Oh Children
Hello, everyone. This chapter is also post S1 with Crosshair. Enjoy.
"What kind of mission do you think Cid is sending us on?" Wrecker asked.
"I guess we'll find out when we get there," Hunter answered.
"I hope it means smashing things."
"We're coming up on Myiam. I have the location. We can land close by." Tech said.
They landed and walked off the ship. They saw a group of people waiting outside a large building.
"Thanks for coming. They're inside." The leader said. "We'll be back soon."
"What exactly are we doing?" Hunter questioned.
"You'll see when you get inside. Have fun."
The group of people left and the batchers looked at each other. They walked inside and saw many children running around screaming and playing.
"Please, tell me this is not our assignment." Tech sighed. Hunter groaned as all his senses were overloaded by the children.
"We have a bigger problem. Who's going to change the kids?" Hunter questioned. Everyone but Tech looked at Tech who was looking at Wrecker.
"Don't look at me. I'd hurt the poor kids." Wrecker stated.
"Well, I don't want to do it," Tech replied.
"Sorry, Tech, it's all up to you."
Some kids were playing with blocks and Wrecker walked over and watched as one of the boys ran into it knocking them over. The other kids laughed and cheered.
"Hey, kid, you did pretty good." Wrecker complemented. The kids gasped and hid behind a chair.
"Perhaps we should take off our armor." Echo suggested.
The batch took off their armor and put it someplace safe.
"As if Wrecker and Omega were not bad enough." Crosshair huffed.
"Hey, at least we're getting paid," Hunter answered.
"I don't think you could pay me enough for this job," Tech complained after changing the third kid.
A little girl walked up to Omega and handed her a ball.
"What's your name?" Omega wondered.
"Eva." Eva cooed.
"Hello, Eva. I'm Omega."
Eva dragged Omega away from the others and they played. Wrecker looked in a crib and gasped.
"Hey, boys, look at this." Wrecker exclaimed. The boys walked over and saw the baby in the crib. "It's so small."
"ANd it's asleep. If I were you, I'd keep your voice low. The last thing we need is to take care of a screaming child." Tech warned.
"How long are we gonna be babysitting?" Echo wondered.
"Hopefully only a few hours. I don't know how we're gonna feed them." Hunter sighed. Hunter groaned and looked down at the boy behind him. "Tech, you've got another one."
"Can't we just take a hose to him?" Wrecker questioned.
"What? No. Why would you even suggest that?" Tech exclaimed. "At least you're not the one who has to change him."
Crosshair sat down on the floor and looked at the children around him.
"How many kids are there?" Hunter asked.
"I've looked around. It looks like we have 27 kids to watch over." Echo replied.
"Great."
A couple of kids walked over to Crosshair and stared at him. Then the oldest boy walked over and touched Crosshair's tattoo.
"What's that?" The kid asked.
"What does it look like?" Crosshair sneered. The kids gasped and ran.
"Ah, Cross, you scared the kids." Wrecker exclaimed.
A baby started screaming and Hunter groaned.
"At least, he didn't wake up the sleeping kid." Hunter groaned. He walked over and picked up the baby and tried to calm her down.
"Oops, sorry." Wrecker whispered.
Hunter sat down on the floor and held the baby till she was quiet.
"That's Erla," Eva said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Hunter," Hunter replied. Omega ran over smiling.
"Eva's introducing me to everyone," Omega explained. "I've never had a chance to play with this many kids."
AN older boy walked up and looked down at Hunter.
"Can we go outside and play a game? Our parents say it's safe." The boy wondered.
"I've looked outside. He's right. There's a fenced area for the kids to play." Echo stated.
"I guess we're going outside." Hunter sighed.
"I will look after the youngest ones outside," Tech said.
The batch took the kids outside and they watched the kids play. After a while, a few of the kids walked over smiling.
"We want to play a game. You close your eyes and we hide. Then you have to find us." Eva said.
"I don't think you want me to be it," Hunter warned.
"Why?"
"Hunter's a tracker. He could find all of us before we knew what was happening." Omega said.
"That sounds like fun," Eva exclaimed. The kids cheered and Hunter chuckled.
"Fine." Hunter chuckled. He closed his eyes and most of the kids and the batchers hid.
"Ok, come find us," Eva exclaimed. Hunter opened his eyes and got on his knees. He looked around and could already see someone hiding behind a tree. Hunter smiled and snuck away.
Wrecker looked and saw that Hunter wasn't there.
"Keep an eye out. He could be anywhere." Wrecker whispered to his little squad.
"Try right behind you," Hunter said. Wrecker exclaimed and the 5 kids laughed.
Crosshair and a few of the older kids hid in the trees. Crosshair looked at the kids and motioned for them to be quiet. Crosshair could see every move that Hunter made and Hunter knew it.
Hunter looked around and saw movement around the playhouse. Then he heard a familiar giggle. He knew that Omega and a few of the kids were hiding near the playhouse. Hunter snuck around the playhouse and heard Omega and her new friends giggling. He jumped out and tackled Omega to the ground.
"You found us." Omega giggled.
"I sure did. Now, how about you five help me find the others. Follow me." Hunter answered.
The girls followed Hunter quietly as they snuck around. Tech sat under a tree watching the little ones while reading on his datapad. Little did he realize that there was a group of kids hiding behind him, but Hunter knew. He looked at his little squad and pointed beyond the tree.
"You three, go to the left of the tree. Stay hidden. The rest of us will go on the right. Be careful not to scare Tech or the little ones." Hunter whispered. Hunter and two of the kids went towards while Omega took the other two and went left. It wasn't long before Hunter saw a group of kids hiding. Hunter nodded and they tackled the hidden kids. Tech jumped and looked behind him at the commotion.
"You could have given me a little warning," Tech stated.
"What fun would that be?" Omega questioned.
"You still have to find Crosshair, Echo, and 9 more kids."
Omega looked around and saw something move behind a bin. She tapped Hunter and pointed. Hunter saw the movement and chuckled.
"Got you, Echo," Hunter whispered. Echo looked out and saw the commotion but no Hunter.
"Where did he go?" Echo wondered.
Hunter saw Echo and his 2 kids. He motioned for the two to be quiet and he tackled Echo.
"Got ya," Hunter exclaimed.
"Should have known." Echo huffed. "Now, get off."
Hunter looked up and saw one of the kids in the tree. He walked over to the tree and climbed up. He climbed over to the kid and tapped him on the shoulder. The kid sighed and climbed back down. Hunter found the remaining kids and watched as Crosshair looked down below. Hunter snuck up behind Crosshair and grabbed him. The two climbed down and looked at the kids.
"It's Crosshair's turn," Omega said. Crosshair sat down and closed his eyes. He waited till everyone hid and then he started to find them. He used his keen sight to spot half of the kids and he ran around and started finding them. He found Wrecker and his squad in the playhouse. He found Echo and his squad behind a group of trees. He found a large group of kids either in the trees or around the other trees.
"Well, you found everyone but Hunter and Omega." Echo said.
"I can think of five places where they could be hiding," Tech stated.
Crosshair groaned and started searching everywhere, but he couldn't find Omega and Hunter. Hunter didn't need to see Crosshair, he could sense Crosshair. Omega was nestled into his side quietly listening for Crosshair.
Crosshair looked in the bin and saw nothing and he groaned.
"Where are they?" Crosshair questioned. "I looked in the five places where you said they could be, but I found nothing."
"They have to be here somewhere." Echo said. Everyone looked around for Hunter and Omega. The two were in their hiding place trying not to laugh. Hunter hushed Omega as he felt Wrecker near their hiding place.
"Well, no one's in that bin. Just a bunch of toys and blankets." Wrecker exclaimed.
"Of course he would." Crosshair realized. He rushed over and dug through the toys and blankets and spotted his targets.
"About time." Hunter teased.
"It's my turn now," Omega said.
Omega closed her eyes and waited for everyone to hide. When everyone was hidden, she started her hunt. She heard a branch snap and she looked up to see movement. She moved to the left and saw Crosshair hiding.
"Found you Crosshair," Omega stated.
"Wow, that's a first!" Wrecker exclaimed.
"Shh." Everyone hushed.
"Oops, sorry."
Omega giggled and walked behind the tree and saw Wrecker and his squad.
"Found you Wrecker," Omega said.
"Ah, man. Sorry, boys. I let you down." Wrecker sighed. Omega looked around and saw some kids in the playhouse.
"I see you guys. Come on out."
The kids walked out and sighed. Omega noticed the treehouse and she climbed up and saw Echo and several children inside.
"You're good, kid." Echo chuckled.
Omega looked around and watched the bin move slightly. She climbed down and opened the bin and saw a few kids inside. It wasn't long before she had found everyone but Hunter.
"Is this why we never play these kinds of games?" Echo wondered.
"Yes. Hunter knows exactly where to hide where he can sense everyone and not be seen or heard." Tech answered.
Omega searched high and low, but couldn't find Hunter. She sighed and thought for a moment. Then she ran over to the playhouse and looked behind it and spotted Hunter.
"Found you." Omega giggled.
They played till each of the clones had had a turn. Then Hunter looked up at the sky.
"We should go inside. It'll rain soon." Hunter stated.
Everyone went inside and the kids continued to play.
"The kids will be hungry soon. What are we gonna do about that?" Crosshair questioned.
"Tech!" Hunter, Echo, and Wrecker answered.
"Why am I always stuck with this job?" Tech questioned.
"You're the one on his datapad all day." Echo stated.
"FIne. Crosshair can change the kids while I'm in the kitchen."
Crosshair scowled but didn't argue. Tech made supper for the kids and soon the kids were all fed and ready for bed. It took well over an hour to get the children to bed and by then, the squad was bone tired. They all sat around the main room resting. Omega sat down beside Hunter and yawned.
"Who knew watching a bunch of kids for most of the day would be this exhausting." Wrecker yawned.
"I suggest everyone try and sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day." Hunter sighed.
"Do you think Cid knew what the mission was but didn't tell us?" Omega wondered.
"I think that was obvious. Cid would do anything to make us go out of our comfort zone. This task accomplishes that." Tech explained.
"Who's taking the night shift?" Crosshair asked.
"Not like I'm gonna get any sleep anyway." Hunter sighed.
Everyone else went to sleep and Hunter listened for any and all noises that the kids made during the night. He smiled to himself and looked beside him at Omega and knew that it had been a good mission for all of them.
TBC or THE END?
You tell me. Do you want this one to continue or not?