SWTCW Oneshots (Mainly Clones) part 2

Chaos

The blaster fire sent them running from Cid's office and into the main area of the building. Echo was ready to draw his gun, but Hunter had beaten them too it.

2 of the civilians from earlier were running off in a panic, while another cloaked figure lowered a blaster onto the table.

"What's going on in here?" Cid demanded, then looked at the figure in the distance. "Who are you?"

Echo waited, watching in uncertainty and discomfort as the person reached up with gloved hands to pull down the hood.

He felt his entire world lighten as soon as he saw the blond hair. He almost couldn't believe it. This was a dream. Not reality.

His eyes shot open. "Rex?"

Rex didn't look much different from when they last saw him. Except for the shaved patch of hair and the scar. He could assume that was from the inhibitor chip.

But Rex was here. Alive and whole and breathing—

Everyone else froze. And he ignored Cid's spiel about clones as his feet almost subconsciously moved him toward his friend, who he thought he'd never see again after missing him by a day on Saleucami.

Rex's hardened gaze met his own and softened. "Echo."

He smiled, then lunged and wrapped his arms around the Captain's neck. Rex was caught off-guard, visibly surprised for a few moments, before relaxing and returning the embrace.

"Missed you too, brother," Rex said, taking his own words from his mouth. "It's really good to see you."

Echo reluctantly pulled back after a few moments, standing at Rex's side.

"Captain," Hunter greeted.

"It's been a while boys," Rex said with a strained smile. Echo could practically feel the weight on his shoulders and could tell how drained he was.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

Rex shrugged. "That's a..long story."

After the Captain explained, Echo found himself being quickly amused upon watching Wrecker come in and bear hug his brother, lifting him off of the chair.

He was excited to see him meet Omega though.

Once Wrecker did put Rex down, the Captain turned and looked down at the younger female clone softly,

"Omega," Hunter said. "This is Rex."

He knelt down in front of her. "Now, I've met plenty of clones during my time. But I've never encountered someone like you before."

Echo watched as she approached him, tilting her head to examine his face. He stifled back a chuckle at the awkward look that crossed Rex's face.

"You're a generation one."

"Now, how'd you know that?" Rex asked.

"From the lines on your face," She replied innocently.

Echo couldn't hold back a snort.

Did she just call him old?

Rex laughed. "Yeah. Yeah, I suppose I've been around a while."

Skip forward a few minutes, he felt himself being swarmed with confusion and worry as his brother reached for his blaster. He could easily tell he was scared of these chips. Whatever happened to him definitely left a scar.

"I've seen what happens when the chip activates," He says. "And I don't want to bury anymore brothers."

Echo felt his heart sink.