Hello everyone! It's good to be back, especially with some upcoming events in the fic.

OneLittleSpark18: Thank you! I have to do that myself occasionally, just to make sure things do fit in.

Fishgirl16: Well, here's one now, and the posting schedule is every two weeks, so the next time will be on the 31st. My sister just posted her first chapter/prologue! She's jennana501 and her fic is Will of the Force.

Guest: Lol yes, it is. I should make that clear, I suppose. It's a small reference to Star Trek: Deep Space 9

Guest: Naaaah it's on his shoulder. Doesn't mean he WON'T get a tattoo on his butt...

Mando'a translations at the end!

Fives helped Echo up the Marauder's ramp, despite his brother's protests.

"I can walk, Fives."

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Fives replied.

Echo's snort of laughter made Fives' heart swell.

Behind them Rex carried Ahsoka. Saving all of their shebs'e had put her firmly out of commission.

Fives figured that spewing forth masses of lightning would take it out of anyone.

The battle alongside the Poletec had been going badly. Fives had had the traitorous thought of wishing they had a Jedi with real lightsabers. Ahsoka's electrostaffs had been useless against the tri-droids. Hunter and Rex had been making some progress on them, courtesy of Wrecker chucking them on top of the droids.

Then one had made the mistake of turning its sights on Crosshair and Echo.

Fives had shouted, but Ahsoka had acted. Fives could still see in his mind her flinging her hands forward in a desperate attempt to stop the tri-droid from firing. Instead of an invisible push, a barrage of green bolts of electricity had sprung from her fingers. It had overwhelmed the tri-droid and it toppled over into its fellow, bringing them both down.

After they'd taken out the rest of the droids, they'd found Ahsoka unable to move, but able to curse loudly. Rex had carried her the entire way back.

Fives had been impressed, but Ahsoka seemed somewhat upset about it. General Skywalker had told stories about Dooku's ability to use lightning. Allegedly it was something only Sith could do.

Fives figured there was a first time for everything. Ahsoka was the furthest thing from a Sith one could get, at least according to Fives' limited understanding.

Echo stumbled and Fives quickly steadied him.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." Echo said. "Just a little tired."

"I suspect you are feeling more than 'a little tired.' Tech said. "The adrenaline that has kept you functioning the last several hours should be wearing off."

Fives had Echo sit on one of the Marauder's seats. Looking into his brother's eyes, Fives guessed Tech was right. Echo's eyelids were drooping.

On the other side of the ship, Rex was lifting Ahsoka onto one of the sleeping racks.

"Does this happen to you a lot?" Wrecker asked Ahsoka. "Cause this is the second time-"

Rex shot Wrecker a look, but Ahsoka laughed.

"It's a recent development." She said. "Doesn't happen as often as it used to though."

"Here." Fives looked up to see Hunter holding out a set of blacks and a blanket.

"Thanks." Fives said, accepting them.

He nudged Echo, who'd been staring into space.

"Tech says he shouldn't eat anything right now." Hunter went on as Fives began helping Echo get the blacks on. "But he's getting nutrition and saline shots ready."

Fives nodded his thanks. Echo kept zoning out, making dressing him a little difficult. Finally Fives got Echo settled with the blanket wrapped tightly around him. Fives removed his own upper armor and put an arm around Echo. For the first time since they'd freed him from that casket, Echo stopped shivering.

It wasn't until the Marauder had taken off that Tech came by with several hypos.

"Echo." Fives said softly.

Echo blinked at Fives and then saw the needles. His eyes widened.

"No-" He croaked and jerked away from Tech. "No more, get away from me-"

"Echo!" Fives held his brother firm. "Echo, you're safe. These are going to help you."

Echo shook his head.

"No more." He said again. "No more."

"You will have to hold him." Tech said. "I will administer a sedative first."

"I'm not gonna hold him down!" Fives said. "Not like they did!"

Tech pushed at his goggles and frowned.

"Echo." Ahsoka said. "Be calm."

Fives could feel the power in her words. Echo stopped struggling. He meekly allowed Tech to roll up his sleeve and give him the first shot, though he was trembling. He flinched hard as the needle pierced his skin. Fives let out a breath as Echo's head fell onto his shoulder.

"Excellent." Tech said.

He administered the other two shots. Fives tucked his brother in closer and settled down.

The Batch migrated to the cockpit. Fives suspected they were uncomfortable with their ship so overtaken by strangers. There were a few minutes of indistinct conversation before the only sound on the ship was the hum of the engines.

Fives looked down at Echo. The shadows under his eyes were so dark. Fives wondered why. Wasn't stasis like sleeping? He'd have to ask Kix when they returned. Maybe they just looked dark because of Echo's ghostly skin.

Clones didn't have much to lose in terms of body weight. They were slim, efficient machines. But Echo was skeletal. His bony shoulder dug painfully into Fives' side.

Fives suddenly became terrified for Echo. Did he meet the standards anymore? Could he do what was required of him as a soldier?

That thought made Fives even more sick to his stomach. Echo, if he wanted to live, had to become a soldier again. Looking down at him, Fives thought that he'd never seen anyone who looked less ready to go to war. Fives didn't want him to, either. He wanted Echo to have the chance to forget about what he'd been through. The war would make that impossible.

Echo twitched in his sleep and let out a soft groan. Fives didn't want to imagine what horrors lurked behind Echo's eyelids.

"You're safe, Echo." Fives muttered. "I'm here."

Echo stilled again. Fives mentally prepared himself for a long trip. Echo would need him and Fives would be there. It wouldn't make up for the years he'd left Echo alone, but he would be there.

He would not sleep. Not when there was the chance of waking and finding that Echo's return was a dream.

After a while it became difficult to keep his eyes open, so Fives started looking around the ship for a distraction. Rex caught his eye.

Ahsoka was fast asleep on the rack, one hand hanging down. Rex sat on the floor beneath her. He was holding that hand. Fives could see Rex's thumb running across her knuckles in a slow, deliberate pattern. Rex's eyes were closed, and his face was a rare picture of contentment.

The impression that this was a private moment washed over Fives and he looked away. He normally wasn't a huge respecter of privacy, but seeing as the private moment in question was two of the people closest to him, he would be a bit more polite.

"Ready to join the land of the living?" Rex asked.

Echo gave a noncommittal shrug but rose from his bed in the small room off of the medbay. Rex would have reached out an arm to steady him, but Fives beat him to it.

"I can walk, Fives!" Echo said harshly.

Fives recoiled. Rex was surprised as well. Echo had been very patient the last few days with Fives' fussing. Then Rex noticed Echo's hand in a deathgrip around his scomp attachment.

"Kix, Fives." Rex said. "Let me have a minute with him."

Fives' brow furrowed, but Kix took him by the elbow with a firm hand.

"Of course, Captain." Kix said, before dragging Fives out.

Echo stared past Rex as the door shut. It was quiet for a moment.

"You're scared that the Kaminoans will catch wind of what happened to you." Rex said.

Echo twitched, but nodded.

"Troopers don't have cybernetics." He said.

"Well, I wouldn't say that." Rex said, moving to sit down on Echo's bunk.

In a deft movement he detached his leg and set it on the bed. Echo's eyes widened.

"This is Cettie." Rex said, patting the leg.

"What- what the hell?" Echo choked out.

"Got on the bad side of a Karkarodon." Rex said. "They couldn't save my leg. But General Skywalker and Senator Amidala made sure they saved me."

Echo continued to stare at the leg.

"Echo, do you know why they don't save troopers who lose limbs?" Rex asked.

Echo gave a curt shake of his head.

"It's because prosthetics are expensive." Rex said. "You've already got some. As long as you can perform, you'll be fine."

Echo swallowed.

"They made- other modifications." He said. "It's not just the prosthetics."

"I know." Rex said. "But Kix says he doesn't see why you can't still serve."

Echo nodded. Rex reattached Cettie and stood. He clapped Echo on the shoulder.

"You'll be okay." He said. "You're not going back there. You're stuck with us."

That got a smile out of Echo.

"I'd much rather be stuck with you than be without."

"Very true." Rex said. "Come on, let's get you settled back in the barracks."

"Took you long enough." Fives said as they came out. "Were you reinventing the blaster in there?"

Echo smiled and Rex rolled his eyes. Kix shook his head.

They started together towards the barracks. Rex glanced at Echo every so often. His brow was furrowed and Rex could tell that he was still in a fair amount of pain. Kix said he would need help adjusting Echo's cybernetics to make them more comfortable.

Echo seemed hesitant to enter the barracks, but Fives opened the door and pushed him in.

Rex grinned at Echo's shocked face as the men that filled the barracks snapped to attention. In unison they saluted.

Ahsoka was at their front, holding a helmet. Fives had asked Rex to paint it to match Echo's old bucket. Rex glanced over the group of vod'e saluting Echo. Their faces were stoic, but many eyes danced with happiness. Rex himself felt that potent joy for Echo's return. Getting a brother back was a rare occasion.

Echo took a step forward, staring at the helmet. His eyes flicked over the crowd of brothers and then back to the bucket.

Rex felt his smile falter as Echo made no other reaction.

Echo turned on his heel and left the barracks.

Fives immediately followed him. A pit formed in Rex's stomach. He hesitated, looking back at Ahsoka. She nodded, though her face was contorted with worry.

Go see what's wrong.

Fives had Echo by the shoulders just outside, but Echo had his face turned away from his brother.

"Echo?" Rex asked. "What's wrong?"

Echo continued to stare away from them for a moment.

"How many brothers aren't here because of me?" Echo asked.

Rex froze.

"I can understand wanting me back. I'm glad to be back." Echo went on. "But don't- don't act like I was just a prisoner."

"Echo-" Fives started.

"Is there anywhere else I can stay?" Echo asked. "I can't- it's too much."

Rex walked forward and went to put his hand on Echo's shoulder. He stopped short when he saw Echo flinch at the gesture.

"Of course, vod." Rex said. "Let's get your helmet and we can figure out where you can bunk in peace."

Echo shook his head.

"No. Get rid of it. That man is dead."

When Rex returned to the barracks, things were back to normal. At least, everyone was doing their jobs. There was a sense of disturbance in the air. Ahsoka was directing troopers, but made her way to Rex when he came in.

"Come on." She said.

He followed her to her quarters.

"So?" She asked. "All I could get from him was shame."

"I think he blames himself for what the Separatists used him for." Rex said.

"Which is ridiculous." Ahsoka said. "How was he supposed to stop them?"

"Kind of like how blaming yourself for my leg is ridiculous." Rex said quietly.

Ahsoka shot him a guilty glance before folding her arms against her stomach.

"I wish there were more we could do for him." Ahsoka said.

"Fives is with him." Rex said. "He won't let Echo get too down on himself."

"Speaking of which." Ahsoka looked at Rex. "Before this I just finished speaking with Anakin. He's agreed to your proposal. Jesse's the new captain of the 501st."

"Good." Rex said.

"Luckily for you, since Anaxes is taking precedent, you, Tup, and Fives are now the resident ARCs of the 501st." Ahsoka went on.

"Luckily for me?" Rex asked. "I have to stay in the hardest siege of the war."

"Luckily for you, because if your plan got you transferred, I would have broken your kneecaps." Ahsoka clarified.

"That seems unfair." Rex said, and then took a more serious tone. "And did the General mention- you know."

He wiggled his fingers a little at her.

Ahsoka's mouth tightened.

"Master Plo is trying to calm the Council down." She said. "Apparently he's done something similar and it wasn't a problem. But a lot of them already don't trust me."

"But you're not part of the Order anymore!" Rex said. "What are they going to do?"

"Remove me from command." Ahsoka said.

Rex's heart seemed to shrivel inside him.

"They're not-"

"They haven't made the decision yet." Ahsoka said. "Master Plo doesn't think they will, but-"

Ahsoka shook her head.

"Worst case scenario they decide that I'm a threat and have me put under surveillance in the Temple." She said.

Rex stared at her, contemplating for a moment how difficult breaking her out of the Jedi Temple would be.

Ahsoka picked up on his thoughts.

"Stop." She told him. "As skilled as you are, you wouldn't be able to break into the Temple."

Rex fidgeted sheepishly.

"Besides, I really doubt they will." Ahsoka said..

"But it's a possibility." Rex said.

"Yeah." Ahsoka heaved a huge sigh.

Rex stood quietly, letting her tangle of emotions wash over him.

"Ahsoka." He said. "I've had Sith root around in my head."

Ahsoka looked up at him in shock.

"Ventress, remember?" Rex went on. "I know what it feels like. You've never felt anything close to that. I could- feel you when you used that power. You were the way you always are."

Ahsoka fiddled with the hilt of her electrostaff.

"Thank you, Rex." She said finally. "But it's still hard to be sure that it's not the Dark Side coming through."

"I'm just telling you what I felt." Rex said.

She smiled at him and it sent his heart thumping wildly.

"I can always rely on you." She said.

Then she put her hand on his arm and his heart went into hyperdrive. Kriff, he needed to get whatever this was under control.

There was something wrong with Rex's leg. He could feel it as he and Tup disembarked from their gunship onto the landing strip. It trembled a little under his weight and occasionally it sent a shocking jolt into his residual limb.

"Something wrong, Captain?" Tup asked.

"Just my leg." Rex muttered. "Haven't had a chance to tune it for a while."

The last time Rex had had a moment to have a good look at his leg was two weeks ago, right after they'd rescued Echo. The siege had kept him too busy to give it the attention it needed. His and Tup's latest escapades must have finally set something wrong, with that last jump they'd made into the gunship.

"I'd tell you to go to Kix, but I don't think he's the right man for the job." Tup said. "Gears might be able to help you."

"He's a LAAT/i mechanic, not a cybernetics expert." Rex said. "I can take care of it. I just need a moment to myself."

"Good luck with that." Tup said. "Oh, hello Commander."

Rex's heart just about shot out of his chest as he caught sight of Ahsoka's montrals. It wasn't from surprise.

"Good to see you two alive." Ahsoka said.

"Same to you, Commander." Rex said. "The mission was a success."

"Good to hear." Ahsoka said. "Tup, get to the medbay. Don't act like I can't see those blast marks."

"They're just scrapes!" Tup protested, but Ahsoka gave him a glare.

"Go on. In the meantime I'll debrief Captain Rex." Ahsoka said.

"Er, sir." Rex said as Tup finally left. "It'd be better if Tup was here for the debrief-"

"Weren't you there too?" Ahsoka asked with a cocked eyebrow. "Besides, don't you want a hand with Cettie?"

"I can handle it myself-"

"I've been helping Anakin with his arm for nearly four years now." Ahsoka said. "You won't find a better cybernetics mechanic on the base. Besides Anakin."

Rex almost told her he'd go find the General, but in truth, he wanted time alone with Ahsoka. Desperately so.

Which was why he should go find the General. The feelings that he had should not be encouraged.

Rex was a weak man.

He followed Ahsoka to the barracks, and then to her quarters.

"Sit." Ahsoka ordered.

He did so. He moved to remove his leg but she was quicker. His heart pounded as her hands brushed his leg. She expertly detached his prosthetic. She slid it from his blacks and sat down next to him, holding Cettie in her lap.

Rex's chest seemed to swell as she started her work. It wasn't just that she was doing it for him. It was the fact that he knew that she would do it for any one of the men in the legion.

He was quite content sitting there at her side.

"Report, Captain." She said after a few minutes.

Her tone was teasing, but he knew he'd better get it done.

"Not much to tell." Rex said. "We went in, confirmed that the scans were correct, and then got caught in a fire fight on the way out."

"So we've got-"

"Another five thousand clankers or so on their way here." Rex said.

Ahsoka paused in her work, laying aside her tools.

"It'll be another hard battle." She said.

"I know." Rex said.

She seemed so troubled by it, Rex was desperate to try and cheer her up.

"Did you hear?" He said. "Kix and Tech say that Echo's almost ready for duty."

She smiled.

"It'll be good to have him back for real." She said.

"He might have some intel that could turn some tides." Rex said.

"Hopefully." Ahsoka picked up her tools again. "And how are you holding up?"

"You know how I'm doing." Rex said.

"Kind of." She said. "You've been in and out of the base so much and I haven't had the time to get a read on you."

Rex was both glad for and tormented by his time away from the base. On one hand, he could keep away from his feelings more easily. On the other, those same feelings made it painful to be away from her.

Every time he'd seen her this last few weeks seemed to make the feelings worse.

"I'm doing okay." Rex said. "The siege is wearing on me, but having my brothers and you and the General around help."

"Just let me know what I can do to help."

"Just being around does wonders." He told her sincerely.

"Have you heard from your friends back on the med station?" She asked.

"Hack's been permanently reassigned there, thank the Force." Rex said. "And Neya Ha thinks he'll be there for a while too."

Ahsoka nodded her approval and focused back on Rex's leg. She hummed without a tune as her tools sparked and smoked.

"I wish we could get you on the Defiant." She said suddenly.

Rex remembered with a jolt about the time bomb in his head. The thought of harming her, or the Generals, made him sick.

"Me too." He said.

The siege had been so busy, they had hardly the time for things like this, let alone taking the time to go all the way to their Venator.

"Finished!" She declared, as if nothing was wrong.

He held his hands out for Cettie, but she picked up the leg of his blacks. She carefully slid Cettie back through his pant leg. Rex was feeling uncomfortably warm as she clicked the leg into place. She stood, using his leg as leverage. Then she stood there, hand on his knee.

Rex needed her to take her hand off. His insides were churning in a way that was not appropriate. She looked at him for a moment longer. Rex blinked at her, confused.

Then she leaned towards his face.

Rex's heart thudded with a painful rhythm as time slowed down. Her face was coming closer to his. What was she doing? What was she doing? His mind had gone as blank as a shiny's armor. All he could do was stare into her eyes, which were now very close to his. Why was she smiling like that? Rex wasn't ready, he didn't know if he'd ever be ready-

Ahsoka tapped her forehead lightly against his.

"There." She said, leaning back. "Good as new."

"Th-thank you." Rex choked out, both relieved and deeply disappointed.

"Now, come on." She said. "We've got Anaxes to take back.

Mando'a:

shebs'e: butts

vod'e: brothers

There's a fair amount to explain in this chapter. If you don't know, Jedi CAN use a form of force lightning. Plo, as I mention, did, at least in legends. It's called Electric Judgement, which is yellow or green lightning used for justice. Ahsoka's increased connection with the Force allowed her to use it here.

Poor Echo. I really like exploring what happened to him. He has major PTSD and I think he'd feel so guilty about the deaths he was forced to help cause. I think he very much considers the Echo he was as dead. ALSO WHY WOULD THEY PUT HIM BACK INTO WAR THAT IS SO MUCH BULLCRAP.

It's so much fun to write Rex as being in love with Ahsoka. He doesn't know how to handle it. Ahsoka is aware and is trolling him a little bit.

I cannot WAIT to post the next chapter of Guilty. It is gonna be a crazy one.

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great few weeks! (prepare yourselves)