At peace on Pabu (Summer of clones - week 7)
@summer-of-clones
Week theme: Deserters week
Main prompt: Beach day
Alternate prompt: "I won't leave you. Not again."
Characters: Echo, Wolffe, Rex, Omega, mentioned Bad Batch
Read here on Ao3
Echo never thought he'd say this and truly mean it, but he loved his current life and wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
The road had been fraught with obstacles, and Echo had suffered greatly, but he finally appreciated the journey he had undertaken to get to this point. While he wouldn't say he would do it all the same again if given the choice, he was truly satisfied with where he was today.
Being on Pabu, a peaceful island, to enjoy a day at the beach with your brothers.
After the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, Echo and the Bad Batch decided to desert, refusing to remain in the service of this Empire that considered them flesh droids at best.
Crosshair had remained loyal to the Empire for some time before changing his mind. No one in the Batch truly knew what had been the final straw that had definitively changed Crosshair's stance, but none of them could complain. They were finally all together again: Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, Tech, Crosshair, and Omega, and at peace on Pabu, trying to escape the Empire's attention, an Empire that wanted them dead simply for daring to exist.
When he first left Kamino all those years ago, Echo never imagined he would one day become a deserter, but honestly, given how things had turned out, he couldn't imagine doing anything else now.
Echo sometimes went on missions with Rex, who worked for the Resistance, where other clone deserters were also in, but this was quite rare. Echo's priority was to live peacefully with his brothers and sister.
That didn't mean he only saw Rex during his missions, because sometimes Rex would come to Pabu for a few days to take a break from all the horrors he witnessed daily. Rex sometimes came alone, but he also occasionally brought a few Vode with him.
Like that day, when he'd brought Wolffe and Gregor with him, after receiving the Bad Batch's approval, of course. The Batchers had accepted the presence of the two other veterans on one condition: no talking about work on the beach or in the common areas. If they needed to talk to Echo or each other about what was happening outside of Pabu, it had to be done on their ship and nowhere else.
Happy to switch off their brains and just enjoy themselves for a few days, Rex, Wolffe and Gregor had accepted these terms with enthusiasm.
That's how this small group of renegades found themselves on the beach below the Batchers' house, building sandcastles and playing in the waves, acting like children and leaving their responsibilities behind, at least for the day.
When they went down to the beach, Echo stayed quite far from the sea, settling on the still stabilized part, in the shade, and simply watching his family having fun.
It wasn't that he couldn't walk on sand; his prosthetics were advanced enough for that. But he wasn't a fan of the hours he then had to spend brushing every tiny grain off the delicate motors and gears that powered his legs. To quote his former General, 'I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritatingโฆ and it gets everywhere.'
There was a time when Echo didn't really understand his Jedi's aversion to sand, that had clearly done nothing to anyone, but now Echo understood.
So when he could, Echo avoided the sand. He sometimes went swimming with his brothers and sister, but for that, he removed his prosthetics and asked one of the others to carry him to the water, where he had learned to stay afloat with his remaining limbs.
His prostheses were, in themselves, waterproof, but they were heavy and Echo had difficulty moving in the water with them. If necessary, he knew how to stay afloat without drowning long enough for someone to pull him out, but whenever possible, he avoided being in the water with his prosthetics.
So on that day, he had simply decided to stay back, away from the sand and the water, and simply watch the others having fun from a distance.
When Wolffe had come to join him a little less than 30 minutes ago, sitting down next to him without saying anything, Echo had stayed silent too.
He didn't really know Wolffe and had rarely dealt with him during the war. And after the war, Echo had crossed paths with him a few times during his missions with Rex, but that was all.
Echo knew from Rex that Wolffe had suffered greatly during and after the war. Unlike Rex or the Bad Batch, Wolffe had remained in the service of the Empire for a time. It was only when he confronted Rex on Teth while trying to capture Omega that he realized he was on the wrong path and reluctantly agreed to desert and join Rex in his clandestine work.
It was only then, once his chip was removed, that Wolffe truly learned what had really happened at the end of the war, and Wolffe felt so guilty about being responsible for the death of his Jedi, General Plo Koon, that he had to be placed under surveillance and suicide watch for several weeks following these revelations.
Wolffe had never really escaped this self-destructive spiral, but he now directed all that anger, hatred, guilt and other things towards what he did and threw himself body and soul into his missions within the Resistance.
"I think I finally understand why you decided to stay here." Wolffe said quietly after almost 30 minutes of silence.
Echo turned his head toward him, but Wolffe wasn't looking. The older clone's one-eyed gaze was fixed on the beach, watching Wrecker and Gregor each building a sandcastle. Or at least, Echo imagined they were sandcastles, even though from here they looked more like a shapeless pile of sand. It didn't matter; they were clearly having fun, and that was what counted.
Echo made a small noise to show that he had heard Wolffe's remark, but as he sensed that the other had something else to say, he said nothing, simply waiting.
โWhen Rex told me you were alive and relatively healthy, but that you preferred to stay on Pabu with your new squad rather than join the Resistance full-time, I didn't understand. More than that, I hated you. How dare you not help us? How dare you, knowing all the horrors the Empire commits, stay hidden here and choose not to fight? How dare you betray us to bask in the sun all day doing nothing?โ
Echo wasn't going to lie; hearing those accusations from Wolffe wasn't pleasant. But he understood his point of view. Besides, he sensed that Wolffe still wasn't finished speaking, so he said nothing, waiting patiently.
โBut now I think I understand. Being here, being at peace, after everything that's happened to us, is truly restful. If I could just forget what's going on outside, I think I'd want to stay too.โ
Echo nodded and thought about what he was going to say before replying.
โIโve fought all my life, Wolffe. I was almost decommissioned mere hours after my decantation, simply because my twin and I came out of the same tube. My fight for my life began before I even realized it. All my time on Kamino, I was in the Kaminoansโ crosshairs, and I had to be perfect because I knew that at the slightest weakness, the slightest defect, Iโd be decommissioned without a second thought. When I finally managed to leave Kamino, I thought I could finally breathe a little. But not even two months later, I lost more than half my batch to Separatist fire. I then joined the 501st, where I quickly became an ARC trooper, a promotion that came with all the dangers that come with being a Special Commando. A little less than a year later, I blew myself up on Lola Sayu and thought my suffering was finally over. But it was only just beginning. I was picked up by the Separatists and sold to the Techno Union. I won't go into details, but I'm now more machine than man. All my vital functions require assistance from medical devices. Everything hurts. All the time. Constantly. But despite all that, I kept fighting. I joined the Bad Batch because my own brothers saw me as nothing more than a traitor or a robot, and I continued to fight for the Republic. When the war ended and we saw what the Empire had done to the GAR, to our brothers, we chose to desert. We couldn't stay knowing the Empire would eliminate us as soon as it had the chance. So when we found this place, and the opportunity to stay and finally settle down and rest, we seized the chance. I understand your point of view, and I know your work is essential. But I've fought all my life, and I'm tired. I want to enjoy my life a little before it's too late. No one knows what tomorrow holds, and I don't want my whole life to be one endless battle, even if that's what we were created for.โ
Like Echo before him, Wolffe had remained silent throughout the younger man's monologue. Wolffe, too, didn't really know Echo and only knew what Rex had told him, which wasn't much at all. He knew the young trooper had suffered, but he didn't think it was to this extent.
"I understand your decision." He simply repeated once he had a little more information.
โDonโt think that making the decision to stay here on Pabu with the guys and Omega was easy.โ Echo clarified. โI know whatโs going on out there, I know what the Empire is doing, and choosing to stay here without doing anything about it wasnโt an easy or quick decision. Thatโs one of the reasons I still go on missions with Rex when he needs me. But Iโm also tired of fighting.โ
"I understand. And it's perfectly legitimate to want to rest after spending your life fighting. Especially in this setting and with these people around you." Wolffe said, pointing to Omega, who was pulling Crosshair towards the ocean, the taller man grumbling half-heartedly but not really struggling.
Echo nodded and they both watched their brothers in silence for a short while. โI know you are not ready and you are not there yet, but if you decide to lay down your arms one day, Pabu is open to all victims of war who want to leave all this behind them, you will always find refuge here.โ
Wolffe did not respond immediately but eventually nodded discreetly. โPerhaps one day.โ He murmured, his gaze still fixed on the beach.
Echo left it at that and the discussion naturally died away, the two men falling back into their silent observation of the chaos unfolding on the beach.
And then, maybe 10 minutes later, their little bubble of tranquility was burst by Omega who came running towards them, still soaked from her last bath.
โEcho! Mr. Wolffe! Don't you want to come for a swim? It's hot! Crosshair and Hunter even said we could have a water fight if everyone comes!โ The excited girl exclaimed, jumping up and down.
She had really wanted to throw herself into Echo's arms as she often did, but she also knew that her cyborg brother didn't always like being wet, especially when he had all his prosthetics on him, and Omega was currently completely soaked from the ocean.
"Whoa, Hunter and Crosshair agree on something?" Echo teased, raising an eyebrow. "How did you accomplish this miracle, Omega?"
"I asked with my big eyes, they can't resist me." Omega declared proudly before putting on her big, puppy-dog eyes again. "Echoooooo? Do you want to come in the water with uuuuuus?" She asked in a way that was far too cute.
And maybe Echo was just teasing Crosshair and Hunter for giving in to all of Omega's demands, but that didn't mean he was any better. "Okay, okay, fine, I'm coming, put those eyes away." Echo gave in immediately.
Omega bounded, hopping on the spot. โYipee!โ
"Weak." Wolffe smirked.
โI dare you to resist her.โ
Wolffe scoffed. "I'm a hardened veteran. Nothing she can do will make me give in." He declared confidently.
Omega heard him and of course, took it as the challenge that it was, so she calmed down a little, concentrated and turned all the power of her big eyes towards Wolffe, who swallowed, realizing at the moment that holding on might be harder than he thought.
"Please, Mr. Wolffe? Will you come in the water with us? It would still be okay even if you don't, and I'm not forcing you, but it would be sooooo much better if you came with us. Please?"
Wolffe managed to resist for almost a full minute, which was honestly impressive. Then he finally sighed and shook his head. โYou're a fucking menace, kid. Okay, I'm coming.โ
โYay!!โ Omega exclaimed again, spinning around and bouncing on the spot.
"Weak." Echo whispered in turn, leaning towards Wolffe, a small, sly smile firmly fixed on his lips.
"Shut up." Wolffe retorted, standing up, the tops of his ears reddening slightly. "Do you keep your prosthetics on when you go in the water?"
โNo, I have to take them off here and someone has to carry me to the water.โ
โDon't worry Echo, I'm sure even I can carry you!โ Omega assured.
"I don't doubt it, but I don't feel like eating sand today, little sister." Echo refused, ruffling the girl's blond hair. "Why don't you go get one of the others instead?"
Omega puffed out her cheeks and pouted for about 3 seconds before running off to the rest of her brothers to deliver the good news and the request.
Echo realized at that moment that Wolffe was still by his side. Wolffe, who was perfectly capable of carrying Echo. And Wolffe, whom Echo had just completely ignored, asking Omega to go find someone else. "It's not that I don't trust you to carry me." He began to apologize, not wanting Wolffe to think that he was deliberately ignoring him.
However,Wolffe interrupted him immediately.โI understand. From what I see, and what youโve told me, I imagine itโs not just your legs that are artificial, and I wouldnโt want to hurt you by grabbing you in a place I shouldnโt. Besides, we barely know each other, so I donโt blame you for preferring that a brother you know better and trust completely carries you when youโre more vulnerable. So stop apologizing; Iโm not offended or anything.โ
Echo nodded, relieved that he hadn't already offended Wolffe while he was still getting to know him.
So instead of continuing to apologize, Echo began to get ready, taking off his pants and revealing the swim trunks he had underneath, before removing his prosthetics.
Wolffe was also changing beside him, and when Echo took off his t-shirt, revealing his back and torso covered in scars, implants, and all sorts of other medical equipment, he saw Wolffe look away. But he had the distinct impression that it wasn't out of disgust but out of respect that Wolffe had stopped looking.
And even though Echo had stopped being shy or anything about all that a long time ago, he appreciated the gesture.
Echo didn't have time to pounder any more on it because Omega was coming back towards them, Rex with her.
Echo smiled at his older brother. โHey Rex.โ
"Omega told me you could use a lift to the water." Rex simply stated.
โCorrect. She convinced me to come into the water with you, but I don't really want to crawl on the sand to the water.โ
"I understand completely. On my back as usual?" Rex suggested.
Echo confirmed with a nod and Rex crossed the last meter separating them, turning around and placing a knee on the ground in front of Echo, presenting his back to him.
Out of the corner of her eye, Echo saw Omega grab Wolffe by the arm and drag him into the water, the Commander letting her do it without much protest. He didn't pay it much mind but smiled gently. Wolffe was just as weak with Omega as the rest of them.
Echo slid to the edge of the bench on which he was sitting and then put his arms over Rex's shoulders, clinging to him while the blond put his hands under Echo's thighs.
As always, Rex let Echo wiggle slightly to get into the right position and waited for his signal before getting up.
"Okay, Iโm good." Echo said shortly after.
Rex stood up carefully, doing his best not to shake his brother too much. Once on his feet, he remained still again, allowing Echo to readjust, before starting to move forward when Echo gave him the go-ahead.
It might have seemed long and full of unnecessary steps from an outsider's perspective, but Rex was absolutely inflexible and would never skip a single one of those steps. Echo faced enough difficulties and pain on a daily basis, so Rex absolutely refused to add to it just because he wanted to go faster or anything like that.
And besides, he knew that for Echo, asking for help was never easy, even though he had made progress. So if Echo asked to be carried for any reason, Rex would make sure that Echo was in control as much as possible and didn't just feel like he was being carried around like a sack of potatoes.
Once they had set off towards the water, Rex still advancing carefully so as not to shake Echo more than necessary, Echo rested his head against his brother's shoulder. โThank you Rex.โ
โIt's normal Echo, I wasn't going to leave you struggling to get to the water with us.โ
โNo, it's not- Well, yes, thank you for that too. But that's not what I meant.โ
"What did you mean in that case?" Rex gently asked, keeping his tone as open as possible.
โThank you for being here. Thank you for giving me the choice to stay here with the guys and Omega and for not forcing me to join the Resistance full-time. And thank you for coming to see me here even outside of missions.โ
Rex did not respond immediately, moved by the emotion he heard in Echo's voice.
He had seen Echo and Wolffe talking from a distance and wondered what they could be discussing. Now he wondered if Echo's current words had any connection to that conversation. But ultimately, it wasn't very important; it didn't change his answer.
"It's the least I can do, Echo. You didn't desert the Empire just for someone else to tell you what to do or not to do. And after everything you've been through, you deserve to rest and enjoy your life. Even if you told me tomorrow that you never wanted to go on missions with me ever again, it wouldn't change a thing. You're my brother, Echo, and I wonโt leave you. Not again. Even if you end your days without ever leaving Pabu, you can be sure I'll always come to see you as often as I can."
Echo didn't really know what to say, moved himself, so he simply buried his face against Rex's shoulder and let his brother carry him to the water.
And besides, Echo didn't have time to get lost in his emotion because they had arrived at the water's edge and were quickly assailed by Omega and Wrecker, clearly the most excited at the idea of โโa collective water fight, even if Hunter, Wolffe, Crosshair and Gregor were not hiding their enthusiasm as well as they thought they were.
"Tech said he'd referee, but now we have to choose the teams!" Omega exclaimed. "As the only two blondes, I propose that Rex and I be the team captains!"
They all burst out laughing at this highly dubious logic, but since none of these grown up men wanted to upset the young girl, they complied with her rules.
Yes, Echo could say it without batting an eye. He was truly happy with his current life and wouldn't change it for the world. Right here on this Pabu beach, having a water fight with his family, he felt more at peace and at home than ever, and it felt good.
