A returning Echo

Chapter Twenty Two

"Echo?"

"Yes, Rex?"

"You're supposed to keep him in check."

"To be fair, I didn't know his plan," Echo defended.

"My brilliant, master plan," Fives added.

"I don't have time to argue, just get back over here, we need your help."

"Yes sir!" They replied at once, Fives slipping his helmet back on before they took off running, blasters in hand, towards the main battle.

After three days of nonstop fighting, there was finally a break. Echo eagerly took it, setting up a tent and immediately crawling in and collapsing on the ground. After a minute of resting, he sat up and began to strip off his armor. The back of his neck was sore, and he rubbed it for a second, wishing there was a more reliable way to rid him of the pain.

"A Jedi could get rid of this," he mumbled, and then his mind wandered to you. He hadn't been able to comm you since they left, and he missed you more than he realized. He sat up and reached for the comm he'd discarded. Grabbing his commlink, he noticed he had a ping from you. He immediately thought of comming you, but paused. What time would it be on Coruscant? Would you answer? Were you busy? The thoughts lingered for only a second, as he decided to just try and reach you.

"Echo?" He heard your voice answer after a few seconds. You sounded tired and groggy, and he suddenly felt guilty for comming.

"Sorry, darling. Did I wake you?"

"It's fine, I'd rather talk to you than sleep anyways," you responded, and he heard a faint "pop" noise come from your end.

"What was that?" He asked.

"My jaw cracked," you giggled. "I was yawning."

"Are you sure you don't want to sleep?"

"No! I want to talk to you, I miss you."

He could hear the longing in your voice, and it made his heart swell as well as hurt. It made him beyond happy that you missed him, but he didn't want you to have to feel that way. He didn't want you to have to worry and not be by his side.

"I miss you too, darling. I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Safely, right?"

"Of course. I'm not going to get blown off a cliff like you did," he laughed.

"Don't joke like that, I'm being serious."

"I know, I just...it's been a rough few days. I need to laugh."

"Well, if you want to laugh, I can send you the holo video that Tie took of Sans, Hex, and Steele singing karaoke. It's ridiculous."

"As amazing as that sounds, I think I'll wait to watch it with you," he said.

"When are you going to be heading back?" You asked, and he could hear a bit of impatience in your voice. He chuckled and shook his head, though you couldn't see.

"I'll be back soon, darling."

"Soon isn't good enough."

"General Skywalker said the campaign should be over within the day. You think you can wait that long?"

"I don't know, I might die of loneliness," you joked.

"What a shame that would be," he joked sarcastically.

"Hey! Just remember that I have Marvin and I can gain full custody of him."

"You wouldn't dare," Echo said accusingly.