Hey everyone!

Caver Floyd: Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy!

I am VERY excited for this chapter. It does jump around a bit. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not going to be rewriting every second of the Bad Batch arc. Just the bits I feel are changed most by Ahsoka and Fives. I also totally almost forgot to post, as the semester just ended and it's my first Monday back home.

Enjoy!

Mando'a Translations at the end!

"Where's the Captain?" Tup asked Ahsoka as they lounged outside the barracks. "Commander Cody said we'll be leaving soon."

Ahsoka shrugged, though she knew exactly where Rex was. He was in the barracks, alone, thinking about Echo. She had told him not to dwell on it, but he seemed incapable of thinking of much else.

"Cody will get him when it's time." She said.

A few minutes later Ahsoka was proven right as Cody and Rex joined them. Cody was frowning thoughtfully

You told him? Ahsoka asked Rex.

Felt right. He replied. He didn't call me crazy, but I know he thinks I'm overthinking things.

"Guess who we're taking in, Commander?" Rex said aloud. "Clone Force 99."

"The Bad Batch?" Ahsoka said, brightening. "That should be fun."

The gang of defective clones had fascinated her. She looked forward to seeing them in action.

They all looked up at the cries of 'Clear the airfield!' from the runway. What looked to be an Omicron attack shuttle was barrelling towards them.

"Is Wrecker piloting?" Ahsoka asked.

"Wrecker's not allowed to pilot." Cody said, smirking slightly. "You know the saying about there being a fine line between genius and crazy? That's Tech sometimes."

They approached the shuttle as it opened. The Batch filed out.

"The cavalry has arrived!" Wrecker boomed.

Then he looked down at their group and removed his helmet. He was grinning.

"Hey, Commander Tano!" He said. "Cody didn't tell us you'd be coming!"

"Oh, good." Tech said. "I have multiple questions for you."

Meanwhile Hunter and Cody had grasped each others' arms.

"Why is it we only hear from you if you need something?" Hunter asked. "First with Commander Tano and now this."

"You're the one who told me only to contact you for emergencies."

"Ah, well." Hunter said. He looked over to Rex and Ahsoka and gave a nod. "Good to see you doing okay."

"You as well." Ahsoka said.

"We would have been here earlier if your comm had come at a different time." Hunter went on. "We were putting down an insurrection on Yalbec Prime. Had a few unseen complications."

Ahsoka winced.

"I can imagine." She said. "Male Yalbecs are notoriously difficult to kill."

"That wasn't the problem." Hunter said.

"Technically it was." Tech said. "The complication was the fact that we were unable to kill the males fast enough to reach the ship"

"I was referring to the reason they were coming after us." Hunter said. "Wrecker cut off the Yalbec Queen's stinger while she was still alive."

Ahsoka began to laugh, while her companions looked at each other.

"That's why all those Yalbec males tried to eat us!" Wrecker said proudly.

"I don't think they were trying to eat you." Ahsoka choked out.

"Indeed." Tech said. "They were trying to mate with us."

Ahsoka had to turn around to see the shocked and disgusted looks on her troopers' faces. She laughed even harder.

"Oh, I knew I liked this one!" Wrecker said, clapping a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.

She shot him a grin, but then felt the seeds of jealousy from her troopers.

"Anyway," Ahsoka said after she regained control of herself. "You already know Rex, but this is Tup and Kix. Two of my best men."

Hunter quickly introduced his squad. Crosshair was still standing in the back, side-eying them all. The Force around him was hard and defensive, as if he was preparing to be attacked.

"Well, what 'suicide-mission' do you have for us this time, Cody?" Hunter asked.

"We'll brief you on the way." Cody said. "Let's get going."

Ahsoka watched as Rex huddled over Cody. His worry was oozing through the Force. Kix had finished administering to the Commander, but Rex still hovered by his brother. While Kix had been treating Cody, Ahsoka sensed a great amount of fear from Rex, and saw a quick flash of another trooper lying injured on a holobed.

How is he? Ahsoka asked, ignoring Tech's explanation of Hunter's abilities.

He needs to get out of here. Rex said.

He got up and walked back to the group.

"Listen up. We have to move out." He said.

Crosshair stood immediately, glaring at Rex.

"Commander Cody's in no position to move." He said.

"Already called in Evac. Kix will stay with Cody until it arrives." Rex explained. "Commander Tano's put me in charge. And I've got a plan to get into that Cyber Center."

"If your plans are so good, why did Commander Cody have to call us in?"

Rage immediately sparked the air around Tup and Kix, who stood. But Ahsoka focused on the worry and fear that was coming off of Crosshair of all people.

"Hey." Ahsoka said.

All heads turned to her.

"Cody's going to be okay." She said.

It might have been a trick of the firelight, but Ahsoka could have sworn Crosshair's eyes widened slightly. Then they narrowed into their typical glare.

"Rex is right. We need to get moving." Ahsoka went on. "And Crosshair, that's why we're here. Rex's plans are so good, the enemy had to find a way to counter them."

Wrecker laughed again while Crosshair turned around and stalked a few paces away.

"Well said, Commander." Tup said with a grin.

"Hush." She told him, but winked.

They started packing up when Wrecker let out a loud gasp that made everyone jump.

"Tech, look!" Wrecker said, showing something to his squadmate.

"It is a rock, Wrecker." Tech said.

"It's shiny!" Wrecker said. "D'you think Omega'd like it?"

"Seeing as she has reacted positively to literally everything you have brought back to her, yes." Tech replied.

"Omega?" Ahsoka asked.

The name had a clone feel to it, but Tech had said 'she.'

"Our sister!" Wrecker said.

Immediately Crosshair and Hunter shot Wrecker warning looks, but it was too late. Kix, Tup, and Rex were staring at the Bad Batch. Brothers they were familiar with, but sisters were a new concept.

"Omega is a female clone." Tech said shortly when it was clear Rex and the others weren't going to drop it. "A secret project by Nala Se. She stays on Kamino."

"We have a sister?" Tup asked.

"No." Crosshair spoke up, eyes narrowed. "We have a sister. We're the ones who found her."

"Technically, we would not have found her if not for Tup." Tech said. "It was only during my research of the chips that I discovered her existence."

"Chips?" Rex asked.

Everyone froze. Ahsoka grit her teeth. She had wanted to wait. They couldn't get it out right away, there was no point in scaring him. But it seemed the choice had been made for her.

"You didn't tell him?" Tup asked Ahsoka.

"Tell me what?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka could feel his growing apprehension.

"Commander Tano discovered the existence of an inhibitor chip embedded in the brains of all clones." Tech said briskly. "We suspect that they were placed there for the purpose of killing the Jedi."

"What?" Rex hissed. His eyes found Ahsoka's as his hand went to his head.

"Finish packing up." Ahsoka said to the rest of the group, keeping eye contact with Rex. "Rex, with me."

Ahsoka took Rex's arm and led him away from the rest of the clones. Questions flowed like Naboo waterfalls into Ahsoka's head from Rex's.

"What happened?" Rex demanded out loud once Ahsoka stopped.

"Tup tried to kill me." Ahsoka said.

Rex's eyes darted to Tup and his hands twitched as if he wanted to grab his blasters. Ahsoka grabbed his shoulder and turned him back to her.

"It wasn't his fault." Ahsoka said quickly. "It was the inhibitor chip. That's how we found out about it."

"When?" Rex's voice was harsh.

"When I was being tested by Master Gek." Ahsoka said calmly. "It nearly killed Tup, but we got it out."

"And- And I have one too?" Rex rasped.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded.

Ahsoka hesitated.

"You were being monitored constantly on that station. You wouldn't have been able to take it out even if you knew." She said. "And- Rex, you know how you were feeling then. Do you think you would have been able to handle that information?"

Rex looked down.

"No." He admitted.

"And after, we communicated so infrequently and I couldn't distract you from your mission." Ahsoka went on.

"I want it out." Rex said.

"I know." Ahsoka said. "Once we get back to the Defiant, we can get it out. But we need to keep it secret. We think someone powerful is behind them."

Rex nodded, but continued to stare down at the ground. True to form, Ahsoka could tell he was starting to blame himself.

"Hey." Ahsoka said. She reached to guide his head up so he was forced to look at her. He stiffened at the touch. "It's okay. I'm okay. The men are getting them out as quickly as they can. You can still trust your brothers."

Rex touched the spot on his head where the others had scars.

"Yeah." He said. "Yeah. We'll be okay."

CT-1409. CT-1409. CT-1409.

The robotic voice that was so familiar repeated over and over in Rex's mind.

Echo was alive.

Ahsoka sat close to Rex, a hand always on his shoulder. He knew she was feeling the same way he was right now. She was just better at hiding it. Currently, as Rex stared at his hands, Ahsoka was explaining what that number meant to the others.
"Echo?" Tup asked. "He was Fives' batchmate, wasn't he? He died at the Citadel."

"That's what we thought." Ahsoka said. "But it was possible to survive the explosion he was caught in, I suppose."

The evac came for them soon after. The group was quiet with the news. Tup had heard stories about Echo from Fives. Ahsoka and Rex had worked closely with him. The Bad Batch seemed to have the sense to not interrupt their quiet reflections.

"Thank you." Rex said to the Batch as they landed back in base. "That wouldn't have gone nearly as well without you."

"Just doing our duty." Hunter said. "If you'll excuse us, we're gonna go find where they've got Cody holed up."

Rex nodded and the Batch left. He glanced at Tup.

"Go on back to the barracks." He said.

"Sir," Tup said. "Fives-"

"I'll take care of that." Rex said. "Go and get some rest."

"Shall I tell him you want to speak with him?"

Rex hesitated and glanced at Ahsoka. She nodded.

"Yes." Rex said.

Tup gave them one last look before jogging away.

"Do you want me to be with you when you tell him?" Ahsoka asked.

Rex did want Ahsoka there. Her presence would calm both him and Fives.

"We need to go to the General first." Rex said, avoiding the question. "We need permission to go find Echo."

Ahsoka folded her arms tightly around herself.

"Rex-"

"I know." He said.

It could be a trap. It probably was a trap. But if there was any chance that they could get Echo back, Rex was going to risk it.

"Come on." Ahsoka said. "Let's tell Anakin."

General Skywalker was serious as they explained what had happened.

"I'll talk to the Council." He said. "But we will be getting permission."

Rex knew that meant they were going whether or not they got actual permission. For once, the General was acting as his old self again.

"Go and talk to Fives." He said. "He'll want to know."

"Thank you, sir." Rex said.

General Skywalker patted Rex on the shoulder.

"I'll let you know when we can leave." He said. "And I'll see if that Bad Batch can give us a hand."

Rex and Ahsoka turned to leave before the General spoke again.

"Oh, and Rex?" He said. "I'll need your- help later, okay?"

Rex repressed a sigh.

"Yes, sir." He said.

"You're only back a few days, and he's making you stand watch during his little meetings with Padme?" Ahsoka asked once they were on the way to the barracks, shaking her head.

"It's all right most of the time." Rex said. "Just as long as General Kenobi's not around."

Fives was waiting at the entrance of the barracks for them.

"Rex, Ahsoka." He said as they approached. "Tup said you had something important to talk to me about?"

"Yes." Rex said.

"We'll go to my quarters to talk about it." Ahsoka said.

Fives' frown deepened, but he followed them to the small room Ahsoka stayed in.

"Take a seat." Ahsoka said to Fives, gesturing to her cot.

Fives did so, looking between them.

"Whatever it is, I didn't do it, okay?" He said.

It was a weak attempt to diffuse the tension, Rex knew, and Fives' grin slipped away as Ahsoka and Rex continued to look grim.

Rex gave the outline of the mission: that they suspected an algorithm that could predict Rex's plans.

"We found a live signal at the Separatist Cyber Center. From a being on Skako Minor." Rex said. "When we asked who it was-"

Rex took a deep breath. He hoped he wasn't wrong in opening this wound.

"It said it was CT-1409."

Fives' eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and he stood immediately.

"When do we leave?" He demanded.

Rex and Ahsoka shared a look.

"Fives, we are going, and soon, but you have to consider that this may be a trap." Ahsoka said.

"Of course it's a trap!" Fives said. "They're using our dead brother to try and lure us in! They have to pay for it!"

"Fives," Rex said, unsure on how to respond to Fives' reaction. "Echo could be alive."

"He's not." Fives' voice had dropped to a low growl. "He's not. It's a trick and they have to pay."
"Fives-"

Fives whirled on them, eyes wild.

"Don't you think I would know if my brother was alive?" He yelled. "I saw him die! I felt it! Echo is dead!"

He stared at them, daring them to say differently. Tears were leaking down his face, unnoticed.

"Just-just let me know when we leave." He said.

He pushed past them and out the door.

"Ahsoka." Rex said. "Can you- can you maybe feel Echo?"

Ahsoka shook her head.

"But that doesn't mean he's for sure dead." She said. "I couldn't really feel Master Obi Wan when he was pretending to be that bounty hunter, and sometimes a person can change so much that you can't recognize them in the Force."

"I have to believe he's alive." Rex said quietly. "It has to be him."

"But if it's not?" Ahsoka asked.

"Then I say his name in remembrances again." Rex said. "And move on, like with every fallen brother."

It was a lie. If it was not Echo, Rex did not know if he could move on this time.

Fives shot again and again into the crowd of clankers. His face still throbbed from where Crosshair had landed his only decent punch from their fight earlier. Fives liked to think that the sniper had come off worse for wear from their scuffle. The idiot shouldn't have brought up leaving Echo behind.

That was why this couldn't be Echo. It was a trap, through and through. Because if Echo was alive, that meant Fives had left his injured brother behind, left him for dead. Fives could have never done that. So Echo wasn't alive. It was just a fact.

Ahsoka led the group through the Techno Union's base. Rex was at Fives' side. The Captain had been high strung and moody this whole mission. He'd nearly attacked Crosshair too and would have if Ahsoka hadn't stopped him.

Fives vaguely wondered how he'd been acting, if Rex was this bad.

Fives was forced to admit, the Bad Batch was good. He wouldn't choose to take any of them on missions, as they were all pretentious shebs'e. Except the big one. Wrecker was all right, and was worth a squad of his own.

He's a bit like Hardcase Fives thought as he yanked a droid's head from its body and chucked it at another oncoming clanker. He never thought this much during missions. He had a laser focus, only deviating for a well timed joke.

"The signal is coming from in there." Tech said, pointing to a door.

He had been calling it Echo's signal until Fives had threatened to shove his datapad up his unmentionables. It wasn't Echo's signal. It was a trick.

"Open the door!" Rex ordered.

An ugly, amphibian like mug appeared on a screen next to the door.

Fives tuned out most of what Wat Tambor had to say and shot more clankers.

"Your friend is dead." Fives managed to catch Wat Tambor's words over the blaster fire.

He knew it.

"Liar!" Rex snarled.

Fives wanted to scream at Rex. He didn't know how the Captain would react to finding out that Tambor was telling the truth. Rex needed to let the delusion go.

"Fives!"

Fives looked back to see an open door. Rex was beckoning to him.

"You're with us!" He said.

Fives ducked in with Tech and Rex. Hunter looked back at them.

"I hope you find what you're looking for." He said.

The door closed behind them. They were in a dimly lit chamber with several control desks. The focus of the room seemed to be a strange- Fives couldn't think of any other word than casket.

"I don't like the look of this." Tech said as they moved slowly into the room.

He tapped at his datapad.

"I'm definitely picking up a lifeform in there."

"Signals can be faked." Fives said.

No one responded. Rex was staring at the casket.

"I think I can get it open." Tech said.

He worked at the controls. Fives stood next to Rex, ready to pull him away from whatever trap was contained in the casket.

The casket opened.

A body fell forward, hanging from a jungle of cords and wires.

For a horrifying moment Fives thought it was a corpse. Then he saw the flickering of the eyes.

It was alive.

Echo was alive.

Fives moved faster than Rex, ripping his helmet off and climbing up to where Echo was attached. An anguished noise he couldn't remember making echoed around the chamber. He pulled Echo down into his arms.

"Echo!" Fives said.

Echo made no movement. His skin was freezing, even through Fives' armor and blacks. Fives clutched him harder into his chest.

"Ey'ika, wake up." He said.

Hot tears were dripping off his nose onto Echo's back, melting the frost.

"Ey'ika, please." He begged. "We're here, we're here. You can wake up now."

He was openly crying now. He was vaguely aware of Rex giving Tech instructions, but he didn't care what the others did. Echo had to wake up.

Then Echo began to speak.

"We-we have to get to the shuttle-" Echo mumbled. "To escape the Citadel."

Fives' already cracked heart broke into two.

"No! I'll go first."

"No, Echo." Fives said in a rush, rocking Echo back and forth. "No, you're not there."

"No, no!" Echo struggled weakly against Fives' grip.

"You're with me. It's Fives. I'm here." Fives babbled.

"No!" Echo pushed against Fives one last time before falling back. "Fives?"

His eyes finally focused on Fives' face.

"You- you came back for me." He said.

A fresh wave of tears overcame Fives. He pressed their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry." Fives choked out. "I'm sorry."

Echo shifted against Fives' grip.

"Rex?" He asked.

Rex knelt next to them.

"Yeah, it's me." He said softly.

"What- what happened?" Echo asked. He pulled weakly away from Fives and looked around. "Where am I?"

"It's okay, Echo." Rex said. "You're safe now."

Fives wondered how Rex was staying so calm. How could he reassure Echo that it was okay? It wasn't okay. Didn't he see what they had done to Echo? And they were the ones who left him.

"Just sit tight trooper." Rex said. "You're going home."

He beckoned and suddenly Tech was with them. Fives instinctively wrapped his arms tighter around Echo.

"Fives." Rex said. "We gotta make sure he's okay."

Fives swallowed. He felt if he let go of Echo, then his brother would suddenly disappear and Fives would find that it was a dream. He released Echo and gently positioned himself so that Tech could get a look, but kept one arm around Echo's shoulders.

Tech was surprisingly gentle as he checked Echo over. Even still, every so often Echo would shudder or flinch.

Fives took in Echo's condition as Tech worked. Echo was so, so thin. He was ghostly pale and his now faded eyes were too large in his face. But the worst thing was what they had added. Metal studded the skin of his back, his stomach, his chest, his head. Wires were screwed into his left arm, and his right- Fives swallowed bile as he looked at the inhuman scomp they had replaced his right hand with. As far as Fives could tell, Echo's legs were also mechanical. For a second, Fives was overwhelmed with how little of his brother was left.

"Unfortunately there isn't much I can tell without a good scanner." Tech said after a moment. "As I suspected, most of the useful information will come from the data here."

He stood and handed Fives a canteen.

"He is dehydrated." Tech said. "Make sure he drinks."

Then he turned back to the controls and started tapping away.

Fives unscrewed the canteen and held it to Echo's lips. Echo grimaced and turned his head away.

"Come on, Ey'ika." Fives encouraged. "Just a little."

Echo opened his mouth and Fives poured a little of the water in, careful not to make his brother choke.

Echo drank slowly at first, and then hungrily. Both his hand and his robotic attachment came up to steady the canteen as he gulped.

"Slow down." Fives said.

Echo's eyes widened and he pushed away at the canteen. He only moved it a little bit, but it was enough space for him to hunch over and vomit the water over his and Fives' laps. It hadn't had time to warm in Echo's stomach and the cool, yellowish liquid soaked into Fives' blacks.

"S-sorry." Echo mumbled, attempting to wipe at his mouth.

"It's okay." Fives soothed.

Echo stared at the canteen. His throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed, his thirst evident.

"Hey Tech!" Fives said. "He threw up the water."

Tech glanced at them.

"His stomach's size has been reduced considerably." He said. "Only let him take sips every few minutes."

"You hear that, Echo?" Rex asked.

Echo nodded.

"Do you remember how you got here, Echo?" Rex asked after Echo had had a few sips.

Fives shot Rex a glare. Echo didn't need to be interrogated right now.

"No." Echo said softly. "I-I just remember trying- trying to get to the shuttle and then- and then-"

He clutched at his head with his hand. He was trembling under Fives' arm.

"That's all right, trooper." Rex said. "Just relax. Do you think you can stand?"

Echo put his hand on Fives' shoulder, pressing down. He managed to get to his feet, but he swayed. He took a step but immediately lost balance. Fives caught him and helped him back down.

"It'll be fine." Fives said. "I'll carry him."

Rex nodded. He placed his hand on Echo's shoulder again for a moment before standing and taking a defensive position near the front of the room.

It wasn't long before Ahsoka came into the room.

"Things are almost under control out there." She said. "How's it going in here?"

"I'm still trying to decrypt Echo's cerebral interface." Tech said promptly. "Until I do, we cannot disconnect him from this computer system."

She came forward and knelt in front of Echo.
"Echo." She called softly.

Echo, who had retreated into his own mind, started and looked up.

"Com-commander?" He stuttered. "What-what happened to you?"

Ahsoka gave a small laugh. Fives' own smile disappeared when he saw the look on Echo's face.

"How long have I been here?" Echo whispered.

"We can talk about that later." Ahsoka said. "How do you feel?"

"I-" Echo swallowed. "I've been better, sir."

Ahsoka glanced at Rex and Fives.

"He's too weak to walk." Rex supplied. "He's very disoriented. Can't remember how he got here."

Ahsoka nodded.

"Have you called in the extraction squad?"

"I tried." Rex said. "Signals are-patchy here. I don't think I got through."

Ahsoka grimaced.

"Well, we've been in worse binds."

The rest of the Batch had come into the room.

Fives ignored their reports and turned back to Echo. His brother was shivering and damp from the melting frost. All Fives could do was hold his brother close.

Echo seemed to fade in and out of reality. Occasionally he would jerk and whisper his number again.

"I've got it!" Tech declared. "We can unplug him now."

Rex approached and Fives helped Echo turn around. Fives held him steady as Rex ripped the connections out. Echo jerked and gasped after each one. The last one sent him sprawling onto Fives' shoulder, coughing. He lay still for a second.

"Echo?" Fives asked.

He pushed Echo off of him and held him at arm's length. To his surprise, Echo was sitting upright by himself. When he looked into Fives' eyes, there was a light that wasn't there before. A smile touched his lips.

"I got a big headache." He declared.

Fives gave a laugh that verged on a sob. Echo was free.

Mando'a:

shebs'e: backsides, plural

Ey'ika: little Eyayah, or little Echo. Affectionate.

Oh, I have LONGED to write Fives being there for Echo. I've said it before that clones can handle death well, but when they get someone back it's overwhelming. Couple that with the fact that Fives realizes that he left Echo behind and there's no way our boy doesn't have a breakdown.

Going back a bit, I was watching the Bad Batch Arc in Clone Wars and realized that Crosshair gets defensive against Rex when Rex puts Cody in danger, or that he perceives Rex putting Cody in danger, and Cody is in Crosshair's circle of family. (Still want them to explain that). Ahsoka sees his defensiveness for what it is and reassures him. Also, like I've said in Fives Effect, if Crosshair was given Omega at a better time, he would totally adopt her and be fiercely protective of her. Like Tech said, they found files about Omega when he was researching the chips, they got in contact, and right now she's their cheerleader back home. Wrecker especially likes bringing her stuff.

Rex finally knows about the chip! And it rightly terrifies him! Can't get it out yet though. And there's your tidbit of Rexsoka this chapter while I focused on TBB, Echo, and Fives.

I hope Fives' reaction is good. I totally think he'd be in major denial because he COULDN'T have left Echo. The idea is so awful to him that he will reject what Rex so readily believes. I also wanted him to be somewhat surprised when Echo drops down. I was going to write Fives and Crosshair fighting, but I realized that I didn't want to rewrite the whole scene with basically the only difference being that Fives goes after Crosshair with Rex being held back by Ahsoka.

For some reason I had to add more Echo being pathetic with the shrunken stomach and not being able to drink well. Just to make Fives uber sad. Ugh. Poor Echo. I made it so that they can't get signals out because Anakin would totally come and extract them.

I hope you all enjoy the angst!

Merry Christmas to those that celebrate and Happy Holidays to all the rest!

Wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great few weeks!