, merely offered a less than wise quip.
"Oh, I don't blame you," he said passively, "I would have left him for dead too. Besides, he's just another reg."
Before anyone could stop him, Fives lunged for Cross, succeeding in getting two jabs to the sniper's helmet before removing said piece of armor to to deliver a savage headbutt, which succeeded in giving the stunned commando a bloody nose. Watching Wrecker step forward, his arm outstretched to grab Fives, Hunter, to the other's surprise, raised a hand for him to stay right were he was. Reluctantly, he did so as he witnessed this Reg beat his teammate to a pulp. But, if Wrecker was being honest to himself, he was actually quite impressed with Fives's strength.
Unfortunately, as he watched one of his best troopers attack one of his brothers with such feral ferocity, Anakin became unnerved by the dark energy flowing through Fives.
"Fives," he called softly as he approached the enraged clone, who at this point was straddling Crosshair as he delivered punch after punch to the sniper's face, some effectively being blocked by the latter. Upon reaching Fives, Anakin quickly grabbed the ARC trooper's wrist before it came down on Crosshair's already bruised and bloodied face. Turning swiftly to meet the gaze of his General, Fives, expecting to to see resentment and disappointment in the Jedi's eyes, was met with something even more heartbreaking;
Love and understanding.
Realizing what he had just done, Fives quickly stood up, allowing Tech to help Crosshair to his feet. As this happened, Anakin turned to Hunter with a cold expression.
"Sergeant," he said in a low and cold voice, causing said clone to flinch slightly, "take your men and scower the tower for an entrance. I want to talk to my men alone."
With an understanding nod, Hunter mentioned for the rest of the Bad Batch to follow him. As they did, Fives felt Hunter pat his shoulder, while Wrecker nudged him playful.
"Crosshair definitely CROSSED the line there," he mumbled loud enough for Fives to hear. Looking to Tech, Fives saw the tech wiz offer a small nod. It was at that moment he knew that the other members of the special unit had taken his side. Watching the quartet of commandos leave, Fives felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Fives," Anakin softly whispered, a calm expression once again on his face, "I hate to say it, but you have to prepare for the possibility Echo IS dead, and that this is all a Separatist trick."
"Sir," Fives said with a shaky breath, slowly removing his helmet, revealing tear stained cheeks as he looked at his General, "when I saw that shuttle get destroyed, I realized that I was the last surviving member of Domino Squad. But, when I heard that transmission at the cyber center, I knew it was Echo. He's alive, sir! I know it!"
What Anakin did next greatly surprised Fives. Even Rex was a bit dumbfounded as his General enveloped his best brother in a tight embrace.
"I hope you're right," Anakin whispered to Fives before pulling away, "but if for some reason you're wrong..."
"Then I'll deal with it," Fives interrupted in hard tone, which was a satisfactory answer for Anakin.
After taking a few minutes to emotionally recover, Fives, along with the General and Captain, rejoined the Bad Batch at the base of one of the many spires of Purkoll. In the time since they had been their, Tech, who had since regained Echo's signal, had been working on cracking an interface to a door leading to a tower where the signal was coming from. Once the door opened, Crosshair conformed that the small chamber was in fact a lift, much to Wrecker's chagrin. After piling in, Anakin felt the need to stress that their operation was purely stealth. Unfortunately for them, once the door to the lift opened, the group was met by a hoard of Techno Union Security Droids, which, of course, the Bad Batch started blasting.
"So much for stealth," Rex quipped to Anakin and Fives before they too joined in the carnage. After dispatching the droids, the group made their way into the city, blasting more droids along the way. Unfortunately, the group ran into another problem; Tech had once again lost Echo's signal.
"What?" Fives asked incredulously, "I don't understand."
"Yeah," Rex added in, "there's no atmospheric disturbances up here."
That's when Tech had a sudden thought.
"Well I do have a new theory," he began to explain, "I'm surprised I didn't think of it sooner. The signal is only traceable during data transmissions. So until Echo dispenses more intel, I cannot trace the signal."
It was at that moment Anakin issued an order to split up and search every room until they found Echo. After a few run-ins with more security droids, Tech managed to regain Echo's signal, coming from behind a reinforced dura-steel door. After knocking on the door, Rex turned to Tech.
"Tech, see if you can get this door open."
However, as soon as Rex said this, a humming sound resonated from a nearby communication screen.
"You clones are so predictable," came the voice of Wat Tambor as his image came into focus.
"Wat Tambor," Rex sneered from under his helmet.
"Your algorithm predicted every move you made to infiltrate Purkoll," Tambor mocked.
Fives, seething with anger, stepped past Rex as he began to angrily address the prideful skakoan.
"There is no algorithm," he seethed, "we know you are holding a Republic prisoner here."
"Prisoner?" Tambor inquired with mock ignorance, "I do not know what you mean."
It was at this point that Fives was loosing all control of his temper.
"I am leaving here with my friend," he continued to seethe as he jabbed a finger at the projector.
"Your friend is dead," Tambor responded coldly, "his mind is now ours."
Taken aback by this very unnerving claim, Fives still manged to hold out some form of hope.
"Liar!" he growled.
Unfortunately, at that moment, the unmistakable sound of clanking foots could be heard approaching their position. Turning quickly, the group found they were surrounded by hoards of security droids.
"Execute them!" Tambor bellowed as his connection faded out. Luckily for the clones, Anakin and Crosshair had rejoined the group in time to help take out the droid forces, only for their work to be undone as more hoards of Techno Union clankers closed in on their position.
"Tech!" Anakin called, nodding toward the durasteel door, "open that door for Rex and Fives!"
"Yes sir!" Tech responded smartly.
"Hey Fives!" Crosshair called from his position, causing said ARC trooper to look at him, "I hope you find what you're looking for in there!"
Recovering from the brief moment of shock, Fives offered a nod of gratitude toward the grizzly sniper before joining Rex and Tech, the latter having succeeded in opening the door to what could only be described as a very dark and foreboding place. Approaching a large console, the trio looked up to see a strange looking capsule.
"I don't like the look of this," Tech said before moving to the console, taking in the different buttons and switches until he found something interesting. "Looks to be a stasis pod," he said as he began to fiddle with the instruments on the console, "and I am definitely picking up a life-form in their."
Soon, cool jets of frozen vapor began to escape from the capsule as Tech continued to work.
"I think I can get it open."
Just as he said that, Tech pulled back on some levers, which succeeded in opening the pod, the contents falling out, only to be stopped by cables holding it in place.
"No," Fives gasped out as he took in the horrifying site before.
"Echo," Rex croaked out as he climbed on top of the console, helping the emaciated clone down.
"Tech, we gotta get he outta hear," Rex ordered, "see if you can unplug him from...from this mess!"
Lying Echo down on the cold floor, Rex, accompanied by Fives, knelt down, removing their helmets to get a better look at their fallen brother.
"What have they done to you?" Fives practically sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks, as his gaze traveled all over his brother's body. While being very malnourished, Echo's legs had also been replaced with cybernetic replacements. Echo's right arm had also been replaced with what appeared to be a socket plug used for interfacing with computer systems.
Suddenly, Echo lurched forward his he began to mumble loudly.
"We have to...get to the shuttle, to escape the Citadel," he gasped, looking around erratically, "NO! I'll go first...I'll go first!"
"Echo! ECHO!" Fives sobbed as he gently shook his brother, "It's Fives...a-and Rex! We're here!"
Upon hearing hearing this, Echo managed to calm down enough to take in the forms of his brothers.
"F-Fives?" he mumbled, earning an eager nod from his fellow ARC trooper.
"Rex?" he quietly inquired as he looked to his captain, who offered a small nod and sad smile, tears of his own brimming in his eyes.
"You came back for me?"
Upon hearing this, Fives enveloped his brother into a tight embrace.
"Yes," he quietly sobbed, "yes we did."
Weakly returning the hug, Echo began to slowly take in his surroundings.
"What's happening?" he inquired, fear laced in his voice, "where am I?"
Catching onto Echo's fear, Fives pulled away from the embrace as he continued to comfort his brother.
"It's okay, Echo," he said, "It's okay. You're safe now."
"Sit tight trooper," Rex added, placing a comforting hand of Echo's shoulder, "you're going home."
With that, Echo shed a tear of joy upon here this. Happy that he had not been forgotten.
Unfortunately, in a prison cell on Oba Diah, one reunion was not so happy, to say the least.
As Fox sat on the slab of dura-steel that was meant to serve as a bad, Lux was pacing the cell, his mind racing a mile a minute as pondered how they would get out of the mess they were in. In the end, he could only hope that Ahsoka had pulled through with her end of the mission. Unfortunately, just as that thought entered his mind, any hope he had quickly vanished as the ray-shield to their cell was deactivated, making way for two guards...
Who unceremoniously threw in an unconscious Ahsoka before reactivating the shield.
"AHSOKA!" Lux and Fox yelled together, quickly running to the togruta splayed on the floor. Scooping Ahsoka into his arms, Lux brought her over to one of the slabs protruding from the walls, gently placing his love down on the cold surface. Once that was said and done, the two men quickly looked over Ahsoka to make sure she sustained no injuries.
"She's just stunned," Fox finally surmised, both men letting out a sigh of relief. But the relief quickly faded when the reality of their situation hit full force.
"Looks like we might need to improvise," Lux finally said, coming to the inescapable conclusion that their mission had skewed drastically in the wrong direction. Letting out a sigh, Fox knew the senator was right. But at the present moment, he also knew all they could do was bide their time, and hope that a solution presented itself. Lux hoped it would as he released a silent prayer from his mind.
May the Force HELP Us.