Chapter Seventeen

Stang! Again? Echo cried within as he removed his hand from his gun belt where the precious ring was gathering dust. It seemed that every time he thought head the right moment, something stopped him.

First, it was Fives coming to tell him that Hardcase got himself stuck to the ceiling somehow, and he needed someone with at least five brain cells to help figure out how to get him down.

The next was when someone got attacked by protesters as they were on their way back from 79's. Poor Appo. They'd beaten him with poles and actually done quite a lot of damage. Kix had every right to need her, but it didn't change the fact that he had gotten the ring out of his pocket and was about to take a knee.

Now… they were heading back to Kamino, because Grievous and Ventress were targeting their home planet.

It's like the universe is trying to keep us apart. Well guess what, ya hairless harpy? I know we're gonna be together because the Maker himself brought us to where we are, and he has a good plan for us and gives us hope for a future. You and whatever droid trash you're amassing won't come between us. I swear it.

So here he was, packing his knapsack with ammunition and guns and gum(because Amon insisted that it made it a hundred times easier to focus).

Two arms encircled him from behind and he smiled, "Hey, love."

He spun on his heel and returned her embrace.

"You have to promise to be safe, Ella," he pleaded. "I need you alive."

She nodded, "You too, Echo. I might not be wearing armor, but I'm also not wearing their favorite target as clothing."

He sighed and grabbed her hand. "I will be. Now come on. You're supposed to be with the captain, generals, and Commander Cody. Can't have you in here while the partying happens out there."

She laughed and sling her backpack on, running along with him. Echo nodded at Fives and slipped his helmet on, hugging his girl before joining the thick ranks of his brothers.

Echo watched Ella meet Shaak Ti and Lama Su. He could see even from his distant perspective that the jedi took an immediate liking to his girl.

Good.

Captain Rex and the commander gave their orders and dismissed them. Echo grabbed Ella and Fives and pulled her down a sterile-white hallway.

"Kamino," Ella breathed. "This is where you grew up."

"Along with all the rest, I guess," Fives jokes.

"Ha ha, very funny," she rolled her eyes, elbowing the joker.

"Look around, Fives," Echo interjected before a quarrel could emsue. "Seems like yesterday we were here."

They passed a group of his younger brothers. A few of them waved at them, talking amongst themselves about the strange and beautiful creature between them.

"Is that a girl?" one asked the other.

"She looks like the moon glowing on the ocean!" another whispered in awe.

"Is she real?"

Echo chuckled, "They've never seen a girl before," he explained.

Ella flushed and waved at them, smiling.

One of the boys clutched his heart. Another looked almost faint.

She giggled, a guilty light entering her eyes as she tried to stop, hiding behind her dainty hand.

"They're heading to target practice," Fives predicted. "Remember that?"

"Do I ever," Echo reminisced, thinking of the time Cutup's gun got stuck and he ended up accidentally shooting a stinger blast into Brick's rear end. The trainer had kind of hated him ever since, and made fun of his accent. No one would've suspected it of the witty boy, but that was his chief insecurity.

A clattering sound drew his attention to the path ahead, and he gasped. "Hey! 99!"

The older clone stood from where he'd been abashedly trying to pick up the rifles he'd dropped, a crooked smile on his face. "Echo! Fives!"

"You actually remembered us!" Fives remarked, surprised.

99 shifted timidly. "I-I remember all-all of my brothers. Is… Hevy here? Where's he?"

Fives bit his lip, "There was an… incident on the Rishi Moon Outpost."

"He saved our lives," Echo continued, "but he gave up his own."

99 slumped sorrowfully, "Oh… I-I see."

Then he withdrew something from his pocket.

"Hevy… gave you his medal," Fives breathed, his eyes a little misty.

99 shut his eyes, storing away the memories of another precious brother he'd lost. Echo wondered then how many times he'd been brought the same news about hundreds of others that he befriended and loved.

"So… why have you returned to Kamino?" he asked anxiously. Most of the time when brothers returned, something bad happened to them, or had happened.

"The General's received word of an impending attack here," Fives informed, all business.

"Well," 99 said, looking at the the beautiful metal gleaming in the palm of his hand. "How can I help?" Then he saw the woman between them, seemingly for the first time. "Oh, but, forgive-forgive me, I-I think I've yet to-to meet your companion."

Ella smiled and stepped forward, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. "I'm Ella. Ella Starrow."

He squeezed back, color tinting his cheeks, "99. A pleasure-pleasure to m-meet you."

"You too. I've heard so much about you, when I found out we were coming here, I got excited because I'd finally get to match the person with their personality that I'd come to admire."

99 was red as a beet and smiling like a shiny drunk on his first taste of alcohol. No one had ever praised him so before. "Thank you, miss."

She hugged him and kissed his cheek, "Call me Ella."

He looked like he was swooning. Unable to form words, he just nodded. Then he shook himself to clear his head. "I'm gonna-gonna bring this to the ar-armory, and I'll meet you at the-the barracks. I'm s-s-sure they want to s-show you around. It was incred-incredibly nice to m-meet you!"

Ella nodded, letting Echo take her hand. "You as well! I can't wait to see you later!"

He nodded and quickly gathered the guns, then hobbled off with a skip in his limp.

"You know, if it were possible to love you more, I think I just fell further," Echo murmured to her.

She hummed and squeezed his hand. "He's nice. Just like you described. Caring. Loyal. Almost too sweet."

"That's 99. He's wonderful. A great brother," Fives said.

"Come on. I want to show her our barracks."

"Eager to show her your bed, aren't you?"

"Ugh, shove it, Fives," Echo growled, blushing madly.

Why did he have to get the talk too!

•~§~•

Echo helped her up the ladder and pressed a panel. A bed slid out of the wall. Ella gasped.

I wonder what it's like to sleep in such a small space?

"Wanna sit?"

She nodded and Echo helped her up.

"Careful; I broke my collarbone falling from here. They don't exactly make the floors bouncy here," he warned.

"Oh no! How old were you?" Ella asked as he got her situated and sidled up next to her.

"Hmm… three?"

"Three!"

"We're twice that age, remember? So closer to six or seven."

"Not any better. I feel like calling child protective services!"

Echo laughed, "I think someone did once."

"Oh?"

"They were severely reprimanded."

"Oh no."

"They don't use mercy here a lot."

Ella studied her fingers, thinking of the little boys she'd passed in the hallway, who'd murmured about her and called her beautiful, and been overwhelmed by her smile and split-second attention.

Do they receive no tender loving care here at all? Is everything so cut and dry that any space for creativity is a sin? What about fun? Those boys are just children, and all boys need some fun. What do they get to do that isn't somehow tied in with training for war? Do they get any outlet at all to be themselves?

"Hey," a beloved voice pulled her out of the freefall into despair that she was plunging into.

Ella leaned her head on Echo's shoulder. "Hey."

He kissed her forehead, not pulling away as he comforted, "It isn't all horrible."

She sighed, "I just wish I could've given you my childhood. The kind where my biggest worries were what I was going to choose as my career, or getting an A in a subject I was lacking in. I didn't ever worry about being… if I failed, I knew I could try again, and the worst that could happen was some embarrassment since I'd be behind." She shook her head. "I want to give you my carefree summers and Christmas times. I want to give you learning how to climb trees and running to the top of the hill just for the fun of it, and rolling all the way down to see how many grass stains you'd get. That's what I want to give you."

Echo hugged her tightly, "You have. I didn't know most of that even existed. Just knowing you have them and maybe you can share that with me someday; that's enough for me."

Ella sighed and let her sadness be soothed away by his secure embrace. It was hard to be upset about anything when she was in his arms. He seemed to have an ability to make her forget about anything but that she was so very loved.

The girl smiled and twisted her head to kiss him. He hummed against her lips, returning the tender message with his own.

When they pulled away, Echo laughed.

"What?"

He shook his head, "The Kaminoans would have a fit if they knew one of their assets was kissing in here." He shrugged then, "Can't say I care."

Ella giggled and shook her head at him, "Naughty boy."

"Mmhmm, only for you."

They were about to lean in again, when a familiar voice called, "Echo! You in here, you di'kut?"

Echo sighed, "Look up, or'dinii. Remember this?"

Fives laughed at the playful insult and climbed the ladder to his own bunk. "Yeah. I remember. He'd sit there whenever we had five minutes to spare and read the regs like they're comics," he informed his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

"They kinda are, Fives," Ella defended.

He groaned. "Not this again."

"Knock knock?" a voice called from below.

Ella scrambled across Echo and shimmied down the ladder to see their visitor.

"99! How are you?"

He flushed. "Doing fine, Ella. I just-I just put the guns in the ar-armory, and thought I'd come b-by."

"Come down here, you di'kuts," she chided playfully.

"Oooh! You're in for it!" Fives laughed, pointing at Echo.

He rolled his eyes, "She said di'kuts. Plural."

When they reached the ground, 99 beckoned them into a locker area. Then he shrugged, "I… I can't but-but notice how close-close you two are." He pointed at Ella and Echo. "Now, y'know, I can keep a s-s-secret. And why-why would anyone even ask-even ask m-me, right?"

Ella smiled at him and confidently took Echo's hand. "Yes, 99. I love him."

"And I love her," Echo replied, pulling her closer.

99 smiled widely. "Well! That's wonderful."

And they told him everything, starting from waiting on Fives in the medbay, and circling to their first kiss and meeting her family.

"Wow," the older clone breathed. "You two are-are really something."

"Thanks, 99," she whispered.

"When is the wedding?"

Echo smiled, "About a month from now. Senator Chuchi and Amidala are really doing us a huge favor and preparing everything for it."

"I'd ask to come," he started. "But… y'know."

Echo smiled sadly. "You'll be there with us, even if only in spirit. And I'll call and tell you about everything."

99 nodded. "Thanks Echo. Thanks for telling me."

Echo nodded. "You're welcome." Then he turned to Ella. "How about you take Fives and get him to show you everything for a few minutes?"

Ella stood and kissed his cheek, "Okay. See you soon?"

"Meet me back here, or the nursery. Whichever you can get to first. You have your comlink, right?"

She nodded, "Yep. Right here."

He squeezed her hand and then released her as his brother escorted her away.

I wonder what he's up to?

•~§~•

"She's a treasure, Echo," 99 said, smiling. "You're a lucky guy."

"Don't I know it," he replied, smiling as he watched her leave.

"You better keep-keep that one."

"That's what I'm planning to do," Echo agreed, opening the little medicine compartment on his belt. "Look at this, 99."

99 gasped at the sight of the glossy ring shimmering in the palm of his hand.

"You're going to marry-going to marry h-her?"

Echo nodded, "That's the plan. Well, if she says yes, that is. Well… she did, already. I proposed accidentally - before I had a ring. We were just sitting together and I told her I wanted to marry her. She just said yes, and we kinda started planning ever since."

"So you… what?"

Echo laughed, "I know. I kinda did things backwards. It's not how I meant it to go, but… it just kinda happened."

99 laughed, "Boy is your love story a doozy!"

He nodded, "Yeah. It is. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

99 hugged him, "I'm glad you have-you have her."

"Me too."

Just then, alarms went off. They gasped and Echo jumped up from the bench and grabbed his helmet and ran toward the door.

"Grievous must be attacking!"

"I'll gather packs of-packs of ammunition and medical supplies. Carry it out to-out to people," 99 declared and took off at a limp.

"Be careful, 99!" Echo called after him.

"I will!" he vowed.

Echo turned and ran down the hall. He had to find his brother and beloved.

Ella, Fives, where are you?

•~§~•

Ella and Fives were passing the training arenas when the alarm went off. Fives tensed and put his helmet on.

"Grievous."

"Must be," she exclaimed.

"Come on. We have to find Echo!" he cried, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along.

Ella began to run with him, but then she remembered the faces of the children she saw earlier. Her heels skidded to a halt as her wrist was pulled from Fives' grip.

"What? What is it?" he asked.

I can't let them die. What will happen to them?

Ella sighed, "Fives, find Echo. I'm going to find as many kids as I can and hide them someplace safe."

"What? But… Ella, Echo will kill me!"

"No he won't. It's my decision. I can't let those kids die. How many people do you think are worrying about their safety right now?" She shook her head, "I'm a medic. I can also shoot pretty well. I'm going after those kids."

Fives sighed and shook his head, "Look, my brother will kill me… but go."

Ella turned to run.

"Wait!" he begged, effectively stopping her. "You have to stay alive. Got it? If you die, not only will Echo never forgive me and be absolutely heartbroken, I will never forgive myself. Stay alive."

Ella nodded, then ran off down the hall.

Red lasers flashed eerily as she navigated the vast expanse that was Kamino. She heard the metallic chinking of the droids as they traveled from room to room.

Ella slipped behind a divot in a wall and took out her pistol from her pocket, thanking heaven that she'd let Echo and his brothers teach her a few things about weapons and how to use them. She shut her eyes and said a prayer, then began licking off the droids as they advanced.

"Hey! Where's it coming from-!"

"Clone ahead!"

"Where is it!"

"Whyyyyy!!!!"

Ella smirked at their confusion, and took down the last few. After waiting a few seconds, she darted out from behind her cover and ran into the room they'd just infiltrated. A small sob caught her attention and she squinted in the darkness, groping about until she found the source.

There, huddled beneath a row of shelves and pipes, were six little boys.

"Who's -mph!- who's there?" one called, his little voice trembling with fear, mimicking his quaking body.

"Is it a jedi, 23?" another asked.

She knelt down, "No. I'm not a jedi, but I'm a friend. My name is Ella," she said softly. "Are you all alright?"

"Yes..."

"Is there a safe room that you are supposed to get to?"

"I don't know!" someone sniffled.

Ella's heart went out to these children, younger than her own littlest brother.

"Come here," she coaxed. "I'll find a way to get you someplace safe."

"You... you promise?"

She nodded, "I promise. Here," she held out her hand and took the hand of one closest to her. "Come here."

The little one whimpered, but obeyed, and she cradled him in her arms, rocking back and forth. The poor boy trembled violently against her.

"Shh... it's okay. You're gonna be alright," she soothed, running her hand up and down his back.

As soon as they saw their brother wasn't being maimed, the other five crawled out and piled around her. Ella found herself comforting all six, trying to touch all of them at once.

"Have you got names yet?" she asked.

They all shook their heads. "No. We don't."

She hummed. "I think we need to fix that. Do you think so too?"

They nodded in unison.

"Let's see," she said. "Well, I'm afraid I don't know you that well yet. How about we start moving and see how many of your brothers we can find, and along the way, I'll start coming up with some ideas, and we can talk them over once we're safe?"

"I like that, miss," the first one said.

She smiled, "I think I have a name for you actually. If you want it."

He nodded.

"Venture."

The boy mouthed the name, then smiled, "Thank you. I think I like that."

"So, Venture," she said, "have you any ideas about where we can find some of your brothers?"

He nodded and grabbed her hand. "Come with me."

Ella nodded but loaded her pistol, just in case. "We have to be very careful. There could be droids in the hallway. I want you all to listen to me carefully."

They nodded, wide eyes blinking up at her.

"If we run into trouble, I want you to run the other way as fast as you can and not look back. I want you to stay all together and help each other, and find a safe place to hide until everything is over."

"What about you?" a boy with ginger streaks in his black hair asked.

She shook her head, "Don't worry about me. I need you to be safe so I can fight them off."

He frowned but nodded.

"Alright," she murmured, then tentatively stuck her head outside, looking both ways.

Nothing either way but the bits and pieces she'd left if the intruders.

"Follow me; coast is clear," she whispered, grabbing Venture's hand. He grabbed another boy's hand, and he grabbed the hand of one next to him. They walked down the hall in a chain.

Ella walked around a corner and thudded into something... or someone.

She gasped and brought her gun up but they grabbed her and held her tightly against them, wrenching the pistol from her hands. She screamed, twisting and squirming.

"Help her!" a small voice yelled, and the six children led by Venture charged her assailant.

"Hey! Hey! Ow! Ella, it's us!"

Ella stopped squirming, and looked up. "Charge?"

"Help! I'm being mauled by teddy bears!" another familiar voice cried from beneath a pile of three protective children.

Ella giggled, "Boys, it's okay! I'm alright! Wander, I'm terribly sorry!"

Her friend got up and brushed himself off. "I'm alright, Ella. Boys, I'm your brother, see?" He lifted his helmet. "I'm Wander. This is Charge."

Charge removed his helmet and knelt to look them in the eye, "See? We're not gonna hurt you." Then he glared at Ella. "Your fiancé is worried sick."

She blushed, "Sorry."

Wander rolled his eyes, "It'll be a miracle if Fives survives. Friendly fire and all."

Ella groaned. "Oh stang."

"Well, don't beat yourself up about it too much. I'm sure he'll understand. Now, how about we find someplace to store these rascals?" Wander suggested.

Ella nodded. "Yes. Come here Venture. I promise, they won't hurt you."

The little boy eyed them warily, but grabbed her hand. "Give her back the blaster, di'kut," he snarled.

Charge gulped, his lips pulling humorously, and handed Ella her pistol.

"Thanks Charge," Ella said sheepishly. "Let's get a move on."

Wander groaned. "You," he pointed to a boy with buzzed brown hair, "you are a regular brawler."

Ella gasped, "Name idea!"

"Huh?" the boy asked.

She grinned, "Honey, what do you think about Shindy?"

He frowned, "What does that mean?"

"It means a fight," she explained.

He smirked, "I approve."

His older brothers chuckled.

Just then, they heard blasters ahead. Ella looked around and saw a supply closet.

"In here, boys. Stay very quiet," she whispered, herding them inside.

Charge and Wander raised their weapons, using grooves in the walls to hide better. Ella copied them on the other side.

A horrible choking sound reached her ears. Ella prayed whomever was dying so slowly would be out of suffering soon. Then she heard the ignition of a lightsaber.

No more.

Traces of conversations wafted to them, bits and pieces letting them puzzle a whole together.

"It's Grievous and Ventress," Charge murmured. Then he gasped. "They're coming this way!"

"Just Grievous and his droids," Wander corrected. "They're searching rooms!"

"The kids!" Ella gasped. She slipped back into the room. "Boys! Kids hurry!"

The children crept from their hiding places and gathered around her.

"Droids are searching rooms. I need to get you someplace safe and fast."

"What about there?" one with short blond hair exclaimed softly, pointing to the ceiling.

Ella looked up to see a ventilation shaft. The opening would be wide enough for the boys to squeeze through.

She grabbed a box and quickly set it down beneath it, standing atop to maneuver the grate open. Fortunately it popped open easily, and she grabbed the boy closest to her and hefted him inside.

The boys made a line and helped her get them inside, then she closed it again.

"Ella!" Shindy cried in distress, reaching through the bars towards her.

"I'm gonna be fine, Shindy. You have to keep quiet. Promise me. Keep everyone quiet and safe."

He nodded, great big tears filling his eyes as he tore himself away from the vent and further towards his brothers.

Ella pushed the box away from the vent, not wanting to bring the boys' hiding place into interest if the droids happened to notice. Then she peeked outside and noticed both troopers getting ready to attack. She shook her head.

"Play dead or hide! Too many!" she mouthed.

They nodded and slipped into an empty room. Ella prayed they'd be safe there.

The droids were getting closer. They were practically there. Ella held her breath and readied her blaster, crouching behind a storage container.

If I have to die, she pleaded, let Echo know I love him. Let those boys be safe and survive not only this battle but the war as well.

"Get these doors open!" a voice she'd only heard over holograms commanded.

Please, please, please!

A series of blasts, then a choked scream cut the air. Ella glimpsed outside to see a young boy be flung out of a room into the middle of the hallway. He writhed I'm helpless agony as Grievous laughed above him, watching his suffering.

She flipped the safety off her blaster and steeled herself to step in and defend that little boy. He was still alive. Maybe he could be saved.

Suddenly, she heard a battle cry from outside. It sounded familiar, like someone she knew well. She peeked out again and gasped.

There was Rogue. He picked off several of the remaining droids and stood between Grievous and his little brother.

"Leave him alone," he growled.

The next second he shrieked and fell over the little boy, covering him with his body. Blood pooled around him, pouring from his chest.

Grievous laughed, flicking the blood off his talons. "All too easy."

"Define easy, General."

The general turned. "Kenobi."

Lightsabers were ignited.

Ella bit her lip, watching the duel.

Eventually, Kenobi gained the upper hand and chased the cyborg down the halls, leaving them deserted.

Taking a deep breath, Ella raced out into the hallway, and knelt by her friend. There was a lot of blood.

Rogue whined as she rolled him off his brother. Ella removed his helmet and smoothed his sweaty brow. He smiled painfully.

"Had to try," he gritted out.

"Of course," she murmured. "Wander! Charge!"

The two slipped out from their hiding places and hurried to help her.

"Ugh, Rogue, again?" Wander groaned, taking out his medpack.

"You're getting as bad as Hardcase, vod!" Charge sighed, sitting beside him and taking his hand.

"Ella, the kid," the injured man begged. "He's still alive."

Ella nodded and lifted the little boy into her arms. There was a burnt circle on his stomach. She lifted his tunic up and he moaned, curling in on himself.

"Shhh," she whispered, patting his head. "It's okay. I know."

His eyes blinked open, and she gasped.

The boy had lovely eyes. A clear green like the purest emerald. She'd never seen such beautiful eyes before.

"Hey, it's okay sweetie," she comforted. "I know. I know. It hurts right now. I'm gonna help you get better, okay?"

His small hands fisted in her shirt.

Ella grabbed her medpack out of her backpack and gently sterilized the wound, letting him squeeze her hand through the worst parts. Then she covered it in a bacta patch and pulled his shirt back down. Reaching into her bag again, she pulled out a hypo.

"I'm going to give you this to stop the pain some, okay?" she warned.

He didn't respond, curled into the fetal position.

Ella quickly administered the painkiller. The little boy whimpered initially, but then relaxed when the drug kicked in, his eyes blinking open to look at her.

Ella smiled, stroking his fair head. "See? You're okay. Do you have a name?"

He nodded, "99 n-named me. I'm-I'm Emery."

She held him more securely to her, "Nice to meet you, Emery. I'm Ella. Are you feeling any better?"

He nodded. "Little."

"Ok. That's alright; I wonder... Wander, can you check to see where people are bringing the wounded, if there's anywhere we can bring them?"

He nodded and lifted his wrist, "Medic Wander looking for a place to bring the wounded. If anyone knows of someplace, please respond."

There was a pause.

Then, "Medic Wander, this is General Ti. We are keeping the wounded in sector 12, the medbay. So far it is the least affected place and the safest."

"Thank you, General," he responded. Then he turned to Ella, "Fortunately for us, we are in sector 11. We can get them all to the medbay. C'mon Rogue, on your feet."

The man groaned but complied, leaning heavily on the medic.

"Charge," Ella said, "the boys are still in the vents. Can you get them down?"

He nodded and jogged into the room. Within a few minutes, he returned with the kids.

"That's Emery!" one exclaimed, pointing to the little boy in Ella's arms. "Is he hurt?"

Ella nodded, "Yes, but he's going to be okay. Come on." She stood up, lifting the boy with her. "We have to get to sector 12."

They walked down the hall into the destruction left by Grievous. Several troopers lay on the floor, either dead or severely injured. Charge stopped by each, checking pulses. He sighed.

"All dead. They killed Colt and some of the rookies."

Ella sighed sadly. "I wish there was a way for us to bring them instead of letting them lie here."

"I know," Wander said. "Me too. But they'd rather us get their live brothers to safety first."

So they continued on.

"Ella?" a small voice called at her side.

She turned to see a boy with curly black hair walking by her side. His eyes were wide, as if he'd just seen too much of something.

"Yes, honey?"

He let out a quivering breath, "Th-They... they're d-d-dead?"

Ella's heart went out to the child. He shouldn't be exposed to so much destruction and carnage. He was still so young.

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm afraid so."

The little boy's lip trembled and he began to cry, his breaths coming much too fast.

Ella handed Emery to Charge and knelt down in front of him. "Hey, come here, sweetie. It's okay. It's okay."

He stiffened as she wrapped him in her arms, then went limp against her.

"I know. I know it's really scary," she murmured. "You're safe. You're safe."

"They-they-they're dead!" he hiccuped.

She looked at his brothers and saw they all looked terrified and horribly sad.

"I know. I know," Ella whispered. "Yes they are and it's okay to react this way. Death is a horrible, bad thing, and it should never be taken lightly. I'm so sorry you had to witness it like this, sweetie."

He shook his head, "Don't go."

She nodded, "I won't let you go. It's okay. Hold onto me and I'll carry you. Okay?"

He nodded and she scooped him up. The little boy continued to cry against her shoulder for a few minutes, then she got an idea.

"Would you like me to tell you a story?"

He calmed a little at this offer, and nodded.

"Well, a long time ago, there was another war. The parents sent all the children to the countryside and mountains where they'd be safer from the threat of bombs. There were two brothers and two sisters in one family. Their names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy."

As they continued towards the medbay, Ella unfolded the tale. The other boys relaxed and crept close to hear it better. The child in her arms was consoled, his ear against her heartbeat, hands still fisted in her shirt.

Finally, they made it to the medbay. Ella steeled herself, and then walked inside, telling the swarm of children to stick close to her and form the chain again to stay all together.

The stench of ammonia hit her as they walked inside. Then there were the cries and moans of the injured. It was clear the medical staff was spread thin.

Ella didn't stop there, but walked through the chaos, determined the little boys weren't going to be surrounded by so much suffering while they waited for safety to return.

"Ella!"

She turned to see Master Shaak Ti and sighed in relief. "Master Ti."

She grabbed her shoulder, "Follow me. The boys shouldn't be here."

Ella nodded and followed. "Emery was injured," she informed. The jedi's face tightened. "Is there a children's segment? Somewhere he can be treated a little more peacefully?"

"Did you patch him up?"

She nodded. "Yes. We did."

"Bring him with us. We'll have him put on some painkillers when we get there."

"What about Rogue?" she asked.

Shaak Ti stopped and looked at the nearly unconscious clone being supported by his brother.

"He needs a bacta tank. I think he can survive just fine with only a few hours. We'll be swamped by then. More than now. Come on."

She led them to the bacta tanks and Wander lay his brother on a cot and immediately began stripping Rogue down. He moaned incoherently, his hands fisting on the edge.

Ella gently set the boy down, promising she wasn't leaving but was just going to help his big brother. Then she sat next to Rogue and took his hand. He turned his scrunched-up face towards her, eyes open just a crack.

"El-la."

She smiled. "You're going to be fine, Rogue. Just hang in there."

He nodded tightly, letting out a hissing breath between his teeth. "Kid?"

"Emery is okay. You protected him valiantly."

"Couldn't... mnn. Couldn't let clankers... 'urt 'im."

Ella nodded, "I know. And you did well. So well. He's alive and will be fine."

"Ok, Rogue," Wander said. "Let's get you into the tank. I need to give you a sedative. And... prick."

"Owww."

"Stay still you big baby."

He glared, "Bigger needle."

"I know; sorry. You never did like big needles."

Rogue grunted as if to ask, 'who does?' Then his face slowly relaxed and he fell unconscious. Wander slipped an oxygen mask over his face, then got him into the tank.

After he was safely in a tank, his face unlined and devoid of pain, they moved on to the place where the children were staying.

There were so many kids. Most of them were between Emery's and Venture's squad's ages. A few were either a little older or a little younger.

Cots lined the walls, injured children in them. There were a lot of bacta patches applied to blaster wounds, a few broken limbs.

One boy was definitely older than the others. He'd be graduating in the next few years. His arm was in a sling and two patches were applied to his chest and stomach.

Wander and Charge cared for Emery while Ella went to speak with him.

The young man smiled shyly at her as she approached.

"I couldn't help but notice you," she confessed.

He shrugged his good shoulder, "I understand that. I'm a little out of place here."

"Do you know if your squad is alright? I could ask for you?" she offered.

He nodded, "We lost '52 and Caper. The other two are in tanks."

She nodded. "What's your name?"

"Sterling," he introduced.

"I'm Ella. I work with the 501st," she said.

His eyes widened, "I wondered if you were a jedi because... well, that's the only kind of girl that ever comes around here. Well, besides Kaminoans, but they don't really count."

She shook her head, "I'm a medic."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"How long have you been with the boys in blue?"

"Almost a year, I think."

"Lots of action?"

She breathed a laugh, "You have no idea."

He nodded. "I'd like to make the cut someday."

She patted his shoulder. "I'm sure you will."

Sterling smiled shyly at her, his cheeks tinted pink.

Someone tugged on her sleeve. "Ella?"

She turned and nodded at the little boy, "Yes, honey?"

He shifted, "Well, I wondered if you had a name for me."

She nodded, "I do."

His eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?"

She nodded, "Yes. What do you think about Yarn?"

He looked confused, "Like sewing?"

She shook her head, "It's another way to say a story. An old yarn, an old story. Like the one I was telling you."

A crooked smile emerged and he hugged her, "Yes. I like it. Thank you."

"Ella?" his brother came up to her, hesitating to ask her something.

"Yes?"

He blushed, "Can you finish the story please?"

Ella nodded. "Yes! And now that we're here, I can read you the book!"

"You have a book?"

"In this bag!" she said, pulling the huge volume out. "I always bring books with me."

"Hey guys!" Shindy called to the other cadets milling around. "Come listen to this story!"

And that was how Shaak Ti found everyone when she returned. The injured were listening attentively, their healthy brothers gathered around Sterling's sickbed where the girl was dramatizing the Chronicles of Narnia. Even the grown up soldiers were sitting crisscrossed

" 'Why! I declare," she said. "That humming noise gets louder here. It's almost as if the rings were making it." "What a funny fancy, my dear," said Uncle Andrew with a laugh. It sounded a very natural laugh, but Digory had seen an eager, almost a greedy, look on his face. "Polly! Don't be a fool!" he shouted. "Don't touch them." It was too late. Exactly as he spoke, Polly's hand went out to touch one of the rings. And immediately, without a flash or a noise or a warning of any sort, there was no Polly. Digory and his Uncle were alone in the room.' "

The room was filled with gasps.

"What happens next?"

Ella continued for another chapter until Digory took his own ring and found Polly in the Wood Between the Worlds, then bookmarked the page and glanced at the chrono on the wall. It was late. The boys were all growing sleepy now, leaning on one another as their tired eyes drooped.

"I'll read you more tomorrow, I promise. I'm feeling sleepy now, though, so I'm going to go to bed," she said.

A few of them groaned, saying they couldn't wait until tomorrow, but they quickly got into their cots and snuggled next to batch mates.

Ella tucked in 'her' squad. Venture and Hummer were cuddled up together in one cot, asleep before she got there. Shindy and Copper were curled up in another, a tangle of arms and legs in what looked more like wrestling than a friendly embrace. Then there was Emery, close to drifting off with Yarn and Aptly's arms wrapped around his waist. He smiled at Ella when she came to check on them, blushing as she stroked his head and kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight Emery," she whispered.

"Gnight, Ella."

Just then, the door opened, and four boys walked inside, their eyes reddened and faces dirty. They were just about to pass Ella, when they all gasped and rushed over.

"Emery!" one cried.

"We thought you were dead!"

"Are you okay?"

"Shhh!" Ella gently reprimanded. "Emery is okay. He was shot but is doing much better now. He's very sleepy."

They all stared at the ground sheepishly.

"Sorry," the first murmured.

She shakes her head and squeezes his hand. "It's okay. Let's just stay a bit calmer for right now. I'll be right back. Don't wake the younger boys."

He nodded and sat down next to his brother.

Ella walked to a bathroom and grabbed a washcloth, wetting it with warm water. Then she returned to them.

"Come here," she said.

The boy she'd been talking to approached her and sat in her lap. She gently washed his face of the smoke and sweat and dust. How Kamino had dust was beyond her, but apparently it was possible.

She did the same with all his brothers until she came to the last. He looked as if he were on the verge of tears. Ella set the wash cloth down and hugged him.

"It's okay now," she whispered. "You're okay. Emery is fine. Your brothers are safe."

He sobbed against her chest silently, trembling with fear. "They were so close! And Emery... I thought he was gone!"

"You're close, aren't you?"

He nodded. "Yes. He's my best friend."

Ella picked up the washcloth and cleaned his face, then took his hands, "What's your name?"

"Fiddler."

"I'm Ella."

"Did you save him?"

She shook her head, "Not really. Rogue, a good friend of mine, stepped between him and Grievous."

He gasped. "Did he make it?"

Ella nodded, "Yes. He's in bacta but he's gonna be fine." He better be, she added to herself.

"Ella?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Can we stay with him?"

She nodded, "Just be careful not to hurt him. He's still healing. But you can stay. Don't bother Yarn and Aptly, okay?"

They nodded and squeezed in next to their sleeping brothers, joining their slumber almost instantly.

Someone tapped her shoulder. "Ella."

Ella turned to see Master Ti. "Hello, Master Ti. How are you?"

She smiled, "Well. Thank you. I wanted to show you something I think you'll enjoy."

Ella agreed and followed her.

The jedi didn't take her far. They walked back through the medbay, hushing the men and comforting them as they went. Then they turned and walked down another corridor and into a long bright room.

There, in tiny little cradles beneath warming lights, were little newborns.

"Oh my goodness!" Ella whisper-squealed.

Shaak Ti grinned at her enthusiasm.

Ella approached one of the beds and picked up one who'd been whining. He immediately calmed, opening his eyes to look at her.

"Hello little one," she murmured warmly. "You just don't know what all the fuss is about, do you honey? You just want someone to hold you, right?"

He cooed, waving a wobbly, fisted little hand up at her.

She sat in a rocking chair and slipped her finger into his tiny ones. She hummed a lullaby until she remembered all the words, then sang it to him

"Lala lu, La la lu

Oh, my little star sweeper

I'll sweep the stardust for you

La la lu, La la lu

Little soft fluffy sleeper

Here comes a pink cloud for you

La la lu, La la lu

Little wandering angel

Fold up your wings, close your eyes

La la lu, La la lu

And may love be your keeper

La la lu, La la lu, La la lu."

Ella stood and carried the sleeping baby back to his cradle, gently laying him down and covering him with the thin blanket provided. It was a difficult challenge to retrieve her stolen finger, as the tiny boy seemed determined to keep it, even in sleep. But she managed and petted his curly head, humming softly to him.

"Ella."

•~§~•

Today has been quite the roller coaster, Echo thought as he trudged through the medbay, looking right and left for his darling.

She has to be here somewhere!

She found Wander and Charge leaning against a bacta tank, almost asleep.

"Guys!" he called quietly.

Charge blinked then smiled, "Echo. Ella went to the nurseries."

Echo nodded and turned around, jogging back out into the hallway and down the passages until he came to the nurseries. A beautiful voice guided him to an open room, and he looked inside to see Ella holding one of his littlest brothers and singing him a lullaby.

Shaak Ti saw him and winked, then slipped out, beckoning him to enter.

Echo stepped inside as Ella stood and placed the little child into a cradle and carefully pried her finger away. She stayed there, humming to him as she stroked his head.

She is the most amazing person in the world.

"Ella," he murmured.

She turned and smiled, running to him and taking his helmet off. "Oh thank heaven, you're okay!"

Echo smiled and wrapped his arms about her, breathing her in. "I almost murdered Fives when he told me he let you go on your own."

She laughed nervously, "Um, sorry not sorry?"

He laughed, then sighed. "Ella... 99 is gone."

She gasped, stepping back to look at him as tears filled her eyes. "Oh no!"

He nodded. "He died bravely; like a soldier. Like how he'd always wanted."

She shook her head and nestled into his chest. "Oh, Echo, I'm so sorry! I didn't have the chance to know him as long as you did, but he was a kind and sweet man. I'll miss him."

Echo nodded, two silent tears slipping down his cheeks. He and Fives had grieved their friend after it happened. Right before...

"Ella, something else happened today too."

She looked up, a faint expression of concern lacing with interest.

Echo smiled, "Commander Cody promoted Fives and me to ARC Troopers."

She gasped, this time in excitement, and kissed him softly. "Oh Echo, I'm so proud! I knew you would be!"

He smiled, then grabbed her hand. "Walk with me. It's a clear night, at least for now. I want you to see something almost as gorgeous as you are."

Ella flushed and allowed him to lead her out into the halls and then up a few levels. He came to the door of a landing platform, and opened it, escorting her outside.

The stars were bright as spotlights in the cobalt sky above, and shimmered on the tempestuous surface of the ocean, reflected like a distorted mirror. A cool wind was blowing, the sharp scents of smoke and seawater caught up in it.

They stopped at the edge of the platform, staring up at the medallion moon as thick cloud rolled in like a coverlet.

"You're right, Echo," she whispered. "It's lovely out here."

Echo snuck his hand to the compartment on his gun belt and opened it. Then he sank down onto one knee. "Hey, do you see that?"

She turned to ask him what he meant and caught her breath, her hands flying up to her mouth as if to keep a squeal of delight and disbelief trapped inside.

"Ella," he whispered. "This was my beginning. Where I started out on my path. But it wasn't ever a home. When I left here and went to Rishi, it wasn't a home either, and neither was the Resolute. Then I met you, and I realized that home isn't always a place. It's a person. Ad that person is you."

Ella choked on a sob. A light rain began to drizzle down like glitter.

"I can't promise that our path is going to be smooth. I can almost definitely foresee it being treacherous. I can't even promise that it will be long or that I will be with you for the rest of your life. But if it comes down to a choice, I will spend however long I have left loving you, and walking by your side, maybe carrying you sometimes. I won't ever abandon you. Even if I'm taken far away, I will never abandon you. I will fight until my last heartbeat to come back to you and protect you. You are home to me, Ella. You're heaven on earth and proof that someone up there cares about us - those everyone else says are worthless. You're my everything." He sniffled, shaking his head, "I never really asked you, when you said yes. I never got to give you this. So now I'll ask, and do things backwards. Ella Grace Starrow, will you marry me and make the most of whatever lies ahead with me?"

Thunder clapped in the distance as rain fell in earnest, soaking them to the bone. Echo tightened his grip on the ring, lest it slip from his hands into the roiling waters below. That was a swim he didn't much like the idea of taking.

Ella nodded and wiped her dripping eyes, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, pulling away to choke out, "Yesterday, today, and forever - yes, Echo."

Echo slipped the ring onto her finger, then lifted her up into his arms and spun her around, not caring that it was pouring down rain in sheets. He only cared that his lips were on hers and she tasted like eternity and never all in one. He'd never let her go, never stop loving her. And he was forever going to fight whatever tried to come between them.

Lightning flashed overhead, as if the Maker were taking a picture of their happiness.

And not despite the rain but partly because of it, everything was beautiful and right.

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Mando'a Translations

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Di'kut - idiot.

Ordinii - moron.

Vod - brother.

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Sorry for the incredibly long gap in updating. I hope the length makes up for it! Thank you all so much!

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