10 | Echo

333 23 22
                                        

22 BBY, Month 9

Joseta

Joseta followed Kix to the GAR training facilities just to humor him, but she didn't realize that she was following him to see Fives again

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

Joseta followed Kix to the GAR training facilities just to humor him, but she didn't realize that she was following him to see Fives again. They were on an overhang observing an obstacle course from above. Fives was waving at them the whole time, doing stupid backflips, showing off whenever he could to get a laugh from his growing audience.

"Kix, I'd like to stay out of trouble instead of finding it in Fives," Joseta said, crossing her arms as looked away from Fives' performance.

"But where's the fun in that—" Kix paused, giving out a holler as Fives finished his run through the obstacle course. "Oh, good! Echo is next."

"Who is Echo?" Joseta asked, but her words stopped short as a clone with a handprint on his armor walked out, placing a helmet on his head. Without the flare of Fives, the clone sprinted towards the gaping hole in the floor, somersaulting through the air to land on his hands before leaping back onto his feet. Without hesitation, he leaped for the rope wall, climbing up with elegance and speed.

Joseta's jaw dropped. Whoever this clone was, he was scary. Scary good. "Dude..."

"I know," Kix said, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "He's so amazing."

"This is ARC training, right?" Joseta asked as Fives made his way up to them. "It's insane." She inhaled as Echo rolled through a barrage of enemy fire near the end of the course. He picked up a shield, throwing it at the fake droid firing at him, cutting off its head.

"I know, ARC troopers are just built different," Fives said, shrugging as he leaned on the railing to wink at her. Yeah, she didn't want to be around him. He was trouble.

Clearing her throat, she watched Echo finish the last part of the course, his time being better than Fives. As Echo made his way up to greet Kix and Fives, Joseta noticed the next trooper enter the course. He also had blue armor, marking him as a 501st. His helmet donned a... smileyface? Joseta saw the screen on the railing write out, "CT-21-9022" but she didn't know what his name was. He started to go through the course with similar speed and precision as Echo, though if possible, even less flair. He seemed a bit more hesitant though.

"Jos, let's go!" Kix exclaimed, waving her away from watching the other ARC trooper. She jogged towards her friend, leaving the training room behind her.

Echo, who had taken off his helmet, was watching Joseta, nodding to her. "I'm Echo," he said, offering his free hand.

She shook it gratefully. "Joseta Pro'oz," she said, smiling. "You did amazing out there! Those flips and landings were so clean."

Echo flushed red. "Oh, um, thank you."

Fives placed an arm around Echo and Joseta's shoulders. "I think that Josie here should try the course after Giggs has his go."

Part the Tide |  Captain Rex (BOOK 2 of the CHANGING WAVES series)Where stories live. Discover now