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"Welcome to the Hideaway!"
Echo, carried by the biggest clone of the bunch, looked around the cozy cabin interior in shock. After landing in the hidden hangar bay and traveling through the underground tunnel, he expected a top secret base with state of the art technology that could rival any military installation. After all, these commandos were apparently top of the line, elite soldiers. It made sense that their main base would match the nature of their work. A small, A-Frame cabin came as quite the surprise.
"Expectin' more?" Shadow asked with a grin.
Echo looked over at them, unwilling to insult the person who saved him from who knew what terrible fate. "Well... it's different."
"Ain't Kelusia," Shadow continued. "But it's homey!"
"Kelusia?" Echo repeated as Wrecker deposited him on the couch.
What was that? Another base they had? Commandos often had quite a few bases scattered throughout the stars according to rumors. Some on hospitable planets, some on planets where only extremophiles could live without the aid of specialized equipment. How many did these guys have?
"That why they call you Echo?" Wrecker laughed, arms crossed as he looked down at the ARC. "'Cause you repeat stuff all the time?"
"Er, yeah."
Wrecker didn't get on Echo's nerves, per se. In fact, he reminded the ARC trooper of his squadmate Hevy with his love of explosives, ready-to-spar attitude, and complete lack of personal space. But the large commando was a lot to handle, especially in Echo's weakened state. Not to mention his loud voice.
"I shall prepare the robotics bay," Tech chirped, vanishing into one of the rooms across from the small kitchen.
Some fear sparked in Echo's chest, but he tried to remind himself that nothing they would put him through could be worse than what he'd already endured. Either during the explosion or before leaving Kamino when the Kaminoans ran their usual tests. Besides, while blunt and highly focused on whatever mission the engineer assigned himself to, Tech was the friendliest and easiest to talk to of the clone commandos.
Sergeant Hunter was fine, Wrecker was a bit much, and Crosshair...
Well, Echo didn't exactly care for the abrasive man.
The grouchy sniper and his odd pet disappeared without a word through the front doors and headed into the woods. After stating Shadow was better than the Jedi, he'd more or less clammed up and generally ignored Echo. He only broke his silence when the sergeant came in, and that was to grumble, "Good, you can babysit the reg now."
Yeah, he certainly was not Echo's favorite.
I don't karkin' need babysitting.
"Kelusia is Shadow's species' homeworld," Sergeant Hunter said, checking the appliances in the kitchen. "Nice spot, like goin' there when on leave."
"Yeah!" Wrecker said with a grin, flopping down on the couch and nearly displacing Echo. "Best spot there is! One of the only places people don't look at us funny!"
"Hey! No armor on the couch!" Sergeant Hunter barked.
"Bullshit, you hypocrite!" Shadow called, hopping up on the arm of the couch beside Wrecker. "How many times have you flopped down in your chair in your armor?"
"That's different."
"Ha! Like hell it is," Shadow snorted, rolling their eyes.
Certainly a tight knit squad if Shadow talks to their CO like that.
A squad whose name he still didn't know. He hadn't heard of a mutant squad running around, which surprised him. Especially since these guys clearly weren't the covert type.
"Who are you anyways?" he asked.
All eyes turned to him.
"Me?" Shadow asked, pointing at themselves.
Echo shook his head. "All of you. What's the squad name?"
Shadow smiled, but the expression was tinged with sadness. "Clone Force... Ninety-Nine."
Echo's eyes widened. "Nine... Ninety-Nine?" he whispered, raw grief striking his heart.
He'd never forget the sight of the brave soldier taking two shots to the back and falling, never to get up again. The nightmares of that moment came swiftly in the nights that followed. He was always too slow, too far... too late.
Shadow nodded. "Aye. After he fell in battle, Cody was able to argue for those like him to be given a chance. My boys got their freedom because of his sacrifice."
Echo looked between Wrecker and Sergeant Hunter. "Did you know him?"
Where had they been when 99 fell? Why hadn't they been there to help? They could have saved him!
Sergeant Hunter shook his head. "Tech was his friend, but I only met him a few times. Wrecker and Crosshair met him maybe twice."
Echo looked past Shadow at the door. "Unsurprising."
"Whatcha mean by that?" Wrecker asked, leaning into Echo's line of sight.
"No offense." To you. Full offense to that sniper. "But Crosshair isn't the nicest. Couldn't see Ninety-Nine being friends with him."
"Hey! That's my brother you're insultin'!" Wrecker growled.
Shadow grabbed Wrecker's shoulder as the man moved towards Echo. "Wrecker, easy."
"He doesn't know what Cross went through! That was uncalled for!" Wrecker protested.
Uncalled for? That was perfectly called for! But... Squeaky? Why do they call them that?
"Aye, he don't know," Shadow said, swishing their tail. "Remember how vicious I was to Crosshair when we first met?"
A large grin spread across Wrecker's scarred face. "Ha! Yeah I do!" he laughed, pulling Shadow into his lap. "That cactus comment was karkin' hilarious!"
Cactus comment?
"Exactly." Shadow met Echo's gaze as they faced him. "Crosshair ain't the friendliest to Regs, that's true," they said as they flicked the tip of their tail back and forth under Wrecker's nose. "But they weren't the kindest to him either."
"Why do you all keep calling me that?" Echo growled as the large clone sneezed. "What is a Reg?"
"They mean regular clones," Sergeant Hunter spoke up, leaning on the kitchen counter. When Echo glanced over his shoulder at him, the sergeant shrugged. "Don't take it personally."
How was he to not take it personally when it was directed at him?
"But I didn't do anything to him," Echo defended. "I just met the man!"
"Didn't have to do anythin' to him," Shadow said with a shrug. "A reg is a reg to Crosshair. No matter where they come from or who they are."
That's stupid.
But Echo was smart enough to know that pointing out that rather obvious fact would only lead to more fighting and he didn't like his odds with the commandos outnumbering him five to one. If Fives and Rex were here, that'd be a different story. Shadow seemed to view him more favorably compared to the others, after all they had risked their life for him, but he didn't doubt for a second that they would side with their team before him.
"When will I see my brother again?" Echo asked, hoping to steer the conversation in a less confrontational direction.
"Soon, hopefully." Shadow hopped off the couch and messed with the old firewood stacked by the hearth. "Asked Cody to bring him and Rex to Naboo before you woke up so with any luck they'll be on their way now."
"Of course they'll be here," Echo remarked. "Once Fives knows I'm alive-"
"He doesn't."
"You didn't tell him?!" Echo exclaimed.
Shadow's ears flicked backwards, their tail tip twitching rapidly. "I didn't want to reveal myself to the Jedi yet."
Reveal themselves? The Jedi didn't know about them yet? And what was so special about Shadow that would warrant a 'reveal' type scenario?
"Problem with that," Tech said, joining them in the living space with a datapad in his hand.
"What kinda problem?!" Wrecker exclaimed.
"I am still hacked into the secure channels and discovered this." He handed Shadow the datapad as the fighter rose to meet him.
The fighter squinted at him then turned their attention to the datapad. The moment they tapped the screen, their face fell. "Fuck!"
"Language!" Sergeant Hunter growled from the kitchen.
Flipping off the man without lifting their eyes from the screen, Shadow continued to watch what Echo assumed was footage of his rescue. What was so bad about it that Shadow didn't want the Republic to see? Their bristling tail and narrowed pupils suggested it wasn't good.
Wrecker jumped up from the couch and came to Shadow's side. "You look amazin', Squeak!" he said with a grin, nudging Shadow.
The fighter didn't respond, slumping down into one of the chairs across from Echo. A hand covered their mouth as a dark look of concern flooded their face. Ears flat, their tail continued to furiously twitch.
"Ice?" Sergeant Hunter asked in concern, jogging over to their side. "What is it?"
"Well," they sighed, handing the datapad to him. "Guess they know about the blades."
"What blades?" Echo asked.
Sergeant Hunter and Wrecker, as well as Tech, glanced at Shadow. The fighter shook their head. "Not now. Want to wait until Fives is here, too."
"Wait for what?" Echo demanded, tears of frustration stinging his eyes. "Why won't anybody tell me anything?!"
"Because I haven't figured the best way to tell you, and I'm on the edge of a panic attack so kindly shut up and drop the tone before you cause me to freak," Shadow growled, pupils like chips of flint as their teeth bared.
Echo swallowed hard and shifted in his seat.
If Shadow was a rogue operative, luring his brothers in to capture them or worse, he needed to know and warn them before they walked in and got ambushed. Shadow being a double agent would explain why and how they "resurced" him from Lola Sayu with no major injuries. After all, Lola Sayu was impossible to escape according to the records. Even with twice the force of the squad, the Jedi couldn't make it off without issue. And, from what he could gather, the squad wasn't even involved with his "rescue".
Only Shadow.
But the odd fighter had been rather upset that he was injured, and according to Crosshair had been shot while trying to save him. Assuming Crosshair wasn't lying, then Shadow couldn't have been a double agent if they really had risked their life to save him.
"I... look, I don't mean to make you upset," he began. "But I'd like to not be left in the dark. I don't know if you're some double agent, and I can't figure it out if you won't tell me anything."
Shadow said nothing, tail tip twitching as they held his gaze.
"He has a point, Shadow," Tech spoke up. "We ourselves had some of the same doubts about you when we first met. I recall Hunter himself, while not struggling with his emerging feelings for you, questioned your validity and loyalty to the team."
Wait, Shadow is involved with the sniper, heavy weapons guy, and the CO? Wouldn't be surprised if they are also involved with Tech.
"I was the one struggling? Didn't stay up with them until one in the mornin' chattin' about evolution," Sergeant Hunter retorted. "And I didn't question their loyalty. That was Crosshair."
Yep, Shadow was dating all of the commandos.
"You both were skeptical of Shadow," Tech huffed. "And my late discussion was not the result of blooming feelings, but a respect for their intellect."
"Uh huh, their intellect."
"It was!" Tech defended, puffing his chest out and lifting his chin. "It was not my crush that led me to spend time with them. It was their knowledge that caused the crush, which I did not receive until after I spent time with them. You, on the other hand, looked for every excuse and reason to stick by their side-"
Shadow cleared their throat. "As... amusin' as this schoolyard bickering is," they said, a hint of playfulness in their tone as they met Echo's gaze and rolled their eyes. "It's distractin' me from a bit of a crisis.
Sergeant Hunter tugged the hair at the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed as Tech shot a glare at the fighter. The engineer, however, remained quiet.
"Thank you."
"Maybe just tell him about how you saved him, Squeaky?" Wrecker asked, nudging the fighter. "Or how you know?"
Shadow's ears flicked back and forth before they sighed. "Echo, can you be patient about this? Just drop it for now, and I'll explain it in full when Fives gets here."
And how long will that be?
"Everything?"
A dry smile. "Aye, everything. Though, you may not be too happy when I shatter your perception of reality."
He laughed uncertainly. "Shatter my reality?" he asked. "Surely it can't be that bad."
Shadow's smile grew. "Bet, my comedic and doubtful friend," they said, passing the datapad back to Tech. "Ask the boys, ain't nothin' set in stone around me."
Echo glanced around and received nods from the three commandos.
"Shadow is nothing you have seen before," Tech said.
Usually, such a solemn and heavy statement would have made Echo laugh. During some of his ARC missions, he'd met many many opponents who'd spewed the same bravado. Were any of them truly something he'd never seen? The first few missions, maybe. But after that? No.
But this was coming from Tech. Echo hadn't known the man long, but grandiose statements for the sake of dramatics was certainly not his style. He was honest, perhaps to a fault, and meant everything he said. For him to say such a thing...
Echo looked to Shadow. "What... exactly are you?"
They winked and lifted their chin as they took up a power stance. "One of a kind."
He frowned, face deadpan. "Helpful."
"Ain't it just?" Shadow said with a laugh, snarky attitude returning as they relaxed. "Now, let's see if we can't get you a makeshift pair of legs for your grand 'I lived, Bitch' reveal."
-Captain Rex-
It wasn't that Cody couldn't be a little odd at times. Despite everyone thinking he was as put together as his Jedi general, a crazy bastard lurked under the surface of that meticulously maintained white and gold armor. A little kernel of insanity that lay dormant for the most part, but occasionally showed itself whenever the man decided to spin-kick a clanker or karking dogpile General Grievous himself. It always seemed to flare when the man spent time with the special forces units, too.
So it wasn't that Rex hadn't seen Cody act weird. To say nothing of the sheer chaos unleashed when the man graced 79's.
But this?
"Can you tell us anything?" he asked as he and Fives followed Cody to the hanger, the grieving ARC lagging a few steps behind.
"We're meeting a contact on Naboo," Cody replied.
"Do we know this contact?"
Silence.
"Cody?"
"It's... complicated."
Well. Wasn't that helpful?
"Care to elaborate? Or is this one of your odd little commando units?" he tried to joke, but it sounded hollow.
There should be two ARCs behind me.
It'd been a while since Rex had lost a trooper who wasn't a Shiny. They often fell first in battle, still green from Kamino and not yet ready for the real thing. Rex was far from being a callous or cruel man but the more you dwelled, the harder it was to constantly go into battle day after day knowing that only a fraction of those who went in would come out alive. Because no matter how much he hated it, no matter how much he wished it wasn't so, the simple fact of war was...
You just couldn't save everybody.
And it broke his heart with every new tally on his armor.
"The fighter is attached to a commando unit," Cody replied, yet Rex could tell he was holding back. "Bit of an honorary member, but the squad hasn't done a mission without the fighter since they met them."
"Is there something special about this commando unit?"
"The unit themselves are all genetically modified," Cody said. "Experimental unit Clone Force 99."
"99, eh?" Rex asked with a sad smile as he recalled the brave maintenance clone who gave his life during the battle in the barracks. "Nice touch."
"Least his sacrifice meant something," Fives grumbled from behind.
Rex's heart twisted at the truth in Fives' words. Echo's death, ultimately, meant nothing. They got the information, and kept it out of the hands of the Separatists, but they failed to rescue the Jedi. Or any of their brothers. The only one they even managed to rescue was that Tarkin guy, and he made Rex's skin crawl.
Echo is worth a hundred of that man.
Captain or not, that man was an ass.
"They call themselves the Bad Batch," Cody continued as they entered the lift. Waiting until the doors slid shut, he turned to Rex. "Their leader, Hunter, can sense electromagnetic frequencies due to Karkadon DNA. Their sniper, Crosshair, has advanced eyesight thanks to Nexu DNA and can hit a precise target at ten clicks. Wrecker has enough strength to lift a gunship, and Tech's brain can rival a super computer."
A sixth sense, near-magic eyes, super strength, and hyper-intelligent? Yeah, that was certainly special. Rex knew genetic experimentation went on, but it was kept very hush-hush on Kamino. Over 90% of the subjects didn't make it, and those that did...
Rex never took part himself, but he knew of the fights. Bullying. Some pranks harmless, some not so much. They were all brothers, damnit, why couldn't they get along? Putting each other in the med-bay over perceived differences helped absolutely no one.
"What about the fighter that tags along with 'em?" Rex asked, eyes tracking the flashing lights as the lift ascended to the hanger. "They a Jedi?"
Cody went quiet again before he sighed. "Not exactly."
"Not exactly?"
Someone's cryptic today.
"Thought Force users were or weren't a Jedi," Rex commented. "They don't like halfways."
"Shadow doesn't have the Force," Cody said with a shake of his head. The lift doors wooshed open, revealing General Kenobi waiting for them. "Just non-Force telekinesis."
Rex glanced at Cody. "If they aren't Force sensitive, and therefore aren't a Jedi, why'd you say not exactly?"
"Because." Cody glanced at General Kenobi, who hadn't noticed them yet, and lowered his voice. "Shadow still wields sabers."
Ok, that was certainly unusual.
"Are the Jedi aware?"
"Yes."
"Then why the whispering?"
"Because the sabers-"
General Kenobi looked their way. "Cody! Thank you for getting them."
"You'll see," Cody whispered before raising his voice to greet his general.
Rex exchanged a confused glance with Fives. What about the sabers? What was so weird about them that Cody didn't want General Kenobi to overhear?
"Ah, Captain Rex. Corporal Fives. Thank you for coming," General Kenobi said with a gentle smile and a sympathetic look.
"Of course, General," Rex replied, dipping his head and hoping he didn't sound as ragged as he felt.
Feel like I've been eaten by an Anuba and shit over a cliff.
Fives remained quiet.
"I am aware this is short notice, and I apologize," General Kenobi began, walking to the transport ship with them. "But the Council is eager to get to this fighter before they disappear."
"Are they a threat to the war effort?" Rex asked.
General Kenobi glanced at Cody. "Did you tell them what Shadow is?"
What Shadow is?
What did that even mean?
"Not yet, sir. I wanted to wait."
"Well, we certainly have time once in hyperspace," General Kenobi said as they took their seats.
"Ready, sir?" the pilot called from the front.
"Yes, Lucky. We're ready."
Once they left Coruscant and blue streaks flew past the viewport, Cody looked across the aisle at the two 501st soldiers. "Do you recall that small civil war on Tresed? With those shapeshifters?"
Rex nodded. Of course he did. The whole army remembered that. Even those not directly deployed there had heard of the nearly indestructible warriors that could take down a trooper with ease. And if they hadn't heard of the warriors, they had certainly heard about the way the planetary government lied and tried to use the Republic for their own gain, resulting in the needless death of thousands of good soldiers.
An utter shit show, that's what Tresed was.
"Is Shadow a member of that species?" Rex asked.
"Yes." Cody sighed. "And no."
Cody's been hangin' around Master Yoda too much. He's been spouting riddles left and right today.
"What's going on, Cody?"
"Are you familiar with Realm Walkers, Rex?"
Rex gave a short laugh, not sure if Cody was being serious. "Those things Wild Space pilots like to talk about? Heard General Skywalker mention 'em a few times, or caught Hardcase rantin' about 'em after one too many rounds at 79s."
"Well, Shadow is no space tale."
What?!
Rex leaned forward. "Are you sayin' that this fighter is a Realm Walker?" he demanded.
Cody nodded solemnly. "Yes. They led their team, Clone Force 99, out of our galaxy and into a different universe where no one had ever gone before. A universe that they, coincidentally, created. Alphians are also their creation, which is why no one from our galaxy had ever heard of them but Shadow knew exactly how to defeat them."
Rex shook his head in disbelief. "Did someone spice your caf?" he had to ask.
A dry smile. "I wish that were the case. Be a lot less stressful for me."
"You've met 'em?"
"Yes." Cody paused, brows furrowing in a look Rex knew quite well. There was something else the commander wanted to say, but he was holding off for some reason.
"And are they as the legends say?" Rex prompted.
"They're certainly dangerous," Cody replied. "For more reasons than one."
"Good thing they're on our side, then," Rex said.
"They don't exactly believe in the Republic or the Jedi," Cody grumbled. "Made that perfectly clear. But their sergeant assures me that Shadow is working for the side of good. And they do like clones well enough."
Rex looked at General Kenobi. "Take it the Council wants to speak to them?"
General Kenobi nodded. "Yes. That is why I am tagging along."
"Tagging along?" he repeated. "Isn't the main objective to question Shadow?"
If this person was truly as powerful as Cody suggested, then Rex assumed that speaking to them would be of top priority. He certainly would consider anything concerning a Realm Walker to take center stage for the Jedi Council. They couldn't risk that Realm Walker falling into the hands of the Seppies!
The Jedi shook his head. "Actually, the Realm Walker requested to be met on Naboo."
"Why did they ask you to meet them?"
"It was not me they asked for. They asked for you and Fives."
Fives straightened. "Me?" he asked, finally speaking up. "What does a deity want with me?"
Rex had the same thought. To be personally requested by a Realm Walker? Of all the soldiers in the GAR?
Hardcase will never let me hear the end of this one.
Cody shook his head. "Don't know. They wouldn't say, only that you and Rex were the ones they wanted specifically. And it was important."
"Any ideas?"
Cody rubbed his temples. "Shadow is tricky. But it seemed urgent."
"There is another reason for the visit," General Kenobi spoke up. "We received... rather disturbing footage. From Lola Sayu."
Both Rex and Fives stiffened. Rex knew exactly what horrible memory plagued him, and had a feeling the very same one haunted Fives.
"Echo!"
"Where was this footage taken? What happened?" Five demanded.
"It was the landing platform," General Kenobi said gently. "Shadow took down a squadron of droids before going after a Skakoan the droids were guarding. The fight was rather... brutal."
Rex scowled. "What in blazes was a Skakoan doing there?"
"We are unsure," Cody replied. "But Shadow seemed to know. There was... a stasis pod with the Skakoan. In a secondary footage, Shadow refused to give mercy to the Skakoan because of what they were going to do to the person, a male, in the pod."
"What are you saying, Cody?" Rex asked quietly.
The commander exchanged a glance with General Kenobi before he sighed. "I want to wait before I give the theory in case I'm wrong." He rubbed his temples again with a loud groan. "This Realm Walker is going to advance my aging even more."
"Up to four times as fast now?" Rex joked.
Cody glared at him, but there was no malice in the look. "Just you wait," he growled with false anger, jabbing a finger towards Rex. "They'll advance your aging too."
"Good thing I won't be around 'em long," Rex said, crossing his arms and leaning back in the chair. He looked at General Kenobi. "Should I wait for you to make the first move?"
"Perhaps you should lead the way, as they are confirmed to view you favorably."
Was that a good or bad thing?
"What does the Council think about Shadow?" Rex asked.
"As of yet, we are reluctant to pass judgment. I will be reporting back once I speak with them. Cody says Shadow respects me more so than the others in the Order, and so I hope to make some progress with them. Hopefully, they will not flee when they see me."
"And if they do?"
General Kenobi frowned. "We will make a plan from there. But do not threaten them."
Rex didn't plan to, but the whole plan had him rather stressed. He was hardly the negotiation type. Months with General Skywalker had seen to that. There was also the fact one of his closest men just died. To assign him the main responsibility of getting a Realm Walker on their side...
Don't I get a chance to rest? The Jedi are grieving their lost comrade. Why can't Fives and I do the same?
"Wouldn't it be better to send Cody in?"
"Shadow is not particularly fond of me," Cody remarked. "We ended on a bad note last I saw them. You're our best bet."
"You do not need to interrogate them, Captain," General Kenobi assured him. "Just talk to them. Cody tells me that Shadow is open to talking as long as one does not try to pull rank on them. If it fails, I will step in."
"Alright, sir," Rex sighed, rubbing his temple. "I will... do my best."
"That is all I ask."
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