Chapter Forty-Six

The moon had no name, it seemed, no matter how deeply Tech searched for one in the planets' registry. It looked cold and still, as of death and dying, covered in a thick carpet of snow. A long hash of earth and debris had been torn in the blanket, leading up to the crumbled wreckage of Ahsoka's crashed destroyer. It seemed like a broken toy; fragile, frail, conquered.

A fire burned on the far side, a tiny ribbon of smoke rising to greet themo as they circled and landed a few hundred feet from the lone ship that Captain and Commander had managed to commandeer to safeguard them from the plummeting vessel.

Already, the earth before them had been raised into burial mounds. A familiar figure in a white cloak was just smoothing over a fresh one with her hands, then stood and mounted the helmet of the dead man on a spike before it, serving as a headstone for him whom none other would remember but brothers and comrades.

The young woman - an innocent girl no longer - sighed wearily, wiping her eyes on the backs of her wrists. She then turned and saw them. A watery smile broke across her sorrowful face and she ran over to Ella, flinging her arms around her and clinging tightly, as though her friend was the only thing keeping her from breaking apart further and irrevocably.

Ella returned her embrace, wiping her tears as she added some of her own. "We're here now, 'Soka. You're okay."

Ahsoka let out a quivering sob and gasped, "Oh, Ella, I can't… I'm so glad you came!"

Ella choked on her own tears and squeezed her tight, then stepped back, grasping her by the shoulders. "Two questions: where is Rex, and how injured are you both?"

She shook her head and pointed to the campfire roaring a small distance away. "He's over there. Ella…" she shook her head, "it's so bad. We've picked through everything. For hours. The only survivors were in the hangar. And we've only found a handful of people who were alive."

Ella glanced at her husband and he nodded grimly, taking her hand supportively as they followed their friend.

Rex was kneeling by a wheezing ARC, rocking him gently as he fought for every minute intake. Ella grimaced at the wet sound. There was definitely lung damage.

The former commander looked up upon the sound of approaching footsteps, his honey eyes pleading as they stared through her soul.

"I'll be right back, Jesse," he murmured, slowly lowering him to lean against a rock before standing and moving over to the newcomers. "He's bad off, Ella," he whispered. "Coughed up blood. Coughed up dark stuff that can't be blood. Barely breathes. Speaks to people who aren't there. I think the chip… it's broken. He recognizes me. Recognizes her. In a good way. At least… most of the time. Sometimes he'll snarl and say something about 'jedi scum.' Then he'll go back to himself and beg her for forgiveness."

Ella nodded. "Rex…" she clasped his shoulder. "I… I'll do my best. But you have to be prepared… everything you've just described… I don't know that I can be of any help to him anymore."

His eyes were red-rimmed and swimming with tears, and despite the effort she knew he spent, his lip trembled as he nodded in understanding. "I-I… I understand. I… if you can't… please just… he's in so much pain…"

Ella nodded and hugged him, kissing his cheek. He snuffled and hid his face in her shoulder.

"He's… I've known him since… oh, and Kix is gone too… Ella, I don't want him to suffer but I-I just want him to live!" he all but wept.

"I know," she breathed, her voice wet with sorrow. "I do too."

Composing himself slightly, he stepped away and scrubbed his face with his hands, leaving dirty streaks upon it from the earth and smoke he'd been rummaging through.

Ella gave him a bolstering smile, then went and knelt beside her old friend, the first person to ever welcome her to the 501st. Her first friend there.

Jesse's lips were stained with blood and the dark liquid that held a deeper tissue. His eyes were barely even open, and streamed with unending tears.

"Jesse… can you hear me, sweetheart?" she whispered softly.

He turned his face towards her, eyes opening a little wider when he recognized her voice. "'Lla?"

She took his hand and cupped his cheek as she'd done so many of his brothers. Never had she thought he'd be the one dying here.

For he was. She knew, though her heart fought against it. Jesse was too far gone now and they didn't have the equipment or facilities to even attempt at saving him if it had been possible. His every breath brought up more of that disturbing black liquid dredged from the ruins that made up his ransacked lungs and crushed rib cage. His body was broken beyond repair. Nothing save a miracle could save him now.

Her attempt at composure broke as a short sob quaked her. "Yes. It's me."

He let out a feeble groan, turning his face into her comforting touch. "'Uuurts. 'Urtslots."

She sniffled at this admission. "I know, Jesse. You're… you're gonna be okay."

He looked her in the eyes, and she saw in them that silent knowledge. Of course. The dying knew. They always did. Somehow.

"Not th's time, 'Lla. Too… toooo much."

"Jesse…"

"Nnoo," he protested. "I knoww, 'Lla. Don't haf' ta splain anythin'. Know."

Crying softly, she wiped her eyes and breathed the only mercy she could. "I can help it be easier, Jesse. I can take some of the pain away and help you go as peacefully as possible. That is, if you wish."

He nodded a bit, letting his eyes slip shut. "Not afraid, E-Eh-lahh. I know."

At least there was that.

"I won't go anywhere, Jesse," she swore. "I'll stay by you all the while."

Jesse, through his pain and the knowledge that he was going to die, smiled at her. A real, true Jesse smile, the kind that mocked death in its own half-triumph. It could claim his much-too-short life, but the grey shrouds would never mist around his soul. That was safe in the arms of the Maker, locked away where no one, not even something so dark and seemingly-unbeatable as this, could ever reach it.

Carefully, gently, Ella administered the morphine, slowly overdosing him to numb the agony and let his tortured body relax.

She watched his shaking limbs still, his shallow, choking breaths slowing as he began to let go.

Dying was a frightening experience. She knew that for a fact. It wasn't just the pain or even the knowledge that something unknown and uncharted lay ahead of you, and you had no way of traversing it by your own wisdom. It was having no control, feeling every breath get slower and shallower. It went against everything you knew from the moment you were born to let go, to stop fighting, to stop breathing.

But in the face of this roiling cloud of darkness and despair, Jesse put on a face of such profound courage and poignant joy that it nearly hurt those who watched him depart.

Ahsoka came and knelt by them, resting her head on his, then spoke to Ella, voice tearful. "He… he wants you to sing if you could."

Ella took a quivering breath and brokenly whispered lines she'd sung on many battlefields holding brother after brother, faces identical but souls all their own.

"Abide with me, fast falls the eventide

The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide

When other helpers fail and comforts flee

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me."

Tears streamed down her face as she tried to continue, and found that her voice wouldn't find itself. She couldn't utter even a squeak no matter how hard she tried.

Her heart fell and she wished that she could at least honor her friend's dying wish.

Suddenly, another voice began the second verse. She turned with wide eyes to see her husband kneeling down beside her, the words flowing from him as easily as though he'd sung it all his life.

"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away

Change and decay in all around I see

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness

Where is death's sting?

Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me."

Rex and Ahsoka had taken up the tune as Echo had finished the second verse, and continued with him as they sung the third. Ella finally found her voice again and joined them as they sang the last.

"Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee

In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me

Abide with me."

Jesse took one final breath, thin and quivering, fearful but resolute.

"Abide with me."

Then he sighed.

And was still.

Ahsoka whimpered, bowing her head to rest upon his shoulder, and Ella knew she had felt the life leaving him through the force.

Weakly, she leant against her husband and sobbed. Echo opened his arms to her and drew her against him, holding her securely as they mourned the loss of their dear friend.

Looking behind Echo's shoulder, she saw that Hunter had moved to comfort Rex. The poor captain was worn, stretched thinner than he could bear, and was beginning to rip apart in fraying tears. The emotional chaos of the past few days left him unable to rein in his grief, and his knees gave out. He curled in on himself, so small. Smaller than she'd ever imagined he could be.

But Hunter, though shaken as well by this horrific reality that had descended out of nowhere, just sank down beside him and held him as Rex himself had held so many of his brothers before. It was okay. This time, someone else could be the strong one and take care of him for a change.

Wrecker came forward and lifted Jesse's body away, carrying it with Crosshair and Tech to the accumulating graveyard. He'd have the honor of a proper burial at least.

Ella pulled herself together enough to remember that there were other survivors. Turning to Ahsoka, she sniffed and sighed, "What about the others? Rogue, Winter, Chopper, Wander…?"

She pointed across the fire and Ella saw that the boys were all sitting or lying on the ground, leaning against rocks and each other. She sprung up and jogged over to Rogue, who was bent double in pain, clutching his stomach.

"Internal damage, Ella," a familiar voice breathed from the side. She turned to see Wander, his arm in a tight sling and his head bandaged. "I remember you. I'm the only one really. Hit my head hard enough that I think it's messed with the chip. At least for a while. Maybe like a reset button. I don't know. We're programmed so deeply, I wouldn't be surprised if there were certain weak spots on us on purpose."

"Wander…"

He sighed, "I… I'm sorry. I just…" he shook his head, hand shaking as it clenched at his side. "I couldn't do anything. I felt everything. Saw everything. It was like watching from a window as something awful happens, except you're doing it and you can't do anything to stop."

Ella hugged him and kissed his cheek. "That sounds awful. I'm so terribly sorry that this happened, truly."

"I know, Ella," he murmured, comforted. "I know you. I know you care."

She smiled and sighed, "How bad are your wounds?"

He shook his head, "Not too terrible. The arm is badly dislocated. Rex helped me bind it and wrapped my head. I just knocked it kinda hard, broke the skin. Maybe a little concussion but that's not too terrible."

"I'm glad you're okay, Wander. What about Vutyc? Charge? Chopper?" Then she gasped. "What about Winter?"

"He and Rogue have internal damage," the medic explained. "Winter also broke his arm right around the collarbone and some ribs. He punctured a lung but I did a pneumothorax and he's breathing much easier. Rogue… broken ribs, the same kind of internal stuff that Cody had. If we had bacta, he'd probably be in it for a good cycle or two. But since we don't… he'll just have to weather it and stay still."

"And we still have to get their chips out," Ella sighed.

Wander nodded and leaned back wearily. "Me too. Major headache is coming on. Oh, forgot to say that Chopper's chip is completely gone. You know the scars on his head? That was from another battle that ended up damaging his brain some. He was fine, but lost the chip. He spent the skirmish trying to figure out a way to get Emery, Sterling, and Vaughn to safety. Ended up hitting his head in the crash and broke his arm, but otherwise was fine."

"How is he?" she inquired.

Wander pointed to his right. "He's sleeping beside the pods."

He quickly briefed her on the rest of the injured before Echo and Tech came over.

"I've finished the machine, Ella. Whenever you want, we can start someone on the surgeries," Tech informed.

She nodded. "Wander, you remember Tech."

The medic nodded, "Good to see you again, vod."

"Likewise," he replied.

"If you could go with him and take the most injured? He made the kind of machine that we used to have in the medbay for serious cases. It'll remove the chips and… it can do other surgeries, right?" she turned to the genius.

He nodded, "I programmed it for over five thousand procedures. It should be able to handle the injuries we have."

"What can I do to help?" another gruffly familiar voice offered.

Ella turned with a smile and hugged her old friend, kissing his cheek. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay, Chopper."

He smiled, blushing furiously. "So am I. For a minute there, I thought it was over. Then Ahsoka and Rex came and found me."

She relaxed her embrace and nodded, "Key words: do not put any weight on your injured arm. But I would really appreciate it if you would help Tech and Wander move the injured into the Havoc Marauder. We're heading somewhere safe after we can all load up."

He nodded and followed the medic and technician, making use of salvaged stretchers as they took first Rogue then Winter to the ship.

Wrecker sighed and shook his head as he wiped his hands on his armor. "It's done. I… I never would've thought I'd be the one burying him when I first met him. None of us really treated him very well until we were heading back."

Ella patted his shoulder, "He wouldn't hold a grudge. And I think he'd be honored to know you cared enough to do that for him."

"Commander Tano is at the gravesite now," Crosshair mentioned. "She's just staring out across all of them."

The woman turned to her husband and rested her head on his chest. "I don't want to leave you, but I think I better go see if I can be with Ahsoka, and I think Rex would appreciate you being with him."

Echo nodded and kissed her cheek. "I will. I'll send Hunter here to help with Charge and Vutyc and the men in stasis. Do we know the severity of their wounds?"

"I'm not sure. Chopper and Wander would be the people to ask." Then she groaned and pulled herself away reluctantly. "I love you. I'll see you soon. Don't let Rex do anything drastic, okay?"

Her husband smiled, "I promise. You see if you can convince Ahsoka to fly in the Marauder, okay? I had a sneaking suspicion that she might try to disappear if she doesn't."

Ella nodded, kissed him sweetly, then turned and headed towards her friend.

•~§~•

Rex was leaning against the Y-wing, stark by into space. His eyes were dull - almost empty, hands gripping at his bent knees, knuckles surely white beneath his protective gloves.

Echo took a seat beside him, sighing as he did so. "Ella went to see how Ahsoka's doing, so I figured I ought to find you."

Rex just grunted in reply.

The ARC hummed thoughtfully, "You are coming with us, aren't you?"

"Where?" his voice crackled.

"Saleucami," he replied. "Got an old friend there who's going to shelter us for a bit so we can plan out what to do next."

Rex's eyebrows rose, "Cut's chip… we need to get it out. What if he gets triggered and goes after Suu, or his kids? He'd never forgive himself. We can't let that happen to him."

Echo put a hand on his shoulder. "We won't. Relax. Tech built an operating machine that'll do the surgeries. How are you feeling after yours, by the way?"

He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm fine."

"That's a lie and we both know it."

"Fine then, I'm not," he shot back. "So what of it? I hunted Ahsoka. I tried to kill her. Tell me how you'd feel if you had done that?"

Echo sighed, "Awful. Riddled with guilt. And I know you feel torn and are beating yourself up over not being able to save those men."

Rex looked away, squeezing his eyes shut to ward off tears that his tired eyes couldn't keep back. "I was their captain, Echo," he whispered. "I was commander for a little while. I was supposed to protect them and keep them safe."

"You tried, Rex," Echo said. "It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything for them."

"Just like I 'couldn't have done anything' for you?" he scoffed bitterly.

Echo shook his head and grabbed his older brother's hand. "Rex, you didn't know. You didn't know anything about what was happening to me. Just like you didn't know that this was going to happen either. You can only protect someone from things you know are possible."

"But I did!" he hissed. "I have a report on what Fives had told me. I knew something was off but did I take precautions earlier when it could be helped? No. And that is why all those men are dead; because I didn't act on what I knew was right."

"You did, Rex!" Echo insisted. "If you hadn't left that information, would Ahsoka be alive? Would she have been able to get the chip out of your head? I know you're torn up about Jesse, and I am too, but I'm also thankful that you're alive. We could've easily lost you with them."

"Maybe I should've been!"

"How would Ahsoka have escaped without your help? If what you told me was true and she wasn't willing to hurt them, then she'd have been gunned down and killed. You really think she'd be alive right now?"

Rex shook his head and buried his face in his hands. "I'm just,.. I'm so tired. I want this to stop! I wanted the fighting to stop, for there to be peace, but not at the cost of the freedoms we had! Not at the cost of being human and having the ability to choose between right and wrong. Echo, I couldn't stop! I couldn't keep my finger from pulling the trigger. I ordered the escape pods to be jettisoned to keep her stuck. Tell me how many men would live now if they'd been in escape pods? A heck of a lot more than would be there buried in the ground!"

Echo bit his lip, looking at his brother in sympathy. Then he reached out and hugged him.

"You're scared. You're scared because of what has happened and what is happening and will continue for who knows how long. You're scared because we're going into an unknown and recently-forbidden territory. I am too."

Rex sighed wetly, wiping tear tracks from his cheeks. Then he took a snuffling breath and nodded. "It's really strange. I never really planned about life after the war. I didn't think about it because I just guessed it wouldn't happen, at least to me. And now… what?"

"Freedom, Rex," Echo murmured. "As awful as this is, we are free. Think about it. They won't think you're alive. A dead man has no duty to serve a purpose he doesn't support. You are free to find out who you want to be now."

"Is it bad that scares me too? Possibly more than anything else?"

"No. And I'd be lying if I said that it didn't scare me. Ella asked me what I wanted to do after the war," he remembered. "I couldn't think of anything I'd be really useful at. I mean, I spent my whole life as a soldier trained to follow orders without question, and I was gonna be able to choose what I wanted to be? It sounded unrealistic. I only had a dream of a white house in a rich, green land, with a mountain near it and streams all around."

"That's more than I ever had."

"Come on, Rex!" Echo prodded. "You must've dreamt of something! There's no way you can expect me to believe that you never even hoped or wished for something else."

Rex sighed. "I… alright. There was one thing. A dream I had a while ago. About waves crashing against a sandy beach at sunset. I didn't see anyone, but my arm was around a woman's waist, and she was resting her head on my shoulder, and my cheek was against her hair. She smelled heavenly."

That sat in a short moment of silence, too beautiful to be upheld for long, the luster losing its ability to be borne.

"It's a beautiful dream, Rex. And a realistic one as well."

Rex shrugged and sighed, "I don't know. Maybe."

"I'm going to go check on Ella," Echo said then, standing to his feet. "And you, vod of mine, are coming with me."

Rex groaned but lumbered to his feet and followed him meekly, if not amiably. Then he asked a question, "How are things between you two?"

Echo smiled, "Better every day. I was a di'kut at the beginning. Tried to push her away because I was too ashamed of myself and what I'd become. Or at least it all seemed too overwhelming to make anyone want to stay, so I underestimated her love for me instead of just trusting her."

"Idiot. That girl breathes for you," Rex scoffed.

"It took an intervention, but I have no doubt anymore. She told me about Ayah, Rex. And that kriffing chakaaryc Sellak."

"I'm sorry, Echo. I… if I had known he was going to… I'd never have let her up there if I could've known," Rex assured plaintively.

Echo shook his head. "It was Krell's fault and none other. I don't blame you, Rex. You helped her. You did what I'd hoped you would if I'd died and stood by her, did your utmost to protect her, and helped her pick up the pieces when the catastrophic happened. I couldn't have hoped for more."

Rex sighed, "I still wish…"

"As do I. You think a day goes by without me wishing I was there to protect her? Wishing I could've been there to comfort her and help her though when everything was at its worst?"

"You can't blame yourself, Echo. You couldn't have prevented what happened."

"Same goes for you, Rex. If it let it go, so do you. No halfways."

Rex nodded, "Okay."

"Hey," Echo said seriously, grabbing his shoulder in a brotherly lock. "I'm glad you're alive. You've been my friend since forever and the person I was most willing to follow for longer. You've never let me down when it came to brotherhood or family. You stepped into my place as best as you could and really helped my wife in the aftermath of my supposed death and all that followed. Thank you."

"She helped me just as much. If not more," he excused, voice a strangled whisper.

"I won't dispute any of that. All I'll say is I don't know what we'd have done without you," Echo murmured emphatically.

Rex raised his dewy eyes and smiled just a little.

"Likewise, brother."

•~§~•

Ahsoka focused on the hand that was pressed against Ella's stomach as they sat together in the quiet of her room on the way to Saleucami. The operations were all complete, and a few men had woken, though the more severely injured would continue to sleep for a few more hours or days at least.

It had been difficult to say yes to accompanying the group. Pain and guilt and the memory of angry yellow eyes and furious screams haunted her.

She didn't deserve the forgiveness of any of them.

Not when she'd loosed the walking destruction that had been Maul.

She'd been desperate. Scared and alone. Somehow letting Maul die like that had seemed wrong. He'd known something, and maybe he wasn't so horrid. But then she remembered the hapless mayhem he'd created. And for what? He cared nothing about the lives lost.

It was this that had made her replies so curt. Maybe she should've gotten him to come with her instead of going on a blood-thirsty killing frenzy. Maybe then more would live. Maybe then the ship wouldn't have crashed.

But what could she do now about it?

Ella had broken through her barriers of shame and broken dismay with only a few words.

"Ahsoka… I'm pregnant!"

And then joy had reentered her heart for her friend who had always been more of a sister than otherwise. She had wanted all the details. When was she due? How far along was the pregnancy? When and how did she find out? Did Echo know? Could she help surprise him?

Ella was resting her back against the headboard, talking her through the plan when she felt something through the force. Someone incredible was growing in her friend's womb.

Interesting.

She'd tell Ella later. Or better yet, let her discover for herself. She was sure in for a surprise.

"So Tup is alive?" she clarified. "I thought you said he was dead."

Ella flushed rosy pink. "Well, I had to make it seem that way so that no one would come after him. You know what I would happen if they found him."

Ahsoka nodded, shuddering. She didn't want to even consider such things happening to the sweet friend she'd known.

"I still can't believe that you're really pregnant!"

The matron's smile of pride and joy was so sweet. She rested her hand on her soon-to-be swollen womb reverently. "I can't either. I was so worried I never would be again. But now… I'm scared too."

"Why?" Ahsoka blinked, confused.

Ella sighed. "What if I lose this baby too? What if something happens? Or what if i'm a horrible mother?"

Ahsoka rolled her eyes, taking both hands and setting them on her shoulders. "You are going to be a wonderful mother, and your little one is going to have a long and happy life."

"I sure hope so," she said. "I'm concerned about some things. Like where we're going to live. It's packed here with just six of us on a given day, and I know these walls aren't thick." Her cheeks were pink with remembered embarrassment, then she continued, "Babies cry a lot. They wake up at odd hours and new parents barely sleep for some time. I don't want to impose on the rest of our squad's sleep, but I can't see how to prevent it here."

"I have a feeling you won't have to worry about that for long," Ahsoka mused. "No one here really has a reason to be on a ship all the time now anyway. Settling somewhere safe seems like the next step."

"Yes. It is. But first we need to get Cut's chip out and let the injured recover a bit."

A knock came at the door before Echo stepped inside.

Ahsoka stood and hugged Ella, bidding her a good night. Then she smiled at Echo, excitement in her chest as she thought of how happy he'd be at the news his wife would be surprising him with.

He is going to be an amazing father.

•~§~•

Ella yawned and sighed, curling into the warmth of Echo's lax embrace, his arms tightening instinctively as she snuggled nearer. She pressed a kiss or two to his collarbone and moved up to his lips, smiling as his eyes scrunched then blinked open, staring at her through his long eyelashes.

"Good morning, my love," she whispered.

He smiled crookedly, "Mmm, g'mornin, angel."

"You hungry?"

He shrugged, "Ish. Gosh, we have a lot of people to feed right now."

Ella sighed as his reminder spurred her into breaking his hold and stumbling up out of bed. She threw on a bathrobe and shuffled out to the kitchen.

Taking the large pot of chicken broth out of the fridge, she set it on the stovetop and slowly heated it. Echo joined her a moment later, slicing bread and placing it on a pan.

Tech stuck his head in as she turned the pot down to a simmer, pushing his goggles up his nose sleepily. "We'll be on Saleucami in forty-five minutes. I convinced Ahsoka to rest, and she's in Crosshair's bunk. Don't worry. He offered. He's been up all night helping me navigate anyway while I faked our sudden explosion. If you felt any turbulence, it was because of that."

Ella shook her head, trying to clear it off to process all he'd just said. "Sorry Tech. It's too early. I need short words that Neanderthals could understand."

Tech chuckled, "Ahsoka sleeping. Crosshair fine. Faked our deaths. Freedom imminent. Saleucami soon. You need tea."

Echo giggled at his brother's antics and nodded, slipping the cup into his wife's hand. "Sit down and drink it, Ella. I'll watch the toast and make sure the men are still alive until you're done. When did she get that bug, Tech?"

Tech smothered a knowing smile and shrugged, "Well she had a sore throat a little after you left, and was coughing for a few days. Had a little fever, but it wasn't that bad. She just seems to have the nausea left."

Echo nodded, none the wiser. "You should have some soup too, then, angel. It'll help you feel better."

Ella smiled at her husband's sweetness and nodded, "I will. I want to go check on Rogue and Winter, though. They'll probably need some more morphine soon."

"I heard their procedures went well," Echo remarked, sipping his coffee. It was a physical struggle for Ella not to gag at the slightest smell.

She nodded, sipping her tea instead to soothe the nausea, "Yes, they're both out of danger, or were when I went to sleep."

"If Wander or Hunter didn't call you, they still should be just fine," Tech explained. "I told them to alert you immediately if they noticed complications rising."

Standing, Ella kissed Echo's cheek and grabbed a tray of soup and toast, then nodded at him to do the same. Tech joined in and they made a small procession to and from the 'medbays' until every conscious patient was eating and drinking.

Ella sat by Rogue, who hadn't awakened as of yet, and administered a little more morphine into his IV. Planting a kiss on his forehead, she whispered, "Get well and wake up soon, Rogue."

Then she moved on and gave Winter some more medicine.

As she was about to move away, she heard a rasping whisper entreating her, "Ella, where am I?"

She turned surprise on the young medic and hugged him, careful of his wounds. "Oh, Winter, thank the Maker! You're okay now. We're on the Bad Batch's ship, Havoc Marauder, and we're all heading to Saleucami."

He smiled shyly, shifting a little before hissing. "I wanna sit up. Please?"

She nodded and gently assisted him. "Take it slow. You're gonna be fine but you need to take it easy for a little while."

He nodded, "How bad?"

"Seven broken ribs on your right side, four on the other, five sprained between both sides. You broke your arm and had a punctured lung too, but you'll be okay. It might be hard to breathe deeply for a little while."

He nodded, "Yeah, but not like before. I… I remember something awful happening. Order 66… hunting Ahsoka." Tears veiled his eyes and he bit his lip.

Ella hugged him, kissing his cheek, piloting his head on her shoulder, "It was not your fault, sweetheart. And she's alive. She and Rex both. Everyone is gonna be okay now."

Winter smiled at this and nodded, "I'm glad she made it. I was worried we'd… you know."

"We've been pretty lucky. She's helping me plan a surprise," Ella informed.

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" Winter asked.

"A long-awaited one. No matter though. We'll be on Saleucami soon, and will figure out what is next after that," she deviated smoothly.

He nodded.

"Are you hungry, Winter?" she asked, holding up the mug of soup. "It's warm chicken broth. We're sticking to liquids for right now until you're a little better."

Winter's eyes widened and he reached for the mug excitedly. She smiled and let him take it. "Just take it slow. I don't want you to rush it and end up throwing up."

"Yes ma'am," he answered between short sips. "This is great."

Ella smiled at his enthusiasm and walked back over to where Echo was speaking to Vaughn, who'd just woken up. The boy seemed shocked, but his smile was bright. He even playfully elbowed his older brother laughingly.

"You've filled in real well since I last saw you! What have you been eating? I need to get on your workout routine!" he smirked.

Echo chuckled, "Oh, well you know what a great cook Ella is, and the boys have been showing me a thing or two. They each know something about different aspects, and it's been interesting to learn from them."

"Has Ella been trimming your hair too, then?" Vaughn queried curiously.

Echo ran his hand over the thick locks, "She does a good job, doesn't she? Sometimes, I wonder if there's anything my woman can't do. She's amazing."

"Marriage looks good on you, Echo. Always has," his friend stated, taking a sip of the soup.

Echo flushed, "Thanks for that, Vaughn. I really appreciate it. It seems like yesterday I met you, and you were this really shy shiny. Now look at you. A captain. Who'd have thought it!"

Vaughn blushed, "Ah, well, it was only because Rex got his promotion… and what good is it now, anyway?"

Echo shook his head, "Aw, Vaughn. Be proud of yourself. Ella was telling me that she'd been watching you. Rex had been grooming you for that role for a long while. Believe me. He just leapt at the first opportunity and it was presented in a good timing."

He sighed, "Well, I thought I wasn't gonna be able to really do much good there. After getting hit on Mandalore. I had this weird feeling. That's why I didn't listen to Ahsoka. Not because I didn't want to. Call it intuition. And I was right. She'd have been butchered if she'd gone in there. There was a sniper set up. He took his shot and retreated, giving her time to prepare herself for Maul."

Echo patted his shoulder, "You did good, Vaughn. Real good. You protected her, despite the cost. Rex himself couldn't have done any better, don't you think sir?"

Ella turned to see a very weary yet somewhat rested blond coming over, rubbing his eyes. He smiled at his protégé, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Is this about the ambush, Vaughn?"

The boy blushed and looked down, some of the faded shyness appearing.

Rex smiled and shook his head, "You did everything you could've done, and protected her with your life when there was no other option. I'm proud of you, Vaughn. You did good."

Vaughn smiled brightly, hugging his brother, and sighed, "I'm glad you made it out alive, Rex. Really glad."

"I am too, vod'ika."

It was a beautiful sight. Two former captains, big brother and little brother, together after what seemed like a lifetime of fighting and dying. Rex clambered up onto the bed and sat next to him, and they continued talking about this or that for a long time.

Ella's attention was drawn elsewhere when Echo snaked an arm around her waist, suctioning her against his side, and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. She smiled and returned it, letting him drag her away from the injured.

Only a few seconds after they stepped out into the hallway, Tech's voice called, "Everyone grab onto something! We're coming in for a landing!"

Echo relayed the information into the medbay, and soon all the men were secured in case of a rough landing.

Tech glided them down to land on the far side of the Lawquanes' field. The whole family raced out of the house towards them, Tup racing ahead of them all as he came face to face with people he had missed so very much.

Ella and Echo opened their arms to him, embracing their little brother joyfully. He sniffled against the junction of their shoulders and stepped back, smiling.

Echo ruffled his hair, "Look at you! I know you weren't that young when I saw you last, but I swear you've grown up, Tup!"

Tup grinned and shrugged, "Ah, well, it was bound to happen. You look pretty good too, you know. So do you, Ella. I don't think I've seen you so happy in years!"

Ella leant against her husband's shoulder and smiled at them both warmly. "I'm lucky. The love of my life came back. Can you believe it? I still can't."

Tup shook his head, "I can't see a difference between then and now. Welcome back, Echo."

Ella squealed then, "Oh Suu! Oh, she's precious!"

The twi'lek beamed proudly, bouncing the baby on her hip. The little one's skin was mottled tan and peachy pink, tiny lekku mere bumps at the back of her head. Her eyes were a vibrant turquoise, and glinted curiously at the strangers. Who were these strange people?

"Isn't she lovely? Her name is Hirani. She's about six months old now," the mother informed.

"Ooh, can I hold her?" Ella asked.

Suu giggled and handed her over, "Yes. Come in and get settled. The boys will get everyone acclimated. Oh, but… who is this?"

Ella smiled and interlocked her fingers with Echo's large hand, "Suu, remember how I told you that my husband had died? Well, I was wrong. He was alive, and he came back to me. This is Echo."

"Pleasure to meet you, Suu," he greeted with one of his most dashing smiles.

Suu blushed and shook his hand, "I'm so glad you survived. She missed you very much, and I'm glad to get to meet you!"

"Thank you ma'am," Echo said, then nodded to her husband. "I'm afraid I haven't met you, sir."

The farmer merely smiled and took his hand, "I'm Cut. I met Rex when he was injured and stayed here when you boys were off chasing Grievous."

Echo's eyebrows rose, "Well, thank you for sheltering him, then."

Cut nodded and clapped his shoulder, "Come on. Let the ladies and kids go in and get rested. I'll help you bring your injured into the barn. We cleared away a space for everyone."

"You'll need to get your chip removed as well."

"Yes. I will. But after we're through so your medics and wife can relax."

Echo nodded and smiled at Ella, kissing her cheek softly. "See you in a few?"

She nodded, "Take your time. And make sure Wander and Vutyc take a load off. They've been hurrying around like chipmunks on espresso highs all night."

He chuckled at the mental image and retreated. "I will. Have fun!"

No sooner had the men left than were two pairs of arms flung around her waist. She looked down to see Shaeeah and Jek smiling up at her.

"Did you bring the macaroons?" the boy asked.

She shook her head, "I'm afraid not. But I have been practicing and can make them now quite well. I'll show you if you'd like."

"Ooh! Me too?" his sister begged.

Ella nodded, "Yes. Just let me take a minute to calm down a bit. It's been a crazy past few days. And I… if you don't mind, I need to ask your mom some questions."

Suu nodded. "You two go make sure your tookas stay out from underfoot in the barn. There were a lot of injured and they need a clear walkway."

The two kids ran off and Suu welcomed Ella back inside their cozy home, bouncing Hirani to calm her frustrated squalls. They took a seat on the chairs around a fireplace and Suu nodded at her to ask her question.

Ella took a deep breath, then smiled and whispered, "Can you keep a secret?"

•~§~•

Ahsoka sat by Rogue's bedside, mopping the sweat that glistened on his furrowed brow. It was late at night and she'd toiled endlessly, doing her best to make him comfortable. It was the least she could do after letting that murder machine loose.

What had she been thinking? Or, more accurately, why hadn't she been thinking?

Rogue groaned and gasped, his eyes suddenly snapping open, searching his unfamiliar surroundings confusedly.

"Rogue," she soothed, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You're okay. You made it through the crash and we're on Saleucami now. You're going to be just fine."

He turned slightly, his gaze finally resting on her. They stared at one another for an infinite moment, then he closed his eyes and looked away, biting his lip. Shame and self-loathing radiated through him in the force, sorrow bright and burning like polar ice. She could hear the thoughts running through his head - self-condemning and ruthlessly hateful. It brought tears stinging to her eyes.

"Rogue," she whispered. "Do you… you remember what happened?"

He stiffened, then nodded tautly, drawing himself up closer. The emotions intensified.

'I'm a traitor; an ungrateful, wretched traitor. She never hurt me. Saved my life many times. Bled beside me, sometimes for me. And what did I do to thank her? Hunted her down as if she were scum. I'm a monster. A cruel, uncaring, thoughtless monster. I should've fought harder, should've done something to stop myself from being a kriffing meat droid! She should've killed me. I should've killed myse—'

"Rogue!" Ahsoka gasped, throwing any thoughts of caution to the wind as she grabbed his face between her hands and brought his eyes to hers. "No! Oh, please! You can't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault! Please! The last thing I wanted was for you to be hurt. You're my friend!"

Tears welled up in his eyes and he shook his head, "I should've known better. I shouldn't have listened to that stupid order."

"You had a chip in your brain that took away all of your control! Rogue!" she sniffled desperately, "It wasn't your fault!"

"I should've done something! I almost killed you!" he rasped, voice tight and strained.

She shook her head, lekku swaying fiercely. "Rogue, stop. It was far beyond anyone's control. No one was exempt from the order except for Chopper and that was because he didn't have his chip. You couldn't do anything."

"I know!" he howled. "I know, but I can't help feeling like this! I was bred to protect you, and I did so gladly because you're my friend! But that kriffing order just… I couldn't do anything to protect you from anyone or anything, including myself!"

Ahsoka hugged him tightly as he sobbed, her own tears wetting her sunset cheeks.

"I-I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Rogue… I'm sorry too. If I hadn't let Maul out… if I'd just stopped and thought for a few minutes… so many of our brothers died in that crash. Jesse didn't make it. I thought we were going to lose you too," she sniffled.

"Is it gone?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically small.

She nodded, gently brushing her thumb over the bandage at the side of his head. "It's gone. Ella, Echo, and the Bad Batch came and rescued us. Tech built a surgery machine and you were one of the first to have the chip removed."

He sighed, "I'm glad. I don't ever want to feel that way again. Poor Tup. I can only imagine how frightened he was when it happened to him."

"Yeah," she agreed. "Hey, you gonna be okay?"

Rogue nodded slowly, wiping away the salty remnants of his tears. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Where are we again?"

Ahsoka sat down and began to explain everything that had happened, from the moment the order was issued to the crash, their rescue, and being welcomed onto the Lawquane's farm.

"So I'm in a barn?" he clarified.

She nodded, "There wasn't enough room in the house. Cut and Tup turned the eopies' stalls into rooms. Most of the injured are in here."

"Who…?"

"Chopper, Charge, Winter, Wander, Vutyc, Vaughn, Sterling, Emery, Rex, and myself. We're all that's left."

Rogue was quiet. Then he just took a tired breath and let it out heavily. She sensed a strange wave of sad acceptance through the force. What else could really be done?

"Try to get some sleep, Rogue," Ahsoka suggested. "We're all here if you need us."

Rogue nodded and pulled the blanket up to his chin. "Goodnight, sir."

"Just Ahsoka from now on, Rogue," she insisted, standing and heading to the door.

He nodded, yawning as his eyes began to feel the weight of needed sleep. "Goodnight Ahsoka."

"Gnight, Rogue," she whispered, then stole upstairs where the healthier men were staying.

Rex was the only one awake, the others passed out from a long day of moving and caring for the wounded. He smiled at her, though it seemed strained. Her heart went out to him. Over the course of just a few years, tragedy and stress had taken a toll on him. Years of dark circles had created bags beneath his eyes, which held immortal sorrows and sour memories. In moments like these, his old soul battled with the youth that was always hidden just below the surface. Experience and a stolen childhood clashing bitterly.

He really needs some peace. Just a moment. Just a little while.

She came and sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder. His arm came up and wrapped around her.

"How's Rogue?" he asked, voice gravelly with weariness.

"He woke up. He's gonna be fine," she summarized.

He grunted, gathering unspoken information from this meager sharing. "I'll visit him in the morning, I guess."

"Hmm. Good idea," she agreed. "How are you doing, Rex?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe not so bad as before. It comes and goes."

She nodded. "I know."

"Did you talk to Ella?"

She nodded carefully, "She seems to be doing well."

He sighed, "I feel like she's hiding something."

She shrugged.

He turned to look at her. "You know what it is, don't you?"

Ahsoka sighed, "I do. But I can't tell yet. You'll know soon enough, I promise."

"Is it anything bad?" Rex queried, concerned.

She shook her head, "Definitely not. Just don't say anything for now, okay?"

He nodded and rested his head on the wall again. "I'm tired."

"Me too."

"Gnight kid."

Ahsoka giggled and rolled her eyes, "Goodnight, ori'vod."


Mando'a Translations

Chakaaryc - rotten, low-life