Summary: "The clones are bred to fight wars, but he'll never see a footstep beyond Kamino." The Kaminoans performed more than one operation on Tech's eyes, but only they, himself, and Hunter know. And none of them ever talk about it. One-shot.
A/N: Whumptober day seven: my Spidey-sense is tingling- helplessness/blindness.
Break, Fix, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat…
There was another operation. After the one that had nearly blinded him.
He and Hunter don't talk about it, and the others don't know about it.
Because this second operation had blinded him.
And he remembers every vivid moment of that nightmare.
They come for him, without warning, in the middle of the night, escort him down to the medical labs- the Kamino security regs. Hunter is in such a deep sleep that even he doesn't wake. Tech doesn't like how a trooper flanks each side of him; he's already uneasy enough without it.
He doesn't recognize the Kaminoan in charge of the operation, who doesn't care enough to introduce himself- Tech later learns his name is Taro Ke. Taro Ke spends no time in getting him strapped down to the gurney in the center of the room and sedating him. Tech knows better than to fight it.
.
When he wakes up, there's nothing. He can hear, he can feel, he can taste, and smell- but he can't see. At all. There isn't even darkness. It's as if he doesn't even have eyes.
When he wakes up, he's blind.
He doesn't know, doesn't pay attention to half the words that pass through his lips, but he knows he's calling for Hunter. Because Hunter can always fix things- because Hunter is his brother, there when he needs him most.
Taro Ke throws him back to the security, who threaten to shoot him with a stun round if he doesn't quiet down. He stares down, undoubtedly at the floor, as they lead him back to the barracks.
When the door to the hall slides shut behind him, he lets his pain out. He rips his goggles off, throws the useless things across the room, collapses into a sobbing heap against the door.
He doesn't care that he wakes Hunter, because this is something his brother can't fix. He's going to be decommissioned. Decommissioned! Because blind men don't fight wars. The clones are bred to fight wars, but he'll never see a footstep beyond Kamino. He'll never see anything again.
He fights his brother's attempts to soothe him, doesn't let him pull him into his arms. He can't think clearly enough to even begin to tell him what had happened.
He's blind, he's broken, he's helpless- he's useless.
He's going to be decommissioned.
.
When the security regs come for him some time later, perhaps a rotation or two, Hunter fights tooth and nail for him. He can't see it, of course, but he can hear the snarls that tear from his brother's throat, and each blow landed. Then he hears the stun blast, hears a body collapse to the floor.
Hears a reg voice follow, merely annoyed. "Great way to start out my day…"
The regs are annoyed to have to pick up a cadet for decommissioning.
Tech stares at the floor that he can't see.
"C'mon, kid."
Head down, he lets the regs lead him away.
To his death.
.
But it's not.
Nala Se's there, and she fixes him herself. Not better than before Lon To, but he takes it.
It's part of the reason why he doesn't blame Omega for aiding in the original operation.
Because it's almost nothing in comparison to that second one, the one that even Hunter couldn't protect him from.
He treasures every moment that he can see. Because he fears the one that he may lose his sight permanently- and what good is he then?