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Hello, everyone. This prompt was suggested by Silena Natasha. Enjoy.

Hunter looked down at Crosshair who was bleeding heavily in his arms.

"What have I done? I failed. I failed my brother. This should have been me." Hunter thought.

"Hunter, this blood? Is any of it yours?" Echo questioned. Echo could see that Hunter wasn't paying attention. He shook Hunter who gasped. "Hunter, is any of this blood yours?"

"No. It's all his. It's all Crosshair's. It's my fault. I should have seen it coming."

"Hunter, it wasn't your fault."

They landed on the med station and rushed Crosshair off the ship. Crosshair was taken into surgery leaving the rest of the batch to wait. Hunter paced the room as deep dark thoughts clouded his mind.

"You should have seen it coming? What good are you? You can't protect your brothers or your sister." A voice spat.

"It could have happened to anyone."Another voice commented.

"It was my fault. I should have seen it coming. Why didn't I see it coming? I'm the Sargent. I'm supposed to protect the squad. They almost died. They will die and it'll be my fault." Hunter thought.

Echo looked over at Hunter and saw that he was deep in thought.

"I'm gonna get Hunter his clean pair of blacks." Echo said.

"Omega and I will go get drinks and snacks. We haven't eaten in a while and Crosshair needs us at our best." Wrecker suggested. Echo, Omega, and Wrecker left Tech and Hunter waiting.

Several minutes later, Echo walked over to Hunter and placed his hand on Hunter's shoulder. Hunter looked at Echo and his posture changed. Echo held up Hunter's blacks.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Echo suggested.

"I have to know, Echo," Hunter replied.

"You'll be cleaned up before Crosshair's out of surgery. Come on."

They walked to the nearest refresher and Hunter walked into the shower and closed the curtain. He took off his armor and handed it to Echo who cleaned them and then took them to the ship while Hunter removed his dirty blacks and turned on the shower. He hissed as the water hit his back and his side. He looked and saw that the water was turning bloody. He looked at his side and saw a large gash. He used the water to wash the gashes and then he cleaned the rest of him. He heard Echo come back in and he held his breath.

"You alright, Hunter?" Echo wondered.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can you uh... go get a medkit?" Hunter asked.

"Why? Are you hurt?"

"I just have a bruise on my leg. It's fine, but it hurts a lot."

"I'll be right back. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Echo, I'm fine."

Echo left the refresher and came back with the medkit. Hunter turned off the water and dried himself off.

"Can you uh... leave?" Hunter asked. Echo left the refresher and Hunter opened the curtain. He saw the medkit and he opened it. He looked in the mirror and he wrapped up his torso with bandages. He put on his clean blacks and then left the refresher.

"You alright?" Echo wondered.

"I'm fine, Echo. I'm not the one in surgery am I?"

"No. Come on, the others are waiting."

They walked back to the waiting room and Hunter felt warm. He walked over to the window and found that the glass was cold. He sat down on the floor and tried to hide his grimace. Omega walked over and placed her hand on Hunter's shoulder. Hunte looked at her saw that she was holding a cup of water and a snack.

"Not right now," Hunter murmured.

"Are you ok?" Omega wondered.

"No. I'm not. I failed. I failed all of you."

"No, you didn't, Hunter."

"You almost died months ago, Omega. Crosshair could still die. It's all my fault."

Omega stood up straight and glared.

"YOu know what I think?" Omega wondered.

"What?" Hunter huffed.

"I think the Empire wanted control and they're gonna stop anyone who stands in the way. Crosshair, I and the others have chosen to stand up against them just as much as you have. Whatever happens to us is the EMpire's fault, not yours. Now, eat. Crosshair will need all of us healthy and able to care for him. That includes you."

Hunter took the cup of water and the snack and Omega sat beside him and watched him. Hunter took a sip of water and opened his snack. He took a bite and closed it up. He swallowed his food and washed it down with water.

"Are you alright?" Omega wondered.

"I'm fine, kid. Just not hungry." Hunter answered. Omega nodded and walked over to the others. An hour later, Hunter winced as he stood up. He saw the doctor and walked over.

"Your brother will be alright. His armor protected him from most of the blast, but he is heavily bruised and he's lost a lot of blood. You can go see him." The doctor said. They all rushed to Crosshair's room and saw that he was awake, but was very weak.

"Hey, you gave us quite a scare," Hunter whispered.

"Who me?" Crosshair teased.

"Yeah, you. You're one of us, remember?"

"Yeah. Doc says I'll live. Guess you're stuck with me."

"Can't think of anyone better I'd rather be stuck with. Get some sleep."

Crosshair nodded and closed his eyes. Hunter looked around and he felt overwhelmed.

"Hunter?" Tech wondered.

"I'm fine. I just need some air." Hunter answered. He rushed out of the room and Tech looked at the others.

"He feels responsible," Omega said.

"I see, but it wasn't his fault. None of our scanners showed that the EMpire was there." Tech replied.

"But Hunter's never wrong." Echo stated. "He's grown up expected to be perfect. Expected to know everything around him. Since the Empire has taken control, he's slipped when it wasn't even his fault. The empire knows how to use his sense against him."

"He thinks he's failed."

"What do we do?" Wrecker wondered.

"We tell him the truth." Echo answered.

Hunter walked to the refresher and he closed the door and locked it. He lifted up his shirt and saw that he was bleeding. He hissed as he lifted the bandages and saw that his wounds were growing infected. He grabbed a medkit and he found a hypo and some medication. He prepared it and injected himself with it. He groaned and rewrapped his wounds. He cleaned up the mess and washed his face with cold water. He left the refresher and saw Wrecker waiting.

"You alright?" Wrecker wondered.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Hunter spat.

"Um, sorry. It's just... you look upset."

Hunter sighed and they looked out the window.

"I guess I am. I'm sorry, Wrecker." Hunter sighed. He rested his head against the window and winced.

"Sarge?" Wrecker wondered. Hunter felt Wrecker's hand on his upper back and he groaned.

"I have a headache. I'll be fine."

"Must be from that blast. Everyone knows how sensitive your hearing is."

"Yeah. Must be."

Hunter's ears started rings and it felt much warmer.

"Crosshair's fine," Hunter assured.

"But for how long? How long before they all die? How long before they all die because of your failure." A voice spat.

"You should sit down." Wrecker suggested. Hunter looked at Wrecker and saw that Wrecker was holding him up.

"Uh... yeah." Hunter panted. They sat down and Hunter tried to relax.

"Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"I'm sure. It's just been a long few days."

"Yeah, you got that right. Come on, the others will be waiting."

Wrecker helped Hunter up and they walked back into Crosshair's room. Hunter sat down next to Crosshair's bed and he watched as his family fell asleep.

"You failed them. They're all going to die because of you. It's all your fault. Look at you. You're weak. They can see right through you. You're weak. You should have seen that blast coming 10 clicks away. Your mistake could have killed all of them. You're a failure." The voice spat.

Hunter stood up and walked over to the window.

"It wasn't your fault. You forget. I should have seen it too." Crosshair sneered. Hunter looked at Crosshair and sighed.

"But I'm the Sargent. Doesn't matter what you say. Ultimately, it falls on me." Hunter sighed.

"Does it?"

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't the clone wars anymore. Our ranks mean nothing now. Besides, not everyone can be perfect."

"I know, I still should have known."

"You couldn't have known."

Hunter stood a step towards Crosshair only to become dizzy and have to grab onto the chair. Hunter heard Crosshair say something and he looked up at him.

"What?" Hunter wondered.

"Are you ok?" Crosshair questioned.

"I'm fine. Just a headache."

"You should sleep."

"So should you."

"I will when you do."

Hunter sat down and rested his head on the bed. He tried to rest, but he couldn't. He could feel his body fighting. He just hoped he could keep it hidden.

When he woke, he heard Wrecker and Tech bickering. He sat up and looked around.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Wrecker teased. He slapped Hunter's back and Hunter groaned.

"You should eat," Tech suggested as he handed Hunter a bowl of food. Hunter took a bite and then handed Tech the bowl.

"No more." Hunter groaned.

"Is it that awful?"

"No. I'm just not very hungry."

"Well, you were close to the blast. Helmet or no, it still would have affected your hearing causing headaches and other unpleasant symptoms."

Hunter nodded and took a sip of water. Hunter groaned as his stomach began to cramp and groan.

"I'll be back." Hunter sighed. He rushed to the refresher and closed the door. He puked into the toilet and he sat down as dizzy spells and nausea wracked his body.

"Hunter?" Echo wondered as he rushed in. Echo saw Hunter vomiting and he grabbed a cloth and wet it. He pressed it to Hunter's forehead and Hunter groaned. "You're burning up."

"Just the headache. Not unusual."

When Hunter was done, he took the cloth and cleaned himself up. He stood up and walked out of the refresher. Hunter's ears began to ring again and he looked around but didn't see anything.

"Hunter?!" The batch exclaimed as they watched Hunter collapse to the ground. Tech and Echo rushed to Hunter's side and Wrecker rushed out of the room.

"He's burning up." Tech gasped. Echo lifted Hunter's blacks and saw the bandages. He removed them and gasped.

"This is a very serious infection. Why didn't he tell us?" Echo answered.

"Roll him onto his side."

Echo did and Tech saw the wound on Hunter's back.

"He's lucky. This could have severed his back." Tech stated. A team of medics rushed in and Hunter whimpered and groaned as he was rushed onto a gurney and rushed out of the room.

"What happened to him?" Crosshair questioned.

"He was injured and he didn't tell us." Echo answered.

"What? Why would he do that?"

"Because he thinks he deserves it." Omega piped. They all looked at her and Wrecker nodded.

"She's right. We forget, Hunter's human too. He feels things. More than we do sometimes. Everything is personal for him. When something bad happens, he thinks it his fault." Wrecker sighed.

"It's what the Kaminoans wanted. It's how they engineered him. It's how he was taught. If anyone is hurt, it's his fault. He's a failure."

"But he isn't. Surely, he must know this." Echo stated.

"Maybe he does, but probably not right now." Tech sighed.

A few hours later, the doctor walked in and the batch looked up at him.

"He's on the other side of the curtain. They're still getting him set up. We'll remove it when we're done." The doctor whispered.

"How is he?" Echo wondered.

"Not good. His wounds quickly became infected and he's showing signs of sepsis. His immune system seems to be a fourth of a regular clone's. I have no idea why."

"Can he fight it?"

"In time, but he's very weak and ill. We've applied bacta and we're given him injections. Right now, he seems to be under a lot of stress. He's having nightmares and he can't seem to shake them. I'm hoping the sedative kicks in, but I might have to give him more."

The curtain was removed and they could hear Hunter fighting and panting. Wrecker rushed over and tried to help Hunter.

"It's ok, buddy." Wrecker hushed. Wrecker placed his hand on Hunter's forehead and Hunter cried out in pain but didn't move his head. He started thrashing and hurting himself.

"Hold him down while I give him more." The doctor ordered. Wrecker held Hunter down as the doctor gave him more sedative.

"No! No more, please. What? I..." Hunter panted as he opened his eyes. He looked up at Wrecker who held his hand. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I... I failed you. You're dead because of me. You're all dead because of..." Hunter trailed off and the doctor sighed.

"He's asleep. Hopefully, it'll be long enough for his body to rest."

A few hours later, Hunter's hands started failing and his head jerked from side to side. He relaxed and Echo sighed.

"It's wearing off." He warned.

"Is he any better?" Crosshair wondered.

"No."

"Why would the Kaminoans make his immune system weak like this?" Omega questioned.

"For control." Crosshair sighed.

"Or a way to punish him. Every time we had a casualty, Hunter would be gone for two days and he'd come back upset and confused. What if they gave him viruses, parasites, or bacterial infections as punishment for the casualty. Maybe that's what this whole thing's been about. Maybe Hunter thinks he's being punished by the Kaminoans and it's pushing him to the brink." Tech explained.

"You could be right. Knowing the Kaminoans, each session would strip more of his immune system. Meaning he'd have to suffer more." Echo replied.

Hunter started thrashing and crying in pain and discomfort.

"Please, no. Please... please... it hurts." Hunter whimpered. "No, please. No more. No more. I'm sorry." Hunter relaxed and Echo squeezed Hunter's hand.

Hunter looked at the battlefield and he saw many dead bodies on the ground. He saw each of his family and he fell to his knees and grieved. He looked at Omega's body and he lifted her into his arms. He caressed her burned face and he sobbed.

"I'm sorry. I should have seen this coming. This is all my fault. It's my fault." Hunter sobbed. He kissed Omega's forehead and he lifted Wrecker's head into his lap. Hunter sobbed into Wrecker's shoulder and then he looked at Wrecker's face and he traced the scar. "It was my fault then. It's my fault again. I'm sorry, Wrecker. I'm... so sorry." Hunter crawled over to Tech's body and he removed the broken goggles. "You were so wrong about me, Tech. I'm not right. I should have seen this coming. I should have seen this coming." Hunter walked over to Echo's body and he pressed his forehead to Echo's. "I failed. You should have stayed with your brothers. I've only brought you more harm and more suffering. I'm sorry." Hunter looked around and he saw Crosshair's body. He walked over and collapsed to his knees in front of Crosshair's body. He lifted Crosshair into his arm and he held Crosshair close. He began to sob louder and he pressed his forehead to Crosshair's. "What have I done? Crosshair, what have I done? What have I... This is all my fault. You were right. I can't... I can't lead. I can't protect you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Hunter looked up and saw nothing but white. He looked down and saw that Crosshair was gone. he was strapped down to a table and he was in a testing lab.

"No." Hunter gasped. He fought against his restraints but failed. A kaminoan walked in and Hunter gasped and panicked. "No, please. Please. Please, no."

"You have failed, Ct-9901. Are you ready for your punishment?" The kaminoan questioned.

"No, please. I'm sorry."

"SOrry does not bring results."

"I'll do better next time. I promise. Please. I promise. I'll do better. I'll do better. Just don't make me sick again."

The kaminoan ignored Hunter and tapped a few buttons. The machines went to work and Hunter panicked even more.

"No, please. No! I'm sorry. I'll do better. I promise you I will." Hunter panicked. Hunter cried out in pain and he began to scream and thrash as his body was quickly wrecked with a virus.

Crosshair sat on the bed as Hunter began to scream and thrash from a nightmare.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll do better. I'll do better next time, I promise." Hunter pleaded weakly. Crosshair closed his eyes as he listened to his brother beg. His anger boiled with each passing day. He knew with each night terror that their suspicions were true. The Kaminoans punished Hunter by making him sick.

Hunter gasped and sat up. Crosshair placed his hands on Hunter's shoulders.

"Hunter, you're alright. Lie down." Crosshair whispered. Crosshair encouraged Hunter to lie back and Hunter followed his lead. Hunter looked at Crosshair and he looked around the room.

"I'm sorry." Hunter rasped. "You're all dead because... because of me."

"Hunter, I'm here. We're all here. We're all alive. You're fighting an infection. Both of us were hit during the blast, but you didn't know. You were too busy trying not to fail. When you did realize you were injured, you didn't care. You thought this was punishment. Hunter, what did they do to you?"

"No! No! No, please. I can't." Hunter panicked as he looked up at Crosshair. "I can't tell you. You... said I didn't have to if I didn't want you. Don't make me, please."

"Shh. Hunter, did they punish you for failing?" Crosshair wondered. Hunter nodded and looked away. Crosshair grabbed Hunter's hand and squeezed it. Hunter squeezed back and Crosshair could feel the tension. "Hunter, did they give you a virus when you failed?" Hunter nodded and squeezed Crosshair's hand. "Hunter, they're gone. It's all over. They'll never hurt you again. You'll never go back there."

"But they can. I keep going back there. In my head." Hunter rasped. "I can't make it stop."

"Yes, you can. Hunter, you're not alone. You don't have to suffer alone. You have each of us. Let us help you. A leader can only lead if he lets his family help him. Let us help you. Hunter, none of this is your fault. We all made a choice. It should never fall on you. The Kaminoans were wrong, Hunter. They made you suffer for what the Separatists caused."

"I know. I don't... know how. I can't... talk about it."

"You can still come to us. The rest comes with time. How many times have you had this talk with us?"

Hunter chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"More times than I can remember." Hunter sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Crosshair answered. "How do you feel?"

"Confused. Cold. Tired. How long have I been here?"

"10 days."

"What?"

"The docs let me out of bed 3 days ago. The others said that you were very weak. The infection was quick and it was deadly. They tried a bacta tank, but that didn't work. You couldn't seem to get better. You couldn't seem to fight it. Then all of a sudden, you had a seizure and you almost died. After that, you seemed to get better. They can't explain it." Crosshair explained. "Your fever is lowgrade at the moment. The infection's almost gone. You're awake and alert."

"I'm sorry," Hunter mumbled.

"If you say sorry one more time, I'll shoot you."

Hunter chuckled weakly and groaned as his wounds were aggravated.

"You might have to shoot me." Hunter teased.

"Get some rest." Crosshair sneered. Hunter nodded and fell asleep. When he woke up again, Crosshair had not moved, but Hunter felt a hand on his right knee. He looked and saw that Omega was asleep near his feet. He saw Tech and he looked around for Echo and Wrecker.

"How long?" Hunter wondered.

"A few hours. How do you feel?" Tech answered.

"Better, I guess."

"Hunter, did you know that the Kaminoans were slowly weakening you?"

Hunter nodded and looked away.

"Can't believe I gave into their lie." Hunter sighed. "I sure am weak."

"Hunter, we all fell for it. The Kaminoans did things like that to all of us. They just used your senses and authority against you. They also used your kind heart against you." Tech stated.

"It started when we met. When I... came home from... that's why it took two days for 99 to bring me back. I asked him not to say anything about it. He didn't."

"You're safe now. It's all in the past. The Kaminoans can't hurt you and you won't be going back there."

"I know."

"Get some rest. DOc said if you're lucky, you'll be out in a week."

"Sounds good."

Hunter felt Crosshair shift and Hunter smiled softly. He looked over and saw Wrecker resting his head on Crosshair's shoulder while Echo rested his head on Wrecker's. Hunter watched as Tech laid down his datapad and rested his head on the bed. He grabbed Hunter's free hand and squeezed it. He placed his other hand on Omega's back. For once, Hunter felt truly safe. For once, Hunter knew he didn't have to worry about the Kaminoans. He was safe from them. They were never going to hurt him again.

THE END