Enraged and full of anger
He is half man and half machine

-"Painkiller" by Judas Priest

I watch as Rex walks back into the bedroom carrying a bowl of food. He hands it over to me, careful that none of the contents spill onto me. I bring the bowl up to my nose and I inhale its wonderful scent. The steam curls up my nostrils and imprints itself into my memory. It has been much too long since I have had any real food. My stomach growls at me, demanding that I fill it up.

"Mij didn't want to give you a lot right now and nothing spicy and pungent, fearing since you haven't eaten right in a long time; your body may reject it. It's rice and shatual meat."

I do not know what a shatual is, but it is delicious. I chew slowly, savoring the taste and flavor. If this is bland, then I eventually want to know what it is like spiced up. The meat almost melts on my tongue. I wait for a minute or two, making sure my stomach indeed does not reject the food. After I am assured I can continue without any repercussions, I quickly start to devour the food. Half way through my meal, I place the bowl down on my lap and pick up the comm pad, and type a question for Rex. When I am finished, I hand it over to him.

"Where is Fives?" He reads aloud. For just a brief moment I see his body go ridged and his grip around the comm tightens. He presses his mouth into a thin line and his eyes slightly cloud over. My heart begins to beat quicker and my throat constricts. I am sure whatever he is about to tell me is not good.

"I wish you asked me an easier question first," Rex says and sits back heavily in his chair. What happened to my brother? "It started with Tup. We were on a mission with General Tiplar when Fives and I witnessed Tup having some sort of malfunction." Malfunction…It sounds so robotic.

"He opened fire on the general and executed him mid-battle." What in the world? Why would a trooper kill his general? "We were all baffled and confused. I have never seen anything like it before. Tup was a good friend of Fives and wanted to save him before he was "reconditioned." The word reconditioned makes me wince. Every trooper knew what that meant. We were put down, like an animal.

"The last thing Tup was able to communicate to Fives was "Order 66." With that entrenched in his mind, Fives was going to stop at nothing to find out what it meant. He even went out of his way and against orders to do a scan on the trooper and then himself. Fives, force help him, had discovered a conspiracy involving inhibitor chips, a plot to destory the Jedi Order and-to an extent-Chancellor Palpatine's connection to it."

Oh holy hell. I hear Rex take in a shaky breath. I have never seen my captain this shaken up before. When he starts to talk again, I catch the frustration, blame and even some terror in seep into his voice.

"I didn't believe him, Echo. I couldn't even explain to you as to why I didn't. Fives had never lied or fabricated any kind of story before so there was no reason for me to doubt him. But finding chips in our brains, a government coo to destroy all the Jedi? It couldn't be true. Our government couldn't do this to us. At least at that time I thought they couldn't. And worse of all I didn't save Fives when I could have." Rex stomps his foot on the ground and pounds his leg with his fist in anger. I do not know how, but Rex's eyes turn stone cold and glare right at me.

"Fives attempted to assassinate the chancellor or so we were told. It ended up being a lie. We…me, General Skywalker, Kenobi all of us thought Fives had gone rogue and insane just like Tup had. Fives was trying to warn us of our impending doom. I chased him into a shady bar and tried to get him to turn himself in. But he was adamant that he had to expose this conspiracy. I was almost to him when a contingent of shock troopers, led by Fox stormed in and shot Fives before he could continue and more damage was done. I caught him as he fell to the ground. I held him and yelled for a medical team to come to our aid. Nothing was remotely close to helping us. I saw the worry and mistrust play though his features. And then something strange came over his face. Resignation? He grabbed the edge of my chest plate," Rex takes a hold of his shirt collar and tugs on it, "and pulled me so close I could smell the blood that was pooling in his mouth. His last dying words to me were to get the chip out and leave Coruscant. He was still trying to watch my back."

I look down and away from Rex. I am trying to process everything that he has told me and comprehend that Fives, my brother, is dead. Dead…he is dead. Dead, dead, dead! Just as I am supposed to be. I take the comm pad back from Rex and type another question and then hand it back to him.

"Did I believe Fives after he died?" Rex ground his teeth together. "After Fives' body was taken away I sat there, his blood painted on my armor. I knew that man, I trusted him with my life and he trusted me, but I failed him Echo. I failed to believe him at that moment because I trusted that our government could never do something this crazy and evil. I am such a fool. I returned back to base and Fives' voice kept replaying in my head. "Get the chip out, leave Coruscant." Over and over and over. I decided to go to the med bay and do a scan on myself."

I am angry with Rex for not believing Fives, but then I do not know if I would have too. My anger is short lived as I continue to watch my captain crumble under his guilt.

"There it was, the very chip Fives had been warning me about. I felt so betrayed by my makers, my government, everyone."

Order 66. I do not ever really remember reading or learning about that order, but then again I do not remember too much as a matter of fact. I type another question.

"What happened with Order 66?" This time when Rex looked at me, a fire was burning in his dark eyes. "All hell broke loose. Troopers turned on their generals, the Jedi were massacred and the Republic is destroyed. I have witnessed many horrendous acts of violence, but this, this was…" Rex trailed off.

"My general, Skywalker, turned against the Jedi. He along with our bothers slaughtered men, women, children Jedi or not. Anyone who got in their way was killed. I could not be a part of this. I was dying inside, seeing our friends, our brothers used this way. This was not what we were made for, what we trained, fought and died for. I fought against the order. Maybe because Fives had warned me, it somehow gave me the ability to resist it."

It is a lot to take in and I know it took a lot out of Rex to tell me. However, there is so much I have missed; I need to keep asking questions. I must bury the storm I feel in my gut and the mania that wants to conquer my mind. My brother, my friend, Fives is gone forever. And unlike me, he will not be coming back.

"How did I get away?" Rex reads the comm pad again. "I battled with myself before making the decision to leave Coruscant. I am no deserter, but those soldiers, they are not the same men that I trained and fought with. They no longer had an ounce of humanity left in them. With that thought in my mind, I was able to justify leaving them."

It had to be atrocious moment when the realization came to my devoted captain to leave his men behind.

"It wasn't easy getting off Coruscant. After the first wave of destruction, another order was issued to bring in or kill any trooper who was considered a traitor. I was now considered a traitor."

While the fire burned heavily in his eyes, I can see the shame creep onto his body. "I threw my armor out and found some civilian clothing, trying to blend in with the ruined people who now scattered the devastated Coruscant streets. I'll never rid of the screams I heard the people make. Many were trapped in burning buildings and collapsing structures. It was complete chaos. Some were trying desperately to help, digging through the rubble and attempting to put out some of the fires. I battled tooth and nail to ignore the urge to go help them. It went against everything I had ever learned.

"I made it to the bridge that led to one of the ports to get on a transport, but there were several heavily armed shock troopers guarding the entrance. They were checking ID and to see if anyone was a Jedi or trooper on the run. There was about twenty or thirty people in front of me when I heard shouting and then the hum of a lightsaber. I peered around and saw a young woman defending an even younger Jedi unsuccessfully against the guards. I should have turned away, but I became hypnotized watching as both Jedi were struck down and was followed by the one of most inhuman sounds I have ever heard. A huge trooper began to fight the guards and I could see three or four other men trying to hold him back to no avail. After a struggle, the trooper broke through their hold and ran toward the dead Jedi. The others I could hear them shouting and flailing at him to come with them, but this trooper wouldn't listen.

"Something inside of me said to follow these men, and this time I listened to my gut. I had to weave, duck and push people aside. A lot of them were just wandering around, lost, confused and injured. I had to keep my mind at hand and follow these guys." Oddly, I heard Rex let out a spiteful little laugh. "You're good ol' captain, me," Rex jabbing a finger into his chest, "who had tracked enemies for the good part of my life managed to lose sight of these guys. However, not even a minute after I lost track, I heard the sound of a blaster powering up behind me. The pressure of the gun was pressed against the back of my head. His voice was menacing and I knew I would be dead if I didn't answer his questions. Call it stupid or brave, I decided to turn around and find that I am facing one of the men who I was following.

"Long story short Echo, this man; his name is Kal Skirata, saved my life. He and his boys plus their families were leaving Coruscant anyway and Order 66 just pressed them into action faster. After I was brought here, I told Kal about the chips and every soldier who made it here was able to have it removed by Mij." Both Rex and I sit in silence, letting everything he told me settle into my overwhelmed mind.

I feel the extreme need to lash out. I need to run, scream or hit something and I am unable to do anything of those things. The injustice of it all is boiling up. I should be dead, not Fives. I want to rip every tube and wire from my body. Instead I break the comm pad I am holding in half. Damn the Republic for killing my brother. Damn the Jedi for being so single minded. Damn my stupid brothers for not being stronger like Rex. Damn my captors for not letting me die and join Fives.

Rex must have mistaken me breaking the comm pad as anger towards him. "I'm sorry Echo. I'm sorry for not looking for you after the explosion. I'm sorry for not saving Fives. I'm sorry I'm not the captain I once was." I am taken aback from the apology. I have never heard my captain be so apologetic. Dammit, I am so stupid. Why did I break the comm pad?

No fault, I mouth. He understands. Rex takes in another deep breath. "Do you want some more food?" he points toward the half eaten dish. The question takes me off guard and I have to concentrate as the question processes in my brain. I look down at the food, my appetite is completely gone. I know I need to eat, but I think I will get sick if I do. I shake my head in a no. "You need to eat Echo; you need to get your strength back up." Okay, I mouth again. I do not have the mind set to argue right now.

Rex reaches for the bowl, but I put a halting metal hand on his arm, careful this time that I do not hurt him. I cannot communicate properly that I am not ashamed of him or angry at him, but somehow he comprehends.

"I'll make it right again somehow, my lad." I let Rex go and watch him leave. I am left alone with my thoughts again, a dangerous place for me to be. Fives…gone. My clone brethren…gone. My sanity…barely hanging on. I go to rest my head back on the headboard and the tubes scrape against it.

Rage finally makes its way out of me and I raise one of arms up and begin to rip out the wiring. My arm goes limp onto the bed which only fuels me further. I whip off the sheet covering my legs and I viciously begin to tear at the wires, gears and lights. Little sparks fly, searing little holes into the fabric of the sheets and mattress. I dig deeper into my legs and as I tear out more gears I throw them across the room. I ignore any pain that is associated from my rampage, most of it is numbed my fury anyway. Next I reach up for the tubes that are connected from the back of my head to the top of my neck.

Of course Rex has to walk in just as I was about to end it all. "Echo! What are you doing?!" Rex shouts at me. In just two steps he is at my side pinning my one working arm down at my side. My automation offers me more strength and I fight against Rex's hold. "Stop Echo! Stop it! Doc! Get in here!" He hollers for help. I cannot yell and scream at Rex, I cannot even whisper for him to go away.

I hear someone run in and quickly look to see Mij. "Sith!" I hear him curse. He fumbles through his medical bag that he had left in my room and also calls for reinforcements.

Another man that I do not get a good look at, runs in and helps Rex hold my arm down, so that I cannot continue to rip out my prosthetics.

"Hold him steady," Mij commands. I feel a prick on the side of my neck as I am injected with what I assume is a sedative. The hostility I am feeling starts to melt away. Rex and the unknown man slowly lets go of my arm. I fight the darkness that starts to consume me. "Relax Echo," Mij tries to soothe me. "Relax, my boy, it'll be better the next time you wake up."

If I wake up.

Hope you are still enjoying. More to come!