Cooper had experienced thunderstorms before on Kamino, but he set limits for himself when it came to nasty weather. His eyes widened as he stared out the viewport. Snow flew all around, obscuring the fugitives' vision and forcing Lyra to steer the ship with white-knuckled hands. The winter storm couldn't shape up to the flash floods on Kamino, but it still came dangerously close.

"I can see why your friend would pick this place to hide," Lyra grimly remarked, keeping her gaze focused on her piloting.

"Yeah," Cooper agreed, leaning over in his seat. "I know this is where she is, but…everywhere I look, it's the same stormy weather. Where do we start?"

Lyra pursed her lips, fishing her datapad out of her backpack. "Even if this place is isolated, there's got to be somewhere Harlow holed up." She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes catching sight of Tay as he entered the cockpit. "You're sure Harlow will recognize you?"

"Harlow and I go way back," Tay spoke, a nostalgic smile on his face as he leaned up against the wall. "Master Drallig paired us up as sparring partners during my fourth year at the Temple. We've been good friends since then, or at least we were before I left the Order. She'll recognize us both. I'm sure of it."

"Let's hope so," Lyra replied, keeping her gaze focused on the datapad. "I'd rather not have more people shooting at us." She fiddled with the device in her hands, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm picking up a spike in power a few miles out. I'm gonna move us closer."

Silas gently tapped Tay on the shoulder. "And just when the hell were you going to tell us you were a Jedi?" he sternly asked.

Tay raised a surprised eyebrow. "I see Lyra found the time to—"

The mechanic abruptly shook his head. "She didn't. You know more about Harlow than you let on, and you barely broke a sweat back there on Raxus," he pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. "And I happened to peek in on your little sparring session with the kid. I don't need someone to talk to me to know you're keeping secrets. And let me tell you, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who keep their true identities under wraps. Don't believe me, just ask Cooper."

Cooper averted his gaze. He knew full well where the mechanic was coming from. Despite the clone's attempts to keep his past secret, it always seemed as if Silas had been watching the clone's every move. Cooper had seen it in his first conversation with Silas, back at the couple's house on Teth.

"I was going to keep silent until it became more convenient," Tay replied, craning his neck to match Silas' stare. "Like now, for instance."

"What the hell?"

The sound of Lyra's voice turned her husband's attention away from the others. "What do you see, Lyra?" Silas asked.

"Some kind of harbor," Lyra replied as she placed the datapad back in her backpack. "Sensors are picking up movement all over the area…this might be the place."

"Can you set us down as close to that harbor as possible?" Cooper asked, leaning over his friend's shoulder.

"I'll do my best," Lyra replied, squinting to see through the whiteout. "But there's no telling how those folks will react if we just land right in front of them. Who knows how long your friend has been hiding here?"

"Probably a long time if this harbor's as busy as it sounds," Silas pointed out, shuffling into the copilot's seat. "In any case, I can't see a safe enough spot to land in this storm. If I were you, I'd check the cargo hold for some warmer clothing. We might need to walk." He turned to face Tay. "What about you?"

"I'll be better off going with Cooper," Tay spoke up, a frown settling on his face as he gazed out the viewport. "This isn't a storm I want anyone getting lost in. Besides, Harlow knows me as well. It'll be nice to see her and find out how she's holding up here."

Cooper nodded his head in understanding, turning on his heels and beginning the short walk to the cargo hold. On the outside, the teen maintained a calm demeanor, a reflection of the soldier he had been training to become. Inside, Cooper's bones tingled in excitement. It's nearly over. All we've endured, it's almost over.

The boy's mind flashed back to the last time he had seen Harlow. The war had been picking up intensity in its final days. Master Shaak Ti had been called back to the Jedi Temple to regroup after Coruscant had endured a Separatist invasion. Harlow, meanwhile, had been summoned to assist in the ongoing conflict on Cato Neimoidia.

"Don't you worry, Cooper," Harlow had told him as she boarded her shuttle. "When this war ends, you and your brothers will always be welcome to visit." With everything that had occurred since then, Cooper could only hope that his old friend would keep her word.

Well, Harlow, I hope you're in the mood for visitors. You're about to get a handful of them.

The woman watched with cautious eyes as the unknown freighter zoomed past. She lowered the binoculars with trembling hands, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. First ship I've seen flying in a long time. Force knows who's making a stop here. There was once a time when Harlow would have gladly accepted visitors. She had lost count of the number of times where the war had pulled her left and right, never allowing her the time to talk with her friends at the Jedi Temple. She would've longed for her old friends on Kamino, for the clones and other souls she had befriended while helping oversee the cloning program.

Now…now those friends were gone. Dead, lost to the Empire, traitorous. One way or another, Harlow had lost them all.

Shaak Ti, the Jedi who had mentored her while on Kamino, who had helped her overcome the loss of her master. Rahm Kota, who had volunteered his time and militia to help Harlow escape the clones' treachery back on Cato Neimoidia. Tay Sekel, her old friend who had given her a chance by helping her hide, all while dealing with his own crisis on Raxus. It was safe to say that if the Empire's resolve was anything to go by, all these Jedi were either in hiding or dead alongside her master.

Then there were the clones.

Sawyer, one of the humblest training sergeants Harlow had ever known. Jackal, a mischievous cadet whose jokes and pranks always put a smile on Harlow's face. Cooper, who stood by Harlow's side and offered her his company on the days where she couldn't keep her inner demons from resurfacing. All those things that made the clones who they were had all but vanished, replaced with something cold and ruthless and unforgiving.

"Not one of our ships, I take it?"

The rough voice jolted Harlow out of her thoughts. She turned, casting a solemn stare towards the fugitive. The former clone captain stood diligently by Harlow's side, his blond buzz cut blending in with the fading sunlight. From what Harlow could gather, the clone had been on his way back home with his own commanding officer, after a successful, yet brutal, siege on Mandalore. Rex and his Jedi had managed to walk away from the chaos of Order 66. The rest of Rex's men, however, had not been as fortunate.

"No, Rex," Harlow answered, shaking her head. "Unless Kota's militia is bringing us supplies in a stolen ship."

The fire radiating in the clone's heart worried Harlow. Of the hundreds of men under Rex's command, most of them had died in a horrific crash after their Star Destroyer's engines malfunctioned. From what the captain had told Harlow, he had been scouring planet after planet ever since that dark day, finding and rescuing as many of his brothers as he could. It was during one such search that Rex had wound up in the harbor, after narrowly escaping a hungry pack of wampas.

"You think the Empire's found us?" the former captain asked, his jaw clenched in anger.

The Jedi shrugged her shoulders. "It's possible, but they wouldn't send a simple cargo freighter. What do you think?"

"I think we shouldn't take any chances," Rex answered, taking a deep breath. "We don't know if there's an assassin or a bounty hunter after us."

Harlow nodded her head in understanding. "I'll have the rest of the militia lock down the harbor. Take a squad and recon these visitors. I want to know who's knocking on our door and why."

"Copy that, Commander," Rex answered, slinging his blaster rifle over his shoulders.

Harlow watched as the clone veteran exited the command center, a squad of militia soldiers on his heels. She raised her binoculars again, eyes narrowing as she spotted the same freighter beginning to land a good distance from the harbor. I can't place my finger on it, but something about that ship bugs me. She didn't dare draw on the Force too much, lest she give her presence away to any traitorous Dark Jedi looking for her. Nevertheless, the Force whispered to her through the winter wind, the presence strangely familiar. Maybe…maybe some help might've come? Maybe that message I sent…no. Who am I kidding?

The former padawan had established a set of rules to help herself and her allies survive on Rhen Var. The first of these rules was obvious: expect the worst and prepare for it. She had foolishly ignored that rule back on Utapau, back when she sent that message with the hope that there were still Jedi and senators out there willing to help. It had cost her dearly. She could still feel her allies' presences in the Force wither and die, courtesy of an Imperial ambush no one had seen coming. I can't slip up and let my guard down. Not again.

The harbor gates groaned as they closed, sealing the area off from the expansive frozen lake beyond. Militia troopers stood in the watchtowers, sniper rifles ready and aimed at any potential threats. Harlow brushed her fingers over her lightsaber, the cool metal easing her paranoia to an extent. In the distance, she could see Rex and his fellow soldiers, armed to the teeth and ready to intercept the friend or foe that had just landed. Rex is a good soldier. Even so…there's no telling what he might find out there…or whether he'll come back alive.

"May the Force be with you, Captain Rex," Harlow whispered, taking a deep breath to soothe her fears as the harbor's heavy turrets came online.

For better or worse, their little haven was about to have company.

Cooper fastened his gloves on and pulled a heavy poncho over his head. He glanced to his left, eyes observing Tay as the Umbaran donned his own coat and gloves. The clone couldn't be more grateful that they had found some winter clothes sitting around in the cargo hold. Taddeo must've prepared for situations like this. Good. Can't imagine how we'd stay alive out there otherwise.

"You good to go?" Sekel asked, taking a glance at the boy's survival gear. "Everything fit okay?"

Cooper nodded his head. "Yep. I'm good."

Tay checked over his own cold weather gear one last time before strolling towards the exit. Blinding light and bursts of cold wind greeted the fugitives as the entry ramp lowered. Cooper and Tay shielded their faces as white fluff invaded the ship's interior.

Tay couldn't stop the shivers rolling up his spine. "This storm isn't going to let up," he hollered over the roar of the wind.

"Agreed," Cooper said, pulling his poncho hood up. "Sooner we get to that harbor, the better."

Tay pulled his own coat hood over his head and reached for his commlink. "Silas? Lyra? Do you copy?"

"We're here for now," Silas responded, his voice barely filtering through the static. "But this storm's interfering with our comms. Once you step off that ramp, you two are on your own."

"Understood." The general turned to the clone. "Last chance, Cooper. You sure you want to do this?"

Cooper took a deep breath, sealing the deal with a determined nod of his head. I didn't come this far to give up now. He pressed the button on his own commlink. "We're going in."

"Copy that," Lyra responded, her voice just as scrambled as Silas'. "Try to contact us once you see that harbor. Silas and I will stay here and keep the ship warm. Be careful out there."

"Copy. Over and out." The clone shoved his commlink back in his pocket and stepped out into the blizzard. Snow blew in the fugitives' faces, and the ankle-deep snow slowed their movements.

Cooper was no stranger to the cold. Sometimes, back on Kamino, a trainer would use the cold thunderstorms to make an example out of unruly cadets. One time, Jackal had roped Cooper into a prank on one of the other trainers. Cooper had been tasked with getting the trainer's attention and luring him to Jackal. Cooper had been in the dark about the prank as much as the bounty hunter, and as such, both their jaws dropped once a can of paint set up by Jackal had fallen on the trainer's head.

The bounty hunter had punished both cadets with an afternoon running drills in a thunderstorm. Cooper could still feel the shivers that had racked up his body, the way his clothes had stuck to his skin. He could still recall collapsing on his way to the refresher a couple nights later, courtesy of a fever he had caught out in the storm. To say Sawyer had been furious at the trainer was an understatement.

As cold as the young clone had felt then, however, nothing could compare to the whiteout in front of him. Cooper stuffed his hands into his pockets, silently praying that it would give him a sliver of warmth. "How is it that you're not freezing out here?" Cooper shivered, pulling his poncho tighter around his body.

Tay let out a chuckle, managing a smile even in the frigid wind. "Maybe a frozen wasteland isn't a clone's natural habitat."

"Very funny," Cooper snarked back. "How much further is this harbor?"

"Harlow's close," Tay replied, his optimistic tone a beacon of light in the storm. "I can sense it. What I'm unsure of is what we'll do once we find her."

"We need to warn her about Third Brother's plans, for starters," the clone said, turning his head to the side to avoid the flurries flying in his face.

"You're thinking too small, my friend. There's a good chance we'll find Harlow and finish this quest of yours. Have you thought about what you'll do once it's over?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Cooper said as he continued to trudge his way through the snow. "All my life, I was told what my future was going to be. A soldier to fight the Republic's battles. But now the Republic's gone and I…I'm not a soldier anymore. I guess I'm having trouble accepting that."

"Why?"

Cooper struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. "Because it's all I've ever known. I wish I could go back to a world where I could laugh at Jackal's jokes or go talk to Sawyer whenever I had a nightmare. But I can't."

"I experienced something similar when I left the Jedi," Tay humbly said, turning to face his friend. "I still miss Master Yoda's wisdom. I still long for those sleepless nights I spent reading with Master Jocasta. Hell, I even stopped by to visit my fellow Jedi every once in a while. But it was not the wrong choice for me to leave, Cooper, and it wasn't wrong for you to leave either. Life's hardest choices require us to leave behind everything we've ever known."

"I'm not sure if I can do it," Cooper muttered hopelessly. "I'm not sure if I can just move on."

Tay gave the clone's hand a gentle squeeze, a solemn look in the Umbaran's eyes. "You may not be ready now, but sooner or later, you will have to leave that part of your identity behind. Trust me on that."

Now that I think about it…Tay's got a point there. The clone had no idea what he would do once Harlow was safe. He could never go back to the life he once had, and he knew Silas and Lyra couldn't do the same. The clone would always be an enemy in the eyes of the Empire. He could never see Sawyer or the rest of his family again.

The more he thought about it, however, the more he began to wonder who his family was at this point. While Sawyer may have been there for Cooper throughout his youth, Sawyer also chose to obey the Empire's wishes rather than defend his brother. The former cadet had never even gotten the chance to say goodbye to Jackal. These people I'm with now, it feels like we work well together. They've all helped me more than the Empire has.

Harlow had sent a message requesting aid from the people she could trust, and that included Cooper. Silas and Lyra had given the boy a place to stay back on Teth. Silas had fought alongside Cooper throughout his quest. Lyra had offered the clone advice and had made the group's safety her utmost priority. Tay had been willing to disclose his deepest, darkest secret to Cooper, all while helping the clone prepare to make a stand against Third Brother. If everyone's willing to help me with my mission, then I'll fistfight the Empire for them. Rule number one: we fight together.

The sudden gust of wind snapped Cooper back to reality. "It's getting worse out here," he pointed out, shivers rolling down his spine. "Any idea where to go?"

"Let me see," Tay replied, squinting as he scanned the horizon. "There," he hollered over the harsh wind, pointing toward a nearby cavern. "That might make a good place to rest, at least until the storm lets up."

Cooper shielded his face with his hand as he followed Tay. The harsh wind battered against the two wanderers, the sheer force enough to make Cooper wonder if the storm would blow him away. The clone took note of the cave's dim interior, switching his mounted flashlight on as he entered.

The icy walls of the cave surrounded the fugitives. While the alcove shielded them from the wind, it also replaced the wind's howls with a silence that only creeped Cooper out. The clone gripped his carbine, but for once, the feeling of the rough metal wasn't enough to put his mind at ease. "I don't think this is the best route."

"Look on the bright side," Tay piped up, glancing over his shoulder with a smile. "At least we're out of the storm for now."

As much as he tried to focus on the positives of being out of the whiteout, Cooper couldn't shake the funny feeling in his gut. Something feels off…I just can't place my finger on what it is. Maybe it was the uncomfortable silence. Maybe it was the way Cooper tensed up at every sudden movement. He inhaled sharply, the icy breath enough to help him focus on the present. Whatever's got me on edge probably isn't bad. Right now, we should focus on getting to that harbor before nightfall.

The clone continued to follow Tay through the narrow cave. Cooper took a deep breath, hoping the cold air would help him relax. Instead of the crisp air he'd grown used to, however, a strong, metallic smell filled his nostrils. Cooper's face paled. He recognized the smell instantly. He'd experienced it enough times in training to be able to distinguish it from the other smells in the training arenas or the barracks. The smell of blood.

The bitter stench grew stronger the further the two travelled, spreading through the air and causing the boy's stomach to turn. Cooper held his scarf up in front of his nose, hoping the cloth would be enough to block the strong scent. I knew it wasn't safe here. Nevertheless, he continued to follow his friend, the tunnel gradually expanding into a small clearing.

Tay froze suddenly, hands gripping the hilt of his lightsaber. Cooper raised his flashlight, only for the general to abruptly block Cooper's view. "Lights off, now," Tay harshly whispered, eyes wide with fear.

"Why?" Cooper quietly asked, switching his flashlight off.

Tay pointed a shaky finger towards a nearby silhouette. With his flashlight off, Cooper had to squint to make out the shape of the figure. Once he did, however, it took everything he had to hold back a gasp.

The wampa hunched over its bloodied meal, its back turned to the two fugitives. Bones from other unfortunate creatures decorated the open space. It all made sense now. The smell of blood, the tension Cooper had been feeling since entering the cave. The two survivors had wandered straight into a wampa's lair.

Out of the corner of his eye, the clone noticed Tay inch his way to the other end of the beast's lair. Cooper took the hint and followed, keeping his footsteps light and his hand in reach of his blaster. He'd done enough reading on wampas and other carnivorous predators to give himself nightmares. A wampa would rarely kill its prey on the spot, instead choosing to slowly devour meals in the safety of nearby caves. The clone's heart pounded as he inched closer to the exit. Just a few more steps. Nice and easy.

The clone had been too focused on the animal in front of him, too focused on his friend's movements to worry about his own. Nevertheless, he could barely hold back a gasp as he stumbled, a stray ice chunk tumbling into the clearing.

The wampa whipped its head around, its black eyes locking with Cooper's own.

ROOAAAARRR!

"Run!" Cooper shouted, whipping around and scrambling through the opening. The caverns twisted as the clone and Umbaran ran for their lives. The loud thuds of heavy footsteps caused Cooper to whip his head around. The wampa's enraged roars echoed through the cave, a sign that the beast was furious at having its meal interrupted by uninvited guests. Cooper and Tay picked up their pace, not keen on being next on the menu.

An abrupt collision with Tay's back halted Cooper in his tracks. The boy scrambled to his feet to immediately realize why his friend had stopped running. A large wall of ice blocked the fugitives' path. The clone could make out a glimmer of light on the other side, and his heart swelled with hope. The exit. We can get out of here.

A yelp escaped Tay's lips as the wampa grabbed ahold of his leg, dragging him to the ground. Tay scrambled to get loose from the beast's grip, pulling out his lightsaber. A sudden attack from the creature's paw knocked the weapon out of his grip.

"Leave him alone!" Cooper shouted, pulling out his hatchet. A quick swipe from the weapon wounded the creature, drawing blood and loosening the grip on Tay's foot. Cooper pressed his attack, whipping out his carbine and opening fire on the wampa. Several of the bolts impacted the beast's fur. The wampa roared and flailed its claws about, its enraged eyes zeroing in on Cooper. The clone audibly gulped. Not good.

"Do something about that ice! Hurry!" the boy told Tay, aiming his carbine at the wampa once more. The blaster shots echoed throughout the cavern, singing the creature's fur but otherwise doing little to stop it. Blaster's only making it angrier. Think. What do I have that can take this thing down?

The words from Tay's training session hit Cooper like a speeder. Unorthodox tactics. Maybe I don't need to kill this thing…just drive it away. With the idea fresh in his head, the clone fumbled around in his backpack, hands latching onto a sonic grenade. He eyed the device carefully. Last grenade. Better make it count. He fired a few more plasma bolts to stun the creature before he activated the grenade, lobbing it in the wampa's direction.

The grenade's high-pitched whine caused the creature to double over painfully. It let out an agonized roar, clutching its head as it backed away from the fugitives. Cooper quickly turned to Tay, a grin forming on his face. Tay had buried his ignited lightsaber into the ice, cracks forming as the wall began to give way. "Tay!" Cooper hollered, eyes widening as the sonic grenade reached the end of its life span. "Any time now!" The wampa shook its head, letting out a low growl as it glared at the two outsiders.

Tay let out an agitated groan. "Screw this!" he shouted, unleashing a blast from the Force which shattered the ice wall. Light burst through the opening, and the two fugitives scrambled toward the makeshift exit. Cooper tripped over his own feet as he stumbled out, and he whipped back around. He reflexively aimed his carbine as the wampa furiously charged after the survivors.

The unexpected blaster shot connected with the wampa's head. The beast recoiled as it collapsed, the fatal wound too much for it to bear.

"Area secure," a new voice spoke. "Everyone all right?"

Cooper inhaled deeply, though the crisp air did little to calm his nerves. With his legs trembling and his bones aching with exhaustion, the clone couldn't find the strength to get a glimpse of the newcomer. Probably some scavengers. Aside from Harlow, I can't see who else would be willing to explore this wasteland.

"So much for finding a place to rest," Tay groaned, climbing to his feet. He glanced towards the fugitives' unexpected savior. "Thank you for helping us when you did."

"You can thank me by not going anywhere near those caves ever again," another newcomer spoke up. "Those wampas are no joke."

Cooper froze. His mind still struggled to wind down from the encounter with the wampa, but he still recognized that voice anywhere. Back before the Empire, the boy would have been grateful to find a fellow clone trooper all the way out here. Now, though, his mind recognized the presence of another clone as one thing and one thing only: a threat.

The clone immediately shot to his feet, ignoring the surprised gasp from the Imperial. Cooper backed up as he got a better look at the newcomer. The older clone's blond buzzcut helped him stand out from any other clone Cooper had met. The teen reached for his carbine, instinctively aiming at the hostile.

"Woah! Easy there, kid," the clone spoke up, hands held out in a nonthreatening gesture. "We're not here to hurt you."

Had the words not come from an Imperial clone, Cooper would've accepted the trooper's reassuring tone. Cooper cocked the blaster in response, hands trembling as he kept his aim on the other clone. Nice try, but you're not fooling me. Not the same way Sawyer did. "That's a good joke," he deadpanned, his panic causing his voice to waver slightly. "Care to tell me another?"

A hand grasped his shoulder. "Hey," Tay added, his voice riddled with concern. "It's okay. We're safe now. Lower the blaster."

The boy shook himself free of his friend's grasp. "It's not okay," he shouted back. "This is just a trick!" Maybe the Imperials would play along for a little while longer before dropping the act. Maybe they would shoot him dead on the spot, or maybe they would toss him and Tay back into the wampa's den or another blizzard.

"I'm not an Imperial," the older clone said, his tone not wavering. "Is that what this is about?"

Cooper cocked his head to the side, eyes furrowing as he assessed the situation further. The clone veteran still held his hands above his head. The former cadet noticed the poncho the other clone wore over his armor, as well as the multiple militia soldiers surrounding them. While all the soldiers were armed, none of them seemed to be aiming their weapons at Cooper or Tay. All the soldiers, including the older clone, wore varying looks of confusion and surprise on their faces, a sign that they hadn't expected Cooper to view them as a threat.

The boy reluctantly holstered his weapon.

"That's better," the older clone spoke up. "Sorry about the miscommunication there. We weren't exactly expecting visitors."

"It's…it's fine," Cooper stammered, trying and failing to stop his hands from shaking. "Look, we don't want any trouble. We're just looking for someone."

"We?" The older clone raised an eyebrow. "Who's 'we?' Just you two?"

"There's two more of us back at our ship," Tay explained, clipping his lightsaber back on his belt. "They're not Imperial, either. My name's Tay, by the way."

"Rex," the older clone replied, eyeing the lightsaber as he shook the Umbaran's hand. "I'll be damned. Never thought I'd see another Jedi out here."

Both Tay and Cooper's eyes lit up at the mention of the older clone's name. Cooper's jaw dropped as he stared at the legend in front of him. Everyone in the Grand Army had heard stories of the infamous 501st Legion, and of the Jedi and clone captain who led them into battle. With the youngest generations of clones still stuck on Kamino, Cooper only had his brothers' stories to help paint a clear picture of Captain Rex, and the "Hero with no Fear" Rex had served. Welp, guess I can cross meeting a legend off my life's to-do list.

Tay was the first to react to the discovery. "You're Skywalker's captain, aren't you?" he curiously asked, a grin lighting up his face.

"Former captain, actually," Rex amended. "But yeah, I worked with Anakin. Can't help but wonder if he survived all of this."

"I'm sorry to say that he isn't the Jedi we're looking for," Tay replied, his own smile wavering. "No one's seen him since the war ended. We're looking for an old friend of ours named Harlow Thornton. Do you know her?"

Rex nodded his head. "We do. She asked me to find out what you're all doing here. She's back at our camp if you want to meet her."

"Thank you, Captain," Tay replied. "There's a lot that we both need to fill Harlow in on. Lead the way."

Rex turned on his heels and began the hike to Commander Thornton's camp, with Cooper and Tay following close behind. As he walked alongside Tay, Cooper couldn't help but keep his hand in reach of his carbine. The young clone cautiously slowed his pace enough to get a good look at Rex. Though the militia soldiers behind Rex limited Cooper's view, the boy could still make out the former captain's hand, resting on a blaster pistol. A precaution against unexpected threats. With his mind overwhelmed with anxiety at the time, Cooper hadn't even noticed that Rex himself had been armed.

I'm gonna owe Rex a major apology once all of this is over.

"When we find Thornton," Rex started, craning his neck to the two survivors, "I need you both to let me do the talking. Harlow was a bit reluctant to take me in, so I can't imagine how she'll react to seeing you two."

Cooper nodded his head as he walked. The bitter cold bit at every exposed patch of skin it could find, but the boy continued to push forward. I'm almost there. No sense stopping now, not after everything we've been through.

The fugitives' jaws dropped in awe as the group finally neared the harbor gates. A thick, heavy gate separated the harbor from the frozen expanse the fugitives walked on. A couple heavy turrets stood at each corner of the gate, while multiple militia snipers lined the top of the structure. Rex approached first, halting the rest of the group with a wave of his hand. "Open the gate!" Rex hollered, eyeing the snipers. "Inform Commander Thornton we have company!"

"Yes sir," one of the snipers shouted back, slipping away from his post. The gate groaned as it began to open. Rex motioned for the band to follow him. Cooper and Tay took up the rear, the former keeping his steps light to avoid slipping on the ice.

The harbor's bustling activity contrasted sharply with the mostly lifeless landscape on the rest of the planet. Militia patrols marched past, pausing in their stride to salute their returning comrades. Cooper stayed close to Tay and tried his best to avoid the wary looks the soldiers gave him and his friend.

Rex tilted his head back towards the two fugitives. "Don't worry about them," he spoke up, his reassuring tone put Cooper's concerns to rest. "Commander Thornton locked down the harbor earlier, so we're all a little tense right now. We thought you two were Imperials or bounty hunters at first."

"Can't say I blame them," Tay replied. "I just came from a skirmish on Raxus, so I know the feeling."

"Yeah?" Rex perked his head up in interest. "How goes things over there?"

"Poorly," Tay answered, his weary tone bringing back memories of how close both he and Cooper had come to dying on that planet. "We were forced to evacuate the last of our forces recently. We tried holding Tamwith Bay for as long as we could, but the Empire kept stepping up their assault. We had no choice but to retreat."

Rex shook his head in frustration. "Every day, the Empire's only growing stronger."

"Don't I know it," Cooper agreed, letting out a disheartening sigh. "I can't help but wonder what'll happen when there's no one left to fight back."

"That's never going to happen," Rex spoke up, having caught on to the younger clone's concern. "We may not seem like much here, but we're not the only ones fighting the Empire. I've met with others who are willing to take a stand, no matter how small it is. Former Imperial senators, local militias…I've even crossed paths with other clones who are on the run from the Empire."

Cooper's eyes lit up at Rex's answer. Up until now, the boy had considered himself an outlier, a random case of a clone going rogue. He had never considered that he would find vode with similar thinking, let alone a clone as legendary as Rex. With the way the Empire is now, I'm just glad I'm not the only one.

"General Sekel, sir!"

All three heads turned towards the militia soldier who had just approached. Tay stepped forward. "At ease, Sergeant. What is it?"

"Your presence is requested in the forward command center," the soldier answered, his tone as rigid as his posture. "We need to debrief you on the Raxus skirmish."

"I'll head to the command center soon enough," Sekel responded. "In the meantime, I've an urgent message to deliver to Commander Thornton. Have you seen her?"

"Last anyone saw, she was in the common room," the trooper replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "In any case, General Kota has requested your presence immediately, sir."

Tay craned his neck around to glance at Cooper, his warm smile giving way to a concerned stare. Just as quickly, Tay whipped around to face the militia soldier. "General Kota's here?"

The soldier shook his head. "He's on call via hologram. He wants to know what went down on Raxus."

Tay nodded his head in understanding, before turning to face Rex. "Captain," he started, gently nudging Cooper in the older clone's direction. "If you could escort my friend here to Commander Thornton. I'll be along shortly."

"Yes, sir," Rex replied, turning his gaze towards Cooper. "This way, kid." The older clone quickly strolled further into the compound.

Cooper quickened his pace enough to catch up to the captain. The young clone could hardly stay still as the two reached another building. Every emotion Cooper had experienced during this quest whirled around inside his head, turning his mind into a maelstrom that he could not ignore. The betrayal he experienced at the hands of his own brothers. The terror which trickled down his spine every time he narrowly slipped out of Third Brother's grasp. The hope radiating in his heart at the thought of finally being able to see his old friend again. All of it, all of his efforts, have led to this.

This.

To look Harlow in the eye and tell her every detail of what he'd been through, all the way back to his first encounter with Third Brother. And, if necessary, to defend her and every memory of what the Jedi padawan and the clone cadet both stood for.

A hand on Cooper's shoulder prevented him from fully stepping into the common room. He turned to face Rex, a concerned look on the older clone's face. "Whether you know her or not, Harlow may need time to warm up to you," Rex calmly explained. "With everything that's happened, she's…on edge, for lack of a better word."

The boy inhaled sharply through his nose. "Any advice?"

"Just be patient with her, vod," Rex insisted, the concern never leaving his face. "Give her space if she needs it. And if you need anything from me, I'll be in the command center. Got it?"

Cooper nodded his head in understanding, before entering the common room.

Cracks scarred the walls and windows. The cold seeped into the open space, waging war with the embers crackling in the fireplace. Credit where it's due: the outer defenses do a great job hiding just how much of a wreck this place really is. Cooper looked left and right for signs of his old friend. No matter where he turned, however, he found himself staring at the same empty common room. Cooper had just turned on his heel, ready to head back and ask for help from Tay or Rex, when something else caught his eye.

Resting on the fireplace mantle was a scrapbook. Cooper took note of the sturdy bindings which held the flimsi sheets together. Only a thin layer of dust disturbed the book, a sign that the object had not been as touched by decay as the rest of the building. The boy's eyes lit up as he noticed a single name etched into one of the corners: Harlow. She must have left it here. That's good. At least now I know she's home.

Curiosity tugged at the boy's mind, and he found himself opening the scrapbook. Photos filled the pages, each one pointing to a memory of Harlow's. One photo stood out to Cooper as the most formal. Harlow stood in her standard Jedi attire, arms clasped in front of her and eyes as bright as her smile. She looks so happy here…who's that standing next to her? Cooper leaned forward in interest as he stared at the older man in the photo. The human's jet-black hair shone in the photo's light. Much like Harlow, the man also smiled, though his eyes maintained a sense of professionalism that Cooper had only seen in Tay. Aurebesh writing lined the bottom corner of the photo, providing a name to match the older Jedi's face: Corjay Hartnelm. Must be Harlow's master. I always wondered why she didn't talk about him.

Satisfied with the image, Cooper turned the page. His eyes lit up in wonder, and he could barely hold back a chuckle. This page contained photos from Harlow's adventures on Kamino. Cooper recognized one of the photos instantly. The same bunny ears expression, the same sense of friendship the two had shared in that one photo. Guess Harlow treasured her time on Kamino as much as we did. The boy backed up slightly, eager to sit down and look through the scrapbook some more.

An uneasy feeling in his gut kept him from turning the page.

It started out with a buzz in his ears, as if he had been hit with a burst of static noise. Cooper carefully set the scrapbook down, his stomach turning as the buzz increased in intensity. Something's wrong…I just can't make out what. He recalled feeling something similar back when he and Tay had encountered that wampa, and back when the former cadet had encountered Third Brother for the first time.

The sound of a lightsaber activating confirmed Cooper's suspicions.

"Step away from my property," a voice sternly ordered. "And toss your weapons away while you're at it."

Cooper's breath hitched in his throat. He recognized that voice anywhere, yet at the same time, he didn't. The voice belonged to his old friend; of that he was certain. Where Cooper had expected to hear the confidence in Harlow's voice, however, he only picked up a low, vigilant tone.

A tone which mimicked the nightmare every single Jedi had suffered through.

"Harlow," Cooper spoke, managing to keep his voice calm despite the trembling in the rest of his body. "Is it really you?"

The saber's heat intensified, signaling that the Jedi had moved the blade closer to the boy's neck. "How the hell do you know my name? Who hired you?"

Realization struck Cooper with the intensity of a speeder. She doesn't see my face. She doesn't know who I am yet. "No one hired me," Cooper gently spoke, slowly tossing his weapons off to the side. "I'm not—"

"You're not a bounty hunter?" Harlow spoke up, letting out a disbelieving scoff. "You're not the first person to tell me that. You're certainly not the first to try to kill me after saying that, either. So, would you care to tell me what you're really doing here, and why you're going through my things?" Radiant sapphire light shined out of the corner of Cooper's eye as the blade inched dangerously close to his neck. "It's not like you have many other options."

Cooper inhaled sharply, willing his legs to stop trembling. Stay calm. She doesn't recognize you yet. "I swear I'm not here to hurt you," the boy steadily spoke as he started to turn around. "I'm—"

A sudden pressure surrounded Cooper on all sides. It took all his strength to avoid panicking as he found himself lifted into the air by the Force. As quickly as the Force took hold of the clone, it slammed him to the floor, causing a pained groan to escape his lips.

"Liar!" Harlow shouted, stalking closer as Cooper scrambled backwards. Free from the Force's harsh grip, the clone whipped around to face his old friend.

"Wait! Wait!" Cooper spoke up in his defense. As he held his hands out in surrender, Cooper took the chance to get a good look at his old friend. Harlow's short hair had grown since Cooper had last seen her. The clone tried not to gasp as he spotted a scar on the padawan's right cheek. The confidence Harlow once carried was gone, replaced with the wary look of a Jedi who had survived what the Empire was capable of. Harlow's lightsaber trembled in her hands even as she aimed the blade at the boy's throat.

Like a flash of lightning in a thunderstorm, the wary look on Harlow's face faded. Little by little, her features softened as she realized who she had pointed her saber at. "Cooper?" Harlow whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief. She powered down her lightsaber and reached out a trembling hand towards the boy's face.

"Hi," Cooper stammered, letting out a nervous chuckle as he climbed to his feet. "It's been a while since—"

The clone's words stalled as he found himself enveloped in a hug. Harlow trembled, breathing quickly as she stroked the back of Cooper's head. "You're alive!" Harlow croaked, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "I can't believe you're alive…"

"It's good to see you, too," Cooper replied, his voice muffled from beneath his friend's tunic.

The boy's body trembled from his shivering and from the aches of bruises that hadn't completely healed. For once, however, Cooper couldn't bring himself to care. All that mattered to Cooper right now was that Harlow, his best friend, was standing in front of him and talking to him. The young clone smiled brightly.

Mission accomplished.