In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 9

The man in the suit laughed again. "You didn't tell her?" he said turning to Rex.

Rex chuckled, slapping him on the shoulder. "I figured it'd be worth it to get her impression of your disguise since tech is kind of her thing."

"Well, I know someone she'd get along great with then," the clone teased.

"That or she'd kill him after the first fifteen minutes," Rex joked. "Senna, this is Echo. He's a former member of the 501st and one of the finest troopers I've had the pleasure to serve with."

Senna's face softened at the mention of Rex's battalion and the clone's name. She'd heard Echo's story over one of their meals shared together, and she finally understood the severity of the damage inflicted upon him by the Techno Union. Even with all of that, his amber eyes burned with the same intensity of Rex's, and there was a warmth there that was familiar as well. Laughing, she walked over and embraced him. "It's great to finally meet you, Echo. I've heard a lot about you."

Echo grinned sheepishly, returning the hug with his left arm. "Hopefully only good things."

"Oh, of course not," she teased. "Would you like something to eat or drink?"

"Afraid I can't stay long. My pick-up is going to be back in an hour, so I'm on a pretty tight schedule. Do you have the disks?"

"Yep, they're up in my hole. Let me go grab them." Senna took off up the stairs.

"Her hole?" Echo asked quizzically.

"Let's just say the description is apt," Rex chuckled, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Are things going well with you?"

"Yeah, we've been able to stir up some additional cells in various systems and are working on gathering intel, same as you. This superweapon?"

Rex's face tightened. "It sounds bad. Real bad."

Echo mirrored his concern. "Yeah, Tech's been digging through Imperial databases as much as he can, but they've got all files and mention of it locked down tight. I think we're going to have to rely on intelligence gathered outside the network. These disks you two grabbed are going to be very helpful as long as the Empire doesn't figure out we have them."

A crash echoed from upstairs, making them both jump. "Everything alright up there?" Rex called.

"Yep, just busted my kriffing shin. Be down in a second."

Echo smirked. "So, what's her deal? She seems like someone that would have driven you out of your gourd by now."

Rex grinned. "You know, she almost has several times, but there's something different about her and her mess that I find...tolerable." He felt Echo staring at him out of the corner of his eye, and turned to look at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing," Echo chuckled.

Before Rex could push it further, Senna came flying back down the stairs, a black case in her hand. "Alright Echo, here are the copies I've got. There are five disks in here, and I've included a data chip that's got instructions on how to use them in there as well. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me."

Echo took the case from her, tucking it under one arm. "Understood. Thank you, ma'am."

"It's Senna," she said, smiling at him. "You can call me Senna."

He nodded, smiling at her.

"I do have one quick question," she said.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Why a droid?"

"Besides the fact that I'm halfway to being one as it is?" he laughed. "No one notices droids. I can walk through a squad of stormtroopers, and none of them even bother with me, which is great, because that's exactly what I'm going to have to do to reach the rendezvous point." Turning to Rex, he clasped his arm in farewell. "Always good to see you, Captain."

"You too. Stay safe, trooper."

Echo reached up for his faceplate, locking eyes with Senna one more time. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Senna. I hope we see each other again when I'm not in a rush."

She walked forward and gave his shoulder a squeeze as he snapped his faceplate back down. "May the Force be with you, Echo."

He nodded one last time before turning and walking out the front door. It shut behind him with a hiss.

"He seems nice," Senna said, nudging Rex with her shoulder as she turned back to the kitchen to grab her bag of supplies.

"He's my brother," Rex said, his eyes reaching beyond the door that had closed. "He's one of the best."