Work Text:
Tech blinked away the weariness in his eyes and reached for the soldering iron. The ship was quiet and still, drifting through hyperspace as everyone slept. The lights were beginning to gradually brighten, meaning the night cycle was coming to an end. The bright light affixed to the desk kept his work well illuminated. Tech hadn't slept. One thing the Batch had learned at a rather young age was that Tech didn't sleep, he dozed. He was up and down all night as his mind continuously swirled with ideas and modifications to whatever invention he dreamed up. This would continue for a few weeks until he just passed out over one of his projects for hours. It definitely wasn't healthy, but he'd given up trying to change his circadian rhythm.
He looked up at a thump on his workbench. "Good morning, Clippy," he greeted curtly.
Clippy, the black and white ribcat that had joined their family a few weeks ago, meowed at him and sat down, green eyes skittering over the mess on his bench. Tech cast a glance back at Echo's bunk, but as the cat made no move for it, he deduced that she hadn't been attempting to warn him of a nightmare. That had become her self-appointed position. Most nights, the warm, soft cat would curl up on Echo's chest, purring until he fell asleep. Upon a nightmare or panic attack in the night, she would fetch Hunter or Tech to aid him through it. Wrecker tried to help, but he was often a bit too overwhelming for Echo in those vulnerable moments.
Tech returned to his work. "How did you sleep?"
"Meow."
"Excellent."
She began pawing at a circuit lying near her, tilting her head in curiosity.
"I'm attempted to lower the volume of the comms in Hunter's helmet," he explained, gesturing to the gutted bucket next to him. "Lately overstimulation has been giving him bad migraines, so I'm hoping to lessen the damage a little and keep us from accidentally shouting in his ear."
"Meow."
"Precisely." He hunched over the circuits before him, carefully soldering a few pieces together. "Could you pass me the bolt by your left paw?" He'd said it mostly as a joke to himself, but at the sound of a jingle, he looked up to see the aforementioned bolt rolling across the table to him. He couldn't resist a small smile as he picked it up. "Thank you."
Clippy meowed again and hopped off the bench, likely looking to arouse Omega, her favorite on the ship. It wasn't long before the rest of the crew had awoken and the lights turned to full power. Echo stood and yawned, patting Tech's shoulder as he passed behind him.
"You sleep last night?"
"Of course not."
"Hm." He didn't pursue as he stepped into the little kitchen.
Omega clambered down from the gunner's nest, following Clippy. She paused to hug Tech as she passed. "Good morning, Tech!"
"Good morning, Omega," he replied with a distracted smile, reaching out to ruffle up her pale hair, holding the soldering iron in his other hand at a safe distance from her curious reach. She continued to the cockpit, eager to watch hyperspace pass by for a few minutes.
Hunter set a mug of caf and a ration bar at Tech's elbow. "Thanks for that," he said, nodding to the helmet. "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," Tech mumbled around a mouthful of the ration bar, which he'd begun eating without looking up from his work. "I'm almost done."
Hunter nodded and followed Omega to the cockpit, carrying another ration bar for her.
Wrecker finally made his appearance, roughly mussing up his little brother's curly hair, which had grown out in the past weeks. "Mornin', Tech!"
"Get off!" Tech snapped, swatting him away. "You're going to make me set my blacks on fire!"
Wrecker rolled his eyes and gave him a hearty thump on the back before moving on. Tech huffed in indignation and returned to his work.
This was why he preferred to work at night.
The mission that day was quick, painless. Grab a bag of something or other, download some info, get out. Tech was rather bored by the whole thing. Within seconds of leaping to hyperspace he had removed his cuirass and gauntlets, hunched over his workbench again.
"Whatcha workin' on now?" Echo asked, leaning his good arm on the bench. He tilted his head.
"An improvement to your scomp," Tech replied, nodding to the aforementioned attachment. "I noticed you were uncomfortable when you plugged in in the field today."
Echo glanced ruefully at his robotic arm and shrugged. "It's nothing. You don't need to go to all the trouble."
Tech rolled his eyes at his stoic brother, always refusing help. "Well, regardless," he muttered, "the idea is in my head and I won't be able to rest until I get it out. Ergo, you're getting a new scomp."
Echo chuckled quietly.
Omega hopped down from the gunner's nest and joined them on Tech's other side, resting her chin on folded arms. They both watched him work in silence for a few minutes, matched grey eyes flickering over his quick, practiced movements. Hunter and Wrecker eventually joined them in the main hold, settling in the navigator's chairs. Wrecker stretched out, taking up most of the hold, as Hunter crossed his arms and settled back with a yawn. Clippy hopped into his lap and curled up.
After a moment, Omega spoke up.
"Who are the Jedi?"
Tech's hand stilled on his work. He felt Echo stiffen beside him.
After a long moment, Hunter replied. "The Jedi are - were -" He hesitated, clearly uncertain.
Echo spoke up. "They're an order of people with a special connection to the Force," he said, voice flat. "They're supposed to be defenders of justice and peace, and they led the Grand Army of the Republic until Order 66 forced the clones to kill them." Tech forced himself to keep working, to not look at Echo. Lately he'd become more and more anxious, pacing and checking his comms relentlessly. Every call from Rex made him jolt upright, every rumor of a surviving Jedi sent a glimmer of hope through his eyes.
Tech knew he'd had friends in the Jedi Order. He hadn't found a good time to comfort him about the loss.
Omega tilted her head. "What's the Force?"
Echo sighed and shrugged, gaze still fixed on Tech's work. "Some sort of magic. I never understood it."
"Did any of you know any Jedi?"
"We worked with a few," Hunter answered carefully. Tech could sense Echo shaking. He chanced a glanced at him. His jaw was set, but his mouth was trembling.
Hunter continued, "General Windu, General Mundi, Secura, Skywalker. . ."
"Oh, he was great!" Wrecker crowed with a grin. "Skywalker let me blow up a whole cruiser!" He thumped Echo on the back. "He was yours, wasn't he?"
Echo blinked rapidly. "Yeah." He straightened up. "'Scuse me," he mumbled unnecessarily, slipping to the kitchen.
Tech set down the wires he'd been twisting together and stood to follow. Omega continued asking questions behind him as he ducked into the side room.
Echo stood leaned against the wall, eyes fixed on the floor, his hand pressed over his mouth. His eyes were blank, but his hand trembled.
Tech rested a hand on his shoulder. "She didn't mean anything, vod," he said softly. "Neither of them did."
Echo shook his head. Tears welled in his eyes. "I'm just so worried about them, Tech," he whispered shakily. "I don't even know if they're alive."
Tech wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Echo turned to him, leaning into the embrace. Tech wrapped his other arm around him, nearly crushing him. Echo returned the embrace, shaking as he rested his head against his brother's shoulder.
"I just wish I knew they were okay."
"I know," Tech murmured, wishing there was something more he could say, something reassuring or comforting, but what was there? Logically speaking, it was almost certain that both Skywalker and Tano had died in the Order, along with any other Jedi Echo may have cared about. He didn't say that, though. He just rubbed his back and held him for a moment longer until Echo pulled away, wiping his eyes against tears that never fell.
"Thanks," he mumbled. Tech nodded and moved to the cabinet, fishing around for some caf.
"Echo?" Omega said from the doorway.
He looked up and smiled at her, leaning back on the counter. "Hey."
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, stepping inside. "I didn't even think - I knew you were a reg before this, I just didn't think -" She hesitated and turned away. "I shouldn't have asked. I should've figured that it would've hurt you."
"Ah, don't worry about it, kid," Echo sighed, ruffling up her hair. "It's okay." He glanced at the caf machine and smiled sadly. "Y'know, Skywalker wasn't my only Jedi commander."
She tilted her head. "Really?"
"Yep. It was him and his Padawan."
"What's a Padawan?"
"Like an apprentice." He nudged her slightly. "Like what you are to us."
"Cool!"
Tech handed him a mug of caf and Omega her own cup of hot cocoa, as he always did after an emotional moment.
She sipped the drink as he grabbed a pack of dried fruit and began towards his workbench again. "What's her name?"
"Ahsoka Tano," Echo said quietly. "One of the best commanders out there."
"What was she like?"
Tech stepped back into the main hold, smiling to himself as Echo continued talking behind him, telling Omega the stories of the Jedi.
"Almost," Tech hissed, fingers flying across the computer console.
"Any minute now!" Hunter shouted through the comms.
"Almooooost. . ."
"C'mon, Tech, we're getting torn to shreds out here!" Wrecker cried in dismay.
"Got it!" he shouted triumphantly. "The door should be open now!"
"Affirmative," Hunter said with obviously relief. "Back to the ship."
Tech spared one last look at the computer screen and froze. "There's someone else here," he reported, eyes skimming over the security feed, following the hooded and cloaked figure slipping through the hallways.
"Who?" Echo pressed.
"Uncertain."
"Are they after us?" Hunter continued breathlessly.
"Also uncertain."
"Alright, just get to the rendezvous," he ordered. "We'll burn that bridge when we get to it."
Tech stifled a chuckled at the phrase. "Understood. Moving out." He snatched up his datawand and flipped his visor up over his brow before darting out into the corridors of the supply base. Hunter and Wrecker had already collected the weapon they had come for while Echo had plugged into the central drive and obtained the plans for more. Cid had made it very clear that her buyer wanted only the weapon, but the Batch had figured that Rex could likely use the information for something.
The droids had been pretty well cleared from the Imperial Base, but a few still tried to attack Tech as he slipped through the maze. He made quick work of them with his droid poppers and blasters. He made it to the entrance in less than two minutes and bolted outside, keeping to cover as best he could. He finally found the breach they'd made in the fence and dove through, skidding down the ravine on the other side.
He paused and glanced around until he spotted Wrecker waving at him from behind a pile of boulders. He hurried to duck behind the cover with the rest of his brothers. Hunter held a case in his lap, about the size of a sniper rifle.
Hunter nodded, glancing him over for any injuries before pressing the call button on the side of his helmet. "Omega, we're headed back. Have the ship running."
"Yes, Sir!" she chirped brightly, always eager to have something to do. The four of them stood and began hurrying through the dense forest.
"How are those new comms treats you?" Tech asked in a low voice.
"They're great," Hunter said quietly. "Thank y-" He froze and held up a hand. "We're being followed," he murmured, eyes darting about under his helmet.
Tech crouched into a fighting stance, drawing his blasters. Echo and Wrecker did likewise. "Where?" Echo whispered.
Hunter hesitated for much longer than usual. "I - I'm not sure," he whispered.
That caught Tech's attention. "What?"
"I-It sounds like they're everywhere," he muttered, glancing around. Just as he finished saying that, a cloaked shape dropped from the trees, tackling him. Hunter fell to one knee with a cry of surprise, struggling to push his attacker off.
"Hey!" Wrecker shouted, lurching forward. The attacker dropped Hunter and ducked to the side with unnatural speed, ramming into Wrecker's side with force that looked too great for someone of their size. Wrecker stumbled back, and the attacker turned, aiming a kick at Tech's temple. He ducked and attempted to throw them off-balance with a tackle, but they somehow dodged it and instead sent him tumbling to the forest floor. The breath rushed from his lungs and he felt his blasters skitter from his grip as he struggled for air.
The next he was able to look up, he saw Echo pinned against a tree, limp, staring at the attacker. Their hood had flown off, revealing a young orange Torgruta with a blue and white striped Lekku.
"What did you do when you heard the Order?" she snapped in a voice full of authority, one hand holding a knife to Echo's throat.
Echo didn't answer at first, just stared. Tech scrambled for his blaster, desperate to save his brother, before Echo's small voice stayed all activity in the clearing.
". . .You're alive."
The Torgruta's face softened in shock. She removed the knife from his throat and stepped back, one hand still held out defensively as she squinted at him. "Echo?" she whispered in dismay.
A pause. "Hey."
Hunter stood slowly and removed his helmet. "Our chips malfunctioned," he said, answering her last question. Wrecker and Tech slowly removed their own helmets to show they meant no harm as the Torgruta turned to them, a look of shock on her orange and white features. "They've been removed. We're no threat to the Jedi."
Jedi.
She turned back to Echo, who still hadn't removed his helmet. He hesiatated and looked away. "I - I'm not, uh, how you. . . remember me."
Her eyes glanced over his scomp arm, but she didn't seem dissuaded. After a moment, he hesitantly removed the helmet, carefully maneuvering it around his hearing aid.
The Jedi stepped forward again, ignoring the ports in his skull and his pale, tallow skin. Her gaze was fixed on his eyes, even as he couldn't seem to bring himself to look at her. He managed to meet her gaze for just a moment, and her face changed from one of shock to relief and joy. Before he could say anything, she had tackled him in a hug,
"It's really you," she whispered.
He stumbled back for a moment, but after a second he returned the gesture, nearly crushing her. "Hey, Ahsoka," he murmured. A rough, shaky laugh shook his frame. "Gods, you're alive." Tech though he saw tears in both of their eyes as they clung to each other.
Ahsoka Tano was the first to pull away, laughing through her tears. "Rex said you'd joined a new team, but after the Order, we didn't know - I thought for sure the Order got you -"
"I thought it got you!" Echo cried, a rare smile on his face as he gripped her shoulders. "How? I was so sure -"
"I thought you were gone at the Citadel, I almost didn't believe Rex -"
"Can't believe you're okay -"
"Hey," Hunter called, stepping forward slightly, "I hate to break this up, but we've got a bunch of droids inbound."
Ahsoka looked up, as though she'd forgotten the others were there. She glanced back at the base and then back at the others. "I don't suppose I could hitch a ride with you?"
"Sorry about attacking," Ahsoka said as they approached the Marauder. "It's been hard since everything happened."
"No hard feelings, Sir," Hunter assured her. "We've been in a tough place too."
Tech made sure to 'hmph' so they knew he had some hard feelings, but didn't pursue beyond that. They all filed onto the ship and Tech made quick work of getting them into hyperspace. Omega was too absorbed in the process, watching from the co-pilot seat, to notice the new passenger. After they had keyed in their new location and begun on their way, she turned and made her way to the hold. Tech followed.
Omega froze in the doorway, wide eyes fixed on the stranger.
Ahsoka turned to her and blinked in surprise. "Well, hello," she greeted with a warm, if confused, smile.
"Hi," Omega said, stepping back to hover behind Tech.
"Ahsoka, this is Omega," Echo began. "Omega, this is Ahsoka Tano."
Omega's face lit up. She stepped forward again. "Echo told me all about you!" she cried eagerly. "You're a Jedi!"
Ahsoka chuckled. "Telling you all the embarrassing stuff I did as a kid, huh?"
"He said you were one of the best commanders out there," Omega corrected. "He said that you were really competent and brave, even as a kid."
Ahsoka smiled at him gratefully. He just shrugged and looked away.
"He did also tell me about the time you got stuck in a mine because you weren't paying attention and cut through a support beam."
Her jaw dropped and she turned back to Echo. "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone about that!"
"When?" he cried incredulously, fighting a laugh.
"I'll give you the tour," Omega announced brightly. Clippy jumped from the gunner's nest and began rubbing against Omega's legs. "This is Clippy," she announced brightly, scooping the cat into her arms. "Echo found her on Alderaan."
"Man, you're making all kinds of new friends," Ahsoka grinned at Echo.
"Hunter didn't like her at first," Omega added, "but he loves her now!"
"I do not!" Hunter called from the kitchen. "I hate that thing!"
"He likes her because she helps Echo with his nightmares," Omega explained, dropping the cat and continuing on. She didn't seem to notice Echo's embarrassed look or Ahsoka's face falling for a moment. "This is the main hold, and that's Tech's workbench. He always tells us not to touch it, even when there's nothing on it." She continued on the short tour. It barely took a minute. Ahsoka could see pretty much anything from where she stood, but she smiled and nodded along with everything Omega said until he concluded in her gunner's roost, perching on the edge with Clippy in her lap.
Tech sighed and leaned against the doorway. "We all assumed you were dead," he said bluntly.
Ahsoka sighed and nodded. "I would be if it wasn't for Rex," she said softly. "He warned me about the chips and helped me escape to cruiser."
"Rex knew?" Echo said quietly.
"Don't be mad at him," she said firmly. "I told him not to tell anyone. I dropped off the grid after we split up, so he couldn't contact me for a bit to tell me you were okay."
"Why?" Hunter asked.
She shrugged lamely. "I don't know how to explain it," she murmured. "I just - I knew I needed to do the next part on my own."
Echo nodded solemnly and looked away again.
Tech rested his head against the doorframe with a small groan, closing his eyes.
"You need to get some sleep," Hunter said to him flatly.
"You need to get a hobby," Tech quipped, stifling a yawn. Ahsoka snorted.
"You need to get -" He broke off and glanced at Omega before turning back to him. "Go to sleep."
"Go to -" Tech broke off in another yawn and sighed, embarrassed to admit defeat but unable to deny the heaviness in his eyes any longer. "Fine. Wake me when the autopilot starts beeping, we've got a six hour ride."
"I'll keep an eye on it," Echo assured him, making his way to the cockpit. Ahsoka followed wordlessly.
Tech slipped past Wrecker and collapsed onto his bunk. He managed to remove his cuirass and bracers before he passed out.
He snapped awake when the autopilot did, indeed, start beeping. He sat up and yawned, raking his fingers through his curly hair as his other hand groped about for his goggles. He swept back the curtain from his bunk and stood, trotting to the cockpit.
"Hey," Echo greeted. "I was just about to come get you."
"I heard it," Tech yawned, settling in the pilot's seat. Ahsoka shifted slightly and tilted her head back. It was obvious she and Echo had been talking for the whole flight. Tech had expected as much.
Echo stood and stretched, patting Tech's shoulder absentmindedly. "I'm going to get some water."
"Mhm," Tech murmured distractedly.
Ahsoka glanced at the mechanic as Echo left. "Echo was just telling me about you guys," she said with a small smile.
"Embarrassing stuff?" Tech asked, sharing her smile.
"Mostly."
"Of course."
"He also said that you've all been really supportive," she added quietly. "He said that you've been really helpful with his new cybernetics and that you and Hunter help him through nightmares and panic attacks, and that Wrecker helps him when he gets triggered in battle."
Tech wasn't sure how to answer that, so he just nodded. "Yes, we do."
There was a long pause before Ahsoka spoke again. "I'm glad he's got you," she said softly. "Thank you for - for looking out for him."
Tech shrugged. "He's our brother." He wasn't sure how to vocalize what he really meant. He's our brother, of course we're looking out for him. He'd do the same if we were in his shoes. He's gone through so much already and we're here to help. That's how we work, how we all work, and we're all only alive because of each other. I can't count the number of times he'd taken a blast for me or carried me out of a battlefield. And I know that you've helped him too. Thank you for getting him as far as you did.
Instead, he said, "He cares about you a lot."
Ahsoka chuckled and leaned back. "I missed him so much," she said.
They didn't speak again until the ship landed behind Cid's canteen. Everyone stood and gathered in the main hold.
"This is for Rex," Echo announced, handing Ahsoka the datatab containing the weapon plans they'd stolen. "Whenever you see him again."
She accepted the tab and tucked it into her pocket.
"This place is pretty seedy," Hunter said, glancing outside. "If you need to lay low you can hang out on the ship until we can drop you somewhere else."
"I've got transport set up," she assured him. "Thank you."
Hunter nodded and hefted the case containing the weapon. "I'll go talk to Cid," he said decidedly. He turned back to Ahsoka and nodded. "It was good to finally meet you."
"You too, Sargent."
He nudged Wrecker and gave Tech a very pointed look before leaving.
"Oh, uh, I've gotta take care of something," Wrecker said quickly, following Hunter out. "Good to meet you."
"Omega," Tech called as he stepped out, "come on, I want to quiz you on the ship's stats again."
Omega groaned loudly as she dropped from her bed. "Do I have to?"
"Well, do you want to fly it or not?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fiiiiiiine." She turned and waved to Ahsoka. "Nice to meet you!"
"You too!"
Tech just nodded at the two of them and followed Omega out. She ran after Wrecker into the canteen, but Tech lingered by the backdoor a moment longer, pulling out his datapad and looking at nothing in particular. After a bit, Echo and Ahsoka stepped outside, exchanging a last few words. Echo saluted, and Ahsoka followed suit before they both turned away. After a brief moment, she turned back and hurried after him. He turned back just in time to catch a final hug. As she pulled away, Tech heard her say 'Take care of yourself'. Echo nodded and likely replied in turn before they finally parted ways. Ahsoka slipped her hood back up before disappearing into the busy streets.
Echo walked to Tech and paused, looking back at where she'd vanished.
Tech rested a hand on his back. "Okay?"
"Yeah." He turned and gave him a smile. "She'll be okay."
Tech believed him.