Omega's pov
"Hunter we've got company."

"Is it more scrappers?" Hunter's voice asked over the coms.

"No. It's the Empire."

"Actually I could be more specific." I heard Ahsoka chime in. I didnt like that grave tone she used. I recognized it anywhere. Even Cloudy who was still in my arms slightly growled.

"What's wrong girl?" She stopped growling and peered up to me with a look of daved confusion and... fear? How can a loth cat feel fear? Are they that far evolved?

"We all know who's on that ship with excessively large wings." I snorted despite knowing the deep truth. I thought Crosshair was bad? He seems like an absolute peach compared to Darth Vader. It seemed like seconds before they were all standing in front of us. Hunter really felt the need to whip out the binoculars. I rilled my eyes as he leaned froward and then back.

"Yep that's Crosshair alright."

"Well no shit genius. How many troopers are there?" Fives impatiently asked.

"Three attack shittles worth." Once again I rolled my eyes.

"You know what, forget the troopers! Darth fuckin Vader is on that ship!" Fives exclaimed. Finally something worthy of being heard.

"Fives is right. He should be our main concern right now." I pitched in. Ahsoka pit a gentle hand on my back and the othe rhand on Cloudy's head.

"No Darthy is my main concern right now. Crosshair should be all of yours. I am the only qualified to fight Vader, so fight him I shall." I scoffed and whaked her hand off of me and Cloudy.

"Excuse me!? I am perfectly qualified. Im so qualified I dont even know what to do with all of this overflowing qualification!" I tried to argue back but all she did was chuckle. Not going to lie that hurt a little.

"Master what I'm trying to say is wouldn't you have a better chance of success if you had help? And who else is gonna help you? Fives? I don't think so." Sveryone had their different reactions. Wtecker cheered me on, Hunter was mortified by the idea of me gling anywhere near Vader, Ahsoka was unsure, Echo, Rex and Tech were proud, and Fives looked flat out offended.

"We'll determine this when the time comes. Right now we need a plan of action and escape." She changed the subject. Unbelievable! Everytime I start winning an argument she always changes the subject so I forget what my argument was later! Classic mom move.

"We already got what we came for. We should just go back to the Marauder." Wrecker suggested. Was he reffering to everybodys chip removal or the explosives he was still hovering around with him?

"They're already on board the cruiser. We need a covert way out." Ahsoka shook her head.

"It won't matter how covert you are. Darthy can sense my presence. He knows where I am and if Im with you guys... it won't end well. Im the one he's after anyways. So here's how this is gonna work-"

"No." Rex interrupted. A soft gasp escaped my lips as well as a surprised sound from Cloudy.

"If what Ive heard about this Darth Vader is true then Im not letting you anywhere near him." Rex stated firmly yet softly. Ahsoka looked taken back and a little offended at his words. The wholebteam including Fives took one bigbstep back to give the couple their space.

"Excuse me did I just hearbyou right? You won't let me go face him? You dont have to let me do shit! I love you but I dont need your permission. Your not one of my ranking officers anymore."

"You know experience putranks everything."

"All the more reason you can't stop me." I sighed and looked put the window. This argument was getting nowhere. Outbthe window i coukd see Crosshair's groups marching into formation. Crosshair waited at the side of a ship and then out came the horrific dreadful black mask and cape. Darth Vader marched down the ships landing playform but suddenly paused. His head jerked up and even though I couldn't see his eyes behind that cold dark mask of his, I knew he was looking right at me. I gasped and ducked as soon as my body registered what was happening.

"I love you! All I'm doing is trying to protect you." Rex said rather loudly than the usual argument tone of his. Not that they wrgued a lot, but they did occasionally. However when they did it was never terribly long. They always compromised.

"Im trying to do the same which is why I must face him alone."

"But you dont jave to do everything alo-"

"I know! For once in my life, I know I'm not alone qnd I don't feel that way anymore. You all are my family and I'm willing to do anything to protect you all. Darth Vader is a formidable opponent, but not an undefeatable one. I survived hum before I can do it again and I will do that knowing that if anything goes wrong I have my family to help me. I need you to be my back up. Your not ready for Vader and shouldn't fight him unless absolutely necessary because your not ready." Ahsoka finished. I found myself holding Cloudy a little tighter. She's a good emotional helper animal that's for sure.

"What am I not ready for? Fighting Darth Vader? Or seeing him." It was a question ghat will forever go unanswered because I had to interrupt.

"I hate to interrupt you two but wete about to have company. Darth Vader knows where we are so I assume Crosshair does too." I decided to leave the part of me getting us caught out. That's not important right now anyways.

"We have to act fast. Anyone have any brilliant plans?" Hunter interjected.

"I say we all just book it down the corridors and hope for the best." Groans echoed all over the room, all directed towards Fives' idiocy.

"And you were an arc trooper, why!?" Fives shrugged and patted Echo's back.

"To be fair he was usually the brain. Mostly because he could actually use his." I rolled my eyes but there was no denying it.

"Well for starters they'll do a forward aft-sweep so we alternative corridors to avoid them. Let's get movi-"

"Wait. You guys go. I'm staying where I am." Everybody groaned. Why does she always act like this?

"Ahsoka why do you feel the need to constantly defy us?" Tech asked in a rather disgruntled tone. Tech sounded genuinely scared when his usually monotone voice wavered like that. It was touching but unnerving, because when Tech's scared you should be too.

"I'm not defying, I'm defending and protecting. Sometimes ypu gotta take one for the team."

"Ahsoka please let me come with you. Or somebody. Anybody!" She sighed and gently removed Rex's helmet to reveal one clear tear sliding down Rex's cheek. It breaks my heart when she has to fight someone so close to her.

"I dont want you to fight because I'd die protecting you. Tell me Rexter, how do you plan on fightimg Darth Vader?" Dead silence. No one dared to say a word. Until Rex sucked a breath in.

"Together." Ahsoka scoffed and stepped even closer.

"We'll lose." She whispered.

"Then we'll do that together too." Obviously she wasn't surprised by his response but something in her eyes shifted. A new emption, a recognition for the same feeling she was feeling.

"Alright Rex. Together it is. You can stay, so can you Omega. Fives can tag along too. As back up, only. Am I clear?" We both burst into smiles and frantic nods. Some backup is better than no back up. At least she budged a little bit.

"Alright listen up. Here's the plan. The original bad batch and Fives will go find Crosshair and lead him away from his legion. Stun him and bring him to the Marauder then pick all of us up. Hopefully no one else will be in the medbay except for Crosshair when we remove his chip." They all nodded in unison clearly happy about the plan.

"Uh hey, um quick question. How are we gonna get you people on the Marauder if your still up here?" Fives questioned Ahsoka. She merely chuckled and walked down the hall. I scoffed and followed her out.

"You better get going. Vader is coming." I tried to warn all of them. They nodded and started jogging down the corridor and holstered their weapons into their capable hands. I watched as they turned the corner. I couldn't help but feel like this was the last time I'd see them.

"Rex, Fives. Your priority is keeping Omega safe. Omega your priority is keeping Cloudy quiet and keeping a leveled head. Clear?"

"Diamond." They all looked back at me confusedly. I just looked aroujd confused and concerned.

"W-what?"

"The expression is crystal." Oh. Well to be fair I've lived with stuck up long necks on the most basic planet in existence my whole life.

"They should be well gone by now. Hopefully their smart enough to come up with a plan for the plan." It was funny however all laughter was ceased when loud, booming footsteps were heard. We all knew who it was. An unspoken silent agreement was made, Ahsoka nodded and skidded outside to the hall where we all knew he was waiting.

"At last, I finally found you." I can't even see him but I saw Ahsoka and I knew this time she was preparrd for the emotional crap he brought along with him.

"You didn't find shit. I led you to me on purpose genius." She spat at him with so much spite I barely recognized her voice.

"This time I will be taking you alive, apprentice. You may not think it as of now, but I know you were meant for more in this galaxy. More than a chauffeur for a few rogue clones and a certain captain." She gasped lightly, as did I. Rex was glaring daggers through the man's mask, if he even is a man at this point. Fives had to physically hold Rex back from raging outside and ripping that ugly mask off with his bare hands.

"Your right I am meant for more than a chauffeur. I am a strong, real, independent jedi who isn't taking your sith shit today bitch. I don't care who you are or were to me, you harm my family you have a deathwish. Prepare to pay up Darthy." She activated her two long blue sabers and held them in her traditional reverse grip. I wanted so badly to junp out with my light saber and just cut off that ridiculous mask of his but I refrained. Your back up only Omega, back up only.

"You will come with me, one way or another apprentice. This need not to be difficult or complex so please don't make it either. Come willingly and your friends can leave this planet in peace." I growled but Fives clasped a hand over my mouth while also holding Rex back with an arm and a leg. Ahsoka wasted no time in lunging at Darthy. Unfortunately he activated his lightsaber just in time to meet hers. You could hear the blades hitting each other as they wildly thrashing around battling for the upper hand. I couldn't see either of them but I could hear them as clear as 'crystal'. How was I supposed to know when she needs back up if I couldn't see them? I squinted my eyes shut trying to see my masters fight through the force but all I saw was red. Blood.

"Ugh I can't take this anymore!" I tossed Cloudy to Fives who was now buckling Rex to the wall with his right leg and arm, gripping my mouth shut with his left hand and catching a cat with his left foot. The poor guy was quite literally all over the place but I did break free from his hold. I activated my light saber and turned the corner to see them in light saber lock. I charged at him but he simply force pushed me back. Now I'm back where I started. I could still hear Rex and Fives in the corner.

"Well great now what do we do!?" Fives whisper shouted.

"Our job is to keep Omega safe so that's what were gonna do." They holstered their pistols and nodded to each other. I have never seen Fives so serious in my life. It filled me with a lot more determination. I picked up my saber again and got to my feet. I tried to charge at Vader again but two headstrong clones fromed a blockade in front of me! I wanted to be mad but I couldn't.

"Your getting weak old man."

"I have merely 5 more years of age than you padawan." Bleh he makes everything sound so formal. It's litetally so gross. Vader sidekicked Fives in the stomach while still fighting Ahsoka and he fell backward. He tried to do the same to Rex however Rex learned his fight pattern and parried the kick and then shot Darth Vader in the leg. The monster let out a loud angry groan.

"Why must you always argue with me Ahsoka." It wasn't really a question. I ran to help Fives off the ground. I picked up his helmet and handed it to him.

"You okay?" He chuckled dryly and took the helmet from me.

"I should be the one asking that Megs. How ya holding up?" I shrugged as I watched him put on his helmet. My eyes flickered from him to Ahsoka force pushing Rex back to us and going back to fighting Darthy. When I reached out to Darth Vader I could feel his determination to capture Ahsoka as well as the fear of what would happen if he failed. But there was more. A clouded emotion involving Rex and Fives. He was too strong or I was too weak to sense that emotion though.

"I'll be a lot better once this asshole is dead." They both gasped.

"Where did you learn that word!?" They both exclwimef at the same time.

"Take a wild guess." They looked at each other with a deadpan look. I reactivated my light saber and sent them a lazy salute before running at Darth Vader again. Instead of charging straight at him this time I leaped off wall to wall and pounced on him from behind.

"Enough!" He boomed and he must have sensed me because out of nowhere he spun and I was froze in mid air.

"Stop! Release her immediately! Like I said, I dont care who you are or were. I won't hesitate to kill you."

"Bold as ever my young apprentice, however you are currently in no position to be disrespectful or snipy as of now." She growled, I could feel her sense of helplessness right now and I felt horrible knowing this is exactly why she wanted me Fives and Rex to go with the batch. To avoid exactly what is happening right now. I couldn't move and the harder I tried the more stuck I felt. It felt like the world was closing in on me, squeezing me even. Ahsoka sighed in defeat and deactivated both of her light sabers. I noticed she kept them in her hand. I tried to smile sensing a plan in the air but couldn't.

"Board my ship, and the clones will not be harmed." I internally winced as he said that word with such distaste and hatred. Are we absolutely sure this guy used to be Anakin Slywalker the chosen one and the clone savior? Speaking of clones. Where are those lovable scamps who have a tendency to try to save the day? Suddenly I heard a gun click beside me. My eyes darted to the side and I could see Rex with a pistol in his grip and a hard glare on his face. He looked downright dangerous.

"Hello again, Captain." Darthy spat the name with such venom it rattled my bones.

"Why."

"Pardon?" Darth Vader pretended to be clueless but he knew exactly what Rex was asking.

"Why did you leave us General? What was the breaking point?" Darth Vader let out a sinister chuckle that could make anyone want to curl up in a ball and die.

"Everybody thinks it was a single breaking point that did it, but no. My entire life, has been a council of meaningless mewling quim trying to tell me how to live my life. My closest friends died out and every one of their deaths was my fault. My little sister was cast out of the order and when I reached out my hand to her to come back it wasn't just for her good. She left, everybody left. If I had to pick a breaking point, it'd be the first dream of my wife dying. You knew better than anyone, Captain, that she was all I had left." Ahsoka interrupted him with a snort.

"You find my loneliness and your failure funny, apprentice?"

"Obi-wan always told me I was dramatic. Now I see where I got it from. To answer your question, no I find it funny that you think you had it rough. All the stuff you complained about wasn't forced on you! So you can just calm your idiotic self Ani!" Whatever she said clearly made the monster mad because he completely forgot I existed. With a sudden fury he lunged at Ahsoka with so much power. She let out a yelp and just barely blocked in time. She put up a good act but I could tell this is the reaction she wanted. I fell to the ground, finally free of Vader's hold. Luckily my light saber didn't cut me. I firmed my grip around it and stood to my feet. I ran to join the fight again but I noticed someone else didn't join me.

"Rex? You good?" He just stood there. He didn't make an effort to answer me at all.

"Rex? Rex!"

"It's all my fault." I didnt want to be rude but I couldn't help facepalming.

"Rex get ahold of yourself! None of this is your fault! You are literally the most innocent person here!" He scoffed and finally moved to turn his head at me.

"I helped create that monster."

"Rex no! Now is not the time to be living in the past!"

"Im not living in it, I'm dying with it." I sighed. So he's having a slight existential crisis, those end fairly quickly right? RIGHT!? I did the only thing I could think of since it's clear he's not coming to his senses anytime soon. I grabbed his blaster pistol and ran.

"You don't get to call me that!" He roared. Oh how the turns have tabled- I mean tables have turned.

"Why not, Ani?" He growled. Darthy was clearly distracted and blinded by his anger and impulse. It was the perfect time to strike. I was quiet and as stealthy as possible I snuck up behind him. I leaped up with my lightsaber in one hand and the pistol in the other. One shot rang out but it wasn't shot by me. Darth Vader suddenly froze. I was still coming down from my jump and cut Darthy right in the back. It wasnt enough to kill him but it definitely didn't tickle either. We all slowly looked down at his torso to see a large gap in it. Then up to see the man who fired the shot. He removed his helmet to stare his victim, the monster in the eye.

"For what it's worth, we all loved you. General." Fives stare lingered for a second longer on his former leader and mentor who he legit just shot. A random person would see a strong clone trooper who saved the day, but all I saw was a scarred little boy with tears in his eyes. The window Fives stood in front of was suddenly lit up by the Havoc Marauders lights.

"Ahsoka was right. You chose to be here. You chose to become this." With those final words I took initiative and shot the window behind him several times shattering the glass. Vader slumped to the ground and held his stomach. Ahsoka and I grabbed Rex's atms and forced him up.

"Come on Rexy, snap out of it!" Ahsoka whisper shouted.

"Rex!" She took off his helmet and slapped him. His head jolted into place.

"Time to go hun." She explained breifly and rushed him out again. I pushed him out the window and Ahsoka force pushed him onto the Marauders ramp.

"Ow." Was the last we heard from him. Next was Fives who willingly jumped and didn't need a push. He landed safe and sound and helped his Captain up. But when I tried to jump I couldn't. An invisible hand was holding me back.

"A-Ahsoka? Is that you?" No answer, which was an answer in itself.

Word count: 3534