(Echo is tasked with watching the new clones added to the 501st with Fives. He's not sure why Rex doesn't trust them and isn't sure if sneaking out of the Temple is such a good idea.
This isn't a fully completed chapter but I felt I needed to add to this story because it's been a while... anyway enjoy what I could write!)
Echo
Depending on when you get up, mornings with the 501st were never quiet. Echo stands in front of a mirror in the barracks bathroom waiting for the water to get warm before he starts shaving. The rest of the 501st were up and moving around fighting for spots in the showers or for a sink. Fives slid out from the walkway leading to the showers with a towel wrapped around his waist while singing along to the song playing throughout the bathroom. He steals the spot next to Echo and starts running his fingers through his wet hair.
“Today is going to be a good day!” Fives says, still moving along with the song. Echo begins spreading shaving cream along his jawline.
“And why is that brother?” Echo chuckles. Fives leans over nudging him.
“Because we aren’t on the watch bill!” he winks before resuming to singing along with the song. Echo smiles with an eye roll. He was relieved to not have to worry about a watch today. Despite facing death in the face nearly every day the most dreaded thing to any soldier wasn’t battle; it was standing watch. Not because of the possible danger or because it was incredibly hard. It was just mind numbingly boring and more often than not felt like a waste of your time. Especially on Coruscant where you had to watch all the other clones go off and live their best life out in the city.
Echo was almost done shaving when Kix took over the sink on his other side. He starts filling the little shelf under the mirror with all his skincare products. Jesse spots him while walking out of the showers and smirks.
“Look out everyone! Miss beauty queen has to make room for her beauty products!” Jesse shouts making a lot of the men laugh. Kix doesn’t waiver from the taunt.
“Laugh all you want but that age acceleration is going to catch up to you one day! And when it does you all will be wrinkly old men, but I’ll still be looking young and fresh.” Kix smiles while checking himself out in the mirror. While he’s speaking, Hardcase tiptoes behind him before popping him with his towel. Kix jumps before chasing after Hardcase. Echo rolls his eyes again while turning off the water and gathering his things. Rex appears in the doorway of the bathroom with his hands on his hips.
“Double time troopers! You have fifteen minutes before you need to be in formation on the grinder!” Rex yells making everyone move faster. Echo starts to leave the bathroom when Rex puts a hand on his shoulder. “When you and Fives are done getting dressed, come find me.”
Echo nods before looking back at Fives to exchange a look. Echo returns to his and Fives bunk, already dressed by the time Fives joins him.
“Um… sorry to intrude…” A small voice says from the front of the barracks. Echo looks over at Commander Tano cautiously stepping inside with a hand covering her eyes.
“Female on deck!” Echo yells making half the room scatter. It was a call that was only ever used in the barracks for everyone to make themselves decent or scarce. Fives, still only wearing a towel around his waist, flinches before grabbing his clothes and darting towards the bathrooms. He notices Jesse falling over while struggling to get pants on before army crawling under his bed. Echo peeks around to make sure only fully clothed men were visible.
“How can I help you Commander?” Echo asks, walking out to greet the little torguta. She doesn’t lower her hand from her eyes. “This is Echo by the way.”
“Oh! Echo, do you know where Rex is?” She asks. Echo chuckles when he notices her stripes turning a deeper shade of blue. Her version of blushing.
“I think he’s in the bathroom rounding up the rest of the men. I can relay a message for him if you’d like?” Echo suggests.
“Just tell him that Master won’t be at muster today. He never gave me a reason why.” She says with a shrug.
“Understood.” Echo says. She slowly turns and walks towards the door before darting out as fast as she could. Echo turns his head towards the room before shouting “All clear!”
Jesse rolls out from under his bed startling the new guy, Dogma, as he walked by. He also managed to trip the unsuspecting Hardcase when he tried to return to his bunk. Echo laughs at Fives when he walks back to their bunk fully dressed but still flustered.
“I wasn’t expecting to have to sprint right after my shower.” He mumbles while adjusting his chest plate. Echo elbows him.
“Come on, we need to find Rex.”
They end up finding their Captain outside on the grinder talking with Appo. When they approach them, Appo leaves to give them privacy.
“What’s up Rex?” Fives asks. Rex peeks over at Clone Force Zero. They had all been fully dressed by the time Echo woke up. They stand in the corner of the grinder talking amongst themselves.
“I need you to keep an eye on the new guys.” Rex says quietly. Echo and Fives look at each other.
“Keep an eye on them like we would for possible traitors? Are you saying you don’t trust one of our own?” Echo asks slowly. Rex looks at the ground for a moment before shaking his head.
“There’s something off about these guys.” Rex tells them everything he knows about them. When he’s done, Echo lifts a hand to his chin while thinking. Fives puts his hands on his hips.
“What? You think they’re working with the Seppies?” Fives asks. Rex rubs the back of his head looking unsure.
“I don’t know what to think,” He confesses, “All I know is that something is off about them. I need proof before I can go to the Jedi. X will be shadowing me today, so I need you two to look after the others. Report to me tonight with what you find.”
“Understood.” They say. Before they walk away, Echo turns back.
“Oh, and Commander Tano said the General wont be at muster today.” He says. Rex gives a big eye roll with a grin.
“When is he ever?” He chuckles. They walk towards the 501st who are starting to get in formation. Echo peeks over at Fives. His mind is racing with questions. Same as Echo. They had only recently become ARC Troopers and have yet to get put on a real mission. This wasn’t what either of them had in mind. But if Captain Rex suspected something was up then something usually was. When Commander Tano arrives, Appo gives muster. They watch as Rex stands in front of them.
“Alright,” He starts with his hands behind his back. “Its our duty day and I don’t want to hear of any incidents! Commanders Doom and Bacara are back from deployments. Do not give them a reason to report you. Do not be late for your watch unless you want to be standing watch for the foreseeable future. We will be muster today at 1500 for training. I expect you all to be there unless you are standing a watch. You all have my com link. Notify me of any trouble. 501st attention!”
They pop back to attention.
“When given the command, carry out the plan of the day. Fall out!” with that the 501st dismissed, Echo and Fives nod at each other before walking back towards Clone Force Zero.
“… so don’t do anything stupid.” Commander X says while crossing his arms in front of his men. When they notice Echo and Fives they stop talking.
“Hello Commander,” Echo says politely. “Captain Rex gave us orders to show your men around while you worked with him.”
X frowns at them before looking back at his men.
“Do as I say.” He says before walking away towards Rex. Echo and Fives exchange a look before pulling on smiles and facing the rest of Clone Force Zero.
“But we have to stay in uniform, and we can’t stray to far from the temple in case of an emergency.” Echo explains further.
“So,” The one Stitch starts. “What do we do on duty days?”
“On Coruscant? As long as you don’t have watch then nothing. We’re free to do what we want.” Fives explains. “Everywhere else we would have constant patrols.”
“You have clothes other then your uniform?” Flex asks raising a brow.
“Yeah, when we go out drinking, we like to try and blend in with the locals.” Fives chuckles.
“You know, as much as a group of people with identical faces can blend in.” Echo nudges Fives.
“Then I can go back to sleep.” Side-Eye says before turning to walk back inside. Echo and Fives exchange another look.
“Does he do anything besides sleep?” Fives asks while watching the trooper disappear inside.
“Sometimes he kills stuff.” Stitch shrugs before leaning on Flex’s shoulder.
“So, what do you two do on these days?” Flex asks. Echo opens his mouth to speak but shuts it. In truth, they spend this time going over strategies and future attack plans. But considering the company at hand Echo figured that might not be the best use of their time. Fives puts his hands on his hips while looking down, deep in thought.
“Well… what do you three like to do on your off time?” Fives finally asks. The three look at each other before shifting their weight.
“We usually await further orders and train.” Stitch explains.
“We could train.” Echo says making them almost wince.
“Or we could do something else?” Stitch says. Echo glances at Fives who gives the same look. So, they don’t want us to learn how they fight. Interesting. X must have said something after their little display the other day.
“Oi!” their thoughts are interrupted by Hardcase walking towards them with Kix.
“What’s going on?” Fives asks.
“We were wondering if anyone was wanting to take a little trip into the city?” Hardcase asks softly.
“Hardcase, its our duty day. You know we can’t leave.” Echo says, crossing his arms.
“Well yeah but there’s nothing to do here! Everyone dips out on their duty days anyway so why not us?” Hardcase goes on. Echo looks over at Kix.
“And you’re okay with this?” Echo arches a brow. Kix gives a shrug.
“Jesse gets off first watch in a few hours. I say we leave then. I mean what is the likely hood of a Zillo beast situation ever happening again?” Kix asks. Echo turns to Fives for help, but Fives already has an arm around Hardcase’s shoulder.
“You thinking about hitting up that bar in Ska Quadrant?” Fives asks.
“Oh, I’ve got a few places in mind.” Hardcase grins. Echo shakes his head with the roll of his eyes. He looks at the other three. Stitch and Flex seemed intrigued while Ghost looks… well, like he always does. Uncomfortable.
“You three up for breaking some rules?” Echo sighs.
“Look who you’re talking to.” Flex chuckles before Stitch could give any form of protest. With it being decided that they would sneak out once Jesse got off watch they decide to relax in the barracks until it was time. Echo and Fives manage to peek at some plans Echo had drawn up the night before while keeping an eye on Clone Force Zero. Side-Eye was fast asleep in his bunk while Stitch polished his spear. Ghost watched Flex tinker with his wrist wires providing comments here and there, though, Echo couldn’t hear them from where he sat. Echo and Fives were sitting on Echo’s bed when Jesse finally appeared in the barracks.
“Finally!” Hardcase yells drawing everyone’s attention. Echo and Fives make their way over to Kix and Hardcase. He was surprised when the new guy, Tup appeared next to Kix.
“Hope you don’t mind I invited Tup here.” Kix says gesturing to the clone with a man bun.
“Alright, running buddy!” Fives says giving a playful arm punch. Of course, it was Fives, so he always hit harder than he thought. Tup rubs his arm but doesn’t look deterred.
“What’s going on?” Jesse asks before tossing his helmet on his bunk.
“We’re sneaking out to the city.” Fives shrugs. Jesse grins.
“Great. Had these brats annoying me the whole watch.” Jesse says while rolling one of his shoulders. They break off to gather some street clothes. Fives and Echo hand Tup and Stitch a change of clothes before grabbing a pair of their own. They stuff them inside their armor. No way they were getting out of the temple unnoticed out of uniform. When they rendezvous back at Kix’s bunk everyone was already waiting.
“Alright so now we…” Kix starts before someone clears their throat behind their huddle. They turn to face Side-Eye glaring down at them.
“What’s going on?” He asks with the same annoyed and bored expression that he always has.
“We’re uh… We’re just…”
“We’re going out drinking. Wanna come?” Stitch asks cutting Fives off. Side-Eye glances to the side before shrugging.
“Sure.” He says.
“I… guess not.” He says while rubbing the back of his neck. He looks to the others. “Anyone have anymore clothes for Side-Eye?”
“Really?” Echo asks. “I just assumed because you are X’s right-hand man that…”
“Do I look like I give a fuck?” Side-Eye narrows his eyes at Echo.
Once Hardcase loans his last pair of street clothes to Side-Eye, they leave the barracks to head towards the 104thbarracks. Inside there’s music playing, some clones play video games off to the side, others nap and talk amongst themselves. Boost, Sinker, Waxer, and Boil notice them and wave them over.
“You boys ready?” Boil asks.
“Got any idea on how to sneak a group of fourteen out of the temple unnoticed?” Echo asks. Sinker clears his throat and gestures to a group of the 104th crowded around a bunk.
“We promised to pay for their beer tab at 79’s if they let us borrow their uniforms.” Boost explains. So began the most ungraceful amor switch Echo has ever seen. Most of the 104thcould see them change since there really wasn’t anywhere private a clone could go. They could go to the stalls in the refresher but then they would take up all of them and still be seen. Echo fidgets in his 104th armor while adjusting the street clothes stuffed in his chest piece. With everyone dressed they start to sneak out.
“Oh shit…” Stitch grumbles under his 104th helmet. Rex and X walk down the temple hallway. Rex is preoccupied with his datapad, but X’s eyes narrow at them. Everyone holds their breath as they pass. X stops nearly making Ghost walk into Side-eyes back. He turns and frowns at them.
“Hm? What’s wrong?” Rex asks. Rex’s eyes lift to their group. “Where are you boys off to?”
“Just going out for some drinks.” Jesse says under his 104th helmet. Rex didn’t look suspicious of anything, but X stared at them like he could see through their helmets.
“Don’t do anything stupid.” X hisses before turning to walk with Rex. They all let out a sigh a of relief. Echo stared after X. how did he know? Not only that but why did he let them go? Echo suddenly felt conflicted on leaving. They were supposed to be watching these guys and learning if they had any ill intent. He supposed getting them drunk might help loosen their tongues. But even as they exit the temple Echo wondered if Rex was really safe with X. or if X was safe to be in the temple at all.
Mission Possible. The Ultimate 12 Week RE Sales Contest. Task 3
Mission Possible. The Ultimate 12 Week RE Sales Contest. Task 3. Know your product.
Welcome to Task Three. For those playing along at home, here is a quick recap. I am running a fun little contest in my office to help agents get more business. The tasks are meant to be engaging, easy, and above all…fun!
In the first task, I asked agents to be present. The office is the epicentre of the real estate world ( or at…
EVERY duty day I try and take a shower there is an unending line of people who didnt do a damn thing all day.... And I spent till 1400 painting.... Idiots....
