Hello, everyone!

4thwallbreak: I'm so sorry I didn't respond to your comment last chapter! There's a REASON the stormtroopers suck! And uh yeah, that doesn't stop anytime soon.

bsmith1138: Thank you! On one hand, I have sat down and purposefully went through the consequences needed for this mission. On the other, I balk at the idea of killing most named clones. On the THIRD hand, as we have learned through me, killing is not the worst thing you can do to a character. And oh geez, what are you thinking is gonna happen? (Also I'm so pleased that you read this multiple times 3)

OneLittleSpark18: Thank you! It's good to be back! And yeah, I figured you guys would need a recap after so long and also because my fic is very long with a lot of overlapping elements.

Aquarica: Moving went fine! AND YES GIVE US SEASON 3 PLEASE. I firmly believe Tech lives, but that might be because of copium. So many reunions are coming! But- are they going to be happy?

Greek God Fan: I love headcanons about the Bad Batch taking care of each other. And thank you very much!

Peachpopsicle: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed! And good news, I have another Cody POV planned!

Let's get this mission started!

Mando'a translations at the end!

ABSOLVED: Chapter 36

Tech woke to a strange sensation: warmth from another being in his bed. It was a completely unfamiliar feeling.

Then he realized that he did not recognize the bed. It was more of a cot, but still more spacious and soft than his rack.

He reached out and his fingers met bare skin. Taja turned to face him, eyes still closed. She was naked.

So was Tech.

He remembered then. They had had intercourse before, of course, but this was the first time he had stayed the entire night with her. He was somewhat surprised that he'd managed to sleep normally in an unfamiliar situation without his typical routine. Regardless, he felt refreshed.

He should have checked the chrono or his datapad, but he found himself just staring at her sleeping face.

She was beautiful. Objectively, she followed the conventional standards of beauty, though he was sure some would dismiss her because of her severed lekku.

Beyond that, there was something indefinable about her. That of course irked him, that he could not put into words the attraction he felt, but it was like her positive internal attributes became external.

Her eyes opened and she smiled as she saw him. He smiled slightly in return. She placed his hand on his cheek.

"Last night was nice." She said after a time. "It'll be a good memory."

Tech cocked his head.

"You speak as if there will be no more nights like that." He said. "Why?"

"Things might be different after this mission." She said.

"Why would they be?" Tech asked. He did not like the pit her words had created in his chest. "Are you referring to Omega? She is a very forgiving individual. She will not be resentful towards you."

"I'm sure she won't." Taja said. "But I could be a reminder of what she has gone through. I wouldn't want to hurt her by being near you."

"If Scorch is to be believed, she has merely been acting as Nala Se's assistant." Tech said. He needed Taja to understand that there would be no need for a separation. "Unpleasant as that may be, and as distressing as our separation will have been, I believe Omega will recover quickly from her captivity."

Taja smiled and she ran her hand through his hair.

"I hope so."

Then she took his face in her hands and kissed him. Tech knew that he should break the kiss and insist that they prepare for departure. He didn't. Her suggestion that he could not have both Omega and her in his life frightened him, and he drew comfort from her touch.

"We cannot." He mumbled as she deepened the kiss and her hands roamed lower. "Taja- We do not have the time-"

To his relief and disappointment, she slowed and sat up. She reached for his data pad and checked the time.

"You're right." She said with a sigh. "But we still have a few minutes."

She laid back down next to him, resting her head against his chest. Tech looked down at her. She seemed- content. Content with him.

Tech did not know if he loved her, but he hoped that the feelings he had towards her was love.

Perhaps she would know.

"Taja." He said. "How does one know if they are in love?"

Taja looked at him and cocked her head.

"I don't know." She said.

Tech frowned.

"You are sexually experienced." He said. "You have never been in love before?"

"They were for- fun. Stress relief." Taja said. "It was different with them. I wasn't looking for love."

"And now?" Tech asked.

Taja smiled.

"I like to think that I've healed enough for that." She said. "But- I'm still not sure what it feels like, exactly."

"I will research it further." Tech said. "So that we both will be able to identify our feelings towards one another."

"That sounds wonderful." She sounded like she was going to cry.

A knock at the door made Tech jump.

"Taja," Admani's voice said. He sounded amused. "Hate to interrupt, but I've got at least four impatient clones waiting outside."

"He'll be right out." Taja said.

She kissed him again, long and sweet, before letting him up. Tech was quick in dressing and collecting his armor strewn about the room. Once he was kitted up, he returned to Taja. He kissed her forehead.

"I will see you after we are successful." He said.

"Be safe." She told him.

He gave her a twitch upwards of his lips, and left. He nodded to Admani as he passed through their quarters and found his brothers waiting outside.

"This can't happen every time we have a mission." Crosshair said.

But there was no real malice in his voice, a rarity for Crosshair.

"Let's get going." Hunter insisted.

"You okay?" Wrecker asked as they moved away. "You kinda seem out if it."

"I am fine." Tech said.

He would not tell them of the quiet fear now lying cold in the bottom of his stomach.

Rex stood close to Ahsoka, his hand in hers. They were normally far more cautious with their public affection, but Ahsoka was- distant this morning. If he couldn't have her close in his mind, he wanted her close in body.

They were receiving a few scandalized looks from certain nat born recruits, but Rex chose to focus on General Skywalker at the head of the field filled with rebels. The General began to speak.

"The time has come!" He said. His words silenced any mutterings. "Every day the Empire enslaves more and more of the Galaxy unopposed. No more!"

"No more!" A shout echoed back, a chorused voice mostly from the clones.

"Palpatine threatens a woman, a leader, who would fight and bleed and die to see you free." The General went on. "Every day he roots out more of the good that remains in his Empire. No more!"

"No more!" This time more of the nat borns joined in.

"Every day he creates a world where our children will live only to further his goals." General Skywalker was shouting now. "NO. MORE!"

"NO MORE!"

Rex couldn't help but bellow the words too. He heard his wife mutter a firm, but quiet, 'no more.'

"The time has come." General Skywalker said again, his voice now low and sincere. There was none of the reckless fury Rex had come to know, only a controlled, righteous anger. "We take back our lives, our families, our freedom. If we die in this battle, that is a victory. If we live through it, that is a victory. If we free one person from his influence, that is a victory! It's a victory every time there is one less being to do his bidding."

General Skywalker paused, and looked across the gathered rebels.

"He fears us." He said. "And he has every reason to. Move out!"

The crowd burst into motion, organized chaos. Rex was proud of the way the nat borns marched along. They had managed to whip them into halfway decent soldiers.

He moved with Ahsoka, corralling any strays as they loaded up the transports. They would be able to fit a majority of the troops on their Venator, but they'd still have to take several other large transports.

Among the bustle, Rex could see some soldiers moving to embrace others, saying their goodbyes. His heart seemed to shrink as he considered how many would be final.

His own goodbyes would be drawn out. Some of his brothers, like Tup, Jesse, and Wolffe would be with him til near the end. So many others, like Fives, Echo, Bly, and even the Bad Batch would be splitting off on their own missions here.

Speaking of which, Fives, Echo, and Bly were approaching him. Rex reached out to grasp Bly's arm as Ahsoka embraced Fives and then Echo.

"We're trusting you to hold down the fort." Rex told Bly. "We want a home to come back to."

Bly looked at him, eyes serious.

"I wish I was coming." He said.

"You know we need someone to keep this place safe." Rex said.

Bly shook his head.

"You know it's going to be hell waiting for you." He said. "At least-"

Bly didn't finish the sentence, but Rex knew what he was thinking. Both Bly and General Secura were staying behind. Bly would at least have his wife safe by his side, even if his brothers were off fighting.

"Be safe, both of you." Ahsoka was saying to Fives and Echo.

"To be fair, Commander," Echo said. "Tech and I have one of the easier jobs. Just sneak our way into a transmittal tower and set up his device. It's Fives you'll have to worry about."

"I know you weren't there, Echo, but I've told you, I've snuck into the GAR headquarters in disguise before. It went great." Fives said.

"I was shot, if I recall, Fives." Rex said as he grasped Fives' arm. "And you'll be relying on nat borns, not vod'e."

"Are you saying you didn't train them properly?" Fives said with a laugh. "It'll be fine."

Rex didn't believe his nonchalant attitude. Using the armor Hondo had brought was a huge risk. According to their spies, the new equipment was being used by a select few legions.

"It's your job I don't envy, Rex." Fives said seriously. "Those kids are likely to have more guards than Ahsoka had, if Palpatine has any sense."

"If he had any sense, he wouldn't threaten General Skywalker's family." Echo said with a slight smile.

"Hopefully Maul will be able to draw away a majority of the security." Rex said with a sigh.

"I wish he wasn't sending you alone." Ahsoka said.

Rex shook his head.

"We don't have the resources." He said. "The other ARCs are needed to rescue Chancellor Amidala. Honestly, the twins are likely the least guarded."

He frowned as Ahsoka looked away, silent.

"Good luck." Rex told Fives and Echo. "And take care of yourselves."

They needed to get started, get this over with.

"We've made it this far." Fives said bracingly. "We're likely to make it again."

Rex hoped he was right.

It wasn't until they had jumped into hyperspace that Rex was able to get Ahsoka alone. She didn't look at him as he pulled her into an empty briefing room. He touched her face, guiding it towards him.

"Hey." He murmured. "Are you all right? Let me in, please."

She leaned into his touch, but shook her head.

"Not now." She said. "After, I promise. It's nothing to do with the mission."

"All right." Rex said. "I trust you."

Ahsoka smiled and kissed his hand.

"You should be trusting in the Force." She said.

"You're practically the same thing." Rex replied.

Ahsoka laughed and then faltered.

"Not always." She said quietly.

She hugged her stomach, distant again. Rex felt a jolt of unease.

"'Soka," he said. "I don't care if it would hurt me. If something is coming during this mission, I need to know. It scares me far more that there's something you're not telling me."

"I swear it's nothing to do with the mission." Ahsoka said. "In fact, it feels like the Force is purposefully keeping information about the next few days obscured."

"That's not comforting." Rex said

"No, it's not." Ahsoka said with a sigh. "We'll just have to rely on each other and the Force, like we used to."

"Sir!" The clone at the Venator's comm array, Klip, called. "We've received a transmission from Commando Tech and ARC trooper Echo!"

Rex stood with Generals Skywalker, Kenobi, and Gek, along with Ahsoka and Wolffe, on the bridge of the Defiant. The last few days of travel had been tense and frankly excruciating. Now they were merely an hour away from Coruscant.

"And?" General Skywalker asked.

"They've arrived on Coruscant, sir." Klip said. "They're going in."

Rex took a deep breath. The first part of their plan had begun.

"Remind them not to activate the device until we arrive." The General said.

"Yes, sir." Klip said, turning back to the array.

"Are your men ready, Master Gek?" General Skywalker asked.

"More than ready." General Gek said. "I don't know how Plo of all people managed to have the most ferocious soldiers I've ever seen."

"That would be Wolffe's doing." Ahsoka said with a wan smile. "I'm not sure if Master Plo had much to do with it."

Wolffe snorted.

"When you've got a General like Plo'buir, you do everything in your power to protect him." He said.

"True enough." General Gek said. "You'd better not lose that drive now that I'm around."

Wolffe gave his ferocious grin.

"I doubt we will, sir."

"Go prep for boarding." General Skywalker said. "We'll need those other Venators if we want to get out alive."

Gek nodded and beckoned to Wolffe. Wolffe grasped Rex's shoulder and then Ahsoka's. Then he was gone.

"I should be going as well, Anakin." General Kenobi said. "The moment we arrive, the senators friendly to our cause will be in danger. I must get them out quickly."

"You're right." General Skywalker said. "Rex, you should be going too. Make sure Jesse, Tup, and the others are ready as well."

"Yes, sir." Rex said.

General Skywalker put a hand on Rex's shoulder.

"Rex, there's a reason I chose you for this mission." He said, "I trust you to protect my children."

Rex swallowed. It was a heavy burden, but he was willing to bear it.

"I will do everything in my power to keep them safe." He said.

"Thank you." General Skywalker said. His grip on Rex's shoulder tightened. "If you and the others manage this, my family will forever be in your debt."

Rex smiled weakly.

"Sir, if you pull off your part of the plan, the whole galaxy will be in your debt, myself included."

General Skywalker's eyes darkened.

"I'm only saving them from something I was too blind to see." He said. "Go, and take R2. It's time to clean up my mistakes."

Ahsoka followed Rex to the quiet hall outside. Once they were alone, Rex pulled her into his arms.

"Be careful." She said. "I love you."

Rex kissed her forehead.

"I love you." He said. "Come back to me. Even if it's only in the Force."

"I will." Ahsoka said.

Echo let out a long breath as the Marauder dropped out of hyperspace. Tech quickly maneuvered the ship into the shadow of a nearby Venator.

Echo peered out of the viewport. The space around Coruscant was swarmed with more of the capital ships, with fighters and transports buzzing around them.

"Inform the fleet that we have arrived." Tech said.

Echo nodded and engaged the comm array.

"This is Havoc Marauder." He said. "We've arrived at Coruscant and will proceed with our mission."

He waited a few moments before a clone replied.

"Acknowledged. Ensure that the device is not engaged until the rest of the fleet arrives."

"Copy that." Echo said.

He looked back to the rest of the ship. Hunter and the rest of the Batch were kitted up, poised to act even now. Their guests, Commandos Sev and Scorch, were only a few degrees more relaxed.

"How long can we remain undetected?" Hunter asked.

"Their sensors will not be able to find us." Tech said. "They must make visual confirmation in order for our discovery."

Echo smiled slightly as he thought of how Omega would have likely provided a 'translation' for Tech. Not long now. He thought. It would be out of his hands regardless. He and Tech had their own mission.

Tech shadowed a shuttle heading down to the planet's surface. Echo gripped the back of one of the seats until his knuckles turned white, but no shots were fired, no alarms blared. Once inside the atmosphere, they were able to join the streams of ships that flowed as Coruscant's lifeblood.

"There will be minimal guards at the transponder station." Tech said for about the hundredth time.

Echo just nodded. Tech was already agitated. He didn't need Echo nagging him on such a minor thing.

So close. They were so close to- everything. Freedom. Omega's, Senator Amidala's, their brothers'. Echo knew it was killing Tech that they couldn't be there to help rescue Omega. Echo himself felt a surge of disappointment and worry at the fact. But their mission was just as important.

They arrived as near to the transponder tower as they dared. Crosshair took Tech's place in the pilot's seat. Hunter clapped Echo, and then Tech on the shoulder.

"Good luck." He said.

"Find her." Tech replied.

Hunter nodded, solemn.

They disembarked onto a non descriptive platform and watched the Marauder lift back into the sky. Tech turned, business like. The mission had begun.

"There will be ventilation shafts that we will be able to access." He said.

Echo nodded and scanned the platform.

"There." He said, pointing with his scomp.

A maintenance panel attached to a vent. He and Tech jogged up to it. Echo scomped in. The usual rush of information hit him, filtered by Tech's additions to his neural system.

Security = on

Grate = close

It was easy to add just a single one to each of those statuses, turning off the security and opening the vent's gate. As an afterthought, Echo downloaded the ventilation schematics. Knowing Tech, he'd likely already had them on his datapad. Echo would be glad he grabbed them if they were separated.

"After you." Echo said, gesturing with his scomp.

Tech took his larger than normal pack off his back and shoved it in before him. He crawled in on his hands and knees. Echo followed. As they made slow progress, Echo was glad for his helmet; the ducts were filled with dust.

"They don't take much care of these." Echo mumbled, wincing as his scomp grated against a rusty patch.

"There is a reason I selected this tower." Tech panted. "It is old and used only in emergencies."

They both fell silent as they crawled, the only noise Tech's soft grunts of effort. Time grated on. They had no clue how the rest of the Batch was doing; they were all under comm silence until the rest of the fleet arrived. Omega could have been found and they'd have no idea.

Echo was also worried about Fives' mission. Infiltrating the GAR headquarters in disguise could be disastrous and Echo wouldn't be able to help.

So they continued, inching through the vents. Echo's residual arm began to ache from the crawling, as well as his neck and shoulders. Tech would likely have it worse from shoving the pack.

All of a sudden, Tech stopped.

"Ah." He said. "I had not anticipated this."

"What?" Echo asked.

"They have closed off a section of the vents, likely for repairs."

"I'm assuming we've got an alternate route?"

"Yes." Tech said.

Echo didn't like the way Tech said the word.

"What's the catch?" He asked.

"It will require a short vertical ascension." Tech said. "Unfortunately it is also part of the secondary system. It is far less maintained and not built for as much use."

"Ah." Echo said.

"This means that here is a chance that it will suffer-." Tech said.

"I get the picture, Tech." Echo said.

He didn't want to dwell on the possibility of the vents collapsing and them falling down several layers of city..

"Fortunately, sixty-five percent of the secondary system runs inside the building-"

"I said I get the picture!" Echo said. "Let's go. Might as well get it over with." He said.

The secondary vents were far rustier and the metal underneath them felt flimsy. According to Tech, they only had to go through a few meters of them.

The first section was fine, only creaking slightly. Then they got to the bend. Tech grunted as he maneuvered around his pack in order to aim his grapple. Echo waited for the sound of it firing. It didn't come.

"I do not believe there is a sufficient anchor to which my grapple can attach." Tech said.

"Then what do you suggest?" Echo asked from behind Tech's pack.

"I believe if you balance on my shoulders, you will be able to reach the ledge and pull yourself up." Tech said.

"Is that a good idea?" Echo asked.

"It is the best we have." Tech replied.

Echo waited for Tech to squeeze himself onto the pack, gritting his teeth as the metal began to groan. Then he himself began to wedge himself through. Tech tried to help pull, but there wasn't much room. Echo finally pulled his legs through and bumped into Tech as he stood up. They were nose to nose now. They froze as the metal gave a particularly loud creak.

"Right." Echo said slowly. "How are we gonna do this?"

Tech merely crouched down as best as he could, the vent protesting. Echo grimaced as he swung his legs over Tech's neck.

"No." Tech said. "You must stand on my shoulders."

"You gonna be okay?" Echo asked.

"I will be fine." Tech said.

Despite his brother's words, Echo heard Tech grunt as he stepped onto his shoulders. Tech let out a long, pained exhale as he slowly straightened, one arm outstretched to balance himself against the wall. The vent practically shrieked as he did so.

Echo slowly reached up and found the edge of the ledge with his fingers.

"Good thing it's not Hunter here." He said. "I don't think he'd be able to reach."

He heaved with his one hand, lifting himself just enough to get his scomp over the edge and get better leverage. He scrabbled at the side of the vent with his legs. That combined with the effort of his arms, he managed to get his chest over. For a moment he sat there with his chest pressed hard into the metal. Then, with some undignified grunts and motions, he scrambled fully over the edge. He turned around to see Tech looking up at him.

"Lower your grapple line." Tech said.

Echo did so. Tech hooked the grapple to his pack. Then, as he straightened, there was the sound of tearing metal. Echo hooked the grapple line to his belt and wedged his legs against the walls. The line went taught as the floor fell out from under Tech and his pack. Echo grit his teeth as the full weight of both jerked him slightly.

"You okay?" He called down.

"I am fine." Tech said. "Now that the structural integrity of the vent has been compromised, we must hurry. It is likely that the rest of the vent will collapse as well.

Echo cursed and started heaving on the line. The vent was starting the tip downwards and Echo could see flashes of the city under Tech. Tech quickly climbed the line even as Echo pulled. He helped him up and together they heaved Tech's pack up.

"Go." Tech said.

Echo didn't need to be told twice. The vent was now at a diagonal and they had to scramble to get to the level section. Echo and Tech had to awkwardly pull the pack along as they listened to the metal strain under them.

They made it a good couple of meters before the vent gave another ominous creak. Echo only had time to exchange a frantic look with Tech before the durasteel crumpled under them. Echo automatically curled himself into a ball as they fell. He saw a blur of grey and white for a second before crashing into something solid. It held for a millisecond before something, likely Tech, landed next to Echo. Then, whatever was beneath them creaked and collapsed. Echo grunted as they fell an extra few feet.

Despite the new bumps and bruises, he forced his eyes open. He saw white figures looming above him. His instincts kicked in and he grabbed his blaster from its holster. He fired at the one directly above him.

A heart beat too late he saw the visors. Not TK or stormtroopers.

Clones.

"No-" Echo choked out, but the trooper crumpled.

A hand grabbed his wrist and Tech jerked him off of the ruins of the table. Echo scrambled to his feet, switching his blaster to stun with a shaking hand. He fired blindly, but he was following Tech now. A few familiar voices shouted out.

"Why the hell are there clones here?" Echo snapped as they ran.

"Uncertain." Tech said. "Perhaps the Empire prefers to send them to out of the way assignments."

Echo swallowed bile. He'd just killed a brother, a brother that would have been free in just a few minutes. He shoved the thoughts away. They had a job to do now. He ran that mantra through his head as he followed Tech up a steep staircase. He could hear the other troopers shouting as they followed them.

Finally they reached the top. Echo and Tech burst into a room filled with transponder equipment. Echo heard Tech shoot off several stun bolts as he whipped around and jammed his scomp into the door's port.

doorStatus = open

lockStatus = inactive

Echo twirled his scomp.

doorStatus == closed

lockStatus == active

He bundled the variables into a digital box, locking it behind admin permissions. With a final twist, Echo cleared the admin list and added himself.

He pulled away and looked around. Tech had stunned the three clone troopers in the room and had set his pack on one of the stations.

"This is an excellent opportunity to test the efficacy of my device." He said. "And perhaps enlist these clones' help while we wait for the fleet. According to my calculations, they will not arrive for another seventeen minutes."

Echo stared at Tech.

"You don't know if it works?" He asked.

"I am ninety-four percent certain that it will work as intended." Tech said casually. "I merely thought that it would be preferable to disable these clones' chips rather than have to watch them at all times for signs of waking for the next sixteen minutes."

He had a point.

"Hurry up." Echo said, turning to face the door.

He could hear the other clones attempting to get in. Echo pulled out his arc welder and began sealing the door. He glanced behind to see Tech putting together his device. The thing was supposed to emit a very specific electronic frequency that would disrupt the signals the chips sent to a clone's brain.

"There."

Echo turned his head, seeing lights burst to life on the device. A slight whine reverberated in his headpiece and he resisted the urge to clap his hand over it. He doubted it would help. The clones on the ground twitched. Then- one began thrashing.

Echo shouted and rushed to the brother's side. Tech was there too. The clone seized, back arching and limbs shaking. Echo looked to Tech for an explanation. He found confusion and fear in his brother's eyes.

Then the clone fell still. Echo pressed his fingers against his neck. He found no pulse.

"Tech-" He said.

He couldn't properly perform CPR, not with his scomp arm. But Tech shook his head, staring at his datapad.

"It would not do any good." His voice shook slightly.

"What happened?" Echo demanded.

"I don't know." Tech said. "I- did not anticipate this reaction. I do not understand."

This was a first. Tech always knew, always understood. But right now, he looked as lost as Echo had felt when he'd first come out of the stasis chamber.

"We must abort the mission." Tech said. "If the device kills-"

"No." Echo said, surprising even himself. "We need the support of the clones here."

"If trends hold, the device will have around a 30 percent chance of death!" Tech protested. "They are your brothers, Echo. Do you truly wish to risk that?"

Echo looked down at the dead clone between them. A hardness seemed to encapsulate his heart.

"Yes." He said. "They would rather be dead than under the chip's control."

Tech hesitated and Echo met his gaze. He meant what he said. Tech finally nodded.

Echo stood up and went to one of the surviving clones. His brothers would be free, one way or another.

Mando'a:

vod'e: brothers

Plo'buir: Papa Plo

From the top!

Yeah Tech, you keep believing that Omega isn't being horrifically traumatized at the moment I'm sure it'll turn out fine.

As someone who sometimes struggles to understand their own emotions, I like the idea of characters not quite knowing if they're in love or not.

Way to give Tech privacy, guys. I have decided right now that the Batch are 100 percent the type of people to follow their brother, regardless of which one, on dates and possibly on honeymoons. And when confronted about it, they're just like 'I don't know what you're talking about we're just here for a good time, can't believe you think we're here because of you.' And I might have to write a fic about it. Just like, Tech is on a romantic cruise and Wrecker is in the background going on the waterslide, Crosshair is chewing on a drink umbrella in the sun chair next to them, Hunter and Omega splashing right next to them in the pool, and Echo- okay Echo might actually leave them alone.

I got to try my hand at an inspirational speech! And I'm also very proud of myself, I originally just had Rex exposition dumping in his head about who was doing what.

Ahsoka's hiding somethiiiiiiiing. Also, it's kind of funny to me that Rex is like 'hey if you die, can you haunt me?'

I finally use my Computer Science minor! Annnnd it's just me writing pseudo code for Echo scomping. I do like the idea of droids and Echo actively changing the code to get it to do what they want.

I've been trying to practice drawing scenes out and for SOME FORCE FORSAKEN REASON my brain latched onto this vent scene to try and expand. So uh, enjoy the vents. I had to come back and add some tension for it to not be a totally superfluous scene. About vents. Vent fan service, if you will.

(also I'm so sorry for making Tech almost fall it's just how things turned out and I am sincerely so sorry)

I tried imagining Echo doing CPR with his scomp. I don't think it would work.

And the first of the consequences start to trickle in. But if anyone had the experience to make a decision about risking the clones' lives to be free, it'd be Echo.

That should be everything! I'm excited for next chapter!

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!