Chapter Text
They had been ostracised. Cody would only speak to Rex, but Wolffe intended to ignore them all it seemed. Apparently General Plo was beside himself about what had happened to Alora, and Wolffe was nothing if not fiercely loyal to his General. He was pretty sure the Commander had been holding back from punching him the other day.
It had been four days, and apparently they had only just pulled Alora from the bacta tank. It was a good sign that she would recover, but not even Kix had been allowed in the med bay. He’d tried. He’d argued that as a CMO he had the skills and knowledge to help, but Coric and Snap had kicked him right back out with mutters about orders and not letting them near her.
He didn't think there were actual orders in place, but he found out exactly how they were being kept out of the med bay when he approached the room he knew Alora was in, with Tup who had also wanted to come check on her. Posted outside were Sev and Fixer, sitting stoically on stools against the wall.
He attempted to skirt around them, but they were on their feet in seconds, shoving him back into Tup roughly. Their faces twisted into angry snarls, fury lighting up their eyes that actually frightened him briefly.
“Woah! I just wanted to check on General… on Alora,” he said slowly, raising his hands in supplication.
“Get out of here before you're put in the med bay for a different reason,” Sev snarled, shoving him again.
“We’re just visiting!” He tried, backing up slightly to avoid another shove from Sev as Tup gave him desperate puppy eyes.
“Last I checked, it was you driving the dissent against the General. You did this. Now fucking go before I put you in the ground,” Fixer hissed. There was no teasing in that threat. Fixer meant what he said. He’d put Fives and Tup into early graves and take his punishment proudly. They weren’t getting into that med bay, not with them outside it. He’d seen the messages between them and Alora. They were fiercely loyal to her. If she died, they might actually come after him and Torrent.
Forced to leave, he traipsed back to their barracks beside a silent Tup. It was dim in the quarters as they slid open the door and quietly slipped inside. Ever since they had been rescued the mood had been less than pleasant. They seemed to switch between arguing over what had happened, baleful silence and brooding. Not even Skywalker had come to speak to them again, and Ahsoka was apparently off on some diplomatic mission.
“How is she?” Jesse asked, perking up from where he had been lying on a bottom bunk.
“Delta is guarding the door,” he muttered as he sat down, his leg bouncing anxiously. “They wouldn’t let us in.” It had been days. He just wanted to see her with his own eyes, make his own assessment of whether she would pull through. Being kept in the dark was agonising.
“You’re lucky they didn’t kill you, from what Cody has told me,” Rex murmured. The guilt had hit them all hard, and even other 501 members were avoiding them like the plague lately. They’d been entirely ostracised. Not that he could blame any of them. The chopping block was practically hanging over their head until Alora woke, or…. Or until she died and their fate was left to General Skywalker. Cody was their only source of information, communicating what he knew to Rex after Rex had explained what had happened.
“I just wanted to check…” He sighed.
“Was it worth it?” Rex grunted. “Convincing us all she was a traitor?”
“I didn’t…” he trailed off. He’d taken their little feud way too far. He knew that. He’d disliked her immediately and it had grown into something ugly. So ugly that it might kill her. “Look, I know I messed up. I just took the information at face value. I… can't do anything about that, okay? It was a mistake and I just…” he shook his head, staring at the ground as he tore his hands through his head. Was this something he could even fix? Were the Generals just waiting to see what happened before they executed them? Would Alora’s punishment be worse than Skywalkers? He had to assume so. If she woke from her coma, she would no doubt have them decommissioned for this.
“Yeah, we know Fives,” Jesse sighed, leaning back again. At least they were getting somewhere now, even if it still felt like shit.
He spent the next two weeks trying to find increasingly dangerous ways to get into the medbay, failing every time. He’d stopped getting news on her condition, even Cody was tight lipped, and it worried him even in his sleeping hours. Was something happening? He suspected Tup actually did know. Much to his annoyance, Tup had managed to endear himself to Scorch in Delta and had been allowed inside, on the condition of his silence. He kept his mouth shut . Even when Fives did his best to badger, bribe and generally bother Tup into telling him anything, even scraps of information.
He got nothing.
It had been two weeks since she had disappeared into the med bay and they were finally being sent back out onto the field. Skywalker hadn’t spoken to them the entire time, up until that morning when he had informed them they needed the numbers for the mission and that they would be rejoining him and the rest of the 501st in a siege.
He’d only nodded, knowing better than to open his mouth in front of his General when he was clearly still angry with them.
Now they stood in the briefing room of the Venator, huddled around a holotable as they discussed infiltration angles and troop placements. It didn't look like it would be a particularly hard siege if the numbers had anything to say about it. His gaze was fixed firmly on the blue holo, his mind running through scenarios when a soft, firm voice called out.
“Left flank, not right, Anakin.”
His head shot up and he grinned. Alora stood there, leant against the wall with crossed arms. She was wearing black pants and a sage green tunic that showed off her toned biceps and forearms. Her toned arms that were now completely free of the marks that Savage had carved into them. He didn't know how that had happened, and frankly he didn't care. Her skin was soft and olive toned again, and she looked healthy.
Skywalker’s head had jerked up at the same time as the rest of the room, and her gaze settled briefly on the holo before flicking to them.
“You’re up!” Skywalker grinned, bounding over to her.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” she chuckled quietly, cracking her neck and groaning as she stretched it out. He imagined she’d escaped the med bay as soon as she possibly could. She didn't strike him as the type to enjoy those fluorescent rooms.
“You scare the hell out of us,” Skywalker said. “I’ve never seen Plo so upset.”
She inclined her head thoughtfully. “I’d like to defend myself by saying that was Dooku’s fault,” her gaze glanced over at him and the rest of Torrent, but her face gave away no real emotion at the sight of them. Skywalker’s gaze followed, and he frowned immediately.
“I ah… I haven’t given punishment yet,” he said slowly. “I figured that honour was yours to decide since we cannot continue with a formal investigation until we knew what would happen to you.” Around the room, Cody and their brothers shifted uncomfortably. Even if some of them were still pissed with them, he knew his brothers wouldn’t want to see them decommissioned or sent back to Kamino.
“Why would I be punishing them?” Alora asked simply.
“Do you not remember?” Skywalker asked, his voice tinged with concern.
“Do I not remember that they undermined my battle plan, went behind my back, and intentionally didn’t inform me of what they were doing? Yeah I remember pretty clearly,” she replied and a few of them flinched at her simple explanation. Remembering was obviously not the issue here.
“Then,” Anakin gestured to them and he did his best not to stare at the ground instead of the two generals examining them.
“I see no need for punishment,” she shrugged as if the whole conversation was completely ridiculous. He nearly gaped at her, snapping his mouth shut instead.
“Ah all due respect sir… but we deserve to be punished…” Rex said quietly, his ever stoic Captain sounding slightly nervous in that moment.
“You’re asking to be punished?” She asked with a raised brow, shaking her head. “They’re your men, Anakin.”
“And they disobeyed you and nearly got YOU killed, Alora.”
“Believe me I know,” she frowned a little. “I won’t be punishing them for making what they thought was the right decision at the time.”
“The RIGHT decision?!” Anakin exploded, not caring about the audience even as Kenobi sighed and shook his head. “My men nearly had you killed because they didn’t like you!”
“I concede that point,” she nodded and his gut twisted uncomfortably. “ But , even misguided, they clearly thought my plan was going to get them killed given they thought me a traitor, and decided to make a different choice. I wish they had just said as much, but I’m not punishing them for that,” she shrugged. “Besides, I wasn’t the only one imprisoned for nearly two weeks. I’d say that’s punishment enough. Let’s not even mention your attitude has probably been less than hospitable the past few weeks,” she smiled just the tiniest bit, raising a brow at Skywalker as if she was challenging him to tell her differently.
She really was just going to let him nearly getting her murdered slide like this? After all their animosity he’d have thought she’d relish the opportunity to boot his ass back to Kamino. He wouldn’t have even argued, even with all his pride that came with being an ARC Trooper. Why was she being so chilled out about this?
Silence stretched throughout the room until Anakin groaned. “Fine.”
“So, looks like we’ve got places to be,” she nodded to the holo, apparently content to move on.
“Alora Shan, you’re not coming,” Kenobi sighed.
“Like hell I’m not,” she shot back. “I’m medically cleared and I’ve been in a coma for two weeks. Frankly, if I sit around any longer I’m going to go insane.”
“You nearly died!”
“But I didn’t,” she hummed. “Now, let us not waste time, hm?” She must know she had one over Kenobi because all he did was sigh and go back to the briefing. When she took a seat on the edge of the room, watching the holo thoughtfully, he took the opportunity to sneak glances at her. She didn't seem to notice, which he was grateful for because it gave him the time to truly look at her, even if Delta formed around her like a shield.
Her hair was down in loose waves over her shoulders, her eyes calm and thoughtful in their deep green. Even her light golden markings seemed to shimmer on her face. There was no trace of the violence she had faced, no trace of the marks carved into her skin or the horrors she must’ve undergone. He wondered how they had disappeared - whether it was the force or medical intervention? He wanted to ask, but he doubted she’d be so welcoming to his questions in the way she had been to Tup. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if she would put up with Tup after everything that had happened, which was saying a lot.
When the briefing ended, and Kenobi asked to speak with Delta, the Commander and a few other men, she slipped out of the room promptly. He found himself striding after her as fast as he could without running and looking like a fool.
Outside the briefing room, he tracked her like a bloodhound. She had moved quickly but he had guessed she was heading back to the Command quarters to get her things and get ready and managed to intercept her.
“Alora - sir!” He called out, skidding to a stop behind her.
“Fives,” she nodded bluntly and his stomach did a little nervous flip. Okay… he definitely didn't appear to be forgiven if that attitude was anything to go by.
“Look I -” he began but she held up a hand, cutting him off.
“I am not interested in your apologies. What is done is done, and everything turned out as it should. You are back under Anakin’s leadership now, so let us leave it at that.”
“But -“ He tried.
“Enough. Good luck,” she said before turning and leaving him staring after her blankly, an unfamiliar ache in his chest. She’d dismissed him without even a snarky comment, without even the slightest bit of humour. In fact, even when she had argued back with him during their deployment together she had at least seemed fiery and determined. This interaction just made it seem like she had stopped feeling or thinking anything about him, and maybe even the whole of Torrent.
And there was nothing he could do. She was right, he was back under Skywalker’s command now and she’d disappear off elsewhere.
It left him distracted throughout the whole siege, even when he tried his damndest to perform at his best his mind still went to her. How could he get back that fire she had aimed at him? It was like she didn't even care and he hated it. He hadn’t truly realised how much he had enjoyed her attention until it was ripped from him, and by her own volition too.
Like he was just another number.
By the time they were finished, an entire two days later, he was sweaty, tired and grumpy. Things finally felt like they were getting back to normal with the squad and the 501st more generally but his thoughts still lingered on Alora.
They had only just managed to have a shower and get changed when they got a comm from Skywalker to meet them in the briefing room. After checking with a few other brothers, it seemed the message had only gone to Torrent which did not spell good news. Perhaps Skywalker had decided that her decision not to punish them was not good enough, frankly he couldn’t blame him if he did. He was still reeling over the fact she hadn’t even put them on fresher duty, let alone stripped them of their titles and sent them packing back to Kamino.
Apparently all of them were nervous as they walked towards the briefing room. Even Rex, straight backed and head forward, was chewing his lip as they walked, his helmet secured under his arm like the rest of them.
None of them said a damned word, and as they approached he could hear two voices inside the room. Two unmistakable voices: Alora and Skywalker. Perhaps she just hadn’t wanted to punish them in front of the other battalion.
He caught the backend of their conversation as he walked in beside his brothers.
“You’re joking.” Her voice was deadpan as they filed into the room where she and the General were speaking, arms crossed.
“I know it’s not ideal, especially after everything… But the council…”
“Fuck sake,” she groaned. “Isn’t it always?”
“Sir,” Rex nodded politely, glancing between the two Generals.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Anakin sighed. “The council has asked me back to Coruscant on something urgent. Lore is being left in charge of you lot while the rest of the 501 go with Kenobi.” He blinked once, then twice. What ?
“And she’s not happy about it,” Alora added with a frown.
“As you’ve said repeatedly,” Anakin smirked a little but his face turned dead serious. “If I hear one single word of any of you stepping a toe out of line I swear to the force I will be back here so fast you won’t have time to process what’s happening.”
“Yes sir,” they echoed and Alora sighed.
“Wonderful, threaten them Anakin that’s sure to improve this.”
“I’m still pissed,” Skywalker muttered. Yeah, Fives could see that much was clear. Why the Council had decided this was beyond him, but from what he had learned of them, they enjoyed meddling to ‘teach lessons’ and what not.
“As you’ve said, repeatedly,” she parroted him.
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll… leave you to brief them.”
She watched him leave silently and then turned away from them, facing the window and staring out at the stars. None of them moved a muscle or said a word. Each of them stood stiff as a board as she contemplated whatever it was she was about to say to them.
“Right,” she sighed. “I understand that this is less than ideal for you all so let’s just be blunt about this. If at any point you have a problem with the approach we are taking to a mission or battle, please tell me immediately. I don’t particularly feel like the galaxy's worst second date with Savage.”
They all flinched and she turned around, perhaps missing their violent reactions to her candid words. “Now we’re heading to Brendoc. We leave at 0700 sharp tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”
None of them left. He was pretty sure none of them even shifted on their feet as she dismissed them.
“Am I interrupting something?” She asked carefully.
“We’re sorry,” Tup blurted out. “We tried to visit you but um… Delta wouldn’t let them and -“
“It’s fine, Tup,” she interrupted, her hand drifting to rub the scars on her wrist. “You didn’t know what would happen. I’m certain had you known the outcome you wouldn’t have done it. The matter is finished.”
“It’s not to us,” Rex said boldly, stepping forward.
She sighed, but didn't speak.
“We… we never should have done what we did. Regardless of the outcome… we should have trusted you. You put your life on the line for us and we repaid it by getting you tortured.”
“I’d really rather not rehash this Captain Rex,” she says slowly. “I’m not punishing you and I’m not holding a grudge. You do not have to be concerned that I am somehow going to retaliate by forcing you into dangerous situations.”
“We- we didn’t think…” Jesse muttered.
“Should be the tagline for Torrent, huh?” She smiled a little. “Now, go. Eat, sleep, check your weapons. I have intel dossiers to review.”
“You… ah… you sure?” Rex asked, scratching his buzzed hair awkwardly.
“Yes I am a big girl, Captain,” she chuckled, sitting back in one of the chairs and kicking her feet up onto the edge of the holotable as she pulled her datapad to her and began reading quietly, content to ignore their presence as they remained standing there.
Even as the others trailed out of the room, he remained. He got a few warning glares from some of his brothers but none of them said a word. Neither did Alora as she continued to read her reports like he wasn’t even there. Feeling emboldened, he edged forward until he was practically standing over her, one hand on the edge of the table near her booted ankle.
“Alora,” he said, cocking his head as he watched her. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
She didn't say anything for a long moment, and he shifted as he waited, his fingers flexing on the holo table. “I recall once saying that to you and you ignored me,” she replied simply, not looking up from her reading.
“I was being an asshole,” he said confidently.
“Hm,” she hummed, finally setting those green eyes on him. “You need to get past this otherwise completing the next missions, at least until Anakin returns from bootlicking, is going to be very, very hard.”
“What are you saying?” He challenged, fighting the urge to grab her ankle and squeeze playfully.
“I mean , forget about it. We’re not friends. I’m your General. As I said earlier, I have no desire to enact revenge upon any of you. I also have no desire to put my spies in the Separatists at such risk again. Now, I am going to read these in peace,” she said, kicking her boots off the table and getting to her feet. He’d forgotten how much shorter she was than him and when he instinctively put a hand to her shoulder to steady her, she shrugged him off, the briefest glimmer of annoyance in her eyes.
With that, she stalked out and left him staring after her.
It was only with those words did he realise how much he envied how much Tup had gotten to know her, how much he envied how easy she was around him, how she would probably pretend he was nothing more than another soldier until they were separated again.
Unfortunately for her, he was nothing if not stubborn and committed. He would get her to like him, one way or another. He just needed time.
//
The Council were surely messing with her with this play. There was no need to leave her in charge of Torrent squad. They could’ve gone with Kenobi like the rest of the 501st but no. No. Of course they thought there was some lesson to be learned here. They always did, and now she was stuck with a squad she couldn’t trust.
Delta had rioted when she had informed them she wouldn’t be accompanying them on their next mission. They were more than capable of operating without her, but their concerns certainly fell into the ‘we don't trust them’ and not the ‘we need you’ lot.
“Absolutely not! I’m going to have a word with fucking Skywalker,” Fixer snapped.
“He’s already left,” she pointed out, chewing on her ration bar as they sat in their quarters.
“Then Kenobi!” Fixer ranted, throwing his hand out wide and nearly clipping Scorch in the head.
“He’s right. Not a fucking chance,” Boss grunted. “We thought you were dead when that Jedi carried you in, ad’ika. I’m not letting you leave with the same fucking squad who betrayed you.”
“Their intentions were not wrong,” she sighed for what felt like the thousandth time since she had woken up in that too bright medical wing. “They had good reason to think I was a traitor. Now they know better.”
“They should’ve trusted you,” Sev said, his deep growly voice echoing through the room. He didn't need to say much to get his point across. If it were left up to him, he would’ve gutted the entirety of Torrent.
“Perhaps, but trust is not implicit. Besides, I’m fine, aren’t I?” She smirked, earning her tired sighs from each of them.
“Only because you managed to force heal some of those external wounds when those cuffs came off,” Scorch huffed. “You’re basically our sister, you dumb bantha. We’re not letting you near them ever again.”
That made her laugh, nearly bending over in amusement. “They’re not trying to
date
me! You don't have to act like my older brothers! And besides, I am older than you!”
“Yeah we’re all weellllll aware of your…. Private life,” Scorch grinned and she knocked him on the shoulder. Yeah, sometimes when they were on longer missions in more populated areas she didn't have problems finding some… stress relief, should she want it. There was even that one Lord she’d met in Canto Bight that had been a particularly good time. In fact, she was pretty sure she still had his comm somewhere.
“Stop prying,” she grinned. “And stop worrying. I can handle myself just fine.”
“Clearly not,” Boss grumbled.
“Hey, I survived. I lived. I gave that Bastard hell,” she shrugged. “And this is war, after all. If it hadn’t happened now ....” She allowed the implication to sit in the air, earning stifled groans.
“I don't trust them,” Sev snarled.
“Sevy, please . Hopefully this won't be for long and I will rejoin you when I can. Don’t make me make this an order,” she said softly, but the command in her tone was not missed. They may be her brothers, but she was still their commanding officer at the end of the day and it was something they were careful not to forget.
“Fine,” Boss grunted. “But if
anything
happens I will let Sev shoot them and then I am going to skin them.”
“Noted, I’ll ensure that is passed along,” she said dryly, though she had no intention of doing so. “Now can I please go get some sleep? I’ve got to do a ship check at 5am since you guys are taking ours.”
“Night Adi’ka,” Scorch grinned, ruffling her hair and breaking it out of the low bun it had been in. She pushed him back in the head before slipping out to her own quarters.
She didn't sleep overly well that night, still haunted by the torture Savage had inflicted on her. She liked to think herself resilient, but that had been hard . She had faced death and she thought she had done so rather fearlessly but these were not the sort of things someone could just shrug off, no matter how hard she tried.
Committing to meditating on it later, she went about checking the large omicron class ship Skywalker had got her. She had to admit, it was magnificent, even equipped with bunks in the back and a small medical station which would no doubt please Kix.
It was only 6:30 when the others arrived and she raised a silent brow at them. They weren’t due for another half an hour, but she decided not to comment. Besides, if they set off now they’d have an extra half hour shaved off their trip to Brendoc.
They didn't say anything as they boarded with their gear, and neither did she. They still didn't speak when she started the ship up, though Tup did come and sit in the co-pilot’s chair just like he used to. When she put them into hyperspace, Tup shifted beside her but she didn't comment. It was best if they figured things out on their own. After all, her interventions before had only ended in screaming matches with Fives and ultimately their distrust in her.
“So…” Tup trailed off. “Um… Delta not coming?”
That made her snort in amusement. “Well, I should hope not, otherwise I’d be concerned about where they are.”
“Oh,” he nodded.
“They have their own mission. They’ve operated excellently without me before and they will do so now. I hear you got to talking with Scorch?” She threw him a bone, and his eyes lit up when she glanced at him.
“Ah huh! He’s an expert in explosives. Never seen anything like it - showed me how to rig a DC-17 into a miniature bomb,” Tup nodded, patting his holster fondly.
She cringed good naturedly. “Of course he did. Try not to use that one unless it’s dire, yeah? Scorch almost blew me up the first time he did it.”
“ Really ?” Tip grinned.
“Mhm, dodged at the last second. All he achieved was blowing up his blaster,” she chuckled. “I made him use a DC-15 for a whole month just as punishment.”
“He’s very particular,” Tup edged cautiously.
“No, he’s a little shit,” she smiled, leaning back in her seat and rubbing her shoulder absently. Even though the marks were gone, she could still feel where Savage had cut into her like she had been a piece of fruit. It didn't hurt, it just… it was like the echo of a memory.
“You okay?” Tup asked, his voice earnest and soft. As much as she wanted to stay separate from them from now on, Tup just tugged at all the right strings. She couldn’t stay stringent with him if she tried.
“I’m fine, Tup. No lasting pain. I can just feel where that knife went in,” she sighed and he flinched, his gaze going from her shoulder, to her face and then to the control panel like he didn't quite know where to look.
“I’m… It was awful to watch,” he mumbled. She actually appreciated that he hadn’t apologised. Despite the fact that their misgivings of her had gotten them in that situation, it hadn’t been them torturing her.
“I’m sure,” she murmured. “Don’t blame yourself, Tup. You weren’t holding the blade.”
“Yeah I know, but… I’ll kill him,” he muttered darkly, his hand going absently to his blaster and she nodded thoughtfully.
“We’ll see,” she said, patting his shoulder pauldron. “Frankly I’d prefer it if you didn't come into contact with a deranged Sith Lord.”
Sometime after that, she fell asleep. She’d only gotten four or so hours the night before thanks to her tossing and turning, so the nap was welcome. The ship was nice and warm too, and it kept her in a comfortable dream state until she heard the groaning of armour beside her. With no idea how long it had been, she had to assume they were coming out of hyperspace but when she opened her eyes the control panel still said they had an hour or two to go.
Fives, however, had come to take Tup’s place and she cocked her head at him silently in question.
“You were sleeping, figured I’d take over watching the controls,” he said, nodding to the viewport.
“Thank you,” she replied politely, settling back into her seat.
“You can go back to sleep, you know,” he said, leaning back in the co-pilot’s chair himself, though his eyes never left her face.
“No, I think I am well awake now,” she murmured, only glancing at him briefly before returning her gaze to the swirling blue glow of hyperspace.
“I tend to have that effect on people,” he smirked and she blinked at him in surprise, unsure what to say. He was being… oddly playful. It was the side of him she knew was there when they had been on deployment together. The side she had wished to see but had been denied. Now… Now she wasn’t sure she even cared to know it.
“I’m sure,” she said dismissively, waving her hand a little.
“Are you?” He asked, his tone light and quiet.
“Where is Tup?” She asked instead and his face fell a little. She might’ve felt bad if it was anyone else but she still hadn’t gotten over his unfounded hatred for her, nor the one eighty he had done in the last 3 days since she had woken up from her medical coma. She was still steadfast in the thought that she would work with him, but she would no longer entertain his goading or prodding. There would be no more arguments between them because she would not engage with him. He could push and prod and goad and argue all he wanted but she was not falling back into that trap.
“He went to talk to Kix,” he muttered, sounding a bit dejected. She glanced back over her shoulder to find the men thrown over the ground and seats running along the wall by the comms panel and nodded at them in acknowledgement. Tup waved, and she gave him a brief smile before spinning her chair a little to face the viewport again.
Stars, she hoped Anakin would be back soon.