Super duper thrilled with this AMAZING piece @pinkiemme did of the final chapter of Halo (and this photo will be mentioned again in this week’s chapter of The Light Between Oceans as well as subsequent chapters). Emme really brought this moment to life and I can’t get over how happy Fives looks. :,) Thank you so much!!
@rowansparrow has written the stroy What Blooms in Thunder and when that ended , I really wondered what the hells just happened. Now we have The Light Between Oceans and Holy Maker what a chapter it begins with! Reading this, you will want to read WBIT if you did not yet and if you did? Well, you know you will have to follow this story. I am still waiting to hear about Quill !!!!!!!!!
YES!!! The Light Between Oceans is EVERYTHING and absolutely has me hooked (ESPECIALLY AFTER THE END OF WBIT. RO, I SAY THIS WITH ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD, BUT HOW DARE YOU?). Without spoiling too much, I was relieved to see some things get resolved quickly, was excited/heartbroken/intrigued to see how other things developed, and am ANXIOUSLY awaiting resolution on other matters (IS QUILL SAFE?? IS HE ALRIGHT???)
I am STRESSED (but like in the best way possible).
Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)
Ships: Rex x Female!Reader, Fives x Male!OC, Fives x Female!OC
Word Count: 5k
A/N: Today’s the day everybody!! I’m so so SO excited to finally be able to share The Light Between Oceans with you all. Thank you so much for sticking with this story, and I hope you enjoy the beginning of the end.
Regular updates come every Saturday.
Thank you very much to @djarrex and @witchklng for their various contributions to this work. I couldn’t have done it without either of you.
Sensitive content is tagged #Ro’s Protected Tag. Please block that tag if you are concerned about content.
Reblogs are so appreciated!
“She’s still bleeding. We need Ju’Lah or Gol’Chek down here now!”
“Something’s wrong with him. There’s something wrong with the baby.”
“Focus, I still need you here for now.”
You faded in and out of consciousness, the sound of your son’s cries keeping you semi-alert as your head lolled back and forth, the tunnels swimming around you.
“Calder...”
“He’s okay, just focus on staying conscious for me, okay?” Soteria’s voice cut through the ringing in your ears, centering you for a moment. “He’s alright, but we’ve got to get you taken care of first.”
You blinked slowly, your eyes drifting around the room, searching for your son. You could hear him crying, but it was faint, distant. “Where…?”
“Omega has him.” Tech answered your unfinished question. “She is looking after him, do not worry.”
You could feel a pressure against your lower abdomen, and you whimpered slightly, your grip tightening. Soteria squeezed your hands, holding you steady.
“It’s okay, you did so well, Tech’s just closing the wound now. We’ll get you into a bacta bath as soon as we’re able, that’ll help speed things along as well.” Soteria murmured, smoothing a hand over your cheeks. “You’re alright. Just try to relax.”
“Where… I need to see him.” You whispered, your voice cracking slightly as tears from the stress of your ordeal slipped down your cheeks. “Where is he?”
“We’ll bring him in just as soon as Tech’s finished. Omega took him to one of the other rooms to calm him down and get him cleaned up.” Soteria soothed. You looked up at her, finally able to make out her gentle smile. “He’s okay.”
You nodded, relieved, and sagged against the cot again, letting Tech continue his work. You could hear Calder’s cries begin to grow louder.
“I am sorry, if I had the proper tools and supplies, we would be able to prevent a great deal of scarring, but regrettably, I do not think that is avoidable.” Tech told you quietly, grabbing Rex’s discarded cape and gently draping it over your body. “Perhaps bacta baths will help, if we have access to them again soon.”
“Can I see him now?” You whispered, your throat hoarse and dry. “Please?”
Soteria nodded, and Tech moved up near your head, one hand slipping behind your head to help support you while his other hand tipped his canteen into your mouth, giving you some much-needed water. Calder’s cries continued to grow in volume until Omega returned to the room, holding a very small bundle in her arms.
“I’m sorry, I can’t get him to calm down.” She fretted, looking nearly on the verge of tears herself. “He won’t stop crying.”
“That’s alright, Omega, thank you.” Soteria murmured, taking Calder gently from her arms and rocking him for a moment. “Hi, little one.” She cooed. “You ready to meet your mama?”
“Do not try and sit up yet, let the bacta take some effect first.” Tech warned, lifting the cape slightly to check on your wound as Soteria gently laid Calder on your chest. Your hands went to him at once, his tiny body pressed to your chest, his little fists and sharp nails scratching at the exposed skin of your neck where your tunic had come undone slightly in the chaos, but you couldn’t bring yourself to mind.
“Hi.” You whispered, running two fingers delicately over his head, trying to soothe him. “Hi baby, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m right here.”
You glanced up to Soteria. “Is he – is he supposed to be crying this much?”
“He had a very rude and early awakening.” Soteria said with a chuckle. “He’s probably grumpy, and hungry. I sure would be.”
“But he’s okay?” You confirmed, glancing to Tech next. “Right?”
For the first time since you’d known him, you saw Tech hesitate.
Your stomach plummeted, and your hands settled protectively over Calder’s back, holding him to you. “He’s okay, right?” You repeated. “Tech?”
“He is healthy.” Tech conceded after another moment. “I do not believe he was deprived of oxygen for terribly long. Our quick action seemed to have prevented too much damage.”
“Too much damage?” You echoed. “What does that mean?”
“I,” Tech cleared his throat. “I am uncertain if it was caused during the pregnancy or if we… mishandled something during delivery, nothing I have scanned has revealed anything wrong with him, otherwise.”
“Tech, what is it?” You demanded, your voice shaking. Against your chest, Calder continued to wail.
“I am uncertain he can hear you.”
You blinked, and shook your head. “He what?”
“He can’t hear you.” Tech repeated. Then, in a gentler voice. “I think he may be deaf.”
You shook slightly, tears threatening to spill down your cheeks all over again, and Tech hurried to elaborate.
“I won’t be able to tell for sure without doing more tests, but on his initial scans, it looked like his eardrums were damaged.” Tech explained. “This could be due to his premature birth, lack of oxygen, or any number of things that could’ve happened during your pregnancy.”
“I did something to him?” You whispered. “I did this?”
“That is not what I am implying.” Tech clarified quickly. “I just mean to say anything is possible, and of course, until we can get him somewhere with the proper examination equipment, there is no way to know for sure. This was just an initial scan to gauge his wellbeing upon delivery.”
“Okay so,” Your voice trembled, the tears threatening to drop onto his head as your composure slipped. “How do I help him now? We can’t get him to a hospital or to a proper doctor, I don’t even know if Rex is still alive!”
“Breathe.” Soteria told you, bringing a hand up to wipe at your tears. “You’re already helping him. He’s calmed down a bit just being close to you, see?”
While Calder was still fussing softly, he was no longer wailing. The loud, shattering cries of a child in distress had been replaced with soft little sounds and gasping breaths.
“I think your voice helps.” Tech offered.
“You said he couldn’t hear me!” You replied loudly, anxiety spiking again as the tears flowed freely. “He can’t hear me!”
“I do not know that for sure, and even if he cannot, he can feel the vibrations of your voice in your chest when you speak.” Tech continued. “Just… talk, if you are able. Talk to him.”
You swallowed roughly, glancing down at the tiny infant on your chest and resumed your slow motions stroking his head.
“Hi baby boy.” You murmured down to him, sniffling as your fingers drifted from his head to down his back and back up again. You were finally able to look at him properly, and your heart fluttered. He had dark hair, his lips twisted into a little pout that made you giggle as you stroked a finger over the apple of his cheek.
“I know you’re scared, and probably cold, and hungry, and upset.” You said softly, already trying to adjust Rex’s cape to cover Calder a bit better to keep him warm. “You came early, little one. This wasn’t how we’d planned to meet you.”
You smiled. “But that’s okay. I’m – I’m so, so happy to meet you, Calder. My sweet baby boy.” You sniffled again. “Your daddy’s going to be so happy to see you.”
You looked back to Tech, pressing your lips delicately to the top of Calder’s head before you spoke again. “Has anyone heard from Rex?”
Tech shook his head. “We lost contact with everyone still above ground. The entrances are all locked down. We… do not know what is going on outside.”
You nodded, taking another slow breath. “I need – I need a blanket, or a towel, something to keep him warm.”
“Here.” Omega offered, sitting on the edge of the cot and offering you a small blanket. “The mother over there said you could have it.”
You turned your head, noticing a Twi’lek woman with three small children gathered around her. She gave you a soft smile.
You nodded gratefully, looking around the rest of the tunnels at the few survivors. It was mostly children with one of their parents, and a few fighters who had been sent to protect the civilians down below. You spotted Kiran a few feet away, his legs tucked up to his chest and chin on his knees, silent tears streaking down his face.
“Soteria.” You murmured, nodding to the boy. “Bring Kiran over here. The poor thing’s terrified.”
Soteria looked over her shoulder, spotting Kiran and gasping softly. “Oh, oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” She cooed, hurrying over and gathering the child in her arms. “I’m so sorry, you must have been so frightened.”
“I want Mama.” Kiran wept, his little fists scrubbing at his eyes.
“She’ll come get you very soon.” Soteria promised. “Here, do you want to see the baby? Do you want to say hi?”
You gave Kiran a tearful smile of your own, tilting Calder slightly so Kiran could see. “His name is Calder.” You murmured. “Can you say that?”
“Calder.” Kiran repeated, hiccuping softly.
“Good boy.” You praised, shifting your arm so you could wrap it around Kiran’s shoulders, pulling him close and kissing the top of his head. “You’ve been very brave, Kiran. I just need you to keep being brave for a little bit longer.”
“I don’t wanna.” Kiran whimpered, scrubbing at his eyes again. “I want Mama. And Fives, and Quill.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.” You told him. “Here, do you wanna hold the baby for a few minutes?”
Kiran hesitated and sniffled, finally nodding once as he climbed up onto the cot, sitting carefully on the edge as you shifted, carefully passing Calder over to him and wrapping your arms around Kiran from behind to help support his grip.
“There you go.” You murmured. “Be careful, he’s very little.”
“Can he play with me?” Kiran asked.
“When he’s bigger, he’ll play with you all the time.” You promised with a smile. “You’ll be like his big brother.” You glanced at Omega. “And Omega can be like his big sister.”
Omega beamed, crawling a little closer to watch as Kiran held Calder.
“Try to move as little as possible.” Tech cautioned you, rising to his feet and pulling his gun from his holster. “I’m going to go above ground.”
“We don’t know if it’s safe yet.” Soteria protested.
“Then I imagine they will be needing some help.” Tech replied calmly, and glanced to Omega. “Stay with Soteria until one of us comes back to get you.”
Omega nodded, and peeked over at him again. “Can I hold him again?”
You nodded, gently taking Calder from Kiran and passing him into her arms, and she giggled.
“Look, he’s got the same eyes.”
You tilted your head and locked eyes with the sweetest pair of soft dark eyes you’d ever seen. You knew those eyes anywhere. You’d fallen in love with those eyes, twice.
“He’s going to look exactly like his papa.” Soteria murmured, smiling down at Calder as he yawned again.
You turned your head away, your fists bunching up in the fabric of Rex’s cape as you watched Tech disappear back into the tunnels.
“Please.” You whispered aloud, your eyes closed in a prayer to whatever gods were listening. “Please, let him be okay. Let Rex be alive.”
~
There is a future out there that exists for him.
He had seen it, as clear as his own reflection, clear as the blood that stained his hands, his cheeks, slicking the hilt of the sword still clutched in his fist.
Blood.
He could see it perfectly, could see it in the way his children smiled up at him, the way his wife’s eyes sparkled when she held his hand, could feel it in the sun on his skin.
It had been raining.
He’s warm. He’s so warm. Too warm. Too hot. Burning. He’s burning.
Everything is burning.
Why is he not dead? He’s supposed to be dead.
Everyone was dead. Everyone was dead. Is anyone still alive?
He flexed his fingers, digits curling in the dirt below his body. He felt the coarse earth against his palms, felt the ground rumble beneath him as something nearby collapsed in on itself – probably another house, he’d seen so many others fall in on themselves already.
Can anyone hear me?
He couldn’t see anything. Nothing real, at least. He could still see his children, could see them dancing just out of reach, out in a sprawling field where the sunlight left him feeling so very warm, so very safe, and not at all the way he felt now. He wanted to reach for them. He wanted to go to them, to her.
Was she even still alive?
I’m still alive.
Fuck, he was alive. His fingers were moving. Were his eyes open? He couldn’t tell. He couldn’t move his legs. He couldn’t move his body. His neck. His fingers could move. Fingers. Move your fingers.
I’m still alive.
Only one hand was moving. Where was the other one? He was afraid to look. Take me instead. Who had said that? Was it him? Was it someone else? Let me save him. Who had said that? He couldn’t remember. Everything was too much and not enough. He could still see his children. The sword was in his hand.
I think I’m still alive.
Maybe this is what the afterlife was like. He didn’t think a place like that existed for people like him. He didn’t think he’d earned it. Everyone was dead, maybe that meant you were gone too. You. You. He could still see you. Dancing and spinning and laughing with his children. Your children. Our children.
“Let me save him. Take me, and let me save him.”
Who said that? Save who? He didn’t think he was worth saving, not really. He’d already failed. He’d failed so much. Everyone was dead.
He gasped, eyes flying open as his hands flew instinctually up to his throat, choking on his own breath as his lungs suddenly inflated again, drawing new breath, new life, after he was certain his had been snuffed out.
Because he had been dead. He had felt it.
His senses returned to him at once, his chest heaving with the effort it took just to breathe, and a name surfaced to the forefront of his fractured mind. A warning. A promise. A prayer.
Maul.
He remembered the red blade plunging through his gut, remembered the way it felt, like liquid fire pouring into his insides and then oozing back out of him when Maul withdrew the blade again. He remembered falling to his knees, remembered landing on his back and struggling to draw a breath. He remembered a single thought, over and over, pounding like a drumbeat behind his eyes.
I’ll never get to meet my son.
“Stop!”
It had been Ju’Lah. Her little voice, echoing over the rain, her hand extended out to Maul in offering before him.
“Stop.” She repeated. “Stop, don’t – don’t kill him. I can heal him. Let me heal him. Let me save him, and I’ll go with you willingly.”
Maul’s reply was lost to Rex. His senses were beginning to fail him, his body slowly shutting down from his wound.
“Please.” Ju’Lah repeated. “Take me, and let me save him.”
Maul must have acquiesced, because the next thing Rex remembered was Ju’Lah, with her too large too black eyes hovering over his face, her furry hands pressed against his cheeks. She smelled like the earth after a thunderstorm, and the scent was comforting. Calming. Rex almost allowed his eyes to slip closed.
“No, no, Rex. Ba’Vodu, stay with me. Just breathe for me.”
Her hands were shaking when she pulled them away, her palms flat against Rex’s abdomen, where the wound lay. The feeling of fire in his guts began to subside, but still, Rex’s eyes fell closed.
That was the last thing he remembered.
He looked down, ghosted his fingers over the hole in his tunic, then raised the fabric entirely, shaking fingers bunched in the material. A sunburst pattern where the lightsaber had plunged through him hovered in the center of his torso, in the very same spot where Gol’Chek had a near-identical scar, remnants from his death on Gyatta.
Gol’Chek.
Rex turned his head, cheek mashing against ash and getting into his eye as he craned his neck, still not trusting himself entirely to move. Gol’Chek was motionless several feet away, his legs severed from his body just above the knee, flung into the ash, left to burn, left to rot.
“Gol’Chek.” Rex’s voice was little more than a rasp, soot coating his throat and lungs, and he struggled to draw a breath. “Gol’Chek!”
He’d been here before. He’d been here before, crawling through debris to get to his brother, so heavily injured himself that he couldn’t save his vod. Not this time. Not today.
He rolled over, forced himself to stand on wobbling legs, and managed four steps before stumbling, landing on his hands and knees in the debris of the village before making it to his feet again. He stumbled again, this time landing in a heap beside his fallen brother.
“Gol’Chek.” He said hoarsely, grabbing the other man by the shoulders and rolling him over. “Gol’Chek, please – fuck, don’t be dead. Don’t be dead.”
Gol’Chek’s hand shot upwards, grabbing Rex’s bicep and holding him firmly in place. “My staff.” He snarled out, spit bubbling from between his teeth and dripping down his chin, tinged with the red of blood. “Get my staff.”
Rex looked around, his eyes blurry and unfocused – rubbing at them only made it worse. He finally found Gol’Chek’s prized weapon, bringing it at once.
“Stab me.”
“What?”
“Stab me.” Gol’Chek repeated, tapping his torso with a shaking hand. “My – my body is h-healing itself.” He stuttered out, his prostrate form beginning to tremble all over, as though he was freezing cold. “If the n-n-nerves are he-healed then I c-c-can’t use prosthet-pros-thetics. I need t-to divert the healing.”
“You want me – I can’t.”
“Stab me or I’ll do it myself.” Gol’Chek gritted out, already reaching for the staff before groaning low in the back of his throat. “Fuck, fuck, stab me!”
Rex obeyed, aiming for Gol’Chek’s hip and doing his best to leave just a mere flesh wound. Nevertheless, Gol’Chek cried out in agony, his hands instinctively flying up to grab at Rex’s arms to push him away before he caught himself, balling his fists in the fabric of Rex’s tunic instead.
“I’m sorry.” Rex gasped, twisting the staff in deeper. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“FUCK!” Gol’Chek roared, and thunder boomed loudly overhead.
“Over here! I found survivors!” The modulated voice of a stormtrooper rang out across the courtyard, and Rex turned towards the sound, withdrawing Gol’Chek’s staff roughly and raising it in defense.
Before either Rex or the trooper could make a move, blaster fire rained from the heavens, sending two smoking holes through the stormtrooper’s chest. Rex turned to the sky, spotting another ship gliding across the horizon, with Mandalorians zooming out from behind the lowered cargo hold and flying down towards the village.
“Wolffe is here.” Rex whispered. “Gol’Chek, Wolffe is here. He came. We’re alright. We’re gonna be alright, he’s here.”
Even as the words left his lips, Rex felt the bitter taste of the lie on his tongue. Nothing was alright. Gol’Chek had lost his legs. Maul had taken Ju’Lah. Rex didn’t know if anyone else was still alive.
Was anyone still alive?
“He took her.” Gol’Chek rasped, his fingers loosening slightly on Rex’s tunic before falling away entirely as he slumped backwards into the dirt. “He took her.”
“We’re gonna get her back.” Rex promised. “It’s – it’s going to be alright, brother. Just focus on breathing. Stay alive.”
Stay alive.
~
Athena stumbled through the streets, taking one slow step at a time as she dragged her broken ankle behind her. Her foot scraped along the stones in the street, sludging through the blood running between the cracks in the cobblestones as she stepped around bodies of stormtroopers and friends alike.
So many of her people had fallen.
She winced, holding her arm against her chest. She’d dislocated her shoulder when Maul had thrown her aside, and she was certain the wound on the back of her head from where she’d hit it was still steadily oozing blood. She was struggling to focus.
Breathe. One foot in front of the other. Step. Step. Step again.
Her voice was hoarse and ragged, both from the smoke that hung heavy in the air from the burning homes and bombings, and from shouting.
She inhaled deeply, and screamed again.
“HELLO?!” She took another stumbling step forward. “IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?!”
Silence greeted her yet again, and she choked back a sob.
Step. Step. Step again.
“FIVES!” She screamed. “QUILL! REX! ANYBODY!”
“Athena!”
Athena stopped, turning towards the voice. Dogma rushed towards her, seizing her at once into a tight hug, despite her yelp of pain.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, where are you hurt?” He asked, pulling back to look her over. “You’re bleeding.”
“Is anyone else alive?” Athena asked, ignoring his concerns. “Have you seen anyone else?”
“No, no I haven’t seen anybody. But I’ve seen Mandalorians. They’re sweeping the village and picking off the last of the Imperials. We’re saved.” Dogma replied, a note of relief in his voice. “They’ll help us.”
“We aren’t safe yet.” Athena gritted out, pushing past Dogma and limping onwards. “I have to find the others.”
“They’ve probably made it to the tunnels by now, that’s where everyone headed once shit hit the fan.” Dogma replied, hurrying back over to Athena and bending down slightly. “Here, lean against me.”
Athena tossed her good arm over his shoulder, letting Dogma support most of her weight. “We need a working commlink.” She said. “Is yours functional?”
“Nothing but static on all channels, I tried already.” Dogma reported. “Athena, we should get you underground, you’re in no condition to -.”
“I’ll decide what condition I’m in.” Athena bit back. “I’m not going anywhere until we find the others.”
“You can barely walk!”
“I can do enough!” Athena pushed Dogma away, pulling her arm back and wincing, clinging to her other injured arm once more. “I don’t need your help.”
Dogma huffed, and his eye suddenly caught on something past Athena’s shoulder. “Look.”
Athena turned, spotting a familiar face crouched behind a building. Gregor’s hands were over his head, his eyes blown wide in panic, his whole body trembling.
“Gregor?” Athena called, hurrying over to him as quickly as she could. She dropped to a knee beside him, touching his arm gently. “Gregor, are you alright?”
“The bombs.” Gregor whispered. “The bombs, they – they won’t get me this time. They won’t find me this time. Not gonna get blown up again, they won’t – fuck, not here. They won’t get me here.”
“It’s alright, Gregor, it’s over.” Dogma soothed, kneeling on his other side.
“Brothers – they’re blowing us up.” Gregor hissed. “Our own brothers are trying to kill us.”
“These weren’t brothers, Gregor.” Dogma said quietly. “They’ve been – they’ve been phasing out the clones, you know that.” Even though Dogma didn’t know entirely if that was true, he was prepared to say anything to get Gregor back on his feet. “Come on, we need to move.”
“I saw them.” Gregor bit out, lowering his hands and instead taking Athena’s small hand in both of his own, squeezing it tight. “They were cornered. Two ran. One stayed behind to fight.”
“Who?” Athena asked. “Who did you see?”
“He was a distraction.” Gregor chuckled. “Yes. He was a distraction, you see. I tried to help him, but there were too many brothers. Too many.”
“Who?” Athena pressed. “Where?”
Gregor raised his hand, pointing towards a building that had clearly been fired upon by the dropships. The roof and walls had concaved inwards, and the structure was little more than rubble and debris.
Athena glanced to Dogma, and then rose quickly to her feet, hobbling towards the debris as quickly as her injured body would allow. With her one good arm, she tried to drag the rubble away, hollering as she did.
“Hello?!” She called. “Can anyone hear me?!”
She pulled away another chunk of debris and gasped. “Echo!” Her voice turned shrill, struggling to move the debris quickly. “Echo! Echo, can you hear me?!”
She whipped her head around to Dogma and Gregor. “Help me! He’s trapped.”
Gregor and Dogma rushed into action, joining Athena as she pried away pieces of the destroyed building bit by bit until Echo was unearthed. The soldier coughed, blood leaking steadily from a large gash across his forehead.
“Fives.” He managed weakly, pointing behind him. “He’s still in there somewhere.”
“Oh gods, oh my gods, Fives!” Athena passed Echo quickly off to Dogma, and immediately went back to digging. Her good hand was raw and bloodied from pushing debris around, but she didn’t care. “FIVES!”
A hand shot upwards from the debris, and Athena quickly uncovered him. Fives looked as though he’d been through hell and back, blood caked his face and chest, and Athena could tell from the wheeze of his breath that his ribs were shattered, and one of his legs was definitely broken.
“Move.” Fives rasped, pushing Athena aside and trying to haul himself out of the chaos. “Quill’s – gotta find Quill.”
“Hey, hey, easy, we’ll find him.” Athena grabbed him quickly, cupping his cheeks and trying to find the source of all the blood. “We’ll find him, he can’t have gone too far from you.”
“We were pinned.” Echo supplied once he caught his breath, leaning against Dogma. “Fives was injured and couldn’t run, so Quill distracted the troopers while the two of us made a break for the tunnels. We didn’t get very far.”
“Quill was right behind us.” Fives tried again, looking over Athena’s shoulder and desperately trying to look around the street for any sign of him. “Quill!”
“We’ll find him.” Athena said again, trying to settle him down. “It’s alright, we need to get you to a medic right away, both of you.”
“All of you need a medic.” Dogma griped. “We aren’t doing anything else until we get the lot of you to safety.”
“We should head to the town center.” Athena conceded, glancing to Gregor. “Help me carry Fives, I can’t do it on my own.”
“No! I’m not going anywhere without Quill.” Fives snapped.
“You can’t go anywhere unless you intend to crawl.” Athena said. “Quill will know to meet us in the town center. We can set up a basecamp there in front of the Command Center. If it’s still standing.” Athena muttered under her breath.
“Athena’s right. Quill can handle himself.” Echo said softly. “I know you’re scared, but chances are he’s already there looking for you.”
Fives hesitated, calming down a fraction before reluctantly nodding. “Alright. But if he isn’t there, I’m coming back out to look for him.”
“Come on.” Rex whispered, reaching down and pulling Gol’Chek’s arm over his shoulder and wrapping his arm around Gol’Chek’s hip, hoisting him up with surprising ease. With a chill, Rex realized Gol’Chek was far lighter than he’d expected because he no longer had any legs. “Fuck, Gods, we’ve got to get you to the tunnels.”
Gol’Chek screamed in pain as Rex started to move him, and Rex stopped immediately, pulling back and looking him over again.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I have to move you, I’m so sorry.” Rex bit his lip hard, sucking in a sharp breath. “Come on, on three. One, two -.”
He stood quickly, hauling Gol’Chek up with him, and Gol’Chek wailed, the top half of his body clinging to Rex while the stumps of his thighs flopped against Rex’s legs.
“I’m gonna get you help.” Rex whispered. “I’m gonna find help, come on, we’re gonna find help.”
He started to run, trying to jostle Gol’Chek as little as possible while still moving quickly. “HELP!” He screamed, clinging tightly to Gol’Chek’s body as the warrior’s arms began to slacken around him. “HELP, PLEASE, SOMEBODY HELP US!”
A Mandalorian rounded one of the streets, his blaster raised at the two of them, but he lowered it at once when he recognized them.
“Kriff, what happened here?” Wolffe’s familiar voice was masked by his helmet, but Rex nearly wept from relief all the same. The clone turned Mandalorian hurried over to them, holstering his blaster. “What happened?”
“Maul.” Rex said breathlessly, swallowing roughly before continuing. “Maul, he – he cut off his legs.”
“Oh skrag.” Wolffe muttered, looking over Gol’Chek and gently prying him from Rex’s arms. “I’ve got him, I’ve got him. We’ve got a triage zone set up on the edge of the village, we’re trying to round up survivors.” His voice turned somber. “You’re the first ones I’ve found.”
“Everyone – everyone’s underground. In the tunnels.” Rex managed, his voice wavering. Kriff, he hoped that’s where everyone was. Everyone had to be underground, safe and alive and not at all among the bodies lying in the street around them.
“How’d the Empire find you?”
“Maul.” Rex repeated, his voice shaking no matter how hard he tried to steady it. “Or – Or Thresh, I don’t – I think it was Thresh.”
“Okay, alright.” Wolffe soothed, adjusting his grip on Gol’Chek, who had slipped into unconsciousness. “We better get this one to the medics.”
Rex nodded dumbly, his head swimming as his mind tried to catch up. He’d been stabbed. Ju’Lah saved his life. Ju’Lah had been taken by Maul. Maul cut off Gol’Chek’s legs. Everyone was dead.
He fumbled for his commlink, shakily bringing it to his lips. “This – this is Captain Sho’cye. This is Rex.” He rasped. “Is anyone out there? Is anyone still alive?”
Wolffe turned his helmet slightly towards Rex, waiting, but only static rang back through the comms.
