The Bad Batch - The light of the darkness

by GunRoswall

Set after the Bad Batch season one, just after the events on Kamino having been lost. Crosshair is back with the Empire. Only things are not like they used to be. As he is now an unwilling experiment. The enhanced clone, but no longer a commander, rather a simple foot soldier like the rest of them. And with the new and forever improved upon inhibitor chip once again in place making

Preface

Set after the Bad Batch season one, just after the events on Kamino having been lost. Crosshair is back with the Empire. Only things are not like they used to be. As he is now an unwilling experiment. The enhanced clone, but no longer a commander, rather a simple foot soldier like the rest of them. And with the new and forever improved upon inhibitor chip once again in place making him do things bigger, better and more efficiently than ever before. Whether he enjoys it or not. Loosing himself in the process becoming more and more like a drone, blindly following the Empire's orders.

Chapter One

The slicing pain was all he could feel. The total darkness surrounding him, even if he knew there were lights on where he was at. Bright lights at that. The familiar tube, with the probes working in and around his head. It was the price he was paying for his traitorous actions. Working with his Batch, while saving each others lives on Kamino. Even offering to take him back with them. But, he had made the choice to stay behind as the Marauder ascended to the skies. And so, they had found him there. The imperial troopers. After waiting for a long while wondering, whether he still was wanted by those he had served so well. At least, he thought he had. Then again, he had worked together with his former squad. And for what? Survival? Or, had he secretly been hoping to rejoin them as his plans of recruiting them to other side had failed? But this? This constant torture he had not expected while seemingly having been welcomed back. No, this, was much worse than he had imagined. And his position? Well, getting demoted had been excepted, right?

They had never really treated him more than a price of sorts, had they? An enhanced being for them to use, if he was truly honest with himself. But he had gone along with their plans. Which at least then, had seemed apt for the turmoiled galaxy. Bringing order to chaos. Something which his former Batch was not able see. Seeing the bigger picture as it were. Admiral Rampart was still on his side. Well, sort of. At least as long as this clone, functioned within their given parameters. But the others, those serving under him? That was a whole other story. And then, there was Tarkin. And he had not been impressed by the latest stint the sniper had chosen to do. After all, why would he have lied about what had happened? Or had he? Perhaps twisting the truth on some level? It was all so hazy now. And so, here he was, once again. Stuck with the inhibitor chip. Only this time, it was much more powerful and controlling than it had ever been before. And the imps were slowly adjusting and enhancing the intensity of it after each mission, even if they were a success in his mind.

But the Empire wanted more and faster too. Planets and systems and people falling under their jurisdiction, their rule. There was simply no fighting back now, any of it even if he wanted to. And this time, her really wanted to. As the initial thrill of having his way and say had soon faded. Even if he still believed the Empire was on the right, at least on some kind of defendable level. The cause was based on just idea, that much anyone with half a brain could admit to. Even if those powers in charge at the moment did not get what it was about. Not really knowing what the best way to guide the Empire was. Most of them seemed to only have their own small agenda to push through. But then again, the more he seemed to think about the right and and the wrong, the more confused his mind got. And the more he had managed to conjure any kind of individual thoughts from up the deepest recesses of his mind, the worse the pain got.

He felt the needle like sting of the instruments once again. Only hoping this would all be over soon and he could return back to his miserable existence. As it was, he knew now, at least on some level deep down that he had made the wrong choice on Kamino. And as far as regrets went, this was the ultimate one. Closing his eyes, he tried to remain calm and unmoving, trying to clear his mind of any thoughts at all. A difficult task at best, but after a moment of struggling he finally yielded letting his brain shut down. And then there were no more thoughts to fight against. Feeling free from it all. Falling without hesitation deep down into the inviting darkness. The troubled but also something which had become a very safe place to be in. A place where and when nobody wanted or needed anything from him. Simply letting him be there, all alone, by himself.

And so, he fell into the awaiting abyss for the duration of the procedure. Knowing there was no release for him other than the darkness awaiting for him there while consuming him fully. Welcoming the wicked and the weary, without judgement or hesitation. He was one of those ones now and nothing could change that of that much he was sure. At least he was safe from any bad thoughts and all the wrong doing while inside. He needed not to worry about the mistakes made, nor the much desired redemption. As from now on, it was never going to be his anyway.

Still groggy from the whole procedure, like he usually was, he was trying to sit up right. But with his eyes still closed he felt the nausea hitting hard this time around. The aftershock to his body was usually intense. But now, it seemed to have hit even harder. He did not know why. But then again, he wasn't really privy as to what was happing. What the adjustment, as put really were all about when unconscious. He suspected there was more going on than a simple calibration of his inhibitor chip. After having inadvertently having heard a conversation between Tarkin and Rampart, he could tell they had been talking about him and other clones as well. Words like improvements and automaton were there on the top of the list of said exchange. He was pretty sure he was not the only one they were experimenting on. Most likely, despite their initial adversity towards the clones, the imps had decided to use them anyway for the foreseeable future. Only with their own twist added to the mix.

Despite his chip controlling him most of the time, the chilling sensations running through his spine had been palpable when hearing it. Regs or not, they all deserved better. And then there was the horrid thought of his former squad being captured. As he was no longer in charge of hunting them, a direct order from Tarkin after his many failures in doing so. Not that he was uncharge of anything else either. He really had no idea what was going on with that specific task if anything. As it was now, after his return and most likely do to no small part of his own actions as well, the intel shared was becoming more and more difficult to obtain. As there really was no sharing rather the security was tighter than ever. Access to anything was on need to know basis and granted only for the very high ranking officers. And at this point, he really had no allies remaining among the imps like he had managed to have before. So, there was nothing he could do for them or himself, not now nor perhaps ever again. As it was he was a subservient for the Empire. Nothing more, nothing less.

As he sat there, trying to control his sensations, he felt it. There was someone there with him. Someone close. Usually, he was left alone in the lab, but now, he was not alone. The warmth emanation from them and he could feel them against his side. Most likely sitting right beside him. This was the third time this had happened too. After being stuck in the tube he always made his way to sit down on the farthest and darkest corner of the lab. Because there in the quite place, he was unnoticed and alone. As he was simply trying to gain his bearings before heading back out there. Not wanting to be mocked of his current state by others. Not in the lab, but out there. But recently, someone had been with him, sitting beside him. Never uttering a single word, not ever asking the why or the what. Simply being there. Lending their support after seeing him in distress most likely. It was rather comforting. Even if he would never admit as much if asked. But he was always too weak after the procedures to be able to even resist someone getting close enough to show any kind of comfort. Not that it had happened before. He had even shunned the droids away. As he really did not care for them, at all. Never really had. But lately, here they were again.

But this felt good, familiar somehow. And he let it happen. The pain still sheering through his body. And so, the closeness of the other was helping to cope with it. He remained there for a long while simply breathing right with the other beside him breathing calmly. It was as if the other could see inside his mind. Touch him on some level and bring the calmness and the light into he darkness. Whatever it was the other could do, it had become a routine for him for the past few times after the procedures had ended. Wondering why and how it had even happened. Then again, it could have easily been his own imagination playing tricks on him. Just a little before he was about to lose it completely. Whatever the case was, he never dared to open his eyes. Too afraid that if he did, the other and the good sensations would simply disappear. So, letting it all be as it was and not questioning it at all.

But soon enough, it was all over as he was once again called to duty. As he opened his eyes again, he could see the troopers coming for him. Dragging him back to his dreary life. And as he glanced around, there was no one there but himself, all alone, waiting for his destiny to arrive.

Chapter Two

The seemingly endless mission had drained him completely once again. It was happening more frequently now. The total powerlessness of his body and mind. Something he could not avoid. It had not helped, that the squad he was serving with now, those hired troopers who were supposed to have his back had shunned away from him on more than one occasion. Leaving him without backup and fending for himself. The mission had been a success as far as the Empire was concerned of course. But it really was not. The relentless conquest campaigns to gain more and more territory and to expand ever outward did not make sense. The systems beyond in Outer Rim and beyond simply did not have enough resources or subjects to warrant the annexing. There really was no chaos there to begin with. But, the powers that be kept on pushing and the soldiers were marching on. Many of them died along the way. Civilians, clones and conscripted soldiers alike. It was a complete waste in his mind. At least, when he had his scarce clear moments to think things through. The killing of civilians, not insurgents. But civilians, those would be citizens of the Empire. No matter what they were, farmers, merchants, women and children, they had all been obliterated while standing to resist the Empire. It was not one of his proudest moments by far. Watching through the crosshairs of his riffle scope, his finger on the trigger, fighting against the control of delivering the deadly shots. In the end, loosing the battle badly. After all, he was a conditioned puppet for the Empire like the rest of them. The others, which he now despised.

'Resistance was futile' he kept on thinking to himself. Feeling defeated and deflated, void of anything except the routine of the day. Life was moving along on autopilot. The strings being pulled and he was on the move. He was part of the great regime after all. And, like the rest of them, some more like him, others, enjoying themselves. He had too, in the beginning. At least, he thought he had. The sense of belonging, the purpose for being. A soldier taking pride in their work. Those who did not fold into the Empire's agenda were to be eliminated. But now, nothing mattered really. The control chip was taking more and more of him each day. The one he was before, would soon be all gone. He did not dare looking at his reflection anymore as he could not recognise the face staring back at him. He was back in the barracks. Alone as per usual. The rest of the troops having gone to celebrate yet another victory for the Empire. Food and drinks in abundance for all. The spoils of war as Rampart had cheered in his speech to the soldiers after their return from the mission. He had been there, he had had to be there. Resisting orders was not an option. Even if it once had been possible. But as the others, his squad with them not even asking him to join, had ventured to the festivities. He had remained behind. He would not even have trusted them if they had asked him to join. Not any more. The trust was all gone, if it had ever even been there.

Now that it was all quiet again around him. No pressure to follow orders, no need to rush out there to do their bidding. He was able to simply be. But once again he could not achieve that peace. His mind started playing tricks on him. Never leaving him to be by himself. All alone in the darkness like he preferred. Nothing like when being in the lab. There he could to be free during the moments when the devices were drilling into him. But now unwanted thoughts were once again running through his mind. Those kinds of thoughts he would never had imagined thinking of. But also emotions, never the good kind. Fear, being on the top of the list. Only this fear was not for himself, but for his brothers. Those which had once meant the world to him, his family. The ones he would have died a million deaths for. The fear of them being hunted and disposed of.

And the fear was not just for them to die, but that he would be the one delivering the kill shots. Before, he had not wanted them dead. Not really even if he had hated them back then. But he had always missed, by design. But now, it could easily be him the Empire would send to hunt them down. And now, while out of control, he could not help himself anymore. The fear soon becoming so strong, that the thoughts of ending it all entered his mind again. Not for anyone else. But only himself. Then all of this, the doubts, the fear, the pain, it would all be done with. It could be the ultimate solution. His final revenge against the Empire who had taken everything from him. Them loosing one of their super soldiers. Surely not a big loss, but a loss just the same.

Looking at the blaster beside him, his hand moved towards it. Just as he was about to pick it up, he heard them. The heavy footfalls in the corridor closing in. And before he could act, they were already at the door. Their weapons drawn against him, just in case.

"CT-9904, you are coming with us."

"You will be alright." The voice told him. "Don't give up just yet. Just hang in there Crosshair." The soothing voice cooed him. "Just relax and let me help you." It went on, repeating the same mantra over and over again, for his ears only. "You are safe for now." The voice assured him. "You are safe here, with me."

He wanted to believe what he was hearing was true and not just some fantasy concocted by his fragile mind. He was out of the tube and in his usual recovery nook, waiting for the pain and nausea to subside. He had been ready to end it all. Just before the soldiers had arrived, taking him for yet another procedure. He was getting sick and tired of it all. Feeling helpless and defeated. But, he had been slow to react. Doubting it was something to do with the control chip in his head. Not even death was his own anymore. The Empire having made sure of that. So, here he was once again, in his familiar state, in his familiar place. Surviving, but never living. Alone.

But not alone. The other was back again. And this time, not only did he feel their presence, but they were talking to him too. This was new. But just like before, he did not dare opening his eyes. Because when he did, he was back in the shit for life he was un-living now. Only with his eyes closed, could he will his way away from said life. He listened to the voice. Telling him to hang on, as if knowing what he had wanted to do moments before. And they knew his name. Not the cold designation, not the numbers, not his title. But his name. Given to him by his brothers a long time ago. Brothers now lost to him.

Then the self doubt, the blame, the feelings of worthlessness hit him again. No, this was not real, it was his mind making him hear things. Letting him hope there was someone still out there who cared or him. No, he could not listen to this. This was a trick. Maybe something had gone wrong with the chip? Or maybe this was it, he had finally lost it, totally? After all, it was bound to happen, and soon. He decided to close his ears and not listen to the noise, because it was not real. And so, he sat there, squishing his eye lids tightly shut and placing his hands on his ears so not to hear the alluring false calls.

"Crosshair." The voice called out to him. "This is not your place, not your home. You do not belong here. You belong with your family." He heard the words loud and clear. "Please, trust me. I am real." The voice said then. "If you let me, I will help you." The voice tried to assure him. "Please, Crosshair, open your eyes. I am right here." The voice pleaded for him.

It took several moments for him. The doubts, the guilt, all of it, rattling inside of his brain. But then, he felt the soft touch. A hand, on his shoulder. It was unlike before. The other had made contact with him. Perhaps, this was real after all? Still, he did not look at the other.

"Crosshair." The voice then called out louder now. But still the pitch was soft and soothing, never having faltered, just like a sirens song. "I know you are doubting everything. I know you are afraid. It is understandable." There was a brief pause. "But I assure you, this is real. I, am real." Another pause, the touch still lingering on his shoulder. "Please, open your eyes."

Crosshair sighed and placed his hands on his lap. Then slowly, he opened his eyes and turned to look at the other. As he blinked he could see someone there, sitting right beside him. All in white, clad in a soft looking armour or similar? Looking like an aberration of sorts. A deity perhaps? But he felt the hand still there, never letting go of him. Just like they had promised. As his eyes came to focus, he could see the other. A woman, flesh and blood. At least it seemed that way, looking right at him. With a hint of a smile on her lips emerging then. Perhaps this was not a dream after all? Perhaps there was still hope for him in this galaxy?

Chapter Three

"You don't have to be afraid." The woman said. "I am quite real." She assured Crosshair, even if he really did not believe this to be the case as he was still thinking it was either a dream or a nightmare. Whichever came first as this could turn real ugly real soon. Just like his dreams usually did.

"What are you?" Crosshair had to know even if this was one of his hallucinations. As he could not be certain whether this woman really was a person or something else completely. An aberration, a dream, something not real.

She smiled at him, sensing the hesitation in Crosshair. She offered her hand for him to take. Something tangible to feel.

Crosshair glared at the appendix which seemed quite real. So, feeling totally daring, thinking he had nothing to lose at this point. Should this all be a dream? Well, the fact did not really change anything for him. Thinking all of this would most likely morph into some nightmarish. A situation he found himself more often than not. As he placed his hand on top of the woman's he stopped just a few inches, his hand hovering there, over her palm, facing upward. He looked into the woman's eyes, finding nothing suspicious there. But the ever present paranoia was there, sticking with him like a leech. And so, he pulled back at the last moment.

"You can trust me." The woman stated softly. "I can help you."

And then, without further words she placed her palm against his forehead. Not touching but holding it close enough he could feel the warmth emanating from it. Crosshair immediately squinted his eyes and pulled his head back. The woman pulled her hand way too and raised both hands as a sing of surrender.

"Please, let me ease the pain." She offered again after Crosshair had not run off rather stayed in his place. "You will be more comfortable." She tried to assure him, sensing the uncomfortable painful state Crosshair was in still.

Crosshair stared her for a moment longer. But as the woman was not changing into anything, nothing bad at least, simply sitting there. Perhaps waiting for Crosshair to yield to her request. Or so it seemed. And so, he moved back to the position in leaning back to the wall giving the woman a slight nod. After all, the pain was getting worse and there was nothing more to lose, was there?

She placed her hand beside Crosshair's head again. Another moment passed and he could see a faint blue light emanating from the hand hovering close to his head. Soon after feeling the small jolt of electricity against his skin. He closed his eyes and let it happen. It was far from the painful sensations the machines used on his chip caused. Rather being that of a warm and comforting sensation, if that would be an accurate description for it. And as the moment passed, the pain and the fuzziness dissipated and Crosshair felt so much better.

She moved her hand away and waited for Crosshair to open his eyes. "Better?" She then asked.

"Yes, thank you." Crosshair responded surprised of the fact himself, as no bad or dark thing had happened to him.

She simply nodded and took a seat beside Crosshair. The warmth and comfort of her very being the same as before. Realising, that this person, this woman, was the other who had stayed with Crosshair before. Those few times when he had been hurting badly after the procedure and she was the one who had helped him. But right now, he felt more like himself,. Being more in control of his own thoughts and definitely more lucid than he had been in a long time.

"Who are you?" Crosshair asked, trusting it was a person rather than an aberration after all.

"They call me Ten." She replied simply.

"Ten?" Crosshair sounded surprised. "Are you a," He turned to look at her, loosing the contact as he did so, feeling the coldness returning as they were no longer touching shoulders. "An experiment here, like the rest of us?" He was willing to admit it now, out loud. That it was him who was just the same like all those others the Empire was conducting experiments on.

"Yes." She simply said and turned her back to Crosshair. Lifting her braid she exposed her neck to Crosshair. "See."

There was a large X branded onto the back of her neck in the colour of red, a branded marker clearly if anything. It looked like it had happened long ago, as it was part of her skin, despite looking totally raw at the same time. Crosshair felt the pain, the nausea rising. This time it wasn't due to his own body signalling the sensations of the treatment, rather he felt for her for what the imps had done to her.

"Sorry." Was all Crosshair managed then.

She smiled and replied simply. "Don't be. It is not your doing." She turned back and they were seated side to side again, shoulders touching. "It happened a long time ago and guess, I just kept the name as a reminder." She told him.

Crosshair felt responsible though, on some level. Even if this, Ten, as she was called, and what happen to her was not directly his doing. But he was working for the Empire and therefore felt indirectly responsible. He stared at Ten for a moment, wondering what she really was. As clearly, she possessed some special powers like some kind of healing magic as per proof of her actions just then and also from before.

"You were here before too. For me." It wasn't a question, simply a confirmation that Crosshair had understood she had been there before for him.

"Yes. You were hurting, really badly." Ten replied. "Like now, but you are hiding it better." She revealed as she was sensing something from Crosshair despite her healing effort. "It's not physical pain though." She said as much.

Crosshair kept on glaring at her. He was fascinated by this, samaritan of sorts freely helping him without asking for anything in return. At least not yet. After all, there was always a price for things like these, wasn't there.

"You helped me so I feel better." Crosshair decided not to reveal too much of the inner turmoil he could not rid of even if his body felt better. "I thank you for that." He tried, not wanting to admit to anything. But he could not escape the probing glare of Ten's.

Ten looked at him, deep in his eyes, his face, his being, searching for something there. "No, that is not true." She then said rather sadly. "I was only able to help you relax, to release the physical pain. Before your body can heal properly. But your mind." She paused and fixed her gaze on Crosshair's eyes again. "Your mind is in turmoil." Her hand inadvertently moved towards his head again, not touching, remaining close to the side of Crosshair's head. "The chip is causing major havoc in there and it is getting worse." She wasn't lying about it either, it was the truth Crosshair to knew.

Crosshair averted his gaze and continued to stare at the thin air in front of him.

"You can't hide from me." Ten then said softly. "I have sensed it since the first time they brought you here."

This made Crosshair look up and right back at her again. "You have been here all this time?" He could not be sure as usually, he was dragged to the lab by the soldiers and pretty much dozed up with tranquillisers from the get go.

"Yes." Ten answered. "But it is only recently that I was able to help you." Whatever that meant, Crosshair did not know. Perhaps, she had been restrained like some of the subjects there he had unfortunately seen.

"But you are, free now?" Crosshair did not have a good word for asking other than that.

"I am." Ten stated. She took a moment before she added. "And I can help you. If you let me."

It was something Crosshair had heard before. And it was Ten who had been whispering those words to him.

"How?" He simply asked, as other than providing fleeting comfort with her, well, whatever powers she possessed, there was really nothing else she could do for him, now was there?

"I will help you escape." Ten said much to Crosshair's surprise.

"Escape?" He could not be sure what she meant with that. But she was trapped in the lab and Crosshair was controlled with the chip. There really was no escape.

"Yes, as in leave this place, and the Empire behind." Ten said to him as it would be as easy as making pie.

Just as Crosshair was about to argue about the impossibilities of her suggestion, they heard the noise. The familiar heavy footfalls of the soldiers coming for Crosshair.

As he turned to look, Ten stood up and looked right into Crosshair's eyes. "Hang in there for a while longer. Trust me, we will leave this place. Together." And then in a blink of an eye, she was gone and the soldiers were staring there, right in front of Crosshair. Ready to take him back to the dreaded duty waiting for him.

Crosshair was moving on autopilot. He had been for a while now. The planet they were on? He really could not tell or even care any more. The squad was moving in a fast pace, firing at everything that moved. Supposed resistance members, traitors, insurgents, whatever the Empire wanted to call them, it was all the same to them. They were all hunted and gunned down. There was a better word for it though. Massacre.

Crosshair remained in the rear while the squad moved forward. Trying hard not to pull the trigger, which he mostly succeeded in doing. It was still all a blur to him now. This whole mission and the ones before this one. It was the third similar one he had been on since the last adjustments as the scientists liked to call them, for his new and improved inhibitor chip. Crosshair knew better of what they were really doing. Running experiments on him. He had seen the files. By mistake of course. But he knew what was happening to him. They were simply pushing his buttons until he would snap. The headaches getting worse each day and now, he did not even try to resist the orders anymore. Because if he did, it would send bolts of pain into his brain.

He felt it was a punishment for him. For not taking the offer his old squad had offered him. To go back to them, with no questions asked. But being the stubborn one he had always been, blaming them of all the mistakes rather than himself. And so, he had remained behind. And now he was paying the price. There was blame on both sides of course. But right now, he really did not care anymore. He was at the end of his rope, only wishing for some rouge blaster shot to put him out of his misery. He closed his eyes and stopped moving for a moment. Perhaps this way it would give him the opportunity of becoming a target for the supposed rebels?

But there were no rebels, hardly any resistance because these were simple folk, wanting only to live in peace without the Empire's yoke. And Crosshair wasn't lucky. Not this time around either. He soon caught up with the others of his squad, all of them proudly glaring at the carnage they had managed to achieve in just a short while. Even making jokes about it. How charming!

Crosshair felt his stomach heave, the bile reaching his throat. But there was nothing there to throw up as he had stopped eating a few days ago. He simply could not keep anything down any more. The last similar mission hey had pulled had made sure of that. The headaches did not help either. But it did not matter as he was still fully functional. At least physically. And so, there he was, standing among the other pawns of the Empire. All of them doing their sacred duty for the just cause. Of bringing order into chaos and furthering the borders of the Empire ever deeper and wider into the galaxy.

Chapter Four

"You are back." The familiar voice sounded in Crosshair's ears. "I was beginning to worry you weren't going to come back at all." The voice soothed him. He knew immediately whom it was and where he was himself.

Crosshair tried to get up. He was still lying down, meaning they were most likely still running some scans on him.

"Don't move yet." The voice was low. "The scan cycle will be complete soon." She warned him.

Crosshair remained still for a while and then he heard the familiar beeps and rattles around him subside indicating the cycle was over. Crosshair was aided up and into a sitting position and only then did he dare to open his eyes.

The smiling face of Ten was there to greet Crosshair. "How do you feel?" She asked him then.

But knowing well, it could not be good as she had seen the results of what they were doing to Crosshair, even if she was not supposed to. But, she had gained their trust after being their experiment and finally cooperating with the scientists. Sometimes even lending a helping hand. They thought that she was controlled now. A subservient like the rest of the patients coming by. Like Crosshair. Alas, she was there biding her time only. And Crosshair? She knew he deserved better and was a fighter despite his inner fights of giving up. And so, deciding to help him which would help her in the process as well.

"Head hurts." Crosshair managed, with a voice raspy and sore.

"Come with me." Ten guided him down and into a seat nearby. Ten glanced at Crosshair's face and then, placing both hands near to the top of his temples, she asked him. "Do you still trust me?" Wanting to be sure.

Crosshair nodded only, the slight movement of his head causing the nausea again.

Ten did the same thing she had done before. Only this time as the blue electricity of a light formed, it was between her hands. She then moved them towards his face, making Crosshair twitch a little. But as the light filled hands moved closer, it did not hurt nor feel uncomfortable on the skin. And as soon as the hands were on top of Crosshair's head, he felt it. The pain subsiding, just like before. But also the surrounding sense of calm and peace. Like floating in air. Ten continued the procedure for a moment longer. Much longer than before. Another moment passed and then, Crosshair could hear her voice inside of his head.

"I need your help." Ten spoke to Crosshair. "Will you help me?" She asked.

Crosshair did not understand what Ten wanted him to help her with. So he simply asked. His lips were not moving. His mouth still shut. But he did utter the words, right? Even hearing his own voice do so. At least in his head? "What do you need help with?"

"Leaving this place. Going back home." Ten simply answered.

"Where is home?" Crosshair asked not sure where this was going and how it could even be possible to help Ten. After all, Crosshair could hardly help himself anymore.

"Wherever you want it to be." Ten replied rather cryptically. "But your home is with your brothers and sister." Ten said much to Crosshair's surprise.

"How do you know that?" Crosshair had to ask because he doubted he would be welcomed by them any more. Not to mention the fact that Ten knew of them in there first place.

"I know you want to be with them." Ten told Crosshair. "This place, is not where you belong." She meant the Empire, naturally.

Crosshair seemed to contemplate the request for a moment. He did want to leave and he wanted to help Ten because she had helped him. But, there were so many obstacles, the most of them being the inhibitor chip controlling him.

As if knowing what Crosshair was thinking, Ten said. "I can help you with the chip. But we need to get out of here first. What I am giving you now should keep the chip's control at bay at least for a while." Ten then revealed.

Crosshair could feel it himself too. The control slowly but surely coming back to him. Most of all the pain was gone and he felt lucid again. More so than in a long, long while. Crosshair could feel the electricity against his face starting again, as Ten was repeating the… Well, treatment was most likely the word for it. Whatever it was she was doing? If this thing, was able to keep the chip's control away, he would not complain.

After a few more moments passed, Crosshair felt the electrical current against his skin subsiding.

"It is done." Ten's words out loud made him open his eyes. She was talking again, but not in his head.

Crosshair looked at her only waiting for his answer to her question.

"I will help you. I will help, us."

Crosshair even broke into a small smile, something which had not happened for a long while either. But now, he had something to smile about. As he and Ten were going to bust out of this, prison.

"We need to leave before the troopers return for you." Ten was already up and on the computer, punching in commands and searching for the information she needed. "I assume you are somewhat familiar with the layout of this base?" She turned to Crosshair who had joined her by the console.

"Somewhat." Crosshair had not really been given the grand tour of the facility, but he had some idea where they were in relation to the barracks and docking bay. Some, as this was not his main base, rather going along with Rampart wherever the missions took them.

Ten nodded and glanced at the holographic presentation of the base. "We are here and need to get way down here." She followed the path with there finger. "Do you think it is plausible?"

Crosshair was staring at the holo map, memorising what he could before nodding to Ten. "Yes."

After all, it had to be. Even if the odds ware stacked heavily against them. And without any other means to defend themselves except their bare hands, it was going to be hard. But not impossible.

"But we need to be as covert as possible." Crosshair reminded Ten, who had gotten the gist of their unfavourable odds.

"Good, then we need to leave. Right now." Ten sounded seriously adamant just then.

As it was most likely that her hacking into the system and pulling up the plans for the facility had raised all kinds of alarms everywhere at the same moment she had hacked in.

They had managed to leave the lab as nobody really expected anyone simply to walk out of there. Why would they want to leave? Where would they go? After all, the lab rats, as they were so fondly called by the imps, were mostly subdued and either kept under lock and key. Or then aiding and abetting the scientist doing their experiments. Then there were those, like Crosshair who were 'volunteering' for their modifications, whatever that meant. So, getting out of the lab was not a big win at all to achieve.

The scientist were gone for the night cycle and the only ones remaining in there were Ten and Crosshair. But, the easy part done with, getting out of the base would prove to me more tricky as they needed to get into the hangar bay and steal a ship to leave with. There were several corridors between the hangar deck and them, but also plenty of troopers. Crosshair was unarmed and without his armour. The way he was always brought to the lab for the treatments, as also those troopers hauling him in called it.

So, without too much of a plan, the two of them rushed out and into the corridor following the schematics.

After a moment of traversing the seemingly endless corridors, they reached a junction. Stopping to decide which way, Crosshair accessed his memory and made the decision.

"This way." He pointed to the left and they continued moving along, half running.

After the several corridors and sets of stairs passed, as the two of them had not dared taking themselves to using the lifts. As becoming confined in them with troopers using them constantly was not a good idea. With the stairways, there were at least a way to escape, up or down. Then again, the regular troopers rarely used the steps according to Crosshair. When they reached the landing after yet another set of stairs, they ran into trouble. There were two more levels between them and the hangar bay to make through.

As they reached the final junction Crosshair, who was in lead stopped abruptly in his footfalls, making Ten almost bump into him in her rush. Luckily catching her momentum in the final moment and managing to halt herself. Crosshair nodded towards the several troopers standing there. The echo over a comms channel opened reached their ears with the distorted voices bouncing off the bare grey walls. Ten and Crosshair were leaning against the wall, just around the corner. Hardly even breathing in fear of being detected by said troopers. Exchanging glances as they could hear some of the words spoken over the comms.

And it really wasn't good news for the escaping duo either.

"It's about us." Crosshair mouthed to Ten, who was nodded in agreement.

"What do we do now?" Ten mouthed back as she was neither a commando nor a soldier and relied heavily on Crosshair for the tactics.

"We double back." Crosshair knew it was the only option and then pinching his memory to conjure the image of the schematics back to his mind.

Crosshair felt the sudden pang of his brain, eliciting a worried look from Ten.

"The chip?" Her voice was audible but low.

Ten was only hoping these troopers weren't paying too much attention on their surroundings after all. Knowing well how disinterested these new soldiers could be. They had all seen it, even in the lab. None of them clones like Crosshair.

Crosshair gave her a look which conveyed all the information she needed. Taking a hold of Crosshair's hand she pulled him with her into the direction they had come from. Recalling an auxiliary room beside the previous corridor Ten half dragged Crosshair there. Closing the door behind them she looked at Crosshair, seeing the pain becoming worse again. Clearly, the chip was more powerful than Ten had given credit to.

"Hold still." Ten ordered softly.

And then, closing her eyes, with her palms pushed together. Just as before, she conjured up the blue electricity. As the crackling light between her hands intensified, Ten opened her eyes and moved her hands close to Crosshair's head and over his temples. It was painful at first, the heat unbearable. But the more Ten pushed the better Crosshair started to feel. The sting lessening before it was gone once again. As if sensing the effect of her efforts to subdue the inhibitor chip Ten removed her hands and then, the energy faded completely. Her eyes still fixed on Crosshair's as if looking for any signs of trouble. But she could find none.

"Better?" Ten's voice a soft whisper, feeling fatigued as using the power she possessed was draining at best. But Tend tried not to show it.

"Yes, thank you." Crosshair was only too grateful for Ten's help as without it, he would have succumb to the lure of the chip once again. But Crosshair had caught the passing flutter in her eyes and the strain on her face. Sure it could not be easy to conjure the whatever it was Ten was doing to Crosshair's chip. But this was not the time nor place to inquire of such things.

"The chip is more powerful than I had anticipated." Ten apologised, as even if she had observed and even aided in the procedures done to Crosshair, Ten was not entirely privy to what the new and improved control chips were capable of doing to their hosts.

"It's not your doing." Crosshair's lips curled up into a slight smile. "I am only grateful you are able to help me with it for now." He really was as Crosshair was also determined to leave this place, this life, behind. And not wanting to squander the given opportunity to do so.

"Well, I can only help so much." Ten sighed. "Now, we better figure another way to the hangar." Eyes on Crosshair Ten said. "I recall there was some kind of shaft from this level to the next?" She could not be sure of course.

Crosshair was contemplating for a moment, the image now again fresh in his mind. "An air vent." He nodded when recalling the specs. "We should fit inside and slide down right through it." He was contemplating. "If memory serves, it should take us to the last to one level before we reach the hangar."

"Sounds like a good plan." Ten stated not that she was sure it was. Then again, the option in fighting off several troopers was not on the top of choices to do either. So, sliding down an air went it was!

Chapter Five

Finding the ventilation shaft had been easy enough. But gliding down in a fast pace without much in control of their speed had proven somewhat, difficult. Their movements halted abruptly as the shaft ran its course, making the two tumble on top of each other into a heap of groans, curses and complaints. It was an absurd situation they were in, as there was nothing graceful about their escape so far. Hiding from troopers while flattening their bodies against the walls, sliding down vents, running around in circles unarmed? Well, there was little they could do with what they had on them right now. So, there were bound to be a few hiccups along the way.

"Sorry!" Ten exclaimed after loosing her footing, the little she had had as leverage while trying to reduce her speed when sliding down the metallic tube but having been quite unsuccessful in the effort and falling on top of Crosshair in the process.

"'s fine." Crosshair was rubbing his back after falling flat on it and having Ten topple on him without warning. "It was bound to happen I guess."

"Are you hurt?" Her eyes darted in the darkened place as there was no way for her to see whether there was visible blood or other injuries on her companion.

"Only my pride." Crosshair sounded less annoyed and more amused of the whole situation.

And here they were. The two of them running away without much in means. Neither of them being in their best condition or frame of mind. At least Crosshair suspected, that Ten, despite her special powers being able to give Crosshair some respite from the control chip. That she was hardly in the best of shapes. Having been confined in the lab for Force knew how long a time.

They had not discussed the situation. At least not so far. But Crosshair could sense Ten was not at the top of her game. Clearly being a capable person herself. And Crosshair? Well, he had certainly seen better days than this one was. Or the last before that. Crosshair had lost count in how long it had been since he rejoined the Empire. Hoping this would be his last day in their service. Ever!

Ten let out a small laugh. "Yes, well, guess this isn't one of my proudest moments either. Then again, I am not really used to this, commando stuff." Ten admitted as much while she hauled herself off of the floor where she had rolled to after landing on Crosshair abruptly.

Crosshair was aided up on and onto his feet with two strong hands. "Thanks!" He simply stated and straightened himself, stretching his body and making his joints make a noise in the process.

Ten heard the noises of course and immediately worried again. "Are you sure you weren't injured."

Crosshair was just about to assure Ten he was fine but then he winced rather audibly as his back protested.

"You are in pain!" Ten was already able to see better inside of the small landing they had emerged to. The lights of the corridor peeking through the cracks. Without asking for permission, she placed her hand against Crosshairs back where she had seen him touching immediately after the small cry of pain.

Crosshair felt the similar warm sensations as before when Ten had aided with the chip and the low level blue light was emanating from somewhere from behind him. Ten had closed her eyes. This whole process was taxing on her while doing it several times in a short period of time unprepared. It took a few moments before Crosshair felt the pain subside and he was able to move without the stabbing feeling in his back again.

As Ten moved away, Crosshair could see her sway a bit and loose her footing. Immediately grabbing a hold of her before she could fall. "Now you are not alright." Crosshair worried his companion might have over exerted herself.

Ten shook her head and then centred herself. "I will be. I just need a moment to …" She paused as a wave fatigued sensations hit her. But she managed to fight it off. "It takes some effort." Ten tried to explain but the words got jumbled inside of her.

Crosshair stared at her with his enhanced night vision and could see the stress on Ten's face. "Perhaps we should rest here for a moment." He suggested, hoping they would be safe inside the vent at least for a while.

Ten nodded as she knew she could not push on right away. It would put them both at risk were she to collapse while out there running for dear life.

Crosshair aided her to a seating position on the floor and joined beside her. He listened to the breathing of Ten's waiting for it to even up. It took some moments before Ten managed to gain control of it again.

"Better?" Crosshair asked.

"Yes, thank you." Ten was speaking the truth. She had needed the moment to recover. But she would be fine now. It had been a while since she had used her powers in this frequency. And now, using them constantly took its toll. But Ten was hell bent on helping Crosshair escape. And in the process herself. And they would get out of this place, this she swore.

After they had managed to get out of the air vent, the two made it quickly through the level they were on and onto the next where they would find their escape. This time there were no air vents nor troopers. Which was surprising as their escape had clearly raised alarms. As most likely the guards who were supposed to have come to get Crosshair back to the barracks had noticed him gone. But ever since they had managed to get out from the cramped tube their route had been free of incident. And so, they were close to where the hangar bay was at. Only one more long hallway between them and their means to leave the Sith hole behind.

Walking in a fast pace as Ten was still not up to par in regards of her energy levels and so, running was not the best option for her at the moment. The were so close now they could both taste their freedom. Moving along in perfect synch and silence.

Just as they were reaching the final junction, Crosshair's memory clear with the image he had seen on the holo map, their stride took on a new beat. Faster was the word as they could see the large size hangar doors just ahead of them while turning after the last junction onto the final stretch.

It was then when they ran into some trouble. Being consumed by the idea of getting out, they had failed to observe their surrounds. Call it fatigue or over exhaustion and whatever else had been piled on, but neither had noticed the two trooper sneaking into their view.

"Dank Farrik!" Crosshair spat as they were almost face to face with the troopers with their blasters drawn at them.

"Halt!" The trooper ordered. "You are not authorised to be in this area."

It sounded like the troopers were not aware they were escapes. So that was a good thing. Other than that, they had no explanation whatsoever. As to why the two of them, one Commander without their gear and one lab assistant, as Ten was wearing her lab coat still, were doing near the hangar bay.

Crosshair glared at the two troopers. Eyes squinted in the usual snide expression which seemed to be the norm for him while dealing with the soldiers. Crosshair quickly glanced at Ten who was looking right back at him. It was as if they were in perfect tune with each others thoughts. And so, knowing exactly what the other was thinking and planning. Without a word, their eyes blinked at the same time. A slight nod.

Crosshair's hands in fists, to be used as weapons. Ten building up the energy from within. And then, in perfect rhythm, charging head on towards the troopers standing just a few steps from them. Cleary this tactics was not something the armed guards had even considered happening. Crosshair practically pounced on the one in front of him while Ten launched at the other. Her hands already fully charged with the energy she had used to heal Crosshair. Only this time, to be used as a weapon.

The two soldiers tumbled onto the floor. With Crosshair on top and pounding his fists into the trooper he had accosted. Despite the armour, Crosshair was landing each hit as he was filled with hatred and anger towards these recruits who hated the clones. Hated him.

Ten was frying the other with her special energy. The weapons long since gone, having been dropped onto the floor as soon as the unsuspecting troopers had been attacked by the manically acting duo. Hell bent on escaping the facility. It did not take long before the troopers were rendered unconscious and Ten was the first to let go. Crosshair was still beating up the other soldier, when he was stopped by a soft touch on top of his shoulder.

"It's done." Ten simply told him in a voice so calming Crosshair immediately stopped what he was doing.

He moved away from his target. Breathing heavily, as all the pent up anger had poured out of him while beating up the soldier. Ten could not blame him even if it was a clear over kill on his part. The troopers were down and their exit was right in front of them. Ten picked up the two weapons and handed one over to Crosshair.

"Come on, the hangar is right there." Ten nodded towards the large windows, through which they could see several ships.

Crosshair nodded and started towards the doors. Reaching them he keyed in the code and the doors swooshed open. The two stepped inside the hangar bay, seemingly unmanned, at least from the point they were looking in.

"There." Crosshair had quickly spotted a small size craft he was familiar with and would be able to fly out. "We'll take that one."

The two of them moved hastily. Making their way in the dimly lit dock through the shadows of the taller ships reaching the one they wanted. Just as the two started taking their final steps towards the vessel, they heard a command behind them.

"Halt!"

Both Crosshair and Ten froze in their spots. Exchanging quick glances, Crosshair's eyes shifting towards the weapons they both were carrying now. Ten made a nodding motion by blinking. The two of them turned. Slowly. And as they did, they could see three troopers standing several steps away from them. It took a split second for Crosshair to draw his weapon and fire. Getting two of the soldiers while Ten aimed at the third one. Missing her first shot and managing to duck from another. She quickly recovered and got her aim back. Managing to shoot down the soldier.

There was a moment of quiet after the blaster fire exchange between them and the troopers. Both of them only waiting for more to turn up.

"We need to move! Quickly!" Crosshair's acute vision had detected several troopers verging in on their position. "There will be more of them coming in here soon."

The hatch was open still and they made their way inside closing it behind them. Making a quick check of the craft to be sure nobody was occupying it, they made their way to the cockpit. Crosshair assumed the pilot position, while Ten took the seat beside him. He punched the switch of the engines and soon enough, they hummed to life.

"Here we go." Crosshair stated as he started manoeuvring them out of the hangar. "Let's just hope it will take a few moments before they realise we stole the ship." Crosshair was concentrating on the levers and steering but then turned to Ten and asked. "How good are you with cannons?"

Ten looked at him eyes wide for a moment before she situated herself onto the console in front of her housing the controls for the forward and backward cannons with a small screen for each.

"I'm ready." It had been a while, but it was all coming back to her as they were about to get some company. Soon enough.

Chapter Six

Crosshair had not been kidding either. As their vessel ascended off of the base, they hade several craft on their tail.

"How did they get up in the air so fast?" Ten asked while concentrating on firing at them. Feeling a tad rusty as it had been years she had done anything remotely like this. But she kept on firing anyway. Missing some, hitting some.

"There are still several clone troopers with highly skilled pilots among them." Crosshair sounded almost proud of his brethren, even if they were regs and working for the Empire. "They can get any ship flying without a hassle." He enlightened Ten.

"Well, let's just hope we can outrun them then." Ten pressed on and kept firing away.

"Thirty seconds until we reach hyper space velocity." Crosshair kept a keen eye on the gauges, ready to push the levers as soon as the indicator hit green.

Suddenly, they felt the ship shake. A blast had hit them. Hard. "

Our aft shields are almost depleted."

Ten was reading the monitor blinking in front of her and glanced at Crosshair who glanced back at her. But there was nothing they could do but to pray and hope the shields would last if they were hit again. Which they easily could be before being able to jump into hyper space.

Just then another blast hit them.

"Shields are down!" Ten shouted but kept on firing at the approaching craft.

The indicator on the hyper drive engines blinked green. The engines coughed as Crosshair pushed the lever making the ship jump and lurch forward. A whiny noise of the engines followed and nothing seemed to happen in a long moment. The two exchanged desperate glances. But then, the their vessel made a forward motion and jumped into hyper space. Leaving their pursuers far behind.

The ship had been travelling in hyper space for a long while. The coordinates set to the outer rim, without a specific system or planet in mind. As the idea was simply to flee the imperial facility and the planet they had occupied. To get as far away from the Empire's grasp as possible as they would both be hunted down for treason. Crosshair had put the vessel on autopilot. The strain of their little adventure breaking out from their prison heavily felt by both of them.

"I have scrambled the ships tracking code, so they won't be able to trace us. Not immediately at least." Crosshair informed Ten. "We should be safe for now." He hoped as much, leaning back in the pilot seat. Touching his head while his face made a slight grimace of the contact.

Ten looked at him worried. "The chip bothering you again?" Knowing the look on her friends face by now, meaning he was in pain.

"I,"

Crosshair did not manage to end the sentence when he felt the stabbing sting of the pain in his temples. The chip seemingly activating with vengeance. Placing both hands on top of his head, as if trying to push the pain away. He was loosing the battle as the mantra from somewhere deep inside his controlled mind started repeating the mantra "good soldiers follow orders." Turning to glare at Ten with a vicious snare on his face he spat out the words.

"You, are a traitor to the Empire."

Ten's eyes flew wide open as she had clearly missed the signs of the chip activating more quicker now than it had before. She had a split second to react as Crosshair was reaching for his weapon placed near the console while Ten had hers close by as well. And then just like in the very past. Something which was inherit and taught from the very beginning. Something which could never be forgotten. The soldier inside of them, drew their weapon and fired.

Crosshair blinked his eyes, once, twice. The familiar sensations of confusion and disorientation in his mind as he tried to focus his vision. He tried to remember what had happened. Nut there was a void in his memories. The blackouts which were familiar to him now happening after the moment of loosing control of his own actions as the chip activated. Of course he remembered most of it later on. What he did while not in control of anything much. But there were moments, that he was actually thankful for, where his mind was totally blank. Just after the excruciating pain and the action and then… He remembered.

He had shot Ten! The only person in the entire galaxy who cared for him even an ounce and had tried to help him. And what had he done? Succumbed to the Empire's will once again and fired on his only ally. As he tried to move, he realised he was lying down. On a bed. He was finally able to get some frame of reference as to where he was. The familiar engine hum was present. He was clearly on one of the cots of the ship. But how had he ended up there? He tried to get into a sitting position, but felt a slight wooziness take over him and immediately decided against it. Just then the now familiar voice spoke to him.

"Easy! Easy there Crosshair." Ten's voice was as soothing as ever. And then she was right there, beside him. Offering to help Crosshair to get up.

"Thanks." Was all the baffled clone managed to respond. His eyes fixed on Ten. As clearly, either his memory was wrong or then… "How is it you are still…" He was looking for the right words.

"Alive?" She asked with a hint of mirth in her voice. "Yeah, you tried to shoot me." She seated herself right beside Crosshair on the narrow bed.

Crosshair was confused, but starting to feel much better again because Ten was still alive. But the moments before his loosing control and clearly consciousness were still repeating in his mind. "I did. And I never miss." He added not sounding cocky about it either.

"No, I know of your reputation as a marksman." Ten revealed as much. "But, you are not the only one with training in weaponry." It wasn't that Ten had really told Crosshair anything from her past, it had not been relevant. And while she knew most of Crosshair's, the only concern she had now being that of returnig the wayward clone to his family.

"You shot me first?" Crosshair tried to reel back in the moments of what had happened in the cockpit just before. Well before he had drawn his blaster. "But how?"

"I had a moment of clarity, just when your chip activated again." Ten simply replied and seeing how Crosshair was about to ask more, she simply raised her hand in objection. "Suffice to say, there are things about me you don't know. Yet. And well, some might be difficult to understand even. But," She looked at Crosshair, as if assessing his condition, seeing the fatigue there still present very much so. "But, that is a story for another time." Ten said and got up.

"I have given you a large dose of my energy to keep the activation of the chip at bay. And that is why you are so drowsy. We need to get it out, but I need to contact someone to guide us to the right location." She went on. "We are still in hyper space, coming out soon enough and will be vulnerable to anyone out there looking for a target."

She smiled a little then. "Now, please, try to get some rest while I will send out a hail to my friends." Ten guided Crosshair back to a lying position and there were no protest to be heard from him while trusting the one person in the galaxy, who had once again come through for him.

The holo pad was shimmering in blue as the cloaked figure emerged to view. "Ten, old friend." The gruff sounding voice came over the comms channel. "Long time no see!"

Ten let out a small chuckle. "Well, I have been kind of tied up. Literally too, in a manner of speaking." She was not going into specifics now, as it wasn't something to be discussed over a holo comms.

"We got really worried when the signal of yours went off line." The voice on the other end stated. "But I guess since you are calling now, you managed to finish your mission?"

"Well, at least partly. But there were, shall we say complications." Ten told her contact. "But I have a lot of intel with me."

"Any of our people on the facility?" The voice asked.

"No, not in the labs. Nothing or no one we know being experimented on." Ten said and added. "But there are troopers there working for the Empire." Those would simply have to wait anyway. "And, there is more. The Kaminoan scientist paid a visit a few times that I saw." Ten revealed.

"Nala Se?" The voice asked.

"Yes."

"That is, unfortunate." The voice simply stated without going into too much detail, but then again, Ten knew already what it meant.

"There is one more thing." She commented on then. "I kind of caught a hitchhiker on my way out of there"

"Oh?" The voice sounded rather surprised. "Anyone I know?"

Ten glanced at the now sleeping Crosshair on the cot in the middle of the ship. Turning back to the holo call she simply stated. "I think you do and, you might want to alert their family they are on their way back home too." Ten told her friend.

"Well, now you got me interested. Who is it?" The voice asked her.

"But first, we need to get the inhibitor chip out of him." Ten told to her friend. "I have managed it for now for him. But the enhanced chip keeps on learning and reactivates more frequently after each treatment." Ten glanced at Crosshair again. "For now, it is under control."

The holo image nodded. "I am sending the coordinates to you now. We will be prepared when you arrive." The voice paused and asked again. "Who is it?" Knowing it was a clone they were talking about.

"Crosshair." Ten said, earning a wide eyed glance from her friend upon revelation of the person she was bringing back with her.

"Understood." The voice finally said. "We will see you soon then."

Ten nodded and then the holo call ended. Ten went back to check on Crosshair one more time, before taking her place in the pilot's seat. Entering the coordinates she had received from her friend, she pulled the ship out of hyper space before pushing towards their new heading and entering the craft to yet another hyper space corridor. After all, flying was easy as once taught all those years ago. And Ten clearly had been learning quite a few things in her life. All of which turned out rather handy during missions like this one was. Where the unexpected was the norm.

Chapter Seven

The stolen imperial ship finally arrived to the coordinates given by Ten's friend. Crosshair was up and on his feet. Having joined Ten in the cockpit just about when she was staring landing procedures in the seemingly middle of nowhere forest. Surprised that Ten was actually able to pilot a ship, he did not mentioned it rather took his position in the co-pilots seat.

"So, where are we?" He asked simply, not sure what was going on. But he felt better and rested as clearly the dose of her, whatever it was she was giving him, had worked rather well. Letting him finally sleep without much in the form of dreaming. Which had been a blessing as Crosshair had not really slept much in the past months. Not really.

"A planet on the other side of known space." Ten laughed a little as it was really way out there from the rest of the galaxy. "Well, suffice to say, the Empire does not reach anywhere even close to here." She revealed as much.

Sensing this was all she would reveal. He was still very much under the yoke of the Empire and understood this was all he was going to get at the moment. "So, we are among friends here then?" He just had to ask.

"Yes, very much so." Ten replied and manoeuvred the vessel into a small platform which had simply emerged out of nowhere flat in the middle of a clearing in the thick forest.

Crosshair watched her do her thing. Managing a soft landing as if this was something she did frequently. She turned off the engines and let the platform take control of the ship.

Surprised of the many abilities the woman who had saved him seemed to have, hoping to have more answers from her later on. Not just as to who or what she was. But the why was the more important question. The why as in why him? Why had he been worthy of saving? But that question would have to wait too.

The ship was secure and the platform started to descend as the ground below them opened up and engulfed both the landing pad and the ship. As the descent came to a halt with a soft thud, Ten turned to Crosshair with a hint of a smile on her face. "Welcome to our base."

Crosshair and Ten emerged from the ship through the hatch and they could already see their welcoming committee there to greet them. There seemed to be several people there, mostly dressed in civilian clothing. But then Crosshair spotted the form of a familiar armour. Something which he immediately recognised as that of a clone trooper's. The helmet was off though and as he looked right at them, he could see a familiar face looking back as they walked towards the arrivals.

Ten was the first one to react as she was quickly grabbed to a hug by the trooper.

"Ten! Glad you made it back!"

Ten yielded into the tight hug, her own arms around the trooper. Feeling the comfort of her old friend and finally being free and back home as she thought of this place as.

"Rex! It has been a while."

Crosshair stood a few paces away, not wanting to disturb the reunion. But as soon as the warm greeting ended, his eyes met with Rex's. Who was clearly assessing his condition.

"Crosshair." Rex's voice was warm and welcoming.

He trusted his friend on this. Because that Ten could do even if the clone had been, or rather still was under the influence of the Empire.

"We are all glad to have you back." He stated somewhat cautiously.

Crosshair's lips curled up into a slight grin. The constant wile from before was not present any more. "Glad someone feels that way." He wasn't trying to be snide, but he still carried some resentment towards his old squad, his family.

Rex nodded, not wanting to get into any further argument as he knew the situation could turn ugly if the chip was not removed as soon as possible. Even if Ten had assured him the chip was now under control.

"Well, we do. And if you are ready, we would like to get that thing rattling inside of your brain out as soon as possible." Rex wasn't being coy about it either.

Of course Crosshair knew what was going to happen as soon as they arrived to this place. That had been the whole idea all along. To remove the control chip. And he was ready, even if it felt, well, like the end of something. But right now, he knew what he wanted. And that was to finally rid himself of the Empire. And removing the chip would do just that.

"I am ready." Crosshair simply stated.

There were medical personnel standing by there in the hangar as well, only waiting for Crosshair to follow them to the med bay.

"I will go with you." Ten told him surprising both Rex and Crosshair.

But neither questioned her decision and Crosshair was relieved to have someone familiar and someone he trusted there with him.

The three of them followed the waiting medical assistants as they were lead through the hangar and into the med bay where the procedure would take place.

With the procedure finally over, Crosshair was recovering in the med bay of the base. He was alone now. Finally getting back to the land of the living, feeling more like himself in a long while. But with a sense of loss present there. Still. it did not matter, as he was finally free and able to do things without someone controlling him. With the future completely wide open for him now, unsure even. He would not want to trade leaving the Empire back for anything.

And so with great thanks to his saviour, Ten. Who had stood by him, helped him when he needed help and seeing there was something there beyond the Clone Commander of the Empire he had become. The surgery had been complicated though and it had been touch and go for a moment for Crosshair. But in the end he had pulled through with thanks to the medical personnel on the base alongside the droids helping as well.

Crosshair was sharing a small bunk room with another clone. Someone he had found to be a comfortable roommate despite him being a reg. But there was a sort of a camaraderie between the two. Crosshair was sitting on the bed looking at a faded holo image, with the feelings of loss deep inside.

"You miss them don't you." Ten was standing at the doorway, not really asking rather telling the obvious.

"Yeah. But it doesn't really matter." Crosshair sighed heavily, not even realising she had appeared there.

"Why not?" It was a simple question, right?

"They don't want me back. Not after what I've done." His voice more raspy than usually, words getting stuck in his throat.

"Well, I can't tell you about them. I never had a family like that. Before now that is." As Ten considered those on the base her family. "We all have our past. All these wonderful people, here on this base are my family now. And I know they would want me back no matter what." Ten enlightened Crosshair. "So do yourself a favour, and give it a try, eh?" She wasn't telling Crosshair to go jump on the next shuttle and go find his family right away now was she. Rather when the time was right for him.

Crosshair knew what she meant, as this was hardly the first time they had talked about it. "Fine." He simply stated in response, as nothing more was needed. Not really.

Several weeks later, Crosshair was settled into the routine of things. He had been asked to stay and had done so. Rex was a great leader and despite having a mismatched assortment of underlings both civilians and soldiers, he was somehow managing them all in a good way. Building the base and running missions against the Empire. Each and every day brining in more and more people who stood against the oppression of the imperial regime.

Crosshair was happy in his own unique way of having a routine and being able to contribute in whatever manner he could. He had yet to leave the base. Mostly of his own accord, seeing as he did not feel fit enough for missions. And Rex was not pushing him either. But what he was able to do, was to give good intel for the cause to be used against the Empire. So, staying with these people, was not really such a stretch to Crosshair.

Because even if these people were rebels and insurgents, he knew now the to be, they were right. It was a just cause after all, he knew that now. And so, playing his part like a good soldier he was made him want to stay with them.

With their daily debriefings, Rex mostly running the show. Even if there seemed to be some kind of command structure present with his right hand man Gregor. They were laying out the daily plans alongside the more long term ones. Mostly, with no small thanks to Crosshair, their missions were successful. Even Howzer and his squad, those who had stood with their Captain on Ryloth had been rescued and were all now a permanent part of the cause. Running ops for Rex.

Then there were those times, when they had been not so much so. Successful that was. The endless rows of refugees coming through the base before they were relocated made Crosshair feel so much guilt for his own actions in being part of the problem. But thanks to Ten's constant vigilance of his wellbeing, the two of them becoming fast friends and having assured Crosshair he was on his path to redemption. Each and every day he was atoning for what he had done wrong.

The daily meeting had ended some time ago. Crosshair had taken his time in getting back. He enjoyed some peace and quiet once in a while and the landing bay was that at this time of the day. The last refugees had been settled. The crafts leaving for missions had embarked. And so, Crosshair and been left with some alone time before he was needed elsewhere.

He was deep in thought, not really going anywhere, just hanging about when the klaxon went off indicating an incoming vessel. Crosshair started moving away from the area, when a familiar shape caught his peripheral vision. That of a Havoc Marauder. He froze in his steps and felt the urge of flight taking over. Just then, he felt the familiar comforting touch on his shoulder.

"Don't run away Crosshair." Ten's soothing voice spoke to him. "Trust me on this one."

It wasn't that Ten had ever given him a single reason not to trust her. And so, without a word, Crosshair simply nodded as the two of them remained standing in the sidelines waiting for the ship to land.

The hatched opened and the two could see motion there while the occupants started making their way out of the ship. Chatting with each other while on their way out. It took some time as clearly the team mates were preoccupied in whatever mission they had been on and were still on about it.

But it all changed in a moments notice. It was all a blur really, when suddenly Omega turn to look at the two figures standing some distance away from the ship. It took split second for her to start running as fast as she could and pointing at the direction she was heading shouting.

"Crosshair? Crosshair! It's Crosshair!"

She went on finally reaching her brother and latching onto the tall man with a tight grip, making Crosshair almost stumble in the process. Almost.

The rest of the group froze in their steps and simply watched the events taking place in front of them.

"I can't believe it!" Omega went on. "You are back!" She continued and finally elicited a small smirk on Crosshair's lips.

"How perceptive of you." It wasn't a snide remark at all, rather Crosshair's poor attempt of humour. And then placing his arms around the girl hanging onto him. Tightly.

"Everyone! It's Crosshair!" The Kid went on enthusiastically, getting the others to finally move towards the same direction and coming to see for themselves if this was all real.

After Omega finally let go. Sort of. Her long lost brother was there. And she was almost afraid to lose her grip of him afraid he would vanish somehow. So, keeping one hand on Crosshair was her way of making sure he was still there with them.

Echo, Tech and Wrecker were the ones to step to Crosshair next. Each taking their turn in hugging him without any kind of doubt as to how they felt about him or him being back. Finally.

Hunter however remained in the background waiting. As clearly, there were some doubts, mostly about himself and not sure if the other clone would welcome his closeness. After the trio let go of Crosshair, him and Hunter remained staring at each other.

"So, it was your good intel which helped us on the missions." Hunter simply stated, putting two and two together as Rex had yet to tell the Bad Batch whom their source had been.

"Yeah? Guess so." Crosshair simply replied their eyes still locked, neither making the first move.

"So, you're back then?" Hunter sounded still doubtful.

"Looks like." Crosshair replied.

"You live on the base?" Hunter wasn't probing rather trying to make some conversation.

"For now." Crosshair had not made any permanent decisions, nor was he thinking of leaving either. He liked it there after all.

There was a moment of silence and it was Omega who made the decision for them as she took Crosshair by his hand and started dragging him towards Hunter. As they were close enough, she pointed at the two of them.

"Now, hug and make up!"

She was right of course. As there needed not to be any kinds of long talks of whom was right and who was wrong, what mistakes had been made and by whom. Not now anyway.

And so they did. The two of them once again reunited despite the wide rift having been between them. What else there was, would come later. Hunter and Cross were holding onto each other, tightly. A few tears falling from both. It was a touching reunion and even the others were staring to tear up of the display of affection.

Omega as if realising something, turned to the other person she had not met yet.

"I know you." She said as she stepped closer to Ten.

"Yes." Ten smiled a little without any denial of the fact.

"You," Omega was contemplating for a moment. "are my mother."

She even sounded surprised of her own revelation and with her comment, she was getting the others attention as well, turning to watch the interaction between Ten and Omega. Hunter and Crosshair still holding onto each other. Naturally.

Ten smiled wider. Omega was standing close to her, observing the woman she had just met as the knowledge she realised had hit home within the kid even if she was waiting for confirmation.

Ten kneeled to Omega's level and simply said. "I guess I am. Sort of." Ten admitted. "They extracted DNA from me and sliced it into yours." Ten then offered as an explanation.

Omega did not look surprised, only leaned in and touched Ten's face. Feeling out the features of her so called parent for the first time. Seeing some similarities there to her own. After a moment of silence between them, Ten stood up and the offered her hand to Omega.

"Now, since we all are reacquainted with each other, why don't we head to the galley for a celebratory meal."

It wasn't a request nor a question. Simply a friendly offer to friends and family, a reason to celebrate reunions and new chances.