32

The airspace above Hareth was pure chaos.

Bright white canon fire lit the stars as the remaining Venator rained fire on the cruiser. The exterior shields stopped it in a flash of heat, but they were beginning to give. Several gaps shimmered in the defenses and smoke was bellowing out of holes along the hull.

Swooping around like an angry wasp, the Dauntless was peppering shots on the Venator. Its shields were far too powerful for the attack shuttle's guns to penetrate, though Saedii was sure she saw at least one scorch mark along the hull.

Next to her, Echo blew out a breath. "The cruiser can't take much more."

"I don't plan to stay," Saedii replied.

"Is it going to be able to fly?"

"Tech can fix it."

Behind her, Crosshair gave a nod in confirmation. Tech could fix anything.

The Dauntless dipped as one of the Venators turned fire in their direction. On comms, Happy demanded, "Alpha Squad, what's your ETA?"

"Two minutes," Saedii replied, grip tightening as Echo evaded the canons that barked behind them. "Fire up the hyperdrive, Happy. As soon as we land, get the cruiser out of here."

"Copy."

On the ground behind Rex, six figures laid still. Saedii's gaze ran over the dead Clones – the only ones they'd been able to recover on their way out. Nearly all of their invasion force had been cut down. Killed for the chance to rescue their brothers. Not including Saedii or the Batch, only four remained alive.

Crux was at the end of the line. Chest plate now painted in the dark maroon of his blood.

Saedii's jaw clenched. The young Clone's first taste of combat had been his last. He'd never get that big glass of ergas.

There was a loud, echoing boom from outside. Inside the cargo ship, the remaining Clones winced. Saedii knew she wasn't the only one praying that whatever had been hit on the cruiser wasn't important.

"Maurader to Alpha Squad," Hunter's voice said over comms. "We made it to the hangar."

Relief crashed through Saedii. Hunter and Wrecker were safe. As soon as Tech got the Dauntless on board, all of the Batch would be safe.

They were so close.

"Brace for landing," Echo's voice relayed overhead.

The Clones of Alpha Squad all held tighter to their handholds as the cargo ship dipped low, sliding through the airlock of the hangar bay. Outside the window, the shiny walls of the cruiser's hangar were a welcome sight after the dead expanse of Hareth's deserts.

As soon as Saedii felt the landing gear engage, she ordered, "Alpha Squad is home. Let's go, Happy."

The air began to hum around them. A loud whir split the otherwise quiet air as the hyperdrive switched from idle to full power. Saedii hoped that whatever damage the cruiser had taken wouldn't impede it from making the jump.

Just as the ship touched down, the cruiser switched into hyperspace.

Saedii tipped her head back in relief. They'd made it.

Some of them, she thought sadly, attention turning to Crux and the others who'd died.

"Cutting it close," Crosshair muttered beside her as he languidly hung his sniper on his back.

"Too close," Saedii agreed as the exit ramp uncurled.

As an after though, Crosshair quipped, "I supposed I owe you five credits."

"Ten," Saedii corrected. "I didn't forget."

He slipped his helmet off and the ghost of a smile played along his face. "I wouldn't have expected any less."

Echo and Howzer helped several others cart the dead and wounded from the cargo ship. Wrecker lumbered over to assist as Hunter went straight for Saedii and Crosshair, taking off his helmet.

His eyes ran along the both of them, checking for injuries. Relief flooded his features. "You two alright?"

"I have sand in places I'd rather not think about," Crosshair muttered.

"I'm alright," Saedii said.

Tech appeared at Hunter's shoulder then. His eyes were on Saedii as he said, "The prisoners have been moved to the cafeteria. Omega has reported that the surviving members of the 104th are alive and well."

Wolffe.

Saedii had compartmentalized so well before the mission that she'd nearly forgotten why she was here in the first place.

The 104th. Her brothers.

They were safe.

"Go," Hunter urged and to Saedii's intense surprise, he appeared excited for her.

Before she left, Saedii took a moment to grab Hunter and Crosshair's hand. To touch Tech's shoulder. "Thank you," she said in earnest. Without them, this never would have worked.

"You don't have to thank us," Crosshair griped. "We're family."

"We're glad to have helped," Hunter added, much more gently.

"Will you come with me? To meet him?" Saedii asked excitedly. All she wanted was for all of her family to be together. For Wolffe and Hunter and the rest to be in one place. All the people she cared about – safe and around her.

Hunter's expression was patient. "We're going to help Rex with things down here. You go see Wolffe. We'll catch up."

Saedii gave them all a wide smile before she turned and ran.

Her boots echoed down the long empty corridors. In her chest, her heart beat at her ribs as excitement flooded up into her throat, making it hard to breathe. The Force had suddenly grown frenzied with all the people on board – charged with sharp, heavy emotion.

A familiar brush of intensity and loyalty brushed against her. Grey in color.

Wolffe. He was there.

He was alive.

A low hum of voices reached her before the open door of the cafeteria came into view. There was a shuffle at the door as a medical droid that Omega had found and powered back on in the medbay rushed through the door, pushing a Clone on a stretcher.

Harsh smells of unwashed bodies, bile, and gore met Saedii's nose as she stepped through the door. The sight that greeted her made her still.

Over three and a half thousand Clones all stood in the cafeteria in various states of disarray. Grey prison uniforms stamped with their identification numbers were stained with sweat and grime. Some were more black than grey. Others had spots of blood.

Most of the Clones had wild, grizzled beards of various lengths and long hair. Were far too skinny. Dark bruises and swollen lips revealed they'd been beaten.

Without their armor, they all looked nearly identical. Except for the ones with identifying tattoos or scars. It was an attempt to strip them of the small slivers of individuality they'd discovered during the wars. To remind them of what they were.

Several Clones were sprawled on the ground, heads resting in the laps of friends. They didn't look good – skin pale, lips parched, eyes yellowed with jaundice. Dying, Saedii knew, from the poisonous air of Hareth.

She swallowed hard. Seeing what the Empire had done to them was...chilling. The Clones had been bred for the Empire – to fight and die in their war. And now that the war was over, the Empire had no use for them.

It wasn't enough that the Empire was phasing them out, but to do this? To imprison and torture them? It was inhumane.

A few Clones close to the door quieted at the sight of her. Their expressions were haunted as they took in the fighting robes of the Jedi. The two lightsabers at her belt.

Happy was there, talking quieting to a Clone with a star tattooed above his left eyebrow. Omega stood close by, passing out jugs of water.

At the sight of her, Happy turned to the room at large and bellowed, "Commanding Officer on deck! Company at attention!"

As one, every single Clone in the room snapped to attention. Even the ones that had been on the ground. And the sight nearly brought tears to her eyes. Despite all that the Empire had done to them, the Clones were loyal until the end.

The Clones at the front eyed her, mouths parting in awe. But not one of them spoke. Not one broke rank.

Not until Happy called, "104th present!"

From the crowd, five beleaguered Clones stepped forward. Saluting in perfect military precision, eyes on the far wall as they waited for orders. Four of them had the same wild, untamed beards and matted black hair.

One was somehow still clean-shaven. Hair still buzzed into a regulation style cut. A gnarly scar cut through his right eye, which had gone milky and grey.

This time, her eyes did water.

"Wolffe?"

At the sound of her voice, Wolffe dropped his salute. His eyes widened as he stared at her, stern mouth loosening from the firm line it had been pressed in.

"Saedii?" His voice broke.

Hot tears coursed down her cheeks. She nodded, unable to speak.

He was deathly still for another moment. As if he didn't believe what he was seeing.

And then he took a very unsteady step towards her.

Saedii didn't wait. She ran forward, launching herself into his arms as he opened them for her.

The familiar smell of leather and smoke washed over her. Through the ratty remains of his prison uniform, she could feel the wide expanse of his chest. Hear his heart as it beat frantically. Pressing her face into the divot above his heart was so familiar that for a moment, Saedii nearly believed everything that had happened since Order 66 had been a dream.

His arms tightened around her. In her ear, his stern voice was tight with emotion. Choked. "Maker, you're alive."

"So are you." Her words were muffled by his body as she leaned into him. Not caring that he was covered in grime. "I've been looking for you."

"I thought I killed you," he admitted, voice cracking.

She leaned her face in closer. "I'm alright. You didn't hurt me."

Wolffe pulled back to look at her. A rare eye-crinkling smile lit up his face as he touched her cheeks, which felt hot to the touch. "You're glowing."

"I'm happy," Saedii admitted, not bothering to wipe at the tears. "I've been dreaming of this for so long."

"Me too, kid." He swallowed, throat working. "A long damn time."

There were suddenly hands on her waist, picking her up and spinning her around in a circle. Even before they put her down, Saedii knew who they belonged to.

"Our little commander!" Warthog bellowed as he pulled her in roughly for a hug.

Boost and Sinker were there next, folding her in for tight hugs and ruffling her hair. Then was Hammer, who kissed her on the forehead.

Saedii was so happy in her own little world that she hadn't realized that the room had erupted into cheers and applause. She looked around, perplexed as the troopers clapped. Up near the front, Omega was clapping too with a wide smile on her face.

Soon troopers were pressing forward to shake her hand and clap her on the shoulder. Saluting her with tears in their eyes. Thanking her.

It was Saedii they were cheering for.

Saedii looked desperately to Happy. Hoping that he would clear this up. She hadn't been the ones who'd saved them. Rex and Howzer had done all the hard work. Without them, they'd have never found the base on Hareth.

But Happy was clapping along with the rest.

She frowned and looked to Wolffe, saying, "They shouldn't be clapping. It's Rex and Howzer that saved them. I didn't do anything."

"You took on two Inquisitors. For the Clones," Wolffe said proudly. "The story's already spreading. You're a damn hero."

"I'm not."

"You are to us."

Awkwardly, Saedii rubbed at the back of her neck, trying not to look at any of the Clones clapping and whooping. It didn't feel right.

Wolffe's arm looped around her shoulders, giving her a brief squeeze. "We all knew the Jedi hadn't abandoned us. Knew that one day, someone would come. You just proved us all right."

It hurt to hear him say it. Even after what they'd been forced to do in Order 66, these troopers still cared for the Jedi they'd served with. Still believed in them.

The cheers only grew louder as Rex limped through the door.

The sight of one of their brothers – a well-respected and decorated war hero – standing at the helm of the ragtag group of Clones who'd saved them was awe-inspiring. Freed troopers rushed forward to pat Rex on the head. To slap his shoulder pads. More than a few faces were tear-stained.

Howzer, too, was well-regaled. A few of the rescued troopers were from his legion and they were quick to embrace their brother and captain.

Around her, the Force was alive with joy. Hope. After so long imprisoned, the troopers now had their freedom.

For the first time since Order 66, the rebels could count a victory against the Empire. All that they'd lost, all that they'd fought for – it had all been worth it for this moment.

It was better than Saedii could have hoped.