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The heat of the battle catching up even with those having just woken up from a deep slumber.
Well of sorts. As having been held comatose in an icebox with only the brain used for whatever nefarious reasons the enemy saw fit, Echo was in full soldier mode while blasting away those karking flying droids sent by Wat Tambor.
This action, did not go unnoticed by the sniper of the Bad Batch.
The quirkiness, the fearlessness, the outright madness. All of what Echo had already represented as soon as his own legs carried him. Perhaps even a little before that, having certainly left an impression on the sniper. Something not easily accomplished for Crosshair.
True, Echo was an ARC Trooper. The best of the best. The finest soldiers of the lot of them.
But, Crosshair had met plenty of those in his short life time. Some of them boasting their skills, not that they should not have. But, Crosshair was yet to meet anyone like Echo was.
A reg Echo was supposed to be.
Hardly true in Crosshair’s book any more. As Echo was as close to a regular clone as, well, any of the Batcher were. Perhaps even more deviant than the rest of Crosshair’s batch mates. Even himself?
Echo kept on blasting away. His aim already close to perfection even with the one hand. The hand not his dominant one. As Echo, was clearly unstoppable. Running amok half naked as he was with new droid parts serving as legs. But Echo being on top of the mission with the best of them just the same despite all of that.
Crosshair could not help but admire the ARC for all that he was.
Echo someone worthy for sure. Someone Crosshair could easily work with. Talk to even. Maybe, well, the little Crosshair talked in general. But to Crosshair, this Echo he had just met, who most certainly deserved a second chance, reg or not, was someone easily falling into the category reserved only for a chosen few Crosshair was respectful of. Fond of even.
And so, as soon as the droids were taken down, Crosshair made a simple move.
His hand, gently placed on top of Echo’s shoulder. Just a reminder Echo was not alone anymore. That Echo, was among friends, family perhaps, if it was up to Crosshair.
Echo gave the sniper a glance. Not really knowing these troopers well yet, it was a surprise move. But clearly, they were worthy soldiers. Worthy in many other ways as well. The team having come to his rescue with Rex even if they had had no idea what they were walking into.
A small smile emerged on Echo’s lips just then, the heat of the battle fading fast.
And Echo felt it. The camaraderie, the caring of other vod’e around him even if he wasn’t exactly himself any more. And for Echo it meant, that perhaps he really could be okay once again despite everything having happened while in the hands of the Techno Union.