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kalevalakryze · 5 months

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Blood On The Ice

Chapter One: Muun Nynir

Characters: Sabine Wren, Shin Hati, Ahsoka Tano, Ezra Bridger, Tristan Wren, CT-7567 | Rex, CC-5576-39 | Gregor, CT-6116 | Kix,Bo-Katan Kryze, Koska Reeves, Axe Woves, Paz Vizsla, Trilla Suduri | Second Sister, Reva Sevander | Third Sister, Grand Inquisitor (Star Wars), Baylan Skoll, Hera Syndulla, Morgan Elsbeth, Fifth Brother (Star Wars) Relationships: Shin Hati/Sabine Wren, Alrich Wren/Ursa Wren, Ezra Bridger/Tristan Wren, C1-10P | Chopper/Marrok, Hera Syndulla/Ahsoka Tano, The Armorer (The Mandalorian TV)/Bo-Katan Kryze, Reva Sevander | Third Sister/Trilla Suduri | Second Sister, Shin Hati & Baylan Skoll, Ezra Bridger & Ahsoka Tano & Sabine Wren, Alrich Wren & Sabine Wren & Tristan Wren & Ursa Wren Tags: Alternate Universe - Hockey, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Blood and Injury, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Build, Hockey Fights, Hockey Injuries AO3 Link: Here! Word Count: 3,125

Notes: It's finally here! I've been working on this one chapter for the last two months! Gosh, so happy to get here right now! So some things to note, this series will take place across 3 acts, with a currently undefined chapter count on all, with obviously as seen in the series, some loose snippets floating around. This world was built by @thegirlsinthecity and myself, and while neither of us know everything about hockey, I think it's more about the fun we had putting this together over exact accuracy. (And yes, there are plans to return and update tags soon) So just some basic team lineups so it isn't all lost (And yes, more will be added slowly as I expand on the lines) Lothal Spectres: Sabine Wren, #5, Right Wing, Two-Way Forward Ahsoka Tano, #32, Center, Playmaker Ezra Bridger, #6, Left Wing, Grinder Tristan Wren, #60, Right Defense, Offensive Rex Fett, #51, Left Defense, Enforcer Gregor Fett, #39, Goalie, Hybrid Kix Fett, Team Medic Axe Woves, #17, Right Wing, Sniper Koska Reeves, #29, Left Wing, Playmaker Bo-Katan Kryze, #42, Center, Grinder Chopper: #00 Mascot Hera Syndulla, Coach/Owner Mercenaries: Shin Hati, #64, Left Wing, Enforcer Baylan Skoll, #87, Center, Playmaker Reva Sevander, #66, Right Wing, Two-Way Fifth Brother, #23, Right Defense, Offensive Trilla Suduri, #74, Left Defense, Enforcer Grant Inquisitor, #85, Goalie, Standup Cad Bane, #32, Center, Grinder Boba Fett, #1, Right Defense, Two-way Fennec Shand, #9, Left Defense, Enforcer Aurra Sing, #48, Right Wing, Playmaker Bossk, #54, Left Wing, Sniper Marrok, #26, Mascot Morgan Elsbeth, Owner

“You ready to get back out there, Sabine?” Ahsoka called from the other side of the locker room, securing her lekku in the padding so they wouldn’t risk injury or swing about and hurt someone.

Sabine looked up from the yellow and blue jersey in her hands, the Firebird emblazoned on the chest, and the number five stamped across the back and shoulders.

“You’ll figure it out, verd’ika,” Bo-Katan’s hand was heavy on her shoulder, warmth seeping through the thick shoulder pads as the older Mandalorian dropped to her side. “Shoot straight, don’t get hit. Rules haven’t changed on your way up to the big leagues.”

“But you need to be mindful of everyone on the ice,” Ahsoka cut the redhead off with a shake of her head as she settled on Sabine’s other side. “The Mercenaries are… better equipped than us. They’ve also had more time to train their rookie,”

“Run that one by me again?” The younger woman shrugged off Bo’s hand to tug the jersey over her head, brushing her fingers through her hair to fix it once the material was settled over all the padding.

“Shin Hati, some kind of college star, Merc’s Captain, Baylan Skoll, has been training her since she was a kid, I guess.” Sabine scoffed at the mention. Some kid whose connections got them the job, typical.

“Don’t underestimate your opponent, Sabine.” Ahsoka reprimanded gently as she started to lace up her skates. “Hati made a name for themselves in the pre-season, a dangerous one at that. You’ll need to keep your head out there.”

“Ahsoka, if anyone can keep their head out there, it’s Sabine,” Bo stood to her defense immediately, bringing a small smile to the younger Mandalorian’s lips. “You just gotta trust her, and also, hurry up. Clock’s ticking-” The redhead motioned to the loudspeaker announcing their time left before they needed to make their first appearance on the ice.

Grabbing her helmet, Bo offered Sabine one last look of mild sympathy. “You’ll be alright, ad’ika. Your aliit is with you,”

Trilla and Reva were laughing. The first game of the full season, and they were sitting there laughing. Shin was trying their best not to give them a moment of their time as she adjusted the light away uniform on her body, making sure the padding was covered and everything fell perfectly.

Stepping out into the hallway, Shin was greeted by Baylan exiting the men’s locker room as well. Their head dipped in a silent greeting as he fixed the chin straps of his helmet. “The Spectres have had a roster change since we last faced them,” He informed them as a greeting as they made their way down the hall towards the tunnels where the pounding feet and heavy bass made it hard to hear him properly.

Taking the sticks as they were handed out by Morgan who was working her way down the line of their emerging teammates, Baylan rested his hands on the top. “Their newest addition, Sabine Wren; has countless connections to many on the team, including her little brothers, Tristan Wren, and Ezra Bridger. Keep an eye on her, but be mindful of the positions on the ice.”

“Of course,” Shin nodded, silvery eyes glancing through the doors to catch the shining lights all over the yellow and blue arena. Lothal. If they never had to come back, it would be too soon.

There was no meeting or chant, nothing said between the players as the clock ticked by; not like the teams Shin had played for in college, which she was grateful for, really, the team bonding thing just wasn’t their vibe, and this team respected that quality in them all, but there may have been some part of them that itched at the lack of any acknowledgment from Morgan, who’s career counted on their wins.

The speakers thundered in their ears as the doors were pulled open to the ice. “Everybody welcome to the ice, your Lothal Spectres!” It was an older man on the intercom, someone who sounded as if he genuinely loved his job, like everyone at this blasted arena. The cheering grew tenfold as skates hit the ice. From behind Baylan, Shin could see the flashes of blue and yellow on the rink as the players took a lap.

“And your opponents for tonight, the Seatos Mercenaries!” Balanced on his blades, Baylan led their line down the tunnel. There wasn’t a big fanbase willing to travel across the galaxy to watch them. Still, they had a handful of devoted regulars reaching their hands into the tunnels, as well as some children and Spectres fans who didn’t seem to care, as long as somebody acknowledged them.

Shin paid none of them any mind, ducking out of the way of reaching hands, even as Baylan offered a tap of his glove into each one. The crushing feeling of anxiety melted the minute her skates touched the ice and she was allowed to break away. The music and screaming were still deafening, but now they had their favorite distraction in the form of muscles burning and the cool air in her face

“Well kid, there they are.” Bo-Katan called as she zipped past, sinking a puck into the empty net while Gregor caught up on his stretches to the side. “They’ve been calling ‘em Wolves, Kurs’kadedse.” Sparing a look to the opposing side of the ice, Sabine caught a pair of silver eyes locked onto her, eyes that continued to stare even as the Mandalorians caught them.

“That’s the one we were warning you about, Hati.”

“What the krif is she looking at?” Sabine huffed as she passed a puck between her skates before sending it flying towards the net, hitting the post before bouncing right into the netting.

Bo-Katan’s gaze drifted back to the ever-present stare on the other side of the ice. “I don’t know, but girl; please blink.” The redhead shook her head and turned her attention to the filling stands around them. “Seriously, I don’t think she’s blinked this entire time; could be something to use to our advantage.” The older Mandalorian clapped Sabine on the shoulder before taking off to the glass by their box to flick pucks over for the group of kids gathered on the other side.

Sabine dared one last glance back towards the Mercenaries side before shaking her head, she could deal with a little staring for be’gotal’ad sake, you didn’t look like she did and did not get used to all kinds of stares, this creepy… animalistic stare was nothing… Everything was fine….

Through the entire anthem, Sabine could feel the icy stare, determinedly, the Mandalorian focused on the ice, etching a groove with her skates as the anthem pulled to a close.

“So, she’s got some kind of staring problem,” Tristan was quick to announce, making Ezra laugh and nod his head.

“Yeah seriously, ‘bine, you’d think you personally went over there and insulted her mother, she didn’t look away from you once.” Ezra crossed his arms over his chest, the tip of his colorfully taped stick pressing under his chin and against the strap. “Be careful… Something feels off about them.”

“Seriously guys, I’ll be fine, it’s only the first game. I seriously doubt anyone will be out for blood,” Sabine shook off their worry with a dismissive wave of her hand as she glided to start.

Sabine didn’t have a chance to give the wolf on the ice much more of a single thought once they returned; The eyes on her were in the back of her mind the second the puck had dropped at center ice. Besides, she had plenty enough eyes on her the second she’d taken control of the puck and sank it right past the Inquisitor’s glove, sailing past his shoulder and smacking into the goalpost before finding a home in the white netting as the horns blared not even thirty seconds into the game.

Tristan was the first one on her, arms tight around his older sister as the rest of the team crowded her against the boards in celebration. The crowd was screaming, though it was dulled by the beating of her heart in her ears. “I knew you could do it!” Ezra shouted in her ear as Ahsoka’s hand pressed against the top of her helmet. Even Rex offered the Mandalorian a proud punch to the shoulder before finally allowing her some room.

The eyes on her from the other bench were deadly and predatory, as Sabine glided past, she watched a short woman leaning over the wall to talk to psycho-eyes. It was… disconcerting, but really, not her problem. As Sabine rolled into her first shift, Hera’s hand clamped down on her shoulder proudly. “That was a good run, we’re gonna send you on the next shift, watch for Bo-Katan’s signal.”

“Got it!” Sabine called over the roar of fans in the stadium, offering a smirk towards the camera when she glanced to the screens to see her name flashing on the humongotron, progressing to full laughter at the increase in noise from the crowd, before the cameras flipped back to the game.

“They love you, ‘bine!” Ezra called as he hopped the board, letting his shoulder bump into hers as he grabbed a bottle of water, nearly missing entirely when he squeezed the thin plastic to squirt it into his mouth.

Rex jumped over the boards then, smacking his gloved hand into Ezra’s hand for good measure. Sabine couldn’t hear his comment, but Ezra flipped him off anyway as the old timer went into the frey, catching Suduri in a hit that sent the behemoth of an enforcer to the ground.

There was a flash of the mirrored tint from Bo-Katan’s helmet as she turned her head towards the bench. There was no other signal to be sent her way, but as Wedge glided to the bench, she knew it was her time to jump back in.

Almost immediately, the Wolf was back on the ice, shifting as Sabine was crossing the neutral zone. Their head lowered, shoulders tilting forward as they streaked down middle ice. Sabine caught the puck as it was shot to her, clear for the moment in the breakaway. The puck smacked off the hook of her stick, pulling it in close to her body as she stuck to the wall. The wolf was gaining ground on her, fast.

Golden eyes flashed across the ice. Ezra was almost clear… If he could just catch her gaze; Blue met gold, the puck soared across the ice, missing gloves and sicks as it went. It hit the edge of his skate as he broke away from the towering defense. Sabine didn’t get to see what he did with the puck, catching a heavily padded shoulder square in the chest that sent her down to the ice.

“Learn to take a hit,” Her attacker growled from above as the play was called dead. One of the linesmen pulled to the wolf as Tristan rushed over to help her up. As the penalty animation played on screen and zoomed in on the wolf for roughing, Sabine could swear she saw a flash of teeth as the Keldorian ref pulled her to the box.

“Gotal’ad, verd’ika!” Bo-Katan exclaimed as she pulled to Sabine’s other side, gloved hand pressing into her back and fixing the bright jersey. “What did you do to them?”

“Literally nothing!” The purple haired woman groaned dramatically, shaking out muscles they knew would be overly sore the next day. “She’s fucking insane!.”

“It was a valid hit though, little Wren,” Rex called as he pulled into the circle, shrugging his shoulder nonchalantly as the Mercenaries penalty killers lined up.

“Shut up, old man,” Sabine grumbled as she settled in.

The ref dropped the puck, backing out of the two spitfires that were Bo-Katan Kryze and third-line center, Moff Gideon. Shoulders smashed together, skates scratched into ice, and sticks smacked into each other, until at last, Bo managed to kick the puck free, passing it to Ezra, who swung it across to Koska, then Axe. As the Spectre’s raced down the ice to take advantage of the five-on-four, the Mercenaries fought like hell to stop the assault.

Sabine was streaking up the middle with Reva on her tail, pushing her closer and closer to the boards. Reva was bigger, but Sabine was faster, pushing the puck between her skates every time a black and red taped stick reached across to poke the puck from her unrelenting control. Rex pulled in next, pushing his way between the offensive right defense and the two-way forward.

Getting Reva off her back was everything Sabine needed as she pulled into the Goalie’s space, Axe swinging around the left side goalpost to screen the Inquisitor, taking that half a second of attention away from her as she kicked the puck from where it sat between her feet. The windup was fast, sending the puck flying from the toe of her stick.

The Inquisitor dropped into a butterfly, but it was too late, the puck sailed past the closing edges of his pads and sank into the net, the loud goal horn echoing through the arena, quickly drowned out by the explosion of cheers from the crowd as Sabine’s arms went up into the air. “Yes! That’s how you get it done!” She shouted, her voice unheard with all the noise.

Gleaming golden eyes turned to the crowd as Bo-Katan slammed into her, arms wrapping around her as Axe, Koska, Tristan, and Paz all joined in, almost slamming their huddle into the boards in their celebration. The only thing that altered the high of her joy was the heavy weight of predatory eyes, their weight intensifying as the Mercenaries winger was released from the penalty box.

Eleven minutes left in the period, Spectres up by two, the crowd was electric, and Sabine’s heart was thumping comfortably in her chest, each time she glanced back at Hera, the beaming smile only made her light up more. As they pulled back to center ice, Sabine spared one last glance at the crowd, lips twisting when she caught sight of Ursa’s familiar yellow and grey coat in the stadium’s loudville level, phone raised, no doubt zoomed in to catch her kids on the ice.

“Tristan!” She called as he came into his position at her right. “Buir is taking a picture, stop looking dumb,” This earned a barking laugh from him as Ezra and Koska switched out.

“Yeah yeah, don’t hog all the limelight, ‘bine!”

A growl from the opposing side had Sabine looking away from her brother. “You got a problem, kurs’kaded?” Sabine shot to the enforcer that sat on the other side of the blue line. The blonde only sneered and settled in, shoulders hunched forward and silver eyes breaking away from Sabine for probably the first time all day. “That’s what I thought,”

The next break came with a renowned intensity. Whatever the small coach on the Mercenaries lines said must have been particularly seething, with each forward all but bowling the spectre line over the moment the puck dropped.

The puck was passed between wolf, to Sudari, Sevander, Skoll, then wolf again. Hera signalled for Sabine to shift, though it went ignored as the young Mandalorian managed to get her stick out, shoving the puck out of the wolf’s grasp. She slid carefully, hearing their skates scrape and grind as she spun around to take control.

The race back to the Mercenaries goal was intense, a five on one break away that had Sabine already tensing up to get hit the further she pushed it, legs exhausting as she worked; Bo-Katan had already shifted, and Koska had switched with Rex this time.

“Wren is breaking away! All alone crossing into Mercenary ice!”

“Here comes Hati, closing in fast-”

“Ohhh that one has got to hurt!”

The wolf’s shoulder smacked into her, their stick tangling in her skates in an illegal hook that sent her to the ground. Sabine hit the ice hard, sliding into the boards as they released their hold. The shrill whistle was sharp and skull splitting, but still, Sabine managed to get up, catching the venomous heaviness in dark eyes that tracked her recovery. The wolf turned away from her, igniting a spark of anger in her stomach.

“Seems like Wren isn’t going to let that hit stand!”

The cheers that followed Sabine throwing her gloves and stick to the ground were loud and thunderous, but no more than her own heart as the almost bored look in Hati’s gaze turned into one of excitement. The scouts had noted that the wolf played with her food, and right now, Sabine was a four course meal.

Her knuckles connected with their jaw almost as soon as her glove bounced off the ice. Heavy hands shoved into her to keep her back, though she could tell already that the bony knuckle of her middle finger had managed to split skin, red bubbling up onto a pale canvas quickly.

There wasn’t much time to focus on the renowned look in their eyes when a gloved hand launched into her face, smacking her head back off the glass hard enough to bring black spots to her eyes, though the second hit, ungloved, and right into the sliver of space between the pads right into her kidneys was the one that sent her to the ground, knees hitting the ice hard enough to make her bones ache.

The crowd was screaming and cheering at the fight, smaller fights broke out on the ice around them, and Sabine could just barely see Skoll, shouting past the line of refs and yellow and white jerseys as he tried to call them off of her as Ahsoka and Kix struggled to rush through the traffic. Fans were throwing things onto the ice, and a cold hand bashed into her face at least two more times, the skin of her lip splitting under torn knuckles, even as hot blood raced down the back of her head, staining her own jersey an almost orange color as the ichor bled into the bright yellows.

Sabine’s vision swam, fists swinging weakly out, hands grasping at the white of their jersey, staining it with her own blood, trying to keep them from swinging any more. By the time Baylan managed to drag them off of her, Sabine’s vision was just a pinprick, barely managing to catch the look on Ahsoka’s face as she and Hera raced to try and catch her, darkness enveloping them in the hazy warmth of blood loss and the deafening sound of fans screaming.

Translations: Muun Nynir - Hard Hit verd'ika - little warrior ad'ika - little one aliit - family Kurs’kadedse - wolves for be’gotal’ad sake - for the sake of the maker Gotal’ad, verd’ika - Maker, little warrior

#wolfwren #sabine wren #shin hati #ahsoka tano #baylan skoll #reva sevander #trilla suduri #star wars #hockey #hockey au #ahsoka series #ahsoka #bo katan kryze #fic

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panther-os · 1 year

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"The first inter-unit adoption was when Alpha-17's CC training squad adopted CT-7567/Rex and convinced their trainer to go along with it" is actually a common misconception.

The real first adoption was when Delta Squad's RCs adopted CC-5576-39/Gregor and got their trainer's strill attached to the younger clone so Vau didn't have a choice but to accept it.

#/incoherent noises/#star wars the clone wars #star wars #clone troopers #republic commando #delta squad #rc 1138 boss #rc 1140 fixer #rc 1207 sev #rc 1262 scorch #captain gregor #lord mirdalan #walon vau #i have been so weirdly obsessed with delta squad lately #especially for knowing only approximately 0.1% of things about them

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yukipri · 1 year

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Clonetober 2022 Art Compilation

Giving these portraits their own Masterpost in order to make room for more links in the Star Wars 2021~ General Art Masterpost!

The link to this post can be found through both the Masterpost linked above, as well as my pinned Masterpost!

The below links contain both the Clonetober Complete Compilation post, as well as links to every individual portrait.

Masterpost Key:

[ILL] = Illustration

CLONETOBER 2022

Clonetober 2022 Challenge Completed! Compilation of 31 Portraits

[ILL] Day 1 - Fordo | Alpha-77

[ILL] Day 2 - Seventeen, “Alpha” | Alpha-17

[ILL] Day 3 - Waxer | CT-7002

[ILL] Day 4 - Boil | CT-7212

[ILL] Day 5 - Fives | CT-5555

[ILL] Day 6 - Echo | CT-1409

[ILL] Day 7 - Wooley | CT-9899

[ILL] Day 8 - Crys | CT-8324

[ILL] Day 9 - Wolffe | CC-3636

[ILL] Day 10 - Fox | CC-1010

[ILL] Day 11 - Thorn | CC-9333

[ILL] Day 12 - Jesse | CT-5597

[ILL] Day 13 - Hardcase | CT-2666

[ILL] Day 14 - Bly | CC-5052

[ILL] Day 15 - Longshot | CT-1110

[ILL] Day 16 - Trapper | CT-3457

[ILL] Day 17 - Gree | CC-1004

[ILL] Day 18 - Bacara | CC-1138

[ILL] Day 19 - Gregor | RC-5576

[ILL] Day 20 - Kix | CT-6116

[ILL] Day 21 - Stabber | CT-9111

[ILL] Day 22 - Ashe | CC-2222

[ILL] Day 23 - Glitch | CT-1414

[ILL] Day 24 - Blackout | CC-0007

[ILL] Day 25 - Howzer | CT-7569

[ILL] Day 26 - Rex | CT-7567

[ILL] Day 27 - Cody | CC-2224

[ILL] Day 28 - Ninety-Nine | Alpha-99

[ILL] Day 29 - Omega | Omega-ØØ

[ILL] Day 30 - Boba Fett | Alpha-ØØ

[ILL] Day 31 - Jango Fett | The Prime

#YukiPri art #Masterpost #Clone Troopers #212th Attack Battalion #TCW #The Clone Wars #Commander Cody #Captain Rex #Alpha-17 #Fordo #Jango Fett #Boba Fett #501st Legion #Star Wars

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cuddles-with-dragons · 3 months

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a very silly AU where Anakin only loses his legs and doesn't have the vader suit

Anakin: You said clone troopers were involved in this rebel attack? Who? Random Imperial dude: Um... CT-7567, CC-3636, and CC-5576-39. Anakin: OH MY FORCE. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO PACK MY THINGS. *5 hours later* Anakin, arriving at the rebel base: REX WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU I'M SWITCHING SIDES!! Rex: What the fu- *gets tackle hugged by Anakin* Kanan: Should I step in? Are they fighting? Ahsoka: No, that's just what Anakin does when he meets someone who he hasn't seen in a while. It's normal.

So yeah. The Rebellion has a new, very chaotic member. One who has inside information about the Empire. And also refuses to go on missions without Rex, Ahsoka, or Wolffe. The three people he knows.

#anakin skywalker #anakin and rex #it's worse when obi-wan shows up with luke and leia #he takes leia on as his padawan #and rex is trying not to have a mental breakdown because there are THREE skywalkers now #and they're all chaos #sw au #star wars au

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clonemedickix · 10 months

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It’s by far not the best Echo drawing out there, but man his eyes captivate regardless. Love me some Echo. And speaking of, just posted up a new chapter on AO3 🥰

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence | Adult content | Sexual Content | UNDER 18 DNI

Category: F/M

Fandoms: Star Wars - All Media Types Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Cartoon) Star Wars: Rebellion Era - All Media Types Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003) - All Media TypesGame of Thrones (TV) The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types

Relationship: CT-7567 | Rex/Original Female Character

Okay guys it’s a hard chapter. I’ll just preface it that way - covers the loss of Tech

Excerpt:

When he landed, Echo and Boost went over the data again, hoping they could make some headway with the encryption. “I don’t know, Echo. You probably could have saved yourself some time and just gone straight to Tech with this.” Boost looked pretty defeated, looking at the technology and coding before him. “This is similar to our old encryption, but definitely more advanced. Maybe if I had a lot more time, I could crack it, but Tech would be far faster.” Echo sighed and nodded, knowing Boost was right. He stood and walked out of the hut where they kept their main computer and radio system, a disgusted, tired look on his face. He brushed his hand over his eyes, covering them for a moment, then decided to go look for Lara.

He found her on the basketball court, playing ball with Jek and Shaeeah, while Suu Lawquane watched with a smile from the sideline. Lara was dribbling the ball, bent over in a rather aggressive stance, watching the two children with careful eyes, looking for an opening in their defense to charge past them with the ball. The two kids were giggling and smiling, watching her, waiting for her to make her move, and when Lara finally did, they both grabbed her in a tight hug, holding on for their lives as Lara dragged them to the goal, laughing all the way. Echo couldn’t help but smile at the scene; she really did have a way with kids that was heartwarming. “Y’all are both such little cheaters - this isn’t football!!!”, Lara laughed helplessly. She stood and turned to see Echo there, next to Suu, his arms folded over his chest with a bemused look on his face. Lara handed the basketball to Shaeeah gravely and said “I need to go talk to Echo over there. You two practice hard, okay?” Lara straightened and breezed over to Echo with a happy smile, her gait and posture one of complete contentment, albeit somewhat unbalanced - she looked like she was smuggling a basketball under her shirt these days.

Echo smiled back at her, turning to intercept her so they could walk and talk. Lara was really heavy with child now, many months into her pregnancy. Everyone smiled that saw her when she walked by, her maternal glow lighting her like a candle from within. She hadn’t stopped going on missions as yet, but she’d basically stopped a couple months back, delegating the leadership more fully to Primer and Boost. She had promoted Primer to Captain (he’d deserved it for years, and really she felt herself a bad leader for that oversight), and Boost to Lieutenant as well, then brought along a couple of new sergeants out of necessity, by name of Falco and Phoenix. Cody had started taking his own small contingent of Dragons and clones out on missions, as did Rex. Overall, the Dragon Company had only ever consisted of one hundred clones, serving under General Lin and Primer. Now, they usually found themselves in groups of five, answering to whichever leader they got assigned to that day. Lara had taught them nothing, if not flexibility. Whether she liked it or not, Lara found herself being pushed firmly and lovingly back from active leadership by the clones, all of them naturally wanting to protect their beloved leader and her valuable baby.

“What’s up, Echo?” Lara asked as they walked along. She could tell something was troubling him; she could sense it within her even if it hadn’t been written all over his face.

“We got a new group of clones out - they’re settling in with the quarter master now - one of them even brought a girl with him.” He said this with a little smile and glanced over at Lara, who smiled back at the news. It was always good to hear that the clones were finding love and making families. “I was able to get a snippet of information off the computer of the ship we raided to rescue them. But I can’t crack the encryption on it.” He looked off over the sea, the irritation plain on his handsome face. “I have a very bad feeling about all of this, where they’re sending our brothers. I don’t know what it is, but for the first time I’m really a little scared.”

They’d reached Lara’s favorite spot on the hill, and stopped to look out over the fabulous sunset. “What are you afraid of, my Echo?” She asked him quietly, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked over at him, the tiniest smile on the corner of her lips - she still called him that, after all this time.

“I don’t know. With all the secrecy, I feel like there has to be some element of disposal to it. They’re taking us clones, and killing us off somewhere, where no one will say anything, hoping no one notices until it’s all over with. And who knows what they are doing to them there, before they’re killed? There have always been a lot of people in this galaxy who don’t even see us as people, so why would they care if they’re experimenting on us and then killing us?” His words made sense, and his sense of foreboding affected Lara, too.

“How are you going to get the information off the disk you made? I assume you already went to Boost with it.” She knew Boost was pretty good with code; if he and Echo together couldn’t break it, that really only left one option. And one barrier.

“I’m going to have to get Tech to look at it.” He said it a little reluctantly; he hadn’t seen Omega since he’d parted ways with the Batch on Coruscant. Tech and Wrecker had both told him how much she missed him, and how hard the adjustment had been for her, without him. To a large extent it was one reason the Batch hadn’t returned to Nidhogg for a good while; they didn’t want to upset the girl further. He saw Lara sigh, place her hand on her belly and then move to sit a bit heavily on the ground. It was strange seeing her moving in a slightly unbalanced way, her typically fit and trim figure distorted by the shape of the baby.

“Sorry, Echo, I just need to sit for a minute. If I don’t keep moving constantly, this thing makes my back annoyed,” she said as she rubbed her belly, a slightly amused, but strangely loving look on her face. Lara crossed her legs under herself for comfort, and watched as Echo sat with her immediately. “I’m sure Tech won’t refuse you. And you know Omega will be overjoyed to see you. Wrecker told me just the other day she’s been doing pretty well lately - Tech is even giving her flying lessons.” She smiled at Echo, the mischief fully apparent in her eyes. She could just imagine what that looked like - she’d been completely stunned that Tech could pull his fingernails out of the ship’s yoke long enough to trust Omega with the controls.

Echo laughed as well. It didn’t surprise him in the least that Wrecker had maintained contact with Lara. What had surprised him more was that Wrecker hadn’t put up more of a fight about wanting to stay on Nidhogg with the Dragon Company, so that he could be closer to his General. “Well, I might have go see that for myself. I have missed Omega. I wish Hunter had been more amenable to staying here. I hear they really like it on that island.”

Lara snorted a little. “I think it’s funny how Hunter ran from one beach side home to another. But yes, from everything Wrecker has told me, they like it on Pabu. And they’re eagerly taking bets behind Tech’s back about whether he’s going to ever make a move on that Phee chick. I need to meet this woman; anyone who’s able to get Tech’s attention off his data pad for more than sixty seconds is a hero in my book.”

Echo looked at her with an ironic expression. “The man used to stare at you for hours, Lara, like you were a mystery he had to solve. I think you already won that particular fight.”

“Well, everybody knows I’m a hero in my own book, Echo.” She gave him a mockingly serious look and then smiled and laughed. “I hope for his sake he actually does go for her. You all deserve happiness with someone who’ll love you back…” Lara looked at Echo very meaningfully while he gazed back with a ‘what?’, look on his own face.

“I do have someone that loves me back.” Echo pointed out.

“I mean physically, Echo.” Lara rolled her eyes at him and looked off in the distance. Silence reigned between them for a while, as Echo tried to come up with a rejoinder that would make sense, and put the argument to rest.

“I…don’t need that Lara. I can still feel the touch of you on my skin, the taste of you on my lips. The memories of our time together were part of what kept me alive on Skako Minor. There is no other touch I want, if I can’t have yours.” Echo reached over and took her hand with his, his expression serious, if not a little sad. “Letting you go was the hardest, but best choice I made in my life, and I’m pretty sure if I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same choice.” Lara met his eyes, her face sad, but understanding. She knew Echo would always be hers; she wondered quietly sometimes if she’d ruined him for others, tainting him with her love. Echo sensed the thought within her - he could see it on her face as well. “Hey. Lara.” He squeezed her hand softly. “I’ll always be the first man you made love to - really, truly made love to, in your long life. Rex can’t take that one away from me.” He gave her a slightly salacious smirk and she laughed.

“Very true, Echo. Touché.” She smiled suddenly, her gaze going unfocused, and looked at her belly, as if listening to something within her. Lara reached over for his hand and clamped it onto a spot on her abdomen, her smile so beautiful and quietly happy he stared, speechless. Echo felt a sudden nudge against his the palm of his hand and his focus changed to their joined fingers, his face going blank with shock. He looked up at Lara carefully, the question in his eyes obvious. “Yes. That was the baby.” Lara put some pressure on his hand, pressing it down a bit on that spot and he felt a sudden sharp jab from within her. Lara laughed. “It kicked you,” she giggled softly. Echo wished for a heartbreaking moment he still had two hands, so he could put the other on her as well. The thought flashed through him like a flare, but the after burn of it was clear on his face. Lara reached her hand up to his cheek and pressed her forehead against his, wishing she could make him see - make him know - how very unchanged her love was for him, no matter what the Techno Union had done. She had no words at that moment, so she stayed silent, he content to feel her touch, his hand resting against her belly, feeling the sudden swirls of movement within. Echo had always known Lara was a miracle, that everything about her was miraculous; here was further proof in his mind.

Eventually Echo removed his hand, and the two settled in to just sitting with each other quietly. Suddenly Lara spoke, the laughter just noticeable in her voice. “Do you remember that time I woke Fives up with a bag of frozen marbles down the front of his briefs?” Echo’s head whipped around, his eyes startled but already alight with remembered hilarity at the incident. Fives had been notoriously hard to wake up in the morning, often setting his alarm to full volume, then sleeping through it anyway. It drove Lara nuts, listening to it for long minutes waiting on Fives to notice it.

“I can still remember the sound of his head hitting the bottom of my bunk!” He snorted and then burst out laughing, Lara doing the same.

Lara just about couldn’t speak for giggling. “I swear to god he literally levitated off the bed…” She was laughing so hard she leaned forward, placing her hand on the ground to support herself, shaking from the memory.

“He screamed like a little girl - it was the funniest sound I’ve heard in my life.” Echo felt tears run down his cheeks, gasping for air, seeing Lara was also crying with laughter. “Lord, Lara. Those were simpler days.”

She took a deep, steadying breath, suddenly burst into giggles again, and covered her face as a reflex. “Whooo… okay. I’m done. Okay.” Lara looked at Echo helplessly and smiled. “They really were, weren’t they?”

Echo could still feel a laugh or two threatening to escape, but he realized - this was the first time he’d even so much as heard Lara mention Fives’ name since Floston. They’d had so many good memories together - the nights at 79s when they went dancing, the evenings they spent in the Dragon Cave watching TV shows and movies from Earth on her iPad. Days spent helping her dream up naughty pranks to pull on Master Windu, and what horrible supplies she could route through the quarter master to his office. Granted, the pranks had mostly been Lara and Fives, but Echo had usually been there to listen and shake his head at them. He felt Lara go silent and looked over at her, seeing the sudden swell of missing Fives hit her; it was like watching the sun be covered by dark clouds. She closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath and tried to smile bravely, but Echo could see how the loss of Fives still stung her like a near fresh wound.

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dragonrider9905 · 1 year

Text

Got Spirit, That One

CT-2224 sat at the table with CT-5576, CT-1010, and CT-3636, smirking over a drink of hot liquid.

“Whatcha looking at that’s got your attention, 2224?”

CT-2224 nudged his head over at the blond kid sitting alone at a table, playing disinterestedly with his food.

“Ya see that one? He’s got real spirit.”

“What’s so special about him?” 3636 asked.

1010 rolled his eyes. “ That mischief maker? No one can pin anything on him because no one has any evidence of anything or eyewitnesses, but we all know he’s responsible.”

5575 laughed, “Mischief? That one? He’s always so serious and studious though! Plus, if the rumors are true, they kinda had it out for it.”

“He’s quiet.”

“There usually the ones you have to look out for.”

“Not just that,” 2224 broke in, “there’s more. I’ve seen him step in between a fight more than once.”

“How is that special? We do it all the time.” 5576 crossed his arms.

“Because he doesn’t just join the fight, dikuut, he actually stops them.” 1010 deadpanned.

“I think we should ask him to sit with us.” 2224 contemplated. “He has a hard time sometimes because of his hair. Some of the others, not to mention some of the Kami's, don't like that it's different. We set the example around here boys, what do you say?”

It was true; most of the other clones really looked up to the four cadets among a few others as leaders. They were set apart, respected, for their leadership and combat skills at such a young age. Recognizing this, they sort of took upon themselves the responsibilities of the ori’vode. Seeing qualities they practiced themselves reflected in another immediately drew 2224 to the cadet.

Most didn’t mind the kid’s hair, after all, he wasn’t the only one with the abnormality, but there were a few that would find room for fault with it. The Kaminoans mostly turned a blind eye because of his exceptional progress in all other areas. Some, though, said he was defective and tried hard to prove it to erase the dis-similar clone. Among the clones themselves it was overlooked…until it became a target for bullies.

CT-2224 remembered this kid. He had a firm jaw and always stood his ground. 2224 stepped in once when a trainer was bullying him. When it came to other cadets, he wasn’t like the others that would cower in the face of a bully or hit back immediately. No, this kid was smart. He’d try to get out of the bullying by smart comebacks then strike his opponent. And he usually only needed one. But when it came to the trainers, that was another story entirely.

The trainers were a give and take situation. Some just taught and disappeared. Some were good teachers and mentors. Some were cruel in every aspect except the useful information they’d pass to the boys for their survival. The level of cruelty would vary from just training sessions to training and personal encounters.

This was one of those times.

2224 had seen him around but never like this.

The boy was on the ground heaving for air, lip bleeding, defiance in his eyes and fist clenched, but 2224 saw something else in the kid for the first time ever. Fear. And that is when he stepped in. The boy nodded his solemn thanks back but that was it. For a while.

The kid kept popping up here and there, and each time 2224 would become more and more impressed. He never had to step in again, and often wondered if it would be welcome. After all, the blond could take care of himself…but it was nice to know you’d have backup.

Then came the incident and the rumor.

It was said one of the bounty hunter’s threatened one of the cadets from this kid’s batch and he took it personally. Everyone liked this cadet. He was kind and good humored. The blond was often seen sitting with him and talking to him.

It was said that the bounty hunter took the cadet by the throat and held him over the tumultuous waves of Kamino. In the middle of the night, the bounty hunter’s room was broken into. All his things were taken and he was cuffed to his bed in his pajamas. Nothing was ever recovered. His ship was also damaged in the engines and wiring. And no one knew who did it–though it was rumored it was the blond menace.

2224 smirked again, remembering. He had to give it to the kid. He was fiercely loyal. He wouldn’t mind having another friend like that.

————————

CT-7567 peaked over his tray that was still mostly full, even though he’d been sitting there for a good twenty minutes already, and saw a group of cadets heading his way.

He groaned and rolled his eyes.

Not again.

“What do you want.”

He kept eye contact with the food. He really wasn’t in the mood today. He swore if one of them said the tiniest thing out of line…

“We saw you were sitting alone. Can we sit with you?”

That got his attention real fast.

“Um, sure.”

7567 took in the group. One, the leader he presumed, had half a smirk on his face while he took a seat next to him. The jovial one with a stupid grin on his face took his other side. The grumpy one sat across from him and the other cadet with the disinterested face sat next to him.

“I’m 2224,” 7567 turned to shake his hand and then recognition crossed his face.

“Oh, you’re…”

“This,” 2224 continued in a light tone, “dikuut is 5576. The sour-pout…”

“Hey.”

“Is 3636. And the other sour-pout is 1010.”

1010 rolled his eyes.

“I’m 7565. Soooo why are you here?”

2224 laughed. “Because we want to be. We’re vode, remember? Why are you sitting by yourself? You usually sit with another cadet during this meal before the next class, if I’m not mistaken.”

7565 made a sour face. “He’s…he has a medical appointment.”

“Ah, fun.”

2224 made an understanding face while the other three didn’t mind sharing their disgust. “Is it Mistress Kai?”

“Yup.”

“Poor trooper.”

“Yeah.”

No one liked Mistress Kai. She was the worst critique of them all and the itchiest finger for decommissioning. No wonder the kid was upset today.

“Say,” 2224 continued, “after classes and training today, want to hang out?” He clapped 7567 on the shoulder. “I’m getting kinda tired of these three and could use an ally against them. What do you say?”

7567 smirked and extended his hand for a Mandalorian handshake. “Sounds like a deal.”

“Good, I finally have someone with wits on my side.”

3636 growled and shook his head. “Don’t let 2224 there,” he nudged his head in the boy’s direction, “lead you astray. He’s a wiley one. So. Much. Trouble. If you can talk his language, talk him OUT of the stupid-ass idea he has for our training session. I’ll be forever indebted to you.”

“Language.”

3636 ignored 2224.

7567’s eyes sparkled and he laughed. “I’ll try, 3636, just for you.”

1010 shrugged. “Here I was thinking you were orderly and rational like me. Please don’t tell me I’m the only one in the group with a sense of discipline.”

7565 shrugged back. “I’ll guess we’ll have to see.”

1010 actually cracked a smile. “I’ll hold onto my hope then.”

5576 looped his arm around 7567. “This is going to be a fun friendship, I can tell, and I already can’t wait.”

To tell the truth, 7567 couldn’t wait either.

————————

Cody ran down the halls of Kamino out of breath, darting in and out of rooms and pushing past vode as they were bustling into each other, prepping to head out for the first time ever. There was one particular vod he had to find before it was too late.

Blast this white armor. We all look the same.

He paused thinking about what he just said.

Cody was running out of time and was getting desperate. He headed to the hangar next.

“Rex! Rex! Where are you?”

He turned and still nothing.

“Rex, answer me you…”

Cody couldn’t finish his sentence. Fear gripped his heart. After all this time and training, the moment they were waiting for was finally here. The Jedi came and a whole garrison was heading to Geonosis for their first battle ever. Cody wasn’t assigned as he still had some training left to do. He was appointed Marshal Commander (him?!?! He still couldn’t believe it.) With that came extra responsibility and school…but Rex…Rex was assigned to the garrison to ship out. Cody just needed to say goodbye. To wish him luck. Force forbid he wouldn’t be one of the ones never to return.

Cody knew Rex was proud to be chosen to represent the clones in this first monumental battle and Cody was happy for him. He just wasn’t happy that he couldn’t go with him.

A blond haired emerged from a sea of dark, pushing past his brothers to where he stood.

“Cody!”

“I know you don’t have long, kid,” Cody grasped him by the arms, “I just…be careful. Okay? I want to see you back here in one piece.”

“I’ll be fine, vod.” Rex replied warmly.

“I know, just…” Cody spaced out, looking over Rex’s shoulder.

Rex’s small smile disappeared and he shook Cody. “Hey, vod, I’ll be back. Even though you’re not going to be there to protect me, I can handle myself fine.”

Cody smiled and ruffled the few curls he could of Rex’s shortly buzzed hair, “I know, kid, I taught you well. Everything you know, I taught you, how could you fail?”

Rex raised an eyebrow and his smile returned. “Sure. Whatever.”

A noise had both their heads turning.

“I, uh, gotta go.” Rex said disappointed. He was excited and afraid. Cody could tell and Rex knew it, so he didn’t even bother trying to hide. Cody always knew anyway. He was his ori’vod. Rex hoped he would live to come back and tell Cody all about it, what he saw and did, but there was no guarantee in war.

Without a second thought, Rex pulled Cody into a keldabe.

They stayed like that for a few moments, neither moving or wanting to break the spell of the moment.

Cody felt Rex shift back but he gripped him into a full hug. Protecting this kid for so long, and now he had to go. Cody wasn’t ready to let Rex grow up just yet though. He always knew it would happen but, when the moment came, he couldn’t just accept it.

“Come back, little brother. That’s an order.”

“Now I have to. I can’t disobey the great Commander Cody.”

Cody knocked Rex on the backside of his head with a chuckle.

“Dikuut.”

“Good to know you care.”

“Nah, not at all. I just need someone to save me from Gregor’s antics and Fox’s and Wolffe’s grumpiness.”

Rex smiled and turned to go.

“I’m going to miss you too. See you, vod. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it. Don’t have too much fun without me. ”

Rex placed his helmet on his head and turned to go, vanishing in the sea of white.

Cody smiled fondly and proudly at his brother. He was going places, that Rex, and he was so happy he could be there for him in those moments.

Cody was glad he sat at Rex’s table so long ago.

#captain rex #commander cody #commander wolffe #sw tcw #commander fox #captain howzer #(mentioned)#brothers #clonetober2022 #fluff and humor #mischief Rex #Rex is serious but also a troublemaker #brotherly banter #fanfic #star wars

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