Chapter Text
Echo waves off Rex and the others as they head off into the nearby town to source some much needed supplies after an impromptu run-in with Imperials. Echo's glad for a few minutes to decompress alone and to get a head-start on ship maintenance. He potters around, doing a circuit of the ship’s exterior and noting any damage and wear and tear for future repairs. Thankfully, no major work is required and therefore no expensive parts, which Echo is relieved about. They're stretched thin enough as it is, and he can see it weighing on Rex as the days pass - no matter how much he tries to hide it from them. Echo hopes the others can sneak something nice into the supply pick up, and in turn maybe help boost Rex’s spirits.
As he types up the notes for his check of their second ship on his datapad Echo leans against the entryway to the Remora, quietly taking in his surroundings as he taps away. It's peaceful here, well, as peaceful as it can get nowadays with the Empire's patrols. He watches the breeze rustle the leaves of the overhanging climbing plant clinging to a nearby home, causing it to sway gently in the afternoon sun.
His vambrace chimes, signalling an incoming message from Rex. He tucks the datapad away in a pouch before checking the message. As he looks down to read the message something pings off of his chest plate and disappears somewhere in the ship, clanking off of some durasteel. Immediately alert, Echo ducks into the ship for cover and looks around to see where it might've come from. Nothing moves for several minutes. Echo wishes he was wearing his actual helmet, left on the cockpit dash, not the ridiculous droid-disguise one, so he could use his HUD to perform a quick scan.
Sighing, Echo turns away from the hatch and starts searching to find whatever it was that plinked off of his armour. He eventually spots what could have been the culprit in a corner, having rolled under the jump seats. Grumbling to himself he bends down and reaches under the seat for the miscellaneous item.
“A droid restraining bolt?” he mutters to himself, turning it over in his fingers, glancing back towards the hatch. The hairs prickle on the back of his neck.
Echo swiftly returns to the entryway, checking his surroundings carefully, and inputs Rex’s comm code as he does so.
Rex is busy mediating an argument between Nemec and Gregor about some nonsense around stew seasoning when he gets an incoming comm from Echo.
“Echo?”
“Rex. Stay alert - someone's just tried to ping me with a droid restraining bolt - shut up Fireball,” Echo reports, and Rex can hear the tension in his voice, despite the scolding he gives to Fireball.
Fireball brings a hand up to his mouth trying to stifle the laugh.
“Anyway,” Echo continues, his tone lighter since hearing Fireball’s aborted laughter, “can’t see anyone but something doesn't feel right.”
“Do you need us back?” Rex asks, coming to a stop. The others draw to a halt as well, listening in to the conversation and carefully taking note of their surroundings.
Echo hums thoughtfully before replying, “No I’ve got it. On the Remora currently, Gregor’s ship-”
“Not my ship!” Gregor calls out.
“- Not-Gegor’s-ship,” Echo repeats with the accompanying eye-roll clear in his voice, “is locked down and secured.”
Rex pauses for a moment before responding. “Copy. We’re almost done here.”
“Just watch your backs out there,” Echo responds.
“We'll be back soon, mother-nuna,” Nemec teases.
Echo huffs slightly, but Rex knows it's put-upon. “Kriff off, I-” he pauses abruptly mid-sentence.
Rex shares a look with the others. By silent agreement they start heading back towards the ships.
“Echo?”
There's a clatter through the comm and Echo swears viciously. “Multiple assailants.”
Another clatter that sounds like armour connecting heavily with durasteel. “Grenade.”
“Can’t iden-” Echo cuts off with a choked gasp and the comm fizzes with static.
"Fuck.” Rex and the others speed up. Rex curses silently - they can't run, it’ll draw too much attention that they can't afford. Rex starts running anyway.
A grenade sails past Echo towards the cockpit. The shuttle. If it goes off it'll trap him between his attackers and the explosion. The heat, the blast wave. Echo makes the split second decision to dive after it. His fingers grasp the grenade as he twists to throw it back towards the doorway and his incoming attackers. He collides with the ship’s corridor wall as he does so, armour rattling as it makes contact. As the grenade travels through the air towards the entryway of the Remora it detonates, and then a horrendous moment of realisation crashes over Echo as he suddenly realises his mistake.
The EMP grenade rips through Echo's electrical systems. He gasps as agonising waves of pain flood his senses and he collapses. Limbs folding beneath him. Alerts and errors spiral through his systems. Overwhelmed, his body seizes. The pain lances through him, tendrils of static agony dance through his brain.
Mercifully, the crescendo of pain ebbs, and he is left barely clinging to consciousness as hears his assailants board the Remora.
“Droid's been neutralised, there's no one else on board,” he just about hears over the sound of ringing and his blood pulsing loudly.
“Let's get this ship in the air then.”