Unexpected

chapter fifty: ghosts

After blowing up the Separatist fleet and landing on Anaxes, Elara keeps herself hidden on the Havoc Marauder while the others meet with the Generals for a short debriefing. The Bad Batch hangs back after being offered medals and Echo hesitates to turn back to them.

"Aren't you coming?" Echo asks.

"Not really our thing." Tech states.

"Accolades." Crosshair specifies.

"Yeah we're just in it for the thrill!" Wrecker laughs.

"Are you sure it's your thing?" Hunter questions.

Echo furrows his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Your path is different. Like ours." Hunter points. "If you ever feel like you don't fit in with them, well, find us."

Echo watches as the Bad Batch boards their shuttle.

"Those are some of the finest troopers I've ever fought alongside." Rex admits. "Echo, you and I go way back. If that's where you feel your place is, then that's where you belong." With that, the Captain turns to walk away.

Echo hesitates before joining the Bad Batch, glancing back to salute Rex as a goodbye. Rex nods at the group of them before continuing on his way, knowing that this was the best option for Echo—despite how much it hurts to lose him again.

The Bad Batch and Echo board the shuttle, where Elara is seated in the cockpit.

"She's joining too?!" Wrecker asks excitedly.

"She'd be a good addition to the team." Hunter vouches for her. "We all saw her skills on Skako Minor."

"Statistically speaking, her agility and small frame could come in handy." Tech points.

"In your dreams, boys." Elara teases. "You guys are my ticket home."

"You're going back to Coruscant? I thought that you wanted to disappear?" Hunter speaks up.

"Who said anything about Coruscant?" She asks, setting the coordinates for their destination.

Tech glances down at the coordinates and furrows his brows. "Raydonia?" He asks.

"What's on Raydonia?" Crosshair asks.

"My new life." Elara admits, glancing over at Echo. "You can come with me, if you want."

Echo blushes as the four other men look at him but keeps his gaze on Elara. He still hasn't truly processed the fact that Fives is gone, and he can't imagine the toll it's taking on her. Maybe staying with her for a little while isn't a bad idea, just until she gets back on her feet. He turns his attention to Hunter, who doesn't seem at all shocked by this turn of events.

"The choice is yours, Echo." Hunter states. "You make your own destiny."

*

The shuttle lands in the middle of nowhere on Raydonia and Elara says goodbye to the Bad Batch, her farewell with Hunter lasting a bit longer than with the others.

She takes a deep breath as she steps onto the planet's soil and a small smile creeps across her face. Without looking back, she makes her way through the trees as Echo watches from the shuttle.

"I'm just gonna make sure she finds somewhere safe to sleep. The sun will be down soon." Echo speaks up, glancing at the men before following Elara through the trees.

The four of them nod, but have their own suspicions on what this is really about. It's not long before they're placing bets on if he'll even come back.

"Ellie." Echo calls, following her through the alien-like trees.