Ahsoka stirred lightly, consciousness coming in the painfully slow way that made her head throb. She sucked in a deep breath and cracked her eyes open. Bright lights assaulted her vision, provoking her headache. She groaned and moved her heavy hands to block the light from her eyes.

Wait, what happened?

Ahsoka could feel the signature stiff bunk underneath her, and something of the sort of bandages wrapped snugly around her right calf, left bicep, and left foot. There were bacta patches stuck to her lekku and plastered here and there. This could mean only one thing:

The med-bay.

Kriff, what happened? She couldn't remember, she couldn't sense Anakin anywhere , and since when did the med-bay smell like a bantha's butt hole?

Ahsoka shot up, her breath quickening. She wasn't in a med-bay, she was in a barracks of some sort. Where was everyone? Was the med-bay too full for her? Was Anakin badly injured and stuck in there? Or what if he wasn't, what if he was– no.

"Anakin?" Ahsoka called, refusing to believe he was gone- gone. And where were the others? Could Obi-Wan be stuck there, too? "Obi-Wan? Master!" Her airways were closing. " Anakin ," she choked out.

"Whoah, whoah, Commander Tano, it's okay," a familiar voice soothed.

"Echo," Ahsoka grabbed his arm and clung to it, looking up to see him. But it didn't look like Echo.

It jump-started her sluggish mind, and Ahsoka remembered their encounter in the alleyway.

"Sorry," Ahsoka let go of his arm and curled into herself, scooting away. "Flashback, ya know?"

Echo nodded, lowering himself to the mattress next to her.

"What happened?" Ahsoka peeped when he was situated.

"You coughed up blood all over my armor, and then passed out," Echo said nonchalantly.

Ahsoka shot him a playful glare. "Now, Echo, we've been over this. You should know by now that I don't p–"

"Yeah, yeah," Echo rolled his eyes with a faint smile. "You don't pass out, you black out ."

Ahsoka gave him an approving look, but her playfulness slowly drained and she chewed her lip. "Why did you bring me here– well, where even is here?"

" Here is the Havoc Marauder. I brought you here because you were hurt and I wanted to help you. I mean, you've saved my sorry hide more times than I can count. The least I can do is help you when you're bleeding profusely and cough up blood and black out on me suddenly in the middle of an alleyway," Echo explained.

Ahsoka knit her brows together and grumbled, "You make it sound so dramatic."

"It was!"

After a beat of silence, Echo spoke again.

"It's good to see you again, Commander Tano," he whispered, patting her shoulder.

"Please don't call me that." Her voice was hardly audible.

"Call you what? 'Commander?' I've called you that the entire time I've known you! How am I supposed to stop now?"

"I don't deserve it."

"You don't deserve it?" Echo burst, anger burning his ears. "Commander, you deserve it more than anyone else in this galaxy!"

"Stop, Echo," Ahsoka begged.

"What do you expect me to call you, then? Snips?"

She winced and the name. "Call me Ahsoka–"

"I don't understand," Echo rambled. "You've been so loyal to all of the troopers. You risked your life and saved ours almost daily . You deserve every part of that title." He seemed to make a sort of realization, pity seeping into his tone. "Oh, Commander, is it because of Order 66?"

Ahsoka didn't want his pity. She tightened her jaw. "No–"

"It wasn't your fault. All the clones have control chips in their heads that made them turn on the Jedi. I'm sure you did all you could to–"

"I left the Order and surrendered my rank as a commander," Ahsoka finally blurted, tears stinging her eyes.

"What?!"

"I left the Order, I left the War, and I surrendered my rank as a commander," Ahsoka rubbed the edges of her large, watery eyes. "I don't deserve to be called that anymore."

"Why?" Echo whispered.

"It's a long, complicated story," Ahsoka sniffed.

"I've got time," Echo shifted his position slightly.

Ahsoka sighed. "Basically, I was framed for bombing the Jedi Temple and they expelled me, then I got put on trial for execution before Anakin barged in with who really did it, and they tried to bribe me to come back but I just couldn't, Echo. I couldn't look them in the faces anymore. They tried to kill me."

Echo bit his lip.

"I don't want to talk about it," Ahsoka said.

"Do you know who it was– who really did it?"

Ahsoka nodded slowly as if trying to decide if she was brave enough to tell him. "Barriss Offee– my best friend."

It was like a knife to the heart and all he could do was wipe the tear off her face.

"I went back for the Seige of Mandalore, but you and Fives and Hardcase and Tup and almost everyone was gone, and then they turned and–" she choked out a sob. "So many died and I let them . I don't deserve the title."

Echo had nothing to say. All he could do was wrap Ahsoka into a hug and hold her there until she stopped shaking so violently, swallowing down all those pent-up sobs.

"You saved Rex, didn't you?" Echo asked when he found his voice.

Ahsoka yanked herself out of his embrace. "How'd you figure that out?"

"Rex came up and visited us a while back. Was he with you?"

"Yeah, during the purge," Ahsoka curled into herself again. "I removed his inhibitor chip. I take he got yours out as well?"

Echo nodded. "Took all of ours out. Except Omega's. She didn't have one. Say, you haven't met them all yet, have you?"

Ahsoka shook her head. "I spoke with Omega, but that's it."

"Well, we landed a bit ago, so I'll take you to meet them all," Echo offered.

"Where are we?"

"Ord Mantell. We work with an informant here," Echo explained. "She has a cantina that the others will be waiting in. But we can always take you back if you want to go."

Ahsoka shook her head and stood up from the bunk, following Echo towards the door.

"Oh," Echo stopped. "I should ask, do you want something to eat?"

Ahsoka shook her head again. "I'm not really hungry."

Echo gave her an unconvinced look but proceeded out the door and down the ramp, taking her through the seedy little town to a dark cantina. He took her inside and the heads of three clones and a small girl turned upon their arrival.

"Echo," one of them greeted. "Care to introduce your friend?"

"Yes. This is Commander Tano–" he cut himself off when he saw Ahsoka flinch subtly. "Er, this is Ahsoka Tano, former Commander of the 501st division and padawan to Anakin Skywalker."

"Hi," Omega immediately piped up. "My name's Omega!"

"We've met, I believe," Ahsoka nodded.

"Commander, this is Omega, who you've met, Hunter, Tech, and Wrecker," Echo pointed to each member of the Bad Batch.

Wrecker gasped loudly and longly, pointing at Ahsoka. "That's a Jedi?! That is the cutest little baby Commander I have ever seen!"

"Last time someone called me cute I made him do push-ups until the floor broke," Ahsoka warned.

Wrecker ignored her while Echo snorted. "Do you know Rex?!"

"I do," Ahsoka said, eyeing him and tipping her head, unsure of the way he was looking at her.

"A friend of Rex is a friend of mine!" Wrecker grabbed Ahsoka into a bone-crushing hug and squeezed her until she couldn't breathe and she was sure her eyeballs were bulging

"Wrecker, leave her be," Hunter ordered, and Wrecker set her down.

"I see you have a new friend," a rough voice came behind Ahsoka, and she froze because she knew that voice . "You any good?"

Ahsoka turned around slowly to see the Trandotion woman and as their eyes met, both pairs blew wide.

"Montrals?!" cried the Trandotion as at the same time Ahsoka gasped "Cid?!"

"It's been so long, I thought you died!" Cid went on. "Why didn't you come visit me, Montrals? Come here, gimme a hug!" Cid sprang on Ahsoka (as well as she could) and gave her an embrace that may have rivaled Wrecker's.

Ahsoka didn't say that she didn't think she and Cid were good enough friends for a casual visit and she also didn't say that she thought Cid would turn her in if she showed up.

"It's been a while," Ahsoka said instead.

"I take it you knew each other?" Tech said, glancing up with raised brows.

"Yeah, during the Clone War," Cid said, keeping one arm slung around Ahsoka. "Her masters and her would come to me every now and again. Hey, how's Skywalker and Kenobi anyway?"

Ahsoka didn't trust herself with words and simply shrugged.

"Aw man, I liked that Skywalker guy," Cid said. "Sorry to hear that, Montrals. But I'm glad you're here now." She whipped her arm away from Ahsoka to address the Bad Batch, sounding scandalized as she said, "Boys, why didn't you ever tell me that you know Montrals?!"

"That is an unethical question, as we had no knowledge of your acquaintanceship."

Cid rolled her eyes. "It was meant to be rhetorical, Goggles."

"Oh. My mistake."

Cid shook her head and sighed, giving Ahsoka an exasperated look. "Anyway, glad you're here. You can spice up these boys' work."

"Oh, I'm not staying," Ahsoka said.

"You're not?" Omega's face fell.

"What are you talking about? Of course you are!" Cid exclaimed, waving her arms in the air. "My, you've gotten skinny… skinni er – You've always been a toothpick. But look at you now! You look like a pile of bones! Let me fix you something up, on the house."

"Cid, I'm not staying."

"Aw, come on, do it for me, Montrals?"

"We're not friends," Ahsoka crossed her arms over her chest. "Why would I do anything for you? All you care about are the credits I'll bring in."

Cid shrugged. "Got me there, Montrals, but I'll feed you anyway. Call it a token of goodwill." She sauntered off and eyed Ahsoka subtly as if evaluating if the former Jedi was still any good for her.

Omega scurred up to Ahsoka and tugged on the shirt sleeve which hadn't been cut off earlier to be bandaged. "You aren't staying?" She asked, looking up at Ahsoka with the widest, saddest brown eyes.

"I can't," Ahsoka sighed tiredly. "I'm sorry, but it's dangerous for me to stay. I'm being hunted, and you will all be in danger."

"I'm being hunted, too," Omega said softly. "The Kaminoins sent bounty hunters after me. So we won't be in any more trouble. Please stay."

Ahsoka opened her mouth but never got any words out.

"Omega is right," Tech glanced up briefly, interrupting. "It is better for you to stay with us for the time being. At least until your injuries heal."

Ahsoka spared a glance at her bandaged leg, arm, and the countless bacta patches.

"We won't be in any additional danger," Tech went on. "Plenty of bounty hunters have already been unsuccessful in defeating us and capturing Omega. Obviously."

"Why Omega?" Ahsoka asked softly, curiosity getting the better of her.

"She has pure Jango Fett DNA," Tech explained. "The Kaminoins want it."

"Ah," Ahsoka sighed again. "I'm a little different, though."

"How?" Omega asked.

"I'm not wanted for my DNA," Ahsoka said. "And the entire Empire wants me. The Emperor wants me. Inquisitors are after me."

"Inquisitors?" Omega tilted her head.

"Inquisitors are Force-wielding pawns of the Empire. They're very , very dangerous," Ahsoka said. "They're used to hunt down and kill Jedi."

Omega's eyes widened. "You're a Jedi?"

Ahsoka lowered her voice to a whisper. "Formerly, yes."

Cid came wandering back and handed Ahsoka a bowl of steaming stew with a wink. "No worries, it's safe for Togrutas. The recipe Kenobi gave me. I heard you liked it." She was off before Ahsoka could respond.

Wrecker suddenly gasped dramatically, pointing at Ahsoka, and as if it just then registered in his brain, said, "That's a Jedi!"

"Shush, don't let the whole world know!" Ahsoka hissed, whacking his outstretched arm.

"Oh, sorry," Wrecker whispered loudly, then grinned at her. "Can you tell us a Jedi story?"

Omega lit up. "Yes!"

"Wrecker, Omega," Hunter said in a warning tone.

"No, it's okay," Ahsoka said. She thought for a long moment, then decided on telling them about the Second Battle of Geonosis, mainly for the part where they threw Rex off the wall, which made Wrecker bellow with laughter.

Echo looked proud, Hunter at least looked interested, Tech was trying his best to look unimpressed, and Omega was just glad she was there.

Ahsoka knew she'd get along with them just fine… if she did end up staying.

It was a while later that Omega fell asleep against Ahsoka and Wrecker took her back to the Marauder, despite wanting to hear more of Ahsoka's stories. Tech followed shortly, taking Echo with him because he wanted to work on the ship.

Hunter was still finishing his drink, adding Tech's now-abandoned drink (which he didn't seem to care for in the first place) and Cid was over again trying to kiss up Ahsoka and convince her to stay. Cid kept trying to pour more free stew into Ahsoka's bowl, even as the potent scent made Ahsoka feel sick. She hadn't eaten anything in days, how was she supposed to hold this down?

"Sounds like you've seen a lot, kid," Hunter said off-handedly when Cid finally left for a few minutes.

"I only told, like, two stories. You've seen way more than that," Ahsoka scoffed.

Hunter offered her a drink, tipping some of his into Tech's glass. "You're old enough now, aren't you?"

"I don't want any, but thanks," Ahsoka said.

Hunter poured the drink back into his cup and took a sip. Ahsoka stirred at the stew left in the bottom of her bowl. It smelled like the worst thing to eat right now but also like home because Obi-Wan would always make it for her and it hurt so bad .

"You made a choice yet, kid?" Hunter said, turning to her and clarifying. "You want us to drop you off somewhere or you gonna stay a while?"

Ahsoka sighed. "I honestly don't think I'll make it on my own right now," she admitted quietly. She hated to say it, but something told her that she could tell Hunter, even as she was so guarded these days.

"We're glad to have you," Hunter said.

"Thanks," Ahsoka said, and the corners of her mouth tugged up. "Besides, I hate making kids cry."

"Yeah?" Hunter chuckled. "Must be a Jedi thing." He downed the rest of his drink and shoved the cup away. "Let's go, kid, Cid's got a mission for us and we have to get going and rest up."