Farewell cruel world

He took a deep breath. The air that entered his lungs felt like it was burning him. Normally, his helmet would prevent contaminated air from entering his lungs, but he wasn't wearing it now. In fact, he hadn't worn it in days.

A stray thought entered his head: was it really the air that was responsible for the burning sensation, or his lungs? He couldn't be sure. His thoughts were racing, but at the same time, they weren't. He couldn't fully comprehend his situation.

He thought he could hear voices, but were they real or just in his imagination?

Where was he anyway, and what had happened?

Why was there such a disconnect between his mind and body? It felt as though there was a great distance between them.

The burning pain in his lungs returned, pulling him back into his body. With his next breath, he remembered again.

Tup,

Kamino,

the chips, the Kaminoans,

the drugs,

The Chancellor and the conspiracy.

His escape.

His attempt to contact his captain and general to inform them of his findings, and his escape.

They hadn't believed him when he said he could read their faces. He was always a loyal soldier. He was a valued member of both the 501st and Torrent. Why didn't they believe him? He would never lie to his superiors, especially not about a conspiracy within the high command.

The chancellor was involved in this conspiracy. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it either — that much was certain. But he also knew that a Vod would never lie about something like this.

Or so he thought.

His next breath threw him back into reality, his lungs were burning up again.

It felt as if a cough was trying to escape his body.

His vision was slowly returning, but it was still shaky.

Fives could make out Captain Rex and General Skywalker in front of him.

However, only his captain was kneeling next to him, holding him propped up on his knees.

He could see his captain's mouth moving, but he couldn't understand what he was saying.

With his next breath, Fives felt his heartbeat stutter. He knew he wouldn't have much time left before they moved on.

In his delirium, he only half understood that he had begun to stutter with each painful breath.

'The mission...

      The nightmares…

            It's finally over.'

Fives closed his eyes for the last time in the arms of his captain,

and marched on.

Rex held still on to Fives body, even after he had long taken his last raspy breath. 

He didn't know how to feel now rhat his Vod'ika had died in his arms and not like most of their brethern locked in battle.

In these last few painful moments, he had seen the pain in his Vod'ikas eyes.

The captain felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into the sad eyes of his General who had knelt down next to Rex leaning a bit into Rex, who was still holding on to Fives body like he could simply stand up again.

'He is now one with the force.' Anakin spoke in a softer voice.

Rex swallowed. 'He is marching on with Echo and the Vod'e now.' he answered.

Written by a human in Ellipsus.