Ain't nobody happy in this story, man. The universe has it out for everybody, huh? Or maybe the writer is just cruel, who knows? But hey, we see some big name characters in these two chapters! Rex, Cody, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Yoda, Mace, Fives, Echo, and Kix! Fear not, the reunion is coming in chapter five!

CW (ch 3&4): Graphic descriptions of mourning and grief, horror elements, language.

Wordcount: 4k

One thing after another. Always something. Day after day, week after week, month after month. Escape one hell and another found you immediately. At least you were lucky enough to find another hell. Others... were not so fortunate.

Commander Cody didn't see himself as a man easily rattled, years at war had seen to that, but Lola Sayu? Now that was a different animal entirely. He'd done his fair share of going behind enemy lines, both with others and alone, but that damn lava pit stood out as one of the worst hellholes so far.

So many troopers... gone.

But, as he often remarked with only partial sarcasm, there was no rest for the weary. No time to grieve or make peace with the brothers he'd lost. Just when he thought he could rest after that nightmare, his general summoned him to the Jedi Temple. Urgently summoned.

Did the universe see fit to make him suffer?

Hurrying through the halls, Cody cursed aloud when he stepped into the lift and his comm went off. The rapid beeping sent sharp stabs of pain through his temple, further convincing him of the universe's personal vendetta against him.

Don't I have enough to deal with already?

Groaning, he answered it. "Cody here."

"Hey... Commander."

His eyes flew wide. "Shadow?" he demanded.

Not a day went by where he didn't think about that Realm Walker and their mutinous leanings. A few sleepless nights had been partially thanks to worries about them going AWOL. A loose cannon was dangerous enough, but factoring in Shadow's Realm Walker abilities? A recipe for disaster. Hunter promised to report any suspicious activity from Shadow, but there'd been no calls yet. That was... until now.

Cody just did not expect Shadow themselves to be the one who called him.

"Yeah." Silence."Listen, I need a solid."

Anger sparked to life, the white hot feeling racing outwards from his chest and bringing a deep scowl to his face.

Their last words to him had been a very harsh warning for him to leave them alone, and yet they were now the ones contacting him? To ask a favor? They treated him like an enemy, blatantly disrespected everything he cared about, and had the audacity to ask a favor?

"You have until this lift opens to talk," he growled. "I have no reason to listen to-"

"It's about Lola Sayu."

Rage simmered beneath his skin and his fist clenched. "You knew that would happen, didn't you?" he hissed.

"Commander, I couldn't risk-"

"Risk what? Telling me how it would go so I could save my men? Save Echo? Do you have any idea how much pain Rex and Fives are in?"

Rex was their favorite, they said so themselves. Yet they knew of Echo's fate and did nothing to stop it? Did they even care?

"I... may be able to alleviate some of that."

"Even you can't reverse death." The lift doors opened. "Time's up. You have exactly five seconds."

"Riverbanks Bar. Two rotations. Bring Rex and Fives. Do that and I'll owe you."

"Shadow-"

"Please, Commander."

The desperation in Shadow's voice made him pause, his finger hovering over his gauntlet.

Shadow was not one to beg, yet here they were pleading for him to grant them this odd request. Whatever it was, it must have been very important to the Realm Walker. It had to be for them to personally contact him. And he'd be a liar if their tone didn't cause his anger to falter. While Cody hated Shadow's leanings... he didn't hate them.

"Are you in trouble?" he asked, a spark of concern tugging at his heart.

"No. It's just... well it's big, I'll say that. Really big."

"How big?"

"Realm Walker level big."

Realm Walker level important? What had Shadow done now?

"What did you do?"

"You'll see. It's good though, promise."

"If I do this," he began, prepared for the fallout. "Will you speak to the Jedi?"

Silence, then Shadow replied, "Yes."

Urgent didn't begin to cover whatever was going on if Shadow agreed so quickly.

"Very well," he said with a sigh. "I will meet you in two rotations with Captain Rex and Corporal Fives."

"Thanks, Commander. Shadow out."

With that they were gone.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed. First the Jedi called him personally into a meeting, and now Shadow was acting weird...er than usual. Could his day get any better?

But at least he could use this as a chance to get the Realm Walker to cooperate. To get them to talk to the Jedi, even. There was no way he'd let that opportunity slip away. Blackmail wasn't something he enjoyed, not by a longshot, but with Shadow...

Well, he'd take what he could get.

Stowing his communicator, he hurried through the Jedi Temple. Passing a gaggle of wide eyed padawans, fatigue threatened to send him to the floor but the commander continued onward. General Kenobi said his presence was urgently needed. Whatever happened, it must have been major for the usually calm general to sound as disturbed as he was.

Isn't this just my lucky day?

Slowing to a walk, he calmed himself before he slipped into the meeting room. Generals Kenobi, Skywalker, Windu, and Yoda had already assembled around the holo-table and the look on their faces was anything but happy.

"Cody, thank you for coming so soon," Obi-Wan said.

"Of course, General." He looked around at the men, hoping he didn't look as ragged as he felt. "What can I help with?"

"Identifying someone possibly connected to a special forces unit," General Windu said as General Skywalker tapped away on the main monitor controls. "They wear what we suspect is modified commando armor but we are not familiar with the design. We hoped you could be of some help."

Are you karking kidding me?!

"Where did the footage come from?"

"Uncertain of the source, we are," Master Yoda began. "But know it came from Lola Sayu, we do."

Shadow. It had to be Shadow. Who else could it be? They said they contacted him about Lola Sayu, and now there was footage of a rogue fighter from that very planet. But what was Shadow doing there?

His own words from moments prior slammed into him.

"Even you can't alleviate death."

Shadow asked for Rex. He was their favorite, so that made some amount of sense. But for them to request Fives as well?

Reversing death was one thing. But preventing it...

"Cody?"

At Obi-Wan's concerned inquiry, Cody straightened. "Sorry, General. A commando unit just contacted me. What does this footage show?"

"Take a look," General Skywalker replied.

The monitor flickered to life, and a knot formed in Cody's gut as he recognized the landing platform where they'd almost escaped and where Echo had fallen. Bits of twisted and warped debris still littered the ground. He recognized Shadow instantly as the Realm Walker sat atop a Techno Union transport of all things, swinging their leg back and forth. The video had no sound, but he didn't need it. Shadow's armor may not have been finished when he met them, but he recognized that tail anywhere. He also recognized the team's insignia on the shoulderpads which were almost exact replicas of Wrecker's.

But what confirmed his suspicions was the ignition of duel crimson blades after they jumped down.

Yes, that was Shadow. Angry Shadow, but Shadow nevertheless. They must have known what transpired on that miserable planet. But why hadn't they said anything to him before? Why was there a Techno Union ship? Why were they angry enough to corrupt the Kyber crystals? What had the Skakoan done to warrant Shadow's presence?

But, above all other questions, there was one eating away at him.

Why was Shadow at that landing pad in particular?

As the Skakoan fled into the ship, Shadow mowed down the droids with extreme ease. Given Sergeant Hunter's praise, Cody wasn't surprised by their ruthless efficiency. He'd also seen them in action before, way back on Rishi, so he knew they were skilled. His jaw dropped, however, when the Realm Walker summoned a massive wave of molten rock and sent the rest of the droids off the edge. He knew Shadow commanded lava, yes, but actually seeing the carnage unfold before him?

No wonder the odd unit snatched them up; they fit in perfectly.

He thought he noticed a stray bullet striking the Realm Walker, but they showed no signs of injury as they continued to decimate the squad until none remained. Just a melted and sparking mess strewn about. Apparently satisfied with their handiwork, Shadow stalked into the transport and disappeared.

"There's more," Obi-Wan said, voice grave as he pulled up a hologram of the male Skakoan inside the ship.

This one had sound, but as he watched, Cody wished it didn't.

"Calling reinforcements! I am in need of urgent assistance!"

An unseen eruption shook the transport.

"There's a monster here! They can-"

Shadow's voice cut in, almost unrecognizable.

"Go, tell Aunt Rhody."

That was not the same joking tone he associated with the Realm Walker. Not the same voice he'd heard only moments ago. Even their angry tone as he remembered it did not hold the same level of chilling malice. This... This was the tone of a killer.

"Go, tell Aunt Rhody."

Shadow slowly came into shot, dragging the saber along the ship's wall. Cody was half glad he couldn't see their face beneath the helmet, because the Realm Walker looked demonic enough as it was with the lightning arcing around the ship's interior.

"Go, tell Aunt Rhody."

The Skakoan backed up.

"Stay back!"

Shadow's tail lashed.

"That every-body's..."

Their saber leveled at the scientist's nose.

"Dead."

The terrified Skakoan lifted their hands.

"What do you want from me?!"

A cold answer.

"I already told you. Do try to remember. I hate repeatin' myself."

A desperate bargain.

"Take it! It's yours! No payment is worth death!"

An unmoved reply.

"You expect mercy after you were going to turn him into a data mine? Take away his freedom, his humanity? Y'all make me sick."

A feeble defense.

"I-"

A rough interruption.

"Besides."

Their blade spinning into reverse hold.

"You know what they say."

A horrified whimper.

"W-What?"

A dark chuckle.

"Dead men."

A tightening grip.

"Tell no tales."

A snarl. A scream. A jerk of the wrist. A flash of red. A thud.

And it was all over.

Cody could only watch in shock as Shadow stared down at the lifeless Skakoan before plunging their blade into the console, ending the transmission.

Sergeant Hunter said Shadow was horribly rattled the first time they killed someone, nightmares plaguing them soon after where the corpse of their first kill chased them yelling malicious reminders that the Realm Walker had taken the life of another sentient. Apparently Shadow had moved past that.

But what did they mean by him? Who was the Skakoan going to turn into a datamine? Who had been in that stasis pod?

Somehow... Cody felt like he knew exactly who Shadow had just saved.

Impossible. There's no way. It can't be!

And yet, with the evidence staring him in the face, Cody couldn't help but wonder if that was exactly what Shadow had done.

"Cody," Obi-Wan said, voice soft. "Do you recognize this fighter?"

"I do, sir," Cody affirmed, still disturbed and shocked by the recording. "The armor, while modified, matches Clone Force 99's. Their insignia is a skull. The fighter... their name is Shadow. Those are their lightsabers, too."

"The red lightsabers," General Skywalker emphasized.

"Are they a Sith?" General Windu demanded.

"No, they're not even Force sensitive." He paused before telling the next detail. "Their sabers are usually amethyst, not red."

General Windu looked at him sharply. "Usually?"

"They..." He gestured vaguely, well aware how outlandish the reason sounded. "Change colors based on Shadow's mood. If they're angry enough, the sabers switch to red."

The Jedi exchanged a glance.

"Mood sensitive sabers?" General Skywalker scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Kyber crystals don't just change back and forth like that."

Cody had to agree, but Shadow was a Realm Walker. Nothing about them followed the laws of the universe.

"Ridiculous or not, Anakin, the fact remains that this fighter carries such sabers," Obi-Wan replied. He turned to Cody. "But they are primarily amethyst?"

"Yes, sir."

"And the lava?" General Windu asked as Obi-Wan thoughtfully stroked his beard. "Is that part of their skill set?"

"Shadow possesses an ability to control the element earth, including molten rock. They can also shapeshift at will."

"Pretty powerful," General Skywalker remarked. "But why would they be on Lola Sayu?"

"I'm wondering that myself, sir." Although I think I know exactly why. "But..."

"Yes, Cody?" Obi-Wan prompted gently.

"I have a lead. Shadow contacted me on my way up and asked me to meet them and their team on Naboo. Along with Captain Rex and Corporal Fives."

The generals looked at him in surprise.

"Naboo?" General Skywalker demanded, stiffening. "Why there? And why Rex and Fives?"

Cody didn't want to voice his theory. Not yet. Not until he... thought it over some more. Because the implications of Shadow doing what he thought they had done...

"I don't know, sir," Cody said with a shake of his head, not missing the way Obi-Wan glanced at the younger Jedi at the mention of Naboo. "They would not say, only that they wanted to see us as soon as we got back from the mission."

"Act quickly, we must," General Yoda spoke up.

"I agree," General Windu said. "I sense this fighter could be a Shatterpoint."

Shatterpoint? Wasn't that what Sergeant Hunter called the intense battle between the team and Shadow that happened over a miscommunication? What did it mean in Jedi terms?

"So, we just head to Naboo and question them there?" General Skywalker asked breezily, heading for the door.

"I do not think that is our wisest course of action," Obi-Wan replied slowly.

Cody had to agree. He knew all too well what happened when you tried to question Shadow.

General Skywalker stopped and turned to face Obi-Wan. "Master, that fighter was on a planet we just spent days trying to escape," he said, gesturing emphatically at the screen. "Wielded red lightsabers, controlled lava, killed a man while singing, and you don't think we should investigate?"

Cody halfway wondered if Crosshair had taught Shadow the song from somewhere. It seemed like something the morbid sniper would do.

"Anakin, slow down and listen," Obi-Wan said with a shake of his head. "Should we go in guns blazing, they could vanish and we'd be back at square one trying to find them. We have a direct lead, we cannot afford to be hasty and risk scaring them off."

General Windu nodded. "If they're half as powerful as the feed suggests, we cannot lose them."

"A powerful ally and an even more dangerous enemy, they could be," Master Yoda said.

"Commander," General Windu asked. "Did they say why they wanted Captain Rex and ARC Trooper Fives there?"

Cody shook his head. "No, sir. Only that Rex and Fives were the main ones they wanted."

"Do they know 'em?" General Skywalker asked, arms crossed.

"The only clones they've had contact with, to my knowledge, are Clone Force 99 and myself. They're pretty secretive."

Master Yoda looked at him curiously. "Met them, you have?"

"Only once."

Not a pleasant memory in the slightest.

"What is their temperament?" Obi-Wan asked.

"A bit..." How do I say this? "Odd and unpredictable, but not unfriendly."

Until one tried to pull rank on them, then Shadow became very hostile. Even, perhaps, violent. Defensive at the very least.

"They do prove willing to talk?" General Windu asked.

"Mostly, sir," Cody replied, glancing back at the screen. "Unless it's someone in authority, then they turn aggressive. None of Clone Force 99 like authority, but they're the worst aside from their sniper."

But even Crosshair listened to orders.

Sometimes.

"How did they react to you?"

"Relaxed at first, but then we had a disagreement." He sighed. "They turned rather hostile after that."

"How bad was this disagreement, Commander?" General Windu asked.

"I triggered some past trauma when I tried to use my rank to get them to talk," he admitted, Shadow's teary face flickering through his mind. "Up until that, however, they were friendly enough."

Cody wondered, as he often did, how things may have ended had he not alienated them.

"Cody, what would be the best way to talk with them? Is there anything you can tell us that may help?" Obi-Wan prompted. "Are they outright hostile towards authority if one doesn't try to use their rank first?"

Cody thought about that for a minute, running through the short "briefing" Sergeant Hunter had given him before he met Shadow. "Not outright, but Sergeant Hunter described them as a Tooka."

"A Tooka," General Skywalker echoed with a short laugh.

"Skeptical of strangers. Will also meet aggression with aggression."

"But they are willing to speak if approached calmly?" Obi-Wan pressed.

"Yes, sir. They're not vindictive unless provoked."

"And your disagreement was...?"

"We differed on how to fight the war."

"What is their viewpoint?"

He looked back at the screen, the Skakoan's brutal murder replaying in his head. Between their immense power, distaste for authority, and clear anger issues paired with a sadistic streak, Shadow had the potential to be a very dangerous loose cannon. They already displayed a similar mindset to Slick, which was worrisome enough. Being paired with the most individualistic commando squadron in the GAR may not have been the best place for them.

If push came to shove... would Shadow listen to authority? Or would they go rogue?

Commander Cody feared it would be the latter.

"They do things their way and do not care for the Jedi Order," he replied. "And have made it clear they have no plans to cooperate with anyone from the Order."

"Did they say why?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Same reason they were skittish of me. Authority," Commander Cody replied, unsure if he should go into the issue with Slick. He ultimately decided against it.

Too much of a can of Geonosian worms.

"Then a level-headed negotiator is our best chance at getting them to cooperate," Master Windu stated. "General Kenobi, we're sending you with the troopers to hopefully speak to this fighter. See if you can persuade them to come back with you so we can talk to them."

"I'd be happy to, Master Windu."

Cody shifted uncertainly, a confession on the tip of his tongue. Before going in, the Jedi should know exactly what they were dealing with. They had to know Shadow wasn't just some random fighter attached to a commando squadron; they were so much more and so much worse.

"More to say, have you, Commander Cody?" Master Yoda prompted, tilting his head as he leaned on his cane.

Well, he did say he'd be forced to reveal Shadow if they were discovered.

"Sirs," Cody said. "Shadow is not just some rogue fighter the unit picked up."

"Obviously," General Skywalker snorted. "No one's lightsabers change color back and forth, and certainly not when they belong to a person who isn't even Force sensitive."

"Cody," Obi-Wan said gently. "Go on."

"Shadow's lightsabers don't obey the laws of reality because... they aren't from this reality."

The men looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean, 'not from this reality'?" General Skywalker asked

"Shadow is a Realm Walker."

Stunned silence met his words.

"Well," Obi-Wan remarked dryly, stroking his beard. "That certainly complicates matters."

-ARC Trooper Fives-

Dead.

He couldn't believe he was... dead.

Even now he was numb to the reality of the situation. Soon, any moment now, Echo would come walking through the door. Walk through the door and tell him that of course he wasn't dead. The Citadel, what was that? Transport, what transport? Turret, what turret? Explosion, what explosion?

It was all just a dream.

Just a bad dream.

A nightmare.

A horrible, terrible nightmare.

And ARC Trooper Fives would wake up any minute now.

Something warm was nudged into his hands. "Drink, vod."

Fives looked up at Kix as the 501st medic stood over him. He was this close? His voice... it sounded much farther away. "Huh?"

"Tea." He held something out. "Drink it."

Fives turned his empty gaze back to the cup of steaming dark liquid nestled in his hands. He stared at it blankly. "Tea."

Kix crouched beside him. "It'll help."

"Help."

Was that him talking? He couldn't tell.

His lips were numb.

His face was numb.

All of him, just... numb.

He'd wake up any minute now.

Kix's brow furrowed. "C'mon, Fives," he coaxed, cupping his hands around Fives'. "Drink."

His movements felt foreign, limbs controlled by another being as he lifted the cup and forced himself to swallow some of the tea. The hot sensation only briefly registered before his senses faded out once again.

Echo couldn't be gone. They'd gone through too much together. Survived too much. Training. Rishi. Kamino. ARC training. Uncountable missions after that. They always survived. Always pulled through. Echo would walk through the door any moment, he knew it. He would walk through and everything would be fine. Everything would be normal.

He couldn't be gone.

The doors wooshed open. A familiar face. Blue and white armor. Kama. Pauldron.

Echo!

When did Echo get blond hair-?

Rex. Not Echo. Just Rex.

The captain didn't look much better than Fives himself, eyes bloodshot and the dark circles beneath them only worsening his ragged appearance. Stubble darkened his cheeks and chin and his usually meticulously maintained crew cut had grown scruffy.

"How is he, Kix?" Rex asked, voice hoarse.

Kix sighed, shaking his head. "Still in shock."

Rex walked over and sat on Fives' other side. "Trooper?"

Fives leaned on his commanding officer and close friend, staring at the tea in his hands once again. "He's gone."

Rex rested his arm across Fives' shoulders. "I know, vod'ika. I know."

"He... I should have stopped him." Fives' expression didn't change as fresh tears spilled down his cheeks and dripped into the mug. "It should have been me."

"Don't talk like that," Rex growled. "Echo made his choice."

"He was never the one to take point." His hands began to quiver as his voice dropped to a whisper. "That was my job. Me." He curled around his mug. "It should have been me."

"He knew what he was doing," Rex insisted, yet a tremor shook his own body. "He knew the risks."

"What was the point?" Fives had to ask.

What is the point?

Why? Why were they doing all of this? Why risk their lives day in and day out? Where was their reward? Acknowledgement? The Jedi got a service, and what did Echo get? A footnote in the casualty records, another forgotten clone in a war that only continued to drag on and on with no end in sight. They couldn't bother to stop for him, yet that Jedi got a moment. The Jedi whom they didn't even manage to rescue.

Pointless.

It was all pointless.

Echo died for nothing.

His captain said nothing, clearly at a loss. Did any of them even know what they were fighting for anymore? How long until the cost of war became worse than winning itself?

Commander Cody walked in, helmet in hand. "Rex, Fives."

"Cody," Rex greeted.

Fives said nothing.

"Suit up, both of you."

Rex stiffened. "What is it?"

"New mission."

Rage bubbled within Fives' chest. Another mission? Already? Were they allowed no time to grieve?!

"What is it this time?"

Commander Cody stayed oddly quiet, a rare look of concern crossing his face that even Fives didn't miss.

Rex stood. "Cody, what's going on?" he asked slowly.

The Commander remained silent for a few more moments. When he finally spoke, all he said was, "You just better hurry. General Kenobi is waiting."

With that he disappeared, leaving the 501st soldiers to imagine what had him so rattled.

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