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Pabu had finally succumbed to the Empire. Terror spread throughout the paradise in the dead of night. Troopers broke into homes, bashing and tearing through each hut from top to bottom until there was nothing left. Villager's screams and cries filled the air as they were shoved with blasters pointed aggressively in their faces toward the center of Upper Pabu.
Crosshair's eyes narrowed as he scanned through the bustling crowd below from his cover in the midst of the weeping maya tree, trying to scope out the area for his target. He bit down on his toothpick as his nerves spiked. At last, after long moments of searching, two figures came out of the chaos. One tall and one small. It took everything in the sniper to keep from shooting the larger of the latter right then and there.
"Hunter, I have them in my sights. You're good to initiate Plan 84."
"Copy that." Hunter's response was short and concise. The sniper could hear the slight waver in his brother's voice as he cut the call.
Now the waiting game began.
Omega struggled against the cuffs that bound her hands tightly behind her back. She knew it was only a matter of time before the Empire found her again. While she was prepared for the impending danger coming her way, the cruelty of the Empire still scared her to the core.
CX-2 paid no attention to her as he dragged the rustling clone toward the transport resting a few feet ahead of them.
"Don't waste your energy, it's no use," the assassin hissed, clearly annoyed by the fuss she was making.
Omega kicked at his shins, refusing to leave without putting up a fight. "Let go!" she shouted, trying her best to cause as much delay as possible.
CX-2 rolled his eyes under his helmet at the girl's tugging. He knew of one way to shut her up for the meantime. "Do it," he commanded, signaling to his operatives.
Before Omega could comprehend what he was talking about, a loud explosion rang through the air. Omega's hearing went muffled as the night sky lit up in a flurry of ash and metal. That's when she saw it.
The Marauder.
Gone.
Blown to smithereens.
"NO!" A cry ripped from her throat as she stared at her once home now erupting in flames. She tried to run toward the fire but was stopped by her captor's intense grip on her restraints causing her to falter.
CX-2, having enough of her defiance, pushed the young girl to the ground. Omega let out a surprised gasp. Without hands to break her fall, Omega hit the stone floor head first. Dots danced in front of her vision, but she was given no time to recollect herself from the sudden fall before she was yanked back up.
"I have Hemlock's priority. Call off the attack," CX-2 ordered, shoving Omega into the imperial transport.
One of the troopers aboard the ship caught the stumbling girl in his arms. Omega leaned on him, trying to stabilize herself. His armor was coated in black soot from the remains of the Marauder.
"Sedate her," the assassin demanded, "She's a feisty one."
Omega's eyes widened as the trooper reluctantly reached for the sedative on his belt. He gingerly pushed aside her hair as the needle settled on her neck, sending a chilling reminder of her time on Kamino through her mind. Omega sent a barely registerable nod as if to give him permission despite her situation. She felt the sharp prick and immediately after she was lifted and fastened into one of the chairs with a harness. Once even more restrained her world started to give into the effect of the sedative. She acknowledged the dirty-armored trooper one last time as her eyes grew heavy until she could no longer keep them open.
~~~A Week Before~~~
The Batch stood in the cockpit of the Marauder listening to the hologram of Echo debriefing his findings from Rex. The ARC had been working night and day, relentlessly without rest to gather all the information from the group's most recent escape. Omega sat sideways, legs hanging over the chair's arm, mimicking Crosshair's position as she gnawed on a toothpick.
"Rex reached out to a contact within the Empire. He was able to give us more information about our M-count situation."
At that mention, Omega sat up, eyes glued to the holographic image of her brother whose lips were pressed into a tight line.
"As we know, all clones on Tantiss were required to give blood samples, even Omega."
"But, Nala Se disposed of mine each time I brought them to her," Omega reminded, flicking her toothpick on the ground. It was a nasty habit she picked up from Crosshair, and one Hunter constantly scolded them both for. "That was until the day we escaped. She told me I had to get away before Emerie could scan my sample because if she did...I would be in danger." Omega messed nervously with her hands as all eyes fell on her.
"And good thing you did. From what I could piece together with both sides of info, Hemlock is looking for some kind of compatible M-count host for his project."
Crosshair felt his face heating up as his jaw clenched. "And Omega's the host?" he asked; the little wooden toothpick snapped between his teeth, letting out a sickening crunch.
Echo nodded slowly, sending a worried glance over the quiet room.
"I'll let you four talk it over. I'll be in touch." The blue hue from the hologram dispersed, leaving the cockpit in a slightly darker setting than it was before.
"Well," Hunter began, arms uncrossing as he stood tall, "I guess we'll have to disappear for a while."
"You mean, stay on Pabu permanently?" Wrecker asked, looking up from petting Batcher at the sergeant who wore a stoic mask; however, it was clear as Naboo's waters the leader was beyond worried.
"What other choice do we have?"
Omega quickly bounced up, argument at the ready. "But, what about all the clones on Tantiss? We can't just leave them there!"
Hunter sighed, his voice both gentle and stern as he responded to the young clone. "Omega, this is not up for debate. Our mission is over."
It was over the second she and Crosshair returned safely to them on Ryloth's moon. Hunter didn't know why they continued to stick their noses deeper into the Empire's business. Maybe Rex was wrong. As long as Omega was with him...with them, her purpose for the Empire didn't matter.
They could protect her.
Omega shook her head, glaring up at Hunter. "How can you say that? Those are our brothers. Hemlock is hurting them, Hunter! I can't stay here knowing that we can do something to help them!" She looked to Crosshair and Wrecker with a desperate plea. "Right?"
Wrecker eyes darted around the room as he let out an awkward groan. He hated having to side with one party. It never ended well.
"Uhhhh, look, kid," he started hesitantly prepping for her reaction to his answer, "I kinda think Hunter's gotta point here." Like he predicted, the girl's face fell into dejection, crushing his heart.
"Crosshair?" Omega asked, her voice growing small at her last attempt to find someone else on her side. "You know what he's doing to them. We have to go back!"
Crosshair opened his mouth but found that no words came out.
Omega glanced off to the side, keeping her gaze low. Her brows squeezed together in a downward motion as her arms crossed over each other.
"Fine," she bit out.
"Omega—"
"I'm going to Lyana's." The young clone walked swiftly past the sniper, snubbing him as she left the ship. The Marauder shook as she jumped off the ramp, her boots clamouring on the concrete pavement. A saddened Batcher followed hesitantly after her, small wines echoing as the two left the landing grounds.
"She's going to the cove," Crosshair stated confidently without having to look after her.
Wrecker grumbled, running a hand down his tired face. "Why does the Empire have to be after the kid again?"
"I don't know, Wreck," Hunter admitted. Selfishly thinking, why couldn't it have been someone else? Why their kid of all the millions of clones? Hunter stood up, wincing slightly as his sore joints still in recovery from his fight with Ventress screamed at him. "I'll go talk to her."
Wrecker placed a large hand—almost the same way he did to Omega— on Hunter's shoulder, giving it a firm grasp. "Try not to talk at her, Sarge."
Hunter stilled, taking the advice to heart. "I'll keep that in mind." He nodded sharply, stepping down the ramp.
It was dark. The island itself was lit warmly, the lanterns set out at the front doors of each home cast a soft moving shadow on the walls surrounding it. Shep had offered a rather decent sized hut that would fit the entire (well, almost entire) batch once they returned to Pabu, but Hunter kindly declined. The Marauder wasn't only a ship as he had come to understand. After Order 66, Crosshair's betrayal, Tech's death, and Omega's abduction, the Marauder seemed to be the only unchanging factor in his life. Something he could rely on. For months the familiar scent, sounds, and view became a new sense of comfort to cling to. Hunter knew it was hypocritical of him when he tried to tell Omega back in the ipsium mines that the ship wasn't important. Even he flinched when Tech bluntly stated how their beloved ship was nothing but replaceable. Omega was right. It was their home. After the desperate searching, mourning, and grieving in the past year and a half, the sergeant wanted a stable life; one of no more change. A life where he could be at peace of mind and settle down with what was left of his family. Being a soldier was behind them. There was no more Republic. That time was over.
Hunter approached the rocky cove. The water gently sloshed over the sandy shore as the moon's reflection rippled on top of the calming waves. On the furthest side of the beach sat two small figures upon a leveled out stone. Hunter took in a deep breath as he walked silently toward them.
Omega didn't need enhanced hearing to tell when someone had finally come to check on her. Batcher nudged her hand not a second later to warn her. Sending a small smile to the Lurca, Omega looked over her shoulder at the person staring awkwardly behind her. Of course it was Hunter.
"Omega, can we talk for a minute?"
Omega sighed heavily, scooching over on the rock to make room for him. She knew he was just going to spiel about how going after the clones was too dangerous. She didn't know how many times she had heard that speech since she had gotten back. She needed him to hear her out. It was because of her that the Empire was a threat, so it was up to her to fix it.
"I know what you're going to say, but those clones are suffering on Tantiss. We can't just leave them there to undergo Hemlock's experiment. It's...awful." A chill ran down her spine as images of half-alive looking clones in their cells and on medical tables flashed vividly through her mind. Crosshair being one of them.
Hunter hated Hemlock for many reasons. One of those being for traumatizing his kid.
"I understand that you feel responsible. But it is not your fault. Hemlock's practices have always been...unorthodox." That was putting it lightly. The man was truly evil.
"If Nala Se didn't destroy my blood samples, then maybe Hemlock wouldn't have continued torturing them." Omega stared out at the undulating water. The guilt she was feeling ate into her. The pit felt deeper than the sea itself.
"Don't say that, Omega." He surprised himself as his attempt of comfort sounded too much like an order.
Omega finally looked at him, eyes shining bright even in the dark.
"It's true! Because of me, everyone is getting hurt." She sucked in a breath, preparing for the storm of questions and concerns heading her way. "Which is why the next time the Empire finds us...I'm going to turn myself in."
Her words pierced the sergeant like a lightsaber to the stomach.
"No," he said plainly. He wouldn't let her. He would not put her in a situation where she would have to do such a thing.
Omega frowned.
"Yes."
"Omega, we just got you back!" Hunter shouted louder than he meant to. Next to him Batcher's head shot up, looking at the sergeant with a slight snarl.
Omega shook her head at the hound before reverting her attention back to him.
"Hemlock won't stop looking for us! He doesn't care about who he has to hurt to get to me." Omega felt tears of frustration and sadness pricking at her eyes. "I don't want to lose anyone else! If that means going back to Tantiss...then that's what I'll do."
Silence.
She was expecting an earful from him. The opposite was much scarier than what she had prepped for.
"Hunter?" Omega asked carefully, unsure of what to say next.
Hunter looked at the little girl in front of him. Well, she wasn't so little anymore. She no longer had that innocent outlook of the galaxy in her eyes. She wasn't as scared as she once was. She didn't depend on him like she did when she was ten. She was growing up whether he liked it or not. He missed five months of her childhood while she was trapped on that forsaken mountain, and during those months, she was forced to mature faster. Yet despite everything she went through, it was her who found them. She did what they couldn't, even managing to bring Crosshair back. Hunter knew Omega was capable of her own choices. Like him, she was also stubborn to the bone. The sergeant knew what he was about to do would be the greatest ask of himself.
To let go.
"I...I know whatever I have to say won't change your mind, but you don't have to do this alone."
Omega tilted her head, seemingly in shock at his rather calm demeanor.
"Y-You trust me to do this?"
Hunter placed a hand on her shoulder, like he had done since she first came to the batch. "I do. Though, I'll admit I am a hundred percent against the idea, but I know you'll end up doing it anyway. I'd rather be in the know and be able to help you than shut out completely."
Omega huffed out a light laugh. "Thank you, for believing in me, Hunter." She fell into his arms the way she did after finally reuniting with him after those long grueling months spent apart. However, this hug was different. It was a promise to return, yet to return there had to be another goodbye. "I won't let you down." Her voice came out strong and determined. She definitely, to Hunter's dismay, wasn't a kid anymore.
He laced his hand through her longer blonde hair. Omega leaned into his touch, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
"I know you won't."
~~~Present Day~~~
Hunter sat next to Omega's sleeping form. He attempted to indiscreetly loosen her binders in hopes it would bring a little more comfort to her when she woke. Hunter desperately wished he was able to tend to the many scrapes and bruises littering her body, but that would blow his cover. All he could do was sit there and watch as the drug he administered ran its course.
The disguised sergeant activated the tracker. One placed on his armor and the second hidden in the band of Omega's hair tie. He let out a silent sigh, his eyes fixating on the trail of cinder residue from the Marauder's unfortunate ending. Things would be different the next time they returned to Pabu. Most likely in order to give their regards before having to find another place in the galaxy to hide...assuming the mission went in the right direction, which it never did.
It felt like five minutes rather than an hour when the shuttle landed with a sudden jerk.
They arrived.
Hunter stood up, releasing the harness and tenderly picking up his kid. He longed to hold her forever, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she was ripped away from him once more.
Hunter straightened his posture as the ramp lowered slowly, revealing no other than the infamous Doctor Hemlock himself. He instinctively pulled Omega closer to him. The doctor was right about his paternal instincts. He was a fool for coming between him and Omega again.
Hemlock's smile upon resting his gaze on Omega's form forced the sergeant to bite down on his tongue.
"I'll take her from here, trooper."
Hunter clutched the child tighter in his arms as he did what was asked of him. His heart felt like it was being torn from his chest as he surrendered Omega over to the very man he had searched the galaxy to save her from.
"A little banged up, but good work nonetheless." Hemlock inspected the new injuries. "You're dismissed." The doctor turned, retreating back into the facility with Omega hanging limply in his arms.
Hunter watched helplessly in a forced farewell as the two disappeared.
At the least, he knew where she was. Once Echo got the coordinates, he and Rex could organize a group of insurgents to break out all the other clones.
Like Omega wanted.
The whole reason she put herself back in the hands of the Empire was for her brothers. Her compassion was both her strong and weak point.
Hunter only hoped Hemlock didn't test it because the sergeant didn't share the same kind heart.
He would do whatever was necessary to make sure Hemlock never laid a hand on his family again.