The Remnant of Domino Squad

Chapter 2: Introductions

"Well, they're a little...unorthodox, to say the least. But I guarantee you, sir, they'll do their job well. They're two of the best ARCs out there. They might be a little rowdy, but trust me, when things get rough, they'll defend their brothers to their last breath.
–CT-7567, Captain "Rex", to N-11, Captain "Ordo"

Twenty-four hours later, Torrent Company barracks, 2100

(ARC-5555) Fives' P.O.V.

We're both laughing as we get to the barracks. Jesse, Kix and Hardcase are already in the room, snickering to themselves.
"This shit is bananaaaas!" They say at the same time, and we all burst out laughing.
"I still can't believe you played that song over the speakers on the cruiser!" Says Kix, holding his stomach as he laughs.
"I know!" Says Jesse, slapping his knee. "I thought Yularen was gonna kill you guys!"
"He would have," says Echo.
"But General Skywalker wouldn't let him 'cause Sal Kirata needs us for this mission," I say.
"You know, he's gonna find out sooner or later if you keep calling him that," says Jesse with a smile.
"I'm countin' on it," I reply with a wink and sly smile.
"Gentlemen," says Rex, suddenly in the doorway, his helmet tucked under one arm.
"Captain on deck!" Says Echo, and we all snap to attention.
"At ease," says Rex. "Jesse, Kix, Hardcase, you're on official leave with the rest of the 501st, along the 41st Elite."
"Good to hear, sir," says Kix. "I need to restock on our medical supplies."
"I can't wait to hit the bar!" Says Hardcase excitedly. He's talking about a bar on the edge of the entertainment district; 79's. It was designated as the official "clone bar" shortly after the start of the war. The owner's have been having pretty good business since then, but most of the time, the drinks are free because clones don't get paid. Unless of course, their Jedi Generals are kind enough to lend them a few credits, but I think that only happens in the 501st.
"I'm sure," says Rex. "Dominoes."
"Sir!"
"Report to briefing room 8 tomorrow morning at the HQ Main Admin Building at 1500 hours. Don't be late. Understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Echo and I speak at the same time.
"Can I ask a stupid question, sir?" I ask.
"You sure can," says Hardcase. "Better than anyone I know. 'Cept for me, of course."
"Go ahead," says Rex with a sigh.
"Do you think we'll have time to hit the bar with the boys?"
"That'll be up to Skirata," he says.
   "Fantastic," I mumble under my breath.
"Listen, guys," he says wearily. "It'll be better for you if you just accept the fact that Skirata is a Mandalorian. I've met him before, and I can honestly say he is nothing like the Death Watch. Besides, you didn't seem to have a problem with him or Captain Ordo in that crackhead dance line of yours."
"Wait...that was...Skirata?!" I ask. "Are you serious?" Rex nods.
"Wow," says Hardcase. "I didn't think he'd be so short, or...so old."
"To be honest, neither did I," says Rex. "Anyway, I won't be around to cover your shebs this time, so just...play nice, alright, boys?" He gives me a look.
"Yes, sir," I say.
"Thank you," he says slowly. "Now get a good night's sleep. I mean it. No staying up and pranking the boys. They need their rest, same as you."
"You got it, Cap," I say. Hardcase and I give him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I don't need Jedi senses to know he's crossing his fingers behind his back. Just like I am.

Approx. three hours later...

   Careful! I tell myself as I stumble over my own feet. I put the paint buckets back and go to check on Hardcase's progress.
When we decided to prank the rest of Torrent Company–and the rest of the 501st, because I can't help myself–I was the instigator, as usual. My job was to put little plastic cups around every bed–including Captain Rex's, even though we know there'll be hell to pay when he wakes up–with little trip wires connecting them to buckets on the ceiling. Hardcase's job is to rig the buckets to dump a mixture of sparkles, confetti, and neon–pink–paint on the unsuspecting troopers who trip the wires.
When I get inside the barracks, I side-step the booby-trapped cups, looking up at Hardcase as he carefully pours the mixture into the buckets, making sure they won't tip unless triggered. This ingenious plan is a mix of two of the oldest pranks in the book. One, the cups. Usually, they'd be filled with something like water–or thumbtacks, but even I'm not that cruel–and wouldn't have trip wires attached to them. And two, the buckets. And usually, those would be dumped by hands. But my ingenuity knows no bounds when it comes to lovingly pranking my brothers. Even so, this is the first time we've pranked Rex, so I'm a little nervous.
Hardcase looks down, noticing me for the first time, and gives a thumbs-up before going back to securing the buckets. I return the gesture.
"You better get to bed," he whispers quietly. "I'll finish up here."
"No," I whisper back. "You could need help."
"Okay, fine."
After a few minutes of tense waiting in even more tense silence, Hardcase finally repels down from the ceiling and disconnects first himself from the line, then the line from the roof, all in complete silence. He gives me another thumbs-up, smiling mischievously as we tip-toe first to his locker to put his rappelling line back, then to our bunks.
I climb silently into my bunk and shut my eyes, trying–unsuccessfully–to sleep, excited about what kind of mayhem tomorrow will bring.

SO Brigade HQ Coruscant, briefing room 8, 1500 hours

Kal Skirata's P.O.V.

The room is silent as we wait for the Domino Twins to show up. Delta Squad settles in the seats on one side of the briefing table, Omega on the other, with the table between them. I could slice through the tension between Sev and Atin with a vibroblade. Don't they think I've noticed? I know how to read every nuance of cloned men like a book, even if they're not the ones I know personally. In fact, I can read most species now. So either they think I'm stupid, or they're just so at ease in my presence they feel no need to disguise their feelings.
Delta Squad–like Omega–is painfully loyal to their Sergeant, even if that Sergeant is a total psychopath like Walon Vau. I suddenly realize that, sitting around in dark red fatigues, they look disturbingly young without their armor and weapons.
The door swishes open and two ARC troopers walk in, fully decked out in their kamas and pauldrons. The room falls silent as they file in front of me, removing their helmets and tucking them neatly under their right arms.
"ARC-1409, Lieutenant Echo, reporting, sir," says the ARC with the parallel lines on his helmet, stepping forward slightly. He fidgets a little, revealing the inside of his right wrist. On it is painted a little 99. What's that supposed to mean? I wonder. Something else that catches my attention is the blue handprint over his heart. It doesn't look like it was painted on; it's a little sloppy, and looks like someone actually pressed their hand onto the armor. I can imagine it; a brother dipping his hand in blue paint and then pressing it against the left side of his chestplate.
The next ARC who steps forward has a black tattoo over the right side of his forehead, and a goatee the same color as his hair. That's when I recognize him as the ARC who was the instigator of that little dance yesterday. I wonder if they recognize me.
"ARC-5555, Lieutenant Fives, reporting...sir," he says, standing at attention. He's got a red and blue eel design on his helmet, and a V pointing down on his chestplate. There isn't a single trace of the joy I saw on their faces yesterday. I don't know why, but it's almost disappointing. The men standing before me now look like your typical ARCs. Only they aren't, because, unlike, typical ARCs, they earned they rank in combat.
I realize I have no idea what to expect from them, the survivors of Domino Squad. Captain Rex said they were "unorthodox", but I just assumed that meant they were somewhat like the Nulls. But if there's one thing I know about Fives and Echo from the short time I've known them, it's that they are nothing like my boys.
I'll definitely need more time to decide if that's good or not.

A/N:
Well, I finally have the second chapter out! XD I hope you enjoyed it!!
As always, let me know what you think, and God bless!!