Chapter Text
When Echo heard Fives call for him to look out, he realized he might have made a wrong call. Echo, Fives, Rex, commander Cody, generals Skywalker and Kenobi, and commander Tano were on a mission to rescue Jedi Master Even Piell, who was a prisoner of the Separatists, being held in the Citadel, a maximum security prison that was originally meant to hold rogue Jedi. The mission started well, or well enough since Ahsoka unexpectedly tagged along. To be honest though, he wasn't surprised. Before the mission even started she had made it clear that she wanted to come, even though General Skywalker had made it clear that she was not to come. She did have a tendency to follow her master's bad example, ignoring orders in the process.
They had to trust the droids to get them to Lola Sayu, as the Separatists had scanners for any life forms and the only way to pass them was to be frozen in Carbonite. And of course they only found out that commander Tano came when she was unfrozen with the rest of them. Since then, they had to climb up a cliff lined with electro mines, which had killed a member of the infiltration team.
After rescuing the Jedi, The team had picked up a few more clones that were being held there.
The plan was to escape on a shuttle. It was guarded by a cannon and droids with shields. He made a run for the ship, handling a dead droid’s shield. That is where he is now.
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I have a bad feeling that this is not going to work. But it's no use going back. It would take way too long. I made it to the ramp! All I have to do is start the ship, get the others and get out of here… I can't feel my feet. Why didn't I notice that earlier? And why can't I shoot? Where did my gun go? Also why can't I feel my right arm lower than the shoulder? Wait… my arm really hurts. So do my legs and why can't I see anything? … Everything hurts, not just my arm and legs. Everything REALLY hurts. Why am I in so much pain?!?!
Everything faded, like he was losing his once firm grip on reality.
“ECHO!”
What happened?…Fives? Is he here? Where am I? What's happening? Wait… wasn't I on a mission? The Citadel. The shuttle. What happened? I must have been unconscious because this is indoors, and that was outside in the open air.
I can see a metal roof over my head, so maybe Fives got me to a Med Bay. That would explain why I'm on a metal table. But… Why am I restrained? Why wouldn’t Kix give me pain meds? Everything still stings. Even more than it should. Something must be really wrong if I'm thinking this much this fast. I can't feel anything but pain. Why can't I feel the metal with my left hand?... Left? Why not right? Maybe because I can't feel it. Something is DEFINITELY off.
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Suddenly two people walked into the room, one short with red hair, who was clearly nervous but was trying not to show it, the other tall guy with black hair, glowing yellow eyes, and a light saber attached to his belt.
Echo didn't recognize either of them, not that he wanted to. It was clear by now that he was not in the 501st Med Bay. It was also clear that he was captured by the Separatists. He knew that the taller of the two men was an inquisitor. That's not good. Echo doesn't fall for Jedi mind tricks, but he has no idea what this guy will do to him to get information. What force tricks he can play on Echo’s mind.
“So, this is the arc trooper?”
“Yes sir.”
The inquisitor stepped forward and held his hands up and touched Echo’s temples pressing lightly down into Echo’s head.
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Oh no he thought as soon as the inquisitor moved towards him.This can't be good. He placed his hands on my head. He's pressing but it's not painful. He wouldn't do that if he wasn't going to try something, this is bad. I was never trained to withstand the force. Torture, pain sure but this is different. When I get back I should definitely ask General Skywalker or Ahsoka if they can help me with that. Assuming I make it back…
Then it happens. He wasn't expecting to fade out like he did. Things became blurry and more quiet, more muffled, more peaceful, and more relaxing. Whoever this sith was he was good. Maybe I should fight back, even though he's not doing any harm? Or not that I know of. I could move my head, try to sever the connection. That seems like a good plan. If I can find my way back to reality through this haze.
I can't move. Or, at least I can't feel myself moving. Now that I think about it I can't feel anything, not even the pain. I have to get out of here, and find a way back to reality.
Then once again I'm laying on a metal table with the inquisitor looming over me. He had removed his hands and the shorter guy had left, and in his place was a guy with black hair, a new uniform, and a datapad for notes.
“You did well.” He turned to the other guy “It will take something stronger than normal procedures to get this one's knowledge. I vote to take Watt Tambour on his offer. We give him the clone and watch as he becomes one of our most valuable assets.”
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3rd person/nobody’s POV
Once they had left the Citadel, Rex and Fives took an hour sitting in silence, thinking about their deceased brother. Finally, Jesse came along to tell them it was meal time. They hadn't talked to anyone since the mission so no one but those who were there knew about Echo’s death.
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Jesse’s POV
As soon as he walked in, Jesse knew something was horribly wrong. It had taken him 10 minutes to find them in Rex’s room, and as he walked in he noticed two things at the same time. First they both looked incredibly downcast and like something tragic happened. Second when he walked in he expected to see three people, not two. Echo wasn't there. He didn't need to ask. Echo always was stuck to his twin and vice versa. And if Echo was using the restroom, Fives wouldn't look so utterly broken. The only two explanations he could think of was that Echo was at medbay and Kix kicked them out and told them to get rest, or it had actually happened: Echo was lost. Forever.
Jesse knew that double checking it with them wouldn't help, and if Echo was truly gone, they wouldn't care about food. So he decided to double check with Kix before spreading the news.
As soon as he walked into the Med Bay, Jesse’s heart sank. There were only two patients there and both of them have tattoos. That means Echo is definitely gone.
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Kix’s POV
Kix didn't know what to say when Jesse walked in. He looked perfectly fine, but now he wasn't so sure. Jesse looked… off.. He was nervous and unsure until he looked around. Kix knew something happened, Jesse came in to check if someone was here, he guessed that they weren't considering how his expression went from unsure to sorrow and pity. Someone wasn't here, so they were dead. The only question on Kix's mind is who was it.
They stood there for a while, Kix was about to ask when Jesse spoke up. He sounded like he was in horrible pain.
“Echo…”
That caught Kix’s attention. Echo was one of the two last survivors of his squad. The other one was Fives. They were twins, always together, always joking about one thing or the other. If Echo died then Fives would be the only domino left.
“How’s Fives holding up?”
He didn't want to talk about how it happened, not here, not now. Besides, he doubted Jesse knew what happened, considering he just found out Echo was gone.
“I found him and Rex in Rex’s room. He looked so broken. I knew something was wrong. Echo wasn't there. If he's not here that means… you know.”
“We should give them space. Time to adjust. I'll check on them tomorrow. Make sure Rex stays with him. I don't want him feeling alone; that would just make everything worse”
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Echo/CT 1409
“-cuse me. CT 1409, can you hear me?”
Unsuccessfully, Echo tried to sit up. He was still restrained, but he's not in the same place he was earlier. It feels like he's on a ship. It took him a moment to realize that the inquisitor was speaking to him.
“Yes?” He decided not to lash out. It would just cause him unnecessary trouble.
“Good. We will be arriving soon at a Techno Union base. I like being the bearer of bad news. So here's some you can soak up. I'm sure you're wondering why you're not dead already since Arc troopers are trained not to talk. But you are a special case with so much opportunity. The Techno Union has been waiting for Us to deliver a clone like you for a few months now. The deal is they get you and we get your knowledge and mind. You will not think of us as the enemy much longer. I for one look forward to having your mind at our disposal, and on our side. The Techno Union will help you to see things our way.
“I apologize for the poor prosthetics. We didn't have time to look for anything better. I hope they're not so painful that you can't use them.”
And with that he pulled out his lightsaber, activating it and cutting through the restraints, before deactivating it and attaching it to his belt once more.
To Echo’s surprise, the inquisitor held out his hand, offering to help him off the table. He took it, getting up on metal feet. Oh, so that's what he meant. He also noticed his right arm was a stump. After his mini panic attack, he followed the Inquisitor out of the ship, because he knew full well that if he didn't the inquisitor would pull out his lightsaber and cut his prosthetics to pieces. He was right, they had landed and by the time they got to the door. When the door opened Echo saw nothing but bad news. There stood Watt Tambor, leader of the Techno Union, accompanied by four armed droids.
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Kix’s POV
The next time Kix sees Fives he was being half dragged, half pulled in by Rex, who was ordering Kix to check him over. It had been two days since Echo’s death, and Rex was worried about Fives.
“He hasn't eaten anything since Lola Sayu. And he's barely drunk anything either!”
Kix shoves Rex into the next room trying to get some distance between a worried Rex and a grumpy Fives.
“Rex, calm down! Yelling is just going to make things worse. I'll make sure he eats and drinks. While you get rest. You look like you haven't slept since then either.”
“Alright alright. But make sure he gets sleep too.”
“Rex, he's my patient. By the time I'm through with him he'll be more healthy then you.” Kix didn't actually believe that but he'll do anything to lighten the mood and judging by Rex's chuckle it worked.
“Ok, I'll check on him in the morning. Take care of him.” And with that Rex left the room, leaving Kix to help an exhausted Fives.
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Echo/CT1409
To be honest, Echo doesn't know where he is, what the person behind him is doing to his head, or why he couldn't move. There was a stasis pod behind him and he had a bad feeling that it was meant for him, considering that there was a plug that perfectly fit his new “arm” prosthetic. In reality it was really just a droid scomp link, but he preferred having a joint in his arm again, even if it didn't come with an actual hand.
Echo wasn't sure when they added his metal spine, or the metal on the back of his head. But he was ok with the spine considering how many injuries his old one had. Not that he liked the idea of more metal, but it wasn't that heavy, and it was definitely handy to be able to stand, especially without almost falling over in the process. He wasn't sure if they sedated him or if he just passed out, but the latter made more sense.
“Ok, ready over here, should I plug him in yet?”
That doesn't sound good. He tried to move again but nothing worked. He wasn't sure which was worse, not being able to stand on your own, or being only able to stand, and do nothing else. Probably the latter.
“Go ahead. I'll start the program”
Then everything went fuzzy.