Unexpected

chapter five: secrets

"I know you're probably confused." Elara begins.

"Damn right I'm confused!" Echo says. "What the kriff was that about? You could've died!"

"But I didn't!" She reminds him.

"Yeah well.. How?!" Echo questions.

Elara sighs as she sits beside her friend. "I'll tell you everything." She promises. "Starting with how much I hate these stupid buckets." She lifts his helmet off of his head and tosses it onto an empty seat next to them, making Echo stifle a laugh.

"Why do you hate the helmets?" Echo asks, his tone now soft as he looks into Elara's blue eyes.

"It.. Reminds me too much of the war going on around us." She admits, looking down as she speaks. "I know you men fight for a good cause but.." She sighs. "There's too many lives taken. Too many lives at risk. So many innocent people in villages or neutral systems have been paying the price for something that can be handled diplomatically." She stresses.

Echo places a hand on her back to comfort her. "Is that why you're working for the Senator?"

Elara nods at his question. "When the war first started, I.. My parents had trained me to survive at all costs. My father, he was a warrior, a local soldier before the war." She smiles sadly. "And my mother, she was the strongest person I knew. She taught me what it meant to be brave and that there's a time to fight and a time to negotiate. Sometimes maybe even both."

"Was?" Echo asks. "Your parents, they.."

"They were killed." She finishes his sentence. "The war had finally gotten to the Rocantor sector and after weeks of fighting, the Republic fled, and Grange fell into the hands of the Separatists." She takes a shaky breath. "They wasted no time ravaging the villages, executing anyone who resisted. We were left for dead. It's a miracle that I got off of that rock before they got to me."

"Grange.." He speaks. "I was there." Echo looks at the girl speechlessly as he tries to comfort her. "You felt betrayed." He realizes. "The Republic spends all of its time claiming to fight for the people, yet they abandoned you in your time of need."

Elara doesn't move. Her eyes stay focused on the ground as tears gather in her eyes. Echo's heart breaks at the sight of her in such a vulnerable state and pulls her into a hug, allowing her to cry on his shoulder.

Unbeknownst to the two, Fives stood just around the corner listening to every word. His heart also breaks, he couldn't imagine how she felt—how she still feels.

The ship pulls out of hyperspace just above Coruscant and soon lands on the platform outside of the Senate building. By now, Elara has composed herself and left Echo to go change back into her dress.

"Head back to the barracks. I'll debrief you once I arrive." Rex orders and the two ARC Troopers nod as they exit the ship.

Echo glances back just as Elara walks down the ramp but she keeps her head down.

Fives notices his brother's distraction and nudges him. "Hey, what d'ya say we go to 79's tonight?" He asks.

"No, I.. I think I'll stay in." Echo pulls his gaze away from the girl to look at his brother.

"Alright, whatever you say." Fives smiles as they climb onto a pair of speeders and head back to the barracks.

Shortly after they arrive, Rex meets them in their quarters before bringing them to a private room for the debriefing. Not much is revealed other than what they already knew, but he did have a special request for the both of them.

"I'm sure you both know of Elara's... Capabilities." Rex clears his throat. "It was her request that the events of today's mission remain between us. Nobody is to know that she is a trained combatant." He continues. "If she is found out, it would compromise her position within the Senate."

"Yes sir." The two ARC Troopers say in unison.

"Good. Now, enjoy the rest of your night off." Rex nods at them before leaving the room.

Fives quickly cleans himself up before joining the others on their way to 79's. "You sure you don't wanna come?" He asks. "Your friend might be there." He reminds him.

Echo thinks about it for a moment but quickly decides against it. "You go on without me. If I get bored, maybe I'll show up."

Fives nods and closes the door behind him as he leaves with the others. Echo takes his time in the refresher, the hot water acting as a stress relief as it hits the back of his neck. Eventually he decides that he's been in there long enough and slips into his blacks before plopping onto his bunk.

The door swings open and Echo looks up to find Rex making his way towards him. "Soldier. Where's the rest of your squad?"

"They're out at the moment, sir." Echo quickly stands at attention. "Is something wrong?"

"Come with me." Rex instructs and Echo does as told.

They walk through the dim facility. Most troops in the 501st's wing are either asleep or at 79's, so the halls are pretty empty. Rex makes a turn towards the center of the building and pauses before opening a door.

Echo follows closely as they step inside and his eyes widen to find Elara standing by a screen that's suspended on the wall. He glances at Rex, who just nods at the man before leaving the room.

"Elara?" Echo furrows his eyebrows. "How did you get in here?"

"Rex is a friend too." She smiles but it quickly fades. "I wanted to apologize for dumping all of that on you earlier. I didn't mean any disrespect by it, I was just-"

"You don't need to apologize." Echo cuts her off. "What happened to you and your people was terrible. It goes against everything that my brothers and I fight for." He steps closer to her.

A pair of footsteps can be heard walking by and the two keep quiet until the person is gone. Echo glances up at her, knowing that a Senator's handmaiden could be seriously reprimanded for being seen here, and sighs.

"C'mon." He speaks quietly. "I know somewhere we can lay low without having anyone around."

Elara raises an eyebrow as she follows the soldier to the door. He clears the hall before gesturing for her to follow him. The two stealthily make their way back to his barracks, careful not to be seen by any stragglers.

Just as they reach the door, a trooper walks by. Echo pushes Elara inside before stepping in behind her.

"Hey! You there!" The soldier speaks up. "Have you seen the Captain?"

"I think I saw him heading towards the command center." Echo says.

The troop thanks him and walks away. Echo sighs in relief and slips into his room, closing the door behind him.

"Cozy place." Elara says as she looks around.

Echo notices the others' armor and weapons thrown carelessly about the room along with their personal belongings in no sort of order and sabaac cards spread across the floor.

"The others don't care much for keeping things tidy." He blushes. "As long as they have a place to lay their heads at night, they're fine."

Elara chuckles. "I can imagine that's from being out on the battlefield." She points. "It must be hard for you all to get any decent rest out there."

"Yeah well, we take what we can get." Echo shrugs. "So.. No creeps tonight?"

Elara stifles a laugh. "That depends.. Did you bring me here just to make a pass at me?"

Echo's face turns a deep shade of red. "N-No! Of course not." He swallows his embarrassment. "I brought you here so we can hangout." He admits. "I mean, if you want to."

She smiles sweetly at him. "Sure, why not." She makes herself comfortable. "It's not like I have anything better to do." She teases and Echo laughs.

The rest of the night is spent talking, laughing, and taunting one another as they play a few hands of sabaac.