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.”