Brother, I'm here

But what about Vacation?

     Rex looked down at the body of the brother that lay in front of him. Slick had been enough, now another traitor. The worst thing about it was that he would be executed for treason against the Republic. 

He looked up to Fives and Echo. "Good job, you two. I'm impressed," Rex said. "Thank you, sir," Fives said, saluting. Echo did the same. Suddenly, there was beeping on Rex's comlink. "I've got to go," he said, sliding his helmet on. They both saluted him, and then he was gone. 

     Fives and Echo sat in the barracks. Despite being glorified by Captain Rex and catching a traitor, their self-esteem still seemed rather low. Maybe it was because they weren't able to save their squad mates... No, it was definitely them not being able to save their squadmates. And now they were beating themselves up about it. Each of them felt equally guilty. 

    Echo was sitting on his bunk, looking at a holo-picture of Hevy, Cutup, Droidbait, Fives, and himself when Rex came in. "Boys, we're going home," he said as everyone saluted him. 

"But what about vacation?" Fives said jokingly. This earned a snicker from Rex.

"Well, it should be nice and rainy on Kamino, so I doubt you'd be able to work on your tan," he replied. Fives nodded in agreement. "Okay, get geared up and ready to move out," Rex said, leaving. 

    Kamino was rainy, as always. There seemed to be nothing unusual, which startled the clones. They were given a little bit of free time, which is something the Republic normally doesn't have. Fives and Echo walked down the hallways, looking for something to do. Something to distract them from knowing that they were so close to the barracks that Domino had stayed in, so close to their squadmates home. Suddenly they saw 99 down the hallway. "Hey, ninety-nine!" Echo yelled. "Echo, Fives!" 99 said, coming up to them. "You actually remember us," Fives said, astonished. "OH, I remember all of my brothers. Where's Hevy? Where's he?" 99 asked. "There was an incident on Rishi," Fives explained, trying not to break down in tears at the mention of his friend. "He saved our lives, but he sacrificed his own," Echo finished. "Oh..." 99 pulled out a medal. "Hevy gave you his medal?" Fives said. "So, what brings you two to Kamino?" 99 asked, trying to brighten the mood. "We think there might be an attack," FIves said. 99 looked up at him. "Well, how can I help."

    The battle lasted forever, full of laser bolts and grenades. And sadness. Echo sat there with 99 dying in his arms. First Droidbait, then Cutup, Hevy and now 99, he thought sadly. He was hiding his tears beneath his helmet and he was sure Fives was doing the same. Cody and Rex could tell that Fives and Echo were grieving. They had already lost so much, this was going to be hard on them. Cody and Rex looked at each other. Yes, that would work. Once they got up, Rex and Cody asked Echo and FIves to the landing platform. They stood in front of them. "Echo, Fives, you are officially being promoted to ARC troopers," Cody said. They were both incredibly surprised. Them, ARC's? They saluted them, ready to start their training.