When the Cavalry Comes.

XLV

Whiteout fiddled with his prosthesis, tinkering with the wrist joint.

"I don't know why you didn't just say you were close to Fives before. Would have been a lot easier than pulling that stunt with Bait to earn loyalty." Whiteout commented offhandedly.

"Hero worship only lasts so long. I couldn't keep holding it over their heads once they adjusted to him." Cav sighed as she packed her kit up. The bruise on her jaw was faded to a dark smear by now. "Bait's been cleared to go back to training?"

"Yes. They cleared him this morning. He milked that concussion for all it's worth. You still keeping in touch with your friend?" White flicked the wrist joint shut and flexed his fingers, tapping them against his palm lightly before reopening the panel and poking around some more.

"Di'kut? Yeah. He'll be pissed if I don't write him." She set a reminder on her datapad while she was thinking about it.

"He's scary." Whiteout shivered at the memory of him bursting into the practice room.

"Yeah, I guess. He kinda dipped in and out of my training so I'm pretty used to him. He was my first squad's relay officer during sims and he took a liking to me." She shrugged. "Covered my back on more than one prank spree before I was found out and whipped into shape."

White grunted, fiddling with the inner workings of his wrist some more. He held up his hand, panel still hanging loose and flapping with the motion.

"High five?" He asked. Cav slapped his palm. He sighed and went back to tinkering.

"Something broke?" She asked. Whiteout shrugged.

"Damaged one of the pressure sensors in my ring finger. I think I almost... there." He poked at his finger gingerly, flexed it, and shut the panel.

"Better?" Cav asked, closing her kit and pulling it over her shoulder. White nodded, grabbing his own kit.

"Better. I'll have a proper mechanic look at it back on the Resolute." As they walked out the room and towards the hanger where Fives would have new shinies he flexed his wrist a few more times.

As per Cav's instructions, the other three members of their squad were waiting for them by the main hanger. Viper gave her an flat look as she and White arrived.

Fives flashed a few ARC signs at her, indicating he wanted to talk later. Cav gave him the affirmative as they began loading into the transports. She gave directions to her squad to help load up some resupply crates they would be taking with them and helped then move the boxes onto the shuttle before making her way over to Fives.

She couldn't see his face through his helmet but his posture radiated tired annoyance.

"Best shinies they can give us and I bet half of them will be dead within a week. Not one of them has a brain in that skull of ours I'll bet." He grumbled before turning to her. "How'd it go?"

Cav shrugged. "We're all alive and they'll listen to me occasionally." Fives chuckled.

"Ok. Still making progress then." He looked at where White, Bait, Lure, and Viper where all sitting at the supply shuttle with their helmets off, elbowing each other and teasing. Even Viper had a tiny smile on his scarred face as he sat with them. "Are you starting to see why I put that group together?"

Cav nodded slowly. "I guess. It works in a disjointed kind of way. We're all hard edges that bump and chaff but we get the job done."

They were silent for a long moment. "I'm proud of you, Vod'ika." Fives said eventually. "You're gonna be an excellent commander someday. One to rival Rex himself mark my words."

Cav opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again. She cleared her throat awkwardly before managed a weak, "How's Kix?"

Fives huffed a laugh. "Pissed at the captain and commander as always. They've been sent to Onderon to help train up a rebellion. I was there too with them for a while until I was sent back to collect shinies."

Cav nodded absentmindedly. Fives gave her a side long look.

"Did you hear they're getting married?" He asked. Cav was still watching her squad, head in a hyperspace lane. "Cav?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. Was thinking about paperwork I'd have to do." She sheepishly turned her attention back to her ori'vod. Fivee huffed a short laugh.

"Gosh you're so much like Echo it hurts." He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "A good hurt, though. I asked if you heard that the captain and commander are getting hitched. Asked General Skywalker to give her away and everything."

Cav's eyes widened. "Wait really?! Isn't that super against the jedi rules though? And that's not even considering the breach in chain of command..." She gasped theatrically after a second. "They haven't even invited me!"

Fives shrugged. "Knowing Rex he's probably gonna ask for a more Mando'a wedding, so there won't be a lot of spectators."

Cav huffed anyways, even though she wasn't too mad at her friends. Even though half the GAR knew about them, best leave it to the rumor mills.

"But there is a party on Onderon afterwards," Fives winced. "And apparently everyone who served is being asked to go." He shifted uncomfortably. "And we're supposed to bring a date."

Cavalry couldn't help herself. She threw her head back and cackled.

"Oh kriff!" She wheezed, clutching her brother's arm for balance. "ARC Lieutenant Fives, right hand of Captain Kriffing Rex, the smooth as butter ladies man and romance genius, can't find a date!"

"Cavvvvvv," he whined, "I'm being serious!" Cav wheezed harder, removing her helmet and wiping off her eyes

Once Cav had recovered, Fives took off his helmet to speak with her. Seeing his face was a shock, even though she didn't show it. Had he always been that pale? Those concerned frown lines that deep? The dark smears under his eyes told of nights of work without proper sleep. Bloodshot eyes from overcaffination.

"I can get a date just fine!" He scoffed, mock offended as he grinned. "But, most girls would only say yes because of the novelty of it. Who doesn't want a genetically engineered perfect being on their arm for a whole night? I want to take someone who will see me for me."

Cav nodded. That sounded like a reasonable excuse for him not being able to find a date. "So who are you gonna take then? They'd probably object to you taking another clone..."

"Kix volunteered. Said if anyone could pull off heels and a dress it'd be him. But... I was hoping you? Could come with me?" He gave her his best puppy eyes.

"I don't know about that, Fives. Kix would absolutely rock a cocktail dress and stilettos."

Fives huffed. "Pretty please? For your Ori'vod?"

Cav snorted. "Sure. I'll go with you for the heck of it." She acquiesced at last. "At the very least it'll be funny."

Fives rolled his eyes as he put his helmet back on. "The things I do for your amusement. C'mon the gunships are ready."

"Hey! You're the one who asked me!"

A/N - Next chapter of WTCC is out and it only a little... *checks calendar nervously* four months late? Oops.