Chapter Text
The next day – Rabé’s apartment
She was awoken by an awful feeling that felt as if it was entwined around her neural pathways. Rabé couldn’t of said what it was. A Jedi would of said it was the force. A clone would of called it instinct or sixth sense. Either way it wasn't good. Something had happened. Something bad. She didn't know what was exactly wrong, but she could just feel the pain of something. Now that she thought about it, there was something going on with the Guard late last night. But she had been tired from paperwork ugh kriffing pointless paperwork and she just couldn’t be bothered. Besides if it had been really important or dangerous then she would of been informed of it by now.
And yet the feeling was still there and it was still persistent as ever. The Guard were also still on high alert outside as well. A quick look at the news only told her that whatever was/is happening is being covered up. Normally Fives would be able to tell her what was going on but he's away. Wait. She didn’t know how it had taken her thing long but there was a small news post saying that the 501st had returned to Coruscant. But why hadn't Fives said anything to her. He’d usually tell her when they were on their way back. And even if they couldn't break comm silence, he would of come straight to her no matter how tired he was. Maybe he had been caught up with paperwork. No that wouldn't of happened, General Skywalker was notorious for not enforcing paperwork.
Maybe he had been injured she wondered in horrified contemplation. The mere thought of it made her feel ill with worry. She couldn't think like that though. It'll be fine. Just a minor injury that Kix has made him stay in for. And due to whatever was going on out there, he was unable to send a message. Yes that was it. In a bit he'd turn up at her door with a stupid grin on his face and it would all be fine. Knowing him, he had just tripped up on something and given himself a concussion.
As if on cue, there was a knock at her door. Fortunately, Rabé found she had gotten herself properly dressed without really thinking about it. Just in case someone else is there with Fives (or if it wasn't Fives). As she approached the door, the inexplicable dread grew in force and then it peaked as she opened it. It wasn't Fives on the other side. Rex and Anakin stood side by side with a solemn expression. No.
“He’s been badly injured hasn’t he? It'll be fine though. I'm not going to let Kamino take him...” Rabé blurted out as she tried to stop herself from panicking.
“Rabé” Anakin cut across her thoughts sharply but with a touch of softness. “He's not injured. He is... well... I... um...”
“Fives lost his life in service to the Republic. I’m sorry.” Rex said in a distant monotone voice in a way that showed he was trying to hold his emotions in.
Whatever they said afterwards went unheard by Rabé. Rex's words echoed throughout her mind and she just froze. Nothing outside her head meant anything, all she could think was that he was gone. Fives was gone and she would never see him again. Would never listen to his jokes. Would never smell his scent again. Would never feel his body against her. They would never spend hours just being in each other’s company. He would never come through her door with a ridiculous grin on his face. He was gone.
Distantly she could hear Rex and Anakin calling her name but she didn't react until Rex touched her arm. And she collapsed. Tears poured out and she cried and screamed in agony.
“No. No. No. NOOO. Please no. Tell me this is a mistake. It can’t be true.” She sobbed and pleaded with them. The silence in the air told her that there was no mistake. He was gone.
Rex and Anakin both clearly wanted to comfort her but they didn’t appear to know how. They also both appeared to be shaken by it.
Eventually Rabé began to get her thoughts back together and asked the question “How? How did he...?” She couldn't say it but they understood her clearly enough.
“We can't. It’s classified. I wish I could but Chancellor's orders.” Anakin replied clearly uncomfortable.
“But why? Is that it? I’m just told he’s dead and that’s it? I'm not even told what happened.” Rabé shouted out confused and angry. Not at them just at the GAR and the Chancellor for being so uptight and that they didn’t give a damn about the clones. Don’t give a damn about Fives. No matter what he did, he was nothing more than another number to them.
“I'm sorry” Rex said and she knew that he truly meant it.
“We should go” Anakin murmured, refusing to make eye contact. He then picked up a small box that Rabé hadn't noticed earlier and gave it to her. “His non-military possessions from the barracks” he said, a shadow of his normal self.
She gladly took it and briefly a ghost of a smile touched her lips as she remembered the contents of the box. She knew that these would become nearly sacred to her. And they would at least make her laugh if nothing else. But the items were ultimately just relics of happiness and nothing would ever fill the hole in her heart that had been opened.
As Anakin walked out the door and turned the corner, Rex seemed to be considering something. Making his mind up, he turned to Rabé and placed a comlink on the box that she is cradling.
“Fives' comm” Rex stated. “Officially I shouldn't give this to you but he left a message for you.”. And with a final attempt at a smile he turned and followed his General.
The instant that the door shut, she lost whatever composure she had and just cried and cried. When there were no more tears to cry she sank to the floor against the door. Surely it's just a nightmare she thought to herself trying to believe that it was true and she would wake up to him. But really she knew that it was real.
For a second she saw Fives lying on the bed like a perfect dream. And then he faded away.
A few seconds earlier – Somewhere on the Coruscant low levels
Everything was agony. He was lying down on some street and couldn't move. The pain was unbearable and he kept losing consciousness. He knew that soon he would permanently lose consciousness. And soon after he would die.
On the other side of the street, he saw her. Sitting against a door with a glow like she was an angel. And then he faded into darkness.