Tossing and turning was beginning to be his nightly routine.

It had been two weeks, four days, sixteen hours, thirty-seven minutes, and twelve seconds since the night in the medbay when his life had flipped on its head. He never would've guessed that it was possible. Especially for him - dorky, stickler-for-the-rules, shy as a church mouse Echo.

But it was.

What would've Droidbait said had he been here?

It was impossible to stop thinking about her. The way she laughed, her small hands with calluses on the fingertips of her left. Her twinkling eyes that looked like dark chocolate would gush from them at any minute. Her sweet, sweet smile. How she'd crinkle her nose.

Even her sneezes! He'd heard her sneeze once before when she'd inhaled some dust off of someone's armor. It was a cute noise too.

Echo groaned and turned onto his other side. Why couldn't he just sleep!

"Echo?"

He turned to see Fives hanging upside down from the top bunk by his legs. Echo squeaked a little, startled by his brother's stalkerish intrusion. Fives grinned devilishly.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Echo hissed in a whisper, his eyes shooting hot lasers at him.

Fives chuckled and flipped himself onto his feet, landing with catlike grace. Echo wondered how he managed to pull off such stunts when he could fall on his face tripping over either nothing or himself.

"You've been restless for weeks, and I think I know why," he said, smiling impishly.

Echo rolled his eyes, "Why do you think I'm restless?"

Fives rolled his eyes, "Now come on. I like to think I know you better than that. And besides, you wake me up rolling over and over again."

Echo sighed. "Ok. So I'm restless. So what?"

"So... it started since I was injured from the fight in Wasthi. The night you met her."

Echo felt his face heat up, and prayed to whomever would listen to a poor clone not to let the blush be visual.

Whomever would listen promptly laughed and decided to sit back and watch the show instead.

Fives laughed as his brother buried his face into the pillow. Poor Echo was blushing up to his very ears.

"Oh, vod. C'mon. Let's go to the mess."

Echo peeped up at him, silently pleading to just let the matter go. But Fives was resolute, and grabbed his bicep, yanking him from the bed and out into the hall.

"Is this really necessary?" Echo whined.

"Um, no offense, but duh!" Fives replied, amusement in his tone. "I've been dreaming of gossiping about girls with you for ages!"

"You have?"

"Again, duh!"

The mess was empty when they arrived, a few lights casting the large space into some interrogation mode. Really, all that was missing was a lie detector test and another brother to be Good Cop.

"Now, tell me all about her," Fives ordered, sitting him down and taking a seat across the table from him. He leant forward, eager to hear every detail.

Echo sighed, knowing he wasn't getting out of this one. "You're right. Ever since I went to check on you in the medbay and met her, I can't get Ella off my mind."

Fives bounced in his seat like a giddy cadet, pumping his fist in the air victoriously. "I knew it!"

Echo ducked his head, feeling way too embarrassed about this subject to meet his eyes while he continued. "But the thing is... well, regs."

Fives blew a raspberry at that.

Echo rolled his eyes at his childishness and continued, "But also... I mean, I don't even really understand what I feel, Fives. Truly. I mean..."

"How do you feel?" Fives queried.

Echo smiled shyly. "All tingly in my chest when I think about her. When she's around me, I feel peaceful and safe, but... really happy too." He paused, then confessed in a small voice, "She likes reg manuals too."

His bluff brother gaped at this information, and shook his head. "Ok. That's it. I've... Uh uh. It's not fair!"

"What isn't?"

Fives groaned, "She is literally made for you. I mean, they're reg manuals, vod. No one, and I mean no one, likes those things."

"But they're actually not bad!" Echo protested. "They're really funny if you'll believe it!"

Fives shook his head, "No. I cannot even begin this argument again. We'll be here for hours and that's not something we can afford. We're heading to Naboo tomorrow."

Echo nodded and sighed. "Look. I don't even know how to tell if she likes me or not. She's always so nice with everyone!"

"Yeah. She is," Fives agreed. "Well, once you're sure of your feelings, come and tell me. I'll help keep a lookout. Alright?"

His brother just nodded morosely.

Fives settled his hand on the ones clasped across the table. His heart went out to Echo. He'd always been quiet and shy - unnoticed to many others. The sidekick. He liked to do things by the book if he could (which was difficult in a company like the 501st). And now he was facing a situation with no guidelines, no easy paths, no rules. The poor guy was lost.

"You're gonna be okay, vod."

Echo looked up, his eyes anxious and tired. "Really?"

Fives nodded. "Yes. I believe in you. You've always been there for me. Now it's my turn to be there for you."

Echo smiled at him gratefully, then sighed and stood up. "You're right. It is late and we have a mission tomorrow. Let's get some rest."

"You gonna be able to sleep?" his brother asked sincerely.

He nodded, then followed him back to the barracks. This time when he flopped back into bed, his eyes slid shut and he was lifted into dreamland.

But even here, she beguiled him.

•~§~•

Ella held her breath as she waited for news. Her friends were down there, trapped by a mad scientist who'd recreated a terrible disease.

Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone create something so sinister? It's not like a physical weapon we can just shut off. It's not a quick death. Why would someone be this cruel?

The blue shadow virus had been leaked only a few minutes after everyone had thought the terror was over. And now, those who'd be gone to disable the bomb and arrest Doctor Vindi were trapped inside.

Skywalker stalked towards her, his face tight and stressed, and distracted. But when he saw her, he relaxed minutely. "Nurse Starrow. Good to see you're safe."

She smiled tensely, wrapping her arms around herself. "Have you received word?"

He nodded. "The senators, my Padawan, and Captain Rex's men are still down there. Kix is absolutely livid. He was bringing the wounded to the Resolute and retrieving supplies when it went off."

Ella bit her lip and looked at her crossed arms. Her friends were down there. He was down there. It hurt to be up here.

General Skywalker rested a hand on her shoulder. "We're going to find a cure. I promise. Master Kenobi and I are about to go looking for it in just a few minutes. We will not let them die down there."

She nodded and sighed, "I hope you're right. I... they're my friends. I don't want them to... at least not like this. Not helpless to fight against it at all. If they must die, I'd rather they die with honor. Not trapped in the dark clinging to every breath as an illness steals it from them."

The man nodded. There was a gleam in his eye that whispered of a deeper fear than just his men. Even deeper than his Padawan. He didn't say more, but waved and sprinted to the Twilight where his Master awaited him.

Ella took a seat outside the facility, resting her back against the thick walls. Somewhere down there, her friends were waiting. He was waiting.

She watched the two Jedi take off, the little ship disappearing into the bright blue sky. Ella hoped that they'd make it in time.

•~§~•

It had been two days now since Skywalker had departed to search for the cure. Ella had barely moved from her spot against the wall. Some of the men had come over next to her, and were all huddled together, talking in hushed voices.

A veteran named Chopper sat back in the shadows, one side of his face visible in the pale moonlight, while the other was masked, as if he were trying to hide it.

Maybe he is.

He was away from the others. She supposed that he was more of a loner. Like Echo.

But when no one was looking, he watched his brothers wistfully. Like he wanted to be part of that closeness.

She felt for him. It was hard to be alone sometimes.

Goaded by this thought, she stood up and moved towards him, bringing her book with her. He started when she came close.

"I'm Ella," she introduced. "I know you're Chopper. Echo and Fives talk about you sometimes. I don't believe we've met though."

Chopper looked a little surprised, and plenty apprehensive. She supposed that he, like many in the 501st, hadn't been around many women. She smiled, hoping to set him at ease as she stretched out her hand.

The soldier tentatively took her small hand in his much larger one, shaking it gently. "I am Chopper. How did you recognize me?"

Ella shrugged. "Echo says that you tend to keep to yourself a lot. When others mingle, you draw back. It wasn't too terribly hard to pick you out."

He nodded slowly. "Well... I can move if you want this spot."

She shook her head, "No, it's not that. I... I'm just scared for them," she confessed. "I hate not being able to do anything, and knowing they're so close! It's maddening! And I know you're a friend of theirs... I... sometimes being alone when you're worrying about someone makes it worse."

He shifted. "You... wanted to have my company."

"If you're willing. I... sometimes people want to be alone too. I don't want to force you, or anything. You're not obligated if you'd rather me go back over to my spot."

A slow smirk grew on his face, "If you want to stay, please sit on my left side in the moonlight. I'd prefer not to... I'd prefer it if you sat there."

Ella nodded and quickly obliged. "That's okay?"

Chopper smiled tightly. "Yes." He paused, looking down before his amber eye refocused on her face. "You read."

She smiled at his bluntness. "Yes. I love reading. Do you?"

He shrugged, "Never had much to read besides regs."

But they're funny! she protested mentally.

"I understand. Echo was the same way when I met him."

"Not anymore?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No. I've been reading some of my favorite stories to him. I... think he's enjoyed it. A lot of them are romance novels." She flushed. "Not exactly adventure."

There was silence. Then,

"I'm not sure about that," Chopper said softly. "I think that's an adventure all it's own."

Ella smiled and looked at the book in her hand. "This is another we've been reading. I went back over the last chapter. Silly, I know. It's just such a good book. I could read it forever and still be just as addicted."

The corner of his mouth turned up. "It must be a good book. What is it?"

"The Selection. It's from a series." The girl thought a moment, turning the book over in her hands. Then she timidly risked, "Would you like me to read you some?"

Chopper studied her, considered the offer, then hesitantly nodded.

Ella turned to the first chapter.

"When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic. She had already decided that all our problems were solved, gone forever. The big hitch in her brilliant plan was me. I didn't think I was a particularly disobedient daughter, but this was where I drew the line. I didn't want to be royalty. And I didn't want to be a One. I didn't even want to try. I hid in my room, the only place to avoid the chattering of our full house, trying to come up with an argument that would sway her. So far, I had a solid collection of my honest opinions. . . I didn't think there was a single one she would listen to. I couldn't avoid her much longer. It was approaching dinnertime, and as the oldest child left in the house, cooking duties fell on me. I pulled myself out of bed and walked into the snake pit."

Ella didn't notice, but as she read, leaning back against the wall, Chopper leaned forward just a little to listen. Some of the other men - even those who either didn't like or didn't know Chopper - migrated closer to hear the story.

She continued the tale for several chapters, her audience captivated by her lilting voice and the adventure, romance, and humor of this book.

Someone groaned when the main character defended herself against a nonexistent threat, and another person cheered her on for her quick thinking and courage. America Singer wouldn't go down without a fight.

Finally she let her voice rest after one last endearing piece.

"It was a hard question. Would I be willing to live a life I'd never wanted? Would I be willing to watch as he kindly tries to date the others to be sure he wasn't making a mistake? Would I be willing to take on the responsibility that he had as a prince? Would I be willing to love him? 'Yes Maxon,' I whispered. 'It's possible.'"

Someone sniffled, breaking the silence those last words had cast on the gathered soldiers. Ella glanced up at Chopper and was astonished to see there was dampness in the dark eye on her side, which he quietly wiped away.

Suddenly she had the realization that these men - perhaps all of them - longed to be loved. Just like Prince Maxon longed to be loved.

No wonder Chopper hadn't made a face when she'd admitted that this was a romance story with princesses.

They wanted to be princes to their own dearests.

After they dispersed, the after-story quiet still cast over them like a magic spell, the girl went back to her little spot and rested her head against the building, curling into a ball and draping the blanket someone had given her around her tiny, shivering form. Ella's mind wandered through the thick walls and into the dark, dimly lit space, where dozens of secret princes were fighting for their lives.

Dear God, she prayed silently, fervently. Let them live. Heal them. Make them well. Let a cure be found.

All excerpts from The Selection or any others from the series are the original creative genius of Kiera Cass. All rights go to her.