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Jumping off the pipe and into the flying reptile was way cooler than he had expected. Granted, the feeling of free falling before he landed on it was unpleasant, but he’d take unpleasant over numb anytime.
And that was precisely the moment he realized what was happening was real. Because his half human half machine mind wasn’t creative enough to fabricate a situation in which a squad of enhanced commandos came to rescue him with his General and his Captain and they got away from his prison by jumping off a pipe into flying reptiles.
Like he said, way cooler than he expected.
He could tell Rex was not sharing his enthusiasm as he awkwardly turned around to shoot at the flying droids.
Flying droids and flying reptiles. What an interesting day it was.
He didn’t know if he had to try to direct his flying reptile so he decided to focus on not falling off and enjoying the wind hitting his face. He looked to the side and saw the other clones riding their own flying lizards with varying levels of enthusiasm. If he was being honest, he seemed to be the only one enjoying the experience. At least the only one out of the clones if the feral smile the General flashed at him was anything to go by.
He caught the sniper staring at him and even though he couldn’t see his face, he had the feeling he was being judged for having fun. Well, he’d be having fun too if he had been trapped in a stasis chamber for who knows how long.
Not letting the memories ruin his mood, he ruefully smiled at the sniper and shrugged when he shook his head in a way that indicated he thought Echo was crazy.
He’d probably be right, if he hadn’t been before he definitely was now.
Not like the sniper should be judging, it had been his brother who had had the idea, not Echo. He had been as perplexed as everyone else. Not that that meant he didn’t think it was brilliant, because it was, it just broke through the haze in his brain that told him he was still in the stasis pod.
He did almost have a heart attack when Rex almost fell down dragging him with him though.
Still not enough to damp his mood. Not even the landing could do it and he had to be helped off the flying reptile. He’d be more embarrassed by it if he wasn’t currently running around shirtless. And limbless. He distantly wondered how dangerous it was to tell Rex that joke out loud. He was enjoying his freedom too much to try it.
And it was funny hearing the technician talk in the weird alien language.
Yes, he didn’t know his saviors’ names but to be fair, he had been too busy assimilating the situation to pay attention to their names. It was frankly more embarrassing than his current physical condition being exposed to everyone. Even more than the fact he had needed help to get off the reptile. He really hoped someone said their names out loud soon, so he could learn them.
It was more embarrassing because these clones were awesome. Obvious enhancements aside, just the fact that they had been on the mission to save him was awesome. Even if they had been ordered to save him, which was the most likely thing, they were there. Coming up with crazy plans and speaking alien languages.
Force, he was probably making such a bad first impression.
~*~
Crosshair had to admit it (reluctantly and only in his mind). The reg was not an average reg. And he wasn’t talking about the odd disturbing sight of his body. No, that was understandable after what he had been through (it was worse, it was so much worse).
It was his attitude that struck him as odd. He had been freed from a stasis chamber after force knows how long and the first thing he had said when he stopped being disoriented was a pathetic attempt at a joke.
And then he had scomped into the machine that had kept him trapped and allowed Wrecker to toss him as he held onto Tech, both strangers he didn’t know. Kriff, Crosshair wasn’t even sure anyone had told him they were all clones.
And yet he had been the second one to jump off the pipe, Crosshair didn’t think he’d even hesitated. And he’d looked so happy doing it, flashing him a smile as they flew in unstable animals hundreds of feet up in the air. Crosshair was the tiniest bit impressed.
And then had insisted on fighting alongside them until he had been given a blaster, looking slightly disappointed that he couldn’t be in the front lines. Crosshair was certain he was just having an adrenaline rush after being freed from his prison. It was certainly a long adrenaline rush if he had ever seen one.
He watched as the reg shot two droids with his non-dominant hand and rested a hand on his shoulder, ready for when the reg finally collapsed. He didn’t.
He kept an eye on him, ready. The reg looked like a gentle breeze would shatter him and that adrenaline rush couldn’t last him much longer. But, much to his surprise, the reg stayed awake and responsive the whole trip to Anaxes.
Crosshair shrugged it off, half annoyed at himself for paying so much attention to the reg. He looked pretty grateful now, but he didn’t doubt that as soon as he realized they were clones, he’d be treating them just like all the other regs.
With that certainty, he was able to push the reg out of his mind as several medical droids and the angry reg medic ushered him into the medbay.
The job was done. Whatever happened to the reg now was none of his concern.
But they still hadn’t been dispatched so they were stuck on the damn base. The base overflowing with regs.
One could only stand so many hours with a restless Wrecker before he lost his mind so he abruptly stood up and left the safety of the Marauder to go for a walk. His brothers didn't ask him where he was going, already used to his sporadic walks.
He wandered the base absentmindedly, paying enough attention to where he was going to avoid any large group of regs approaching. It was easy and still enhancing enough to keep his mind from wandering back to the pale reg they had rescued a few hours ago.
He scoffed. He didn’t care about that reg, why did he keep thinking about him?
“Hey.” A voice greeted behind him.
It took all of his willpower to not flinch and whip around. He slowly turned around, an expression of indifference on his face.
It was the reg. Dressed in the red standard clothes for clones, that hang off his thin body, and with most of his mechanical apparatus removed, the areas around them red and sore. He was smiling at him, even if it was slightly strained.
Crosshair didn't bother greeting him, just raised an eyebrow questioningly.
It didn’t deem the reg’s mood apparently. “I was going to go to your ship but then I saw you when I was exiting the medbay and thought I’d say hi.” He explained, unprompted.
Crosshair didn't know how to answer all that. “You were following me?”
He expected the reg to stutter or fluster. What he didn’t expect was his smile to widen. “Yup.” He popped the p. “Been doing so for at least four corridors.”
Crosshair looked at his metal legs and then back at his face skeptically. “How.” He asked drily.
He thought he would get mad or look hurt but the reg laughed. Actually laughed. It sounded painful, most likely because he hadn’t laughed in a very long time.
“I was surprised too. I honestly thought you’d notice me much earlier.” He said chipperly.
Crosshair just nodded, wondering if it was still the same adrenaline rush that had given him such energy or if it was a new one.
They lapsed into an awkward silence, the reg shifting his metal feet but still looking at him. It was very uncomfortable and he would like it to stop so he could continue his walk.
“What do you want?” He snapped at him.
“Oh, right.” He muttered, blinking perplexed as if he had forgotten what he was there for. He probably had. “I wanted to thank you.”
Crosshair blinked once. “What.”
The reg looked away, rubbing the back of his neck with his human hand. “For saving me. Uhm, I- well. Yeah. I wanted to thank uhm, you and your team.”
Crosshair squinted at him. “Really?”
The reg nodded solemnly. “Of course. I would still be- well, like I said. You saved me.” He swallowed and offered him a small smile.
“Huh.” Crosshair simply replied, perplexed by this weird development.
Then a different reg passed beside them, muttering something quietly but not quiet enough for Crosshair not to hear.
“Freak.”
Crosshair turned around, glaring daggers at the reg.
“What did you say?” He hissed.
The other reg stiffened for a second, making it clear he hadn’t intended to be heard but recovered quickly. He turned around and glared back, chin tilted upwards.
“You heard me.” He said, voice stuttering slightly.
Crosshair narrowed his eyes at him. “If you have something to say then say it to my face, reg.”
It was obvious the reg didn’t know what reg meant, but he still took it as an insult, taking a step forward and staring defiantly at him. “What did you call me?”
Crosshair took a step forward. “I believe I asked first, reg.” He put special emphasis on the word reg, since it seemed to bother him so much.
“Go back to the lab tube you came out of you-“ The reg didn't get to finish his sentence before there was a blurr of movement and the reg was falling unconscious to the floor.
Crosshair turned around fast enough to see the pale reg shaking his hand once before letting rest at his side, hand still curled into a fist. There was a scowl on his face as he stared down at the unconscious reg on the floor, breathing heavily.
Crosshair was at a loss for words. He looked between the two regs, eyes slightly wide.
The reg (the conscious one) scoffed, opening and closing his hand. “I always hated that guy.” He muttered, still glaring at the other reg.
“You knew him?” Crosshair asked, still in shock. That certainly would explain his reaction.
The reg took a deep breath and finally took his eyes off the clone on the floor, still scowling. “Yeah, since two minutes ago.”
Oh. Ok. That was the weirdest thing to happen to him ever.
“Why-“ He began to ask.
“We should probably hide him though.” The reg promptly interrupted him, looking around.
“What.”
“You know, so no one finds him unconscious on the floor.” The reg explained like it was normal. “There’s a supply crate over there. I think it can fit a body.”
Of all the things he had expected to end up doing during his supposedly calming walk, hiding a body with a dead-looking clone was not one of them.
Somehow no one caught them in the act and they hastily left the area.
“What the actual kark?” Crosshair asked him once they were far enough from the incriminating evidence. He had not problem leaving regs unconscious but the casualness with which this reg had acted was a little perplexing.
The reg smiled at him, leaning against a wall. “Just a little assault.”
Crosshair was about to comment on that crazy statement when he noticed the reg was still breathing heavily. “Hey, you’re not looking so good, reg.”
“It’s most likely cause I’m going to collapse.” He stated.
“What do you-“
The reg dropped to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Crosshair stared at the unconscious clone for a second. He knew it was coming but did it have to be when he was the only one present?
“Reg? You’re not dead are you?” He whispered to him, tapping him with his foot. The reg didn't move. “Well. Kriff you reg, I don’t want to carry you to the medbay.”
But the reg didn't move and he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t die if he left him there. So with a sigh he lifted him over his shoulder carefully and began to walk towards the medbay.
He was much heavier than he was expecting, probably because of his metallic parts because the organic bits looked skeletical.
He turned a corner and almost ran into someone. It was Tech.
Tech’s eyes landed on the unconscious reg on his shoulder.
“He was like this when I found him.” He deadpanned.
“I am aware.” Tech adjusted his glasses. “I saw you two on the cameras. It appears he has finally collapsed of exhaustion.” He eyed the reg critically. “Or of hunger. It is hard to determine without further analysis.”
Crosshair rolled his eyes. “You can analyze him later. Now help me get him to the medbay.”
“Of course.”
Just as Tech was grabbing the reg’s mechanical legs, Hunger walked into view, freezing a few steps away from them, eyes going from the unconscious reg to Tech and then to Crosshair. It probably didn’t look very good from his perspective.
Crosshair deadpanned. “Heya, sarge.”
Hunter’s shocked expression turned into a frown. “What did you do?”
“We hardly did anything, it is most likely the medical personnel's fault for releasing him from the medbay before he had fully recovered.” Tech was quick to explain. “Like Crosshair said before you arrived, he was like this when I found him.”
Hunter took a deep breath and seemed to calm down. “Alright. Let’s get him out of here before someone sees us with the very unconscious reg.” He helped them properly hold the reg. “How’d this happen anyway?”
“He punched a reg.” Crosshair shrugged.
“It was very impressive, considering his severely malnutrition and overall weakened state.” Tech commented as they arrived at the infirmary.
Hunter shook his head disbelievingly. Crosshair just rolled his eyes and prepared himself to deal with the 501st medic. There was yelling coming out of the medbay, so the medic was probably not in the mood to receive them as they carried the unconscious reg. He’d have to deal with it if he didn’t want his friend to die.
The medic looked away from a droid he was yelling at and his already angry expression suddenly turned furious as he began to march towards them. Crosshair felt Hunter tense behind him and Crosshair was tempted to drop the reg just in case the medic got any ideas.
He felt the reg shift slightly in their hold, seemingly coming out of unconsciousness.
“You absolute dikut!” The medic yelled, surprisingly, not at them but at the reg. “Where the kriff where you?? How did you even get out?? Do you have a death wish?” The reg muttered something and the medic got a little closer, still angry. “What was that? What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I punched a clone unconscious.” He slurred.
The medic seemed to go livid. “You- why- you know what? I don’t care. Just tell me where you hid him after you come to your senses.” He motioned at them. “Bring him to this bed.”
They silently complied and carefully settled him on the medical bed.
“Why did you even hit him?” The medic asked as he prepared an IV, seemingly not able to let the conversation go.
“I didn’t like his face.” The reg slurred after a few seconds.
“We all have the same face.” The medic grumbled.
The reg huffed a laugh. “Speak for yourself.”
The medic turned red. “One more joke and I’ll cuff you to the bed.”
The reg slumped on the bed with a resigned sigh. “I’m telling Rex.”
“Do you seriously think he would side with you?” The medic deadpanned.
The reg grinned weakly. “I don’t know about him but the General certainly did.”
“What do you- no.” The medic glanced at the droids. “He did not.”
“He sure did.” The reg’s grin widened.
“That’s it.” The medic snapped. “Visits privileges revoked.”
“Hey!” The reg sat up, frowning.
“Not a word.” He turned towards them. “You. Get out. Echo can’t see anyone until he has been cleared from this medbay.”
They didn’t have to be told twice and they evacuated the medbay.
“Bye!” The reg waved him goodbye with his scomp arm. He looked at it like it was the first time he saw it and as the doors closed behind them and medic continued his rant, Crosshair noted this was the first time he saw him frown at his unwilling changes.
“So he did punch another clone?” Hunter asked, snapping his thoughts about the ghost. “I’m surprised he was able to.”
“The human body is incredibly resilient.” Tech stated. “With our enhancements, even more, especially when mad.”
“Mad?” Hunter inquired.
“There wasn’t any audio in the security footage but it is clear the reg said something that angered him.” Tech said.
Crosshair stopped listening at that and walked with them to the Marauder, almost on automatic. Had the reg been angry on his behalf? It didn’t sound right, in his mind, to think a reg would defend him like that. There was a slim possibility he had thought the insult was directed at him instead of at Crosshair but he discarded it, the other reg had made it clear who it was about. The question was why had he defended him? Was it gratitude? Did he feel the need to pay off a debt?
“You good, Crosshair?” Hunter startled him out of his thoughts, laying a hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged it off and stepped into the Marauder. “ ‘s nothing.”
He knew Hunter didn’t believe but it was worse that he didn’t quite believe it himself.
~*~
There had been doubts among them about the loyalties of the freshly rescued reg. Not from himself, but from Tech and Hunter. Crosshair didn’t doubt him for a second, oddly enough. He just didn’t feel like a sleeper agent or the type that would be a traitor. He had told Hunter as much but he had just shaken his head.
“I can’t risk it, Crosshair.” He had said and then ordered Tech to stun him if it looked like he might betray them.
He hadn’t said anything else, mostly because he didn’t want to admit that it bothered him. He hoped, for his squad’s safety, that they didn’t do it in front of the captain or the Jedi general, they both looked completely willing to kill for the reg.
He was watching the entry to the room where the reg would be ‘scomping in’ with Wrecker, making sure no clankers interrupted their infiltration.
“What do you think of the reg?” He found himself asking.
“Which one?” Wrecker asked, tiliting his head.
Crosshair rolled his eyes. “Which one?” He mocked. “The one we rescued, dikut.”
“He’s crazy.” Wrecker replied, no doubt having to do a monumental effort to not retort at the jab. “I like him. You?”
Crosshair wished he could chew on a toothpick as he deliberately prepared his answer. “He’s ok.” He ended up saying.
Wrecker gasped dramatically. “Could it be? You, Crosshair, actually like a reg?”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous?” Crosshair sneered. He didn’t like the reg, more like pitied him.
“Crosshair actually enjoys another clone’s compan-“ Wrecker sang loudly but was interrupted by a loud electrical sound.
They whipped around and saw the reg laying unconscious on his captain’s arms.
“Kriff.” Crosshair muttered.
“It appears deliberate.” He heard Tech saying.
“We’re leaving!” The captain ordered as he helped the reg to his feet.
Wrecker and him cleared the way as the captain half dragged the reg across the ship. It was obvious the reg was trying to walk, he gave a few steps every few metes, but he wasn’t able to stand straight. He wouldn’t be able to make it on his own even if he wanted to.
But he had his captain and they all made it safely out of the exploding ship (No, Wrecker, explosions don’t count). As Wrecker cheered with, much to his surprise, the Jedi general, he approached Hunter.
“So. About your instinct…”
“Kriff off.” Hunter punched him in the arm with a smile. “I can admit when I’m wrong. Unlike others.” He added.
He groaned and put a toothpick in his mouth. “Whatcha think of him? Now that you know he’s not going to shoot us in the back.”
Hunter shrugged. “Well, he’s nice for a reg and a surprisingly capable soldier given his state. He must have been a great soldier.”
Crosshair nodded. “The other regs are going to eat him alive.”
Hunter arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. Look at him.” He moved his head towards the reg, who was being checked by Tech as the Captain hovered nearby. “Do you think they will greet him with open arms and a party?”
Hunter hesitated. “He’s a war hero.”
“And? We’re an elite squad and that has never stopped anyone.” Crosshair looked him in the eye. “You know how regs are like. You’ve seen it. You’ve lived it.”
Hunter looked away, uncomfortable. “Well, yeah.”
“But he’s a reg.” He tried.
“Is he?” Crosshair said, throwing his toothpick into the designated toothpick bin. It fell right in. He then walked towards the cockpit, leaving Hunter to think about what he had said. It was easy to spark an idea on his brother’s mind. He smirked, knowing Hunter was coming to a decision without even having to look. Sometimes, enhanced sight wasn’t needed to see things.
~*~
Rex watched as Echo stopped to talk to the Bad Batch. He didn’t need to hear what they were saying to know what it was. They were offering Echo a place among them. It made sense, oddly enough. Echo had changed and he knew it wasnt just physical. He would be returning to the 501st, where half the people he knew (which hadn’t been that much) had already marched away. And his new abilities wouldn’t have much use among them compared to with Clone Force 99.
The Bad Batch walked towards their ship and Echo stood in place, watching them go, almost longingly. He sighed, time to be an older brother.
“They’re ones of the most skilled troopers I’ve ever fought alongside.” He said, startling Echo out of whatever he had been thinking. He looked so different from the scared shiny he had met on the Rishi Moon. His smile softened as he remembered that young clone. “Echo, if you feel like you’re place is with them…” he put a hand on his shoulder. “Then that is where you should be. Whatever your choice is, I’ll support you.”
Echo smiled at him. “Thanks, Rex.”
He allowed himself to smirk. “And if they don’t treat you good, they’ll have the whole 501st after their heads.”
Echo laughed, same as always, warming his heart. “I’m glad I have that guarantee.”
“Go on, join them.” He nodded towards them.
Echo turned around, no doubt suppressing his excitement to appear soldier like. To the Batch, he was probably succeeding but not to him. He knew he was extremely happy to be going with them.
He stopped in front of them and turned, saluting him with his scomp arm and smirking at him. He was surprised to see the other clones salute him as well. It seemed Echo could force military decorum into everyone. Suppressing a smile, he saluted back at them.
“ECHO.” A scream broke through the base.
Rex turned around and saw Kix in the distance, approaching them. He looked at Echo and saw him tense. He mentally groaned, he knew it was weird that Kix had authorized Echo to go on that mission.
“YOU’RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF THE WAR IN MY MEDBAY.” Kix screamed again, although it was unnecessary because he had already marched half of the way to Echo.
He heard Echo mutter a ‘Kriff’ and then saw him running in the opposite direction of the terrifying medic.
“HEY! GET BACK HERE.” Kix demanded, running after Echo.
Rex suppressed a laugh at the Bad Batch’s expressions of shock. It was clear they hadn’t expected him to do something like that. Or maybe Kix’s fury had shocked, it was hard to know.
“It’s good to see some things never change.” General Skywalker said from behind him, clearly amused.
He shook his head, adopting a serious expression. “He’s going to have fresher duty for a month.”
They laughed, watching Kix chasing Echo across the base. Skywalker’s laugh broke off and he looked sad. “He’s leaving us, isn’t he?”
Rex frowned. “Yes. He belongs with them now.”
“But the 501st is his family.” He rasped out.
He knew it was almost as hard for the general as it was for him. They’d had a very tough half year. First with Ahsoka leaving them, then Fives’ breakdown and now finding Echo. They were losing too many people and they were scared of who would be next, finding comfort in each other’s presence, certain that at least neither of them would leave.
“And it always will be. But he has changed and we haven’t changed in the same way.” He sighed. “Sometimes we just have to let them go.”
Skywalker let out a vague sound of distress. He was about to ask him something when a screeching metallic sound pierced their ears. They looked around and found Echo holding his knee and cursing under his breath. And then Kix slammed into him, almost knocking him to the ground.
“Hey! It’s not fair! The stupid Techno Union servos locked up!” He whined.
Kix looked ready to explote. “Not fair!? Who cares! YOU RAN AWAY. AGAIN.” He shrieked in his ear, trying to lift him off the ground. Echo was resisting like a wild tooka.
“Sorry?” He grinned at him.
Rex and Skywalker looked at each other with identical smiles of amusement.
“Things really don’t change.” Rex agreed.
“You want to know what makes it funnier?” He asked, holding back laughter. “Look at the batch.”
He looked and it did, in fact, make it funnier. Apparently, there had been a bet going on between them and credits were being passed between them. There seemed to be some sort of disagreement because Crosshair was looking at Wrecker with murderous intent. It wasn’t long before they were also screaming at each other.
“I don’t think Echo knows what he’s signing into.” Skywalker commented with a smile.
Rex huffed. “I don’t think they’re ready for Echo.”
He laughed, like he hadn’t laughed in a while. “Let’s say none of them are ready.”
“Agreed.” Rex said as Kix dragged Echo back toward the med bay.
~*~
After Echo had been officially cleared from the medbay (they had checked three times) they took off from Anaxes. Hunter’s mother tooka instincts were already kicking in, as expected, and was hovering near the reg, who wa so serving the ship’s luxurious living quarters with clear disgust. Finally someone who got it.
“If you need something, just ask.” Hunter repeated. Again.
“Thanks, uh.” He hesitated looking at his face for answers. “Skull?”
Crosshair laughed. “Wait, you don’t know our names??”
The reg looked flustered. “Well, I mean- no one told me and it felt rude to ask.”
“Skull?” He asked, tears in his eyes.
“He has a skull tattoo! We’re clones! It was logical!” He said, motioning at his face. “I mean, you’re called Crosshair. I think?” He said, looking confused.
Crosshair wasn’t able to answer, too busy doubling over with laughter.
“This is outstanding.” He heard Tech say. “I hadn’t heard Crosshair laugh like that in three rotations.”
“You keep count??” Hunter asked.
“Oh! Echo! Do me!” Wrecker exclaimed. “What am I called?”
The reg stuttered trying to think of something and in the end remained silent.
Wrecker and Crosshair laughed together, supporting each other to avoid hitting the ground. Echo looked away with a pout and Hunter shook his head with a fond smile. Tech looked at the scene and snapped a holo with his datapad, making sure he appeared in a reflection so that no one screamed him for not appearing in the picture.
It was like there had always been a space for another weird piece in their misshaped puzzle of a squad.