Yeah, yeah I'm posting my fic, whatever. BAD BATCH PREMIER HOLY CRAP! I will be staying up to watch it and I am prepared to be emotionally destroyed.

TW: Mentioned Suicide

Mando'a translation at the end!

It was late when Ahsoka got home. Having a last goodbye with Master Obi Wan took longer than she had anticipated. She couldn't help but feel nervous for him. It was a mission so secret he wasn't able to tell them anything about it. That meant it had to be dangerous.

What she had seen as Obi Wan left made her more worried. As Obi Wan had walked away, Ahsoka had seen a thin figure join him. If Ahsoka didn't know better, she'd have thought it was Ventress. It couldn't have been her. For one, the figure had hair, and two, Ahsoka couldn't think of a situation where Obi Wan would meet up with her willingly. Unless things were desperate.

Ahsoka shook herself. It wouldn't help Obi Wan to worry. She turned her thoughts to her roommates, or at least one in particular. Rex had surprisingly turned down the invitation to see Obi Wan off. The last few days he'd found every excuse to be at Anakin's.

Rex doted on the twins. Anakin thought it was funny. Ahsoka and Padme thought it was sweet.

Ahsoka was still smiling at the thought when she opened the door and stepped into a dark apartment.

She narrowed her eyes and felt claws of anxiety finger her chest. Jesse and Rex should have been home by now. Ahsoka also knew that Fives didn't have work tonight.

A spike of panic pierced her heart. More reports had been trickling in of troopers being stolen from their homes. Ahsoka took a step forward and was saved a search of the entire apartment when she glanced out the balcony doors.

She gave a sigh of relief as she saw three figures standing silhouetted against the city lights. Ahsoka frowned. Rex would normally be either in bed, reading, or waiting for her so they could read together. Jesse spent most his nights out with Rhys, who Ahsoka still hadn't met, and would only come back minutes before curfew. It was rare all three were together.

Ahsoka slid open the balcony door. None of them turned to her. They were all speaking in unison in flowing Mando'a.

"-cuyi, gar kyr'adyc-"

She knew these words, the words of remembrance. She had been taught them soon after becoming Commander. She had spoken them as often as she could with the clones for their fallen vod'e.

Ahsoka waited quietly as they finished. Rex then picked up a datapad and started reading off a list of names. Clone names. So many names. Dozens of them.

Finally Rex put down the datapad. Ahsoka took a step closer and three pairs of identical amber eyes turned on her.

"Commander." Rex greeted.

Ahsoka leaned against the railing next to them.

"You said Bluff. Not Bluff from the 212th?" Ahsoka said. She kept her voice low. It seemed appropriate. "I saw him, at 79's, when I came back. He was fine then-"

She trailed off at the look in Rex's eyes.

"I'm sorry, sir." He said. "We haven't stopped losing brothers even though the war's over."

Ahsoka felt a stab of grief. They were still losing men?

"To what?" Ahsoka asked.

"What Rex means," Fives said, his voice harsh and raw. "Is that we won't stop kriffing killing ourselves."

Ahsoka's heart stopped. Padme had mentioned clone suicide rates but to have the names put to the numbers made it real. And Rex had read off so many names.

Bluff. The younger trooper had welcomed her back. He had been cheerful.

She scrambled mentally through the other names he had said.

"Did you say Thire?" She whispered.

Rex nodded.

Oh Force. So it wasn't just the lower ranks. She'd met Thire once or twice. He had been a good man, just like any other clone.

And now he was gone. Erased from existence.

Jesse was pouring small amounts of clear liquid into glasses from a bottle on the small table. He raised an eyebrow at her. She nodded and he passed her a glass.

In unison the three clones lifted their glasses and Ahsoka followed suit.

"Bah cuun vod'e." Jesse said.

Ahsoka knew enough Mando'a to recognize the words. To our brothers.

They drank together and Ahsoka nearly choked. The strong tasting liquid seared her mouth. It didn't burn like alcohol normally did, but burned like something spicy.

She thought she caught a smile on their faces and she drank the rest without a reaction. It was almost enjoyable, the burning.

The clones stared out over the cityscape, slowly sipping at their drinks.

"Why?" She asked aloud.

She regretted speaking. The silence had seemed almost sacred.

"We were bred for war, Commander." Rex said. "Not all of us have handled the transition to peace well. And things aren't- good for many of us."

"Us three, we're lucky." Jesse said. "We've got jobs working with the army, got Fives' money and got a General that still cares."

Ahsoka felt sick. A general that still cared. She knew from Master Plo and Anakin that the council had ordered the Jedi generals away from their troops, fearing attachments. From what she knew, most Jedi followed that order. Plo, Obi Wan, and Aayla Secura had been the most outspoken against the order. Ahsoka knew that others, like Master Fisto, were more quietly involved with their troops, but many had just abandoned the clones they served with.

Rex nodded.

"Having General Skywalker close has been a huge help." He said. "The 501st, 212th, and 104th have had the least amount of- of casualties."

"What happens to the legions that their Generals leave?" Ahsoka asked.

"The commander usually tries to take the Jedi's place." Jesse explained. "Be the leader and be there for the other men. But they have their own problems, and sometimes it gets to be too much."

"That's how we lost Gree." Rex said quietly.

Ahsoka's heart ached. The war was over. Her men, all of the men, were supposed to be safe. There was still a battle going on, but she couldn't protect her men with lightsabers or blasters.

She reached over to touch Rex's arm.

"How can I help?"

Rex looked at her and he seemed almost like he might cry.

"Just being here, Commander, makes all the difference in the world."

"Rex."

Chancellor Amidala's voice was teasing. Rex looked over at her, tearing his eyes from the little bundles in their bassinets.

"You can just ask to hold them." Chancellor Amidala said.

Rex felt his cheeks warm.

"I didn't mean- I don't want to impose." He said.

He couldn't deny that he wanted to hold the twins. He hadn't seen them in over three weeks; he and Ahsoka had been busy. This was the first time they'd been able to accept General Skywalker's invitation to come over.

Anakin and Ahsoka were laughing at Rex. Padme was smiling in an understanding way.

"Go on, it's fine." She said.

Rex immediately stood and went over to the twins. Luke was sleeping, but Leia was looking up at him with murky blue eyes. Rex glanced back at the others, making sure they were back to their conversation. Then he scooped up Leia.

"How are you doing, verd'ika?" He murmured.

Of course she didn't say anything, but Rex had a feeling she was happy to hear his voice.

Rex moved over to the couch. He studied her little face and she studied him back. He still hadn't shaken his first impression of her: she was a fighter.

It amazed him that these little nat borns were only a few weeks old and yet they were as important to him as most vod'e were. He didn't quite know why. They definitely soothed the ache that he'd had ever since he'd met Cut and his family. But mostly he couldn't explain his draw to them. They didn't even do much.

Someone settled on the couch next to him. Rex glanced over to see Ahsoka quietly cooing over an awake Luke. She met Rex's eye and smiled. He smiled back. It was nice to just sit here with her and the twins. He, Ahsoka, and some of the other brothers had spent every night of the last few weeks visiting clones whose generals had abandoned them. They barely had time for Rex to read aloud to her every night.

It had been worth it. Rex could tell their efforts had helped and he had a more complete list of brothers to keep an eye on. They had earned this night of respite, though it had taken some convincing from General Skywalker to get them there.

Ahsoka scooted closer and peered at Leia, who was transfixed by her own waving hand. Ahsoka smiled at the little girl's wiggling. Luke was more content to sit quietly, staring up at whoever was holding him. Chancellor Amidala had said they were fairly advanced physically for their age, especially Leia. Apparently that was common in Force-sensitive children.

Rex leaned closer over Leia. She had started curling and uncurling her fingers as she waved her hands. Rex wondered what the point was.

There was a sudden pinch of pain on his cheek. He jerked his head up, though he managed to keep his hands steady. Leia still jolted her hands out in what looked like surprise.

"What happened?" Ahsoka asked.

"She scratched me!" Rex said.

There was a laugh from Anakin.

"I should have warned you." He said. "Their fingernails are sharp."

He and Padme both came over.

"Let us take them." Padme said. "It's about time for them to go to sleep."

Rex relinquished Leia with reluctance, despite his verd'ika's betrayal.

He and Ahsoka were left alone on the couch.

"Rex, you're bleeding." Ahsoka said.

"What?" Rex lifted his hand to check.

Ahsoka reached out and tilted his head down, studying his cheek. She let out a laugh.

"She got you good!"

Her hand lingered on his face for a moment before she took it away. There had been a lot of that lately. Casual touches, brushes against his shoulder, hands on his arm, all lasting a little longer than they should have. When they read, she sat so close their shoulders almost touched.

Rex found he didn't mind.

"I know where Anakin keeps the bandages." Ahsoka said.

"Commander, you don't have to-" Rex began his protest but Ahsoka was already on her feet. He watched her rummage around in a compartment and return with a bacta strip.

"Thank you-" Rex said, holding out his hand, but Ahsoka was unsticking the backing of the strip.

"Hold still." She told him and leaned forward. Rex's heart rate hit the accelerator as suddenly her face was very close to his. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully placed the strip over his small cut.

Then she leaned back and studied her handiwork. Rex took a few deep breaths to slow his heart.

"Shouldn't scar." She told him with a teasing air. "Be careful in the future."

"Don't need to." Rex replied. "If you're around to patch me up."

There was a flash of guilt in her eyes. Was she thinking of the time she had been gone? Despite his promise to General Skywalker, Rex hadn't gotten much out of Ahsoka about the time she lived in the undercity.

Suddenly her gaze hardened. She must have guessed, or more accurately sensed, his train of thought.

"It doesn't matter, Rex." She said.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Rex was getting tired of her automatic response to anything to do with her time away from them.

"It does matter, sir." Rex said. "You were hurt."

"The bruises are gone." Ahsoka said, staring forward stubbornly. "Everything is fine now."

"That's not true and you know it." Rex said in an undertone.

Physical wounds healed easily. Those of the mind stayed open and hurting far, far longer. That lesson was pounded in with every brother Rex lost after the war.

Unfortunately Anakin returned at that moment and Ahsoka took the chance to tear the conversation away from the subject.

Rex frowned as Ahsoka greeted Anakin perhaps a little too cheerfully. He hadn't had time to investigate the name she'd said when drunk. Perhaps it was time to do so.

"When the council said I was to infiltrate Mandalore, I believed that meant we would spend most of that time on Mandalore." Quinlan said. "I guess I was wrong."

"Maul didn't have a blockade up when we left!" Bo Katan shot at him. "I didn't know he would isolate the planet!"

Obi Wan closed his eyes as the bickering echoed down the shady, mist filled alley. Ventress had taken the lead. It had been three weeks of this. Three weeks of bickering and dead end leads. Obi Wan was beginning to miss the war. The clones, while occasionally testy, had a wonderful habit of not being at each other's throats constantly.

Ventress seemed to believe that Quinlan was inept and she held a disdain for Bo Katan that Obi Wan didn't quite understand. Bo Katan didn't trust anyone who had worked for Dooku and thought that Quinlan wasn't treating the situation with the appropriate seriousness. Quinlan, while harboring no particular ills against Bo or Ventress, apparently found it amusing to aggravate the situation with subtle, well placed comments. He especially enjoyed doing it to Bo Katan.

"Your contact better be good." Bo said.

Ventress scoffed from where she was leading them.

"If not, then they will be remarkably similar to your five contacts." She said over her shoulder.

Bo clenched her fists. Obi Wan sighed.

"We don't want to attract unwanted attention." He reminded them.

"Then maybe we shouldn't be two Jedi and a Mandalorian." Quinlan said mildly. "And Kenobi, the hood isn't helping."

"We're trying not to be noticed!" Obi Wan said. "The hood hides my face!"

"And how many people go around with their hoods up if they're not being suspicious?" Quinlan replied.

"Hush!" Ventress said. "We're at the rendezvous."

She paused before continuing.

"He has a point, Kenobi."

Obi Wan scowled and pointedly kept his hood up.

The mists swirled around them as they fell silent and waited. Eventually, after a few minutes, a short, helmeted figure dropped from above.

"Ventress." It said. "You're early."

Obi Wan frowned. He had learned to never judge someone on their size; he had known Master Yoda too long for that. However, the voice of Ventress' contact was youthful, and oddly familiar.

"Or perhaps you're late." Ventress replied. "How's business?"

The figure shrugged.

"Been better. Been worse." It said. "Let's cut the chat, Ventress. What do you want?"

Despite his words, the figure's voice was not quite warm, but amiable.

"I heard you were running the Mandalore blockade." Ventress said.

"I was." The figure said. Where did Obi Wan know that voice? "But the client got himself killed. Haven't run it in a while."

"Well, you have yourself a new one." Ventress said.

Bo Katan made a harsh noise in the back of her throat.

"Ibic adiik cuyir ven'slanar bah viinir mhi at Manda'yaim?" She hissed to Obi Wan.

The figure whipped around, tearing off his helmet. Obi Wan found himself looking at a younger clone, physically about 13 years old.

"Ibic 'adiik' ru'ganar viinir ori'ara'novor shya gar ganar ru'cuyir bat Manda'yaim!" He snarled.

Bo Katan stiffened besides Obi Wan.

"What'd they say?" Quinlan said in a low voice to Obi Wan.

Right. Quinlan hadn't worked with the clones enough to be as fluent as most generals were in Mando'a.

Obi Wan whispered a vague translation: Bo doubted the child's ability to get them to Mandalore, the child insisted he'd run the blockade more times than Bo had been on Mandalore.

"It'll cost you, Ventress." The child, who Obi Wan guessed to be Boba Fett said. "Especially with four people-"

He trailed off as he looked over the group, locking eyes with Obi Wan.

Oh dear.

"Six, actually. Two of our companions aren't with us." Bo Katan said, but Boba ignored her.

Boba's anger cut a jagged tear through the Force. Obi Wan grit his teeth.

"Deal's off!" Boba spat.

"What?" Ventress sounded genuinely confused. "Boba, wait!"

She reached to take his arm but he shook her off.

"I do not work with jetii!" Boba hissed the word as if it was a curse.

"This isn't Jedi business." Ventress told him. "They are here to support the Mandalorians."

"Kenobi, what's going on?" Quinlan asked.

Obi Wan sighed.

"This boy's father was the bounty hunter working with the Separatists."

"He was murdered by Windu!" Boba's voice echoed around the alley. "The jetii destroyed everything I loved!"

Obi Wan looked into Boba's eyes and saw himself. A young man, with his father, or the closest thing he had to a father, ripped away in a conflict he hadn't quite understood. Obi Wan knew the anger Boba was feeling. It had permeated his soul when Qui Gon had been killed, letting some of the Dark in. He still sometimes felt it simmering in his bones. But Obi Wan had had his training, his apprentice, and the other Jedi. What did this boy have?

Suddenly Obi Wan understood Master Plo's outrage when Master Windu had insisted on imprisoning the boy. It was their fault the child had lashed out. It was their responsibility. And yet they had locked him away, abandoning him to be destroyed by his own anger.

Boba and Ventress were still arguing.

"I'm sorry." Obi Wan said.

Boba and Ventress stopped short.

"Me'ven?" Boba asked, seemingly so surprised he had slipped into Mando'a.

"I am sorry." Obi Wan repeated. "The Jedi wronged you and we did nothing to correct it."

Obi Wan thought he felt part of the anger arcing around Boba fade just a little.

"You think an apology will make up for what happened?" Boba said. "Besides, you're just saying that because you need me."

Obi Wan shook his head.

"I know an apology cannot make things right, but it is a step in the right direction and needed to be said."

Boba snorted and looked away.

"As for needing you," Obi Wan went on. "I do not wish to involve a child such as yourself in this situation."

Boba whirled around again, eyes flaming.

"I am not a child!" He growled. "I'm one of the best bounty hunters in the sector!"

He stalked up to Obi Wan and jabbed a finger into his chest.

"I'll take your job!" He said. "But it'll cost you!"

He turned to Ventress.

"Meet me at the shipyard tomorrow at 0700." He said. "Don't be late!"

And disappeared into the mist.

"Well done, Kenobi." Ventress said. "That could have turned nasty."

"Yes, well done me." Obi Wan muttered.

He had been telling the truth to Boba. He did not want to involve the young man. It was no place for anyone as young as he, regardless of skill. Of course, Obi Wan thought bitterly, he had had no qualms about sending his 10 year old men into battle, or even Ahsoka.

In any case, with throwing a Jedi-hating bounty hunter into their mix, Obi Wan did not have high hopes for the future of their group's dynamic.

Mando'a:

Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum: Daily remembrance of those passed on *I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal.* Followed by repetition of loved ones' names.

vod'e: brothers

Bah cuun vod'e: to our brothers

verd'ika: little soldier/warrior. Rex's special name for Leia

Ibic adiik cuyir ven'slanar bah viinir mhi at Manda'yaim?: This child is going to run us to Mandalore?

Ibic 'adiik' ru'ganar viinir ori'ara'novor shya gar ganar ru'cuyir bat Manda'yaim!: This 'child' has run the blockade more times than you've been on Mandalore

Me'ven: What?

Wow. I just realized I bounce from supreme angst, tooth rotting fluff, and then fanservice. Good job me. A big part of the development of this story was the idea that the clones would react fairly badly to being 'free.' Some, like the 501st, 212th, 104th, 327th, do okay because their Generals are involved and try and get them help. The others are left basically to struggle on their own. The clones weren't given resources to deal with anything, and it ends tragically for many. Rex in particular takes it badly because his main function is to protect: his brothers, Ahsoka, his General. With this, it's a bit outside his wheelhouse. He can't fight to protect his brothers in the traditional sense, but he tries his best.

On a happier note, Rex was destined to adore the twins. I feel that he'd be especially close with Leia, his verd'ika. I do have tucked somewhere a one shot where he babysits. We'll see if that gets done.

I honestly did not care about Boba until Mando Season 2(in which he was delightful), but since I've become obsessed with Mando culture in general, he's become far more interesting to explore. (also I just have a crush on Temuera Morrison in general, Sarlacc'ed or not) Also I need someone to make up for the fact that they PUT A GRIEVING CHILD THAT THEY ORPHANED IN JAIL. COME ON MACE GET WITH THE PROGRAM. And as Obi Wan says, it's gonna put some twists in the group dynamic.

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and the next time I'll see you the Bad Batch will be out!