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Fives was quiet. He didn’t know what to tell Jesse, because…there were no words, nothing to say in their situation. They were stripped to their lower armours, only their blacks covered their chests. Their arms were pulled back, binders locked on their wrists.
But he decided that something could be said. "Jesse, I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to end like this." He whispered to his vod. Jesse just nodded, acknowledging his apology.
Both Fives and Jesse knew what they were doing, what Krell could do to them after finding out about their little…excursion to blow up enemy supply ship, but it didn’t make their situation any better.
When he heard the hiss of descending lift, the ARC Trooper came closer to the plasma shield, looking up. It was Rex, along with four other clones, whose names Fives didn’t yet remember. Rex approached their cell,
sadness radiating from his face.
"Fives, Jesse, I’m sorry. General Krell has ordered your execution, immediately." He said. His voice sounded resigned, as if he tried to help them, but failed. Knowing Rex, he probably did. Or at least, that was what Fives wished had happened.
"What? How? He can’t do this!" Jesse argued in disbelief. "He has the authority to render punishment during combat." Rex answered. What hit Fives was that the Captain actually seemed resigned, like he really didn’t want it to happen.
"I can understand court martial and locking us up in the brig, but executing us?" Jesse’s voice grew more desperate.
"I tried to convince him that it’s my fault, but he wouldn’t let me." Rex said, a quiet apology in his voice.
"Rex, you have to face it, he’s been using you. He needs your loyalty to control the others." Fives added, moving forward to face the Captain. Rex slowly deactivated the energy shield, a sign for the escort to lead them out of the cell.
"I won’t let him get away with this." Rex promised quietly.
"Ah, don’t beat yourself up about it. We made our choice. We knew what the price was." Fives scoffed.
"Yeah, speak for yourself." Jesse bit back at Fives, as the lift started going up.
"Still got your sense of humour, I see." Fives laughed sadly.
"Who said I was joking?" Jesse replied bitterly. They both went quiet for a while.
"Well, I guess this is it." Fives sighed. The lift kept going up, towards their demise.
*****
The row of six clones, including Kix and Tup, already waited for them, as well as Dogma.
"Line up the prisoners!" The clone ordered.
"Well, I’ve officially lost my sense of humour." Jesse commented to his brother.
Four clones escorting them led Fives and Jesse to stand by a wall.
"Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?" Dogma asked. Fives just stood straight, defiance radiating from him.
"I’ll take that, as a no." He said, before stepping out of the line of fire.
"I hope you can live with yourself, Dogma." Fives spat at the younger clone.
"Ready weapons!" Dogma shouted, six clones snapped into position, guns prepared to fire.
"Never thought we’d go out this way." Jesse said to Fives, resignation in his voice.
"Aim!"
Fives sighed. He had to try something, even if it would only be for Jesse. And that was his only chance.
"Wait! This is wrong! And we all know it! The General is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on it! No clone should have to go out this way!" Fives shouted, and he could see hesitation in their vod’e’s eyes.
"We are loyal soldiers, we follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men, we must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we are given are wrong!" Fives finished, his chest heaving.
"Fire!"
Fives closed his eyes. Now, he’d see if his speech had been enough to save them. His exhale lined up with the six blaster bolts sailing through the air. He gasped when three of them struck his body, burning through his chest. On his right, he heard Jesse crying out in pain, the same pain he himself felt.
Fives hit the ground hard, his body already going numb, smoke swirled up from his chest. Jesse was down at his side, too, slumped on his stomach, unmoving. He closed his eyes, slipping into the void, wondering if Echo waited for him somewhere, wherever vod’e spent eternity. He had forgiven Rex for not defending them.
Fives couldn’t wait to see all four Dominoes again. Despite how unfair Krell’s actions were, they made it possible for Dominoes to reunite.