Work Text:
The dream, words hum in his mind, a dancing warning of the reality of the situation all of them are in – something Anakin had wanted so badly to ignore. He should have listened. Seen what it really meant – but he led Echo and Omega right into the trap laid for them.
Because it was, he thinks, a trap, through and through.
This was his failure. The dream. He saw Omega being taken. He told Echo. And that was why it happened. Maybe it would have otherwise. But… it wouldn’t. Omega’s gone. They don’t know if she’s still alive. IF she’s alright. If she’ll make it out, or if they’ll find her before it’s too late.
There are so many things the Empire could have wanted Omega for. Anakin doesn’t know what. No one does.
The ship touches down on Pabu. It’s nice here. The Force feels peaceful. It flows brilliantly here, with the calm and peacefulness overlapping the sorrow of Omega’s absence. And of many others.
Echo’s waiting for him.
The clone has lost so many people over the years of the war. His entire first squad. Now Omega.
Anakin pulls his friend into a tight embrace. It almost feels like cold comfort in the face of what he just caused, but this once, he has absolutely no idea what to do. “How are things here?” he asks instead, because he owes it to all of them to make sure they’re somewhat settling in.
“Oh, it’s a nice place,” Echo shrugs. He’s trying to bury his grief, though Anakin can still feel it. Echo’s been one of his best friends all the way back since the start of Clone Wars. He’s always been there, until the Citadel, and everything fell apart one piece at a time.
“How is it with the kids?” Anakin asks quietly – that’s the part he’ll be struggling with the most.
“They’re… managing,” Echo replies, “It’s hard. She’s the one they’ve been with. I’ve been gone for a while. Having to switch over to me is… well, it’s tricky.”
“Are you going to stay with them?”
“Somebody’s got to.”
Echo’s really about guilt. And grief. There’s a chance Fives is still alive, and it makes Anakin want to drive himself to insanity, too. They were all so driven, trying to do what they thought was right – what would have been right, if not for Saw Gerrera of all people interfering. He used everything Anakin taught him and used it to make him a villain. “I think staying here would give you all some good,” Anakin says finally. He wishes he could. That fighting wasn’t his responsibility. But he played his part in this, and in putting Palpatine in power. He’s making it up – somehow.
“Yeah, that’s what Omega thought.” His face falls a little.
“I’m sorry I dragged you into this.”
“I dragged Omega into this.”
“I dragged you both in. I should have known this would happen. I always go chasing after my visions, and that’s always what makes them happen.”
“I trust your visions,” Echo replies firmly, “If you thought I needed to be warned, then I did. Maybe the Force wanted it this way.” He says it dryly, but he’s serious. Anakin doesn’t know how. He doesn’t deserve that loyalty.
“I hope so,” he concedes with a sigh. “I hope we can work this out, too.”
“We’ve fought through a lot in the war,” Echo reminds, “I think we can sit this out a little longer.”
“Would you be alright with it?”
He shrugs. “I’ll manage. Omega spent her whole time together trying to teach me I could be something other than a soldier. Right now, that’s what those kids need. That’s what I’ll try to give them.”
Sitting out is never something Echo’s been good at – at least not since Fives. It used to be. Before. A lot’s changed. Maybe, with the hopes that Fives is alive and that he and Omega might be together, Anakin’s got to hope the same will find way to be true again.
“They do need you,” he agrees, “Just take care of yourself while you’re here.”
Echo waves him off. “I’ll be fine. Why not go check on the kids? I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you again.”
Maybe. They are adorable. Anakin just wishes he wasn’t to blame for what happened.
***
“How does this Force-stuff help if it’s what got her captured, anyway?” Crosshair asks.
“Crosshair!” Wrecker hisses, aghast, “It wasn’t his fault!”
“It’s warranted,” Anakin soothes, raising his hands. It actually feels good to be yelled at. He deserves it. “And, Crosshair, I wish I knew. I don’t. I might be a Jedi. But I don’t know everything. I just know that the Force’s will is… complicated. That doesn’t mean I didn’t make a mistake.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Wrecker argues stubbornly. His loyalty is adorable, and admirable. The same as all clones, just a bit blinder. He’d do anything somebody asked him to, despite the complete lack of sanity it would often require. And what many of his siblings no doubt do.
Crosshair doesn’t blame him, either. Not really. Anakin can feel that – he’s just angry, and Crosshair is tightly wound. He lashes out at anyone and everyone when he’s angry. No matter how unjustified that may be. And in this case, it’s fully justified. Anakin doesn’t blame him.
“I think it actually kinda was,” Crosshair insists stubbornly.
“It was,” Anakin repeats, “But you know, for while she’s away, the most I can offer is that she would want you live. Not die trying to get her back.”
“But what if that’s what we want?” Crosshair asks.
“Then you need to choose between what you want, and what you know she wants. And how much you want to protect who you have.” He’s been faced with this, too. He sacrificed a lot to get to his mother, to Obi-Wan. And he could never regret it. But he’s also hurt a lot of people, too. Life is full of choices. “There is no wrong answer. Unless it comes to hurting everyone else.”
“I wanna blow something up,” Wrecker sulks, even if his neck is still in a brace.
Anakin smiles a little, though it’s as sad as it is amusing. “Try not to let it be your head,” he requests.
“W – what does that mean?” Wrecker asks panickily, looking at Crosshair, who giggles.
“He means ‘don’t kill yourself’,” he spells out with plain glee.
“That isn’t exactly what I mean,” Anakin corrects, smothering a grin, “But it’s close enough.” He wishes he could raise his own children, that it was a chance he got. That he could stop worrying about everything and get to be with them. This chance Echo has is something many would kill for. He just wishes the circumstances were a little different.
Maybe Echo does need to settle down. Maybe all of them do.
It is, at any rate, what they want, even if it’s not what the rest of the galaxy needs. He has a rebellion to lead. An Empire to fight. It’s exhausting sometimes.
“You’re right that this was at least partly my fault. Whatever you do now, I… just hope you can make it. We’ll figure something out to find Omega. I promise. I won’t stop searching. That base is our best hope against the Empire, and it’s your only hope at getting your family back together. It’s our most important mission.”
“We can help,” Crosshair objects firmly, arms crossed.
“It’s safest for you five here on Pabu. Out of the action. I know Omega would feel better if she knew you were here. This was my doing. Let me fix it.”
“If there’s anythin’ we can do, tell us,” Wrecker pleads. He’s about six or so, but he’s so… mature now. Omega’s loss has changed them all, taken a toll it never should have. Anakin thinks of Ahsoka again. Of how she walked away. And of how she and Omega were friends before Omega left, and… then everything fell apart.
Omega’s…
“I will,” Anakin vows. He’s going to figure out a way. No matter what it takes.
***
Tech is, as expected, quiet and broody. He’s still keen on talking about anything machine related, or something he can use his mind for, but Anakin just feels sorely out of place, standing there, trying to talk to him when he’s the reason this squad lost its leader. He still tries to help a bit with what Tech is fixing on the Marauder without really talking – he’s so, so bad at words, and right now, they’re failing him the strongest.
It’d be like the 501st trying to hold together without Rex. It just… wouldn’t be the 501st anymore. Clone Force 99 will always remain, but without all six of them, it’s… hard.
“Maybe I should’ve brought Artoo here,” Anakin decides dejectedly. It’s a silly regret, but he just… should’ve done something. Thought of something. He knows there are always gonna be regrets in war.
“It would have been useful to have him on Eriadu,” Tech replies. “Or someone to reinforce us.”
“I should have come with you.”
“It would have helped.”
Anakin sighs. That’s true. He… really never thought his own actions through. He’s the leader of the rebellion. How could he have missed this? The future of the clones is sitting on his shoulders, and then he’ll walk his own men into doom. Echo insists this must’ve happened for some reason, but Anakin…
Okay, he knows that, but sometimes accepting is really, really hard.
“I’m sorry I never thought to come with you. I should have known this would get this messy.”
“Your visions conveniently never showed you,” Tech reminds grumpily.
Anakin huffs. “Yeah. I guess I really can’t control exactly what I see. It’s… exhausting sometimes. To have so much power and never know how to aim it right. I know I can do a lot more than I have, but I can’t make it right. But…” But he’s not here for him. “Enough of that. How are things here? On Pabu?”
“The twins seem to like it,” Tech replies immediately, “It is different than our missions on Kamino and with Omega.” His face falls a little at her name.
Anakin gently squeezes his shoulder. “Do you like it?”
“I do not know how to quantify that.”
Ah. That hurts. Tech might be autistic, but he’s still… half his differences come from being changed by how he was raised. He hasn’t ever been told anything could be more important than the mission, and he still struggles to accept it might be. Everything except his own brothers – who he and all of them always put ahead of everything else.
Their brothers and Omega.
Omega, who is presently imprisoned because of Anakin.
All of this is because of Anakin. He failed them so badly.
“Well, it’s a beautiful place to live,” he shrugs, despite the heavy, crushing sensation in his chest. “It’s really peaceful, and remote. Pretty far from the Empire’s reach, at least right now. Do you have friends here?”
“It is strange that we have,” Tech answers hesitantly, “Even on missions, we never had anyone who enjoyed spending time with all of us. But there are some children here who… understand. Or at least have yet to object to it.”
“I hope you can make it here,” Anakin adds, “I know how close you are. It’s something many people will struggle to understand, but I’m sure there are still some who will understand.”
“Perhaps. Bonds as close as ours are rare. I am not surprised that they often keep their distance.”
“Maybe. But it’s still not right. Theirs’s nothing wrong with how close you four are, but sometimes, there will be times when you need to spend time with others than your siblings. Not that it’s a necessity – I just think you’ll find it makes it easier. You know, when… I was little, I never had friends, either. It was just me and Obi-Wan until I met Rex.”
“You never had friends?” Tech asks disbelievingly.
“No. I know, now, most people wouldn’t believe it. But I never fit in with the Jedi, just like none of you fit with the clones. And I know it’s not the same. But you can find similarities in places you weren’t looking.”
“I will be sure to remember that,” Tech replies hesitantly.
Anakin pats his shoulder again. “I know. Good luck here. I’ll contact you as soon as I find something about Omega.”
“If you find something about her, you know I can help with information decryption.”
Ah, done that before. Not making the same mistake twice. Anakin smiles, anyway. “I will.”
Tech nods, smiling back.
***
Hunter’s always been a quiet kid from the start. Anakin guessed that when he first saw him, though his quietness often and easily hides the sheer brand of chaos he carries himself with. It’s a little terrifying, to tell the truth – but at least he doesn’t enjoy setting fires like the twins do. He’s more the… putting himself in life-threatening situations type.
“I know you’re gonna say we have to stay here, but I wanna help,” Hunter tells him seriously, “Omega would do the same for us.”
“She also wants you to stay here,” Anakin reminds, “At least until you’re recovered.” They were all injured. It makes him feel even worse.
Hunter makes a face. “Yeah. Though we are soldiers – or we will be.”
Anakin raises a hand to slow him down. “That’s a few years away yet.”
“A few years is… well, almost half my life.” Hunter huffs. “But still. Omega’s captured, and I can’t just ignore that. Even if I want to make sure my brothers are safe.”
“You do well at that,” Anakin feels the need to point out, “Certainly better than I did.”
“Didn’t Echo tell you about Fives?”
“He did. Fives was my best friend. But that doesn’t mean want you blindly rushing into something like – like this where you could all be killed. I didn’t mean to get you involved. I should’ve taken Rex or a squad of my own men, and…”
“You couldn’t help that Saw was there,” Hunter objects, “Or that Cid betrayed us.”
“I saw the darkness and led you right to it.”
“Or Echo just missed us, and no one had any idea there was a total moron waiting to burn us to death.”
Well, with the severity, Anakin’s just grateful no one actually died. It would’ve been so easy. “Fair,” he reluctantly concedes, “Not that it changes anything.”
“We have to get Omega back.”
“We will. I have all my boys on it now. That’s our main target. Finding Hemlock, tracking that place, though we need to stay under their radar for now. Trying to head a Rebellion, no supplies, it’s… tricky work.”
Hunter slowly reaches out, patting his thigh. “Do you think we’ll get her back?” he asks quietly.
Anakin has to pause and try to feel. The path in front of them is long, heavy and dark, but certain. “I do,” he confirms, “And when we do, things will be… different. Stay here. Keep your brothers safe, and train hard. I know Echo will take care of you. But if you ever want to fight, when you’re old enough and ready to make that choice, we’ve got a long war ahead of us. The Clone Wars might be over, but there’s still a place for all of you yet.”
He's gonna try to find a way to make sure of this. It’s what Fives always wanted, and it’s what Ahsoka would want, wherever across the galaxy she still is.
***
“Whatever you told them, I think they feel better,” Echo tells him dryly, “It’s freaky how you always do that.”
“I try my best,” Anakin quips. It feels like a lie – but it’s true. He really does, at everything he does, but he still messes up so much. It’s insane for the level of chaos he’s caused. “We’re gonna figure something out, Echo. You tracked Hemlock down once. It’ll only be a matter of time before he shows his face again, and this time, we’ll be ready.” Still, it seems so impossible.
“We don’t know what state the galaxy will be in then,” he objects. “Sir, can you tell me, honestly, can you really manage as efficiently without me?”
No. They have so few clones. Most that they pull out are going into hiding. It’s a joke for them to think they can hide from the Empire, but he’s not going to deny them. And the few with them are spread thin across the galaxy, thinner with how easily they’re killed.
These… assassins aren’t helping matters
Echo, with his hacking abilities, is very, very useful.
“We can manage,” Anakin tells him, honestly. “It’s gonna be hard, but these kids need you. You can’t just leave them again without Omega. Look at it like this. When they’re old enough, there’s going to be nothing that can face off to them. They’ll be pretty safely unstoppable.”
Echo nods, sighing. “Yeah. It’d kind of be like losing Artoo.”
“Second one,” Anakin corrects, “We’ll be okay. I promise. Omega will come home soon.”
He can feel that. It’s far off, but there’s something – a light flickering in his mind, far off, but brilliant. It won’t be the end of the war. But, at any rate, this family will be whole again someday. And that's not merely him hoping; it's the word of the Force itself.