This story began when I started watching the final season of The Clone Wars. It seems only fitting that it should end in time with the season finale on May the Fourth.
One final time: thank you all so much for reading and for your kind words!
"Stay down."
"I'm not dying, Wolffe," Fox grumbles, but settles back into the pillows nonetheless. He doesn't need all five that are tucked around him, of course; Rys, Jek, and Thire must have gotten into one of the medical cabinets and pilfered it for extra supplies to prop him up on while he was asleep.
Wolffe rolls his eyes and eases himself onto the chair Thire never bothered to put back in the corner. It takes Fox an embarrassingly long moment to realize that Wolffe didn't make his way down to the Guard's medical bay alone. Rex and Fives are with him.
"Why are you all here in the middle of the night?" Fox asks.
"We came to check up on you," Fives says, flashing an easy grin. "You look like hell."
"In the middle of the night," Fox repeats.
"We might be shipping out again soon," Rex says, and Wolffe nods agreeably. "Just thought we'd drop by and make sure you were all right."
"I'm fine," Fox says.
Fives' grin falters. "Wolffe told us," he says haltingly. "About what they did to you."
Fox's stomach turns uneasily. His hands wind together; his fingernails drive into his knuckles. "It's over now," he says at last, and tries for a smile. It feels harder than it should. Wolffe gently pries his hands apart and clasps one between both of his own.
The silence isn't awkward, but it goes on for long enough that Rex shifts from foot to foot and Fives blows out a long breath. "Right," Rex says. "There is one more thing."
Fox frowns.
"We found him," Wolffe says. "We found Exon."
He didn't know Exon was missing. He should have known Exon was missing. Fox's heart lurches violently. "You found Exon," he echoes, and strains to remember the last time he saw him.
Wolffe must see the panicked confusion in his eyes. "It's all right," he murmurs, and Fox tries to nod and believe it. Wolffe squeezes his hand tightly. "That's not your fault."
"Where is he?"
Rex nods at the door. Cody steps through. His arm is wrapped around Exon's shoulders. There's a tired, haunted light in Exon's eyes. His hair is longer, loose and disheveled. He crosses the room to sit on the bed at Fox's side.
For a moment, it's silent.
"Cody told me they sorted out your headaches," Exon says, and toys with the blanket. "That's – that's good."
Headaches. Fox's breath stops in his throat. "They told you everything?"
Exon's eyes look wider than Fox thinks they should. "After they pulled me out of the basement of the Grand Republic Medical Facility, yeah," he says, and snorts. "Some 'transfer.' They kept asking me about the chips."
It's been eating at him since Jek quietly handed him a datapad and told him that the Fives reports would help explain everything. "The chips," Fox says and looks to Cody and Rex and Fives.
"Yeah," Fives says. "Yours malfunctioned."
The report said he removed it. Fox hesitates. "Was there something wrong with mine?"
Exon pats his shoulder. "It was faulty," he says. "I was going through the data and talking to Fives before Commander Cody brought me to see you. The chip's programming wasn't transmitting the activation sequence completely correctly, so your – unorthodox counter was enough to interrupt what it was able to send."
That old familiar cold; the chips and their control: it comes to him in a rush. All at once, he doesn't have the courage to ask what would have happened if he hadn't managed the counter. Maybe they would have kept sending the activation key until it finally clicked and he would have lost his mind forever.
Fox shudders. Wolffe squeezes his hand again. Cody opens his mouth to say something, but the buzz of his comm cuts him off. He steps outside. Fox doesn't ask what it could be about. He's sure he already knows.
Shipping out again soon, Rex said.
It only takes Cody a moment to return. His face is grim. "That was General Kenobi," he says. "We have to go."
Fox feels a pang of wistful longing. He remembers the field and the grass and the stupid open sky he'll never see. His chest aches.
He's said too many goodbyes.
"Stay down," Wolffe says. Fox pushes himself upright anyway. Wolffe takes his face between his hands and presses their foreheads together.
"Jate'kara, vod," Fox murmurs. "Be careful."
Wolffe lets go. For all the exhaustion in his eyes, he still manages to look amused. "That's really funny," he says, "coming from you."
"I wasn't that bad."
"You jumped out of a building, Fox," Wolffe says dryly. "It was that bad."
Rex and Cody take hold of Fox's shoulders and return his nod. It's Fives that hovers after the others have stepped into the hall.
"I'm sorry," Fives says. There's guilt in his eyes. "About what they did to you."
"I don't remember most of it," Fox says mildly.
Fives doesn't even twitch.
Fox gives him a lopsided smile. "I did shoot you," he points out. "So fair's fair."
Fives does laugh at that. It's disbelieving and broken, but it soothes some of the tension coiled in Fox's chest. "You did," Fives says, and blinks quickly. His grin wobbles before he steadies it. "Why'd you turn the stun up so high? You blew a hole in my armor, Fox."
Not in his right mind. Barely able to think. Barely remembering to breathe. Set to kill. Switch it back. Fire, fire. "I wanted it to be convincing," Fox says, and shakes off the ghosts. "And I didn't think it would shock you so hard it stopped your heart."
There's a sheen to Fives' eyes. "I'm sorry," he says again.
"Nothing to forgive, vod."
Fives holds out his arm. Fox grasps it. "Stay alive," Fox says.
"You too."
"I don't have a choice," Fox says, and jerks his head toward Exon. "He won't let me die."
Fives holds for a moment longer, then pulls away. Once he turns, he doesn't look back.
The door hisses closed.
"They'll be all right," Exon says quietly. "Right now, your only concern should be recovering."
"There is still a war going on, Exon."
"You're not going to be able to fight anyone in this condition," Exon says. Despite the dark circles driven beneath his eyes, he still manages a note of convincing sternness. "Rest and heal."
It's good advice: for both of them. Fox ruffles Exon's hair so it falls over his eyes in dark waves. Exon scowls. "You need a haircut," Fox says. "It's just a little longer than regulation."
Exon snorts. "My hair was the least of my concerns," he says, and stops abruptly. Fox reaches out and tucks his hair behind his ears.
"When you're ready to talk," Fox says quietly, "I'm here, vod."
Exon blinks twice. "I know," he says, and clears his throat harshly. "I know."
Fox wraps his arms around him. Exon leans into the hold. "It's okay," Fox says, and lets him shudder through the sobs. "It's okay. I'm here. You're safe."
"What's going on?"
"I don't know," Echo says. "I got the same message you did: report to the north landing platform."
Fives falls in stride with Echo at double time. The Resolute isn't fit for another full-scale space battle, but it'll fly, and apparently, that's all they need it to do. A shuttle stands ready to take them back to the star destroyer. Skywalker is supposed to be waiting for them in the shuttle's cockpit.
Ventress and Tano are already at the ramp when they arrive. Tano glances over and gives them a smile. Its warmth is sincere; it's just offset by the stressed set of her spine and the tension in her eyes. Fives almost asks her what's wrong, then bites it back.
It has to be the mission.
"Ventress," Fives says instead. She tugs off her helmet and tucks it under her arm. It's a swift movement, but it's done with reverent care.
"Fives," she says evenly.
Fives waves a hand at the shuttle. The engines are just beginning to hum to life. "Joining us on this one?"
She snorts. "No," Ventress says. "I think I've more than done my part."
Fives shrugs, conscious of Echo's stiffness at his side; he doesn't need the Force or the bond or whatever the hell it is to know that he doesn't like her being here. "We can always use the help."
She arches one eyebrow elegantly. "You have Skywalker, Tano, and Kenobi," she says. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"And you'll have your pardon."
"I have assurances that my 'considerable actions' will be 'accordingly weighed.'" She crooks her fingers and scoffs. Fives imagines she's not waiting with bated breath.
"What about your bounty?"
"What?"
"The one Serrano took on Skako Minor," Fives says dryly. "The chip with the algorithm. Still planning on stealing it and turning it over to the Separatists?"
Echo's shoulders snap back. His hands press to the pistols still tucked into their holsters. "Echo, hey," Fives says, over the chaos flooding the back of his mind; it's not his terror: it's Echo's. "It's okay. What's going on?"
"Skako Minor," Echo says. His voice bleeds quiet rage.
"Yeah," Fives says. "She was looking for a chip with an algorithm the Techno Union…lost."
"You were never going to help me with that," Ventress says calmly.
Obviously not. He doesn't have the time or presence of mind to answer her. Fives takes hold of Echo's shoulders. "Talk to me," he says. "What's wrong?"
"It's not a chip," Echo snarls. "It's me."
The implants in his skull. The metal curve of his spine. Fury wells in Fives' chest. His head snaps around. Ventress holds up her hands placatingly. "I didn't know it was a person," she says, and some of the white hot wrath slips away. "I was only pursuing the chip to keep the Separatists from having it."
"Why?" It's not a question to which she owes him an answer, and she seems to know it. Ventress studies him for a moment, then grasps her helmet in both hands and spins it so she's staring into the visor. Fives remembers Dooku on the command cruiser – That mask cannot change who you are, remembers Revan, who lost herself and found her darkness and chose the light.
Do we call that redemption?
"Because we are who we make ourselves," Ventress says, and lowers the helmet over her head. "Good luck, Fives."
"Ventress."
She stops a few paces away but doesn't turn to face him. "Thank you," Fives says. "For helping us."
"Like I said," she says. "I didn't do it for you."
Then she's gone.
"You okay?" Fives asks, and Echo finally relaxes. He blows out one steady breath, two, and shrugs out of Fives' hold.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Echo says. There's a defensive edge to his voice. "We need to get moving. The engines are powering on."
The others are already strapped in. Fives drops down across from Dogma. "What's wrong with you?" Fives asks, with a glance at the white-knuckled hold he has on the seat grip.
"He hates flying," Jesse supplies, and nudges Dogma. "Hey, relax. This one should be smooth sailing."
"With Anakin, is it ever?" Kenobi calls from the cockpit. "Certainly Dogma's fears are well-founded."
Rex coughs in a terrible attempt to conceal his laugh.
"Funny," Skywalker says. "I guess committing high treason has done wonders for your sense of humor, Obi-Wan."
The shuttle lifts. Dogma presses himself back into his seat. He's muttering something to himself and hasn't muted his helmet comm. It's a mantra of some kind. Jesse squeezes his wrist.
"It's good to have you on board, Commander Tano," Cody says.
"I'm not a commander anymore," Ahsoka says. Fives wonders if the note of regret in her voice is just his imagination: wistful thinking. He remembers Rex sitting his platoon leaders down and telling them to disseminate the news. There hadn't been much of a way to spin it positively: the Council made a terrible mistake, the Order lost its most promising padawan, and the 501st, through no fault of their own, suddenly found themselves short their only sister.
Some part of Fives hopes that this time, she stays.
"If you say so, Commander," Rex chimes in. There's a warmth to his voice that Fives hasn't heard in a long time.
Ahsoka's mouth curves into a smile. It's less strained than the one she gave them on the landing platform. Kenobi and Skywalker and bickering in the cockpit. Echo's safe and at his side.
For a while, it feels like old times.
The peace lasts only as long as the ride to the Resolute. The second they touch down, Tano's face shutters. She strides off the shuttle and takes a direct line to the only non-Republic craft in the hanger.
It's the Mandalorian ship that dropped her down to them during the invasion. The ramp snaps to the ground and three Mandalorians stride out. The first, the leader, stops at the bottom of the ramp right as Ahsoka reaches them. She and Ahsoka clasp one another's forearms firmly, then release.
"Lady Bo-Katan," Ahsoka says. "Welcome to the Resolute."
"What did they say?" Bo-Katan asks. No time for pleasantries, then. Ahsoka snaps off a short nod and glances over her shoulder.
"They're…undecided," Ahsoka says. "They want to discuss it in more depth."
"What is there to discuss?" Bo-Katan demands. "Maul is on Mandalore. Do they want to capture him or not?"
"Might I suggest we conduct this conversation elsewhere?" Kenobi asks. "The men will be loading supplies shortly. We don't want to be in their way."
Fives wonders how much of that is the truth and how much of it is done in the interest of trying to let cooler heads prevail. Regardless, he falls in step behind the Generals.
"Maul again, huh?" Jesse says over the helmet comm. "Nice."
"Quiet," Cody bites out. "Now's not the time for chatter."
The last time Kenobi faced off against Maul, he almost died.
The Resolute's bridge is exactly the same way Fives remembers it: he spent hours here, poring over the tactical maps with Rex and Echo, planning the formations for their assaults. He stops to the side with the other ARCs. Another figure darts in just before the door closes.
"Are you cleared, Kix?" Rex asks coolly.
"What's going on?" Kix asks, instead of answering. "There're a lot of rumors about Mandalore."
"They're figuring it out now," Echo supplies.
Bo-Katan slams her fist into the holotable. "We don't have time to wait for the Council," she snaps. "Mandalore is burning, Kenobi."
"If you can call that 'figuring it out,' yeah," Fives says, "they're figuring it out."
"Quiet," Cody says. Fives glances at him. Every muscle in his body is taut. As composed as he might think he looks, Kenobi's posture mirrors Cody's. For a second, Fives wonders at the connection.
"We cannot interfere without the proper sanctions," Obi-Wan says carefully. "The Mandalorian treaties are hundreds of years old. Any unauthorized action on our part would break them. We're still in the middle of our own war. We cannot afford to start a second."
"If it was Satine," Bo-Katan hisses, and stabs an accusing finger at Kenobi. "If it was Satine standing here – what would your answer be?"
Kenobi's face falls. Deep grief roils around him in dark waves. "I would have to refuse," he says. His voice is soft. "I'm sorry."
"I don't want your apologies," Bo-Katan says. "I want you to prove that she meant something to you."
Kenobi flinches. "I'm sorry," he says again.
Bo-Katan's rage is a red wake. The door hisses shut behind her.
"That went well," Anakin mutters. Ahsoka stiffens. Kenobi presses a hand over his mouth.
"What is it?" Anakin asks. Kenobi doesn't move. "Obi-Wan?"
Kenobi starts, then grimaces. "I will consult the Council – again," he says, and disappears after Bo-Katan.
"That went terribly," Jesse grumbles.
"Quiet," Cody snarls.
Skywalker and Tano move to a corner to speak quietly. By their body language and what tones of voice Fives can make out, it doesn't sound like it's a friendly discussion. He's tempted to comment on it, but Cody's wound so tightly he's not sure it would be worth it. Nothing's going to come of their speculation at this point anyway.
They can only wait.
Kenobi returns sooner than Fives expects him to. Beside Rex, Cody's hand curls into a fist.
"Let me guess," Anakin says. "They said no again."
Kenobi takes a slow breath. "The Council believes that capturing Grievous should be our central priority," he says. "With Palpatine's death, the Senate is still in disarray and scrambling to select an interim Chancellor. Neither they nor the Council will authorize a siege."
He pauses. "But?" Anakin prompts.
Obi-Wan takes a measured breath, bows his head, and presses his hands to the holotable. For a moment, he's motionless. Cody's breathing evens; his shoulders relax. There's a sudden swell of strength, singing steel and lightning blaze. Fives hears it like the echo of a distant cry.
I'm here. I'll stand with you. You're not alone.
"Master Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka asks gently.
"They will not authorize it," Obi-Wan says, and seems to gather himself. When he straightens to meet her eyes, his gaze glints the same steel. "But I will."
Anakin's surprise is palpable, but he doesn't argue. "Then let's get moving," he says, and motions to them. "Rex, you and your men are with me. Let's go."
Fives races after them. The Resolute's alarms are on in full force; the halls are bathed in burning crimson light. The hangar is controlled chaos; crews are loading their gear onto gunships. Tano's suddenly with them, helping them carry crates of ammunition and jetpacks onto their assigned craft while Skywalker briefs them on the plan and Rex relays it to his squad leaders.
"Really glad to have you back, Commander," Fives says. Ahsoka pauses a moment and rests a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm glad to see you alive, Fives," she says. Her smile is bright. This time, there's no tension at all. "I'm honored to be fighting at your side."
Fives holds out his arm. Ahsoka clasps it tightly. "Likewise, Commander," Fives says. "Likewise."
The gunship ride down is in silence.
Well, mostly silence.
"Can't believe we finally get to use jetpacks," Echo says.
"If you fly anything like you drive, I want you to stay far away from me," Fives says, and shoves him. Echo grips the back of his neck and pulls him forward to knock their helmets together.
"I'll race you to the surface," Echo says, and lets go.
"You've got a deal, Ey'ika."
Rex chuckles. "Stay focused," he says, but there's no bite to his words.
"I'll race all of you," Ahsoka says calmly. The pilot's calling out their approach vector, a dim buzz on the comm. Fives takes a deep breath. Adrenaline lights a familiar flame in his veins. Echo's a soothing cool in the back of his mind.
"One problem," Rex says suddenly. The gunship lurches. Ahsoka tilts her head at him. "I didn't bring you a jetpack."
"Rex," she admonishes. That wide grin is back. The doors clatter open. "I don't need one."
She launches herself into the freefall. One by one, the others follow her. Fives claps Echo on the shoulder a final time. The wind is a rush. The sky is on fire.
"See you on the other side," Fives says, and lets himself fly.