The Bad Batch - One shots

Embers - Part 3

"These are the boys," Echo said once they ventured out of the ship and entered a parlour with neon signs and a sticky floor. A year ago, she would've scrunched up her nose, but now she could only appreciate the warmth and shelter that the parlour provided.

Ahsoka could already feel like she was being stared down by the Trandoshan woman speaking to the group of clones. Echo kept his flesh hand against her lower back. Her leg was still sore, in the midst of healing.

"Hunter, Wrecker, and Tech." He pointed to the blonde girl amongst them, "Omega's with us for the long run; she's a clone too."

Ahsoka mustered up the courage to give each man a small smile. She remembered how much fun she used to find breaking in the new shinies, and she'd follow Rex like a lost tooka whenever he was showing the new clones around the Resolute. Now, she felt like the rookie.

Her eyes were drawn to the same blonde girl who had been the one to notice her in the alleyway. It was clear that she was a clone now Echo had shared that information, and the longer Ahsoka looked at her, the more she thought of Rexster, which only made her heart ache.

"This is Ahsoka Tano," Echo introduced her, "Commander of the 501st."

The leader going by Hunter dipped his head, whilst the goggled clone waved a hand absentmindedly, reading something on his datapad. The final clone, one larger than any Ahsoka had seen before, grinned widely, "Would you like something to eat, Commander?"

Her mouth opened, prepared to announce that the title was no longer necessary or relevant, but the one called Tech beat her to it, lowering his 'pad, "Ahsoka Tano isn't a Commander."

Wrecker gawked at his brother whilst Hunter levelled Tech with a look, "Doesn't mean she can't have a warm meal."

Wrecker looked baffled as Cid stood from where she was leaning against the bar, eyeing Ahsoka up and down, "You Togrutas are carnivores, right? I might have something I can whip up for you."

"That's not necessary-" she started to protest.

"You're skin and bones, kid," Cid said, cutting her off as she passed to go behind the bar.

"Cid makes really good food," Omega chirped in, smiling warmly.

Ahsoka swallowed, sitting down in the seat that Echo drew out for her. She hadn't been called 'kid' in so long, it was like being back on the Resolute, sparring with Rex and listening to every word of praise and criticism with wide eyes. She could almost feel his hand patting her shoulder, keep up the good work, kid.

"The war might be over," Echo said, directing his words towards Tech, "but we can still owe people their correct military titles."

The clone gave him a deadpanned look, "She stopped being a Commander before the war was over, Echo."

Ahsoka pressed her lips together- she knew she would be forced to explain what had happened after Echo, well, died. She looked at the former-501st soldier, speaking before Tech could explain for her, "Rex never said why I wasn't around during Anaxes, did he?"

He shook his head, falling into the seat beside her with a heavy sigh, "I assumed you had been Knighted."

Her lips pursed, imagining a timeline where that could've been the case. If she decided to stay in the Order, she might've been Knighted that evening. She could've been a General and it could've been her leading the Siege on Mandalore, instead of just being an advisor.

She could've had her own Legion, something more permanent than the 322nd Division.

Though, that would've made Order 66 a hundred times worse. If it weren't for Rex and his willpower of steel, she never would've survived. Fighting her men was bad enough with her Captain at her back, she couldn't imagine going through that without him.