Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fives sat bolt upright with a gasp. The searing pain in his chest was gone, but he felt…strange. He got to his feet and glanced around. The Coruscant Guard was crowded around something nearby.

What happened? Why weren’t they still after him? Then, he caught sight of what they were all looking at and cried out in shock. Rex was leaning over a body. Fives’ body.

“What..” He glanced down and blinked. “Huh. That’s new.” He was eerily transparent, a pale blue light dancing around the edges of his hands.

General Skywalker knelt next to Rex and laid a hand on his shoulder. No one was speaking, just giving a moment of silent respect. For Fives. He was dead.

“No, I can’t be dead. I have to warn them!” Fives rushed over to Rex and tried to grab his arm. "Rex!"

But instead of grabbing his captain, Fives passed right through him. It was a distinctly strange feeling that sent a shudder through both Fives and Rex.

“No.” Fives watched as Skywalker spoke softly to Rex. “They didn’t believe me.”

He tried to grab some of the others, even the General, but it did no good. He couldn’t touch any of them. After a moment, he stumbled away from the group, trying to calm his breathing. That’s when he noticed one who hadn’t joined the others.

Commander Fox was staring at his blaster, shaking his head. “I set it to stun…”

“Yeah…I don’t think so.” Fives turned and walked away. “If it weren’t for you, I might have been able to warn them. Now…”

He froze and looked around, horror suddenly coming over him. Now what?

When he’d realized he was going to die, he’d been at peace with the idea. He thought he’d see them all again, Tup, Hardcase, Echo…but instead he was stuck here. And it appeared nobody could see or hear him.

At that realization, he dropped to his knees and gasped for breath. Was he going to be stuck like this forever? Trapped amongst the living, and yet completely alone?

After a bit, the others started moving and his body was taken away. He couldn’t help but shudder at the sight and turned away.

Rex stood there frozen for a moment, and Fives’ heart dropped as his captain wiped a tear off his cheek. In all their time working together, he didn’t think he’d ever seen Rex cry. General Skywalker squeezed his shoulder and muttered something to him. Rex just nodded and followed his general toward the door.

As he passed Fox, the commander took his helmet off and made as if to speak to him. “Rex, I—”

But Rex didn’t even look up, face hardening. The rest of the Guard followed them out. Most refused to look at Fox, but one stopped next to him.

“Fox, what was that?" He took off his helmet. "You said to set weapons to stun.”

“I did.” Fox shook his head. “I’m telling you Thorn, it was set to stun.”

Thorn sighed. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

"They all hate me." Fox turned away. "You should too."

"I don't think so." Thorn squeezed Fox's shoulder. "I see what you go through every day. I know you didn't want to. Give the others time. They'll come around."

He offered Fox a small smile before following the others out.

Fox stood rooted in place, hands shaking. Then, he hurled his helmet at the ground and Fives flinched at the cracking sound.

“I set it to stun.” Fox shook his head. “I know I did!”

For a moment, Fives wanted to believe him. But then he remembered that this was more important than his death. He didn’t warn them in time, and now others would pay the price. Without another glance, he ran after the others.

Somehow, he managed to squeeze into the small ship with Skywalker and Rex. It wasn’t made for three, but it wasn’t like they knew he was there. Skywalker, thankfully, was piloting, as Rex was in no condition. He just sat there with his face in his hands.

More than anything, Fives wanted to comfort his ori’vod. To tell him that it wasn’t his fault. But he couldn’t bring himself to keep speaking when no one responded, so he stayed silent.

He didn’t really want to go with Rex when he told the others about what happened, but he figured he should. At least he could be there for them in spirit…

"Heh." He chuckled despite himself. "In spirit. How ironic."

But then, he wasn’t there anymore. One second he was following Rex into the 501st barracks and the next, he wasn’t. His heart leapt for a moment as he wondered if he’d finally been able to be at peace. Then, he realized he wouldn’t be so lucky as his eyes fell on the other figure in the room with him.

Fox sat on a bunk, head in his hands, whispering to himself.

“I didn’t mean to. I’d never kill a brother. It was…a mistake.”

Fives snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”

He glanced around. How had he gotten here? It appeared to be the Coruscant Guard headquarters. There was nothing in the room except for the bunk and a desk.

Suddenly, Fox’s body went rigid as his head snapped up. Fives took a step closer, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Good soldiers follow orders.”

Fives stepped back with a gasp. That was what Tup had been saying, over and over again. Just like what Fox was doing now.

His comlink beeped and Fox grabbed it, arm moving slowly as if in a trance.

“Report Commander.”

Fives clenched his fists at Palpatine’s voice.

“CT-5555 was eliminated as ordered.” Fox’s voice came out in an emotionless monotone.

“Good, good,” Palpatine chuckled. “You have done well, Commander. That is all.”

The comlink went dead and Fox blinked. He stared at the device as if he’d never seen it before as his emotionless expression melted away.

“Blacked out again," he muttered.

Fives stared at Fox. It was the chip. It had to be. That would explain everything. He probably had set his blaster to stun, but that Palpatine had forced him to switch it to kill.

Fox tossed the comlink on the bed and sighed. “They’re never going to forgive me for this…”

Fives stared at the broken man in front of him and felt the last bit of anger vanish. He’d been used…they’d all been used.

“I do.” Fives stepped so he was standing right in front of Fox. “I forgive you.”

To Fives’ shock, Fox’s head shot up at the words and he met Fives’ gaze. But that was impossible. No one could see him.

Fox blinked. “You’re dead.”

Fives’ eyes widened, but before he could say anything, Fox collapsed onto his bunk.

“Great.” Fives sighed. “As if this couldn’t get any weirder.”

Chapter Text

Fox groaned. What happened? Had he blacked out again? He’d been trying to figure everything out when he’d looked up and seen…no, that was impossible. Fives was dead.

“Oh good, you’re alive.”

Fox's eyes shot open. Fives was staring down at him with his arms crossed. But Fox could see right through him.

Several thoughts ran through his mind. Why was Fives transparent? How was he here? And why would he be glad Fox is alive when Fox was the one who...

“You okay?”

Fox blinked at Fives’ concerned expression. “Not really.”

“Yeah…I’m not surprised.”

“You’re dead,” Fox repeated. “I…I killed you.”

Fives winced. “Well…it looks like I’m a ghost or something.”

“But…why are you here?” Fox stood up and took a wary step toward Fives. He wasn’t entirely convinced this wasn’t some sort of cruel trick.

Fives shrugged. “You’re guess is as good as mine. After you shot me, I just sorta' woke up like this.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Fox paused. He was close enough he could touch Fives. “Why are you here, with me? Why not Rex?”

“I tried to follow Rex, but then I ended up here.”

They were both quiet for a moment as Fox processed everything. Some logical part of his mind was saying that he really should be more concerned that there was a ghost in his quarters. He probably shouldn't be conversing with what was probably just a hallucination dreamed up by his guilty conscience. But another part of him was saying that this was real. Somehow, Fives was here.

“I…I’m so sorry,” Fox whispered at last. “I don’t know what happened. I...know it sounds crazy, but I didn’t want to kill you.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Fives sighed. “I think I know what happened.”

“Yeah, I’m defective." Fox dropped his eyes. "I made a stupid mistake and it cost you your life.”

“No.” Fives stepped forward as if to grab him, but stopped himself. “I was here when you blacked out earlier. The Chancellor contacted you and you reported to him that you killed me on his orders.”

“What?” Fox took a step back. “But, he never gave me any orders like that.”

"That you remember. It sounds like you've had these blackouts before, right?"

"Yeah..." More times than he cared to count.

Fives was quiet for a moment before continuing. “Do you know why you were sent after me?”

“You tried to assassinate the Chancellor.”

“I tried to assassinate him because he told me the truth.” Fives began pacing a circle around the small room. “It started on Ringo Vinda when Tup murdered a Jedi. They decided to send him to Kamino and I went with him. He died, but I found out about these inhibitor chips that the Kaminoans supposedly put in us to make us less aggressive. The Chancellor told me that their true purpose is to force us to do whatever somebody wants.”

Fox sank to his bunk. “What are you saying?”

“He activated your chip. That’s why you don’t remember some things. You didn’t have a choice.”

Fox was trembling now. If this was true…what else could the Chancellor make him do? What else had he already made him do?

“Hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”

“How?” Fox shook his head. “You were killed for knowing this. If I do anything, he’ll kill me too. Not that I don’t deserve it.”

“Of course you don’t deserve it!" Fives snapped. "And you can’t die. I can’t warn anyone…it’ll have to be you.”

Fox let out a humorless laugh. “They won’t listen to me. If you were there…you saw how they all looked at me. Even my own men. All except Thorn.”

“Well…you can tell Rex I’m here. That it wasn't your fault.”

“Right.” Fox laughed again. “Hey Rex. Remember your ARC I killed? Well, his ghost is following me around. Oh, and he wants me to tell you it wasn't my fault.”

“I guess…that won’t work.” Fives’ face fell. “Maybe we can find some way to make him see me.”

“Sounds like a Jedi thing.”

“I keep wondering. General Skywalker once told me that the Jedi believe you become part of the Force when you die.” Fives shook his head. “But I haven’t seen anyone else around like this, Jedi or otherwise.”

A knock at the door made them both jump. Fox walked over and opened it to find a shiny with a datapad, bucket firmly in place.

“The report you requested, sir.” His voice was cold as he handed Fox the datapad.

Fox just stared at him for a moment. This kid had just arrived a week before. He'd been having a hard time settling in, and Fox had taken the time to make sure he felt welcome, even been trying to help him find a name. They'd been getting along nicely, but now...

"Thank you.” Fox took the datapad, fighting to keep his fingers from trembling. “Is there…anything else?”

“No sir.” With that, he turned and walked away.

Fox stared after him for a moment, taking a couple deep breaths. While there had always been some tension between the Guard and the rest of the GAR, there never had been between Fox and his own men before.

But now, after what he'd done, it looked like everything had changed.

Fives watched the exchange without a word, standing right behind Fox, but the trooper didn’t acknowledge him. This wasn’t fair to Fox. Fox closed the door and turned back to Fives.

“Why are you still here?” Fox snapped, tossing the datapad on his desk. “May as well go find Rex.”

Fives shrugged. “Not like I’d be able to talk to him. Besides, it looks like my ori’vod here needs me.”

Fox flinched. “Don't call me that. I...I don't deserve it. Besides, it's not like we knew each other.” He returned to sit on his bunk.

“Rex always spoke highly of you.” Fives hesitated a moment before sitting beside him. “Besides, none of this changes the fact we’re brothers.”

“I doubt anyone else will want me for a brother now.” Fox dropped his gaze. “Why should you, of all people?”

Fives made to reach for him, but stopped himself again.

“See?” Fox swallowed. “You can’t even bear the idea of touching me.”

“It’s not that.” Fives dropped his eyes. “I can’t. When I tried to touch anyone, I went right through them. It was weird.”

Fox nodded, but kept his eyes down.

“I’ll show you.” Fives reached for Fox’s shoulder, expecting to pass through him. But he didn’t. His hand landed on something solid.

Fox sucked in a breath and stared at Fives. And Fives couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled his ori’vod to him in a hug. Fox was stiff for a moment before reaching out and clinging to Fives' armor.

“Ni ceta…”

“It’s okay.” Fives carded his fingers through Fox’s hair. It came naturally to him. That was how he'd used to calm Echo down when he’d needed it. It seemed to do the trick for Fox as well.

After a few moments, Fives shifted so they were laying down. Despite the fact that they were both wearing full armor, Fox’s breathing evened out as he drifted off to sleep.

Fives didn’t sleep. It didn’t seem like he could. But he was content anyway. He smiled to himself as he glanced down at the vod asleep in his arms.

Part of him felt this was all wrong. Fox was a commander, not some shiny fresh of Kamino. But it felt right. And Fives decided then and there that he was going to watch over his ori’vod. Somehow, he’d find a way to tell the others that Fox was innocent. Find a way to warn them about the inhibitor chips. And, hopefully, find a way to let them know that Fives, while dead, was still with them.

Chapter Text

Fox awoke to a warm feeling, and he let out a long sigh. For a moment, he let himself imagine he was back on Kamino and had crawled into Wolffe's bunk. Despite all the hardships on Kamino, spending time there with his batchmates were some of his fondest memories. But, slowly, reality came back and he remembered everything that had happened.

He didn’t want to open his eyes. This was more peace than he’d had in some time. But the galaxy wasn’t going to stop just because he was such a mess. After enjoying a moment longer of peace, he sat up to find Fives watching him carefully. To his shock, he felt a rush of relief at the realization that he wasn't alone. That Fives hadn't vanished in the night.

Fives smiled. “Better?”

Fox nodded. They sat there staring at each other for a few moments before Fives sighed.

“Well, this is…strange.”

Fox laughed. A real laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed like that.

“You’re telling me.” Then his face sobered. “What now?”

“Hey, you’re the Commander!” Fives crossed his arms. “You’re supposed to figure that out.”

Fox sighed. “I have to go. Still have my duties to attend to.”

“Do they involve the Chancellor?”

Fox dropped his eyes.

“You be careful around him.” Fives grabbed his shoulder. “He can’t find out that you know.”

“I want to get it out.”

Fives nodded. “But we’ll have to be careful about it.”

“What if he activates it again? What if I…” Fox shuddered.

“I...wish I had an answer for you.” Fives dropped his gaze.

Fox let out a breath and nodded. “What are you going to do?”

Fives shrugged. “Thought I might try to get back to the 501^st and see if I can get anyone there to see me. Then I can tell them you’re innocent.”

Fox was taken aback by the protective tone of Fives’ voice.

“But I can stay if you want me to,” Fives added. “Just thought you might be tired of me by now.”

“That’s…fine.” Fox couldn’t believe how disappointed he felt, but he'd already grown fond of his ghost friend. “I’m sure you miss them. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easy.” Fives grinned. “I’ll come find you later tonight. Hopefully with some good news.”

Fox couldn't help but wonder if that was true. If Fives managed to get anyone else to see him, why would he come back to see his killer?

Fives walked to the door and stared at it for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Fox asked.

“Not sure how this works, but…”

He walked up to the door and…passed right through it. A moment later, his head and shoulders reappeared.

“Hey, it worked!” He grinned and started to disappear again. “See you later.”

“Wait!”

Fives glanced back at him.

Fox took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

Fives nodded and disappeared again.

Maybe being dead wasn’t so bad after all. It was kind of fun walking around without being seen. And he didn’t have to use doors anymore.

Fives wasn’t sure how the whole ghost thing worked. He could, it seemed, pass through solid walls. But for some reason, he didn’t sink through the floor of the transport he snuck on. Objects were the same as people, no touching them.

He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when he found himself entering the 501^st barracks. The familiar blue and white armor was comforting. But something was off. Everyone was quiet. No one was laughing or joking. The troopers he saw had downcast eyes and solemn faces His heart dropped when he realized that they were mourning. For him.

It wasn't long before he decided to look for Rex. He paused at Rex’s door and raised his hand to knock out of habit, but it went right through. With a sigh, he stepped through the door.

Rex was sitting on his bunk, staring at a datapad.

“Still hard at work Captain?” Fives walked over to Rex so he could glance down at the datapad, and his heart sank yet again.

It was the image they’d taken right before the Citadel mission. Cody, Rex, Fives, and Echo. They all looked so happy, ignorant of the heartbreak that was to come.

“I’m so sorry.” Fives tried to grab Rex’s shoulder, but his hand went right through, making Rex shudder.

“Oh come on!” Fives growled. “Rex, I need you to hear me. I need your help.”

But nothing did any good, no matter how loud he yelled. The best he got was Rex sending a confused glance around the room before shaking his head. Finally, Fives just sat down next to Rex. Neither moved until there was a knock on the door.

Rex jumped up and set the datapad on the bunk before opening the door.

Kix stared at him with crossed arms. “Have you gotten any sleep?”

“I’m fine.” Rex walked over to his desk and Kix followed.

“No you aren’t. None of us are.”

Rex clenched his fists. “He didn’t deserve to go like that. Killed by a vod.”

“I know.” Kix sighed. “Remember what he was saying? About the inhibitor chips?”

Rex nodded.

“Well, I think there may have been something to his story.”

Fives perked up at that.

Rex's brow wrinkled. “What do you mean?”

“I just…things don’t add up,” Kix said. “Think about it. Fives claims they could be used to force us to do anything, then he winds up dead?”

“You talked to him Kix. He wasn’t acting like himself. They say that was because he removed his chip.”

Kix snorted. “He was acting more like he was drugged, if you ask me.”

“Well, at least someone noticed,” Fives muttered.

“Why would anyone drug him?”

“What if he did learn the truth?" Kix pressed. "What if they were trying to cover it up?”

Fives held his breath as Rex stared thoughtfully at Kix. Finally, he shook his head.

“I hear you Kix, but…he attacked the Chancellor, then claimed he was behind the whole conspiracy.”

“Well, what if he was right?”

"You can't say things like that!" Rex snapped. “There's no evidence, and I don’t see how that could be possible. The Chancellor is too high up.”

Fives sighed. The Chancellor had everybody fooled. Why couldn’t they see it? Why couldn’t the Jedi see it?

Kix stared at Rex for a moment longer before turning to leave. “Make sure you get some rest sir. We’ll probably be shipping out again soon.”

Fives glanced at Rex, then followed Kix. The medic didn’t head for the barracks. Instead, he went to the medbay.

“What’re you up to?” Fives murmured, despite knowing he'd get no reply.

Kix fiddled with some equipment for a moment before laying himself on the examination table. A beam of light passed over Kix’s head as the equipment hummed. When it was done, Kix got up and examined the results of the scan.

“Nothing,” he muttered.

“Level 5 atomic scan,” Fives said. “Come on Kix, you have to find it.”

Kix looked thoughtful for a moment before hitting some more buttons and laying himself back down on the table once more. The beam of light passed over his head again, but this time was followed by a beeping.

“Yes!” Fives pumped his fist. “Maybe you can do something about it.”

Kix jumped up and looked over the results. “That makes no sense.” He rubbed his temple. “If it’s as harmless as they say, or actually keeps us from going insane, why hide it like that?”

“You're the medic, Kix.” Fives said from behind him. “Figure it out!”

Kix jumped and Fives’ heart leapt to his mouth. But when the medic turned, he didn’t look at Fives. His eyes roved the room, but he soon sighed and turned back.

“I could’ve swore I heard…”

Fives' stomach swooped and he blinked. He was no longer in the med bay. He was back in Fox’s room, said Commander sitting on his bunk like the day before.

“Um…hi.”

Fox jumped up. “Ah! I’m never going to get used to that walking through doors thing.”

“Actually, I just showed up here again."

“Oh.” Fox blinked. “I wasn't sure if you'd actually come back."

"I told you I would, didn't I?" Fives was surprised to see the relief on Fox's face.

"Anyway," Fox said, "do you have of the good news you promised? I could sure use it.”

Fives frowned. Fox looked beat. He couldn’t imagine how hard all this must be for the Commander. His men all looked up to him, and now they thought he'd betrayed them.

“Actually, I think I do.” Fives smiled. “I think I know how we’re going to get your chip out.”

Chapter Text

Fox listened as Fives explained the 501^st medic’s interest in the chips.

“He could get yours out. I’m sure of it.”

“But would he?” Fox shook his head. “I’m sure he hates me as much as the rest of the 501^st does.”

“Well…maybe you could sneak in without telling him who you are.” Fives began pacing the room. “You could use some plain, shiny armor.”

"I don't exactly look like a shiny." No use denying it. Fox's time on Coruscant had left him looking anything but young.

"It's a chance you'll have to take."

“It...might work.” Fox nodded. “But what would I tell him?”

“The truth.” Fives stopped. “Tell him you’ve been having blackouts.”

“He wouldn’t necessarily remove the chip just for that.”

“Then tell him you heard rumors about the chips and want him to take yours out.”

Fox thought for a moment. “What if he refuses and reports it? Everyone thinks you went crazy when you took yours out.”

Fives shook his head. “I think he’ll do it. If I know Kix, he’s dying to get his hands on one to study it.”

Fox was still hesitant. If it was reported, and the Chancellor found out…

“Please.” Fives sat beside him and grabbed his shoulder. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course, but—”

“Then you can trust Kix. He’ll help.”

Fox met his vod'ika's eyes for a long moment. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Great!” Fives jumped up. “Let’s go.”

“Now? Tonight?”

“Why not?” Fives shrugged. “I want that thing out of you as soon as possible.”

Fox couldn’t argue with that. He led Fives through the Coruscant Guard headquarters to where they kept some spare blank armor and quickly switched kits. Then they continued to a landing platform where several speeders were parked.

Fox nearly froze up when a couple of his men passed by. But they didn’t even look at him. He was just an innocent new shiny, after all.

“What’ve they been saying to you?”

Fox glanced at his ghostly companion. “What do you mean?”

Fives crossed his arms. “You tense up whenever we pass anyone.”

Fox sighed as he jumped in a speeder and Fives jumped in beside him. “It’s nothing.”

Fives, thankfully, let it go and they were both quiet for a few minutes as they took off. In truth, no one was saying anything to him if they could help it. Nobody except Thorn. He seemed to be the only one who realized just how bad Fox felt about what happened. But Thorn had just been sent away on a mission to Scipio. It made Fox all the more glad that Fives had come back. He didn't feel quite so alone.

“You need a name.”

“What?” Fox glanced at Fives.

“You can’t use your real name, so you need a fake one.”

“How ‘bout Aruetti?” Fox muttered.

Fives whacked him on the head. “That’s not funny.”

Fox shrugged. “That’s what everyone thinks I am anyway.” While nobody had called him a traitor to his face, he'd heard the word muttered as he passed by groups of troopers.

It was a few moments before Fives spoke again. “They shouldn’t. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Fox landed the speeder outside the 501^st barracks. “Just pick some name.”

"Um..." Fives cocked his head for a moment. “Star.”

“Sure.” Fox jumped down from the speeder and took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.”

“And don’t talk to me. Eveyone’ll think you’re crazy.”

Fox nodded and entered the barracks. Fives led him through the halls, past several other troopers. They nodded in greeting but didn’t say anything. There was a melancholy air over the place, and Fox knew he was the one who caused it. Fives must have been well loved by all of the 501^st.

“He was in here before.” Fives led him to a door with the medical symbol on it. “Always stays up late working.”

Fox hesitated at the door, taking a deep breath before walking into the medbay. He found a clone with elaborate patterns on his head and the medic’s symbol on his pauldron working on a datapad.

The medic looked up at Fox's footsteps. “Yes?”

Fox froze for a second before Fives laid a hand on his shoulder. “It's okay. You can do this.”

“It’s…hard to explain.”

The medic raised his eyebrows. “You injured?”

“I’m…not sure. But I think something’s wrong.”

The medic gestured Fox inside to sit on a bunk. “Okay…I’ll see what I can do. Got a name, trooper?”

“Star.” Fox was relieved Fives had insisted on a name. He hadn’t even thought about it.

“Okay Star, can you tell me what the problem is?”

Fox glanced at Fives, who nodded his encouragement. “I blacked out a couple times. Can’t remember anything that happened.”

A concerned looked crossed the medic’s face. “For how long?”

Fox shrugged. “I...I don't really know.”

“Well…I can run some tests. Take your helmet off.”

Fox hesitated for a moment. But it didn't look like he'd have a choice, so he did as he was told.

The medic stared at him for a moment. "Having a hard time lately?"

Fox blinked. "What?"

The medic gestured to his face. "Just looks like you've been pretty stressed out."

"Oh." Fox nearly sagged in relief that he'd been given an out. "Yeah...yeah, I have been."

“New to the 501^st?” The medic pulled some equipment over.

"Um...yeah." Fox rubbed the back of his neck. "Just got here."

“Well, I’m the CMO, so I'll probably be seeing you around. Name's Kix.”

Fox smiled but didn’t say anything. Kix did a few tests and asked a few more questions before shaking his head.

“I’m not finding anything wrong.”

“Just say something about the chips!” Fives growled.

Fox glared at him. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing. Still, it didn't look like there would be any other way.

“I…was wondering about something.”

Kix nodded. "Yes?"

“There’s been…rumors…that the ARC who was killed…he’d found out about something in our heads.”

Kix tensed at that and stared at Fox with a stern gaze. “Where’d you hear about that?”

Fox shrugged. “Is it…could it cause something like this to happen?”

“I…don’t know.” Kix sighed. “I’d need to study one to tell you that.”

“Then take mine out.”

“Are you kidding?” Kix shook his head. “We don’t know what the repercussions could be. When Fives removed his…they say he went mad.”

“Please!” Fox grabbed Kix’s arm, voice growing desperate. “I need it out. I’m afraid of what it might do.”

Kix stared at him for a moment, eyes searching. Finally, he sighed and nodded.

“Okay...but only because I'm suspicious of them myself. Lay back and I'll put you under." Fox did as he was told, and Kix gave him an injection. "This shouldn't take too long.”

Then everything went dark.

Fives watched as Kix went about his medic business. He had his tools all laid out neatly and looked to be ready to start the surgery when he reached for Fox’s arm.

“Oh, come on!” Fives growled. “Why do you always have to be so thorough?”

But there was nothing he could do but watch as Kix scanned the identifying code on Fox’s wrist. His eyebrows rose dramatically when he read Fox’s number: CC-1010. He stared down at Fox, now out cold, a calculating look in his eyes.

“Please, Kix,” Fives muttered. “Just take it out of him.”

Kix glanced over his shoulder as if he’d heard something, but he didn’t seem to see Fives.

He sighed and looked back down at Fox. “Alright Commander. I’ll indulge you. But you’d better be able to explain yourself after all this."

With that, he shaved off Fox’s hair and began working on the surgery.

Chapter Text

Kix stared down at Fox, still out cold. Then he looked at the small mass he’d just removed from the commander's head. Fox would be coming around soon. Then, maybe, Kix would be able to figure out if his growing suspicions were correct.

Everyone knew Fox was a stern commander, but he was still respected by everyone. None of them could believe it when they’d learned he’d killed a brother. But what if he didn’t have a choice? If everything Fives said was true, it would make sense for the Chancellor to use Fox to silence Fives forever.

Fox groaned and shifted. Kix stared down at him as he sat up and his hand went to the bacta patch on his head.

“Is it gone?” Fox’s voice was hardly more than a whisper.

“Yes sir.”

Fox’s eyes went wide for a moment before his shoulder's slumped. "Oh."

“So.” Kix crossed his arms. “Care to explain what you’re doing here.”

“I had to get it out.”     

Kix pursed his lips. “You had a blackout right before you killed him, didn’t you?”

Fox nodded. “I must have switched my blaster from stun to kill then.” He met Kix's gaze. “I’d never kill a brother. You have to believe me.”

“I…think I do.” Kix sighed. “But that doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

Fox dropped his eyes.

“Why’d you come to me?" Kix asked.

Fox shrugged. “Fives said I could trust you.”

Kix stiffened. "What?"

di'kut.

“Fives is dead.” Kix barely even noticed the almost-there voice in his anger. “You killed him, whether you meant to or not.”

Fox winced and looked to a spot next to Kix.

Kix followed his gaze but saw nothing. “What are you looking at?”

For a moment, Fox’s eyes darted back and forth between the spot and Kix. Then he sighed.

“This is going to sound crazy.”

Kix shrugged. “I’ve heard plenty of crazy.”

Fox took a deep breath. “Fives…is a ghost.”

That was not what Kix expected to hear.

“But I’m the only one who can see him.”

Kix snorted. “How convenient.”

“No…please, just…is there something I could do to prove it to you?”

Kix thought for a moment. “What was Hardcase's favorite drink?”

It took a moment for Fox to respond. "A blue milkshake. He didn't like alcohol."

Kix's eyes widened. "Okay...and what's Jesse's?"

"Alderaan Twist."

"What about mine?"

"Spotchka."

Kix blinked. How could Fox have known all that? Unless...unless Fives was here, and had told him.

“Do you believe me?” Fox had a desperate look in his eyes.

Kix glanced to his left and stared hard, but there was nothing there. Tentatively, he reached out and grabbed at the air. His fingers tingled with cold, and he yanked his hand back.

“Yeah...that was him.” Fox got up and reached for Kix’s wrist. "Let me."

Kix cast wary eyes over the commander for a moment before nodding. Fox gently pulled Kix’s hand toward empty air. Then, he reached up with his other hand and seemed to grab something, but there was nothing there. He pulled Kix’s hand toward whatever he was holding, and Kix sucked in his breath.

His fingers brushed against warm skin. A moment later, a faint outline of a hand glowed softly against his own. He looked past it and saw a hazy figure standing in front of him, growing more and more defined as they stood there until Kix could make out the unmistakable tattoo and goatee.

“Fives?” he whispered.

Fives’ heart leapt as he met Kix’s eyes. He let out a strangled cry and pulled Kix into a hug. And he didn’t just go through him! They clung to each other for a couple minutes before breaking apart.

"Finally!" Fives looked at Fox. “What did you do?”

“I…have no clue.” He stared at them, blinking in confusion.

Kix laughed and pulled both of them into a hug. "I...I don't believe it!"

Fives felt Fox tense beside him for a moment before relaxing. His heart ached when he realized how little kindness Fox had been offered lately.

“This…is amazing.” Kix seemed absolutely giddy as they broke apart again. “But I still don’t understand.”

Fives shrugged. “I died. I woke up like this. And I seem to keep getting drawn to Fox.”

“What do you mean?”

“I tried to follow Rex back here yesterday, but then I ended up with Fox. Then, earlier today, I came to see if I could get some of you to see me, and I was suddenly back at the Guard headquarters again.”

“Wait, you were here earlier?” Kix asked. “Is that why I kept hearing voices?”

Fives shrugged. “Probably. You nearly jumped out of your skin one time. I think Rex might have heard something too. At least, he looked really confused at one point before you came in.”

Kix was quiet for a moment before he grabbed Fox’s chip off the table. “What’s the deal with these Fives? What did you find out?”

“I think Tup’s malfunctioned,” Fives sighed. “That’s why he lost it. I was investigating them on Kamino and convinced General Shaak Ti to let me have an audience with the Chancellor.” He clenched his fists. “But when I told him, he said he already knew and that they would be used to force us to turn on the Jedi.”

Kix’s face paled. “Why would he tell you that?”

"Because Nala Se had already drugged me." Fives shook his head. “He must have known I wasn't thinking straight. I would attack him, and he’d have a good excuse to have me killed.”

Fox flinched and Fives gently grabbed his shoulder.

Kix raised his eyebrows. “And you believe that the Chancellor activated Fox’s chip.”

“I know he did,” Fives said. “When I was first drawn to Fox, before he could see me, he suddenly went rigid and said that thing Tup had been saying over and over. Good soldiers follow orders.”

Kix’s face darkened and he glanced at Fox, who was staring at the wall.

“He got a call from the Chancellor and reported killing me, as ordered. Then he seemed to come out of a trance and couldn’t remember any of it.”

Kix glared at the chip in his hand and then nodded. “Okay, I believe you. So…now what?”

Fives glanced at Fox. “I didn’t think of anything beyond getting his chip out.”

Fox sat down again. “I guess I…go back and…I don’t know.” He put his face in his hands. “We have to do something! But I don’t know what I can do in the Guard. The Chancellor monitors everything too closely. If he finds out I know, and had my chip removed…”

“No.” Kix shook his head. “You can’t go back to the Guard.”

Fox looked up. “Then what do I do?”

An idea suddenly struck Fives and he laughed. “You join the 501^st.”

Fox stared at Fives’ grin. “I do what now?”

“You stay here. Become part of the 501^st. Nobody will notice.”

“The Guard will notice I’m gone.”

“So?” Kix shrugged.

Fox shook his head. “The Chancellor would hunt me down. I’m sure of it. Might even activate their chips and have them kill me.”

“There would be no way to find you.” Fives’ tapped his tattoo. “No identifying marks.”

“But what about the code on my wrist?”

Kix crossed his arms. “I doubt they'd order every trooper in the GAR to have their code scanned. But if they did, I’d be the one scanning you.”

Fox thought about it. There were many ways it could go wrong, but there was a chance it might work. And besides, it would be nice to just...start anew. Be a new person, in a way. But there was still one big problem.

“You guys work with the 212^th a lot, right?”

“Yeah.” Fives nodded. “General Skywalker was General Kenobi’s padawan, so they often work together.”

“Well, most clones wouldn’t recognize me.” Fox grimaced. “But Cody would.”

Somehow, batchmates always had a way of recognizing each other, sometimes even wearing a helmet and full armor.

“I think that’s just a risk you’ll have to take,” Kix said. “Besides, he’s usually with Rex or the Generals. Might not even run into each other.”

“Still…”

“Please Fox.” Fives grabbed his shoulders and met his eyes. “This is about more than keeping you safe. You wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.”

Fox stared at the ghost with wide eyes. “Why are you trying to protect me?” he whispered.

“Because it wasn’t your fault. Because they’re blaming you for something you didn’t do.” Fives leaned forward and touched their foreheads together with a smile. “And because you’re my vod.”

Fox closed his eyes and enjoyed the peaceful moment before Fives pulled back and looked at Kix.

“So.” He grinned. “How do we do this?”

Kix examined a datapad. “We just got a new batch of shinies in straight from Kamino today. It shouldn’t raise too many questions if you join them. I’ll report that CT-4508, aka Star, came to me upon arrival with a bad headache. Rex won’t question it.”

“Why not just go to Rex?” Fives asked. “Whatever Fox did, touching our hands, it let you see me. We can do that with him as well.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Kix shook his head. “We don’t know for sure that’s what did it. It’ll draw too much attention to Fox if it doesn’t work again.”

Fives cocked his head. “Why? It wasn't anything bad.”

Fox snorted. “Some shiny comes up to his captain and makes him high-five the air. Nothing unusual about that.”

Fives’ face dropped. “I just…I want to talk to him. I know you talked to him earlier Kix, but isn’t there anything you can do to get him to listen?”

“He’s…having a hard time.” Kix sighed. “He’s just so angry right now.”

“At me.” Fox nodded.

“And himself. He thinks he let you down Fives.”

“That’s why I want to talk with him! Let him know it wasn’t his fault or Fox's.”

“We just don’t have enough information,” Kix said. “About the chips or about whatever’s going on with you.”

“He’s right,” Fox said. “We can’t risk messing this up. It’ll probably be best if I just try to blend in for a while, maybe earn Rex’s trust as Star. Then maybe I can try getting him to see you.”

After a moment, Fives nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

Before long, Kix was leading them both to the barracks.

“Even with a medical problem, isn’t this a bit of an odd situation?” Fox asked.

Kix shrugged. “New troopers get moved around a lot the first couple days. I don’t think anyone will notice. There were several barracks that are one or two men short of capacity, so I just assigned you to one of those for now. I’ll clear it with Rex in the morning.”

He opened a door to reveal several bunks and the sounds of sleeping troopers.

“Take a bunk and get some sleep.” Kix glanced at Fives. “What...um...what are you going to do?”

“I…” Fives glanced at Fox. “I can just…wander. Not like I can sleep.”

Kix shrugged. “You’re always welcome in Torrent’s barracks, even if the rest of them can’t see you.”

Fives smiled. "Thanks Kix. I might come by later."

Kix nodded with a smile before leaving them alone.

Fox glanced in the room. “You can stay here too, if you want,” he murmured. Last night had been nice. Curled up against a brother. He hadn’t done that since his own batch had been separated.

Fives grinned. "Probably would just end up here again anyway. As...as long as you don't mind."

"Not at all."

Fox found an empty bunk and piled his armor neatly beside it. He couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of the plain helmet. Still, it gave him the secrecy he needed.

He lay in the bunk and Fives scooted in beside him, still fully armored.

“Don’t think it comes off,” Fives murmured when he noticed Fox’s gaze.

Fox shrugged, not wanting to risk waking the others. Fives sighed and let his head rest against Fox's shoulder, a content smile on his face. It was more comfort than Fox had been offered in some time, and he soon let the darkness of sleep take him.

No matter what happened, it seemed he’d always have one brother by his side.

The next day, there was just one thing everyone was talking about in the GAR. Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard had vanished. His men reported that he did all his duties the day before, but he hadn’t shown up in the morning and his quarters were empty. All over Coruscant, and throughout the GAR, people wanted to know what had happened.

Chancellor Palpatine sat at his desk, fingers steepled, and wondered if he’d made a mistake somewhere...if his plans were in any danger.

Thire and Stone sent out their men to find Fox, but there was no sign of him. They had been shocked and hurt when he'd killed a brother, but now they were wondering if there was more to it...if Fox was in some sort of trouble.

On a transport to Scipio, Thorn stared with wide eyes at the report and wondered what had become of his best friend.

Halfway across the galaxy, Commander Cody sat in his quarters and tried to figure out what had happened to his batchmate over the past few days, first killing a brother, then disappearing.

Back on Coruscant, Captain Rex signed some form for Kix about a new shiny without even reading it, his thoughts on Fox. What had become of his ori'vod? But he pushed the hint of worry aside. Fox was dar'vod. He'd become so the moment he'd killed Fives. And Rex couldn't care less what had happened to him. At least, that was what he kept telling himself.

And in the barracks, the troopers discussed the Commander’s disappearance with great enthusiasm, paying no mind to the strange shiny, a hint of gray hair at his temples already, who kept his eyes downcast.

Chapter Text

Fox had never really thought about what it would be like to be a regular trooper before. To his shock, he found he almost liked it better. Other clones no longer stopped whatever they were doing to salute him and they didn’t jump to obey his orders. Instead, they talked with him, laughed with him, and let him be one of them.

He managed to make a couple friends with the shinies he bunked with, but they all had at least one batchmate with them. They had no idea just how lucky they were. His batch had been completely separated as soon as they left Kamino, all off to command troops across the galaxy.

And he found he needed friends more then ever when, a few days after joining the 501st, news of the disastrous mission to Scipio arrived. Fox went rigid when he heard a couple troopers talking about it. Thorn was dead. His best friend was gone. Thorn had been the only brother among the living who refused to abandon him. That night, Fox had cried himself to sleep. Fives hadn't asked any questions. He seemed to understand perfectly well what had happened. Just his silent support, and the feeling of a brother so close, had helped Fox more that day than anything else could.

Not long after, Kix had Fox help him remove his own inhibitor chip. They wanted to remove some of the others’ as well, but they couldn’t risk looking too suspicious. Not yet. And they still didn’t have any hard evidence to back their claims about the chip. Kix was researching both his and Fox’s, but hadn’t found anything concrete yet. Until they did have hard evidence, they decided to lay low and try not to draw any attention to themselves…including mentioning Fives.

Fives tried to stay in Torrent’s barracks a couple nights, but always inexplicably ended up back at Fox’s side. Kix introduced “Star” to Jesse and the three of them got along quite well. Fox ended up spending most of his free time with them until Jesse got sent off to ARC training.

This was the first time Fox had ever participated in traditional battles. He quickly learned to be vigilant and to, above all, watch out for his brothers. They soon started counting on him more and more because of how often he was able to warn others of danger. What they didn’t know (except for Kix), was that Fox himself had an extra pair of eyes.

“Flash’s got a couple clankers behind him.”

Fox turned at Fives’ warning. “Behind you Flash!”

Flash whirled just in time to dodge the blaster fire and destroy the droids.

“Thanks Star!” He called over his shoulder.

It had already been several months since Fox had joined the 501^st as Star. They were on the planet of Anaxas and were continuously being beaten by Separatist forces. Tempers were growing short as they failed to gain any ground in the battle.

Suddenly, Fox was thrown to the ground as blaster fire shot right where he’d just been standing.

“Thanks,” he muttered under his breath as Fives climbed off him.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Fives stared at the battle around them. “It’s like they know what we’re going to do before we—Rex!”

Fox turned in time to see Fives take off and try to push Rex to the ground as several clankers converged on the captain. But, as usual, he passed right through him. There was no time. Fox whipped his blaster around and fired several shots, destroying the droids.

Rex whirled around, having been engaged with a super battle droid, and stared as the droids collapsed. He glanced at Fox, but Fox didn’t have time to think about it as the battle continued on.

They lost, as they had every time on Anaxas.

“I think you got Rex’s attention,” Fives said as they rode a gunship back to base.

Fox glanced at him. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Fives shrugged. “Hopefully good? We need to figure out a way for you to talk to him, and get him to see me.”

Rex stared down at his datapad. He was reviewing information on a trooper Jesse had identified as Star, a shiny who came in right after…

He closed his eyes. He couldn’t think about that now, or his grief would finally get the better of him.

Right now, he needed to figure out how to turn the tide on Anaxus. And that meant keeping his eyes open for troopers with potential. He wanted to meet Star, and to thank him. He’d been distracted and hadn’t noticed several clankers sneaking up behind him.

Star, it seemed, was a great shot. Jesse had reported he also had a talent for spotting trouble and getting others out of danger, a talent that had saved Rex's life.

A knock on the door had Rex putting the datapad away. "Come in."

A trooper stepped into the room, fully armored with his helmet on, and snapped off a quick salute. “CT-4508 reporting as ordered, sir.”

“At ease, trooper. Take your helmet off. It’s Star, right?”

Star slowly took his helmet off, but kept his eyes down. “Yes sir.”

Rex observed the man for a minute. He seemed vaguely familiar, but Rex couldn’t place why. He also looked a little old for a shiny. Still, the stress of constant battle could do that to you.

“I wanted to thank you for yesterday.” Rex smiled. “That was some impressive shooting.”

“Just doing my duty, sir.” Star still didn’t look up.

“Well, thank you anyway. I haven’t been at my best lately.” Rex sighed. “And it doesn’t look like things are going to get better any time soon.”

“Sir?”

Rex shook his head. “I just don’t know what to make of all this. The clankers are calling my moves before I make them. We’re not gaining any ground, and we just keep losing vode.”

Star nodded. “I’ve…noticed that as well.”

“Sorry.” Rex sighed. “I don’t mean to be laying all my troubles on you.”

“Have you considered…maybe they do know what you’re going to do?”

Rex cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

Star took a moment to respond. “Maybe they’ve created some sort of algorithm to predict your moves.”

“That’s…actually a pretty good theory.” Rex grabbed his datapad and looked over the battles on Anaxus. “It sure would explain a lot.”

“The only problem is, I don’t see how they would have done it without inside help," Star said.

Rex nodded as he looked over the strategies he’d been using. “It’s not impossible. There have been traitors before…even amongst the Jedi. But…”

He stared at the datapad as a realization came over him. The strategies he’d been using, they all had one thing in common.

“Captain?”

Rex looked up to find Star staring at him with a concerned expression.

“Sorry.” Rex shook his head. “It’s just…all the strategies I’ve been using…they’re plans I drew up with an ARC trooper who died over a year ago.”

Echo?

Rex glanced around. He’d been sure he’d heard a voice, but it was just him and Star.

Star's eyes darted to the side before returning to Rex. “You think…he’s not dead? That he’s helping them?”

“I…don’t see how.” Rex sighed. “Either way, your theory has its merits. I have a meeting with Commander Cody tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me and present your idea.”

Star flinched and shook his head. “No sir. I mean…I’d rather not. Unless…if that’s an order...”

Rex frowned. “Not an order. I just want to make sure you get credit where it’s due.”

Star’s face relaxed. “Thank you sir…I appreciate it, but…”

Rex nodded. "Alright then. That's all."

“Yes sir.” Star quickly put his helmet on and saluted before rushing out the door.

Rex stared after him for a moment. He’d have to talk to Cody about that response.

Fives was quiet as Fox went to the mess and ate with Kix and Jesse. Usually, he’d be complaining about how he couldn’t eat anything and trying to steal food from Fox anyway as Kix fought not to laugh. Now, he just sat staring across the room.

He remembered it so clearly, that day when he'd seen his last batchmate disappear in a fiery explosion. Everything had happened so fast…there was no way anyone would have been able to survive that blast.

But what if he had?

Kix kept sending him odd looks, but didn’t say anything until Jesse had to leave.

“You okay?” Fives didn’t answer, so Kix turned to Fox. “What’s with him?”

Fox glanced at Fives and sighed. “He got a bit of a shock earlier.”

Fives just nodded, not wanting to discuss it with Kix at the moment. Kix just gave them both an odd look before seemingly deciding to let it go.

Fox headed to the barracks right after that, saying he was exhausted. Fives followed him without a word. The barracks were empty when they arrived and Fox quickly closed the door and turned to face Fives.

“Echo was your batchmate, right?”

“We…we were the last.” Fives blinked at the soft look of Fox’s face. “I thought he was dead. I’d never leave a brother behind, especially not Echo.” He sat on Fox’s bunk and pulled his knees to his chest. “But what if I did?”

Fox sat next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “He wouldn’t have blamed you, I’m sure of it. He’d have wanted you to get to safety.”

Fives nodded. His eyes stung ad he wondered vaguely if he could cry as a ghost.

“If they do find he’s alive," Fox said, "I doubt Rex will stop until he brings him back.”

Fives let out a choked sob. Echo? Back? Was it possible?

He hardly noticed as Fox pulled him back so they were laying down, Fives held securely in Fox’s arms. He just kept sobbing as Fox gently rubbed his back.

“M’sorry.” He mumbled as he buried his face in Fox’s blacks.

“Don’t worry, vod’ika,” Fox soothed. “You’ve been so strong and kept me going this whole time. Now it’s my turn.”

Fives didn’t answer, just clung all the tighter to Fox. Then, somehow, for the first time since he died, the welcoming blackness of sleep came over him and he didn’t wake until morning.

Chapter Text

Cody listened as Rex told him about the theory that an algorithm had been created to predict their plans.

“I think you’re on to something here.”

“I can't take all the credit.” Rex shook his head. “One of my shinies, Star, suggested it. Tried to get him to tell you, but he wasn't thrilled about the idea.”

“That’s me, the big scary Marshal Commander.” He sighed. “C’mon. Let’s tell the generals.”

Skywalker and Windu were quick to approve their plans, but Cody realized Rex was holding something back.

“What’s on your mind?”

“It’s…nothing.”

Cody stared at him for a moment before deciding to let it drop. Pushing Rex to talk wouldn't help.

"So." Rex glanced at him. “Who are we taking on this mission?”

“I know just the squad.” Cody chuckled to himself, but he didn’t elaborate. “Go ahead and choose a few of your men as well.”

“Jesse and Kix.” Rex looked thoughtful for a moment. “And Star.”

Cody cocked his head. “You really want to bring a shiny on a mission like this?”

“I just…have a feeling about him.”

“I don’t know about this, but I trust you,” Cody said. “I want to meet him first, though.”

“I can have him meet us with Jesse and Kix. I take it your squad’s off-world?”

“They shouldn’t take too long to get here. We can be ready to move out in a couple days.”

Rex nodded. “Okay, I’ll have the boys meet us in an hour.”

Cody immediately commed Hunter. The discussion was brief, and it looked like they were in the middle of something, but Hunter assured him they could wrap up and be to Anaxas in two days. After that, Cody hurried to meet with Rex and his men.

Rex and Jesse were already there, going over the last battle, when Cody arrived.

“Kix told me he and Star will be here soon.” Jesse told them.

Rex glanced at Cody. “Just so you know, I didn’t tell Star we were meeting with you. Didn’t want to make him nervous.”

Cody rolled his eyes. “Just want me to scare him half to death instead.”

“He needs to learn.” Rex shrugged. “You should’ve seen him when I met with him earlier. So formal.”

“He loosens up pretty quick.” Jesse said.

“He a friend of yours?” Cody asked.

“Started out as Kix’s friend, but we're getting along.”

At that moment, Kix (who’d grown his hair out over the past few months) and another trooper who must be Star walked into the room. Kis had his helmet tucked under his arm, but Star's was firmly in place on his head.

“Commander!” Kix’s eyes widened and he snapped off a quick salute when he noticed Cody. “We…didn’t realize you’d be here, sir.”

But Cody was more interested in Star’s reaction. He’d frozen for a split second when he saw Cody before saluting as well. Most shinies were intimidated by their commanding officers, but...this reaction wasn't quite the same. Cody wasn't exactly sure what it was. This trooper's stance, the way he held himself…there was something familiar about it.

“C’mon.” Rex waved them over. “Let’s get started. Star, take your bucket off. No need for it here.”

Cody continued to stare at the trooper. Why was he so familiar? After a moment, Star walked over to the group, still not taking his helmet off. There was something in the way he carried himself that vaguely made Cody think of a commander, a measured gait that showed he knew what he was doing.

“Afraid someone’ll think your ugly?” Jesse snorted. “C’mon, take that thing off. You’re making me jumpy.”

“I’d rather not,” Star mumbled.

Jesse rolled his eyes and grabbed Star’s helmet. The trooper jumped back with a surprised sound, but not quick enough.

“There.” Jesse smirked and thrust the helmet back to Star. “That wasn’t so hard.”

The clone grabbed the helmet and quickly backed to where Kix was between him and Cody. Still, Cody got a glimpse of his face, and something held his gaze.

He looked like every other clone, of course. Regulation haircut. Amber eyes. No facial hair or tattoos. There was no way to identify him from millions of brothers across the galaxy. Nonetheless, Cody’s eyes widened as realization came over him.

“Cody?” Rex was staring at him.

“Yeah.” Cody nodded, hardly paying attention. “We...we should get started.”

For the first time since his helmet had been removed, Star glanced up and their eyes met.

Any doubts that Cody had were wiped away.

Cody hardly listened to the rest of the meeting. As soon as they were done, Star jammed his helmet on and practically ran off. After a quick, “see you later,” to Rex, Cody walked briskly after him. Star didn’t seem to realize he was being followed.

As soon as the area cleared, Cody grabbed the trooper’s arm and yanked him into a side room with a small yelp.

“Okay, enough of this game.” Cody crossed his arms. “What is going on, Fox?”

The moment he saw Cody, Fox knew he was in trouble. There was no way Cody wouldn’t recognize him.

“Cody, I…”

“Take that bucket off!” Cody growled.

Fox slowly lifted the helmet, not looking at his batchmate. Neither of them said anything for a moment. Finally, Fox couldn't stand the silence any longer and looked up.

Cody had tears in his eyes and looked like he wanted either strangle Fox or hug him. He finally went with the later and pulled Fox close.

“You di'kut!” He breathed, face smashed against Fox’s neck. “I thought you were dead. You can’t just disappear like that.”

“I…didn’t think any of you would care.”

“What?” Cody pulled back to meet Fox’s eye. “Why?”

Fox blinked. “After what I did…after I killed…” He couldn’t finish saying it.

An exasperated sigh made him glance over Cody’s shoulder.

“How long is it going to take for you to stop blaming yourself?” Fives shook his head.

Cody stared into Fox’s face as if looking for something. “Fox, vod.” He grabbed Fox’s shoulders. “What happened?”

Fox hesitated a moment longer. They hadn't planned on telling anyone about the chips without more proof. But they hadn't intended on Cody finding out about Fox either. Finally, Fox sighed and told him about the blackouts and his suspicions over Fives’ crazed warning.

“I swear Cody, I never wanted to kill him!”

“I know you didn’t.”

Fox relaxed a little. “I thought you’d all be furious.”

“I am furious!” Cody crossed his arms. “You should have come to us! When you disappeared…we all thought you were dead. Wolffe has hardly spoken to me since.”

“I’m sorry.” Fox dropped his gaze.

“And of all the things you could do…hiding in the 501^st?” Cody shook his head. “Where'd you get that insane idea?”

Fox swallowed and glanced at Fives. Believing his story about the chips was one thing, but a ghost?

“I’m afraid that was my fault, Commander.” Kix walked in with a sheepish look on his face.

Cody blinked. “What?”

“I was suspicious of the chip and I wondered if Fox’s actions had been influenced by it.”

“Wow." Fives shook his head. "I don't think I've ever seen you lie to a commanding officer.”

Fox glared at Fives and Kix looked like he was fighting to not roll his eyes.

“I managed to contact Fox and tell him about my suspicions, and he agreed to let me remove his chip.”

Cody’s eyes widened as he looked back at Fox. “It’s gone?”

Fox nodded. “Nothing feels any different and I haven’t had any blackouts since.”

“We were worried the Chancellor might find out and have Fox killed, so I convinced him to hide with us," Kix said.

After a moment, Cody’s stern gaze melted. “Just as long as you’re safe. But Rex’s battalion? He’ll kill you if he knows you’re here.”

Fox couldn’t tell if Cody was joking or not.

Cody sighed. “Why haven’t you told him about the chips?”

Kix shook his head. “We don’t have hard evidence. I investigated both our chips and did find that they can block neural signals, but that’s not enough.”

“Probably not.” Cody looked thoughtful for a moment. “But, if you’re right, what happens if they’re activated? We all murder our friends?”

They all got quiet at that for a few moments.

“I know it’s a risk,” Fox said, “but it’s one we have to take. If we mess this up, the Chancellor and whoever else is behind all this will take…drastic measures. He might kill whoever knows, or he might activate the chips prematurely.”

Cody watched him for a moment before nodding. “Okay…I guess I can understand that. But we need to figure something out and fast. And you need to tell Rex the truth. It’s only a matter of time before he finds out.”

Fox flinched.

“Besides.” Cody grabbed Fox’s shoulder. “It would be good for him to know that Fives didn’t die for nothing, and that he wasn't simply murdered by a brother in cold blood. He'll forgive you eventually.”

"I don't know about that," Fox muttered.

"He will." Cody tapped their foreheads together. "Just tell him the truth."

“Okay,” Fox sighed. “I’ll…figure something out. But after this mission, alright? I don't want him to be distracted.”

Cody nodded and turned to leave. “You just make sure you take care of yourself, Star.” Then he paused. "Thank you, Kix. I'm glad he hasn't been completely alone."

Kix's eyes darted to Fives before he nodded. "Of...of course, sir."

Once Cody was gone, Fives clapped his hands together. "Well, that could have gone a lot worse."

Both Fox and Kix rolled their eyes at him.

"Come on." Fox started for the door. "We have a mission to prepare for."

Chapter Text

Fives and Fox followed Cody to meet the squad he'd called in to help them break into the cyber center. Cody hadn't said a word to Fox when they'd come across each other in the hallway, just nodded as they fell in step beside each other. Even though it hadn't been part of their plan, Fives was glad Cody had found out about Star's true identity. Having a batchmate know had been quite a relief to Fox.

"I wonder what makes this squad so special," Fives said as they arrived where Rex, Kix and Jesse were waiting. "I know Cody said they're clones with desirable mutations, but what does that even mean? The Kaminoans don't allow any kind of mutations."

"Will you stop talking?" Fox muttered under his breath.

"Why do I need to stop talking?" Fives grinned. "You just gotta' learn to ignore me when we're around others."

"Easier said than done." Kix wandered over to them.

"Clone Force 99 here yet?" Fox asked. He'd told Fives he'd heard of them, but didn't know much other than they were good at what they did.

"No." Kix glanced up into the sky. "Should be here any minute."

Almost as soon as he'd finished speaking, the landing platform was thrown into disarray as a small ship sped to the surface and landed. Fives was grateful the newcomers couldn’t see him as he stared open-mouthed at the strange assortment of clones exiting the ship.

The big, boisterous one seemed nice enough and Fives quickly decided he liked him. However, he didn’t think much of the sniper who glared at everyone and called them “regs” with such derision in his tone. As for the other two, Fives wasn’t quite sure what to make of them.

Still, he couldn’t help but be impressed when their gunship went down and the Bad Batch jumped into action, rescuing Cody from the crash and then decimating the oncoming droid forces.

Now, they were all sitting around in camp. Fox and Fives were off by themselves, and Fox didn’t get involved in the little scuffle with the Bad Batch. Cody wasn’t doing very good, and Fox almost seemed to be doing worse. He got up several times as if he was going to go over to Cody before stopping himself and sitting down again. After so much time together, Fives could plainly tell from Fox's expression that he felt guilty about not being able to help his batchmate.

“It wasn’t your fault.” Fives gently grabbed Fox’s shoulder. “There was nothing you could’ve done. Besides, he’s going to be fine.”

Fox gave a discreet nod and leaned into Fives’ hand. “Wish I could talk to him,” he whispered.

“Yeah, guess that wouldn’t look quite right, considering you looked terrified of him before.”

Kix walked over to them and sat down. He still seemed worked up after the confrontation. Rex was speaking to Cody, and the others appeared to be getting ready to move out.

“Cody’s getting evacuated. Rex is having me wait with him while the rest of you go on to the cyber center.” Kix glanced at Fox. “Cody said to tell you to stop blaming yourself and he’ll see you soon.”

Fox smiled and looked up to meet Cody’s gaze across the camp. Cody gave a little nod which Fox returned.

They took the outpost without much trouble. Fives really wanted to help more, but all the living people were working pretty well together and he just felt useless. Finally, they made it to the cyber center.

The Bad Batch broke in quickly while Rex, Jesse, and Fox fought with the droids outside. Hunter and Wrecker soon broke out from inside the building and joined the fight.

“Better get in there Cap.”

Rex ran off without another word. Fives glanced at where Fox was blasting droids. He hesitated a moment longer before running after Rex.

Tech was already into the system by the time they got to him. Fives watched, unseen, as they discussed the live signal originating from Skako Minor.

“Patch me in.” Rex ordered. “I want to hear it.”

Fives caught his breath as he heard the strange sounds coming through, almost like someone breathing.

“Echo?” He whispered. It...it couldn't be…

Then a voice spoke, and Fives felt like he was dying all over again.

“CT-1409…CT-1409…”

“No!” Fives pounded his fists against the holo display. “No! I left you!”

“CT-1409…CT-1409…”

"Rex, let’s go!” Hunter called.

Both Rex and Fives stood frozen in place.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around his wrist and yanked him away. Fox grabbed Rex as well and pulled them both into the hallway where the others were so involved blasting droids they didn’t notice Fox’s death grip on air.

They blasted their way out of the building and jumped on the transport Crosshair had swiped. But Fives no longer cared about anything. He sat there with his face in his hands, vaguely noticing Rex talking to Tech with a determined look on his face.

Someone sat down beside him.

“What happened?” Fox breathed.

“It’s him.” Fives gasped. “Echo. He’s alive. I left him!”

Fox gently placed a hand on Fives’ shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Fives shook his head. “We have to get him out.”

“We will.”

Fives looked up in surprise and met Fox’s eyes.

“I’m sure Rex is already forming a plan, but even if no one else goes, I promise I will.” Fox smiled. “We’ll get him out somehow.”

A small smile crossed Fives’ face as he hugged Fox. “Thank you ori'vod.”

Even after all this time, Fox seemed surprised if Fives ever offered him a hug. And it was definitely difficult to not look too strange with other people around. But they were at the back of the speeder, and Fox discreetly wrapped one arm around Fives in return.

"We'll find him. I promise."

Rex felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He thought he’d lost both of them, but maybe one of the Dominoes wasn’t gone. He’d already decided to go straight to General Skywalker when they got back to base. Skywalker had always treated him and his brothers as if they were people. If there was a slight chance Echo was alive, Rex was sure Skywalker would help get him out.

But what then? What would Echo think of him? Rex had abandoned him. How would he be able to look Echo in the eye and tell him that he’d let Fives die as well?

He got up and walked around the small transport, taking in his team. No one seemed injured. Star sat near the back of the transport, eyes closed. He’d done remarkably well, easily up to par with Rex and Jesse.

It bugged Rex. Star seemed to be much better trained than any shiny. But there were other things as well. His reaction to Cody. Cody’s reaction to him. The lines on his face that looked to belong to a much older trooper.

“Hey.” Star’s eyes flew open, and he looked up as Rex sat down next to him. “How’re you holding up?”

“Fine sir.”

Rex nodded and they sat there for a moment before Star spoke again.

“Did you find out anything about that trooper you were telling me about?”

“Yeah.” Rex sighed. “There was a live signal coming from Skako Minor. When we asked who it was, a clone’s voice gave us Echo’s number.”

Star looked thoughtful. “You going after him?”

Rex nodded. “Going to talk to the General as soon as we get back.”

“I’m going too.”

Rex blinked at him. It wasn’t a request. It was a statement. Star had a determined look on his face that left no room for argument.

It wasn’t the type of mission to take a shiny on. Then again, this hadn’t been either. Yet Star proved to be quite able to look out for himself and the rest of the squad. Besides, Rex had a feeling about him...

“Okay.” Rex said at last. Star nodded, and they sat in silence the rest of the way back to base.

Chapter Text

General Skywalker was leading the mission himself. Rex was going, of course, as was the Bad Batch. Fox knew he was treading dangerous territory when he'd told Rex in no uncertain terms that he was going, but he had to be there. It was the only way to ensure Fives could remain with the rescue party. Otherwise, he'd just end up back with Fox, and probably drive him crazy with his worrying.

Of course, everything went wrong the moment they landed and General Skywalker was carried off into the sky. In the end, they managed to get the natives' help in guiding them to the city.

That was when they lost Echo's signal.

"Oh, come on!" Fives paced as the others discussed it. "Let's just get into the city and find him already! Who cares if we have his signal or not?"

Fox was glad his face was hidden by his helmet as he gritted his teeth. Even though he understood how worried Fives was, running in with no direction wouldn't do them any good. There were a lot of buildings in the city. Worse, however, Fox was starting to wonder if this might not be a trap, and Echo wasn't there at all.

Still, he couldn't hold back a flinch when Crosshair said the same thing. But Fox's reluctant agreement with the sniper turned into rage at the way he talked about Echo.

"After all, he's just a reg."

Fox had seen Rex angry plenty of times. But he didn't think he'd ever seen him lose control and outright attack a brother before. At the same moment, Fives let out a roar of rage and launched himself at Crosshair.

"Echo's not just anything! You slimy piece of--"

Wrecker was quick to pull Rex off of Crosshair. Fives, however, kept trying to pummel the sniper and he shivered as Fives' ghostly form continued to pass through him.

"Fives!" Fox hissed. When Fives ignored him, he grabbed the ghost and yanked him away from the others. "That's enough," he murmured.

Fives shook his head. "He can't talk about Echo like that!"

Fox sighed and took a quick glance around. Skywalker was speaking to Rex, and the Bad Batch was moving on ahead. No one seemed to be paying them any mind.

"Fives...there is a chance Crosshair's right."

But Fives shook his head. "If Echo was dead, he'd be here with me. This explains everything."

"But would he?" Fox asked. "It's not like you've seen any other ghosts?"

Fives glared at him for a moment before dropping his eyes. "He has to be here. He has to."

Fox wasn't sure how to reply to that. He hoped Fives was right, but...

"Star?"

Fox jumped and turned as Rex walked over to him. The captain was much calmer now, but he was watching Fox closely.

"Come on, let's get going."

"Yes sir." Fox glanced at Fives one more time before following Rex.

Thankfully, Tech picked up Echo's signal again and they were soon in the facility. Skywalker’s “no blasting, no blowing things up,” was promptly ignored by the Bad Batch as they blasted their way through the droids.

Fox went to investigate a room by himself, hoping to talk to Fives again. But, to his surprise, the ghost was no where to be seen.

"Fives?" he whispered.

Still, no sign of him. With a sigh, he finished checking the room, but to no avail. He was just leaving when he felt a strange jolt and blinked. Excitement bubbled in his chest, but he wasn’t sure why. It wasn't like he'd found anything.

He blinked again and was suddenly in a large room. A set of computer terminals was in front of him, with what looked like a stasis chamber situated above.

“It’s him, it must be.” He heard himself saying.

Except...he hadn't said anything. At least, he hadn't meant to. Then, he caught sight of his hands.

They were transparent, like Fives’.

Wait a minute...what's happening? But the words wouldn't form.

He glanced up without meaning to. “Fox?” He heard himself ask. Or…was it him? “Um, I know this sounds weird, but I think you’re in my head or something.”

Then it hit him. Somehow, he was seeing through Fives’ eyes.

Yeah, I think you’re right.

“Well, since you’re here, can you let the others know I found him?”

Where are you?

His vision blurred for a moment, and he somehow knew where Fives was.

We’ll be there soon.

Everything faded and he was back in the hallway.

“Star?” Rex was staring at him with a worried expression. “You okay?”

Fox nodded. “I know where he is.”

He ran past them and, ignoring the glance Rex exchanged with Hunter.

Fives stared up at the stasis pod, trying not to tremble. Echo was in there. He knew it.

But it wasn't just excitement at finally finding his batchmate that had him jittery. He was still trying to figure out what had just happened. He’d been staring up at the chamber when he’d suddenly felt strange, like he wasn’t himself. Then he’d heard Fox’s voice in his head and guessed they were somehow connected…which opened a whole new set of questions they had no answers to.

Thankfully, he was saved from asking more disturbing questions by the doors opening behind him. Rex, Fox, and Tech ran in.

“What took you so long?”

Fox still had his helmet on, but Fives could tell he was rolling his eyes. Then his heart leapt when he noticed Rex staring straight at him. But Rex shook his head after a moment glanced up at the stasis pod instead. Tech, meanwhile, started working at the computers.

After a moment, Rex turned to Fox. “How’d you know about this?”

“I…” Fox quickly dropped his eyes. “It’s complicated.”

“What do you mean?” Fox shrugged and Rex crossed his arms. “I just don’t know what to make of you. You seem far too experienced for a shiny. You even look too old for a shiny. And now, you're keeping secrets from me. Personal things are fine, but this sounds like something that could affect this mission. While I respect your privacy, I do not want whatever this is to put the team in danger.”

“I think I can get it open.” Tech’s voice cut through their conversation.

Fives held his breath as he looked up at the stasis chamber. It flew open and a figure fell forward.

For a moment, Fives just stood there staring. Moment by moment, horror began to set in.

"Echo?" he whispered at last.

Echo was way too thin and way too pale, but that wasn't even the worst of it. His legs and right arm were metal and there were metal ports all over his head and more metal along his back. And even worse, wires connected him to the computer.

Fives stumbled forward and reached for him on instinct, but passed right through as usual. “Oh come on!”

“Echo!” Rex reached up and pulled him down.

Fives collapsed beside his brother and continued trying to grab him. “No, no, no! What’ve they done to you?”

If it was possible, Fives’ heart broke even more when Echo spoke.

“We have to get to the shuttle…to escape the Citadel. No! I’ll go first.”

“Echo! It’s okay, I’m here.” Fives tried in vain to take Echo's real hand until someone gently grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

Fox had taken his helmet off and was forcing Fives to look at him. He didn't speak with the others so close. But he didn't really need to.

Fives choked back a sob as he pulled Fox into a hug. “He needs me. He needs to know I’m here.”

"It'll be okay vod'ika," Fox whispered a moment before pulling away. Fives immediately missed the contact, but quickly realized why he'd let go as Tech was staring at them. But he seemed to decide to ignore Fox's strange behavior and turned back to the computers.

Fives turned back to Echo just as General Skywalker ran in. Tech finished whatever he was doing and Rex unplugged Echo. Fives snorted at his “I got a big headache.” Echo had just finished opening the exhaust vent when the door burst open and, to his shock, Wat Tambor himself walked in.

“Oh, this is interesting indeed.” Tambor had a small device held in front of him. It looked like a scanner of some sort. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

General Skywalker whipped his lightsaber out and everyone else raised their blasters.

Tambor gestured to his droids. “Take care of the Jedi.”

The battle droids swarmed Skywalker and he was soon fighting them off. Tambor, surrounded by even more droids, approached the group with the device still held in front of him.

“Stay away!” Rex growled from where he was supporting Echo, blaster aimed at Tambor.

Tambor glanced at the device. “CT-7567. Ah, that makes sense. You are known to be protective of other clones."

Rex blinked at him for a moment before glancing at the device. "New toys, I see. So, what, you now have a scanner that can ID clones from a distance?"

"It makes sense," Tech piped up. "Accessing our files and history could make Separatist attacks more efficient."

Tambor made an annoyed sound. "As if we needed it for that. No, I've fought enough clones that I know how to deal with your kind."

"Then...why?" Hunter seemed genuinely curious.

"Not that it will matter much to you once you are dead." Tambor continued aiming the scanner at each of them. "But Count Dooku commissioned this device to find a specific clone. One that has been missing for some time."

Fives' heart dropped as the scanner turned to Fox. It beeped and Tambor glanced up.

"And here you are. CC-1010. Head of the Coruscant Guard."

Rex froze, wide eyes fixed on Fox. "What?"

Fox didn't move, didn't say a word.

There was nothing Fives could do, not when Rex couldn't see him. "Well." He sighed. "I guess that's one way to tell him."

Chapter Text

Echo blinked, his mind still fuzzy after coming out of the stasis pod. He glanced at the trooper in 501^st armor. CC-1010...wasn't that Commander Fox? He was part of Cody's batch, and Rex looked up to him if Echo remembered right. Maybe Rex had asked his ori'vod with help with this mission. But...that didn’t really make sense. Rex would have been much more likely to go to Cody for help than to Fox. And by the look on Rex's face, it didn't look like he'd known the commander was here. It was all very confusing, especially with the mental fog clouding Echo's mind.

A mechanical scream drew their attention as several battle droids flew toward Tambor. The Skakoan was soon pinned under the mass of metal even as he was ordering the others after them.

General Skywalker ran over, a smug look on his face as he observed Tambor's predicament.

"Let's get out of here." But he paused when he noticed Rex was still glaring at Fox. "Rex? What is it? I didn't catch what was going on...something about a scanner?"

"It's...nothing, sir." Rex tore his attention away. "We should go."

More droids entered, and Skywalker leapt forward to block their blaster bolts. “Get up there!”

The giant clone quickly started throwing them up to the exhaust vent. The rest of the escape flew by. Trying to cross the pipeline to the other building. Riding the giant, flying creatures. Defending the natives. Then finally boarding a ship and flying back to a Republic base on Anaxas.

Echo could hardly believe it. After all this time...he was finally free of that nightmare. He had no real idea how much time had passed. It wasn't like he'd been exactly aware in the stasis pod. But he could tell it had been a while...and he hated to think what that meant. What brothers had died while he was gone?

Rex had been by his side from the moment they boarded the ship. He kept sending a glare at Commander Fox, and that only made Echo's confusion grow. If this was Fox, why was he wearing 501st colors? Fox, for his part, seemed to be staying away from Rex as much as possible, keeping his helmet on the whole time.

As soon as they landed, Rex directed Echo to the medbay. Fox hesitated for a moment before following at a distance. When they arrived at the medbay, Echo couldn't help but smile when he saw Commander Cody sitting on a bed, waving Kix away.

“I’m telling you, I feel fine.” Cody attempted to stand up, but Kix pushed him back down.

“Oh no you don’t. You’re staying here for another day, at least—”

They both froze when they saw Echo and he suddenly felt self-conscious about his appearance. He was hardly recognizable as a clone, let alone the vod they once knew.

"Echo?" Kix whispered.

"Hey Kix." Echo smiled. "It's been a while."

Kix stared at him a moment longer before directing him toward a bed. "Lay down. I'll have to do a full exam."

Echo chuckled as Rex helped him over to the bed. “Good to see you too.”

Kix rolled his eyes and continued with his work.

“You actually found him.” Cody smiled. “Glad you're back, Echo.”

“Good to be back.” Something cold pressed against his remaining hand and Echo jumped. But when he looked down, he saw nothing.

He glanced around and wondered who else had survived. Was Jesse here? And what about those new shinies, Tup and Dogma? There was one person in particular he wanted to ask about, but he already knew the answer. If Fives had still been alive, there was nothing in the galaxy that would have kept him away. Echo had held out hope that he just hadn't been available for the rescue mission, but Rex had yet to mention him.

“How’d he die?” The quiet question came out before he could stop himself. Everyone in the room froze for a few moments.

Then, Rex grabbed a scanner off a table and ripped off the section of Fox's armor covering his forearm. The trooper gave a startled cry and then froze. His CC number and other information was projected in front of Rex. CC-1010, just like Tambor had said.

"Rex..."

Before Fox could continue, Rex punched him in the face.

Fox collapsed to the floor and Rex leapt forward to continue the attack, but he was held back by Kix.

“Rex, stop!” Cody struggled to his feet as if to help, though he was obviously still injured.

“Dar'vod!” Rex spat. “How dare you sneak into my battalion and act like some innocent shiny. You killed him!”

Echo sucked in a breath and stared down at the commander who hadn’t gotten up from where he’d fallen. He'd assumed Fives had died in battle, just as any clone would want. But no, this was far worse. He'd been killed by a brother. Why? What happened?

“It wasn’t his fault!” Rex froze at Cody’s words and turned slowly to face him.

“You knew about this?” His voice was wobbly, and his eyes held a look of betrayal.

Cody opened his mouth to speak, but then he swallowed instead. They both stood in silence a moment as Fox got to his feet. Echo had never seen Rex so angry before, his whole body shaking with a silent fury. It was something he never wanted to see again.

They just stared at each other for a moment before Fox lunged forward and grabbed Rex’s hand. He struggled to pull Rex toward something he seemed to be holding onto with his other hand, despite the fact there didn't appear to be anything there.

Rex yelled and tore his arm out of Fox’s grip.

“Don’t touch me, auretti!” He backed away from all of them, making sure to send Cody a scathing glare, before turning and fleeing the room. After a moment, Cody ran after him.

Fox sighed. “Didn’t work.”

“Might have.” Kix looked shaken. “It took a little bit of time when you did it to me.”

But Echo hardly heard them, eyes focused on Fox. “You…you killed him?”

Fox turned his gaze on Echo with a sad expression. Instead of answering, he took a slow step forward and grabbed Echo’s good hand. Again, he seemed to grab nothing and pull whatever it was and Echo’s hand together.

Echo sucked in his breath. Whatever it was, it was warm. He almost thought he heard a little gasp as warmth enveloped his hand. It felt like another hand was holding his. But then...another hand was holding his. Transparent blue and a little fuzzy, but it was already growing more defined. His gaze slowly traveled up to the hazy figure growing clearer by the second. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the look of hope and worry on the other's face.

“Fives?” he whispered.

Fives let out a choked cry and pulled Echo close. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I never meant to leave you behind. I didn’t know.”

“Fives..." Echo clutched at Fives. "But...I thought...” He stared at his brother as realization came over him. "You're dead."

He nodded, refusing to meet Echo's gaze.

"Hey." Echo grabbed onto Fives' shoulder. "Don't you dare apologize, okay?"

"But I left you..."

"You couldn't have known," Echo murmured. "I would have rather died than let anything happen to you." He frowned. "But...I guess it didn't last, did it?"

Fives shrugged, a small smile returning to his face. "Even if this isn't...ideal, at least we're together again."

"That's all that matters for now." Echo smiled. "And I'm so glad you're here."

He glanced past Fives at Fox. He still didn't understand what was going on, but he somehow knew that Fox had done this. He'd allowed Echo to be with his brother again. Even though he couldn't bring himself to speak, he nodded to Fox in thanks. Fox just smiled and nodded back.

“Rex, wait!”                     

Rex didn't stop. He didn’t know what was happening anymore. How could Cody betray him like that? After all that had happened...how could he just allow Fox, Fives' murderer, into the 501st?

“Rex!” Cody grabbed his arm, but Rex yanked it away and whirled to face him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I only found out at the meeting the other day,” Cody said. “He promised he’d tell you after the mission.”

Rex shook his head. “How can you trust him?”

“You need to listen to what he has to say.” Cody grabbed his arm again. “Please, just come back and listen to them.”

"Them?" Rex's eyes widened. “Kix knew too?”

Cody flinched. “Listen Rex, it wasn’t Fox’s fault. You just need to talk to him.”

“And what exactly was he trying to do just now?”

“I have no idea.” Cody shrugged. “You can ask him about that as well.”

Rex stood frozen for a few moments. He didn’t want to talk to Fox. He wasn’t sure he could contain his anger if he saw him again. But he also wanted an explanation, needed an explanation. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he was comfortable leaving Echo with Fox even if Kix was there.

He nodded and slowly followed Cody back to the med bay. Fox glanced at them when they entered, the soft smile on his face quickly morphing into a nervous frown. But Rex turned away to check on Echo. He was still lying on the bed, and next to him was...was...

It took a moment for Rex to find his voice. “Fives?”

Fives jumped up and stared at him for a moment before a familiar grin spread across his face. “You can see me. Finally!” He ran over to throw his arms around Rex.

Rex could do nothing but hold him tight. “I’m sorry.”

“No!” Fives shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t Fox’s either. Palpatine was controlling him. All of this has been Palpatine’s fault!”

None of that made any sense, but Rex didn’t really care that much at the moment. Fives was here. A ghost, apparently, but here all the same.

“Okay, will someone tell me what is going on?”

Rex looked up to find Cody staring at them with a really confused expression.

“Here.” Fox dragged Cody over and pulled his hand to rest against Fives’. After a moment, Cody blinked in confusion.

"Hey Commander." Fives grinned. “That answer your question?”

Cody kept blinking. “Not really.”

Fives just chuckled as he returned to his place at Echo's side.

“But…how are you here?” Rex stared at the two troopers he’d thought he’d lost.

Fives shrugged. “I died. I woke up like this.”

Rex blinked and slowly turned to Fox. “What do you have to do with all this?”

He was still furious with the man, but he was curious as well. Besides, he trusted Fives. And, for some reason, Fives seemed to trust Fox.

Fox swallowed, dipping his eyes. “He showed up in my quarters after…you know.”

Fives launched into an explanation of Fox's blackouts and how he reported to the Chancellor that he'd killed Fives.

“The Chancellor activated Fox's inhibitor chip and forced him to kill me," Fives said. "I’m sure of it.”

Rex glanced at Fox, unsure of what to feel. This was still the man who'd killed his vod'ika. But what if it wasn’t his fault? Maybe he was still Rex's ori'vod.

“After he could see me,” Fives continued, “I convinced him to have Kix remove his chip. He accidently made it so Kix could see me too by touching our hands together. I wanted to try it with you right away, but we weren’t entirely sure that’s what caused it. Kix and I convinced Fox to hide with the 501^st so the Chancellor couldn’t get to him anymore. We decided he should gain your trust before trying to get you to see me.”

Rex stood there for a moment. “But why’d you go with Fox to begin with? Why didn’t you come with us?”

“I tried.” Fives shook his head. “I followed you, but then I was back in Fox’s quarters.”

“Why?”

“I think we’re connected somehow,” Fox said.

Fives nodded. “It happened again when I was hanging around the 501^st barracks the next day, and a couple times when I stayed in Torrent’s barracks at night.”

“But there have also been some…recent developments,” Fox added.

Rex cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

Fives and Fox exchanged a look.

“I was with you guys, when you were rescuing Echo,” Fives said at last. “I found his stasis chamber and I was about to go find Fox, but Fox was suddenly…in my head.”

“It was so strange." Fox shuddered. "I was…seeing through his eyes. I saw the room and knew how to get to it.”

“And I heard his voice,” Fives added.

“So that’s how you knew,” Rex said.

They all stood there quietly for a moment before Cody spoke.

“What do we do about the chips?”

Rex looked at Kix. “Do you have any proof of what they’re used for?”

“Not enough to convince the entire Republic.”

They all got quiet after that until Rex looked up to meet Fox’s eyes.

“I’m sorry I blamed you.”

Fox shook his head. “I would have done the same.”

“You did do the same.” Fives snorted.

“Oh, quiet you.” Fox whacked his head.

Rex was taken aback by the easy camaraderie. These were not two brothers he'd ever imagine getting along. In fact, he'd used to think it might be fun to introduce the two just to see how much Fives could annoy Fox. Then again, they’d been stuck with each other for months.

“Besides.” Fox’s face fell. “Even if I didn’t choose to, I still killed him.”

Rex vaguely remembered the look of horror on Fox’s face on that fateful day. If he really had no choice...Rex couldn't imagine living with that kind of guilt.

Fox shrank back when Rex stepped toward him. Rex raised his hands and slowly drew their foreheads together. The tension melted from Fox's body and he pulled Rex the rest of the way into a hug.

No one said anything, but they both understood. This was a clean slate. There was nothing to forgive. They were still brothers.

When they finally broke apart, Rex sighed. “So, the chips.”

“No.”

Everyone looked at Fives.

“What?” Rex asked.

Fives walked over to him. “Not now. You’re all exhausted. We’ll figure the chips out tomorrow.”

“But—”

“No offence Captain.” Fives shoved Rex toward Echo's bed. “But shut up and get some sleep.”

Rex couldn’t bring himself to argue as Fives directed him to lay beside Echo. He'd never been one to enjoy sleeping in piles like some brothers did, but this was nice, especially when Fives maneuvered himself into bed with them.

“Alright Commander.” Kix grabbed Cody’s arm. “Back to bed with you as well.”

Fox began to slip out, but Cody grabbed him with a roll of his eyes and tugged his batchmate into bed with him. Fox struggled for a moment before giving up and curling up against Cody. Kix quietly left with a small smile.

Rex sighed again. Everything wasn’t perfect. They still had to figure out what to do with the chips and Fives was still dead. But at the moment, Rex couldn’t find it in himself to care. His vod'ike, by some miracle, were back. And for now, he was just going to be happy about that.

Chapter Text

For the second time since he’d died, Fives found himself actually asleep. He woke up to find Rex already sitting up in a chair next to the bed, as if he was watching over him and Echo.

“How long’ve you been awake?” Fives asked.

“An hour or so.” Rex smiled. “Wasn’t sure if you’d be able to sleep.”

"Usually I can't." Fives shrugged. “It's only happened once before.”

“Not like you ever slowed down enough to sleep before you died,” Echo mumbled from beside him.

"He's actually been pretty annoyed about it." Fox was sitting on the edge of his bed, Cody still asleep next to him.

“Well, look whose back.” Fives looked up to find a grinning Jesse following Kix into the room.

“How’re you feeling, Echo?” Kix asked.

“I think I’m doing pretty good.” Echo grinned. “Just glad that everyone's here.”

Jesse’s brow wrinkled and he glanced at Kix. “Does he know about...well...”

"About what?" Echo frowned.

"Ah...right." Fives got to his feet. "Jesse can't see me yet. We were waiting until Rex could before trying it with anyone else."

Echo nodded, eyes sparkling with amusement. "That would explain it."

"Explain...what?" Jesse's expression grew confused.

Fives laughed. “I don’t know if I want to let him see me. This is too much fun.”

"Besides." Rex grinned. “This way you two won’t start a fight about who wears ARC armor better.”

Fox got to his feet. “I’ve already been stuck hearing one side of that argument ever since Jesse came back from training.”

Jesse’s look grew more confused as he noticed Fox. “Star?”

“Not Star,” Cody mumbled from the bed. “My idiot batchmate who decided to run away from the Guard and join the 501^st.”

“Batchmate? But…wait…you’re saying…” Jesse’s face grew pale as he turned to Kix. “We’ve been hanging out with…Commander Fox?”

“Yep.” Kix nodded. “I’m the one who snuck him in.”

“We snuck him in.” Fives crossed his arms.

“Oh come on.” Kix rolled his eyes. “You didn’t do anything. You’re dead.”

Fives shrugged. “I convinced him to go in the first place.”

Jesse blinked. “Who are you talking to?”

Fives couldn’t take it anymore. He collapsed next to Echo, laughs wracking his body. Echo was politely trying to hide his giggles and failing miserably. Rex had turned away as well, but was quietly shaking.

Fox just sighed and looked at Cody. “See what I’ve had to put up with?”

Cody shrugged. “That’s what you get for taking Fives’ advice.”

“Hey!” Fives launched himself at the commanders and tackled them to the bed.

“Hold on!” Cody yelped. “This is technically assaulting superior officers.”

“Yeah? What’re you going to do? Send me to a firing squad?”

 Fox swiped at his leg, but Fives leapt out of reach and dashed through the nearest wall. When he came back, Fox was glaring at the wall, arms crossed.

“Not fair,” he mumbled.

“What is wrong with all of you?” Jesse's confused expression was quickly morphing into one of concern. Probably wondering if they'd all lost their minds.

“I think he’s had enough,” Rex chuckled as he nodded to Fox.

“Aw, Captain,” Fives pouted. “This was just getting fun.”

Fox smirked and reached for Jesse’s hand, but he pulled away with a look of terror.

“Jesse, it’s fine,” Rex said. “Trust me.”

Jesse still didn't look convinced, but reluctantly let Fox grab his wrist. Fives walked up to Fox and let his hand be directed until it touched Jesse’s. The ARC’s brows wrinkled at the touch and, a moment later, his eyes grew wide.

“But…but…”

“I wear it better by the way.” Fives grinned. "ARC armor."

Jesse blinked, staring at Fives. “You’re a ghost.”

“Great job noticing that,” Kix said.

“But…Fives, what happened?”

Fives sighed. "I suppose it's too much to hope this'll be the last time I tell this story."

Still, he proceeded to tell his story once more, Fox and Kix adding some here and there. It didn’t take long for Jesse to recover from his shock. As soon as their story was over, he crossed his arms and grinned at Fives.

“I wear it better.”

Fives rolled his eyes as they all grew quiet.

"Well..." Rex said after a moment. “We still have a battle to win here, but we need to figure out what to do about the chips.”

“I can remove all of yours,” Kix said.

Rex nodded. “That’s a start, but how can we dechip the whole GAR?”

“Why don’t we tell the Jedi?” Echo suggested. “There has to be something they can do.”

Rex and Fives exchanged a look and Fives sighed. “The Chancellor’s too high up. No one will believe us. General Skywalker certainly didn’t.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his tone.

“I just don’t know if the chips are enough evidence by themselves,” Kix said. “Even if we were to prove that they can be used to control us, there’s no way to prove that it’s the Chancellor’s doing.”

"Do we know that?" Jesse asked. "Could a slicer get data off of them?"

"Possibly," Kix said slowly. "But I'm not sure how. They are literally composed of cells."

"But if they...if they program us like droids," Cody spat, "there has to be some way to access that programming."

"Maybe." Kix crossed his arms. "But I have no idea where to start."

“The chips aren't our only problem,” Fox said.

“What do you mean?” Rex asked.

“The chips are dangerous, yes. But the Chancellor is the real problem. We need to find some way to prove…”

“Prove what?” Cody glanced at Fives. “He knew about them, but what’s his plan?”

“To make us kill the Jedi.”

“And then what?” Cody said. “He’s already the most powerful man in the Republic. What could he possibly hope to gain by killing the Jedi?”

Fives shrugged. “Maybe he’s a Sith.”

“Yeah, right.” Jesse shook his head. “The Chancellor of the Republic, a Sith.”

“Actually…” Cody went a little pale. “That’s not as insane as you think.”

Fives raised his eyebrows. “You’re kidding? I was actually joking.”

Cody shook his head. “General Kenobi told me that, before the First Battle of Geonosis, Count Dooku claimed that a powerful Sith Lord called Darth Sidious was in control of the Republic.”

“But…” Rex blinked. “The Jedi would know.”

“Would they?” Cody asked. “I’ve heard the Jedi talking. They say their vision is being clouded by the Dark Side. Maybe they wouldn’t know.”

“Great.” Fox sighed. “So now we have to expose a possible Sith.”

“We need to remove our chips first,” Rex said. “And while Kix is working on that, we figure out how to expose the Chancellor. But if he is a Sith…”

“We’re in trouble,” Fives finished.

The Battle of Anaxas was soon won thanks to Echo. He went with General Skywalker, Rex, and the Bad Batch and was able to neutralize all the droids. Fox didn’t go with this time because Rex was worried Skywalker might get suspicious. Fives had tagged along at first, but Fox soon found a very grumpy ghost by his side, worried sick about Echo.

He raced to his batchmate as soon as they landed and hugged him tight, Echo trying not to look too strange in front of the generals and the Bad Batch. Fox stood at a distance with Jesse and Kix. Hunter exchanged some words with Echo after the others left and Fox flinched at the sudden tightening in his chest.

“What’s wrong?” Kix asked.

“I think Fives is upset about something.”

But as soon as it had come, the feeling vanished. Echo shook hands with Hunter and both he and Fives walked back to them as the Havoc Marauder took off.

“What was that all about?” Fox asked.

“They…invited me to join them,” Echo said slowly.

"Echo..." Fives swallowed. "If that's where you wanted to be..."

Echo sighed. “I considered it. Given everything that's happened, might be a better fit for me now. But I’m needed here. I want to help with our little…” He tapped his head. “Problem.”

“Good.” Kix grabbed Echo and Jesse and headed toward the med bay. “Let’s start by getting your chips out. The battle’s won, should be quiet for a bit.”

“What about Rex?” Fives asked.

“I’ll do him as soon as I can, but he’ll be with the Generals for a while.”

Fives reluctantly stayed behind as Echo was herded to the med bay.

“You didn’t have to panic so much, he wouldn’t leave you,” Fox said.

Fives glanced at him. “I thought I felt something…we connected again, didn’t we?”

Fox nodded and Fives sighed. “I really wish we understood that whole thing better.”

Fox was quiet for a moment before changing the subject. “Have any ideas about the Chancellor yet?”

“Not really.” Fives shook his head. “I would say maybe I could sneak in and watch him for a bit, but I’d probably get brought back to you.”

“Sorry,” Fox mumbled.

“Not your fault.” Fives cocked his head. “Just feel like I’m on a leash.”

Fox thought for a moment. “It's not a bad idea actually, for you to sneak in. If you could find something out, at least we’d have a better understanding of what we’re dealing with.”

“It’d be a start. But I don’t see how we could do it unless you sneak in with me.”

“Well…” Fox swallowed. “I guess I could…”

“Absolutely not! The Chancellor will kill you. Not to mention it would ruin the whole watching him without being seen.”

“I wouldn’t have to get anywhere near him.” Fox said. “Just somewhere nearby. You don't get pulled back to me right away, so you should have enough time.”

“Maybe.” Fives nodded. “But even being on Coruscant could be dangerous for you.”

“I don’t care.” Fox crossed his arms. “It would be worth it to save the others.” He shuddered. “If he activates their chips…the Guard could do a lot of damage.”

Fives stared at him for a moment, searching his face. At last he sighed.

“Okay. Let’s talk to Rex.”

Rex was just finishing up with the generals when they found him. They quickly pulled him aside and told him about their plan.

“It's dangerous,” Rex said. “But I also agree it’s the best plan we have for now. Besides, we just received word we’re heading back to Coruscant for a few days, so it shouldn't look too suspicious. How close do you need to be?”

Fox shrugged. “Probably just outside the building.”

“Okay.” Rex nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter Text

Kix dragged Rex to the med bay on the way back to Coruscant. By the time they arrived, everyone who knew about Fives had been dechipped. Fives found himself breathing a little easier with each surgery. In addition, Kix started removing others’ chips as well. If anyone came to the med bay, he’d find an excuse to put them under so he could perform the surgery. A couple came to Rex, concerned about the impromptu procedure, but he assured them it was okay. It might not have been the most effective method, but they were trying to keep General Skywalker from finding out.

The day after they arrived on Coruscant, they decided it was time to sneak Fives’ into Palpatine’s office.

“Sure you don’t want anyone else to come?” Rex asked. “There could be trouble.”

“Not if no one sees me.” Fox had managed to get a hold of some civilian clothes and his armor was piled neatly on his bunk. “I’ll stay in the shadows. Everything should be fine.”

Rex didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue.

They got to the senate building without any trouble. Fox kept his head down and stayed out of the way and no one seemed to notice him.

“What if he isn’t there?” Fox glanced at Fives.

Fives shrugged. “Then we try again tomorrow.”

“And what if he can see you?”

“I…I’ll figure that out if it happens.”

Fox turned away as two senate guards walked by. “Just be careful, okay?”

Fives nodded and quickly ran off. He walked right through the closed door, unseen by anyone, and followed Fox’s directions to Palpatine’s office. He paused just outside for a moment, Fox’s question echoing in his mind. No one but Fox had ever been able to see him without Fox's help, not even the Jedi. Still, if the Chancellor somehow could see him, that would ruin everything. But there was nothing for it now, so at last, he walked in.

Palpatine was staring out the window without moving. He seemed to be waiting for something. Fives shuddered at the sight of him, especially the strange grin on his face.

Suddenly, Palpatine stiffened and looked around. Fives held his breath, but Palpatine’s eyes passed right over him without pausing. Still, the grin on the Chancellor’s face had been replaced by a frown. Fives couldn’t help but think about the possibility that the Chancellor was a Sith. If that was the case, would he be able to sense Fives’ presence?

A com beeped and with a final glance around the room, Palpatine returned to his desk. A hologram of a Coruscant Guard commander appeared, though Fives couldn't recognize his armor pattern. Fox probably would be able to.

“Yes Commander?”

“We’ve searched the lower levels as ordered.” The commander sounded exhausted. “But we didn’t find anything…suspicious. It might go quicker if we knew what we were looking for sir.”

“I am sorry indeed to be so mysterious.” Palpatine smiled like a benevolent grandfather and Fives balled his fists. “But secrecy is important in this case. Did you find anything out of sorts at all?”

“A droid rampaged through one level a couple nights ago, but it has since been contained. There was one report of a Jedi at the scene, but this cannot be confirmed.”

Palpatine nodded. “Thank you Commander. Report back if you find anything else.”

The commander's shoulders slumped just slightly. “Yes sir.”

The com went dead and Palpatine’s evil grin returned as he pulled a hood over his head. It made him look more like a Sith lord than ever.

A new hologram appeared and Fives gasped. It was Dooku, kneeling before Palpatine.

“Yes, my master.”

Wait, master? No, that would mean…

“Have you had any luck finding our renegade clone?”

Fives stiffened.

“I have distributed the scanning devices to the major Separatist leaders. Tambor reported that CC-1010 was one of the clones who broke into the Skako Minor facility, but he and the others escaped. Evidently Skywalker was with them.”

Palpatine walked over to the window and looked out at Coruscant, now growing darker. “If Skywalker was there, then the commander must be hiding in the 501st.” He didn't look too happy about that prospect.

“What about any leads on your end?” Dooku asked hesitatingly.

“Nothing of much note. However, a new problem has come to my attention. There have been reports of a Jedi on the lower levels. I’m sure it’s Tano.”

Fives caught his breath.

"I fail to see how she can be much of a threat." Dooku scoffed. "She was just a padawan, and never completed her training."

"It doesn't matter. She is a direct threat to my plans. She wasn't supposed to survive before." Palpatine shook his head. "There can be no mistakes this time."

"No..." Fives stared at Palpatine, the implication of his words washing over him.

“Do you really think it wise to eliminate her?” Dooku asked. “I doubt clones would do it without active inhibitor chips. Activating one clone's chip early is what put us in our current predicament. To do it again...”

“It won’t matter.” Palpatine snapped. “I won't make the mistake of deactivating the chips this time. Any clones sent to eliminate Tano will be...dealt with.”

“No!” Fives cried. “You can’t!”

He felt a presence in the back of his mind. Fox.

"And besides," Palpatine continued. "The time is fast approaching when Order 66 will be executed." A grin spread across his face. "And the Jedi will be no more."

And then Fives was right beside Fox. They stared at each other for a moment and Fives could see in the commander’s wide, frightened eyes that he’d heard what had happened.

“They’ve been gone too long.” Echo paced back and forth in front of Rex.

Rex rolled his eyes. “It hasn’t been that long. They’re fine. Besides, I don’t think anything can happen to Fives.”

“We don’t know that!” Echo stopped. “We don’t really know anything about his...condition. And if it’s some Force thing, and Palpatine is a Sith, he might be able to do something to him.”

“None of the Jedi have been able to see him, so I don’t think a Sith would either.”

Echo started pacing again. “And what if something happens to Fox? They seem to be tied to each other, so if Fox dies, what happens to Fives?”

Rex stiffened. He hadn’t thought of that. And he’d been ready to kill Fox himself for months.

“I won’t pretend I have all the answers,” he sighed at last. “I don’t.”

“I still think we should tell a Jedi about all this.”

“We need proof first.” Rex shook his head. “General Skywalker wouldn't even consider what Fives had to say before. Until we have evidence—”

He was cut off by Fives bursting through the closed door. It opened a split-second later and Fox dashed in.

“He’s going to do it!” Fives gasped.

“What?” Rex jumped up.

“Activate the chips! He said he’d activate them soon.”

“How soon?” Echo asked.

“He didn’t say, specifically.”

“But he's going to activate some of the Guard's sooner.” Fox had a wild look in his eye. “And then…and then he'll kill them…to make sure no one gets suspicious like I did.”

“Okay, calm down, both of you.” Rex stepped forward and grabbed both their shoulders. “Let’s get the others and then tell us exactly what you heard.”

Fox let Fives explain. He kept thinking about the vode he’d abandoned in the Guard. He had to save them. By the time Fives finished, everyone was looking very worried.

“So.” Jesse said at last. “Palpatine is a Sith.”

“And Dooku’s master.” Cody ran a hand over his face.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand.” Kix said. “Why’s he after Ahsoka?”

“Palpatine said that she was a threat to his plans,” Fives said.

“It doesn’t really matter why.” Rex said. “We have to help her.”

“And the Guard,” Fox said. “They’d never hurt her, but Palpatine's going to activate their chips.”

“I’ve got it!” Everyone jumped at Fives’ shout. “We have to help her, and we have to bring General Skywalker with us.”

“Why?” Rex asked. “I thought you didn’t trust him.”

Fives shook his head. “We have to convince him about the chips. Since it’s likely that the Guard’s chips will be activated…” He shot Fox an apologetic look. “…seeing that might convince him.”

“He was there when Tup’s chip activated.” Rex sighed. “That didn’t convince him.”

“But we didn't know what was going on then,” Fives said. “I know it’s a long shot, but it’s the only idea we have so far.”

Rex had a pinched look on his face. Fox wasn't sure if that was such a great idea himself. But both Rex and Fives knew Skywalker far better than him. He'd trust their judgement.

"Having the general on our side would make things easier." Rex sighed. "Okay. You're right. I don't have a better idea."

“What exactly do we tell him?” Cody asked. “We were eavesdropping on Palpatine and heard he’s going to attack Ahsoka?”

“No.” Fives sounded determined. “I tell him. Hopefully when he sees me, he’ll have no choice but to listen this time.”

Chapter Text

Anakin had really been looking forward to some quiet time with Padme. But those plans had changed when he got a message from Rex.

"What is it?" Padme came over to where he was sitting on the sofa, frowning at his datapad.

"Rex just sent me a message." He glanced up at her. "Says he has something urgent to discuss as soon as possible. Asked if I could come to Torrent's barracks. It's a little strange. He's never asked me to the barracks."

Padme glanced down at the message. "Maybe it's a personal matter."

Anakin snorted. "Not likely. We were just getting to that point where he trusted me enough to come to me for things like that before..."

Padme nodded in understanding. They'd already discussed the Fives incident in detail. "He still trusts you, Anakin. He asked for your help in getting Echo out."

"True." Anakin set his datapad aside. "But...things just aren't the same. I've always considered him a friend, and he was slowly opening up to me more and more. I can't really put a finger on what's changed, but it just seems like our friendship is strained lately."

Padme gently rubbed Anakin's back. "I don't think he blames you for what happened."

"No." Anakin sighed. "I think it was just...everything. What Fives was saying was completely crazy, but maybe I should have at least heard him out. He obviously wasn't okay, maybe drugged or something. If I'd at least listened...maybe things would have ended differently."

Padme sat next to him. "You can't change the past, Ani. All you can do is move forward. If Rex needs to talk to you, you should go. He's still your friend."

"I know, I'm just sorry to run off like this." He grabbed Padme's hand. "It seems like we hardly ever have time alone anymore."

"It's alright." She smiled. "We both have our duties. Go see what Rex needs."

Anakin walked into the barracks and was surprised to find Echo, Kix, and Jesse waiting with Rex, along with one of their newer troopers, Star. Rex had been bringing the clone on a lot of missions lately. From the beginning, Anakin had noticed Star didn't feel the same in the Force as most new troopers did. He'd thought it odd, but he hadn't questioned. Just because he was new didn't necessarily mean he was inexperienced.

“I got your message.” Anakin glanced at Rex. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a bit complicated sir.” Rex rubbed his neck. “But we believe the Republic is in danger.”

Anakin glanced around, feeling as if there was another presence in the room. A familiar presence, hovering near Echo. It wasn't the first time either. There had been several occasions since Fives died when he'd thought he could feel the ARC's presence, but he just assumed he was imagining things.

“In danger how?” Anakin turned back to Rex.

Rex took a breath. “It’s about…Fives. And what he was saying before he died.”

Anakin’s heart dropped. He hoped Rex wasn’t about to make the same claims about the Chancellor as Fives had. But he still remembered what had happened before and decided to at least hear his captain out this time. He owed him that much.

“What is it?”

“First…there’s something we need to do.”

Anakin’s brow wrinkled as Rex nodded to Star. Anxiety rolled off the trooper as he stepped forward.

“This is going to sound weird, sir,” Rex said, “but let him take your hand.”

Anakin raised his eyebrows, but he nodded to Star. The trooper gently took his real hand and seemed to grab air with his other hand. But there was something…someone…there. Anakin could sense them, the presence that had been fluttering at the edge of his conscious from time to time seeming to solidify.

Star glanced at the empty space. “You’re sure about this?”

Nobody answered, but Star nodded and guided Anakin’s hand toward whatever he was holding.

He touched something warm. A hand manifested against his and a body soon followed behind. Then Fives was standing in front of him, shimmering blue.

"Hey, General." Fives had a sheepish smile.

Anakin blinked. “How is this possible?”

Fives pulled his hand back and shrugged, a nervous look on his face. “Thought you might be able to tell us…a Force thing or something.”

“I’ve…never heard of this.” Anakin glanced around the room. “How long have all of you known?”

“Most of us just after we rescued Echo,” Jesse said. “But Fox and Kix right after it happened.”

Anakin’s eyes snapped to Star. At last, he realized why the trooper’s Force presence had felt so odd.

“But…wait…” He glanced from Rex to Fives and then back to Fox. “Everyone’s been looking for you. What are you doing here?”

“It’s...complicated.”

“General, please listen to me.” Fives stepped forward, a ghost, but still a strong presence in the Force. “I know I sounded crazy before, but you have to believe me now. We’re all in danger. I…” He took a deep breath. “I need you to trust me.”

Anakin crossed his arms. “Are you planning on accusing the Chancellor of treason again?”

Fives met his eyes and his face hardened. “Possibly something far worse than treason.”

Anakin stared at him for a moment. His first instinct was to put an end to this right away, but he hadn’t forgotten what happened before. One of his men, his friend, had died. Yet here he was, looking him in the eye. There couldn’t be any harm in hearing him out this time.

“Okay,” he sighed at last. “I’m listening.”

The General’s face was unreadable as Fives told his tale once more. He was sure getting tired of it. But all that mattered was that Skywalker was actually listening to him. Getting him to believe Fives would come later.

Cody had been very skeptical about involving Skywalker. He'd thought it would be better to talk to Kenobi instead. And maybe he was right, Fives didn't know. At least Kenobi wasn't as close to Palpatine as Skywalker was. But as highly as Fives thought of Kenobi, Skywalker was still his general. It had hurt before, when Skywalker hadn't believed him. But Skywalker was more than just his general, he was Fives' friend. If he could just convince him, Fives was sure his general would help them.

Skywalker was quiet as the story came out, the whole story from the moment Fives and Tup had arrived on Kamino. The only time the Jedi showed any emotion was when Fives told him about Palpatine meeting with Dooku. Still, he remained quiet until Fives got to the part about Ahsoka.

"You're wrong." Skywalker shook his head. "The Chancellor had nothing to do with Ahsoka being framed. That was all Barriss Offee's doing."

"General," Rex said. "You have to admit, at Ahsoka's trial...he seemed awful eager to convict her. He certainly didn't do anything to help."

"Well...the evidence was pretty convincing..." Skywalker shook his head. "He was just trying to do what was best for the Republic."

Fives balled his fists. "I heard him! He said that Ahsoka is a threat, and she wasn't supposed to survive before. He said he'd activate the Guard's chips and force them to kill her!"

Skywalker blanched. "It...it can't be."

"I was standing right next to him." Fives snorted. "One of the benefits of being a ghost. I'm telling you general, I know what I heard."

"And how do I know you're telling the truth?" Skywalker snapped. "How do I know you're not still just trying to convince me of your crazy conspiracy theory?"

"Why are you so convinced Palpatine's a good guy?" Fox, to everyone's shock, practically shouted. "Do you have any idea how he treats us?"

Skywalker quickly recovered from his shock. "I've seen him around clones. He's never been disrespectful."

"When you're around." Fox crossed his arms. "I can't tell you how many times he's ignored my requests for additional supplies for the guard. We barely get by. He never calls us by our names, though at least he uses rank with me instead of just 'clone'. But whenever you're around, he acts like a perfect saint."

Skywalker looked ready to argue, but then paused. Fives held his breath as he waited for the general to come to a decision.

"If there's even a remote chance Ahsoka is in danger," Rex said, "shouldn't we at least look into it?"

Skywalker closed his eyes for a moment as he took a deep breath. “What exactly are you proposing?”

“We find her first,” Rex said. “And we wait for the Guard to come.”

“And what if they don’t come?”

“Then you only lose time,” Fives said. “But if they do come with the intent to hurt her, we can be hidden nearby so we can safely neutralize them and protect Ahsoka.”

For the first time, a hint of fear showed in Skywalker's face. "If you are right...we'd be using her as bait."

Fives flinched. "I...I know. And I don't like it either, but I think this is the only way."

"Besides." Fox crossed his arms. "You obviously don't believe us. So, what's the harm?"

Fives waited. He knew this was his last desperate chance. The thought of Ahsoka being in danger might just be enough to get the General to take action. If not...

Skywalker stared at him for a few moments before sighing. “Alright.” He nodded. “I’ll do it.”

Fives’ heart leapt. They had a chance. And that was all they needed...a chance.

Chapter Text

It was decided that Kix would stay behind and be ready in case he needed to remove chips. Echo had wanted to come, but Rex wouldn’t let him. Said he needed more time to fully recover.

Fox was on edge as they made their way to the lower levels, four living clones, one ghost, and a Jedi packed onto a small ship. The last time he’d been down here…things hadn’t turned out so well. He could sense Fives was on edge as well. General Skywalker kept shooting them a confused look.

“You said you seem to be connected?” Skywalker asked.

“Yeah.” Fives nodded. “It’s…weird.”

Skywalker’s brow wrinkled. “I can sense it…a bond between you in the Force.”

“So…I became a Jedi after I died?” Fives smirked. “Cool!”

“Not a Jedi exactly…it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.”

“Figures.” Fox groaned. “Even the Jedi have no idea what’s going on.”

“Do we know where we’re going yet?” Jesse asked from where he was piloting the craft. They didn’t know Tano’s exact location, but Skywalker believed he could find her through the Force.

Skywalker closed his eyes for a moment and focused before pointing to a landing platform. “She’s there.”

“Okay.” Rex nodded to a platform a level up. “We can land there and climb down.”

They landed on the platform and started climbing down, but Fives didn’t follow.

“What are you doing?” Fox asked.

“Go on.” Fives grinned. “I want to try something.”

Fox sighed and followed Rex down to the next level. They reached the bottom and Fox looked up just in time to see a blue blur fall from above and slam silently against the metal platform.

“See?” Fives turned to them grinning. “I am a Jedi.”

Skywalker hid a laugh in his hand while Rex rolled his eyes.

They entered the small hanger with a single ship and soon voices reached their ears. Fox thought he could recognize Tano’s, and the general’s stiffening all but confirmed it. There was enough equipment and crates around it was easy to stay hidden as they made their way toward the voices. Tano was speaking to two human girls.

Skywalker sucked in his breath. “Look at her. She’s so…grown up.”

Fox couldn’t help but agree. He hardly listened to what they were talking about. Something about spice and Pikes and what it meant to be a Jedi.

But then a gunship landed on the platform outside and several members of the Guard stepped out. Fox caught his breath when he recognized Thire and Stone as the commanders leading them.

Skywalker had noticed as well and was staring at the Shock Troopers with wide eyes. They quietly entered the hanger, reminding Fox all too much of when he’d led the search for Fives. Tano certainly didn’t seem to notice them.

Thire nodded at Stone and they both stepped into the light. “Ahsoka Tano.”

Tano whirled and the two girls behind her stepped back in surprise.

“I’m…afraid you’re under arrest.”

“What?” Tano’s eyes widened. “On what charges?”

“We…don’t know.” Thire sighed. “But the Chancellor has ordered us to bring you in.”

Skywalker sucked in his breath. Fox couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or disappointed. It was obvious their chips hadn’t been activated yet. He was thrilled that Thire and Stone were safe, but that also meant they had nothing to show General Skywalker.

Tano crossed her arms. “You have no right to arrest me without a good reason.”

“Please.” Stone sounded exhausted. “We have our orders…I’m sure this can all be worked out if you’ll just—”

He was interrupted by his com beeping. With a sigh, he held up his hand and Fox’s heart dropped to see a hologram of Palpatine.

“Yes, sir?”

“Have you found her?”

“Yes, but…we really have no reason to arrest her.”

“It doesn’t matter.” The Chancellor’s voice grew dangerous and Fox braced himself. “Execute Order 66.”

Both the commanders and their men instantly stiffened. “Yes, Lord Sidious.”

Skywalker gasped as the Shock Troopers raised their blasters as one, all trained on Tano.

Her eyes widened and she shoved the girls behind her out of the way. “Get back!”

“No!” Skywalker launched himself between the Guard and Tano, lightsaber blazing.

Tano stared at him. “Anakin?”

“Stand down!” Skywalker called to the troopers. “What are you doing?”

“In accordance with Order 66, all Jedi are hereby subject to execution for treason against the Galactic Republic.”

Before any of them could fire, Rex shot several stun blasts and most of the Guard collapsed. Thire, Stone, and a few of the others were able to dart out of the way, firing back with blasters set to kill.

The two girls had disappeared in the commotion. Skywalker pulled Tano to their location and she stared at them all in shock.

“What’s going on?” She blinked in confusion. “I didn’t do anything.”

Blaster fire ended any further conversation as Stone tried to flush them out. Fox’s heart pounded as he double checked that his blaster was set for stun and quickly jumped out and stunned Stone and another trooper.

But he was quickly tackled from the other side by Thire.

“Traitor!”

They struggled for a few minutes before Thire was pulled off of him. Fox looked up to find Skywalker holding his lightsaber to Thire’s throat, fury blazing in the Jedi’s eyes and a cold hatred in Thire’s.

“Why are you doing this?” Skywalker asked. “The Jedi have done nothing.”

“Good soldiers follow orders.”

Before Skywalker could react, another trooper shot at him and he whirled his lightsaber to deflect the blast. Thire quickly backed away, blasting the Jedi as he backed behind some equipment.

Fox and Skywalker both dashed back to where the others were hiding behind some crates, shooting stun blasts.

Fives had his arms crossed and was glaring at Skywalker. “Do you believe me yet?”

Skywalker looked up at him and there were a thousand emotions written across his face. Fear, betrayal, guilt…

“I’m so sorry,” was all he said.

“What’s happening?” Tano crouched between Rex and Jesse. “What’s wrong with the Guard?”

“They’re being controlled.” Rex tapped his head. “Inhibitor chips built into all our brains.”

Tano’s eyes widened. “Then…why aren’t you guys…”

“We removed them.”

More blaster fire interrupted their conversation. It sounded like some of the stunned troopers had regained consciousness.

“We have to get out of here,” Cody said.

“No!” Fox ducked as a blaster bold nearly grazed his shoulder. “We can’t abandon them. I won't abandon them.”

“We’ve already lost the element of surprise,” Rex said.

“No, he’s right.” Fives flinched as a bolt went right through him, but he didn’t seem harmed. “If they report back to the Chancellor, he’ll find out we know. He could activate all the chips.”

The blasts stopped as footfalls closed in on their small group. “CC-1010, you and the other traitors are in violation of Order 66. You will be executed with the Jedi Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker.”

Fox couldn’t stand it. The cold, emotionless voice. He couldn’t let this continue.

Fives called after him as he leapt from behind the crates and started firing stun blasts into the gathered Guard. They immediately returned fire, but the blasts were missing for the most part. One hit his leg and he dropped to his knees, but he kept firing. Another blast hit his shoulder and he collapsed backward with a gasp.

“No!” That was Fives…

Everything grew blurry, but he managed to lift his head in time to see Fives trying to tackle Thire. He passed right through the other clone, as usual, but he was having some sort of effect on him. Thire was writhing, shaking his head as if in pain.

“No…no…won’t…kill them…”

The hesitation was enough. Rex stunned him from behind and Thire fell to the ground. He was the last one. All the others were already lying on the floor.

“Fox!” Cody ran over to him and gently removed his helmet.

“Hey, vod.” Fox managed a little smile. “Everyone okay?”

Cody nodded. “Thanks to you.”

“Good. That’s…good.” Then the darkness took him.

Fives ran over to Cody and Fox. “Is he…”

“He’s alive.” Cody looked up at him. “But he took some bad hits.”

“We need to get out of here.” Anakin looked down at the unconscious guard.

“Skyguy?” The Jedi turned to his former padawan and a warm expression crossed his face.

“Hey Snips.”

She blinked. “You knew they were coming for me. How?”

“That’s…” Anakin laughed. “A long story.”

“No it’s not.” Jesse took his helmet off. “Fives was killed for knowing about the chips, came back as a ghost, got us all to remove our chips, then spied on Palpatine and found out he was looking for you.” He grinned. “Not that complicated.”

Ahsoka blinked. “Fives…is a ghost.”

“Yep.” Fives waved. “Right here Commander.”

“Yeah.” Rex shot Fives an amused look. “He’s waving at you like an idiot.”

She blinked again. “And you can see him?”

“All of us can see him. It’s weird, Fox has to touch Fives’ hand to yours, and then you’ll be able to see him.”

“That’s not happening for a bit.” Cody stood up. “We need to get him back to Kix.”

“What about the Guard?” Fives glanced down at the unconscious troopers.

As if on cue, Stone’s com beeped. They all exchanged a look before Cody ran over and picked up the com.

“Report commander.”

It was audio only, no visual.

“The Jedi traitor has been eliminated.” Fives fought back a shiver at Cody’s voice. He’d managed to sound completely free from emotion.

“Excellent.” Fives could just picture Palpatine’s evil grin. “Now, execute Order 43.”

"Yes sir."

The com went dead and Cody released a breath.

“Nicely done.”  Skywalker glanced down at the fallen troopers again and sighed. “We’ll take them all back to the 501^st and remove their chips.”

"Do we have any idea what that order is?" Jesse asked.

"Based on what Palpatine said..." Fives swallowed. "I bet it was an order to take our own lives."

They were all quiet for a moment, horror in their eyes.

“But this does work to our advantage,” Fives said. “He won't be suspicious when two Guard commanders and several troopers disappear.”

"Unless he has some way to find out." Cody shook his head. "Whatever happens next, we're running out of time."

“Then we’ll have to stop him fast.” General Skywalker grabbed Thire and started pulling him back toward their ship. “Get these guys on board.”

The others started loading the troopers on the ship, but Rex stopped and glanced at Fives.

“What did you do to Thire?”

Fives shrugged. “I tried to grab him and…I don’t know. I could feel the chip. And I just focused on pushing it back. It didn’t free him, but…”

Rex nodded. “Whatever you did, it helped.”

“Rex?” They turned to find Commander Tano looking between Rex and Fives’ general direction. “Are you…talking to Fives?”

“Yep.”

Fives grinned. “Tell her I say ‘hi.’”

“He says ‘hi.’”

She stared at them for a moment before a grin broke over her face. “It’s going to be great to be back.”

Chapter Text

Echo waited in the med bay with Kix, pacing.

“I should be with them.”

“They have it covered.” Kix didn’t look up from where he was monitoring a trooper's vitals.

Echo sighed and sat down on a bed. The med bay was empty except for two unconscious troopers who’d made the mistake of coming to Kix for minor injuries they got while sparring. Instead, they’d gotten brain surgery.

A blue figure suddenly darted through the closed door and Echo jumped to his feet.

“Kix!” Fives called. “We have about twenty stunned troopers who need their chips removed and Fox has been hurt pretty bad.”

“On it!” Kix was already on his feet and preparing for the surgeries.

Echo grabbed Fives’ arm. “Are you okay?” He looked worried.

“Yeah…everyone’s fine.”

“And Commander Tano?”

“Found her?” Fives grinned. “Rex has been relaying messages for me. Fox was knocked out before he could do his thing.”

That explained it. In the short time since his rescue, Echo had come to realize that the bond between Fox and Fives had made them protective of each other. Not that it mattered...not really. There was nothing wrong with Fives getting close with another vod, even if it was strange that said vod was the head of the Coruscant Guard.

Soon, the others started carrying the unconscious Guard members in. But Echo’s attention was quickly drawn to a young Togruta, and his heart leapt at the sight.

“Echo!” She ran over and gave him a hug which he returned with much enthusiasm. “I’m so glad you’re alive! Rex told me about what happened.”

They pulled away and Echo smiled. “It’s good to see you Commander.”

She rolled her eyes. “As I keep telling everyone, I’m not a commander anymore. But I’m sure you’ll listen about as much as Rex and Jesse have.”

“I intend to listen,” Fives said. “Just need Fox to wake up so I can actually talk to you.”

Ahsoka’s eyes darted toward Fives’ general direction. “Fives is here, isn’t he?”

“You can tell?”

“I sense...well, it's strange, actually. A presence, but a very odd one. Must be because he's a...ghost.” She looked like she was still trying to wrap her mind around that concept.

Echo pulled his attention to what was happening around the med bay. Several troopers had been brought in and were now strapped to beds, still unconscious. Kix already had a med droid started on surgeries and was scanning Fox. After a few moments, Fox groaned and sat up, placing his hand on his head.

“Welcome back.” Fives walked over to the commander and whacked his head. “Nice job trying to get yourself killed.”

Fox rolled his eyes. “Figured you’d like some company.”

Fives' smile wavered a little. “Nah, I’m good.”

“Thank you,” Fox said. “Whatever you did…you saved me.”

Echo felt a little pang as he watched them. Something touched his shoulder and he turned to see Ahsoka watching him with worried eyes.

“You alright?”

Echo sighed. “Ever since he died…Fives has been connected to Fox. I guess I’m just a little…”

“Jealous?”

“Maybe.” Echo had been rufusing to admit it, but maybe she was right. “We were always so close. Inseparable. You’d think we’d be connected.”

Ahsoka nodded. “It’s frustrating, when we can’t understand why the Force makes things happen the way they do. But whatever happened to them, it happened for a reason. He still loves you, you know.”

Echo stared at her for a moment. She really had grown up.

“I know.” Echo nodded at last. “But things are different now.”

“He’d do anything to protect you.” She smiled. “I can feel that much through the Force, even if I can’t see him.”

"Well." Echo grinned. “Let’s fix that.”

She followed him over to where Fives and Fox were still talking.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Echo said. “But Commander Tano was hoping to see Fives.”

“About time.” Fives grinned as Fox grabbed both their hands.

It was so much fun to see the different emotions cross someone’s face when this happened. First confusion at the feeling of touching something you couldn’t see. Then surprise as Fives started to become visible. And finally excitement in one form or another—in this case, Ahsoka wrapping Fives in a hug.

“Nice to see you too, Ahsoka!”

She laughed. “Of course, you’d be the one to listen.”

"You've gotten so big!" Fives held her at arm's length, looking her up and down.

Ahsoka's smile faded slightly. "Fives, I...I'm sorry this happened to you. I can't even begin to imagine..."

Fives shook his head. "Don't worry about it. At least I came back to help out."

"And save me. If it wasn't for you..." Ahsoka pulled him in for another hug. "Thank you."

Rex and General Skywalker walked in with an unconscious trooper. “That’s all of them,” Rex said.

Kix already had Thire out of surgery and was getting Stone in.

Ahsoka crossed her arms. “So, what happens now?”

General Skywalker collapsed in a chair and put his face in his hands. “He betrayed us all. They called him Sidious. He’s a Sith.”

“We have to stop him,” Fives said. “If he activates all the chips…the Jedi won’t stand a chance.”

“We should tell General Kenobi,” Cody said. “He’d listen.”

Echo silently agreed. General Kenobi was a very levelheaded Jedi, and he'd always treated the clones well. Commander Cody and the rest of the 212th never stopped singing his praises.

“I’m…so sorry.” General Skywalker glanced up at all of them, grief in his eyes. “I’d never have believed you if I hadn’t seen it.”

“Then help us now.” Fives crossed his arms. “How do we take down a Sith?”

“Not alone.” Skywalker glanced at Cody. “You’re right. Obi-wan’s at the Temple now. I think Plo Koon is as well. Both of them will listen.”

“We should go talk to them now.” Cody started walking toward the door. “We don’t have much time.”

Skywalker nodded. "Rex, you come too. The rest of you, wait here. We’ll bring them here and explain everything.”

After they left, the others all began to split up. Ahsoka and Jesse headed to the mess to get a bite. Fox wouldn’t leave the med bay while his men were getting surgeries, and he offered to help Kix in any way he could.

Echo was about to follow the others to the mess, but looked up to find Fives staring at him with a worried expression. The ghost gently took his arm and led him away. Soon, they entered the private room Rex had given Echo as he recovered.

Fives turned to him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Echo sat on his bed.

Fives blinked at him for a moment before sitting down beside him.

“Fox hasn’t replaced you,” Fives said at last. “Never could. You'll always be my closest brother, but the Fox and I couldn’t help but get close after all…” He gestured to his transparent body. “This.”

“I know.” Echo sighed. “I can’t imagine what it was like…not having anyone be able to see you.”

Fives pulled him back so they were laying down and pulled Echo’s head to his chest. Echo couldn’t help but let out a little sigh.

“I was worried about you. Still am.”

Fives smiled. “Don’t be.”

Echo knew he wouldn’t be able to do that. From now on, he was always going to be worried about his twin. There was still so much they didn't understand. And he was terrified of one day finding that Fives had vanished, gone for good this time.

But Fives was here for now, and he'd treasure every moment they had together. For tonight, he let his worries disappear as he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Fox sat between Thire's and Stone's beds. Kix had successfully removed their chips and was currently finishing with the last couple troopers. They'd been out for some time, and Fox was anxious for them to wake up. Still, he didn't dare interrupt Kix. He was all too aware of the perils of upsetting a medic.

Finally, Thire groaned and sat up, hand darting to the bacta patch on his head.

"Hey." Fox squeezed Thire's hand. “You okay vod'ika?”

Thire's eyes widened. “Fox! Where have you been?”

“Long story.” Fox smiled. “How are you feeling?”

Thire winced. “Not great.”

“Fox?” Stone sat up. “What…where are we? We were arresting Tano, and…” Both his and Thire's eyes widened.

“It’s alright, it wasn’t your fault,” Fox cut Stone off before he could continue. “You were forced, just like I was forced to kill Fives.”

“What are you talking about?”

Fox explained the chips and the chancellor and how he’d hid with the 501^st.

“I didn’t want to leave you,” he murmured. “But I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do.”

His fellow commanders just stared at him for a moment.

“But…what happened down there?” Thire asked. “I was…I was going to kill you! Then I felt weird. I couldn’t quite think for myself, but I just knew I had to stop.”

"That's...complicated as well." Fox rubbed the back of his neck. “Fives came back as a ghost and I’ve been stuck with him ever since.”

“A…ghost?”

“And he tried to grab you when you were attacking me. He can’t touch most people, so he just went right through you. But he did something.”

They exchanged a glance and seemed to come to a mutual decision that they'd talk about that more later.

“Okay then...” Thire said. “So, what’s happening now?”

Fox nodded to the rest of the medical bay. “Kix is removing your men’s chips. Cody and Rex went with General Skywalker to talk to the Jedi. Then…I’m not sure.” He shrugged. “I guess we’re going to fight a Sith.”

They were interrupted by Fox’s comm beeping. It was Rex, giving the location to meet with the Jedi. He said a hasty goodbye to Thire and Stone and left the med bay. Kix stayed behind to monitor the other troopers who were beginning to wake up.

Cody, Rex, and General Skywalker were waiting in a meeting room along with General Kenobi and General Koon. Fox was both thrilled and terrified to see Wolffe there as well. Wolffe raised his eyebrows when he caught sight of him, and Fox couldn’t tell if he wanted to hug Fox or punch him. Probably both, if he knew his brother

“Commander Fox,” General Kenobi said. “As I understand it, you’ve had an…interesting few months.”

“That’s one way to put it, sir.”

“I’ve explained just about everything to them.” Skywalker was slumped in his chair, looking completely exhausted. “They believe us and agree we have to...eliminate Palpatine.”

“He didn’t mention our…friend.” Rex added. “You may as well call him. He’ll want to hear this.”

Fox hadn’t noticed where Fives had gone. He’d been so exhausted after everything and relieved that Thire and Stone were going to be okay. When he closed his eyes, a sense of complete contentment came over him. Fives and Echo were dozing, side by side. Fox felt bad about disturbing them, but it was evidently too late.

Fives sighed. “They’re back.”

“How can you…” Echo looked back at him. “Oh. Fox.”

Fives reluctantly got to his feet. “We’d better get over there.” He smirked. “Besides, I get to torment more people who can’t see me.”

Fox opened his eyes with a sigh. “He’s on his way.”

“Okay.” Kenobi seemed to choose to ignore their odd behavior. “So, we know that Palpatine is a Sith and Dooku serves him.” He looked at Fox. “I understand you’re responsible for gaining this information.”

“Um…sort of.”

“It might be beneficial if all of you tell us whatever you haven’t yet.” Kenobi looked at Skywalker.

"The...friend Rex mentioned was the one to spy on Palpatine." The younger Jedi sighed and glanced up at the masters. “Have either of you ever heard anything about ghosts?”

“Not outside of certain myths and legends,” Kenobi said.

“I have.” Koon looked thoughtful. "In the Jedi Temple."

“Oh, good.” Fives walked in at that moment, Echo beside him. “Maybe we can finally figure all this out.”

“Why do you want to know?” Kenobi asked before Fives had finished speaking.

Koon chuckled. “I am assuming it would be because they know of a ghost.”

Kenobi and Wolffe both looked at General Koon with wide eyes.

“Uh…yeah.” Skywalker glanced at Fives.

Koon nodded. “Is said ghost here currently?”

“Yep, right here sir!” Fives grinned brightly.

Wolffe nearly jumped out of his skin and Kenobi startled.

“What was that?” Wolffe’s eyes were wide.

“A ghost.” Cody managed to keep a straight face as Wolffe stared at him.

Fives crossed his arms. “I really wish I knew why sometimes people seem to hear me.”

“So,” Skywalker said. “What do you know about ghosts?”

“There have always been rumors in the of Jedi maintaining their identity in the force and appearing to guide others,” Koon said.

Skywalker shook his head. "And...what about ghosts who aren't Jedi?"

“Hey!” Fives grinned. “I'm practically a Jedi. Get to do weird things now.”

“There are many cultures who believe the dead can return to guide the living.” Koon continued, evidently not hearing Fives.

"And most legends do have some basis in truth," Kenobi added slowly. "But...this is a bit of a stretch for me to believe."

“There have been Jedi who theorized the Force may choose to bring any individual back from death,” Koon said. "But few have believed them. Those who researched the idea believed this could be accomplished by tying the life force of the deceased with that of a living being."

“What does that mean?” Fox couldn't help but think that sounded familiar.

“Again, these were only theories. But the dead individual couldn’t leave the living one for long. They also shared the equivalent of a Force bond and only the living one could make it so that others could see the ghost.”

"That...sounds about right," Skywalker said.

"How exactly was this researched?" Echo asked. "Did these Jedi actually interact with these ghosts?"

"Unfortunately, no." Koon shook his head. "They spoke to people who claimed loved ones had come back as ghosts, and this happened very rarely. Oddly enough, all of them had one, very specific thing in common."

"What was that?" Fox asked.

Koon turned his gaze on Fox. "In every situation, the ghost had been killed by the person he was now bound to. And the one who'd killed him felt true remorse over his actions to the point that he would not have done it at all if he could take it back."

"So..." Skywalker blinked. "You're saying anyone who feels bad about killing someone will have that person's ghost following them around?"

"There is no way to know for sure, but I believe it to be more than that," Koon said. "After all, we are currently at war. I believe everyone in this room has probably at one point or another regretted having to take a life. What the exact parameters for a ghost's appearance are, I have no idea."

Fox felt a strange sense from Fives, as if he'd figured something out.

“Okay then.” Kenobi said before Fox could focus more on Fives. “Who’s a ghost?”

“Fives.” Rex glanced at the ghost in question, who had a far-off look on his face.

Kenobi blinked for a moment before turning to Fox. “And…you can allow others to see him?”

“Not yet!” Fives shook himself out of his reverie. “I haven’t gotten to do any fun stuff yet.”

Echo laughed and pushed his twin toward Fox. “I’m sure there’ll be others for you to torment.”

Fives glared at Echo before turning toward the others and chuckling. “Oh, well, the look on Wolffe’s face is enough anyway.”

Fox glanced at his brother and choked back a laugh at Wolffe's expression. It was a look that screamed 'my brothers have lost their minds'.

"Alright." Fox grabbed Fives’ wrist. “Who’s first?”

When none of them stepped forward, Fox grabbed Wolffe’s wrist.

“Hey—”

“Oh, stop complaining.” He held their hands together. After a moment, Wolffe yelped and jumped back toward his general.

Fives cackled. “Oh, that was the best reaction yet!”

Fox shook his head and proceeded to drag Fives over to Kenobi and Koon

Kenobi just stared at Fives for a moment before shaking his head and sitting in the chair next to Skywalker's. Koon’s face was unreadable under his mask, of course, though he tilted his head as if curious.

“So that’s how it works.”

“It looks like it.” Fives swallowed. "General Koon, are you sure you don't know anything else about ghosts?"

"I'm afraid not," Koon rumbled. "As I said, most Jedi were dissuaded from researching such concepts."

"Yes, Jedi are taught that those who die become part of the Cosmic Force. That death is something to be celebrated, not mourned." Kenobi frowned. "A concept that is much easier in theory than in practice, unfortunately."

"But what about the people who claimed to see ghosts?" Fives pressed. "The only similarity was that they were tied to the one who killed them?"

"As far as we know," Koon said. "But I would assume there is something else that was missed."

Fives nodded slowly. Fox desperately wanted to ask what he was thinking. He'd figured something out, or at least had a theory. But Fox decided not to press in front of the Jedi.

Echo cleared his throat. “Do we have any sort of plan yet?”

“Well...we’ll need undeniable proof that Palpatine is a Sith.” Kenobi seemed to be having a hard time taking his eyes of Fives.

“We have the recording of the Guard under the chip's influence on our helmet cams,” Rex said.

“Unfortunately, I doubt that will be enough.” Kenobi ran a hand over his beard. “If we had proof of him and Dooku working together…”

“I can spy on him,” Fives said. “See if I can overhear him planning a face-to-face meeting.”

“No!” Fox clenched his fists. “We don’t have time to wait. He’s going to make his move soon.”

“We can’t just go walking in and take him.” Rex crossed his arms. “There are too many ways he could be tipped of. We have to figure out a way to do this so he doesn’t have time to activate the chips.”

“He trusts me,” Skywalker said. “Maybe I can…”

“No,” Kenobi said in a firm voice. “You’re not facing a Sith lord alone.”

"It's the only way." Skywalker stood. "I'm the only one who can get close enough. Then I can put an end to this, once and for all. There isn't time to find proof."

"Anakin." Kenobi stood as well and squeezed Skywalker's shoulder. "Not only is it dangerous, but without proof, you would be arrested for treason."

"Besides, killing out of hate is the path to the Dark Side," Koon added.

Skywalker winced. "I know. I...I..."

"What is it Anakin?"

"It's...nothing." Skywalker turned away from his master. "But I'm telling you, this is the only way. And I'm not doing it out of hate. I'm doing it to protect...everyone."

Kenobi and Koon exchanged a glance. "Not alone, you can't," Koon rumbled at last.

"We can't just all show up," Skywalker said. "That would tip him off."

"It doesn't matter." Kenobi shook his head. "I will not let you do this alone. We'll go together."

"You know as well as I do that would make him suspicious."

Everyone grew quiet. Fox didn't like it, but he had to admit it was the best chance they had. Palpatine had always taken a liking to Skywalker. It used to seem strange, but now it made sense. Skywalker was a powerful Jedi, just the kind of person a Sith Lord would want on their side.

"General," Fives said carefully, "I'm not sure about this. No offence, but you're too close to him. What if..."

"What if he gets me to believe this is all some big conspiracy theory? What if he has some very good explanation for what happened?"

Fives shrugged. "It's not like you believed me before."

Skywalker winced at Fives' accusing tone. "I know. But I don't intend to give him that chance." He seemed unable to meet Fives' gaze. "Fives, I know I made a mistake, and it cost you your life. I need to make things right, and this is the only way."

Fox caught a brief flash of the pain and sorrow going through Fives' mind right before it hardened into resolve. "Then I'm coming with you."

"What?" Echo glanced between the two of them. "But...why?"

"It makes the most sense," Fives said. "I won't be spotted. And with the connection between me and Fox, I'll be able to warn the rest of you if something goes wrong."

"Yes, but you're forgetting something." Rex crossed his arms. "You'll be drawn back to Fox if you're apart for too long."

"Then we'll just have to do it quick," Fives said. "Like before. You can all be waiting near the Senate Dome."

"Or I can use one of the Guard's armor and sneak into the building," Fox added. "Maybe I can stay close enough that you won't be drawn back to me. If something goes wrong, I can contact the others over coms."

Cody shot him a glare that clearly stated he didn't like the idea but couldn't think of anything better.

Skywalker nodded slowly. "It does make sense."

"Anakin..." Kenobi shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

Skywalker shook his head. "It's the only way."

Kenobi closed his eyes for a long moment before letting out a sigh. "I still don't like it."

"I would like to inform the Council of these developments, but I hesitate," Koon said. "Some are already distrustful of clones. If news of these chips gets out, it could possibly cause more harm to your people."

Fox's heart warmed at that. He never thought he'd meet a natborn who would put his brothers' welfare above their own. Evidently Wolffe's admiration for his general wasn't unfounded.

"I...agree," Kenobi said.

They were all quiet for a moment before Wolffe spoke. "So, when would we do this?"

"He could activate the chips at any time," Skywalker said. "I...was actually supposed to meet with the chancellor tomorrow anyway. That seems like as good a time as any."

"In the meantime, Wolffe and I will return to the Wolfpack and start removing their chips," Koon said.

"And we can do the same with the 212th." Kenobi nodded.

"Actually..." Cody rubbed the back of his neck. "We've already started with both the 501st and the 212th. About half already have their chips removed."

Kenobi stared at him for a moment before chuckling. "Glad to see you're on top of things Commander."

"All of you should get some rest." Koon began walking toward the door. "I doubt things will go according to plan."

"Before you go." Skywalker looked up and had a smile for the first time. "I think my padawan would very much like to see both of you."

Chapter Text

The rest of the evening was deceivingly pleasant, considering what they had planned for the next day. Ahsoka barreled into Obi-Wan and Master Koon when they walked into the room, giving both tight hugs. For a moment, it was as if nothing had changed. Like she was still Anakin's little padawan. But then, the discussion turned to plans for the next day and the bright young woman she was becoming once again emerged.

Anakin couldn't be prouder of her. He always had been, even when she'd made the decision to leave the Order. The decision he never could make for himself. Even now, she'd made her way without the Jedi Order, all by herself. She always had been, and always would be, a force to be reckoned with.

After a while, Anakin drifted away to his quarters, where he was now sitting alone, just thinking. But his solitude was interrupted by a knock on the door, and he sensed Obi-Wan's presence. He couldn't help but grimace a little as he opened the door.

"Anakin." Obi-Wan's arms were crossed. "Can we talk?"

Anakin stepped aside to let his former master in. "About what?"

"You know." Obi-Wan entered the room and sat on one of the two chairs. "When we were talking earlier, something bothered you."

Anakin sighed as he took the seat next to Obi-Wan. "Nothing's bothering me."

Obi-Wan stared at him for a moment before reaching out and squeezing his hand. "I'm not here to judge you, my padawan. I just want to help. Please, trust me like you once did."

Anakin's eyes shot up. "I do trust you!"

"Do you?" Obi-Wan asked. "Do you really?"

Anakin was about to snap back at him, but then he started thinking. All those times he drifted toward the Dark and used the Force to strangle someone. His violent outbursts. And, of course, Padme. He'd been terrified of what Obi-Wan would think of him if he found out how often Anakin flaunted the Jedi code. And yet...

And yet he'd confided everything in the Chancellor. In a Sith.

"You're right." Anakin's voice was barely more than a whisper. "There have been...things...things I've been afraid you'd find out about."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Like your relationship with Padme."

Anakin's eyes shot up. "How did...you know too?"

"Too?"

"Rex and the guys said they've known for a while."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Can't say I'm surprised. You're not exactly subtle."

"Oh." Anakin blinked. "We're married."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Now that, I didn't realize. I knew you had romantic feeling toward her, but..."

"Yeah." Anakin rubbed the back of his neck. "I know it goes against the Jedi code."

"It does." Obi-Wan smiled. "But you're far from the first Jedi to fall in love, if that's what's been worrying you. Things may get complicated, but we can figure it out."

"But...there's other things." Anakin swallowed. "Worse things. And I...I told the Chancellor everything. I trusted him...even more than I trusted you. He always said you wouldn't understand. That no Jedi would understand. And I believed him!"

"It is the way of the Sith to manipulate to get what they want." Obi-Wan squeezed Anakin's hand tighter. "I am so sorry. I never meant to do anything to make you not trust me."

"You didn't. Not really. But...he just made it sound like..."

Anakin took a deep breath. "I told you about how I went to Tattooine and found out my mother had died."

Obi-Wan nodded.

"What I didn't tell you was that...was that..." Anakin swallowed. "I...I murdered the entire Tuskan tribe who'd taken her."

Obi-Wan's grip on his hand tightened. "The whole tribe?"

Anakin nodded, feeling miserable. "Men, women, children, even their massifs. I didn't leave any behind. And it felt...good. I knew it was wrong, but it just felt so good. I wanted them to suffer for what they put her through. I wanted them to feel a hint of my pain."

He took a shaky breath. "And it didn't stop there. I...I've used the Dark side. Multiple times. I've strangled people using the Force. I've lost control and killed just because I wanted to. Is it too late for me Master? Have I already fallen?"

It was hard to breathe. Something wet was on his cheeks and, a moment later, Anakin realized he was crying. He waited for Obi-Wan's judgement. For him to tell Anakin he was turning him over to the Jedi Council to face judgement for falling. Or, worse, to not say anything and just get up and walk out of the room.

What he was not expecting was for Obi-Wan to wrap him in a warm hug. "Anakin." He brushed a hand over Anakin's hair. "It's never too late, and you haven't fallen yet."

"But...but I..."

"Hush." Obi-Wan squeezed him tighter. "We'll figure this out."

"You mean...you won't turn me over to the Council?"

Obi-Wan pulled away, a frown on his lips. "You are not going to be arrested, if that's what you mean. I will have to discuss this with the Council, and you will need help, Anakin. Can't you see how much this has affected you?"

"But...won't they throw me out? That's what they did to Ahsoka, and she didn't even do anything wrong!"

"What happened with Ahsoka was one of the biggest mistakes in the Jedi's history." Obi-Wan stared at Anakin for a moment. "Do you really think you're the only Jedi who's touched the Dark?"

"If you're talking about Vos," Anakin mumbled, "that's different."

"I actually wasn't referring to Quinlan." Obi-Wan dipped his gaze. "I was referring to me."

Anakin blinked. Stared at him for a moment. Blinked again. Part of him wanted to laugh and part of him wanted to scream at Obi-Wan for lying to him like that.

"What are you talking about?" was all he could get out. "You...you're a perfect Jedi!"

Obi-Wan laughed at that. "Perfect? You should talk to some of my fellow Council members about my Padawan days. I was far from a perfect Jedi. Still am."

"But you...you've never strayed from the light."

Obi-Wan sighed. "I believe we all touch the Dark at some point. And yes, I mean all Jedi."

Anakin thought for a moment. "You're talking about your Padawan days then? Before we met?"

"Not only then," Obi-Wan said, voice soft. "On Naboo, when Qui-Gon died..." He took a shuddering breath. "I let my hatred consume me. I wanted Maul dead. And I tapped into the Dark to make sure that is what happened."

Anakin stared at him for a moment. "That's different. You...you didn't murder innocents."

"Maybe not," Obi-Wan murmured. "But look at the outcome."

Anakin scoffed. "You're saying you should have let Maul go after watching him murder you master?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "All I'm saying is I shouldn't have let my anger blind me. If I hadn't, maybe it would've been a clean kill, and Maul wouldn't have been left to suffer for so long, his hate and anger growing stronger."

Anakin grew quiet, letting his master's words sink in.

"I have to kill Palpatine," he said at last. "There's no other way."

Obi-Wan nodded gravely. "Perhaps. But Anakin, whatever happens, don't act out of hate."

Anakin grimaced. "But when I do, I feel so much more powerful. I...I don't know if I'm strong enough to defeat him without my hate."

"You are."

Anakin glanced up at the certainty in Obi-Wan's tone.

"Let the hate go," Obi-Wan said. "Believe me, I know it sounds impossible, but it isn't. Think about Padme, and how much you want her to be safe. Think about your men. They need your help, now more than ever. Think about all your friends in the Order. Don't kill Palpatine because you hate him. If you must kill him, do it for all the people you care about."

And, finally, realization dawned. "Is that why you didn't fall when Maul killed the Duchess?"

A wave of grief passed over Obi-Wan's face and he sighed. "Yes. I had some special lessons with Master Yoda after what happened on Naboo. I wanted to hate Maul all over again, believe me. But I knew...I knew that wouldn't be what Satine would want. She wouldn't want me to lose myself to my hate. So, I didn't. I mourned her death, but I accepted it." He made a fist. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, not to lash out at Maul after what he did. But I learned to control my anger, and you can too. Please, Anakin, just let me help you."

Anakin stared at him for a moment before managing a smile. "Thank you Obi-Wan. I...I'm sorry. For everything."

"It's in the past. And despite some of these dark deeds, you are still one of the brightest beacons of light I've ever met." Obi-Wan tilted his head. "But...I sense there's something else bothering you as well."

Anakin couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to his master, to read him like an open book.

"It's Fives." His smile faded. "I...I just feel so guilty. If I'd listened to him...but I've been hanging on the Chancellor's every word." He let out a long sigh. "When Fives claimed they had chips that could control them, I just...it made me remember growing up as a slave. With an explosive chip that could kill me if I stepped out of line. And I...I didn't want to admit that...that I was leading an army of slaves."

Obi-Wan winced. "I have to admit, I've had the same concern growing for some time. I try my best to treat my men well. But the fact still stands that they don't have a choice in any of this."

"I keep thinking about Slick." Anakin crossed his arms. "At the time, I just couldn't get over how he'd put his brothers in danger. But now I keep wondering if he was right." He glanced back up at Obi-Wan. "Do you think any other clones feel the way he did?"

But Obi-Wan wasn't looking at him anymore. He was staring at the closed door.

"Well, why don't we ask," he said at last. "Come on in, Fives."

Fives hadn't meant to be eavesdropping, not really. But he'd been curious when he'd noticed General Kenobi heading toward General Skywalker's quarters. He hated that he didn't trust General Skywalker anymore. There was a time he'd trusted no natborn more. But after everything that had happened, he couldn't help but wonder if Skywalker's motives could be trusted in any situation involving the Chancellor. So, he'd been listening just outside the door. He'd almost made the mistake of walking in before he remembered both of the Jedi could now see him.

Sense him too, apparently.

With a grimace, he stepped through the closed door. "Generals," he muttered.

General Skywalker blinked at him. "How long have you been there?"

Fives just shrugged.

Skywalker dipped his gaze. Fives had noticed he'd been doing that quite a bit around him.

"Well, as long as your here." Kenobi smiled. "What are your thoughts on the subject?"

"To be honest, sir?" Fives sighed. "I never once thought about it before finding out about the chips. Being a soldier was just...what I was. That was the way of things. And I'm pretty sure that's how most brothers feel."

"And now?" Kenobi pressed.

"I'm still figuring it out," Fives said. "I can't imagine any other life. Never would have left the GAR even if given the choice. I'm proud of what I do...did."

Skywalker winced.

"I don't know though. I sometimes think Echo would have been happier doing something other than fighting. He always had so many interests, tried to learn everything he could. And after what's been done to him..." Fives shook his head. "I keep wondering if he would have left the army if given the choice. And then he wouldn't have spent months being tortured."

They were all quiet for a moment before Skywalker cleared his throat. "Did you need something, Fives?"

"Uh...no, sir." Fives started to back toward the door. "I was just...sorry to bother you, generals. I'll...I'll be going now."

"Wait." General Skywalker stood up. "We need to talk."

Fives stopped. "Talk, sir?"

"Yeah." Skywalker rubbed the back of his neck. "I just...I wanted to apologize for not believing you."

"You already did that," Fives mumbled.

Skywalker stared at him for a moment. "I know I broke your trust Fives. What can I do to get it back? If we're both going to be facing Palpatine...we need to trust each other."

Fives clenched his fists. "You didn't even consider I could be telling the truth! I tried so hard to warn someone."

Now that he'd started, Fives couldn't stop. "Do you know you were the first one I thought to tell, other than Rex? When I talked to Kix, I asked him to bring the two of you. I had no doubt you'd believe me. I always thought you trusted us. You saw us as people." Fives snorted. "Guess I was wrong."

"You weren't wrong!" Skywalker made to reach for him before stopping himself. "Fives, I do see you as people. And I'd like to think we're friends."

"I thought that too."

Skywalker pulled back as if he'd been stung. General Kenobi remained quiet, watching the exchange with sad eyes.

"I'm still your friend, Fives." Skywalker's voice was a near whisper. "And I swear to you, from now on, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure your brothers are all free. From the chips, from the Sith, even from the Republic."

Fives didn't answer, and Skywalker took a step closer. "You should know, I'm grateful for what you've done. If it weren't for you..." He shuddered. "I'm afraid of what I might have become. I'm just...I'm so sorry you had to pay with your life." He dipped his eyes. "I would trade places with you if I could. You deserve to live far more than I do."

At that, Fives finally looked at Skywalker. Really looked at him. Fives was still no Jedi, despite how much he joked about it, but he knew in that moment he couldn't hold onto his anger any longer. This may be the man who'd let him die, who wouldn't listen to him, but he was also the man who'd risked his life on more than one occasion to save Fives' brothers.  And here he was ready to do it again, to face down a Sith Lord alone.

"Don't say that," Fives said at last. "We need you now more than ever, General. You were right. You're the only one who has a chance against him."

The general met his gaze. "Just promise me something. I don't intend to ever listen to Palpatine again. But if...if I do start to listen to him..." Skywalker shuddered. "Just don't let me. Yell in my face, punch me if you have to. But don't let me be tempted by him anymore. I don't care what it takes."

Fives stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Don't worry General." He let a small smile cross his face. "I'll tackle you to the floor before I let him get into your head."

"Thanks." Skywalker smiled. "And Fives...Call me Anakin. I figure we're past rank at this point."

"Fair enough." Fives nodded. "See you tomorrow, Anakin."

Out of the corner of his eye, Fives saw General Kenobi had a pleased smile on his face.

Chapter Text

Fox was having a hard time paying attention to his brothers. He was in the barracks where Thire and Stone were filling him in on everything that had happened to the Guard since he'd left, but he was distracted by the conversation going on between Fives and Skywalker. It was getting to be disconcerting. The bond between Fox and Fives seemed to be growing stronger. He wasn't even trying, but he could hear bits of their conversation as clear as if he was standing right next to them.

He couldn't blame Fives for not trusting Skywalker, after what happened, especially considering how close Skywalker was to a man who had turned out to be a Sith lord. Still, it was probably for the best that they were working things out. It was looking like they'd have to trust Skywalker if they were going to pull this off.

"Fox?"

He startled and turned to find the other two commanders staring at him.

"Back with us?" Thire asked.

"Yeah, sorry." Fox rubbed the back of his neck. "Just, have a lot on my mind. But it sounds like you two have done a great job without me."

"We did our best." Stone smiled. "But it isn't the same without you."

Fox frowned, trying to figure out how to put his feelings into words. "I wish I hadn't left you. I just...I didn't know what else to do. When Fives told me about the chips and I had mine removed...I just knew I couldn't be around Palpatine anymore."

"We don't blame you." Thire squeezed his hand. "We're just glad you're alive."

"Still, I feel like I abandoned you."

"You didn't," Thire said. "You were trying to protect us. You're right. If Palpatine had found out, you'd have been killed, and who knows who else might have been hurt as well."

"Still..."

"Enough of that." Stone gently shoved his shoulder. "Stop feeling guilty. Can't we just be happy we're all together again?"

Fox couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah...that actually sounds great."

Unfortunately, Fives chose that moment to walk through the closed door. Fox had finally managed to pull himself away from Fives' conversation with his general.

"Fox, can we talk?"

Fox sighed. "No rest for the weary, huh? Fine."

"What?" Thire glanced around. "Is...uh, is your ghost friend here?"

"Yeah." Fox gestured Fives over. "I forgot you two can't see him yet. May as well introduce you."

The two commanders' reactions to Fives' sudden appearance were a little underwhelming. Both just stared at him for a moment before Thire smiled.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on this di'kut." He slapped Fox on the shoulder. "He needs it."

Fives chuckled. "I think we both needed it." He glanced at Fox. "Sorry for interrupting, but I really need to talk with you for a moment. Alone."

"That's alright." Thire stood. "We'd better get back to the medbay anyway."

"Yeah." Stone grimaced. "Kix...didn't exactly release us yet."

Fives chuckled. "Then you'd better get back. Trust me, he will hunt you down otherwise."

"We'll talk more later, Fox," Thire said as he and Stone left the barracks.

Once they were alone, Fox turned to Fives. "What is it?"

"I..." Fives took a deep breath. "I just...wanted to tell you before tomorrow. But I think I know the reason you could suddenly see me at the beginning. The connection that the Jedi never were able to figure out for why some ghosts become visible."

Fox nodded slowly. "We already know part of it is because I...I didn't want to kill you. That I regret what happened more than just about anything I've ever done in my life."

"Yes, but there's more to it. When I first was drawn to your side, you couldn't see me. And at first, I was so angry. But then I realized you'd been used, just like the rest of us. And l made a choice. I forgave you. And the moment I did, you could see me."

Fox's eyes widened. He didn't remember what had happened that day very well, just that he'd just come back from a blackout and had been so horrified by what he'd done before passing out.

I forgive you.

For the first time, he remembered. That was the first thing he'd heard Fives say, right before Fox had passed out. With everything else that had happened, he hadn't really thought about it much.

"So...you think ghosts become visible only if they choose to forgive the one who killed them?"

"That's what I think."

Fox stared at him a moment longer. "Why did you forgive me?"

"Like I said, I realized you'd been used." Fives squeezed his shoulder. "You're not a bad brother Fox. You one of the best I've ever met. And I'm glad I got to know you, even in death."

"I wish we'd met before," Fox said. "Despite how dini'la you are, I think we could've been friends."

"We are friends." Fives cocked his head. "Aren't we?"

"Yeah." Fox chuckled. "I guess we are."

They were quiet for a moment before Fox sighed. "I heard some of your conversation with the generals. You really think Skywalker can be trusted."

Fives was quiet for a moment before nodded. "I do. He's...afraid of Palpatine now."

"Skywalker? Afraid?"

"He's still human. I think he's coming to realize just how much Palpatine manipulated him. It's...affected him greatly." Fives was quiet for a moment. "I've actually had a harder time forgiving him than you. He was the only natborn I ever thought I could trust as much as a brother. And when he didn't believe me, wouldn't even listen..."

"He betrayed your trust."

"Yeah." Fives rubbed the back of his neck. "But I still believe in him. And...well, I trust him to get this done. That'll have to be enough."

Fox sighed. "Just be careful out there Fives. Palpatine is dangerous. And just because he couldn't see you before doesn't mean he can't hurt you."

"I'm dead." Fives shrugged. "What could he possibly do to me?"

"I really wish you hadn't said that."

They both looked up as Echo entered the room. "I...hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all vod." Fives beamed.

Echo managed a small smile before it fell. "Shouldn't you both get some rest? You know, considering you're taking down a Sith in the morning."

"Technically, General Skywalker is taking out the Sith," Fives said. "I'm just there for moral support."

"Uh-huh." Echo didn't look amused. "Seriously, be careful, okay? We've lost enough vode."

"Don't worry," Fox said. "I'll keep an eye on him."

Echo shot him a glare. "I was talking about both of you. I don't think those Corries down in the medbay could stand losing you again."

Fox just blinked at him for a moment. He'd had a nice long talk with Thire and Stone, but he hadn't really spent that much time with the others after they woke up. They had every reason to hate him for how he abandoned them, but they certainly didn't seem to.

Suddenly, he stood up. "I have to go."

Fives nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. "Yeah, go check on your vod'ike."

"You'll be okay?"

"Excuse you." Echo crossed his arms. "He still has me."

Fox couldn't help but grin. Echo had seemed so unsure at first, when he'd seen how close Fox was to Fives. But now, he seemed to have realized that he was still Fives' twin, that Fox could never replace him, no matter how close they'd gotten.

"Make sure he gets some rest."

"Don't worry." Echo gently shoved Fives down onto a bunk.

Fives rolled his eyes. "Don't need rest."

"You always feel better after you actually sleep, as rare as that is," Fox said.

"See?" Echo settled down next to Fives. "If there was ever a time to sleep, it's tonight."

Fives huffed in annoyance, but Fox could see the sag in his shoulders. The way his eyes were closing. In the few times he'd seen the ghost actually sleep, these were the telltale signs that it was coming. Yes, Fives would be fine with his twin.

"See you in the morning," Fox called over his shoulder as he turned to go.

Thankfully, he didn't meet anyone on the way to the medbay. He wasn't in the mood for talking with anyone else at the moment. When he entered the medbay, he couldn't help but smile at the sight of his men. He'd missed them all.

"Commander!" One of the younger troopers nearly jumped out of his bed when he saw Fox.

"At ease, Jai." Fox smiled.

Jai's eyes widened. "You...you remember me? But...we only met like once."

"I do my best to remember all my men." Fox stepped the rest of the way into the room so he could lay a hand on Jai's shoulder. "Not a shiny anymore, huh?"

"No sir." Jai grinned back.

"We missed you, Commander," another trooper said.

"I...I'm sorry I left you." Fox sighed. "I'm sorry for a lot of things. But we're going to make them right now."

"We're just happy you're here," Jai said. "Commander Thire told us about what you're doing tomorrow."

"Still can't believe Palpatine's a Sith," Stone muttered.

"Hopefully, we won't have to worry about it anymore." Fox surveyed the room, taking in every tired yet hopeful face.

"Commander?" Jai bit his lip. "Can you...can you stay with us tonight?"

Fox blinked for a moment in surprise before a smile crossed his face. "I would love to."

So, for the first night in months, he fell asleep surrounded by his Corries. And he tried not to think about how this could be the last time as well.

Chapter Text

When Fives woke the next morning, he'd almost forgotten about the day's plans. Laying in a bunk with Echo curled up beside him, it could have been like nothing had changed. Like they were both still highly skilled ARC troopers about to ship out on their next mission. Like he was still alive and Echo had never been captured.

But opening his eyes ruined the illusion. Echo still had several mechanical limbs. Fives was still blue and transparent. And he was still going to face a Sith today.

He let out a long sigh, wishing he could stay here all day. Unfortunately, he felt Fox nearing the room and the door swished open a moment later.

Fox let out a soft chuckle as he approached, laying his hand on Fives' shoulder. "You ready?" He was already wearing Coruscant Guard armor.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Fives slowly extricated himself from Echo's grasp, his twin groaning a little as he woke up.

"It's too early to be fighting a Sith."

Fives smiled and pulled Echo into a quick hug. "Be careful."

Echo snorted, but didn't move. "You're the one doing all the dangerous stuff."

"As I've already said, I'm dead."

"Don't remind me," Echo murmured.

It took a moment before either of them were able to break apart. When they did, Echo let out a long sigh.

"Look after each other."

Both Fox and Fives nodded, then they headed to the mess hall. It was still early, and the only ones there were the troopers and Jedi who knew about the plan. General Skywalker was nursing a cup of caf, looking like he might be sick. Ahsoka and General Kenobi sat on either side of him, speaking to him in low tones.

"Hey vod'ika." Rex came up behind him and squeezed Fives' shoulder.

Fives didn't answer, just leaned against Rex. He could see the worry in his ori'vod's gaze, and it didn't help matters much. He wished everyone would stop worrying about him. He was far more worried about everyone else. Still, a little tendril of fear had wriggled its way into his mind. What if a Sith could do something to him, even if he was dead?

It was a very somber morning, and nobody said much. Fives stared longingly at his brothers as they tried to eat a little, despite their nerves. He wished he could be eating something, even if it was rations and cheap caf.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, General Skywalker stood. "My meeting with...with the Chancellor is in about an hour. May as well head on over."

"Yeah." Fox stood up. "Let's get this over with."

"Remember Anakin." General Kenobi squeezed Anakin's shoulder. "Remember what I said. Don't give in to your hate."

"I know." Skywalker glanced at Fives. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Fives finally got up. Echo gave his hand a quick squeeze, and then Fives was following Fox and Skywalker out the door.

"Wait!"

He turned just in time for Rex to pull him into a crushing hug.

Fives could only smile as he returned it.

"If anything happens," he murmured into Rex's ear. "Take care of Echo."

Rex squeezed tighter. Fives still wasn't sure what could happen. If Palpatine could make him disappear, or if he might just vanish if something happened to Fox, or even if the Force had just saved him for this and then he'd fade away...but whatever happened, he needed to be sure Echo would be okay.

"I will."

Fives pretended not to hear the waver in Rex's voice as he turned away and followed the others.

They hadn't talked on the way to the senate building. What was there to say? This was it. They were either going to kill a Sith, or probably get killed themselves.

Or possibly something worse, in Fives' case.

The thought made Anakin wince. Fives had already suffered enough, and partially because of Anakin. He didn't want him to suffer further.

All of this still felt a bit like a dream. A nightmare, really. But there was no backing out now. He had to see this through. He had to kill the chancellor.

How can you? a little voice in the back of his head said. He's shown you nothing but kindness. He's a good man. Just watch. You're going to walk into that office and he'd going to have a perfectly good explanation for all of this.

A good explanation for turning Anakin's friends into mindless slaves? No. There was no way to explain that.

But what if we misunderstood something? What if he's being used as well?

Anakin clenched the speeder's controls with a groan.

"General?"

He shot a glance over his shoulder to where Fives was sitting behind him. He still didn't understand why Fives could pass through walls, but seemed perfectly solid in the speeder. Just one of many mysteries surrounding the ghost.

"It's...nothing."

Fives snorted. "Yeah, right. Even Fox can tell that's not true."

Anakin sent a quick glance to the commander sitting next to him and sighed.

"Your bond really is strong." He faced forward again. "And I told you to call me Anakin."

"My mistake." There was a smirk in Fives' tone.

The silence returned after that until they landed.

"You two go ahead," Fox murmured. "I'll follow close enough that Fives won't get pulled back to me."

"You sure you'll be okay?" Fives asked.

Fox shrugged. "A single Corrie shouldn't attract attention."

Fives nodded, then the two of them turned to go. Anakin started to feel queasy as they made their way to the Chancellor's office. He half-expected some odd looks due to the ghost at his side. However, the senators and aids all ignored them. It was hard to remember that not everyone could see Fives.

"General Skywalker."

He turned to find Bail Organa approaching rapidly.

"Senator." Anakin nodded.

"I assume you are meeting with the Chancellor."

"Ah...yes. He wanted to discuss some matters with me."

Organa nodded. "I figured as much. Something has been bothering him as of late. He seemed...agitated, this morning."

Anakin frowned. But no, Palpatine couldn't know something was happening...could he?

"Well, guess I'd better get going." Anakin turned to continue on his way. "Can't be late."

"Of course. I'll let Senator Amidala know you'll be stopping by later."

Anakin froze for a moment before continuing on his way without a word. However, it was hard to ignore Fives' sniggering.

"Oh, shut up." Anakin sighed.

Fives snorted. "You have to admit, you are terrible at keeping secrets."

Anakin huffed as he activated the lift to the Chancellor's office. "Let's just get this over with. You can make fun of me later."

Fives just laughed again, and Anakin found it settled his nerves a bit. There was no sign of Fox as the lift's doors closed. Anakin just hoped Fives didn't vanish in the middle of all this.

"Anakin." Fives was now straight-faced, all signs of laughter gone. "I...doubt it's coincidence that Palpatine's in a bad mood."

"Oh, come on!" Anakin shook his head. "There's no way for him to know about this."

"I hope you're right." Fives bit his lip. "But I keep thinking about when I was in his office before. He seemed to realize...something."

Anakin closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "It's too late to change plans now. We have to go through with this."

He felt a squeeze on his shoulder, slightly too soft to feel real.

"You're not alone."

Anakin released his breath and opened his eyes as the door opened.

"Anakin, my boy." Palpatine stood at his desk as he approached. "It is good to see you."

"And you, Chancellor." Anakin summoned his best smile, hoping it looked normal.

"I must say, I'm surprised you're here alone." Palpatine steepled his fingers. "Tell me, why is Commander Fox waiting outside?"

Anakin stopped dead, eyes widening, as he felt both Fives' fear mount.

"What?"

"Though, I suppose you're not completely alone, are you?"

Palpatine smiled. But it wasn't his normal smile. Something about it made Anakin's skin crawl and his stomach turn.

"I believe we have much to talk about, young Jedi."

Chapter Text

Fox knew in a split-second that something had gone wrong. Terror had overcome Fives, and it was seeping through him into Fox. He tried to get a glimpse through Fives' eyes, but it wasn't like they'd ever really figured out how to do that.

He grabbed his com. "Fox here. They're in trouble."

There was a muffled curse from Rex. "What happened?"

"I don't know yet, only that something's wrong."

"We're on our way," General Kenobi's voice said. "Hopefully Anakin can hold him off for just a bit."

"I'll see if I can do anything." Fox couldn't keep his voice from wavering as he said it. Fives' terror was making him want to stay as far away from that office as possible. But his brother was in trouble, and he was going to help if he could.

"Be careful," Cody said.

Fox didn't bother to reply, just darted through the Senate building toward the lift to the Chancellor's office. He didn't spare any attention to the many senators he passed. There were a few outraged cries. He would have been outraged himself if he'd seen one of his shinies sprinting through the Senate building like this. That was a sure way to get into trouble. But it didn't matter anymore.

He finally arrived at the lift and pounded on the button until the doors slid open. It was only when the doors had finally closed that he realized he had no plan. If a Jedi couldn't do anything against Palpatine...what could a clone possible do? His mind was still racing for a solution when there was a soft chime and the doors slid open.

"Ah, there you are." The smile Palpatine shot Fox made his skin crawl. "Good. Then we can get straight to business. Anakin, what lies has this clone been telling you?"

"None!" Skywalker snapped. "The only one who's lied to me is you."

Palpatine sighed. "You really would believe this clone over me? One of your oldest and most trusted friends? After all, he was responsible for pursuing your padawan through Coruscant, was he not? And he was the one who killed one of your troopers, one you considered a...friend."

"And he did it all on your orders," Fives hissed. "General, don't listen to him."

Skywalker's eyes darted momentarily to Fives before returning to the Chancellor. "The Coruscant Guard reports to you, your Exellancy." Skywalker drew his lightsaber, but didn't ignite it. "You were the one who tried to have Ahsoka executed. You were the one who ordered Fives to be silenced." He laughed without a hint of humor. "You've been the one playing both sides from the beginning. And I'm done with your lies!"

Palpatine's face grew darker and darker through Skywalker's tirade. "You don't want to do this, my boy. And this is your last chance."

"No, Chancellor." The saber ignited. "It's yours."

Fox took his chance and fired at Palpatine. But the man simply flicked his wrist and sent the blasterfire into the walls. Skywalker lunged forward with a roar, but Palpatine lifted his hand and the Jedi was left writhing in midair, pain written across his face.

"Foolish boy!" Palpatine spat. "We could have done great things together. We could have remade the galaxy as it was always supposed to be."

"I'll never join a Sith!"

Palpatine sighed, sounding very disappointed. Fox tried one last time and raised his blaster, but it was yanked out of his hand. Palpatine's gaze turned toward him, eyes now a sickly yellow.

"I think that's just about enough out of you, Commander."

The Sith raised his free hand and Fox's eyes widened as lightning shot toward him.

"No!"

He didn't even have time to react before Fives had lunged between him and Palpatine, taking the brunt of the lightning himself. Fox expected to be hit a moment later, but to his shock, he remained unharmed. Fives, however, was screaming, writhing on the ground as lightning engulfed his form.

When it finally receded, Fives just lay there gasping. For a moment, Fox could only stare in shock. He'd thought Fives would be safe. But it was obvious from the look of agony on his face that the lightning had inflicted a great deal of pain on the ghost. Not only that, but his form was flickering, glowing brighter than usual before fading away to almost nothing.

"Impossible." Palpatine had dropped Skywalker, who was now gasping for breath, and was staring at Fives' flickering form.

Skywalker heaved himself up to his feet on shaky limbs, but Palpatine ignored him. He stepped closer to Fives, a malicious smile spreading across his face.

"Now I understand. I felt something during a meeting with Tyrannus. It was you." Palpatine laughed, a terrifying, echoing noise. "Now, this is going to be interesting."

Fox stared at Palpatine for a moment in terror. But he swallowed his fear and forced himself to focus on Fives. His vod'ika needed him, now more than ever. He'd already let him down once. He never would again. Taking a deep breath, he reached out for Fives. Even if he'd never figured out how to do it before, this time was different. Somehow, he knew exactly how to reach his brother.

But what he found wasn't encouraging. Fives' mind seemed shaky, unable to focus on anything through the pain. That wouldn't do. They needed Fives' help if they were going to get out of here alive. Fox wasn't sure how he knew that, but he did.

He took his helmet off, hoping to meet Fives' eyes. It wasn't like it would do any good against a Sith anyway. Focusing on the ghost with all his might, he let out a silent cry.

Fives...

Fives had never felt such pain in his life, or in his death for that matter. The lightning was excruciating, ripping through his body and leaving him screaming on the floor. When it finally stopped, all he could do was gasp for breath. Not that he needed breath. He was dead, after all. He'd never found himself winded even after running for long periods as a ghost. But now, it was like he couldn't get enough oxygen.

There were voices around him, but he couldn't focus on them. He couldn't focus on anything. Even though the lightning had stopped, the pain had yet to recede. But there was something else as well, something...odd. He felt different, almost like he wasn't entirely there. And the voices, they were fading in and out.

This was it. It must be. He was dying for real this time.

Fives...

He groaned. Can't you let me die in peace?

A bolt of annoyance washed over him and he was suddenly jolted into full conscious, eyes snapping open. Fox was staring at him intently, face bare, fear and anger in his gaze. And finally, Fives came back to reality, realizing what had happened. It had been instinct, to jump between Fox and Palpatine, to protect his brother. And even with the pain, Fives was glad he had. 

"So, you're still alive."

And if Fox hadn't snapped him back, that voice would have. That hated voice.

Fives turned to find Palpatine leering down at him as he continued. "Well, not alive...not exactly."

Fives glared at the man, whose face was growing dark.

"Even killing you wasn't enough to keep you from attempting to ruin my plans."

"Nope." Fives smirked. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"You will be sorry soon enough, clone," Palpatine spat. "As you can see, I am very much capable of harming you even in death."

And how had he done that? Why could he now see him? It wasn't like Fox had connected them. It had to be some weird Sith magic. And wasn't that a fun thought?

Palpatine cocked his head and took a step closer. "Very interesting."

Before Fives could react, Palpatine let out another volley of lightning that sent Fives reeling into the wall.

"Stop!" Fox yelled. Anakin was still recovering from Palpatine's attack.

"I think not." Palpatine turned his gaze on Fox. "You could already see him, couldn't you? How? He slowly fades away to my eyes."

But Fives was distracted by movement behind Palpatine. Anakin had finally gotten back to his feet and was slowly approaching the Sith. Palpatine was distracted for now, but who knew how long that would last.

Fives took a deep breath. "You know what?" Palpatine turned his deathly yellow eyes back to him. "You talk too much."

And with that, several things happened at once. Fives lunged at Palpatine. Even as he did, Palpatine raised his hand and Fives was once more engulfed in lightning. Fox raised his blaster and let off a shot into Palpatine's chest. And Anakin's lightsaber swung in a blue arc toward Palpatine's neck. The Sith's body fell with a smoking hole in it as his head fell cleanly from his neck.

Even through the pain, Fives let out a shout of triumph. They'd done it! Palpatine was dead. His brothers were free.

And suddenly, he was engulfed by a sea of black as Fox screamed his name.

Chapter Text

Fives blinked. Where was he? What happened? The Chancellor...he'd died! Fox had shot him and Anakin had chopped off his head, just to be safe. And that meant...that meant Fives' brothers were free. The Jedi were safe. They'd done it. They'd actually done it!

But then...where was he exactly? He certainly wasn't in Palpatine's office anymore. No, it looked kind of like the barracks back on Kamino. In fact...it looked like his barracks. After standing there a moment, he pulled himself up onto the ladder and climbed up to his sleep pod. When he opened it, it looked just like it always had except that there was a padded mattress nicer than any bed he'd ever seen. He ran a hand over the blankets to find them silky soft.

He blinked again. "What's happening?"

"Hey vod."

He nearly fell off the ladder in his surprise. But when he glanced down, it was to find a very familiar clone grinning up at him.

"Hevy?"

Hevy's grin just widened as Fives slid down the ladder.

"I...I don't believe it." Fives laughed and pulled his brother into a hug. It had been so long...so very long.

But then, he realized something.

"I'm dead, aren't I?" He pulled back, smile fading. "Like...really dead."

Hevy hummed, a contemplative look on his face. "Come on. Everyone wants to see you."

"Everyone?"

But Hevy didn't reply. He just turned and started walking toward the door. Fives stared after him for just a moment before he sighed and trailed after him.

As he left the barracks, he couldn't help but suck in a breath. He'd expected to find sterile, white halls on the other side of the door. But instead, what he found were rolling hills of green grass, darker green forests rising just beyond. It was beautiful, almost reminded him of Naboo, the couple times he'd been there.

"A lot prettier than Kamino, isn't it?"

He turned to find Cutup and Droidbait had joined Hevy, grins on all their faces.

For a moment, all Fives could do was blink at them. Then he rushed forward to pull them all into a hug. He couldn't speak, too confused by everything he was feeling. And they didn't push him, just returned the hug.

"Hey!" Fives pulled away to find two more clones approaching, ones he knew very well.

"No hug for us?" Tup grinned.

"Yeah." Hardcase crossed his arms. "We may not be batch, but we're 501st vode. That's close enough."

Fives choked back a sob as he stumbled toward the two.

"Woah, easy!" Tup caught him. "It's okay, we're here."

"Honestly, I didn't take you for the type to get emotional." Hardcase chuckled as he rubbed Fives' back.

"Eh, he just hides it well," Cutup said.

"You're here." Fives refused to let Tup go. "You're all here."

"All of us, and more."

Fives' eyes widened at the familiar voice, and he finally pulled away from Tup. 99 was smiling as he approached, followed by a Corrie who Fives didn't recognize. But he was a little distracted by his ori'vod.

"99's always here to greet new vode." Hevy wrapped an arm around the old clone's shoulders with a smile.

"It's the least I can do." 99 smiled. "It can be frightening for them. I...I try to make it better."

"I'm sure you do, ori'vod." Fives pulled 99 into a hug. Again, it was hard to let go. But he finally did and turned to the final vod who'd approached. "I'm sorry, but...do I know you?"

"Not really." The trooper smiled. "I'm Thorn."

Fives nodded slowly. This was Fox's best friend, in the same way Echo was Fives'. And his death had shaken Fox to the core. 

Fives grinned. "I can't tell you how good it is to finally meet you. Fox has told me so much."

"And I can't tell you how grateful I am," Thorn said. "I don't know how Fox would've gone on without you."

Fives didn't know what to say to that and was only brought back to the gravity of his situation.

"So I am really dead then." He sighed. "I...I can't go back."

"Actually..." Hevy glanced at the others before sighing. "You could."

Fives blinked. "I can? But then...why am I here?"

"It's your choice." Tup's smile had faded, and he seemed nervous. "You...you could go back, and nothing would change from what you've lived the last few months."

"You'd still be tied to Fox," Thorn added. "And, when he eventually dies, you'll come back here with him."

Fives was quiet for a moment, thinking. His first reaction was that of course he had to return to his living brothers. Still, he couldn't help but wonder about his other option.

"Or," Hevy continued, "you could stay here."

"And where is here, exactly?"

"The afterlife, the Force, the Manda, take your pick," Hardcase said.

"I know you haven't seen much of it, but this place is great!" Cutup grinned. "We can do whatever we want. We don't have to fight anymore! And this isn't all there is."

"What do you mean?"

"There's plenty to explore," 99 said. "Places I could never have dreamed of visiting before. Forests, deserts, tundra, cities, small villages, even ships out exploring space."

"And we never lose brothers anymore," Tup added. "Or anyone else. There's more than just clones here. But we've never met anyone who looks down on us like natborns did. It's only the kind ones here."

"Of course, you wouldn't be a ghost anymore." Cutup grinned. "As much fun as you've been having with it, it's probably getting a bit old."

"Maybe a little." Fives frowned. "You talk as if you know what's been happening in...well...the real world."

"Bits and pieces." Thron nodded. "Those of us who still have someone alive we're close to have an easier time of...it's hard to explain. Kind of like...peering into their world from here. I watch Fox, of course."

"And we've been keeping an eye on both you and Echo," Droidbait added.

Fives winced. "You know that sounds a little creepy, right? You just watch us all the time?"

"Not all the time." Hevy shook his head. "We usually just...know when something's about to happen, and then we do start watching, as you put it."

"But it's more than that," Thorn added. "Like I said. It's hard to explain. Not exactly watching...you really have to experience it to understand what we mean."

Fives nodded slowly. "Well...this place sounds nice, but...I can't leave the others. Not yet." He shook his head. "Maybe after I have a little more time with them. Make sure Echo's recovering smoothly and that Fox can find some peace."

"You don't understand." 99 frowned. "You won't get another chance."

"What?"

"We don't completely understand either, but you can either stay here or go back. And if you go back, you won't be able to come here again until Fox dies. You're tied to him."

"Then...why am I here at all? If I'm tied to Fox...that doesn't make any sense."

"When Palpatine attacked you," Tup said, "he...didn't exactly break your link with Fox, but he did weaken it. Badly."

"Fives." Hevy grabbed his arm. "I don't think you've noticed, but you aren't...well...all the way here yet."

Fives hadn't noticed. He'd been so used to being a ghost that finding his hands still blue and transparent was no surprise."

"Great." He sighed. "So I'm stuck as a ghost even in the afterlife."

"You don't have to be though." Tup grabbed Fives' hands. "If you finish severing your connection with Fox, you'll be free! You won't be a ghost anymore. You can do whatever and go wherever you want here." He met Fives' eyes. "I miss my ori'vod. So much."

Fives blinked away the tears that had suddenly formed in his eyes. "But I failed you Tup. I...I let you die. I tried so hard to save you, but..." He swallowed back a sob and rested his forehead against Tup's. "Ni ceta vod'ika."

"Fives." Tup gently pushed him away so Fives could see his face. "There's nothing to forgive. You did everything you could. And...when my chip was active, I was just so scared. But then you took it out, and it was like a breath of fresh air." He smiled. "I would've been terrified, but you were there. And I'm so grateful. So don't you dare apologize for just doing everything you could to protect me!"

Fives could do nothing but blink at Tup for a moment before chuckling. "I've missed you so much."

"Then stay." There was a pleading edge to Tup's voice. "Please."

But even as he said it, there was a knowing look in Tup's eyes. He knew, like all the others, that Fives wouldn't abandon his living brothers so easily.

Fives gently pulled Tup into a hug. "After what just happened, the others are going to need me now more than ever."

"So do we," Tup whispered.

Fives shook his head. "You have each other. And you have this beautiful home." He may not have seen much of it, but what he could see did seem amazing, and his vode certainly seemed to be happy.

"But the others...Echo, Fox, Rex...what we did likely plunged the galaxy into chaos. And...and if I just disappeared and they never saw me again..."

"They have each other as well," Hevy said in a quiet voice. "Rex will look after Echo, you know that."

"And Fox has Thire and Stone." Thorn chuckled. "Not to mention all the corrie shinies. I imagine he won't be able to get away from them for a while even if he wanted to. He'll be okay."

"No, he won't." Fives shook his head. "I jumped between him and the Chancellor. If I just disappear and never come back, he'll blame himself all over again."

"Everyone knew there was a chance Palpatine could hurt you," Hardcase said. "They were prepared for this."

Fives was quiet for a long moment. Tup's eyes were bright with tears. The others were all watching him with sad expressions. But...they could still check on him whenever they wanted. If he stayed here. the others would never know what happened to him. He just couldn't abandon them like that, even if it did mean living as a ghost until Fox's death...which he really hoped wouldn't happen for many years.

After a long moment, Fives shook his head.

Tup sighed and dropped his eyes. "I always knew what you'd decide. But...I just hoped I was wrong."

Fives smiled at his vod'ika. As much as he hated leaving him again, he knew he was making the right choice.

He glanced up at his batchmates. "I hope you've been taking care of him."

"Hey!" Tup pushed him away with a laugh. "I'm not an ik'aad."

Cutup chuckled. "Don't worry Fives. Your baby brother's safe with us."

Tup shot him a glare, but Cutup just smirked.

"Tell Echo we said hi." Hevy stepped close to squeeze Fives' shoulder.

"And Kix and Jesse." Hardcase grinned. "Make sure to keep their lives interesting. Must be so bored without me around."

"And...maybe find Dogma?" Tup bit his lip. "I check on him sometimes. He's still in the GAR detention facility."

Fives nodded slowly. He hadn't thought about Dogma for some time. He'd been arrested after shooting Krell, and he was supposed to be executed. But Rex and Anakin had intervened to save him from that fate. Still, Fives couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt. Dogma may have made some mistakes, but he'd done the right thing in the end. Maybe now that Palpatine was dead, things would be different and they'd be able to get Dogma out.

"Don't worry," Fives said. "We'll find him."

Tup smiled. "Thanks Fives. Be careful out there. You know, don't go tangling with any more Sith."

Fives chuckled. "Don't worry. And this isn't goodbye forever. Just for a little while."

"We'll be waiting." Hevy smiled. "And you can tell the others too. All their vode will be waiting for them."

"I will." He stepped away from the group and took a deep breath when he realized he had no idea what he was doing. "Um...don't suppose anyone knows how I get back?"

99 smiled. "You just have to rebuild your bond with Fox. It's still there, just needs a little work."

"And to do that," Thorn grinned, "you're going to need his help."

Chapter Text

Echo's heart pounded as he raced after Rex through the senate building. Senator's jumped out of their way with surprised shouts as the strange crowd of Jedi and clones tore down the hallways. The com had gone dead after Fox's last transmission, and Echo had never been so worried in his life.

They were almost to the lift to Palpatine's office when Kenobi stumbled to a stop with a gasp. General Koon leaned heavily against the wall while Ahsoka froze.

"You...you feel it too?" Kenobi asked. "Suddenly, everything's so...light."

"What does that mean?" Cody asked. "Did they kill Palpatine?"

"I believe so," Koon rumbled.

"Let's go." Ahsoka started running toward the lift again. "We have to make sure."

The lift hardly seemed to be moving, but it finally chimed softly as the doors slid open. The Jedi were the first ones out, lightsabers drawn, but Echo wasn't far behind. They all froze at the sight that greeted them.

Skywalker was shaking as he stared at the Chancellor's decapitated body. Fox knelt on the floor next to him, not staring at the body, but at an empty spot on the floor. Neither acknowledged the others when they entered. Worst of all, Fives was nowhere to be seen.

"Anakin." Kenobi rushed to his former padawan, grasping his shoulder.

"We...we did it." Anakin blinked, slowly turning to face Kenobi. "I didn't fall. We did it."

"You did." Kenobi pulled him into a hug. "It's over now."

"Fox?" Cody lightly grabbed Fox's shoulder.

But the commander just shook his head. For the first time, Echo noticed the tears running down his cheeks, and his blood ran cold.

"Fives?" He couldn't keep his voice from shaking.

At that one word, Fox let out a broken sob.

Someone squeezed Echo's own shoulder, and he turned to find Rex next to him, face ashen.

"He's gone," Rex murmured.

"That di'kut!" Fox burst at last. "He was supposed to be safe! He wasn't supposed to protect me!"

"What happened?" Cody asked.

But Fox just shook his head again.

"Palpatine was going to attack Fox," Skywalker said. "But Fives...he jumped between them. Took all the lightning himself. I don't know why, but Palpatine could see him then."

"He was here!" Fox shook his head. "Even after the attack, he seemed okay. But then after we...after Palpatine...he just disappeared!"

"Okay, we'll figure this out," Kenobi said gently. "But why don't you start from the beginning and explain everything."

Anakin told most of the story. Fox added very little, seeming to be overcome with grief. Part of Echo was furious with the Corrie commander. Why would Fives have ever sacrificed himself for him? Fox was the one who killed him!

However, he could tell from the look on Fox's face that he was thinking the exact same thing. And Echo knew in his heart that wasn't what Fives would want.

"I don't know why Palpatine could see him after the lightning." Anakin shook his head. "And it hurt Fives. I mean, really hurt him."

Fox nodded slowly. "He seemed to be fading, but then...I thought I pulled him back."

"It must have something to do with Palpatine's connection to the dark side," Koon said. "It's the only explanation."

"We couldn't have done it without him." Anakin let out a long breath. "If it weren't for Fives' distraction...Palpatine was even more powerful than I expected."

Fox was still on his knees. His trembling had subsided, but he wasn't moving at all, just staring at what Echo assumed was the last place he'd seen Fives.

"It's not your fault." Cody wrapped an arm around Fox's shoulders. "It was his choice."

"And it was a very Fives thing to do." Rex crouched on Fox's other side. "He always puts his brothers first. Once he sets his mind to something, it's very difficult to change it."

Fox just closed his eyes, a single tear running down his face.

"But...is he really gone?" Ahsoka spoke up at last. "I mean, he disappeared, but maybe he'll come back."

"He never has disappeared before." Echo could hardly recognize Fox's voice, it was so broken.

"It should have been me." Fox bowed his head. "Ni ceta vode. It should have been me."

"No." It took everything in Echo to say it, but he knew it was true, and Fox needed to hear it from him. "Fives wanted you to live."

Echo walked around to kneel in front of Fox. "Do you hear me? Whatever you're thinking, stop. Do not waste his sacrifice, okay?"

Slowly, Fox raised his eyes to meet Echo's. Another tear had spilled over from his other eye.

"He was your brother as much as he was mine," Echo continued quietly. "He wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

Fox let out a shaky breath. A moment later, he reached out and pulled Echo into a hug. For a moment, it took Echo aback. Fox may be a clone, but not one Echo knew well by any means, and he was a commander on top of it. But after a moment, Echo recovered and squeezed his brother tight.

"I know you're right," Fox murmured just for Echo to hear. "But I'm still sorry. I...I don't want to believe he's gone, but..."

Echo squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back a sob of his own. After a moment, he realized both Rex and Cody had their hands on Echo and Fox's shoulders. Beyond them, the Jedi just watched on in a silent vigil for several moments before Kenobi cleared his throat.

"We'd best get out of here." He glanced down at the Chancellor's body. "And report to the Council. They must be informed of what has happened."

Reluctantly, Echo let Fox break away. The tears were gone, and his face was now just a solemn mask. Yes, Echo may have been angry at Fox at first, but the anger had melted away almost before it formed. He meant what he said. Fives wouldn't blame Fox for what had happened.

Somehow, he feared it would take Fox a lot longer to forgive himself.

They made their way back to the Jedi Temple. Thire and Stone had arrived with some of their men to guard the Chancellor's office...and the horrific sight within. They'd been worried the moment they caught sight of Fox, he could tell. He was eternally grateful to Cody for taking charge and giving them their orders even as he supported Fox.

"Fox?" Thire made as if to grab Fox's shoulder, but he stopped himself. "Are you...okay?"

Fox tried to answer, he really did, but no words would come.

"Don't worry," Rex reassured the two other Corrie commanders. "We're going to take care of him."

They exchanged a glance but nodded all the same and continued on with their men.

Fox followed numbly as Cody lead him out of the senate building. He didn't even pay attention to the senators demanding the Jedi tell them what was happening. The trip back to the Temple passed in a blur. All Fox could think about was Fives.

Why? Why had he sacrificed himself for Fox? Would he have done it if he'd known what would happen?

But Fox knew the answer to that question. Fives would always put his brothers' lives first, even Fox's. What the others said was right. He wouldn't have wanted Fox to blame himself.

And yet, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Fives had become almost an extension of Fox himself. Wherever he was, the ghost was never far behind. Now he kept expecting to hear that laugh, to see a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye, or even feel that phantom tug at his very soul that he'd come to recognize as his mischievous vod'ika.

Never in his life would he have imagined becoming so close to a trooper like Fives. They were opposites in so many ways. And yet, they were so similar too. They loved their vode. They stood for what they believed. And neither would stop trying to do the right thing.

He just couldn't imagine his life without Fives in it.

And even that made him feel guilty. Echo had been raised with Fives. They knew each other better than any other in the galaxy. And the two of them had been Rex's first vod'ike, the first ones he'd taken such an interest in. They had much more right to mourn than Fox did.

But Fives had been there for him when no one else had. He'd all but saved Fox. And now he was gone...

Fox...

Fox stumbled into Cody. He hadn't even realized they'd arrived at the Jedi Temple and were walking up the stairs.

"Easy," Cody murmured. "I've got you."

Fox blinked up at his brother for a moment before glancing around. He half-expected to see Fives there, that ridiculous grin on his face. But the ghost was nowhere to be seen. The Jedi had gone too, except for Tano. He guessed they'd probably went ahead to report to the Council. Rex had his arm around Echo's shoulders as they followed Cody and Fox.

With a shake of his head, Fox let Cody continue.

"This way." Cody eventually led them to a doorway. "General Kenobi said we could use this room to recover for a bit."

The room was pretty large with several plush looking chairs and what looked like an adjoining 'fresher. Fox vaguely wondered what the Jedi used it for as Cody led him to a sofa and laid him down on it.

"Get some rest." Cody glanced around. "All of you."

"And what are you going to do?" Rex asked.

"Check in with the Generals and see if I can find out what's going on."

Rex nodded. "I can come too."

But Cody shook his head. "You all need time to process everything. Just relax for a bit. I'll be back soon."

For a moment, Rex and Echo just stood there in complete silence. Then, Echo shook his head and stumbled into the adjoining 'fresher. Rex started to go after him, but paused for a moment to glance back at Fox.

"Are you...okay?"

"No." Fox sighed. "But you're vod'ika needs you more. I'll...I'll be fine."

Rex didn't look convinced, but the sound of Echo retching finally pulled him away. Then, Fox was left in complete silence. His tears had stopped. He didn't think he had any more to cry. He still just couldn't believe it. Fives, his vod'ika, was really gone now. And yet, there was something itching at the edge of his mind...something he couldn't explain.

Fox...need you...

"Fives?" He jumped to his feet and glanced around. That...that was Fives. It had to be! And yet there was still no sign of the ghost.

"Great." Fox sat back down with a groan. "Now I'm hearing things." At least the two vode in the 'fresher didn't seem to have heard him. He'd hate to give them false hope.

Fox!

He sucked in a breath. It was real. It had to be. After staring intently at nothing for a moment, he closed his eyes and focused on what he'd come to learn was his bond with Fives.

Are you there?

Yes! And that was Fives voice. He knew it. Follow...

Fox frowned. Follow...where? How?

Follow...

He latched on to that voice and focused with all his might. It was the only thing he could think to do.

Then, it was like he'd been surrounded by a deep fog, the room he'd been in nowhere to be seen. And then, he saw it. A line of light. It seemed to be stretching out into the fog. Taking a deep breath, Fox followed it. In many places, it was badly frayed like an old rope. The more he saw of it, the more he thought it was a miracle that it had survived at all.

Then the fog started to clear, and through it, Fox caught a glimpse of...

"Fives!"

The ghost's eyes shot open to stare at Fox, a grin spreading over his face. "I knew you'd find me."

His voice still sounded like it was coming from a great distance, and it was hard to see through the fog. Beyond him, Fox was almost certain he saw other figures. Clones, if he had to guess. The fog cleared for just a moment and his heart skipped a beat when he got a good look at one of them.

"Thorn?" He whispered.

Thorn just sent him a sad smile as the fog obscured his face again.

"Fox, there's no time." Fives drew his attention back to him. "We have to repair the bond if I'm going to leave."

"Leave...where?"

"The afterlife."

Fox blinked trying to understand everything he was seeing and hearing. But before he could think about it more, Fives was reaching a hand to him.

"You have to help guide me out along the bond. As we go, we'll be able to repair it together."

Fox had no idea what was going on, but he knew one thing. He wouldn't fail Fives again. He took the last couple steps closer and grasped Fives' hand.

He was about to turn back into the fog when he heard a faint voice, or possibly several voices, as if from a great distance.

Ret'urcye mhi vode!

But when he glanced back, all he could see was fog.

"No turning back now," Fives muttered.

"Fives, what..."

"I'll explain everything once we're back."

Fox just nodded and continued along the bond. They paused at each frayed spot, and Fives directed their hands to it. The line of light bound itself back together once again. And each time, Fox felt his connection with Fives strengthen.

It felt like hours that they were traversing the bond, when they finally reached the end.

"This is it." Fives grinned as they grabbed it one last time. As it repaired itself, the line moved. One ended jumped to Fox's hand while the other flew from where they came into Fives' hand. The line glowed brightly, then everything went black.

Fox blinked his eyes open, shocked to find he was still in the room in the Jedi Temple. Was it all a dream? He was almost too afraid to look.

But a squeeze on his shoulder had him glancing up at a grinning blue face.

"Thank's ori'vod."

Fox just let out a choked sob as he pulled his vod'ika down for a hug.

Chapter Text

Rex was honestly impressed Echo had held it together as long as he had. He felt bad leaving Fox, but his little brother needed him more right now.

When he entered, Echo was bent over the 'fresher and somehow looked even paler than normal. He was shaking as tears streamed down his face.

"Oh vod'ika." Rex carefully wrapped his arms around Echo and slowly lowered them to the floor. He wished he could lead Echo back to one of the comfy chairs, but he truly felt Echo would be more comfortable with just him for now. He trusted Fox once more, but it would be better to be just them for now.

"It shouldn't hurt so much." Echo took a shaky breath. "He's...he's been dead since before I came back. But he was still here."

Rex just remained silent, letting Echo get it all out.

"I can't imagine what this is like for you," Echo continued. "You...you've lost him twice now."

Rex sucked in a breath. He'd been trying not to think about that. But now that Echo had said it...it wasn't fair. Why did he have to lose his vod'ika all over again?

But he pushed aside his grief. For now, all he wanted was to comfort Echo in any little way he could.

"Echo." He tightened his grip on his brother. "I...I know there's nothing I can say that'll fix this. So...I'm just going to tell you the same thing I told Fives after the Citadel. You aren't alone. You have so many brothers who care for you. You'll always have us. You'll always have me."

Echo nodded, words seemingly having fled him. Rex just held him for a while. How long was anyone's guess. He was just about to suggest they head back in with Fox when a sound from the adjoining room caught his attention.

He frowned, Echo mirroring his expression, and they both wordlessly got up and headed back. When they got to the doorway, Rex froze at the sight before him. Fox had his arms wrapped tight around a transparent, blue Fives.

The silence was shattered by Echo's shout. "Fives!"

Fives pulled away from Fox with a grin as Echo crashed into him. His momentum toppled them both onto the couch, which Fox had thankfully vacated.

"You're back!" It didn't look like Echo would be letting Fives go anytime soon. "I thought you were gone...really gone."

"I nearly was." Fives pulled back with a smile.

Rex glanced at Fox, who was just smiling. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his ori'vod smile like that, a real, heart-felt smile that reached his eyes. It probably hadn't been since Kamino.

Without really thinking, Rex approached his ARCs and pulled them both into a hug for a few moments. He took deep breaths as he held them tight, trying to reign in his emotions. When he finally felt he could speak again without a trembling voice, he pulled back so he could look Fives in the eye.

There was so much he wanted to say...to apologize for. But he found he couldn't speak, and maybe that was for the better. They were all brothers. They'd understand without the need for words.

He didn't know how long they stayed like that. At some point, Fox wandered over and sat down next to Fives. Rex shifted so he was sitting next to Echo. It was...peaceful. And for the first time, Rex could really realize just what had happened, what they had done. In the grief of losing Fives, he hadn't even realized that they'd won. The Sith was dead. The war was over. His brothers were finally free.

And Fives...was he going to be a ghost forever now?

"What happened?" Rex broke the silence at last.

Fives just closed his eyes for a moment.

"I...I'm not sure." Fox shook his head. "I kept thinking I heard Fives' voice, and then suddenly...I don't know how to explain it. It was like I was leading him back from...from..." He shook his head.

"From the afterlife," Fives murmured. "I was...if you hadn't come when you had, I wouldn't have been able to come back."

Fox sucked in a breath and Rex frowned.

"The afterlife?" Echo repeated, lifting his head from where it had dropped on Fives' shoulder.

"That's the best way I can explain it." Fives sighed, a small smile crossing his lips. "Our vode were there."

"What?" Rex whispered.

"I saw Thorn," Fox murmured. "When I found you. It was just for a second, but I saw him."

Fives nodded. "And Hevy, Cutup and Droidbait." His smile widened. "99 was there too. And Tup. The place was...I didn't get to see much, but they all seemed so happy. They said they could explore the galaxy there. Do whatever they wanted. No more endless war. No more watching brothers fall."

"That sounds...amazing," Rex breathed. "But...you couldn't stay there?"

"No. I could have."

Echo stared at him for a moment, eyes widening. "You wanted to be there."

"Maybe a little," Fives admitted. "Tup practically begged me to stay."

"But...then..." Fox shook his head. "Why'd you call to me? If you wanted to stay..."

"Because as much as I wanted to stay with them, you all needed me more."

Rex blinked at his vod'ika, a feeling welling in his chest that he couldn't quite name.

"You didn't have to come back." His hand tightened on Fives' shoulder even as he said it. "We would've...managed. If you were ready to move on...to stop being a ghost..."

"Rex." Fives reached up and squeezed Rex's hand, a smile on his lips. "I'm not ready. Not yet. They said I could've watched from there, but I never would've stopped worrying about all of you. I wouldn't have had any peace there. Not yet."

Rex stared at him for a moment before nodding, his smile returning.

"They...watch us?" Echo asked. "Like...all the time?"

"Don't ask." Fives huffed. "No one could give me a straight answer. Didn't sound like it was all the time, and Hevy said it wasn't exactly watching, but that was the best thing they could come up with."

"So, they're still with us," Fox murmured. "Even if we can't see them."

That, Rex had to admit, was a much more comforting thought than he'd expected.

"But what happened?" He asked. "Why did you go there in the first place?"

"Palpatine," Fives spat. "What he did weakened my bond with Fox. Evidently, it's the only thing tethering me to the living world."

"But that means..." Fox blinked. "When I die..."

"Then I'll pass on as well. For good."

Rex was quiet for a moment. All of this was a lot to take in.

"I suppose we should let the Jedi know," he said at last. "They might know more. Or be interested in learning more themselves."

"Not yet." Echo laid his head on Fives' shoulder again. "For now, I just want to spend time with my family."

Rex couldn't help but smile. A good idea, if ever there was one.

"Family?" Fox's eyes were filled with uncertainty.

Echo huffed. "My twin's tied to you. Of course you're family, silly."

Fox's eyes widened and he glanced at Rex. But Rex just chuckled and closed his eyes. Echo mouth often ran away from him when he was tired. And from the way his chest was starting to rise and fall in deep, even breaths, he was exhausted.

"Just relax ori'vod," Rex murmured. "You deserve it."

His smile widened as he felt the couch shift as Fox settled in better.

Fives just sat there quietly, enjoying being back with his family. They all had dozed off, one by one, exhaustion finally taking over. The quiet swooshing of the door opening was what finally made him lift his head.

"I knew I felt something." Anakin Skywalker walked over, beaming.

Fives just smiled back. "Any Jedi insight into all this?"

Anakin just chuckled softly. "Not really. We just finished explaining everything to the Council, and they're just as lost as we are. Guess we'll have to tell them you're back now."

"So I'm an enigma." Fives smirked. "Cool."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I'm really glad you're back."

"So am I." Fives glanced at his sleeping family before turning his attention back to the Jedi. "Thank you Anakin. You saved my brothers."

"We saved them. I couldn't have done it without you." Anakin's smile faded. "I'm...I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from Palpatine."

Fives shook his head. "You did what you could. Can we just move forward now?"

Anakin's smile slowly returned. "Sounds like a plan to me."

They were quiet for a moment before Anakin started backing toward the door. "I'll leave you to it."

"Wait."

Anakin paused.

"Can you do one more thing for me?"

"Anything." Anakin nodded.

"I...I've found out that Dogma is still alive. He's in prison. Is...is there any way..."

Anakin smiled again. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

And with that, the Jedi left. Fives just sighed and rested his head against where Echo's was slumped against his shoulder.

What was life going to be like now? Could he actually help his brothers? Would they get tired of having a ghost around? Would Fox get tired of being tied to him?

No, that was one thing he knew wouldn't happen. His vode would always be happy to have him with them. As for the rest, well...they'd figure it out. Together.

Chapter Text

Dogma always wondered why he hadn't been reconditioned or decommissioned. Even if Krell had been a traitor, he'd also been a Jedi. And killing a Jedi was one of the worst crimes a clone could commit. Sometimes, he wondered if death would have been a kinder fate than imprisonment. The guards, being brothers, knew why he was there and were kind to him. But other prisoners still caused problems on occasion.

But the worst of it was knowing his vode were out fighting and dying while he was stuck in here, absolutely useless. The worst day was when a guard had brought news that Tup was dead.

"Just...thought you should know." The clone had taken his helmet off and looked miserable. "When I realized you were batchmates, I just..." He sighed. "I'm sorry."

Dogma couldn't even find it in himself to reply and just sat numbly on his bed. He refused to leave his cell even to eat that day, and the guard thankfully didn't force him. Since then, he'd done little more than sit in his cell and go back and forth from the mess with his escort.

That is, until one morning when two guards arrived at his cell at a very irregular time followed closely by...

"General Skywalker?" Dogma blinked, hardly believing what he saw.

"Hey Dogma." The general had a bright grin on his face. "I'm so sorry you were kept here for so long, but it's okay now. It's time to go home."

"But...but..." Dogma shook his head as the forcefield door to his cell deactivated. "With all due respect, Sir, I killed a Jedi. A lifetime sentence is...a small price to pay..."

"You killed a traitor!" Skywalker gently squeezed Dogma's shoulder. "You did the right thing."

"The Senate won't see it that way," Dogma mumbled.

"Things are changing. Chancellor Palpatine is dead."

Dogma's eyes shot up. "What?"

Skywalker nodded slowly. "We found evidence that he was a Sith Lord. With everything that's happened, the Senate isn't going to be worried about me bending a few rules to get one of my men out of prison. I'm just sorry it wasn't sooner."

"You had other things to worry about, Sir."

Skywalker looked ready to argue further, but he just sighed. "Come on. Everyone's going to be so excited to see you."

Not everyone. Dogma couldn't help but hang his head as he followed Skywalker out of the prison. Not Tup. I never even got to say goodbye...

Part of him wondered if he was dreaming as he followed General Skywalker out of the prison. One of the guards took off his helmet to smile at him as he passed. Dogma offered a small smile back, recognizing the clone who'd brought news about Tup's death. He hadn't really thought about it, but all the clone guards in the prison did seem to try to look out for him during his stay. Hopefully, if things really were changing, they'd be free of this place soon as well.

Skywalker led him to a speeder and jumped in the driver's seat, motioning for Dogma to join him. Dogma couldn't help but blink in surprise. He'd assumed maybe some of his brothers would be there as well. Didn't they care anymore? Why was it just Skywalker?

"Come on in." Skywalker motioned again when Dogma stood there frozen for a moment. "I'm sure you're curious why I'm the one who came." He chuckled. "Well...let's just say I'm planning on surprising your brothers."

"Oh." Dogma numbly climbed in.

Skywalker started driving toward, not the barracks, but the Jedi Temple. "I know some of the guys tried to get in to see you a couple times, but they were never allowed." He shook his head sadly. "I wish I could've done more."

Dogma was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Why now? I...I can't be that important."

"You are to your brothers." The Jedi smiled. "And I owed one of them a favor...more like a lifetime of favors."

Dogma wanted to question more, but decided to be quiet for the time being. He wondered who would be left from the 501st. It had been a long time. Surely many of them had been killed by now. And even if they hadn't, why would they want to see Dogma of all people? Fives had certainly made it clear what his opinion on the matter was...

He couldn't help but stare as they got closer to the Temple. He'd never been here before, though he knew of several brothers that had. But why were they going there?

"Here we are." Skywalker grinned as he jumped out of the speeder. "Like I said, most of them don't know you're coming, so this is going to be a great surprise."

I doubt that. Dogma kept his eyes down as he stepped out onto the landing platform. They were probably glad to get rid of me...

"Hey." Skywalker gently squeezed his shoulder and Dogma glanced up in surprise. "It's going to be okay. I know you had some disagreements last time you saw them, but you did the right thing in the end. They're just going to be happy to see you."

"Fives won't..." It slipped out before Dogma could stop himself.

"Oh, yes he will." Skywalker smiled. "He's the one who asked me to get you out."

Dogma blinked, shocked. He was sure the ARC would still hate him.

Skywalker stopped outside a door, blinding smile firmly in place. "Some of them are still recovering, so the others came here to be with them." His smile dimmed a little to a more serious expression. "You ready?"

Dogma couldn't help but be touched. He'd never known the general all that well, and not for long either. But he had personally come to get Dogma out of prison, and he seemed to have realized just how nervous Dogma was about the whole thing. Maybe it was weird Jedi powers, but it calmed something within Dogma, and he simply nodded.

Skywalker smiled again and opened the door. Dogma hung back for a moment as he heard the familiar voices of his brothers from inside.

"And where have you been running off to?"

He let out a little sigh of relief as he recognized Rex's distinctive tone.

"Most likely checking in with the Senator."

There was a chorus of laughter at that comment, which Dogma didn't fully understand.

"Still can't believe you figured that out," Skywalker muttered. "Not this time," he continued louder. "I...well, might be easier to show you."

He grinned and motioned for Dogma to enter. "Come on in."

Dogma hesitated just a moment longer before entering the room. He froze at the sight of so many of his brothers, all staring at him with wide-eyed wonder. Yes, Rex was there, and Jesse and Kix. Some cyborg he could barely identify as a clone was there next to Rex, with another clone Dogma didn't recognize hovering nearby.

Next thing he knew he was being enveloped in a chilling cold that made him shudder. For a moment, he thought he heard someone calling his name, as if from a great distance.

But then the cold was gone, and he heard a very real voice crying his name as he found himself enveloped in an embrace.

"Dogma." Rex, it was Rex holding him. "I...I don't believe it. I didn't think they'd ever let you go." The captain pulled back to look Dogma in the eye.

"Captain." Dogma took a shuddering breath. "I...I'm so sorry. About everything."

"None of that!" And Dogma was shocked to see Jesse rushing over to them. "We've lost enough brothers. We're just glad to be getting another back."

"Another?"

But nobody seemed to notice his question as both Kix and Jesse now caught him in a hug together.

"We missed you, Dogma," Kix murmured.

Slowly, Dogma felt a grin spreading across his face. He still felt the absence of Tup like a blaster bolt through his heart, but he did still have other brothers who loved him. It almost didn't seem real.

"Hey." The cyborg stepped over. "You probably don't recognize me, and we only met a couple times, but I'm Echo." A grin spread across his face. "It's good to see you again."

Dogma could only stare for a moment. What had Echo gone through to look like that? He had only met the ARC a couple times, but he was still very familiar with him through Fives' stories.

Speaking of, where was Fives? Skywalker said he'd be here.

Suddenly, Echo rolled his eyes and looked to the final clone in the room. "Can you do something about him already? I can't take much more of this."

"He's just excited." The clone chuckled and stepped over. "Dogma, I need to grab your wrist. Is that okay?"

Dogma glanced at Rex, who gave an encouraging nod, then shrugged. The clone lifted his wrist and then looked like he was lifting something with the other hand. And then there was that chill again, deathly cold and strange. But then, it turned to warmth as a figure appeared standing opposite him. Dogma could only stare in fascination as the figure grew more defined until he could see exactly who he was looking at.

"Fives?" He blinked. "But...what?"

Before he could say more, the strange figure of Fives had wrapped his arms around him in an embrace even tighter than Rex's.

"I'm so sorry," Fives murmured. "For what I said before, on Umbara. You're a great brother, Dogma. And I'm so sorry for what happened to you."

"What happened to me?" Dogma pulled back with a shaky laugh. "What happened to you?"

"Long story. I'm...well, dead. I'm a ghost." He raised a hand when Dogma started to speak. "I'll tell you the whole thing, but first, I've been to the...to the afterlife. I've seen Tup."

Dogma choked on a gasp.

"He wanted me to find you." Fives smiled. "And he never has really left you. All our brothers who have marched on are still watching over us."

Dogma stared at him for a moment before pulling him more firmly into another hug. They just stayed like that for a few minutes before Dogma pulled back.

"Now, if you don't mind." He smiled. "I'd really like to hear the whole story."

Chapter Text

Fives sat staring off into the starry night sky, Alderaan's mountains a dark shadow beneath them. Some kind of nocturnal animal let out a mournful cry in the distance, and he couldn't help but smile a little. Fitting, it seemed, for how he felt tonight.

It had been years since they'd thwarted the Sith's plans. Years in which Fives had stayed at Fox's side. He never questioned it anymore. It was just where he belonged, with his ori'vod. At this point, anything else was unfathomable. Oh, sure, he missed his other brothers sometimes. But those he was closest to made a point to come visit him and Fox regularly.

They had a small home on Alderaan. To most, it was just Fox's home. But to others, it was the home of two close brothers. For many years after the war, Fox had been a Palace Guard, at the request of Senator Organa. But after several years, Fox decided that he was ready to explore other interests. He ended up doing social work, mostly helping orphans find families. This even included several clone children. After the Jedi managed to free them from the Kaminoans' grasp, clones became citizens of the Republic and cadets became eligible for adoption.

It was good that Fox had gotten involved in this kind of work. Fives never saw him smile as much as when he worked with the children.

But the years had not been good on Fox. Despite finding a cure to the clones' accelerated aging, he hadn't been doing very well for the past several years. He'd still lived to be older than any clone had dreamed of during the war. Maybe not old for natborn standards, but getting up there. Still, Fives hated it. Hated that Fox had begun to suffer more and more. The doctors named the disease, but Fives couldn't remember what it was. All that mattered to him was the realization that Fox was dying.

A rustle behind him made him turn to find his brother walking onto the balcony. "You should be resting."

Fox scoffed. "I'm not dead yet vod'ika."

Fives didn't reply as Fox sat next to him. They both sat there in a companionable silence for a while, enjoying the warm summer night.

Fox may have even more gray hairs and wrinkles than during the war, and he may get tired a lot more often now, but he still projected an air of confidence. Fives, for his part, never aged after his death. He looked the same now as he did the day of Palpatine's death.

"Fox." Fives took a deep breath. "You don't need to be brave for me. We...we both know what's coming."

"I suppose we do." Fox nodded slowly. "But I'm not putting on an act. You ought to know me better than that. I know what's coming, and I'm not afraid." He smirked and bumped Fives' knee with his own. "Who knows? Maybe I'll get a few years taken off."

"Maybe."

Fox's smile faded. "If I'm worried about anything, it's you."

"I'm already dead."

"But when I go..." Fox shook his head. "You will too."

"I know." Fives sighed. "I'll miss them...Echo, Rex, Jesse, Kix, Ahsoka, Anakin and his little twin terrors." He couldn't help but smile at the thought of the general's children. He'd watched both of them grow into strong leaders, and he would miss them. "But I'll be seeing my other vode again."

"All the same, I invited Rex and Echo over tomorrow, along with Cody."

Fives nodded slowly. "It's going to be soon then."

"Yes."

Fives swallowed. Maybe he was a little more nervous about passing on for good than he'd realized.

They both sat there for some time, just staring off into the stars. Finally, Fox started drifting off, and Fives chuckled.

"Come on, old man." He gently helped his ori'vod to his feet. "Let's get you to bed."

Fox slept late the next day, and was still in bed when their brothers arrived.

"How is he?" Cody asked the second he was in the house.

"Not great." Fives sighed. "I...I think we've both come to terms with the fact that it's time."

A sort of melancholy settled over the group as they all came to realize they'd be losing two brothers soon.

"Hey now, none of that!" Fox walked in, moving a little slower than he had the night before. "I didn't invite you all here so we could spend the day weeping."

"You're right." Rex got up and pulled Fox into a tight embrace. "I'm glad you did invite us though."

"We'll make it a great day!" Echo leaned against Fives with a happy sigh. "That's the only way I want to remember both of you."

And in the end, it was an amazing day. They didn't do much, Fox couldn't really, and the others were getting up there in years as well. Rex had decided to grow a beard, much to his brothers' teasing, And both he and Cody were going gray as well, if not quite as much as Fox was. Echo had a much harder time with his prosthetics than he used to, and his face was starting to show his age. Still, the three of them were doing better overall than Fox was, and Fives was glad. As much as he wanted his brothers to join them soon, he didn't want it to be too soon.

That night, Fives just...had a feeling. And while he didn't voice his worries, he made sure to give his brothers each a bone-crushing hug. When he pulled away from Echo, he could see it in his eyes. He knew. He knew this was it. They all did.

Fox got tired early and retreated to his room. Cody and Rex stayed up in a constant vigil. Echo and Fives, meanwhile, went out onto the balcony. Fives had grown to love Alderaan, and enjoyed spending time outside when it was nice enough.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Echo squeezed Fives' hand. "Say hi to the others for me."

"I will."

Echo sighed and leaned his head against Fives' shoulder.

And then, Fives was floating. It was a strange sensation he couldn't quiet describe. Echo sat in front of him now, but it was like looking through a thick mist. Echo glanced around, surprise in his eyes, before he let out a long sigh.

"Goodbye Fives." A small smile graced his face even as a tear fell. "I'm glad you'll finally be at peace."

And then, Fives was in a place he remembered very well. The barracks on Kamino once again. As he glanced around, he saw an achingly familiar figure standing nearby, patting himself down.

"Hey old man." Fives smirked. "Guess I can't call you that anymore though, can I?"

Fox whirled, a grin breaking across his face.

"Fives!"

Fives beamed as he took in Fox's young body. Even when they'd first met, there had been hints of gray in the commander's hair and deep lines on his face. Now, he could be a shiny fresh of Kamino.

Fox stepped closer and pulled Fives into a crushing hug with a laugh.

"What now?" Fox asked as they broke the hug.

"Now, we go meet with our vode." Fives smiled. "Come on, they're waiting for us."