Chapter Text
"Sometimes in war, it's hard to be the one who survives"
-Commander Cody (Season 7 Ep 1)
“All I’m saying is that a deal is a deal, Jesse,” Fives said exiting the briefing room, “You had the fewest kills therefore you pay for the first round of drinks.”
“Well somebody,” Jesse said looking at Hardcase, “Took nearly half of them.”
“Even with the kills I stole, you were nowhere close to any of our numbers,” Hardcase laughed, placing an arm around Jesse’s back, “Just accept defeat and the fact that you will be buying ALL of us a round of drinks.”
Jesse then playfully pushed Hardcase off of him as they walked into the barracks.
“Fives,” Cody said walking up.
“Commander,” Fives said, stopping in front of the barracks, “Everything alright?”
“I was just wondering if you saw Rex at the debrief?”
“I didn’t,” Fives said, “As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen him since we got back. I can get the boys and we can--”
“I’m sure he is around here somewhere,” Cody said, “I will contact you if something comes up. Enjoy your night.”
Fives gave a small nod and walked into the barracks. Cody walked down the hallways of the clone facility, looking through each door that he walked by. He then opened the doors to an empty barracks room and saw Rex sitting with his back toward Cody.
“Hey,” Cody said walking up, “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You missed the debrief.”
“Did I,” Rex said not looking up from the datapad in his hand, “I must have gotten side tracked.”
“Uh-huh,” Cody asked, walking in front of Rex, “What are you doing? You seem distracted.”
Rex let out a sigh, “If I tell you, you are going to think I’m crazy.”
“What is it,” Cody said, crossing his arms.
Rex looks up at Cody, “I think Echo is alive.”
Cody furrowed his brow, “That’s not possible. He died at the Citadel.”
“I know it sounds crazy. But, on the way back, I got a transmission from our private comm channel. There are only a handful who have access to it.”
“What did the transmission say,” Cody asked.
Rex sighed, “The voice said help me and then it cut off. I have tried several times to get back into contact but nothing.”
Cody looked at Rex with confusion, “When was the last time you got any sleep?”
“I’m not hallucinating this, Cody,” Rex said, “It was Echo’s voice.”
“Rex. I want to believe you. But it’s just not possible. Even private comm channels can be tapped by other battalions.”
Rex would have confronted Cody on this theory but he knew that no matter what he said, Cody would never believe him.
“Maybe you’re right,” Rex said, putting down the datapad.
“Try and get some sleep, Rex,” Cody said, placing a comforting hand on Rex’s shoulder.
Rex then watched as Cody began to walk out and then stopped.
“Maybe keep this between us, Rex. We don’t want to start rumors.”
Rex gave him a small nod and Cody left the room. Turning back to the datapad, Rex picked it up.
I know you are out there, Echo. And I will find you.
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The following morning, Rex walked into the mess hall and located Jesse, Fives, Hardcase and Kix all sitting at a table near the middle of the mess hall. After grabbing food, Rex grabbed a seat next to Hardcase and across from Fives.
“Good night,” Rex asked Hardcase, who had his head on the table.
“I’m never drinking again,” he grumbled.
“Yeah you are,” Jesse said, “You are just mad because I drank you under the table and didn’t get hungover.”
“Well you didn’t mix drinks,” Kix said, “Hardcase on the other hand had nearly every liquor behind the bar.”
“I knew I should have cut him off after that Jogan shot,” Fives said, “I think that may have put you over the edge.”
“Don’t ever say that word again,” Hardcase said, lifting his head up, “Or I may just barf.”
Kix let out a chuckle and stood up, “Come on. I will give you something that can help. Jesse wanna help me escort him?”
Jesse smiled and got up with Hardcase and left the mess hall with Kix.
“You missed quite the night,” Fives said looking at Rex, “Where were you?”
Rex chuckled, “Catching up on some much needed sleep. That’s where I was.”
“And is that why you weren’t at the debrief,” Fives asked leaning in.
Rex looked up from his food and toward Fives, “I was uh-- handling something.”
Fives raises an eyebrow toward Rex, “And it was---”
“Something I can’t discuss with you at the moment,” Rex said looking back down at his food.
“Can’t or won’t,” Fives asked.
Rex looked over to see Cody entering the mess hall with a few of his squad members, “Both.”
Fives chuckled and then stood up, “Well, when you can. Come and find me at the training room.”
Cody watched as Fives left the mess hall and made eye contact with Rex. Rex was quick to look away and went back to his meal.
Did Rex feel guilty about not sharing the information to Fives? Absolutely. But what if Cody was right? What if this was just some hallucination from a lack of sleep? If Rex had told Fives about it and it was false, then he would be getting everyone’s hopes up for nothing.
After Rex was done eating, he left the mess hall and began to walk back toward his barracks. Suddenly his comm link went off.
“Rex,” a distorted voice said.
“Echo,” Rex whispered as he stopped walking, “Can you hear me?”
“Help---me---”
Rex ran into a nearby communications room and jumped onto a data pad.
“Hold on, Echo,” Rex said into his comm link, “I’m going to try and track your signal. Just stay on for me.”
A distorted grunt was heard before the comm link cut off and the signal was lost.
“Echo,” Rex said into the comm link, “Echo, can you hear me? Echo.”
Silence.
“Rex what are you doing,” a voice said from behind him.
Turning around, Rex saw Fives standing in the doorway.
“I thought you went to the training room,” Rex said looking back at the datapad.
“Fox and his squad have occupied it,” Fives said walking in, “So I came looking for you to see if you were ready to tell me what the hell is going on.”
Rex sighed, “Lock the door.”
After doing so, Fives walked up to Rex and leaned against the hologram table.
“I think Echo is alive,” Rex said looking at Fives.
Fives begins to chuckle, “Good one, Rex. Now why don’t you actually tell me what is going on?”
Rex remained silent, continuing to look at Fives with a straight face.
The smile quickly went away, “Oh shit. You aren’t joking.”
“I don’t know how it is possible and I don't know how he survived,” Rex said, “But he keeps contacting me through an old comm channel that we haven’t used in years, asking for help.”
“And you haven’t been able to do a quick trace signal,” Fives asked.
“I was trying to do that now, but he isn’t on long enough for me to complete one.”
“Well let me try,” Fives said, “I will contact him and see if I get him to stay on long enough for you to trace the signal.”
“Fives I’ve tried contacting him back,” Rex said, “But he never answers. The only way is if he contacts first.”
“Please Rex,” Fives said, putting out his hand, “Just let me try.”
Rex, with some reluctance, hands Fives the comm device and gives him a small nod.
Fives lets out a heavy sigh and activates the comm device, “Echo. It’s me, Fives. Can you hear me?”
There is an eerie silence that fills the air as Fives and Rex wait for a response.
“Echo. If you are there and are able, talk to me.”
The line remains silent.
“See,” Rex said, “I told---”
“Brother,” the distorted voice says.
Fives and Rex look at each other with amazement, “That’s right. I’m here, brother. We are going to get you. But I need you to tell me where you are.”
“Dark---so--dark.”
“Rex,” Fives said in a worried tone.
“Almost there. I just need a few more seconds.”
Suddenly the distorted voice came in clear, “Help me, Fives.”
“Echo,” Fives whispered.
There was then a high pitch noise that followed Echo’s plea, that made Fives and Rex both cover their ears and shut it off.
“Please tell me you got it,” Fives said looking at Rex.
Rex smiled, “I have a rough pinpoint of the location. Looks like the signal was coming from Jakku.”
“Then that is where we need to go,” Fives said, turning around.
“Fives wait,” Rex said standing up, “What if this is a trap of some type?”
“Then we deal with it,” Fives said, “If there is even a chance that he is alive on Jakku, I’m going. He would do the same for me. You can come with me or not, either way I’m going.”
Fives then leaves the room. Letting out a sigh, Rex follows behind him.
I’m coming, Echo. Just hold on.