Pale whisps of the billowing clouds rushed towards the Marauder only to dissipate as they collided with it's viewport.
Omega gripped the controls harder, being careful not to shift them despite the nervous tremors that shivered in her stomach and made her fingers tingle.
Tech sat rigidly in the pilot's seat, his face set, and Omega settled herself more firmly into the copilot's chair, determined to play her part as well as she could. They must - they would get Crosshair back.
Already, the Havoc Marauder was accelerating to well beyond the speed Tech would normally allow the ship to reach when flying in atmosphere.
Omega couldn't help but breathe faster. The others would definitely feel the change in the Marauder's speed and direction, and what would happen when they found out what Tech and Omega were doing?
Omega knew that Hunter was forgiving and understanding in many things, but she was sure he would not be happy about this.
She pursed her lips, anxiety drawing her eyebrows up her forehead.
Hunter would be grateful later. So would the others. She just couldn't bear to see them all so sad because Crosshair wouldn't come back.
She didn't know how Crosshair could be gotten into the ship at all. But she would try. She had to try. She had tried on the landing platform to help Crosshair come with them, but it hadn't done anything at all. Not that she had seen, anyway.
Wrecker had asked if Crosshair was coming, and Crosshair refused. Omega wasn't sure exactly how the sniper had said "no", but he had managed to communicate that all the same.
Echo had said nothing, Tech hadn't gotten involved at all!
Thankfully, he was now making that right by helping Omega now.
And Hunter...had said something Omega didn't understand. In the end, Hunter had justletit happen.
Something needed to be fixed. Omega was absolutely sure.
And going back for Crosshair, even if he didn't want to be with them, was the start.
The trap door to the hold popped up behind her at the same moment that the bunkroom door unlocked and slid open with a sharp hiss that blended with Hunter's gasp of surprise.
"Tech, what are you doing?"
"It appears we have forgotten something!" Tech called back.
Omega made herself as small as she could in the copilot's seat.
"Tech." Hunter's tone was heavy. "We've been over this. He doesn't want to come back."
Tech didn't reply. Then, "That is where you are mistaken, Hunter."
"Look, Tech!" Hunter started forward, and Omega got ready to take over piloting if Hunter tried to make Tech turn the ship around.
Tech ignored Hunter's approaching footsteps. "Strap in!"
Hunter stopped short. "What? Tech, this is ridiculous! Crosshair...is...He doesn't -"
"Uh, Sarge? Ya better listen," said Wrecker.
Omega peeked around the right side of her chair, still hoping Hunter wouldn't notice her, at where Wrecker was pointing to the left side window of the viewport.
Hunter growled. "Imperials. Already!? Tech, get us out of here!"
"Assuredly! Once we pick up Crosshair."
"You are not going to get us caught by the Empire for a man who is part of it and will refuse to come with us anyway!" Echo snapped.
"Please strap in, or you might break your head," said Tech calmly, and jerked the Havoc Marauder into a sharp, downward spiral.
Echo and Wrecker went staggering to the flight chairs behind the cockpit, and Hunter stumbled, slamming into the back of the copilot's seat.
"Hang on!" Tech cried. The ship levelled, and Hunter swung the chair about, grabbing for the restraints.
Omega smiled sheepishly up at him.
Hunter's eyes widened. "Omega, what are -? Oh, I don't have time for this."
Hunter scooped Omega up and sat her on his lap, securing the straps around both of them.
Omega wriggled, trying to reach the controls.
"I have to help Tech!"
"No." Hunter pulled her hands back. "Wait. Wrecker! Get on the guns!"
"Right!"
The Havoc Marauder burst from the frothing sea of clouds and soared over the rising waves of Kamino. Sunny weather never lasted long on this planet, but Omega wished the rain would hold back just a little longer, just until they got Crosshair!
The Imperial ships closed in.
Tech pulled back on the controls, slowing the Marauder's descent and executing such a tight roll that Omega yelled. The Empire's pilots whizzed past. Tech jerked the ship around in a complete 180 and banked into a dive.
Omega heard the rear guns go off. Wrecker hollered in victory.
"That's two down! Get me the others, Tech!"
Omega jerked forward in Hunter's hold, pointing frantically out the viewport. "There's the landing pad!"
She stared as hard as she could and saw, or rather imagined, Crosshair standing on the surface, gazing up at the battle taking place above him.
"Tech! They're alongside us!" yelled Hunter.
"We cannot lead them down to Crosshair!" said Tech.
"You'll have to!" Omega cried, sudden panic seizing in her stomach. "Look!"
Tech's eyes flicked briefly in the direction Omega was pointing, and behind her, Hunter groaned.
"Oh, no..."
One of the Imperial fighters had broken off from the others and was screaming towards the landing platform. It's wings angled downwards and the gun on the underside of the ship swiveled, aiming directly at where the Bad Batch had left Crosshair only a short time ago.
Omega glanced helplessly at Tech, and the pilot's eyes narrowed. The Marauder held steady, Wrecker yelled at Tech to "Move!!!" and after a moment that seemed to swallow up forever, Tech fired.
The Imperial vessel jolted in it's flight and slowly began to rotate. The motion increased in speed, and within seconds, the enemy ship had spiralled completely out of control and collided with the landing platform.
A column of smoke rose from the metal surface, and Omega gasped. The remaining three fighters were quickly destroyed, but Omega barely noticed.
One thought shrouded everything around her from view. Hunter was saying something, but she couldn't hear the words. Her own question rang too loudly in her head.
Is Crosshair alive...?