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clonemando · 2 months

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And Threes Makes Three

Rex and Wolffe finally get to bring home the Cadet they're adopting together.

or read it here, under the cut:

important tags:

CT-7567 | Rex/CC-3636 | Wolffe

implied Alpha-17/Obi-Wan Kenobi/ARC-77 | Fordo

Adoption

Domestic Fluff

Rex and Wolffe adopt a Cadet Together

Disabilities

Cloneshipping | Clone Trooper/Clone Trooper Relationships (Star Wars)

Canon Divergence - Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Order 66 Didn't Happen (Star Wars)

Anakin Skywalker Faces Consequences

Obi-Wan Kenobi Raises Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker

Wolffe squeezed Rex’s hand nervously as they walked into a busy office in the new Jedi temple. There were already clones and Jedi waiting in seats to be called and a few in line ahead of them to talk to the receptionists to check in.

“Hello, I’m Ja’nari, how can I help you today?” A nice human looking Jedi asked, brown hair clipped back to stay out of her face.

“I’m Commander Wolffe and this is my husband Rex. We, uh, have an appointment about adopting a cadet?” He said feeling his heart flip a few times in his chest and Rex squeezed his hand back.

“Oh, yes! You’re here about Threes. He’s part of Sneko Clan right now, I remember Arlena mentioning he might be being adopted soon. Here, fill this out and bring it back when you’re finished and we’ll get you in soon.” She said handing them a datapad which Rex took and gestured to the seats nearby before calling up the next group in line.

Sitting down Wolffe peeked at the form as Rex started to fill everything out. “Didn’t we already fill this out last time we were here?” He asked, remembering they had been made to fill out enough paperwork to supply two full battalions and they would know. It had taken ages and been exhausting to try to figure some of the questions out since the forms had seemed to be meant for natborns.

“These are different and there’s only two. I think it’s just finalizing stuff to make sure nothing has changed since the last time we were here.” Rex said finishing up easily enough and returning the pad to Ja’nari before returning to sit next to Wolffe.

Wolffe fidgeted. “What if Fox was right? I might not be good at this Rex. I-” He whispered but Rex knocked their shoulders together.

“Firstly, Fox apologized for that already and only said that because you provoked him. Secondly, Fox's opinion doesn’t actually matter in the end, only ours, even if he did actually think the things he said, which I know for a fact he does not. Wolffe, we went over this like a hundred times already. You like Threes. I like Threes. Threes likes both of us. We have the space and money and time to take care of him. We’ve both taken care of entire battalions before. We can take care of one single cadet.” He reminded him. Wolffe snorted.

“You make everything sound so simple and logical… Did you steal those lines from Gen- Master Koon?” He teased and it was Rex’s turn to snort.

“I have my own good ideas from time to time you know. I definitely didn’t get them from my own General after all.” He huffed but his expression twisted at the reminder of Skywalker and Wolffe wrapped an arm around his shoulder and squeezed letting Rex lean his head against him.

After Palpatine had been dealt with, Skywalker had pretty much lost his mind. He wanted Fox and Cody tried for treason even with news that they had saved Obi-Wan’s life and that the Chancellor had been a Sith available. When the Council refused he had planned to go after them himself but he had gone to ask Fives for help and Fives had commed Rex who had in turn warned Fox and Cody and got help from the other Jedi.

The confrontation had been nasty because somehow Senator Amidala had found out and showed up to confront her husband and a whole load of new information had been spilled about Anakin having killed an entire tribe back on Tatooine before the war and Padme helping him over it up. Skywalker had accused her of sleeping with Kenobi, force choked her, and then started fighting Mace and Kit who had shown up to stop him.

Rex had managed to draw his attention when he realized that his General’s power was even too much for the pair of Jedi to handle on their own and Fives had shot him with three stun blasts before he went down.

Wolffe had been helping with a relief mission and hadn’t heard anything until Rex commed him later and told him everything through his tears. They didn’t find out until later that Padme had gone into an early labor due to the stress and given birth to twins. Once she had recovered, Padme had apparently planned on giving the pair up for adoption since Anakin had been arrested and she had been forced to give up her seat in the Senate as her own crimes came to light while Anakin’s were investigated.

Obi-Wan was a mess but as Anakin’s once legal guardian and a close friend of Padme’s he had offered to take the kids in once it was known that Padme’s family weren’t interested in claiming the children born of their child’s lies. Alpha-17 and Fordo had both stepped up and offered to help.

Wolffe hadn’t heard anything about it until he had returned from the scouting mission he was on with Plo looking at different planets that might work for the clones. Rex had nearly tackled him off the platform as he was leaving the ship and started crying until Wolffe had been able to get him somewhere private and coax the story from him.

“Commanders Wolffe and Rex?” The receptionist calling them dragged Wolffe from his memories and he and Rex stood to walk back over to the counter where they were directed to walk through a door to the right and then down the hall to the last door. The office they arrived at belonged to the Besalisk Jedi who was dealing with their case, Master Arlena. “Wolffe, Rex! Good to see you! Come in and sit! I have good news!” She said using a pair of arms to guide them into the room while another closed the door behind them.

“We were approved?” Rex asked and she nodded with a wide grin.

“You were! Obviously things are different for the clone cadets and how adoption is working for them especially for other clones and Jedi who are interested but everything went through smoothly. I have some papers for you to add to your files but after you leave here tonight you can pick Threes up from Sneko Clan and take him home. I already called ahead and let the creche master know.” She assured them and started to spread out some papers across her desk explaining they had Threes get a full medical work up and had all his information available for them, and it was in the Temple’s system.

“Obviously Threes’ disabilities means he has regular check ups but I’m sure you’re used to dealing with Wolffe’s own appointments. He’s already enrolled in classes so you won’t have to worry about his schooling. The first home check will be next month but you both have all the numbers on this page here if you need any help at all before then. Remember there’s no shame in asking for help but letting issues fester will only lead to them getting worse with time. Do you have any questions for me?” She asked and Wolffe looked at Rex who was looking over the documents they’d be taking with them, eyes looking a little red.

“No ma’am. We’re excited to show Threes his new home. Our batchmates are already planning a party if Threes agrees to it. Everyone is really excited to meet him.” Wolffe said and she stood.

“In that case, congratulations and don’t let me keep you! Reach out for anything, I’m happy to help and it’s been a joy helping you both and Threes find each other.” She said shaking their hands as she ushered them out at a friendly pace but Wolffe knew that with the number of cadets they were still trying to get homed and how bust the office was she likely didn’t have time to dawdle.

Leaving the office felt like a blur and soon he and Rex were just standing in the middle of a hallway in the temple staring at each other.

“We… that… Did we really?” Rex asked as the tears finally spilled over even as his lips kept twitching up into a grin and Wolffe found his own smile catching before he dragged Rex in for a desperate kiss.

“We’re parents now. We have our own kid. Threes gets to come home with us!” He cheered and Rex started laughing breathlessly along with him.

“We should go get him then! Classes will be out in another hour. We can surprise him and stop by the shops to get ice cream on the way home.” Rex suggested and Wolffe nodded both of them holding hands as they hurried off toward where they knew Threes’ clan was so they could collect him after his class.

(line break)

Threes bit his lip as he hugged his plush loth-wolf tightly. It had been a gift from Commander Wolffe after the second time they met and it was so soft and warm it helped when Threes got overwhelmed. He especially liked that Rex had helped him switch out one of the wolf’s eyes and sew the fabric so it looked like Commander Wolffe’s eye did.

The day had been rough from the start. Firstly one of his clan mates had stolen his loth-wolf from his that morning and refused to give it back until Threes had gone to tell the creche master about it then they had spent the day calling him a tattle-tale and giving him a grumpy look since they had gotten a talking to. After mid-meal no one had wanted him on their team for their sword fighting games because of his messed up hands so he had ended up sitting alone in the garden until it was time to return to classes. Then he had to take the class with his least favorite teacher, Mr Frellin. He wasn’t mean but Threes felt like he had some sort of grudge against him because he always insisted on Threes having to write all his assignments by hand. Technically Threes could write on his own thanks to the surgeries that had been done and the fact he did have three usable fingers on each hand but it caused his hands to cramp up if he had to do it for long stretches of time and it hurt.

His other teachers let him dictate his assignments to helper droids where it would get printed out instead. He didn’t understand why Mr Frellin insisted on making things harder for him when there was an easier way but the man insisted he was doing it for Threes’ own good and that he’d thank him for it in the future.

Then as they were walking back to their rooms the same bully from earlier had finally poked the wrong nerve reminding Threes that Rex and Wolffe hadn’t been by to visit in over a month now and that they had probably gotten bored of him. Threes had tackled him and they had fought until the Creche master dragged them apart and sent both of them to their rooms where a nurse had eventually come to check on him and then check on the bully to make sure neither of them had been badly hurt.

“Well we were going to get ice cream but that might be considered reinforcing bad behavior.” Rex’s voice broke through Threes’ moping and he immediately jumped up to throw his arms around Rex and hug him.

“You saw the kid’s form Rex, we should be encouraging a good tackle like that and it’s not like I haven’t done worse to Fox in our own scuffles. At least he didn’t bite the other kid.” Wolffe cut in and wrapped Threes in another hug from behind.

“You came back!” He said squeezing as tightly as he could and Rex ran his fingers through Threes’ hair gently.

“Of course we did, did you think we wouldn’t? We told you we were going to adopt you. Sorry it took so long. The data-forms were all made for natborns and took twice as long to process as we expected.” Rex sighed.

“I wasn’t sure if you really meant it. Lots of people say things and don’t mean them.” Threes murmured softly. Alpha-17 had promised that Threes wouldn’t get separated from his batch after all and yet Ka’ra Squad had been separated as soon as they were all brought to the temple.

“We meant it, kid. We’re actually here because it’s all done. You’re coming home with us, if you haven’t changed your mind that is?” Wolffe asked and Threes looked up at him with wide hopeful eyes.

“Really?! I… I get to go with you?” He asked and Rex nodded with a smile.

“As of today we are officially your buir’e. You’re stuck with us. Unfortunately for you Wolffe snores so snuggling in our bed in the middle of the night won’t help you sleep. But he can make a mean hoth-chocolate so I forgive him.” Rex teased and Wolffe rolled his eyes.

Threes moved to latch onto Wolffe in a hug next and Rex started moving around to gather up Threes things from the room packing them in a bag he had brought with him.

“We’re going out for ice cream to celebrate and then we’ll get you settled in your new room. Since its Primeday you have a few days before you need to be in class again. Our vode want to meet you too if you’re okay with it. Cody and my twin Fox are here for the next few weeks visiting so they offered to stop by for a little party but we wanted to make sure you were okay with it first.

“Cody? You mean like… the Commander Cody of the 7th sky? Of course I want to meet him! He’s the coolest clone in the whole GAR! He punched Grievous in the face and helped kill the Sith lord!Who wouldn’t want to meet Cody?!” He asked bouncing now and both Rex and Wolffe shared a look Threes didn’t understand over his head but he didn’t care. He got to meet Cody!

“Way to make the rest of us feel loved kiddo.” Wolffe huffed and Threes rolled his eyes at him.

“I mean you and Rex are cool too but Commander Cody is a legend!” He continued to babble away scooping up his loth-wolf to hug as Rex finished packing and slung the bag over his shoulder.

“I’m sure Cody will love you too twerp. He’s actually a nerd though so don’t set your hopes too high. His name isn’t Cody for no reason.” Rex huffed a laugh as they started leading Threes out.

“Isn’t it like another version of Kote? Like Glory?” Threes asked and Wolffe started laughing while Rex’s lips twitched.

“He might tell you that but it started off as Codes because he kept whispering the reg codes in his sleep.” Wolffe told him while Threes gaped at him.

“What?! No way! That’s… so lame!” He squeaked, not sure if they were telling him the truth or not but just happy to get to spend time with them again… his parents. The thought made him beam and hug Wolffe again, stopping their movement for a moment before Wolffe just scooped him up under one arm and kept moving, making Threes giggle.

“You won’t make me late for ice cream kid, not even with hugs.” Wolffe hummed and Rex shook his head fondly.

“We have all the time in the galaxy now. You can’t be late when there’s no deadline.” Rex pointed out and Threes felt like his heart was going to explode from just how happy that thought made him.

They had forever now.

#CT-7567 | Rex/CC-3636 | Wolffe #implied Alpha-17/Obi-Wan Kenobi/ARC-77 | Fordo #Adoption #Domestic Fluff #Rex and Wolffe adopt a Cadet Together #star wars tcw #star wars #fanfic #the clone wars #tcw #my writing #fluff #sw tcw #captain rex #Commander Wolffe #Cloneshipping | Clone Trooper/Clone Trooper Relationships (Star Wars)

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enigmatist17 · 9 months

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Beginning Spark

Oh how I wish I could actually title something :')

Clone OC mentioned can be found here :)

-----------------------

“Keep moving.” The order is tinged with hatred, and it’s so tiring.

“I am moving di’kut .” The mando’a is lost on the non-clone guards, and after a moment there’s a cry of pain when a blaster connects to the back of someone’s head.

“She’s going in the first cell we see.”

“Works for me. Now get moving, or I’ll let him hit you again.”

Omega looked up with a glare, but keeps her sarcastic comments as she follows the lead guard. The cell that’s closest to the elevator has its shielding deactivated, and Omega grunts as she’s thrown into it.

“Next time, keep your mouth shut, or Nala Se might deal with a prisoner with broken legs.” The second guard taunted as Omega collected herself and got up onto her feet, the red shield slicing between the two groups before the guards meandered away.

“Are you okay kid?” Omega doesn’t respond until she’s sure the two guards are fully out of earshot, and rubs the back of her neck with a wince.

“I’ll be alright, I’m just glad they’re so easily annoyed.” The younger clone made her way away from the front of the cell, not afraid of the darkness this time as she’s drawn into a gentle hug.

“You did so well.” Fives gently runs a hand through her hair, and for a moment the two just embrace before the younger pulls back. Fives looks just as she remembered, but is clamping her hands over her mouth when she looks up at his eyes.

They’re powered on with a dull blue light, and looking right at her as Fives smiles.

“How long will you be here?” Fives motions for Omega to sit on his bunk, pointing at two nodules at the top of the entrance to his cell while making a zipping motion across his lips. She hadn’t noticed them the first time, and can see one appears to be powered up while the other was off-line.

“I don’t know.” Omega sighed a bit loudly, playing up the guise of being badgered and exhausted. “Is it okay if I try to rest?”

“Of course not.” Fives moved to join her on the cot, and after one last scan of the hallway that is empty, Omega takes one of his hands and begins tapping on it.

Crosshair is going to signal

While her execution of the clones’ secret language is clumsy, the ARC trooper is more than pleased by her progress.

I can be ready when you are

It takes Omega a moment to translate, and she nods with a slight frown.

Three days. Hemlock is leaving for something, that will be our chance

Good girl

For a moment they sit together in the darkness, and eventually Omega leans against him.

“I’m scared Fives…what if we don’t make it?” She’s hardly whispering, and Fives slips an arm around her shoulders while leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

“I’m scared too kih’vod. ” She looks up in slight surprise, and Fives meets her gaze with a soft smile. “It’s okay to feel that way, and you’re going to be doing the hardest part of this, but I know you can do it.”

“I still don’t understand how you can just trust me.” Omega’s whisper is nearly lost in the distant buzz of the ray shield, but Fives catches it.

“You’re one of us, and like I said, we’ll do everything for our own.” Fives gives her a gentle squeeze, and the two sit in silence. “Soon…”

“Soon.”

—-----------

“You know, never realized how boring a port could be.”

There’s a sigh, masked by a ship taking off nearby.

“Come ooooon kid, talkin’ to me isn’t going to distract your eyes eh?”

Well, he’s not wrong .

“I’m not a kid.” There’s a grin when Gregor finally hears his partner speak, sitting up to clap his hands together.

“He speaks! Here I thought I’d be talkin’ to myself the next few weeks.” He’s grinning when the clone beside him glances over, looking a bit amused himself.

“Just…don’t talk much these days.” It wasn’t entirely true, Gregor having only seen his current partner chatting with Kix around the bonfire they’d all gathered around on Pabu before he and the other groups had left two weeks previous. None of them were sure when they would be getting news of the hidden distribution network, but had all resolved not to leave until someone was able to find the first lead back to Hemlock’s base.

“Unless I’m a medic?” Another look thrown his way, this one of slight surprise before the other smiles a little.

“I’ve been learning a lot from Kix, it’s nice not being stuck on cargo transport duty staring at boxes all day.” The other huffed, and Gregor hummed as he sat back. They’ve managed to find an unused storage room that overlooked the port they’d been assigned in a discontinued comm tower, and while a bit cramped and only housing two chairs and a small cot, it would make due for now.

“Didn’ meet him before I went missin’, but he’s a good sort.” Gregor watched a ship land, and for a moment the two wait until it’s revealed to be a family taking a break for whatever reason, and they sit back. “So, Feedback, what’s your story?”

“My…story?” Feedback blinked, and flicked up his recon scanner before removing his bucket after Gregor slips his on. “I still have two hours.”

“Shush, I wanna hear you talk for a change.” Gregor chuckles, and Feedback patiently waits for him to lapse into his own version of silence.

“Well, I used to be in the 172nd Recon Unit…it feels like a lifetime ago.” The slightly younger clone perched his chin on his hand after leaning forward to lean against the railing in front of him, watching the port begin to turn on its neon lighting and street lamps for the upcoming evening. “I lost them all due to one of the Jetti being a traitor, he sabotaged our equipment and sent us into a trap. I only survived because I looked dead from my comm unit exploding, and after that Commander Gree saved me from decommissioning.”

“Good one that Gree.” Gregor nodded, reaching over to give Feedback a gentle pat on the arm. “Glad you made it.”

“Me too. For a long time I was uh, I didn’t think I deserved to?” The younger man smiled a little, his shoulders slumping as he finally relaxed a fraction. “It’s not so bad these days, and knowing that we’re going to save so many brothers? I feel more alive than ever.”

“Natborns call it survivor's guilt, I call it holding the line.” Gregor hummed, and the two watched the family from before finally heading back to their ship, the two children laughing and chasing each other as their parents trailed behind. “We didn’t leave them, they just marched on a little earlier than they were supposed to.We make sure no one forgets, then when it's our time, we get ta follow ‘em.”

“Holding the line…I like it.”

They don’t speak for some time, Feedback eventually dozing as the hours inched by until he’s eventually shaken awake by Gregor.

“Kid, I think we found our ship.” Feedback can see his jovial partner is gone, and despite the quiet string of chuckles that left him as Feedback hurried to slip his bucket back on, it’s no denying the Captain is on full alert. “Docking Bay 4-D.”

The ship that landed would be unassuming to the civilian eye, but to the two bred for combat before they’d taken their first breath, they know it’s very much a dangerous ship. The pilot seems to be arguing with one of the dock workers, before the two hurry off towards one of the warehouses.

“Go, you’re faster.” Gregor orders as he grabs the sniper rifle beside his chair.

Just in case.

“Yes sir.” Feedback quickly gets up from his seat and pulls his bucket off, grabbing a small bag by the door before sprinting out and down the narrow hallway. They had sabotaged the most likely equipment the Imperial network was coming to grab, nothing serious but a problem that would give Feedback enough time to circle down the tower they had set up and book it. Every second felt like an hour as Feedback did his best not to draw attention to himself, darting through narrow alleyways and keeping as much equipment between himself and the warehouse their target had entered, but finally he arrived. Being a public bay there was no privacy, but no one seemed to really care about the man who circled the ship before picking out a spot to place the tracking beacon. It’s not hard to remove an access panel from one of the landing gears, and once the beacon is secure and the panel replaced, Feedback hides in the shadows to wait and watch.

“...see to it this doesn’t happen again, my employers don’t like me to be late.” The pilot of the ship was all but yelling at the dock worker, and it’s clear to the clone he’s Imperial just by the way he stands and speaks.

“Many apologies, it won’t happen again.” The terrified doc worker makes sure the equipment the Imperial had come for is loaded in record time, and after some documents are exchanged, the ship has taken off and is long gone.

However, Feedback smiles at the night sky, the small device in his hand beginning to beep.

Gotcha

—----------------------

“Make sure that they all arrive safely, we do not wish to have an Eiradu incident again.”

“Yes, Emperor Palpatine.”

“Off with you then." The Emperor of the Galactic Empire turns as his lap dog bows once again, turning heel to do as he had been commanded to. Commander Fox is silent as he leaves Palpatine’s chambers, stepping aside and standing at attention when the Emperor’s pet heads towards the office.

“Lord Vader, sir.” Luckily Vader seems to want nothing from him this time, and Fox takes long strides towards the elevator and away from the room that felt like it was made of ice.

It wouldn’t matter, depending how the next three days went, he’d never have to step foot in there again.

What makes him pause is the sight of a natborn in his office, the man pushing back his anger as he salutes. He’s been more and more tense about seeing any of the Senators since the Empire had taken root, and hoped this one wouldn’t be around long.

“Fox, you don’t need to salute.”

Oh, it’s a friendly face for once, the Adlerian senator try not to look too nervous.

Fox sighs in relief as he quickly closes the door behind him, holding up a finger to sweep for any bugs that may have been placed. There have not been this time, and Fox wonders if his ploy of playing obedient servant has finally worked as he motions for the other to sit.

“I’ve passed along your message, and they’ll be ready.” Bail whispers, but knows the commander can hear him with his helmet on, constantly gazing around the room. “You’ll have only a few minutes.”

“They’re all I need. We’ll have to burn Coruscant for some time, I've left several false trails mixed with the right ones in the system, but it’ll only delay them.” While losing access to such an important planet would hinder their work, Fox knows there are other ways to free his brothers.

“You’re a good man, and I will always be here to help.” Bail gets to his feet, and for a moment the two look at each other.

“Senator…” For the first time since Bail can remember he watches Fox lift off his helmet, revealing the tired and gaunt man underneath. “I have one other thing.”

“Yes?” Bail watches the other root around in his helmet before revealing two data cards, handing them over and watching the Senator hide them deep in his robes.

“Be careful, Alderaan is…being watched.” Fox slips his bucket back on, and after one final scan, opens the door to his office. “Keep them safe.”

“I will.” Organa places a gentle hand on Fox’s shoulder before he steps out and into the winding corridor of the Senate building, soon lost among the wandering crowds. The clone watches the coming and going of natborns before stepping back into his office, taking a deep breath before exhaling.

Three days, Commander Fox can do a lot in three days.

—----------------

Hunter nearly misses the flash of the comm unit in the Marauder, too busy tinkering with his blaster. At first he thinks he just saw a random flash, but when it goes off again, he moves to check it out. He’s hoping it’s one of the recon teams, it’s been nearly two weeks since they had all been sent out, and Hunter did not do well with waiting. One could only help islanders with chores or workout with the clones on the beach for so long before the thought of what they’re waiting for hits him, so he’s taken to hanging around his ship.

Well, his home really, but that’s for another time.

He’s not going through the message they received for long before the world just seems to stop, Hunter’s eyes wide as he reads the repeating message over and over before remembering he can move. His response is surely littered with typos and reeking of desperation, but he has to know he has to know this is real.

The five minutes that pass are a decade long each, and he’s zeroed in when the simple response flashes on the screen.

9903 - 55 - 9903 - 55 - 9903 - 55

The Sergeant promptly turns to his side, heart thudding in his chest as he struggles to breathe, one hand gripping the console as tight as he physically could while his other hand shoots out to grip onto the comm chair. He’s not sure what he wants to do, his breathing ragged as the message keeps flashing over and over, and the only thing to keep him from throwing up is the fact he’s all but frozen in place from the tidal wave of emotions.

It’s not his fault it’s not his fault it’s not his fault it’s n o t h i s f a u l t

“Hey Hunter, you mind if I take…Hunter?” Wrecker blinks when he hears loud ragged breathing when he jogs up into the ship, following the sound to the cockpit to find his leader in the midst of what looked like some sort of meltdown. Hunter is frozen in place, eyes wide and fixated on a message that Wrecker couldn’t be bothered with at the moment, instead slowly approaching the other and placing a hand on Hunter’s shoulders. This seems to break the spell of something holding his commander there , and Hunter jerks back from the communications console and against the larger clone, who takes the moment to lead Hunter out of the ship and towards the extended ramp. “Breathe for me Sarge.”

“I…am.” Hunter grunts between panicked breaths, but being out with the fresh air, and a familiar weight sitting at his side was helping Hunter to ground himself. It feels like eons until the crushing feeling on his chest has become more manageable, and despite his exhaustion, Hunter forces himself to remain upright and begin signing with slightly shaking hands.

“ Check the comm.”

“It can wait.” The pained noise that escapes Hunter seems as surprising to the man as it was to Wrecker, but the other didn’t seem too surprised as he put his arm around Hunter’s shoulders. He can see the tears that slowly start to fall as his leader trembles, hands now clamped over his mouth as he fixates on the distant crashing waves. Hunter wants to remain the stoic leader, after all he’s the one who needs to keep it all internal so he can help be a steady head in this turbulent time, but his body seems to have finally cracked from all the strain of the last few months. He’s grateful Wrecker doesn’t say anything, even remaining still for the man who was always fidgeting or moving for as long as Hunter could remember.

“ Go.” His hands aren’t trembling when he finally signs, and after giving Hunter a gentle squeeze, the taller clone gets to his feet and heads inside the ship, letting out a whoop less than a minute later.

The tears come again despite Hunter feeling as though he’d evened out, but this time they’re more ones of joy as he listens to Wrecker send a message while calling for Echo to hurry his kriffing ass to the ship right now .

—--------------------------

“For the record, this is not wise.”

Tech sighs, adjusting his goggles as he took a breath.

“I understand your hesitation, but my brothers and I never faltered due to our enhancements. I will mask my message so the Empire shan’t notice, so please stop expression your irritation for the twenty-eighth time in the last hour.”

“I didn't do it that many times…” The clone named Dogma grumbled, and Tech bites back a retort. Despite his grumpy and warranted distrust for the newcomer, Dogma seemed only to want what was best for his brothers, and Tech could respect that. He’d been helping Tech with his mobility sessions, and had finally acquiesced to Tech’s want to contact his unit once he’d helped improve their damaged long range communications.

“If it helps improve your mood, I fully intend on leaving a message for Captain Rex in regards to meeting you and the others here.” As expected, Dogma paused for a moment, a look of fondness crossing his face before the usual scowl returned. Their slow walk to the communications room is in relative silence the rest of the way, and finally Tech is seated in front of a console.

Oh how he would never take his freedom to tinker for granted again.

It takes a few minutes to set up a secure link, Dogma eventually joined by Tup and a few other curious clones. Once he links up with one of the Batch’s secret channels, Tech has to take a slow breath as he hesitates. It’s a bit silly to feel…nervous about a simple communique, but he shakes the feeling off and starts with a simple phrase.

It was the first code they used once the Batch had become a fully fledged unit, hiding in plain sight for those who were unaware.

Tech sets it on repeat and waits, the small room beginning to fill with more survivors who wanted to hear about other surviving groups. The Batcher had explained that Rex’s network had saved hundreds if not thousands of their brothers, and the news had spread throughout the Venator within a surprisingly short amount of time. Clones he’d met once and many he hadn’t would trickle in and ask what he knew, and while Tech could only offer limited information, what he did share seemed to raise spirits and give many hope that batchmates or friends might still be alive. He knew that mere months ago, back when regs were regs and they were the Batch, Tech might not have cared to see the way those dull eyes would light up, or accept the handshakes or gentle squeezes to his shoulder from those who accepted him without hesitation. The gentle murmur of conversation silences when, less than two minutes after sending the message he gets on in response.

“What does it say?” A trooper, Appo he believes asks, and Tech is quick to pull the message onto his datapad. Everyone watches as he scrolls through it, and lets out a soft sigh before setting it aside and sending another repeating message in response.

9903 - 55 - 9903 - 55 9903 -55

“I would prefer to keep this private, it is a personal response.” The others nod as they await the next response, this one taking far longer and written in a way that makes him smile.

“Good news I take it?” Tech hadn’t seen Fordo even enter, currently responding to his excitable brother with a short update promising that he was alive, and he needed to pass along a message.

“Very, I will give them your message for the captain once Wrecker’s…enthusiasm dies down.” Not a single clone within earshot misses the fondness in his normally flat voice, and he can hear some of them murmur good-naturedly.

“When you hear a response, I’ve already had Pabu queued.” The alpha gave Tech a gentle pat on the shoulder before turning to the others in the room with a slight wave. “Let him have some time.”

“Yes sir.” With a buzz in the air the room quickly empties, and with Dogma alerting Tech he’ll wait outside, he’s left on his own to re-read over the first response without a dozen eyes trying to pry.

Tech plsae let this be you, tell me where you aer, let uss know where you are, we’ll come bring yuo home

Tech wanted to wince at the multiple typos, but knows that this time he could let it go. He thought it had been Wrecker at first, but when Wrecker had actually responded, it hit Tech that this was the writing of a desperate Hunter. Setting his pad aside Tech leaned forward to send another message before Wrecker could respond.

I am coming home soon

Tech seems in much better spirits when Dogma fetches him almost an hour later, passing on the information for a meet-up with Rex once they had made it back to the medbay. He can hear various clones running to prep the ship for travel and general buzz for the chance to see other survivors, and for a moment it’s like being amongst his batch during happier times.

Soon, soon they would be back together, and be ready to take Hemlock on with the fury of hundreds of angry brothers.

Excellent.

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