By the time Rex reopened his eyes, his vision was still blurry and unfocused. It took a few minutes for him to get reoriented. All he could hear was the soft, concerned sound of Omega's voice. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself resting in a normal bed.

Above him, he could see the sea swirling ominously as the entire room was encased in a glass bubble. He appeared to be inside of some hospital room, or at least a semblance of one. Next to him, he could see Omega standing with a wet cloth.

So, they still have the hospitals all the way down here...good to know, he thought to himself as he tried to prop himself on his elbows.

Rex sat up and felt something plasticky blocking his way. When he looked down, he saw that someone had attached a breathing apparatus with extra oxygen to him. As he moved to remove it, a gentle hand reached out and blocked him.

"Don't take it off," Omega said. "You need all the oxygen you can get. I've created a mixture out of imported gases to simulate the atmosphere above water. It's best if you leave it on for at least a few minutes."

Rex stared at her then put his hand back down. As it turned out, the breathing apparatus was mildly annoying but not altogether uncomfortable. After he had gotten used to it, he motioned towards her and she finally removed it, allowing him to speak.

"We're still underwater," he said. She nodded. "How are you still so small?" he asked, confused. "You're older than me." Omega raised an eyebrow, smiling knowingly.

"I don't age the same way you do, remember?" she said.

Rex nodded slowly, blinking.

"I'm afraid that it's because of the advanced aging gene that they placed within your generation," she sighed drearily. "As you get older, you will definitely feel it... although what's good is, it has slowed down for now. So you can at least experience what it's like to be the same age for a little while. If that helps."

Rex stared up at her, suddenly feeling more weak and feeble than usual. Omega just stared back at him, waiting patiently.

"Where's Crosshair?" he asked.

"He's nearby," she replied. "He's fine...don't worry about him, Cody didn't scratch him up too badly. Said he's used to it."

Rex raised an eyebrow.

"Omega...you're a Jedi, aren't you?" he asked. She nodded silently. "You know what he and Cody used to do for the Empire? What we were supposed to do?"

Omega hesitated for a moment, then nodded silently again.

Rex sighed.

"How can you stand him?"

Omega bit her lower lip. "We both came back here with the same goal," she said slowly. "We came to save whoever was left. I guess you could say we're both motivated by guilt," she smiled bitterly. "After finding out what happened to the Kaminoans and anyone who stayed behind at Tipoca City, I felt like I had to come back to try and help whoever I could find. And he did as well."

"So you two just met... here?"

"Yes," she replied. "That is correct."

"Kid!" A gruff voice called out and Omega turned around.

"Yes?" she asked, turning to face Crosshair. Rex's heart jumped and he flinched, moving backwards. The male clone frowned, looking slightly guilty. Rex narrowed his eyes and reached down to his side where he knew his blaster was.

"I spotted another group of survivors in the Northwest tube system," he said slowly, lowering his voice although it made no difference. "I'm going to head out and see if I can apprehend them."

"Alright, but let me come with you," Omega said evenly. "You know that they are probably going to be confused and disoriented. It's best if I come with you."

"No, I can do it alone-"

"No, you are not," Omega replied calmly, "I'm going with you. You're forgetting that I have my own special powers," she reminded him. "I can take them down together with you."

Crosshair frowned. "But you're a kid," he grunted. "It's dangerous. You shouldn't be going."

"Remember, you need me with you in order to reverse the effects of the mutation. That's why I think I should accompany you, sir," Omega said calmly.

Rex blinked. "You can do that?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yes," Omega confirmed. "It takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. We also brought back the poor confused soul who attacked you earlier...I think that in a few days, they'll be right back to normal. And then we'll have them join us in New Kamino."

"New Kamino?"

"That's what we call our small enclave of survivors," Omega replied. "Kamino extends far beyond this broken tube system. The Empire tried to punish us by damaging the nuclear generator's outer structure, but they only managed to destabilize it, not completely destroy it. There is dangerous radiation, yes, and I seldom see any more aiwha... but there is still life even in the darkest of places," she said firmly. "There are former clones, medics, civilians...so many who have been lost, so many who are yet to be found. But we will bring them back." Her eyes shone brightly with determination and Rex instantly knew that she was the same as Ahsoka and General Kenobi.

"You can join us, you know," Crosshair said suddenly and Rex stared at him. "We have...we're always looking for more," he muttered, looking at the ground. "We could always use more help."

Interesting. Didn't think I'd live to see the day he would say that to a reg, Rex thought drily.

"Have you ever found Dr. Se?" he blurted out, the curiosity inside him burning too hard to not ask.

Crosshair stiffened and Omega lowered her eyelashes, shaking her head somewhat sadly.

"No," she muttered. "We have not."

Rex's heart crumpled slightly in disappointment. "Oh," he said. "I'm sorry."

"You need not feel sorry," Omega said. "Dr. Se was heavily involved in the creation of Order 66." Rex felt his stomach sink again. "She knew everything, about the inhibitor chips, what they would do, how they would affect us. The only thing she didn't realize was how well they would work."

Both Rex and Crosshair's eyes widened, and he knew in that moment that Omega had not even told him about this. He coughed and pretended the news did not faze him in the slightest.

"I see," he said, as if he had known it all along.

Dr. Se too? He thought to himself. I know she called us property, but still...I thought she...I thought she cared about us, even if it was just in the same way as a farmer thinks of their pet bantha or horse...

As if she could read his mind, Omega looked up and made eye contact with him again.

"Don't worry," she said. "Dr. Se was able to make it out before the city's foundations collapsed. The Empire decided to recruit her."

"Oh..."

"I expect I will cross paths with her again some day," she said. "The Empire has a tendency to pick favorites. Once they find someone they like, they usually take them with. They especially like scientists with a bright mind for creative solutions like Dr. Se. Prime Minister Su was just unlucky that they got to her before he could..."

"Ah," Rex said, mostly because there was nothing else he could think of to respond.

So, Prime Minister Su is also gone. Interesting.

"Would you like to stay with us?" Omega asked.

At that, hot tears began to pool in Rex's eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it and shook his head.

"No."

"No?" Crosshair asked, confused. He had clearly been expecting some sort of negative reaction from Rex towards him. But towards the rest of his comrades?

"No," Rex said. Not wanting to upset Omega, he reached out and took her small hand between his own wrinkled ones. "I'm sorry, Omega," he said. "Thank you for the invitation. I'm truly touched. But my duty is to Cody and I have to get him back out of here, no matter what. That was my promise." He gritted his teeth. "So thank you, but we will have to decline your invitation. I am not leaving until Cody-"

"REX!"

Rex turned just in time to hear someone run through the door of his hospital room and barrel into him, scooping him into a tight hug. He let out a muffled sound before Cody squeezed him again, making sure just one more time that he was completely alright. By the time he finally stepped back, Crosshair was yelling and Omega was holding the breathing apparatus with a wild look in his eyes that reminded him of a bull about to charge.

"You're okay," Cody repeated breathlessly.

"Yes, I'm fine!" Rex snapped, "Now give me some space!"

Omega ushered him back and Cody awkwardly complied. Once he was a decent foot or two away, she refitted Rex with his breathing apparatus. All of them waiting at least ten minutes for his breathing to return to normal before she deemed him ready to remove it.

"So we're all good," Crosshair muttered and Cody sent him a quick glare. "Nobody's hurt, nobody's mad. You are all free to leave."

"Yes," Rex inhaled deeply. "We would like to."

He turned to look at Cody. Cody looked back at him and cleared his throat.

"...After some questions, that is," Cody added.

Omega nodded. Crosshair furrowed his brow in slight frustration but kept his mouth shut.

"What would you like to know?" Omega asked.

"First of all, what are you doing here?" Cody blurted out. There was a silence as Omega and Crosshair stared back at him.

"I left the Empire," Crosshair muttered quietly. "Isn't that what you wanted to hear? Isn't that what you wanted from me?" He glared at Cody. Cody met his eye contact with a challenge. Rex cleared his throat and reached over, touching Cody on the arm.

"Let's try and be civil," Rex coughed.

"No," Cody shook his head, his eyes filled with an unusual stubbornness. Somehow, the usual gentle and soft-spoken man that Rex was used to had been buried away by the War...or perhaps, this was just another side to him. "I do not trust him."

Crosshair knitted his brows again, although now he looked more troubled than anything else.

"Why did you leave?" Cody demanded, sweat now dripping down his brow as he eyed Crosshair with both wariness and a softer, less noticeable emotion.

Guilt, Rex realized.

The two former brothers-in-arms circled around each other, one with a scar covering his eye and the other carrying a prosthetic arm. Rex and Omega breathed in nervously as the two clones narrowed their eyes in suspicion at one another.

We once fought alongside each other, Rex thought desperately. Maybe we can be together on the same side again.

"Just because you hate yourself for what you were, doesn't mean you can take it out on me," Crosshair snarled.

Cody flinched and froze. "I don't hate you," he said, but the silence that followed was chilling. Omega stood still, her hands clasped together as if unsure how to respond. "But you're right. I am not proud of my actions while under the Empire. There is no redemption for me anymore, and I have accepted that. It is out of my control. But have you?"

Now it was Crosshair's turn to clamp his mouth shut. Omega looked over at him with a concerned expression.

She's been alive longer than us, Rex thought to himself. I know there must be something she wants to say. But she has no idea how to.

"Tell us why you left," Cody repeated quietly. "Then I will decide if it is worth it for us to trust you."

Crosshair looked over at Omega for a few moments then paused.

"Alright," he said finally. "I'll tell you, then, if you want to know so badly. I left because I found out the Empire was planning something. Something awful."

"When are they not?" Cody retorted.

"It's more than just their usual tactics of coercion and forced subjugation. We're talking destruction on a planetary level."

Rex and Cody blinked.

"What do you mean?" Rex asked, confused.

Crosshair raised an eyebrow. "I thought that the Rebel Alliance would have caught wind of it by now."

"What is it?" Cody demanded.

"Project Stardust," Crosshair replied. "You remember the legends of the Planet Eater, do you not? There is a new starkiller in town," Crosshair narrowed his eyes. "And his name is the Emperor."

"I don't understand," Cody frowned.

"It's quite simple to understand," Crosshair said.

Rex squinted, still deep in thought.

When they were children, the story of the Planet Eater seemed so distant and far away. Sure, there was evidence that the stories were based in truth. And over the course of the years, many planets had disappeared...whether by natural causes, or manmade ones. But he had never contemplated mass destruction on such a horrific scale would be possible within their own lifetimes. He slowly leaned back into his pillows, mulling over the information that Crosshair had just given them.

"I'm not fully convinced," Cody said.

"This is confidential information," Crosshair insisted, looking stricken. "I risked my neck for it."

"Good," Cody said. "Finally, you're learning what it means to be brave for once." Crosshair frowned.

"Why would the Emperor decide to become a Planet Eater, though?" Rex found himself asking. "Wouldn't that be a loss of resources? Also, isn't it counterintuitive to his goals?"

"No," Cody grimaced. "During a siege, resources are the first thing to go," he gritted his teeth. "You remove their water, their supplies, and suddenly the enemy is ready to cooperate. Emperor's not interested in resources; he's interested in subjugating the rest of the Galaxy. If he can get a few planets to be sacrificed, the rest will bow down to him. And then, he can have all the resources he wants. The Inner Core, the Outer Rim, Wild Space, the Unknown Regions...anywhere he pleases."

War tactics. Just like always. It seemed they would never truly relinquish the need for them, even in so-called peacetime.

Rex rubbed his temples, trying to remember what Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had told him about their own encounters with the Empire.

"Recently, our friends told us that the Empire decided to cooperate with a civilization in the Unknown Regions," he said slowly. "The Chiss. They were previously subjugated by the Grysks, but then the Empire offered them protection in exchange for..."

Omega looked up at Crosshair, who immediately shook his head.

"Empire's not cooperating with the Chiss," he said gruffly.

"Huh?" Rex asked, confused.

"They're double-crossing them." Crosshair shrugged. "I mean, I've done it myself. I would know."

"What do you mean?" Cody asked suspiciously.

"You're saying these Chiss were mysteriously subjugated before the Empire happened across them, right?" Crosshair asked, folding his arms. "Well, my guess is, Empire approached the other guys first. Saw their power, their potential, asked them what they would pay for a little assistance taking care of their unfriendly neighbors. Then once the Grysks have taken over, they turn over to the surviving resistance and ask the Chiss what they thought of it. What they're willing to do to rebuild themselves."

Rex and Cody looked at each other.

"What a bastard move," Rex muttered.

"You're damn right it is," Crosshair grunted. "That's why I have half a mind to kick those damn Empire sleemos in the throat."

"Only half a mind, huh?"

Rex looked back over at Cody. He seemed to be holding his tongue, as if he didn't seem entirely convinced by Crosshair's sudden change of heart.

"Well...not completely," Crosshair muttered, sratching his neck. "That's why I'm down here instead. I'm too afraid of them to return to the surface."

Rex felt a small twinge of sympathy.

Perhaps him and Cody aren't so different after all, he thought to himself.

"Rex," Cody said, "Can I speak with you...privately?"

He shrugged. "Sure," he replied. He looked over at Omega and Crosshair awkwardly. "Sorry, but..."

"Sure," Omega said, nodding understandingly. "We'll come back whenever you're ready."

As soon as they left, Cody cleared his throat and took Rex's hands in his.

"I only want what's best for us," he said. "And let me tell you...I'm sorry, I know you must really like the girl. But I can't trust Cross."

"Why not?" Rex asked. "He was once our brother, too."

"Rex." Cody fixed him with a serious look. "After I defected from the Empire, him and his goons chased after me. He is the reason that I spent years living all by myself in a spaceship while on the run."

"Oh." Rex felt his heart stop in his throat. "I'm sorry," he said, feeling guilty for all his angry shouting from earlier. Now he regretted all the things he had said.

"It's fine," Cody said. "I don't care about any of that. But I'm mainly concerned for you," he said pointedly. "I don't want you to get caught up in all this."

"I'm alright," Rex said. "I wanted us to go on this journey, remember? To find out more about us all." He squeezed Cody's hand back and let go. "And we did. Now we know at least what happened to two of our brethren."

"Rex." Cody's brow twitched. "They may be brothers, but they are not-"

"Not what?" Rex crossed his arms.

Cody swallowed.

They're not like us, he was about to say, but the words stopped in throat.

Not like us.

Not like me.

That's what he really wanted to say.

"I think we should put our faith in them," Rex murmured. "I don't think they would lie to us. Look around us," he nodded at the empty expanse of the dark Kaminoan sea that was visible from every angle of their lonely glass chamber. "They have nothing to gain by lying to us. If they were secret agents of the Empire, they would gain nothing by doing so."

"Right," Cody narrowed his eyes again.

"Oh come on," Rex said. "Give them a chance, please."

The two of them fell into silence and just spent the rest of their time together staring out into the ocean. Eventually, Omega came back and asked them if they wanted anything to eat. After some hesitation, both clones nodded.

"Come with me," she said, turning around and leading them towards another glass corridor. The two clones followed her as she led them through another series of narrow submarine glass tubes that were clearly meant for creatures taller than them. As they walked through the glass tunnels, Cody swallowed hard and did his best not to look down at the swirling black water beneath them.

Rex curiously tapped the glass with his knuckles, trying to see how thick it was. It seemed reasonably solid.

As they descended, the tube system's walls got thicker and thicker. Eventually, they became so thick that they could no longer see through the glass. Everything had a matte, frosted quality to it. Portions of the wall were also built into small cubed chunks, which Rex assumed was an extra made for structural integrity.

"Come," Omega said once the narrow corridor finally opened up into another transparent bubble room. "Sit with us."

Cody had been expecting to see Crosshair waiting for them, but he was nowhere in sight. Instead, they could see a plain white table with a pile of ration packs on it. Cody looked over at them mournfully, feeling a pang of sadness.

"These are all we have for now," Omega said. "Usually, we comb the seafloor for dead fish that had the misfortune of activating the laser. Well, whatever is left of them, anyways," she shrugged.

"You don't go to the surface?" Cody asked.

"No," Omega shook her head. "I'm too afraid."

"But you managed to find your way around the laser just fine," Cody raised an eyebrow.

Omega shook her head. "I'm more afraid of the Empire," she said quietly.

A silence fell over them.

The Empire took away Dr. Se, her only maternal figure, he thought to himself. She was closer to her than any of us. I suppose it's not unreasonable for her to be afriad that the same might happen to her.

"What about Crosshair?" Rex asked, trying to change the subject. "Why isn't he here? Too grumpy to stand us?"

"He says he's not hungry. Went to sleep. Told me to finish his serving for him instead."

Hm. I know that trick, Rex thought to himself. He'd used it on Ahsoka multiple times during the Wars.

"Okay," Rex said. "I don't know where he is, but can you pass on a message to him for us?"

"Sure," Omega blinked. "What did you want to tell him?"

"We're ready to listen to him," Rex said. "Whatever valuable information he can share with us about the Empire...we're all ears," he looked at Cody, who hesitated for a moment before nodding back slowly. "Just, whenever he's ready."

"Okay," Omega said, "I'll tell him."

Together, they prepared the ration packs in awkward silence. Omega had a boiler which they used to boil and purify the water. They had already finished pouring in the water and waiting for the dry, gray polystarch bread to rise when Cody reminded Rex that they still had the enviro-suits as well as the emergency tools they took from the ship.

"You know what," Rex said, rising from his seat. "I think you're ready. Sorry, Omega, we'll be right back."

"Wait," she said, standing up immediately. "You didn't finish your ration!"

"It's fine," Rex said, pulling the helmet over his head while Cody struggled with the zipper on his front. "We'll catch way more. There'll be plenty to eat, I promise."

"Wait!" Omega frowned again as he and Cody made a beeline for one of the glass porthole exits. "You need to eat first so you have enough strength to swim," she frowned. "It's basic knowledge. Your body needs nutrients before any sort of strenuous physical activity," she said in an exasperated voice.

"It'll be okay, kid," Rex shrugged. "We'll be right back before you know it."

"I'm older than both of you," Omega said sharply, crossing her arms.

"I know. Just trust us on this one, please. We'll be fine."

"No, I think you should defer to me," Omega said. "I am your elder here, you know."

Rex's mouth quirked up at the corner into a little smile.

Just like Ahsoka.

"Alright," he said, "I guess one small bite wouldn't hurt."

"Good," Omega said, raising her hand.

Immediately, him and Cody were smacked in the face with their uneaten leftovers. Rex chuckled and reached up, plucking the polystarch bread out of thin air and taking another bite. It tasted exactly as he remembered; flavorless, dry, and vaguely styrofoam-y. Cody chewed on his, trying hard to swallow it quickly so that it would be gone faster. The cardboard texture did not do his bread any favors. All he succeeded in doing was giving himself a very dry throat, after which he excused himself to gulp down a glass of purified hot water.

"Alright," Rex said once Cody finished spluttering and coughing. "Let's head out!"

Working in tandem, the two of them plunged back into the Kaminoan sea and used their jetpacks to swim out. Deep down, they could see that the sea was much darker and required a headlight to navigate. Rex immediately switched on the light that was attached to his HUD and began searching for signs of life.

As they swam deeper and deeper, Cody pointed forwards. "There!" he mouthed. Rex followed the line of sight and watched as a strange, many-tailed creature emerged from the depths with shiny black eyes. "Looks like a big predator. Probably hunting for its lunch."

Rex grinned. "Just like us," he said.

"If we follow it, we'll probably find its source of food," Cody said. "Only problem is, is it going to give up to us easily? Or are we going to have to fight it ourselves in the name of competition?"

"There's only one way to find out," Rex replied.

It turned out, the creature did not want to share.

Thus, it was with giddy glee that the two clones returned, each holding one plastycene sack full of small crawfish and another full of sea creature.

"What's all this?" Omega asked, wide-eyed.

"Dinner!" Rex said proudly.

"Don't tell us that Cross never caught something this big," Cody said smugly.

"No," Omega shook her head. "He gives all the fish to me. He says he's vegetarian."

Rex sent Cody an incredulous look. Cody, for his part, was speechless.

Nonetheless, Omega was extremely appreciative of their hard work. She immediately used her Jedi powers to light a fire, allowing them to cook the fish. Once everything was thoroughly grilled, she sprinkled a bit of the leftover salt from the water purifier on them and Rex had to admit it tasted relatively good (at least, in comparison to the polystarch bread). Cody quickly finished everything on his plate, so fast that Rex did not even have time to ask him what he thought of it. However he did seem to have liked it.

"Alright, well, we should head off to bed now," Rex said, standing up. "But really, thank you so much for taking care of us and watching out for us, Omega. We really appreciate it." He walked over and bent down, hugging her. The shorter clone smiled, hugging him back. Cody looked at her nervously and she sent him a warm look.

"Of course," she replied. "It's no trouble. Let me help you back to your rooms."

This time, Cody followed her with no complaint as she tirelessly led them back through the infinite glass labyrinth. By the time Cody finally reached the glass bubble where she had stationed him, every bone in his body was aching and tired. As he tucked himself into the small cot on the floor, he looked up at Omega and felt an urge to ask something.

"Omega," he said slowly, "How do you find your way around this place? It seems like a real hellhole down here," he said quietly. "No offense, sorry."

"Oh, none taken," Omega replied airily. "It's pretty easy. I just feel around with the Force," she said, holding out her palms.

Cody looked at her hands curiously for a second. It was strange, thinking that someone who had almost the same genetic code as him could have turned out so different. He was still trying to wrap his head around the idea that one of their siblings could be a Jedi.

"I see," he said slowly. "Well, it must be nice to have a relationship with the Force."

"Oh, you would know it too," Omega smiled knowingly.

"What?" Cody asked, confused.

"We all have our own relationship to the force," Omega replied calmly. "Don't think of it as something that only the Jedi can understand. You have one too, you know. It may not always be visible, but that doesn't mean it's not real." She extended her arms outwards, reaching towards each end of the bubble room. "It's like the threads connecting you to me and Rex and Cross and everyone else that you have ever known. They are faint, but they are there."

As she opened her fingers, Cody looked up and gasped.

Outside, he had only been able to see the swirling dark sea. But now, suddenly he could see a million small lights. They looked almost like an infinite sea of tiny, miniscule blaster bolts that glowed and faded and then grew brighter again as he watched. His breath stilled in his throat as he watched them pulse softly, emitting a comforting blue and green glow that faintly reminded him of his favorite Jedis' lightsabers.

"What is that?" he asked.

"It's the bioluminescence of Kamino," Omega replied. "The sea might seem dead, but that is not true. There a million tiny, invisible little creatures that are still teeming within the water and feeding it nutrients. They were here before the Kaminoans, and they are still here now after their downfall. It may not seem like much. But they do exist."

Now, with the aid of Omega's powers, he began to feel what it was like to be a Jedi. To be so full of light and surrounded by life. Cody closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to connect himself to them. Trying to feel the greater presence outside of his body, to remember what it was like before he forced himself to believe that he was truly alone.

"You feel them too, don't you?" Omega asked softly.

"Yes," Cody breathed quietly. "I do. I see them now."

The next day, Crosshair greeted them gruffly at breakfast. At least now he seemed more used to their presence. Cody mainly ignored him, but they managed to exist in each other's space long enough for them to set out a basic plan.

"I'll tell the General that there are plans to create this Starkiller Base," Rex said, "And I'll ask him to bring the other Jedi with him so they can both deal with it."

"What about the boy?" Cody interrupted. Rex stopped. "If the Empire is planning to create a Planet Eater, won't he also be in danger? Considering he is the only known Jedi, and the Empire is targeting him?"

Omega and Crosshair looked at them with confusion. But Rex understood what he was referring to.

"You're right," he said. "We should tell them to look for him first. That way, Leia can rest safely knowing that her brother is safe."

"Sounds good," Cody nodded.

"Alright, if we fix our comlinks, we should be able to send them a transmission that will arrive...perhaps within the next week?" Rex estimated.

"No, it needs to be faster," Cody argued. "We need to get out of this water, it's messing with all of our signals and keeping us isolated."

Omega and Crosshair's faces grew weary with concern.

"But you're safe here," Omega murmured.

"The Empire won't think to look for you here," Crosshair added. "Even if they tracked your ship, as far as they're concerned, you crashed and were killed by the saberjowl. You can start over fresh here without being pursued."

Rex paused for a moment, thinking it over.

Their suggestion was very tempting. It was nice to think of starting over, creating a new family underwater with the other clones, helping the Kaminoans who had once given them life to recover their planet and take back what was lost. In some other world, perhaps he would have joined them and become a healer too.

But his duty led him elsewhere. He shook his head sadly, turning away from Cody so he wouldn't have to see his reaction.

"No," he said. "I'm sorry, but my duty is to the Princess and her family. I can't leave them. I owe them so much for taking care of me."

Especially Bail Organa, he added. He is the one who really kept the Resistance going.

"Cross," Cody said, and immediately a hush fell over the entire room. "I want to thank you for risking your life and sharing this information with us. Really, I do appreciate it." Crosshair looked up eagerly. "Now, I'm going to make sure that bravery doesn't go to waste."

"Are you sure?" Omega asked, and he felt his heart break at the disappointment in her voice. "Are you really sure you don't want to stay with us?"

It'd be great, he thought to himself as he looked back at her. We could be a family. I'd help Cody and Cross to catch fish so there'd be plenty to eat, and she could teach us Jedi tricks while being the older sister we never had. We could all be brothers again.

But deep down, he knew that was not his destiny.

"I'm sorry, Omega. I wish I could."

Omega's lip quivered slightly and she lowered her head, her blonde hair falling into her eyes so they couldn't see her expression anymore. Crosshair immediately whirled around and reached towards her, his eyes wild and concerned. Omega's shoulders trembled slightly, and only then Rex realized that she was crying.

"I was hoping you wouldn't say that," she said in between sobs.

"Oh," Cody said, and his voice dropped until it was barely a whisper. "I'm...Omega, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, sister."

Omega looked up, her eyes wide. Cody swallowed nervously and moved closer, placing his hand on her back as gently as possible.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I...you must miss them, don't you? The rest of the Batch?"

Omega nodded weakly.

"What happened to them, if you don't mind me asking?"

Omega swallowed.

"We...we got separated," she whispered. "We were doing a recon mission. We had finally...finally caught him," she exhaled, looking over at Crosshair, who hunched over himself guiltily. "We were planning to take him back and itnerrogate him. He had already surrendered, but Hunter didn't believe him. And then...our ship started to malfunction," she murmured.

"And then?" Cody asked softly.

"I tried to fix it because I was in denial and I thought I could use my powers. But it didn't get better. I still wasn't ready to leave, but Cross grabbed me shoved me into an escape pod. I didn't want him to, but he made me put on the seatbelt and ejected it with both of us inside."

Crosshair smiled bitterly.

"I was just trying to get her out first," he muttered. "Didn't realize it would also send me along for the journey."

"Anyway, we crash-landed here," Omega continued. "Thought that maybe, we could seek help. From Nala, or even prime Minister Su. But we didn't find any of them. All we found were the remains of the Kaminoans," she said slowly with horror in her eyes. "They had...changed so much. They were mutated by the radioactivity into terrible monsters that I had never seen the likes of before. I felt so awful for them, I couldn't just abandon them. I asked Cross to let me stay and try to fix them, and he agreed."

"I see," Cody murmured. "You carry a lot of compassion within you, just like the Jedi and your other brothers. I know now that you are definitely one of us."

Omega squeezed her eyes shut, a small tear leaking out of the corner of them.

"I promise you, although we are also going to say goodbye, we are not leaving. It is only a temporary parting. We will see each other again," he said firmly.

"We will?" Omega said doubtfully.

"Yes," Cody said, louder this time. "Don't worry. We are always with you," he smiled. "You will feel it in the Force."

Omega slowly smiled back.

Behind her, Crosshair took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.