A returning Echo

Chapter Twenty Two

"Me? I know. I hate it. We can't have two me's, and I'm not taking the responsible role."

"Well, are you going to be back soon?"

"I don't know, but the battle is over. At least for now. We know what happened last time we thought it was over."

"Yeah. Just...be safe, Fives. All of you."

"I will. I promise, y/n."

"Good. Because I can't lose Echo, but I also can't lose you."

"Glad to know you like me, General Jinn."

"Ugh, don't call me that," you laughed over the comm, him laughing as well.

"See you soon, y/n."

"See you soon, Fives."

When the comm ended, Fives stood there for a second, allowing himself to feel this small happiness. You cared about him. Not that he didn't know before, but it was nice to hear. You valued him, he wasn't just a weapon. He wasn't disposable.

Turning, he saw the battlefield again. Coric was carrying another wounded soldier into the tent. Kix was with other medics on board the venator, and Rex was counting the casualties.

Why was this his life? Why was he fighting, suffering all this pain, for something that he didn't even know if it was worth it? Why was his brother injured, his other brothers lying dead around him? And why didn't anyone, or very few, seem to care?

It was quiet when he woke up, a strange sound heard on a battlefield. Or, what had been only hours earlier. His head was still pounding, and his vision was slightly blurry.

"Coric?" He asked, barely recognizing the clone to his side.

"You're awake," Coric responded, shifting to give Echo a small smile. "Fives and Kix aren't too happy with you."

"Ehh, they'll get over it," he said, sitting up and holding his head.

"That's what you think, but Fives is-"

"Fives is going to beat your karking ass into the ground," Fives said as he walked in. He glared at Echo from the entrance before walking over to him. Echo looked up, waiting for whatever Fives was going to do next. Fives's arms are around him in an instant, pulling him into a hug.

"What the kriff is wrong with you?" Fives said, pulling back to punch Echo's shoulder. "You could have died! You were acting like...well you were acting like me!"

"Sorry, vod. I guess I wasn't thinking too straight," Echo laughed, Fives pulling him into another hug.

"I can't lose my twin," Fives mumbled, "Another domino can't fall."

"I won't, Fives. I promise. Me and you forever, until the end of the war. Then we can marry our girls and raise families together."

"That sounds perfect," Fives said, grinning before frowning again.

"What? You look like someone just put spice in your caf."

"You're going to be out of combat for a while. Who am I going to annoy now?"

"I'm sure you could annoy pretty much anyone if you tried," Echo laughed.

"He doesn't even have to try," Coric said from his spot working on another clone.

"Hey!" Fives said defensively.

"He's not wrong," Echo mumbled. Fives went to smack him, but stopped himself.

"Oh, you're so lucky Kix thinks you have a concussion, or I'd be smacking you so hard right now."

"Alright, Echo. I'm going to need you to get on a transport and back to the venator. Kix is there and can give you an exam, I need more room for the wounded down here," Coric said, tossing away a pair of dirty medical gloves.