Some of the younger clones were ogling at him and whispering to their squad mates. Yes he was the big bad ARC, but they didn't need to give him heart eyes. Not that he didn't mind. Fives shifted lightly glancing at Rex who seemed just as tense as him.

"You alright," Fives asked over the private comms nudging Rex lightly.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Rex replied standing only a few inches away from the ARC giving the captain the ability to brush Fives' arm in response to the nudge.

"You'll listen to me when I give you advice this time right," Fives asked turning his head to the captain.

Rex turned his head to Fives at that not responding immediately. The captain placed his hand on the back of Fives' neck bumping their helmets together lightly before pulling away.

"I trust you. I don't know what happened here, but I trust you. I'll listen. Just don't give me too much. I still need to trust myself," Rex finally spoke turning his head back to the briefing.

Fives nodded relaxing slightly as he turned to the briefing as well. Umbara was bad. Bad for all of them, but for Rex it broke a piece of him. Fives was hoping that he could save Rex from that, but he knew that it would be difficult.

Fives straightened his stance lightly when he heard Skywalker address him. He knew this briefing so he was only half listening. Rex scooted slightly closer to Fives as Kenobi and Skywalker bantered lightly. Fives brushed his arm against Rex's in an attempt to provide slight comfort as the briefing came to an end. This was going to be tough.

/

"How you holding up Tup?"

"Good sir!"

"Yeah!"

"Easy Hardcase!"

Fives' heart was going a million parsecs an hour and they weren't even on the ground yet. The ARC was keeping a tight grip on the railing above him as the gunship rocked lightly. Fives could hear the Umbaran canons sounding all around him; threatening to shoot them down.

As soon as they landed and they were ok the ground Fives was on the move keeping an eye on the ground as he moved swiftly. The memory of one of their brothers getting eaten alive by a large plant in the forefront of his mind as he moved over the vines. Then he heard those special words.

"Keep moving Hardcase it's just a vine."

"Yeah I got it."

"Hit the deck," Fives spun around with a snarl blaster raised as the plant came to life.

The group around him did as told without question leaving Fives to be the only one standing. The only target. The plant wrapped its eager vines around the ARC's legs sweeping him up from the ground with a shout. The ARC fired off a few shots managing to shoot some of the vines off of him. This, however, left him dangling over the creatures mouth by a thread.

Fives paled lightly as he stared into the mouth of the man eating plant and just when he thought he was going to be eaten alive- like poor Cut-up- a droid popper was thrown into the plant's mouth. Fives turned his head to the side as the blinding light of the grenade flashed brightly. Blood splattered across Fives' visor and the plant's vines yanked him to the right. Fives was dropped to the ground while the plant screeched and died from the blast. Fives cursed as he got up rubbing the arm he had landed on.

"Fives!"

The ARC looked up seeing Rex running up to him only one dece in hand. The second the captain got to him he was looking him up and down checking for injuries. Rex noticed the ARC cradling his arm and immediately reached out to get a good look.

"I'm alright. Caught me off guard. Damn thing nearly had me. Thanks," The ARC dipped his head to Rex as he watched him look at his arm speaking in fragments obviously shaken at nearly being eaten alive.

Rex placed a hand on his shoulder and steadied him lightly. The ARC gave a minute nod allowing Rex to turn and shout out orders to the other troops to "keep moving" and to "watch the floor".

Fives picked up his blaster and rolled his shoulders lightly. The ARC prepared to keep moving when he was bumped by someone.

"Glad you spotted that, Fives," Hardcase grinned at him beneath his helmet.

"Hardcase right," Fives asked even if he already knew the answer turning his head to the heavy gunner.

"Yeah. That's what they call me," Hardcase grinned and moved forward.

I am not just another number! None of us are!

Fives nodded silently his throat tightening lightly. They had lost so much here. 501st and the 212th. Fives shivered lightly as he kept walking not once looking back.