Chapter 18: Safe

CT 9904 entered the Admiral's office and stood in silence, his casual stance betraying signs of his utter confidence and uncaring view of rank.

Rampart ignored this unseemly display and tapped the tablet in his hand thoughtfully against the tips of his fingers.

"Ah, there you are, Commander." Rampart said, and CT 9904 frowned. The admiral had seen him enter, yet Rampart never acknowledged anyone until he had decided they were relevant to whatever the admiral was trying to acomplish at the time.

"My men discovered this in a hidden compartment in your barracks. What is it?"

CT 9904 took the proffered datapad and tossed it idly in one hand. "No idea," he hissed, handing it back.

Rampart declined to accept it. "No, no. Open the first files. I'm curious as to what its significance is...to you..."

CT 9904 tilted his helmeted head suspiciously, but powered up the pad and selected the first file.

It was a recording of...of...

Crosshair stiffened, then fell away after the first shouts had faded from the speakers of the tablet. CT 9904 fumbled against the straining memories and he shook his head hard.

Rampart watched him through narrowed eyes.

The video played and the shaking screen fell to the floor with a clatter, this frantic disposal doing nothing to stop the anguished screams maxing out the speakers.

Rampart nodded slowly as Crosshair staggered against the wall and clutched his head.

"I see..." the admiral smiled. "It seems at least one of your old squad has been taken care of... Well... It seems you are due for another checkup, Commander."

Crosshair glanced up and pressed harder against his left temple, but CT 9904 rose smoothly to the surface once again.

"Yes, sir," he replied in his oily voice, and with a single glance at the still emitting datapad on the floor, the clone left the room.

Rampart sighed. There was no fixing these defects. Soon, that clone would have to go as well.

Omega clung to Hunter. Her fingers were hurting as she squeezed his cuirass, but she didn't care. She held on tighter when a surge of trembling seized her – trembling so violent it wasn't a moment later that Hunter picked her up in his arms and carried her to Wrecker, who took her in his all-encompassing grip.

"We gotcha, kid," said Wrecker. "Good to have you back."

Omega tried to focus on his voice, but her thoughts were swirling so fast in her head, and they scared her.

Did I shoot Sullo Pria? What if I missed? What if I actually killed her? I've never killed someone before! Oh, dear, what if I hurt her? What if I didn't fire fast enough? Did she hurt Tech more? Why did I have to disobey Hunter? Why? Why did I hesitate to help Tech? Why do I have to be so afraid? Why couldn't I look when I pulled the trigger? What if I hit Tech???

Omega straightened from where she had hidden her face in Wrecker's shoulder guard. "T-Tech!"

"He's fine, Omega," said Echo.

Omega turned in Wrecker's hold, brushing away the man's hand as he tried to guide her gaze away from the scene playing out behind her on the ground.

At her second weak push against his arm, Wrecker allowed her to look.

Echo was crouched on the floor, one hand supporting Tech who was leaning back on his elbows, head tilting dizzily.

Hunter touched Tech's arm. "Tech…? Tech, can you hear me?"

Tech's head wobbled and he tipped it back to look first at Hunter, then at Echo.

Echo looked worried. "Tech?"

Tech coughed weakly and stared at Echo. "C-Cross-hair…? Why did you come here?" His voice was small, tremulous.

Omega shook away her tears.

"Why did you come here?" Tech repeated, dazedly. "Now she'll hurt you, too!"

"No, she won't, Tech," said Hunter. "She's dead. She can't hurt anyone anymore."

Echo nodded. "Wrecker got her."

Tech blinked slowly at Echo, and Omega followed his gaze to a short distance beyond the group where the body of Sullo Pria lay. Smoke rose from the dark burn in her forehead.

Omega hid her face once more. Wrecker hefted her in his arms and murmured, "Guess I got lucky," into her ear.

Omega wanted to be mad at herself for it, but her relief at learning that Wrecker - not she - had taken down the Kaminoan was so immense she almost forgot her former terror.

Omega gulped. "Thank you for saving Tech," she sniffled. Wrecker patted her on the back.

A louder gulp – but not hers.

She looked up again and saw Echo bracing his flesh hand more firmly against Tech's back as Tech struggled to rise.

"She's – she's dead?" the technician squeaked.

Hunter sighed. "Yes, Tech. Sullo Pria is gone for good."

"Crosshair? Crosshair!" Tech called, fighting against Hunter's hold to get to his feet.

Hunter gripped his shoulder and bent to gaze directly into his eyes. "Tech? Crosshair isn't here."

Tech almost gaped, then realization and recognition bled into his eyes. They shimmered, then clouded and Tech sank back to the floor, exhaustion flooding his features. Echo looked grimly up at Hunter as Tech began to tremble, then shake.

Hunter rose and took Omega from Wrecker. Wrecker bent and caught Tech up, and the small group slowly headed back to the Havoc Marauder.

Omega stuffed her face into Hunter's shoulder as Tech began to cry.

CT 9904 paused in the narrow hall that led into the medical room - his medical room, he could almost say. He had frequented it so often.

The strange pressure in his chest was gone, that unusual sense of...wrongness had dissolved. In its place was...nothing...

He gave his head a shake and raised a finger over the door control. His hand hovered for a moment, then fell.

His eyes narrowed. CT 9904 punched the button and strode into the lab, settling himself immediately on the examination table. He didn't know why he hated coming here so much - he could never remember why...

Crosshair suddenly gasped, head pounding as he recalled the data displayed on the tablet's screen.

It was odd. Frightening, really. The recording Rampart showed him had been downloaded to the datapad directly, and not more than an hour ago. Datapad... Why... In the barracks...? Of course. Te-

CT 9904 squeezed his eyes shut against the sudden flames raging behind them.

When he woke up, he couldn't recall what he had been trying to remember - only that it was dreadfully important.