Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Omega wanders into the cadet barracks one night and stumbles upon 99 talking to a clone holding his stuff.

Is he going to desert? She wonders. She hopes not. She’s heard stories about squads getting in trouble or separated if one deserts before they leave Kamino. She doesn’t know him, but no one deserves to know their batchmates deserted.

So she decides to try and help. She runs over and looks up at him. “Hi! I’m Omega! What’s your name? Do you have a squad? Are you leaving?” Asking rapid-fire questions usually works for her.

He looks startled. “Uh… I’m 782. Yes I have a squad. Yes I’m leaving. Because we aren’t getting along and we failed the Citadel test.”

“But what will they think when they wake up and you’re gone 782? Even if you aren’t getting along, they’re still your brothers. I would be very sad if I had a brother and he left and the middle of the night. Especially if the last conversation I had with him was an argument.”

He freezes. “I never thought of that.” He whispers.

99 pats his shoulder. “Hevy, that’s what I was trying to tell you.”

“99… you know what? Yeah. I’ll stay, and I think I’m going to be Hevy. Thanks for the name, 99. And thank you Omega, for talking some sense into me. What’s a kid on Kamino for anyway?”

“I’m a clone too! Nala Se says that I’m 10!”

Hevy freezes again. “Okay. This is not a place for a kid. Nala Se’s dangerous. You’re coming with my squad when we retake the test and leave Kamino tomorrow.”

“You mean I’m going to get to see the galaxy?! Yay! Thanks Hevy! She hugs him.

Someone groans and there’s a whoosh of a sleeping pod. Then someone comes down the ladder. “782? What’s happening? Why’re you up?”

“Sorry Echo. I had the urge to- doesn’t matter. What does matter is we’re kidnapping this vod’ika and get her off Kamino.”

“Hi! I’m Omega! Hevy said I’m coming with your squad to see the galaxy!”

“What?”

“I’m a clone too! Nala Se says I don’t have advanced aging and I’m 10!”

“Nala Se?! She’s not going to touch you ever again, kid. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Nala Se’s dangerous!” He picks her up and turns to Hevy. “Go to sleep Ori'vod. She’s going to bunk with me and Fives.”

Hevy nods and Echo climbs up the ladder to the open pod. He climbs in and lays her in between him and the man already lying there, waiting for him.

“Where’d the kid come from?” He asks.

I’m Omega. I’m 10. Nala Se says I don’t have enhanced aging.”

“Nala Se?!”

“Shh. I already promised her Nala Se’s never going to touch her as long as I live.” Echo whispers.

“I agree. Kid, nobody, not Nala Se, not anyone else, is allowed to lay a finger on you as long as I’m still here.”

She smiles. “Thank you. I’ve always wanted a big brother.”

“Well now you have five, vod’ika.”

“What does that word mean? You and Hevy have called me it now.”

“Little sibling, for you, little sister. Ori’vod is big sibling, for Hevy, big brother.” Echo tells her.

“So you are my Ori’vods?”

“Ori’vode. The “e” makes it plural.”

She smiles. The two cuddle up to her, protective of her, she realizes. The feeling of her ori’vode around her, it’s comforting, like nothing bad could ever happen to her when she’s with them.

Chapter Text

They passed and now the six of them are on Rishi. They spend a few moths there. The sergeant is as protective of her as her Ori'vode. She loves all the attention. It makes her feel special. Then it all goes wrong. Soon, she and the twins are the only survivors. She refuses to leave her Ori'vode now. Ahsoka seems nice to her, but it's not the same. She wants Hevy, Cutup and DB back.

They're going back to Kamino and Omega's scared. What if Nala Se tries to take her away from Echo and Fives? She needs her Ori'vode. In the end the twins decide to leave her on the Resolute so that won't happen.

Of course, when the battle is done and her Ori'vode don't come back with the rest, she panics. Ahsoka is quick to reassure her though. "They're getting ARC training."

"So that means they can protect themselves better and won't die. Right?"

Ahsoka has an 'I want to say yes, but I can't promise that' face. "The first part, yes. But we're at war 'Meg'ika. We can't promise everyone will come back from a battle. I need you to understand that."

"I do, I just- they lost everyone except each other and me. If one of them dies, the other might snap. If they both die... what will happen to me? I need my Ori'vode. I don't know how I'll react if I lose them."

"I promise to try to protect them."

"Vor'e 'Soka."

"No need for thanks 'Meg'ika. The 501st would do anything for you."

Omega giggles. "Well, you're not wrong Ori'vod."

Ahsoka smiles. "You'll always have me, vod'ika."

"Vor'e Ori'vod."

The twins are back from ARC training. Omega instantly throws herself at them. Rex and Cody come over and take a picture. Left to right; Cody, Rex, Echo, Fives, with Omega on Fives' left shoulder and Echo's right shoulder. She's happy they're back. She, again, refuses to leave their sides. You can't find one of the twins without their little blonde vod'ika. Nor could you find said little blonde vod'ika without at least one of the twins.

Chapter Text

The new shinys come and Omega's shy. Echo's worried because she's never shy. He decides to figure out what's up. "Hey verd'ika."

She giggles at Torrent's nickname for her. "Yeah Echo?"

"What's up? You're not usually shy."

"It's dikut'la."

"I want to know. Gedet'ye?"

"Fine. I'm scared you and Fives are going to find a new vod'ika you like more than me." She curls into herself.

"No one will ever replace you, Omega. We may take some shinys under our wing, but you will never be replaced. You're our little sister, nothing will ever change that."

She smiles. "Really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

"Nayc. Vor'e Ori'vod."

"Ba'gedet'ye vod'ika."

They get up, off of Echo's bunk, and go look for Fives. they find him talking to two shinys. Omega shrinks behind Echo a bit. He smiles and picks her up. She tucks her head into his shoulder. Fives turns, noticing them. He waves them over.

"Echo! This is Tup and Dogma. They're twins, like us! Tup, Dogma, this is my twin, Echo and our vod'ika, Omega. The entire 501st will protect her with our lives."

Echo smiles as Omega tentatively turns her head towards the shinys. "Hello."

Fives frowns and gives him a questioning look. He mouths, 'not now, she's shy,' to his twin. That causes Fives to look even more confused, but he drops the subject.

One of the shinys, Tup, smiles to her. "Hi Omega. Fives won't stop talking about how proud he is of his vod'ika. Nice to meet you."

She nods.

"'Mega's a bit shy at the moment." He explains for her, smiling warmly. "So many new vode. She's just gotten used to the vode already in the 501st and now there's more here."

She nods again. Fives takes her from him. She curls into him, causing Fives to smile softly at her.

Chapter Text

It's been a bit since Tup and Dogma joined the 501st. She's finally warmed up to them and now she follows them around when Domino are on ARC missions. The 501st have been calling them the Shadow Twins because they're the Domino Twins' shadows.

Fives and Echo went on the Citadel mission, so she's with Shadow. Domino should be back soon. She, Dogma and Tup are in the barracks, waiting for them to arrive. The door opens and Fives comes in. She runs to him, noticing instantly that something's wrong. She hugs him. He hugs back, but he seems distant.

"Fives?" She asks.

He tries to smile, but it seems forced. Then Dogma asks, "where's Echo?" And she realizes her other Ori'vod didn't come in behind him.

Fives almost seems sadder.

"Is he in the med-bay?" She asks.

Fives shakes his head.

"Is he doing reports?"

Fives, again, shakes his head.

"Fives?" She asks, starting to get worried.

He sighs. "Echo..." his voice sounds hollow, "Echo's not- not coming back. H-he... the shuttle... blew up. Tarkin told us we needed to get to the shuttle, but there were droids and Echo... he ran towards it anyway. There were a few turrets and a droid aimed one at the shuttle and... he was too close when it exploded. 'Soka tried to pull him away, but she was too late." His voice breaks.

Ahsoka enters the room a few moments later. "Fives, Omega, could you two come with me for a moment?" She asks, kindness and grief in her voice.

They nod and follow her. She takes them to her room. She closes the door and turns to them. She unhooks something from her belt. She hands one to each of them. They're Echo' vambraces. Omega stares at them. While she wasn't looking, Ahsoka brought something else over. Echo's helmet.

"I called it to me as we were leaving the clearing. When I- when I tried to pull him, I only got his vambraces away. I'm sorry I couldn't save him." Ahsoka explains, then tries to apologize. For not being able to keep her promise to Omega, she realizes.

"'Soka, you tried your best. Thank you." Omega says, softly. Then holds Echo's helmet. "Fives?"

He nods.

"Can we- can we fix it up? maybe- maybe repaint it. Can I- can I wear it if we do?"

"He would've loved that. O-of course vod'ika."

She hugs him again, then tries the helmet on. It's a bit big, but she hears a broken chuckle from Fives and smiles. She made him laugh, that's an accomplishment, small as it may be. She vows to make him laugh every day from now on. They sit in Ahsoka's room for a long time after, Ahsoka having left to give them privacy to grieve.

Chapter Text

She spends Umbara on the ship, until Anakin gets called back to Coruscant and decides to take her with him.

“Umbara’s not safe for an 11 year old.” Is his reason for bringing her along.

“How’re you going to explain the fact that you have an 11 year old girl with you all of the sudden? That would seem weird to me.”

“You’re my niece Rex found on Tatooine.”

“Sure. Who’re my parents?”

“My stepbrother and his wife. They adopted you because Beru can’t have kids. You’re Ashla Lars, daughter of Owen and Beru Lars. You were adopted 4 years ago and you met Rex a year ago. You’ve always wanted to see the galaxy so you stowed away on Rex’s ship. Your parents decided that as long as you don’t partake in the actual fighting you could stay with the 501st.”

“How long did it take you to come up with that story, Ba’vodu Anakin?” She sasses.

“Actually, this was Rex and the Domino twins’ cover story. I supplied the family background and name, but other than that it was all them.”

“Then it’s the best cover story ever!”

Anakin places a hand over his heart dramatically. “So when it’s my story it gets made fun of, but when it’s Rex and the twins’ story it’s amazing?”

“Yup!”

“You wound me, Ad’ika!”

“Hey, you’re learning Mando’a, finally!”

He just rolls his eyes. “I have a meeting with the Chancellor once we land, but I can’t probably drop you off with Padmé if you’d prefer.”

“Are you talking about your girlfriend, Padmé Amidala?”

“She’s not my girlfriend, where did you even hear that?!”

“Uh…”

“Never mind we’re here. So would you like to meet the Chancellor or Padmé?”

“Padmé.”

“She’s going to love you. I know it.”

So he drops her off at Padmé’s office on his way to the Chancellor. Padmé is actually a really nice woman. She has lots of fun with her. She also learns politics. All in all, it was a good day.

She spends a few more days with Ba’vodu Padmé (because she knows Anakin was telling the truth about her not being his girlfriend, but there’s something between them, so Omega decides they’re married).
On the last day, she asks Padmé, “Ba’vodu Padmé. Are you married to Ba’vodu Anakin?”

Padmé chokes on air for a millisecond before she can stop herself. “What?”

“There’s obviously something between you and Skyguy was telling the truth about you not being his girlfriend. I promise not to tell anyone.”

“I’ll tell you if you tell me what Ba’vodu means.”

“Okay! It means aunt or uncle.”

“So you’ve been calling me aunt Padmé this entire time? I’m not sure whether to be impressed or upset that you figured us out.”

“So you are married! Yes! Echo was right! He told me all about the 501st betting pools, he was the only one who thought you two were married. Everyone else thought you were just dating.” Her joy fades into sadness because she would never be able to tell her Ori’vod he won. “Ba’vodu Padmé.”

“Yes Omega?”

“Can you teach me about some customs from Naboo? Echo- he loved learning about planetary cultures.”

Padmé smiles sadly. “Of course.”

Chapter Text

After Padmé, she stays with Ahsoka, who also wasn't allowed to go to Umbara. So they are both bored. Until Ahsoka starts having nightmares -visions- of Umbara. So they go to General Koon and convince him to take them to Umbara to help. Omega still isn't allowed dirtside, no matter what.

Apparently the 'problem' was delt with by the time they get there. Now Dogma is being shipped off to Kamino. She hugs him before he has to go and she never hears from him again.

Fives comes into the empty barracks one day after Umbara with cans of paint and some gear maintenance supplies. "For Echo's helmet. You said you wanted to fix it up so you can wear it." He tells Omega when asked. That seems to excite her and she's instantly jumping around excitedly.

"Really!? Today!? Thanks Ori'vod!" She exclaims.

He smiles and shakes his head at her antics. "Okay, vod'ika, calm down or we won't do it."

That does the trick and she instantly sits down on the floor, looking up at him like a puppy. He chuckles and sits down across from her, setting the helmet and paint down gently in between them. She refrains from touching anything, though he can tell she wants to.

"Okay. So, we're going to start by fixing the HUD inside, then getting rid of the carbon scoring and finally repainting it. Got it?"

She nods enthusiastically. He shows her how to fix the HUD and soon they're done that part. He takes the vambrace off his arm and shows her how to remove carbon scoring. She works on the helmet while he does both vambraces. He finishes first and watches her work. Her forehead is scrunched with concentration and her eyes are narrowed as she stares at the helmet. She looks so cute like this.

He had, admittedly, been dodging this for a while, usually it hurts to think about his twin, so he couldn't imagine what fixing the helmet up would do to him. But surprisingly, he didn't feel the pain he usually felt, the opposite in fact, a familiarity and sense of how right this was, he's honoring his twin by fixing his helmet and Omega wearing it.

Soon Omega's finished and they move on to the last step, painting. He has his twin's helmet memorized, but decides Omega can choose what goes in the helmet, he knows that's what Echo would have wanted.

She does the original stripes, but adds her own designs to it. A 501st blue heart in between the stripes. A Z-6 rotary canon above the visor on the right and a miniature Rishi eel under the visor on the same side. A droid head under the visor on the left and a soundwave echoing above the visor on the same side. On the back of the helmet she writes Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la not gone, merely marching far away.

"Done!" She says.

He'd just repainted the vambraces the same as before, so he'd finished a while ago. He admires her handiwork. "It's perfect, vod'ika." He assures her. Then they clean up and let the armor dry.

Chapter Text

Omega goes with them -Tup and Fives- to Kamino. She sees AZI-3 again and Nala Se finds her. Fives tries to help her, but ultimately it doesn’t matter, she’s back on Kamino, back to being unknown. Her vode in the 501st probably think she’s dead. She’s back to being miserable on Kamino, stuck, once again, with Nala Se.

One day, she runs into a reconditioned clone. She notices his face and goes rigid. He had a tattoo, and it was a big one. She can see the scar, the intricate patterns arranged in a V shape over his forehead and disappearing across his eye, ending on the bridge of his nose.

She hugs him. Then she sends him to Clone Force 99, knowing her brothers will keep him safe. “Tell them a friend wants them to help you. Ask for Tech and tell him you’ve been reconditioned. He’ll help, I know it. Then tell them to hide you. But don’t mention me any more than necessary. I don’t want to put anyone in danger…”

He nods and goes off in the direction she knows their barracks to be. She doesn’t see him again. She can only hope Tech helped him.

She’s standing next to Nala Se. The war is over. Anakin’s friend Palpatine has declared himself Emperor. She comes out of her thoughts when she sees Hunter. They’re back!!

She runs off the moment the meeting is over, walking down the corridor once she’s close enough to be behind them. Hunter senses her and stops, turning around to look at her.

“Hi!” She greets.

“What’s that?”

“Adolescent female”

She smiles. “I’m-”

“Omega?!”

She hears his voice and freezes. She scans the clones in front of her before she sees him. Her eyes go wide and she launches herself at him. “Ori’vod!”

He picks her up like he used to, and she curls up into his chest. It’s him. He’s here, alive. Echo will protect her. He always has and always will. He curls his arm around her, scomp arm laying protectively between her and everything else that could hurt her.

She forgets everything that’s not the feel of her Ori’vod against her. She never thought she’d get him back, but he’s here now, alive. She hears the sound of his heart beating beneath his chest. He’s safety. Her home is with her Ori’vode.