#the wolfpack

The world changes rapidly around you in the days that follow. An Empire reborn out of the Republic on the bones of the “treasonous” Jedi. The color quickly fades out of the armor of the clones you spot prowling the streets. That alone speaks to what had gone wrong, that the betrayal may not have been their choice to make. It soothes your open wounds, if only just a little. You try not to wonder what happened to Wolffe or where he is now – or who he is. More than once you reach out in the force, tugging on the old link to your master and only find empty space on the other side.

It’s such an odd realization. You had never been alone in the world before. Before the Jedi, whispers of a memory of a birth family, the halls filled with your fellow younglings, eager students learning and training side by side, then your master in all his wisdom before Wolffe and the others joined the picture. In an instant that was gone, left in hostile territory, ready to give birth any day now. There was no way off Coruscant without being spotted, at least not with your limited resources. You could not risk it. Instead, you struggled to get by and remain nameless in the depths of the planet. Most this far down didn’t care who you were so long as you weren’t in their way. It was a blessing, but it also meant no one would stick their neck out for you either, until you met the Martez sisters. The Corrie Guard had been getting close. You weren’t sure if they were after you or after any other survivors who had the same idea of disappearing into the sea of people below the glittering façade of Coruscant, but there had been too many close encounters lately. You had ducked into what you’d prayed was an unoccupied hanger and come face to face with Trace. Anyone else would have turned you away, her sister even tried but Trace reminded her that someone had stood up and helped them out when they needed it most, so they needed to help you. It was the best accident that could have happened – other than maybe the twins – or maybe it was predestined in the Force. Either way the Martez sisters were a blessing that led you straight to Rex.

It was a small flicker of hope to see him again, a small flame in the vast void.

He also filled in the many blanks as to what led to both your current predicaments. The clones, the Kaminoans, and a chip. You had always enjoyed Five’s company when you were deployed with the 501st, it broke your heart to know he had died trying to warn everyone of the truth. But thanks to him, Rex knew and now you had another glimmer of hope. This order could be fixed. Rex was back to his usual self now that his chip had been removed – others could be too. Rex on the other hand was more concerned about getting you somewhere safe enough to have the babies. He promised you he would. In true Rex fashion he delivered. How he managed to find a senator willing to help you, you would never know, but he did so just in time.

Senator Chuchi and Rex got you off Coruscant and to a trusted doctor just as your water broke. He stayed by your side the whole time and was the first person to hold both your daughters. Rena and Cerria. Rex was incredible but he was not Wolffe. Rex and the others would write off your tears as joy or exhaustion, but they were for your broken heart – broken dreams. And so, you gave yourself a moment to mourn Wolffe alongside all the others you lost before Rex placed your daughters in your arms. The future you imagined may be gone but you still had their futures to protect.

Once all was settled, both you and the girls were deemed healthy, Rex explained what his plans were. He could not stand by and let his brothers remain under the thumb of the Empire. There were a few clones who had already deserted and joined his cause. They had support from a handful of sympathetic senators – which explained why Chuchi put so much on the line to help you get out- and had leads on other clones who were being imprisoned or experimented on. You wondered at how noble he was – he had already given so much – put his life on the line and yet he still wanted to do more. There would be no thanks standing against an Empire. No one cared what happened to the clones now that the war was over. To the powers that be, they were disposable. That made your blood boil. Anger was not befitting of a jedi, but you hadn’t been a model jedi in a long time. You couldn’t stand by either. It was one small way to fight back against the Empire but it was a battle worth fighting.

Rex was a born leader; it did not take long for a handful of clones to become a squad. Boosting ships and supplies from Imperial bases became a day-to-day occurrence. Next came the base in an old mountain top monastery. It wasn’t the ideal place to raise two infants, but you made it work. Everyone on the rag tag team considered you three family. Your daughters would grow up surrounded by uncles. They were always happy to help after a bit of guidance. What they lacked in experience around babies they made up for in enthusiasm. It warmed your heart to see Howzer or Fireball with one of the girls in a sling, talking to them about anything and everything as they went about their duties. Gregor made it his lot in life to concoct the best baby food by the time the twins were old enough to move onto more solid foods. Echo was a sucker for tummy time, he could let them sleep on him, skin to skin, for days if you let him. The domesticity of it all lets you forget your new reality some days. But you couldn’t ignore it for long.

Rex had taken a small squad with him to Coruscant to protect a secret meeting between Senator Chuchi and former Separatist Senator Singh. From their report it had ended fairly quickly. Some sort of assassin had interrupted with a bang. Everyone got out safely and Rex’s team even managed to subdue and capture the agent. It was a prime opportunity. Rex was dead set on getting more info on the elusive Tantiss Base and this agent could be the key, so they brought him back to base. While no one had much luck breaking him for interrogation, Fireball was able to decrypt his data puck, revealing a target register. Senator Singh wasn’t a surprise, but the second target concerned Rex greatly. A young female clone named Omega. You hadn’t met her yourself, but Echo had plenty of stories to share since the Bad Batch took her on the run with them at the end of the war.

You agreed with Rex bringing Omega and the rest of the Bad Batch to base, you needed to know why a child was wanted by the Empire, but Howzer was agitated. He had history with Crosshair he hadn’t had the chance to put behind him yet. You nervously paced the control room, one babe in a sling across your chest, the other across your back as Rex and Howzer went to meet Echo’s ship. Fireball looked on in disappointment at your need to have both your girls close for the time being.

When the doors slid open you could rest a little easier, the two “defective” clones walking in with Rex and Howzer were still in one peace – for now.

“Your numbers are growing-“ the one with the face tattoo marveled – Hunter if you remembered Echo’s stories correctly. His sharp gaze landed on you, but he chose not to ask.

“Well, we need all the help we can get. Once we find the exact coordinates of the Tantiss Base, we have to hit it hard if we’re gonna pull our brothers out of there.” Of the many issues that plagued Rex, which seemed to be a the front of his mind most often these days. “I have questions about the facility, but that’s not the only reason why I sent for you. We recovered a target list from an Imperial operative. And Omega’s on it.” Rex tossed the puck to Hunter.

The other clone shakes his head – Crosshair you assumed by the tattoo around his eye. “Not a surprise. She escaped Imperial custody.”

“So did you. But you’re not on the list.” Howzer snaps.

“Guess I’m not as valuable to them.”

“Or you’re feeding them information.”

“You’re gonna have to back down, Captain,” Hunter steps between the pair.

“You expect us to believe he was held on Tantiss of months, but he doesn’t know how to get back there?”

“Howzer-“ you reach out but Howzer just shakes you off.

Crosshair wasn’t having it either, getting right up in the captain’s face, “whether you believe me or not, it’s the truth. But I’m not loyal to the Empire any longer.”

“You squad may trust you. But I don’t.”

“He’s telling the truth,” you may not act like a jedi these days but that didn’t mean you’d forgotten how to read a force signature. Crosshair held no ill intent; he was telling the truth.

Howzer rolls his eyes as Rex chuckles. “Advantages of having a jedi around.”

“Jedi?” Crosshair and Hunter stare back at you, wide eyed.

Rex introduces you just as the rest of their team joins the party.

“What’s going on?” Omega looked around with a curious glint in her eyes.

Crosshair was the direct type it would seem, “the Empire’s targeting you again.”

The larger brother, Wrecker, laughs. “No surprise there.”

“Why were they after you before?” Rex asks. You couldn’t imagine what the Imperials would need a young clone for.

“To force Nala Se to cooperate and conduct certain experiments.”

A bone chilling answer. What were they doing that was so awful or dangerous they had to force a Kaminoan onto the project?

“Which were what?”

Omega looks down, “she was working on something involving M-count. I don’t know what that means but they were taking blood samples from everyone, even me.”

Concern bloomed into terror. Judging by Rex’s step back you could assume he understood the ramifications as well. Nala Se was a master cloner and if the Empire was forcing her to work on an experiment pertaining to midichlorians after the jedi had been massacred… the implications made you start pacing again.

“M-count?”

“You know what that is?” asks Hunter.

“Well, I’ve heard it mentioned before. But I can’t say for sure.” Rex dodges Hunter’s gaze, kneeling to Omega’s level. “What else can you tell us?”

“When we escaped, there wasn’t enough time to free the other clones. We have to find a way to get them out.”

Rex was sincere as he comforted Omega. “We will.”

Fireball came back into the control room, grin on his face. “Chow time. Gregor’s recipe with a few of my own spicy modifications.”

Wonderful.

Wrecker chuckles, apparently all for it. “Oh, now you’re talking.”

“Wait,” Crosshair interjects, “there’s more you should know… not all of the clones on Tantiss are prisoners. Some are loyal to the Empire. There is a division of clones trained as specialized operatives and initiated into a secret deep cover program run by Hemlock. Their identities are erased. They undergo conditioning. The few that make it through come out different.”

Que more suspicious Howzer. “If the program’s so secretive, how do you know about it?”

“Because they tried to make me into one of them.”

“Tried?”

“It didn’t work. Being defective is in my nature.”

“You’ve encountered one before. The assassin on Coruscant,” Hunter adds.

“We’ve known they existed but never knew exactly what they were,” Rex admits.

“What aren’t you telling us?”

“We captured one. I’ve tried questioning him, but he hasn’t been very cooperative.”

If what Crosshair said was true, it would explain why no one had any luck getting more information out of him.

“You have one here? Alive?” Crosshair sounded more concerned than surprised.

Rex nods.

“Impossible. The Empire would be on top of us already. They have ways of tracking their operatives.”

“I had them double check the scanner. No trackers or beacons,” you add, “they shouldn’t be able to find him or us.”

“It’s not the kind of tracker your scans would pick up. Hemlock’s smarter than that,” Crosshair practically hisses back.

“Where’s the operative?” Hunter asks, “show us.”

Rex grimly agrees and leads Hunter and Crosshair further into the command post.

While they deal with that situation you help Fireball dish up dinner. Wrecker digs in with the vengeance of a man starved while Omega shares a part of her portion with her lurca hound. You’re just about to probe Omega further on Nala Se’s experiments when an explosion rocks the monastery.

“Shit,” you pull Omega down to the floor with you as shots cut through the smoke. You can feel both the girls stir in their slings, harshly woken from their sleep. The last place you needed them to start crying was the middle of a fire fight. You soothe them as best you can, sending calm through your connection in the force. They settle, but you won’t be able to hold the same level of concentration and fight at the same time.  

“We got a shooter out here!” Wrecker shouts as Rex tries to re-enter the control room. Throwing on his bucket the tank of a clone returns fire.

Rex and the others duck in, finding cover behind storage crates.

“Shots coming from the back of the room!” Omega calls out.

“Nemec, we need to get comms online.” Rex starts barking out orders. Nemec crawls toward the mail control hub.

Omega turns to you, “what do we do?”

Before you can answer, the shooter hits the control hub causing it to explode, sending Nemec flying.

“Backup plan. Into the command post!” Rex shouts, “I’ll cover you.”

You and Hunter reach for Omega at the same time, ushering her further back into the base.

“Go!” Rex leaps up, laying down cover fire before Fireball rolls in with a flamethrower. Just as everyone makes it to cover another explosion rocks the tower.

“What the-“ Rex dives into the room just as part of the ceiling falls in.

The entire grid for the base must have been damaged in the explosion, the lights die, plunging you all into darkness.

Hunter and Crosshair whip out flashlights as Omega helps Rex up. He turns to you, concern rolling off his signature in waves. “Are the girls, okay?”

You nod, “we’re fine. I’m keeping them calm for now but I’m not sure how long I can manage.”

“Understood. We need to get moving before their reinforcements get here.”

“Is there another way off this spire? Hunter asks.

You and Rex chuckle in unison, “there’s always another way.” He kicks over some spare containers to reveal one of the many escape tunnels he had added as soon as the group moved into the base. Everyone files down the ladder into the spiral staircase below.

“Our leech vessel is docked about ten levels down,” Rex explains.

Howzer sighs, “doesn’t have a hyperdrive though. We won’t get far.”

Rex shakes his head, “no, but we can use it to contact Echo.” Hopefully, Echo gets back to base fast enough to get everyone off world.

The never-ending staircase has you dizzy nearly immediately, exactly why no one ever used them. You try to ignore your unsettled stomach and focus on your girls. They just needed to keep sleeping long enough to get to the ship.

“The ship’s docked just down this corridor.”

“Stop,” Crosshair barks out.

Nemec looks over, “what is it?”

Crosshair points down the spire, more flashlight beams were moving down below. “They’re coming.”

Out of nowhere a shot rings out from above, everyone presses themselves against the wall. Nemec and Rex plant themselves at your side, blasters ready.

Crosshair looks up, “I’ll handle it.”

Everyone takes it as the que to get moving while the sniper stays behind.

Thankfully, the ship isn’t much further. Wrecker seals the hatch as Crosshair catches up.

Rex slides into the pilot’s seat and you slide into the copilot’s chair, powering on the ship as fast as your fingers can work out the sequence.

Everyone piles in, the hound included, who seems fond of Nemec, licking him once his buckets off. “Get down. Off!”

“Don’t worry, she only bites half of the time,” Omega giggles.

“Great.”

Rex calls over his shoulder, “prepare to launch!”

Rena starts to cry at your back as the engine roars to life. Moments after takeoff two shots hit the engine, you can feel the ship losing altitude beneath you. Cerria’s cries join her sisters as alarms start blaring on every control panel.

Rex opens the comms, “Remora-one, we’ve been compromised. Heading to marker 0-2-5 for an extraction. Repeat. Marker 0-2-5.”

Neither you nor Rex can get the ship to course correct, “we’re going down, strap in.” Rex helps you swing Rena’s wrap around to the front so you can curl yourself around both your daughters’ moments before impact.

It’s a rough crash – hitting the jungle tree line first before the ground. When you finally realize the ship has stopped it takes longer than you would like to gather yourself. It has been some time since your last crash landed with Anakin piloting. The alarms have stopped ringing but both Rena and Cerria are wailing in your arms. The smell of smoke and Rex calling your name finally pull you out of your daze. He and Hunter help you climb out of the wreck.

Crosshair and the others are quick to set up a small perimeter, blasters aimed into the dark jungle, but Wrecker looks back over his shoulder at you. “Are the babies, okay?”

Howzer lifts Cerria out of the sling, quick to look her over for any bumps or bruises while you try to bounce Rena into some sort of calm state. “Scared and shaken up, but they’re alright.”

Wrecker smiles back, “oh good.”

After Crosshair is done checking on Omega, Howzer helps you get the girls situated in their wraps. You knew it was a good sign they were heavy against your chest- they were happy, healthy, well-fed babies- but your whole body ached from the crash and made you wish they were a few months younger and smaller. Instead of focusing on the pain you try and concentrate on lulling them back to sleep. The more soothing and sleepy vibes through the force, the better.

“Echo should meet us at the extraction point. We’ll have to continue on foot.” Rex explains.

“How far?” Hunter asks.

“Five klicks north,” Nemec points out a path northward.

Hunter’s gaze jerks up into the tree line, “we’ve got attack shuttles inbound.”

“This way!” Rex shouts before leading the way deeper into the trees as the Imperial ships hover above the crash site.

As the jungle gets denser, you are forced to march in single file. Rex places you in between him and Hunter, “just in case.” But it makes you nervous when you overhear Crosshair and Howzer talking in the back.

“Well… you’re different than you were on Ryloth. So, what changed?”

“Loyalty meant something to me. But with the Empire, it didn’t go both ways. I realized how disposable I was.”

“You’re not the only one.”

They fall silent after that.

Your ragtag squad thought you could breathe a sigh of relief once you reached the ravine. Batcher and Hunter pick up on the sound of an incoming ship as you reach the edge of the jungle. Everyone ducks for cover as soldiers repel out of the ship.

“We have to knock through their line to reach the extraction point,” Rex shouts, blasters drawn.

Omega reaches into her pack, “we’ve got these.”

Hunter and Wrecker launch the smoke bombs without hesitation. Makes you wish you had a bucket to filter out the smoke, the best you can do is cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve. You motion for Omega to do the same. Crosshair pulls your and Omega close when the shouting starts, “stick by my side and stay down.”

It’s hard to distinguish who’s fighting who in the haze but everyone in the group makes it though the line. Once in the clear, Crosshair manages to shoot down their ship.

“How much further to the landing zone?” Hunter asks.

“Just ahead. Almost there.”

Everyone is on full alert as you close in on the goal. Crosshair suddenly turns, rifle at the ready.

“What is it?”

A shot comes out of the tree line before Crosshair can answer, knocking Nemec down. The rest of the team rushes back to cover as Crosshair returns fire.

“Nemec!”

“I’ll draw his fire. Get to the rendezvous.”

Omega comms back, “I don’t like that idea.”

“Too bad,” Crosshair snarks before he rushes off.

You have to drag Omega along as Rex ushers everyone to get moving. The sound of the firefight echoes behind you. Then in the blink of an eye Crosshair and the assassin are in the river.

It’s Howzer who makes it to Crosshair first, pulling him out of the water as the assassin goes over the edge of the waterfall.

Despite it all, it’s not Echo waiting at the extraction point. Batcher barks at the Imperial ship as it lowers the loading ramp.

Your breath catches in your chest. You can feel him, even before you lay eyes on him. But its not quite him. It feels like there’s something between his force signature and yours that wasn’t there before.

Wolffe has a full squadron with him. They vastly outnumber those of you that made it this far. No one is ready to give up just yet though, forming up, blasters and crossbow ready. You don’t reach for your blaster or your saber. You plant yourself next to Rex as Wolffe descends from the ship.

“Drop your blasters. Now!”

It takes Rex a beat to recognize him, “Wolffe?”

“Rex?” And then his gaze falls on you. You yearn to hear your name on his lips again, but your commander falls silent.

Rex lowers his blasters and pulls off his helmet.

Wolffe slowly lowers his own weapons. “I- I thought you were dead. Reports said you were killed in action. That you went down aboard an attack cruiser.” Next comes his bucket.

He looks the same as you last saw him – but it is not the same man who stands before you. He’s something different now. His gaze on you and your daughters is hard as durasteel. You can’t look away either.

“Oh, I did. I lost a lot of good men that day. And today.”

“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re fighting against us.”

Rex shakes his head, “no. Not against you. Against the Empire. They’re imprisoning and experimenting on our brothers, killed others. Forced us to slaughter the Jedi.” Rex’s hand finds your own, a measure of comfort in your shared grief.

“The Empire wouldn’t do that to us.”

“She has seen it.”

Omega lowers her crossbow. “It’s true. That’s what’s happening on Tantiss.”

Wolffe’s frown deepens. You can feel his inner conflict.

“We have to stop them,” Rex steps forward, “you can help us. You can stand with us.”

He looks straight at you, voice firm, “I am a soldier of the Empire.”

You didn’t think your heart could break any further than it already had but Wolffe managed just that.

“I have my orders. Hand the girl over and I’ll make sure you’re given a fair trial.”

Batcher snarls behind you. “Like the Jedi received a fair trial?” you snap, “no, the Empire – the Sith – will never play fair when you stand against them.”

“That about what you’re doing, Wolffe. I know you’ve been trained not to question orders, but open your eyes. You have a chance at a new beginning, a future not all of us will be lucky enough to experience, and here you are hunting a child. I know that’s not who you are. We know that’s not who you are.”

The conflict flares back up again, but his face drops.

“As your brother, I’m asking you to do the right thing.” Rex’s comm goes off at just the right moment.

“Sir, there’s an unmarked vessel inbound,” reports one of Wolffe’s commandos.

Echo’s ship comes in hot behind you.

Wolffe’s gaze finally leaves you. “Commander?” He shakes his head, “stand down.”