Clone Oneshots

Goodbye Isn't Forever

Word count: 675

Translations: vod: brother, Ech'ika: Little Echo

Warnings: slight spoilers for episode 8 of bad batch S2. Sadness :)
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Echo awoke with a gasp, covered in sweat. He sat up and pinched the bridge of his nose

This was the fourth time this week.

Echo decided to get up, sliding out of his cot and quietly walking to their ration supply—well as quiet as you can be with metal legs.

He grabbed a cup and poured some water from a canteen into it. He hastily drank it down, wiping his brow with his flesh hand.

I shouldn't be this upset. He thought. I chose to leave, I'm doing what's right.

But it hurts.

Echo grumbled, putting his cup down on a nearby crate. He and Rex had been traveling from place to place, trying to find as many rogue clones as possible. Echo found that he had a harder time sleeping than usual. Not the nightmares he typically had of Skako Minor or the citadel, nightmares about the Bad Batch. About Omega.

They were always the same too, starting out how he remembered; Hunter, Tech, and Wrecker wishing him luck and saying their goodbyes, Omega being confused as to what they were talking about.

"You can't leave. We- we're a squad!"

"Omega, this is something I have to do. Going where I'm needed."

"But...we need you too."

The dreams would then cut to some dangerous mission his brothers and sister were on, struggling to make it to the ship as Imperial troops fired at them. They all ended the same: each bather getting shot down, one by one.

Until Omega was the last left. A trooper would knock her down as she tried desperately to fight back, not being strong enough. Then the trooper would aim his blaster straight at her head as Omega pleaded for him to spare her.

Then the shot would go off and Echo would wake up.

He was worried they would struggle without him, but they had done it before, they can do it again. Only, these dreams made him doubt that statement. He wondered if he had helped train Omega enough.

Echo hadn't noticed Rex standing behind him. "Echo, this is what, the third time this week?" He asked, crossing his arms as Echo turned to face him. Rex internally cringed at Echo's appearance, his skin was paler than it already was, he had heavy bags under his eyes, and he hadn't shaved in a few days, causing light stubble. Echo always made sure he shaved, his 501st brain still intact.

Echo sighed, "Fourth." He corrected.

"Okay spill it vod, what's wrong?"

Echo avoided his gaze, focusing on the wall behind him. "I...I don't know, Rex." He said. "I can't sleep. Every time I do, the dreams come back and they-they die because I'm not there to help." Echo admitted.

Rex's stern expression shifted to one of understanding. He came closer to Echo, resting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. "You just miss them. It's natural." Rex assured him. "I know how you feel, I miss the 501st."

Echo finally looked Rex in the eye, a sad smile on his face. "I do too. I just don't want the Bad Batch to end up like all my other brothers." He said. First the Dominoes, then Hevy, 99, Hardcase, Tup, Fives. He couldn't risk losing more brothers, and his only sister.

Rex pulled Echo into a hug. "They'll be fine, Ech'ika. You'll see them again." He assured. Echo gripped onto Rex's shirt, burying his face into Rex's shoulder.

"Goodbye isn't forever." Rex said, "You'll see them again one day. Even if it's in the afterlife." Echo nodded and backed away from Rex. "Thank you, Ori'vod." Rex smiled softly at Echo and put a hand on his shoulder. "Try to get some sleep." He said, walking back to his bunk.

Echo lingered for a bit before sighing and walking sluggishly over to his bunk. He laid down, bidding a silent goodnight to his brothers and sister, wherever they were in the galaxy, Rex's words echoing through his mind.

Goodbye isn't forever.

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I know I said I had happy chapters—and I do—but all I can think about rn is Echo leaving and breaking my heart and thus I wrote this.

@ TrylynaRie pls don't be mad-

ANYWAYS I hope you enjoyed this chapter, comments and votes are greatly appreciated! Don't forget that requests are always open! Have a great day/night, ily