*Emerges from a random hole in the ground on the back of an oversized mole, holding a mug of hot chocolate* Why hello. *Long slurp* I'm back. I think.
After not updating for a millennia, I decided that it's time to post again, so... here, I guess.
Not sure what part of my brain this came from, but it's a tear-jerker. Have some tissues standing by. And possibly some junk food.
Enjoy! :D
Fives sat alone in his barren cell in the Republic brig on Coruscant, head in his hands. His tears had long since dried, but he didn't have the strength to wipe away the stains that covered his face. Perhaps he hoped the discomfort would alleviate even the smallest bit of his pain. It didn't. Nothing would. Only you could have helped him, but you were the cause of his grief. Now and forever.
Why had you done that? Why did you save him? It should have been him to take that blaster bolt, not you. It was intended for him, but you had shoved him aside, taking it yourself.
When Fives sat up and found himself unharmed, he was hit by a wave of relief. Relief that was quickly extinguished by shock and fear when he saw you laying next to him, a hole burned through your chest. Rex had raced to your side, but Fives was faster, and carefully pulled your head into his lap. He begged and pleaded for you to stay, not to leave him alone, but there was nothing that could be done. You were too far gone, and soon enough, your body had gone cold in his arms.
As you had died in his arms, you whispered that everything would be okay. How? How would anything be okay? You were gone, never to return - nothing was okay. Nothing would ever be okay.
Fives' first instinct was to scream and cry, but his grief was quickly consumed by fury, and he lunged at the man who had shot you down:
Fox.
Fives launched himself at his brother and tackled him to the cold steel ground, straddling his waist to pin him down. Fox's men were quick to try and pry Fives away, but they were quickly ordered to stand down by their Commander. The head of the Coruscant Guard took ever punch and curse Fives threw at him, not bothering to fight back. He knew what he had done, and he knew he deserved more pain than Fives could deal him. Meager punches and kicks, no matter how hard, couldn't rid either of them of their pain.
When Fives' rage faded and he started crying again, he slipped off his brother and found himself at your side again, holding your limp body close to his chest. Fox lay still, on the verge of unconsciousness, and wholeheartedly wishing he was dead. In that moment - and for thousands more to come - that was one thing he and Fives had in common.
You hadn't been like most other Jedi in the war. Even as a padawan, you had been stronger and wiser than most Jedi Masters, and swore to always do what it took to keep people safe. You saw each and every trooper in the army as a friend - a brother, even - and they felt the same about you. You had room in your heart for everyone, and loved those close to you like the family you had never known.
You had sworn to Fives and many others that you would protect them with your life, and would support them even in death. The words had seemed hollow and practically meaningless at the time, but now Fives cursed himself for not taking them seriously.
Now you were gone.
All because of his investigation...
All because he had gone to your for help...
All because you could never say no to him when he was in need...
He couldn't help but blame himself, despite knowing that you would be furious with him for doing so.
Your big heart wasn't a secret. Everyone who had ever exchanged a word with you knew of your selfless and loving nature. You were the true embodiment of a Jedi, and many believed you would be the youngest Knight to earn yourself a seat on the council and ascend to Master. Now, you would never get that chance. It was forever an unanswered question.
"Fives?" a soft, familiar, and welcome voice called from the laser grid door. Fives found the strength to drag his eyes upwards, and was met with what had once been a mirror image of his own face, but now pale and dangerously thin.
Echo.
The other half of the Domino Twins had been caught in an explosion while on a rescue mission on Lola Sayu, but, once again, you had saved him. As the others ran for their lives, giving up on Echo, you refused to relent until you saw a body lacking a heartbeat. You had argued that there was a chance he was alive, and you planned on taking it. Fives took it with you. If you died, you died together, searching for the third party of your trio.
After the two of you had plowed through the droids that stood in your path, you searched the explosion sight. After several tireless hours, you finally located something: a single thigh guard, painted blue and completed with a depiction of a rotary cannon devoted to the owner's fallen brother. He was close. He had to be.
When you had finally located Echo, you quickly discovered he wasn't dead, but may as well have been. His body from the waist down had been torn off by shrapnel from the explosion, and his right arm was crushed under a large piece of debris, almost completely detached from his body. You did everything in your power to help him while Fives stood idly by, abusing his fingernails with his chattering teeth as he cursed himself out for not dragging Kix along with him.
You cleverly cauterized Echo's bleeding wounds with your lightsaber, carefully hovering it over every severed joint and open wound, but couldn't do much else for the unconscious clone. You and Fives hoisted him up and dragged Echo's torso along with you for the rest of the journey back to Coruscant, where a dozen medics immediately stole him and raced off to help their wounded brother.
Obi-Wan had reprimanded you for recklessly hurling yourself into such a dangerous situation on a whim, lecturing you about risking your life for others when there was little chance that Echo had been alive. There was an even smaller chance that he would live longer than a day in such a condition.
The resounding crack of your hand hitting the Jedi Master's face had echoed through the hanger for what felt like hours after you stormed off, not saying a word to anyone as you strode down the hall to the medical bay with purpose.
As the medics worked on keeping Echo alive during his painfully slow healing process, you and Fives busied yourselves with creating robotic replacements for his lost limbs. Neither of you were the best with technology, but you worked tirelessly nonetheless, and after hundred of hours and even more cups of caf, your efforts paid off with functioning appendages for your friend.
When Echo awoke weeks later, you insisted on being the one to break the traumatic news of what had happened to the still dazed and confused clone, not wanting to force the burden on Fives. He was secretly thankful, unsure if he could bring himself to relive what had happened that day, but he argued anyways. If it was hard for him to remember, he couldn't imagine how you must have felt. After all, it had been you to sit over Echo's half-dead body as you struggled to keep him alive long enough to reach Coruscant.
But that was just who you were: reckless and incredibly stubborn, with a heart of gold and a way to make anyone smile. You held yourself with such an air of authority, but never talked down to anyone. Anyone of a lower rank than you, anyways. You had a tendency to do so to your superiors, but always wiggled your way out of trouble for it. You hadn't even gotten a stern glare for bitch slapping General Kenobi in the hanger. Nobody could stay mad at you, especially not when you were doing so much to help someone you cared for.
Now, that someone stood before his twin, separated by a laser grid as Fives awaited his fate.
"Hey, Echo..." Fives whispered in response, dropping his head once again. All was silent for a moment, then there was a quiet whirring as the laser grid was shut down. Moments later, Fives felt a weight press against his side as Echo sat down next to him.
"Don't you want to close that?" Fives mumbled, briefly lifting his gaze to the still open door to his cell. He could make a run for it at any moment. The Guard would be in shambles as word about what had happened to you and Fox spread, and he could likely make it out without much difficulty. But...
Echo shifted beside his brother, placing his sole remaining hand on Fives' shoulder. "I know you won't go anywhere before your hearing."
Fives nodded slowly. "You really are the smart one."
A small, victorious smirk lit up Echo's pale face. "Glad you noticed."
After your death, the broken and bruised Fox had been wrestled to the medical bay while Fives was dragged away to the brig. When the medics heard what happened, Kix had added to Fox's already severe injuries before agreeing to heal him. Once again, the Commander accepted every hit with open arms, going as far as to request zero painkillers whatsoever during his healing process. As furious as Kix was, he was still a compassionate man and a well-trained medic, and refused his brother's request. As much as he wanted to make Fox hurt, he was wise enough to see that no amount of physical pain the medic dealt could possibly overshadow the emotional torment he was putting himslef through. Fox had been a close friend of yours, as all clones were, and he hated himself for not taking that single moment to ensure that his blaster was set to stun.
After a long moment of silent filled only by the shared grief of the Domino Twins, Echo raised his hand and rested it on his brother's now bald and scarred head, smiling softly.
"Heh. We match now," the brainiac clone commented, attempting to lighten the mood.
Fives dropped his hands, letting out a tiny, halfhearted chuckle as he stared down at his feet. "Goody. Just what I always wanted. Thought I had escaped that when I got my tattoo."
Echo gaped in mock offense. "Rude. You should be honored to look like me."
Fives rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Oh, please. We all know I'm the hot one," he snidely shot back, sniffling.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
The pair lapsed into silence once more. Both were hurting tremendously, but neither knew what to say or request to feel better. They had lost people before, and weren't strangers to the pain that accompanied loss, but this was a new sort of hurt. It was drilled into them from creation that clones were expendable and should expect to die at any given moment, but they hadn't received the same lessons regarding non-clones. When their brothers died, they were upset, of course, but they had to keep fighting. Now, neither had a fight awaiting them, and they were stuck in a spiraling pattern of reliving memories, lashing out in fits of immeasurable rage, and overwhelming sorrow.
Soon, though, they would have the distraction they needed to pull them to their feet.
A steady knock sounded from the doorway, and the two brothers looked up to see Captain Rex standing before them, helmet tucked under one arm. It was clear from his red eyes that he too had been crying, but unlike the twins, he made an effort hide it. Fives and Echo didn't have the strength for such a feat.
"Fives," Rex called into the small cell, his voice lacking its usual strength and confidence. "The Council will see you now."
Fives nodded and dragged himself to his feet, followed closely by Echo. "Thank you, sir."
Fives brushed past his superior officer and started down the hall, but paused when he heard Rex's voice once more. Though the words weren't directed at him, he wanted to buy himself as much time as possible before speaking to the Jedi Council, and accepted the brief pause with open arms.
"You too, Echo."
"Sir?"
"He might need backup. I'll be there, too."
Fives stood still and stoic in the hall until his brothers emerged and started after him, at which point he lowered his head as he resumed walking. He appreciated the gesture, but neither could be of any use to him during the hearing. Echo had only limited knowledge of the Chancellor's plot that could easily doom them all, and Rex knew nothing at all. There was only one other soldier that could help, but they weren't there anymore. He didn't want his brothers, he wanted you.
He wanted the one person he couldn't have with him.
Why was the galaxy so cruel?
Instinct led Fives from his cell to the door of the Council's chambers, where he paused with one hand raised, prepared to knock. A single tear slipped out of his eye, and he blinked rapidly to keep others at bay while he rid his face of the lone drop. He had not once entered this room without you at his side, and didn't know if he could do so now without breaking down.
You can do this, a voice whispered. Fives was unsure if it was his own or someone else's. You have the proof. You have everything you need to stop this war before anyone else gets hurt. Now go. Make them believe you.
Fives nodded slowly, earning a questioning glance from his brothers behind him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself to enter, then knocked. The door opened before him, and he stepped inside with his head held high. Twelve of the wisest and most skillful Jedi in the galaxy sat in a circle inside, patiently awaiting his arrival. All of them looked over at him as he entered.
"Welcome, trooper," a stern-looking human with dark skin and tan robes said with a curt nod. "Please," he directed to the center of the circle.
Fives swiftly stepped forward, coming to a halt where he was directed to. He stood at attention, showing no emotion whatsoever, as he was trained to, despite feeling uncomfortable and underdressed staring down the entire Council without his armor or weapons. With the exception of you, usually Fives only interacted with Jedi in briefings and on the battlefield. This was a strange occurrence - one that he wasn't sure he could ever get used to.
"ARC Trooper CT-27-5555 of the 501st Legion," the same man as before said, leaning forward in his seat. Fives couldn't decide if the chairs looked comfortable or not. Surely the Council had the money to get the finest seats for their twelve most revered members, and surely they wouldn't spend so much time here if they were uncomfortable, but at the same time, he didn't imagine they were any softer than the bench in his cell.
Not the time, brain.
Gotcha.
The serious Jedi continued. "You come to us with quite the claim."
"That I do, sir."
"You have made accusations of a conspiracy to destroy the Jedi, one Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is involved in. Is that correct?"
"It is, sir."
"What evidence do you have to support this claim?"
"Plenty, sir. I have it all on file."
"Would you share it with us?"
"Of course, sir. With pleasure." Fives input a command on the holographic device you had given him before your death, where the two of you had complied all of the evidence you collected during your search of Kamino, and a series of holograms appeared around him, the evidence held in each on full display to the council. After going over what each panel held, Fives played a recording he had taken without the Chancellor's knowledge - one of him hinting that he already knew of the conspiracy before attacking Fives and sending him on the run.
Despite the piles of evidence, a few members of the Council still remained hesitant. They were afraid of what repercussions arresting the Chancellor would have, and didn't know what to expect from such a powerful man. Fives understood their points of view, but couldn't help but be ticked off. He had to make sure your death wasn't in vain. He wouldn't sleep easy until the Chancellor was dead and every inhibitor chip had been removed from his brothers.
A kind looking Nautolan man, who had remained quiet most of the hearing, suddenly spoke up. Every eye in the room found its way to him as he leaned forward, thinking aloud. "Y/n was one of our finest. They believed this trooper. Died for this information. I have no doubt in my mind that their efforts were not in vain. Fives, was it?"
Fives nodded. "Yes, sir."
The Jedi nodded back with a smile before turning his attention to the other Council members. "I firmly believe that ARC Trooper Fives is telling the truth."
The Cerean man behind Fives spoke up next, seeming skeptical. "The word of a lone soldier is not enough to arrest a political figure, especially not one as powerful as the Chancellor. Think of the political ramifications if we make the wrong choice. It could be the end of us all."
Resisting the urge to slap the greying Jedi Master, Fives reverted to use his words instead. A verbal punch could be just as effective as a physical one if worded correctly, after all. "With all due respect sir, it's not just my word against the Chancellor's. I have proof. I have piles of evidence that I will gladly show you. I'm ready and willing to travel all over the galaxy to get what I need to prove myself. I have witnesses, I have support, and I have the faith of Jedi Knight Y/n L/n. They died for this investigation, and I think we all know that they would never turn against a Republic figure like the Supreme Chancellor without good reason."
"He speaks the truth," the Kel Dor Jedi seated across the room stated in a soft voice that immediately made Fives feel more at ease. "Young L/n would have never risked themself for something they didn't believe in. I too believe Fives."
"As do I," Obi-Wan agreed with a nod and a small smile at Fives. He tried to return the gesture, but couldn't bring himself to smile though his pain
Shaak Ti made herself heard. "Fives had already come to me with enough proof to make me believe him, and now he has more. The evidence is overwhelming. I support his claim."
The Grand Master nodded slowly, letting out a hum. "Make a quick decision, we must. Hangs in the balance, much does. Put it to a vote, we will. Believe the word of ARC Trooper Fives, who does?"
Remarkably, every hand in the room shot up. Even Echo and Rex couldn't help but slowly raise their own hands, despite knowing that their votes counted for nothing.
"Very well. Find the Chancellor, we must." The elderly Jedi Master glanced over at the stoic-looking human Jedi seated near him. "Master Windu, take a group to his office, you should. Take him peacefully if possible, you will. Standing by, reinforcements will be. Join you shortly, I will."
"Yes, Grand Master." Mace Windu rose from his seat, signaled several other members of the Council to do the same, and the group quickly set off, each of them nodding at Fives as they passed him.
After members of the Council had shuffled out, Fives was left alone with the head of the Temple. Echo and Rex had accompanied the departing Jedi, wanting to help with the capture of the Chancellor, who would surely put up a fight that they couldn't miss. Fives couldn't bring himself to move, which was probably do the best, given that the small, green, wrinkled man known as Yoda had directed for him to stay out as Echo and Rex turned tail and vanished.
Yoda stared at Fives for a long moment, causing the ARC Trooper to shift uncomfortably. He cleared his throat, resisting the temptation to break his dignified stance and scratch at his neck like he tended to when feeling shifty.
"Ahem. Um... if that's all, sir, I believe I should be going. I'll wait in my cell until the Chancellor's trial..."
The Grand Master shook his head, but instead of responding to Fives, he closed his eyes, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Make yourself known, you should," the Jedi Master called, seemingly to no one. "Miss you, your friends do."
A soft voice that seemed to come from everywhere at once responded to Yoda's strange remark. "Friends, hm? Is that where we're at, Master?"
Fives nearly started crying at the familiar sound.
Yoda smiled. "But of course, young L/n."
Fives spotted something glowing out of the corner of his eye, and turned his gaze towards it.
That was when he broke.
"Y-Y/n?" the clone choked out between sobs, slapping a hand over his mouth as he stumbled backwards. It took all his willpower to keep himself upright, which left none to stop his river of tears.
You smiled softly at him, taking a step forward. "Hello, Fives. I've missed you."
All of his composure and professionalism was thrown to the wind as he raced towards you, practically knocking you flat with the force of his hug. He finally let his tears flow freely, sobs wracking his shaking body as he cried into your shoulder.
"I miss you... so much..." he choked out.
"I know. So do I," you said with a smile, pulling away just enough to gaze into his eyes. "But Fives, you must remember this: I may be dead to the world, but not to you. I will always be with you. You have a life. Live it. If not for yourself, do it for me. Fulfill your dreams. Live life to the fullest. Be happy. If you ever need me, I'll be here, but I won't hold you back. You have so many opportunities ahead of you. Don't waste them."
A long silence filled the room as a tiny smile slowly worked it's way onto Fives' sorrowful face. He looked like a mess, but felt better than he had in days. You were okay - okay as you could be as a spirit - and so was he. He had closure. He hadn't realized how much he needed it.
The clone nodded at you, and you beamed proudly. With one last hug, you faded away, once again slipping from Fives' grasp. You had left him again, and yet...
He wasn't upset.
He wasn't angry.
He was... happy.
Finally.
It wasn't long before Fives received word from the Jedi Council. Chancellor Palapatine had been arrested, but didn't go without a fight - one that revealed him as the Sith Lord that the Council had been hunting for. They congratulated Fives for his bravery and assistance, presenting him with several awards that he proudly wore.
As a collection of eager Republic Senators travelled to Raxus to reveal the Chancellor's true motives and propose a peace treaty, the Jedi were spread across the galaxy in search of General Grievous and Count Dooku, who had gone into hiding after word of the Chancellor's capture had reached them.
All clones were immediately brought to their nearest medical facility, where their chips were removed with the guidance of Fives and the clever medical droid AZ-3, who had aided Fives in his investigation.
When the news of what had happened reached General Skywalker, who had been rather out of it since your death, he was furious.
Never a good thing.
He felt so betrayed by the Chancellor, and fought to stand against him during his trial. All of his pain, all of his suffering, was because of the man he had so deeply trusted. He had to put an end to his reign of terror, no matter what it cost.
Thanks to the arguments of many, including Anakin and Fives, as well as stories from the hotheaded General of how Palpatine had been grooming him since childhood to join his cause, the former Chancellor received a death sentence. Anakin himself requested to do it, and his wish was granted. Though his outburst and actions weren't at all Jedi-like, nobody could blame him for lashing out, and he avoided any and all repercussions for his actions.
The Republic cut ties to the Kaminoans after learning of the chips they had planted in the brains of their creations. Cloning production was halted once and for all. The Kaminoans were unfortunately untouchable by the Republic after that, but after all clones were taken away from Kamino to live relatively normal lives elsewhere, wringing their long necks were no longer much of a priority.
Within a few months, the war had officially ended, and Fives was hailed a hero. He hadn't seen your spirit since the Chancellor's trial, but he knew that you were true to your word, and he knew you were always watching over him and his brothers. Without a war to fight, clones were free to live among civilians. It was quite the adjustment, but with support from each other, homes and good lives for each surviving member of the army were provided. Many opted to remain part of the army in case they were ever needed, Fives, Echo and Rex included, but were very rarely requested. The galaxy was in a state of near-peace, and with a little luck, it would remain that way for years to come.
Fives still missed you every day, as did all those you knew and cared for, but your spirit guided them through their grief. All those who loved you were able to move forward thanks to you. Your kind heart truly did extend beyond the grave, and as promised, even in death, you looked out for those you loved, ensuring that no one lived with a heavy heart.