Fate
Crosshair couldn't remember anything but pain.
That, and the voices of his torturers, a sound he would never forget.
Until he could put a bolt into their heartless chests.
Royce Hemlock and Emerie Karr.
He didn't know where he was, how long he'd been here, nor did he care. He knew he was in some type of medical facility by the smells and sounds.
Reminded him of Kamino.
Not a pleasant memory.
The black swirl in his brain burned, singeing his nerves raw. His lungs ached, and his heart wanted nothing more than to stop beating.
Occasionally, he heard screams, which he imagined came from the many other clones that had been brought here.
Wherever 'here' was.
The brutal trainer he'd had as a youth on Kamino had instilled many traits into the sniper, one of which was unyielding strength of will, the only reason he hadn't died.
Yet.
Another was loyalty.
Even tho it had taken innumerable mistakes and years of misplaced trust, Crosshair finally realized where his loyalty lay; with his brothers.
They would have no idea of his dilemma, perhaps they wouldn't care. They had every right to abandon him to whatever fate he faced.
The fate he deserved.
What mattered now was their safety. His hope was that they had somehow received, and believed, his warning.
Hemlock had been very clear about his desire to capture them.
All of them.
For some reason the kid was his main target, but Hemlock wouldn't settle for just her. He was unspeakably evil, absolutely compassionless.
It was obvious that Hemlock had some physical affliction in his left arm and hand; perhaps the Doctor envisioned using something he could get from clones to cure his own ailment.
Or, more likely, he had far worse intentions.
Crosshair didn't believe he'd live long enough to find out.
Each time they began their interrogations anew, Crosshair could feel his strength drain faster. His interest in survival had become nearly nonexistent and his foremost goal was to remain absolutely silent about his brothers.
And sister.
Even tho he didn't know her, he had to believe she had been shaped into a strong soldier.
She had certainly displayed intelligence and courage on Kamino. His brothers would have nurtured that, and introduced her to the disciplines needed to endure their dangerous lifestyle.
Crosshair had been raised under many strict disciplines. One of the most useful skills was the ability to control his heart rate.
Invaluable, especially for a sniper.
He could remain calm and unshaken, even when mortar shells lobbed directly overhead, or bolts were sizzling past his ears.
It had been an unexpected aid in enduring Hemlocks diabolical torture.
If his heart nearly stopped, so did the pain.
He'd used that to help him endure.
Whenever he heard them approach, he automatically began to lower his heart rate. It had the dual effect of making him loose consciousness quickly, and bringing a swift end to the torment.
Recently, he'd mastered the ability to control all physical reflexes to touch. Another attempt to shield himself from their cruel interrogation tactics.
If he allowed any indication that he was conscious, the agony would begin.
So, when someone laid their hand against his cheek, he didn't recoil in anticipation of what might follow, even tho internally he cringed.
Immediately, he noticed something was different.
The hand was small, and warm, not cold, clinical, or cruel like Hemlocks or Emeries.
A familiar voice filtered thru the constant buzz of pain in his ears.
'Crosshair.'
No.
It wasn't possible.
This had to be some new deception.
'Crosshair, what have they done to you?'
The voice seemed so distant, so unreal.
He didn't dare move, even when that small hand laid gently over his heart, and her voice said softly in his ear,
'If you're awake, please don't open your eyes. If they see, I'm afraid they'll come take you.'
Crosshair couldn't believe it.
For a moment, he abandoned caution, hoping that neither of his captors were watching too closely.
'Omega,' Crosshair sighed, barely audible, 'Wh-why are you h-here?'a broken whisper.
She laid her forehead against his, and he felt her shaking,
'Tech….Tech is dead.'
A small sob jerked her words, made them uneven.
Her revelation nearly broke Crosshair.
Tech.
Tech.
Dead?
Those three words cut into his soul worse than any torture Hemlock could ever contrive.
It took all the willpower he had to remain unmoving, but he couldn't stop the tears that leaked down his cheeks.
She slipped her hand into his, gripped it tightly, where she knew they couldn't see.
Carefully, Crosshair managed a weak squeeze.
Omega moved to lay her head on his chest, her small frame still shuddering with silent grief.
Suddenly she stiffened, sat up straight, snarled viciously,
'Don't you touch him!!'
Hemlocks velvet smooth voice came from opposite Omega,
'What did you say to him just now?'
Crosshair could hear the sick smile he always wore in his tone.
Obviously his sinister air had no effect on Omega.
She snapped,
'I told him his brother is dead. Just wait until he finds out it was your fault.'
Crosshair wanted to leap off the table, to crush Hemlocks throat with his bare hands.
But this was not the time for vengeance.
He had to protect Omega.
She was clearly alone.
He would eviscerate Hemlock later.
Summoning his iron hard will, he remained completely still.
He felt Hemlock lean over, which brought Omega to her feet, protectively.
'I said, don't touch him,',' she snarled thru clenched teeth, fists raised.
Hemlock gave an amused chuckle.
'My dear child, I am completely in control of CT-9904's fate, as I am of yours.
'Emerie. When she touched him, he spoke. Is he conscious?'
Crosshair heard the familiar tap of her shoes, steeled himself, knowing what she was about to do.
She lifted his eyelids, peered onto his eyes; he knew he couldn't react at all.
She removed her hand, backed away a step, consulted her data pad.
'A common side effect of the injections. While still unconscious, the subject will often speak, and may be partially aware of their surroundings.'
'He's not a subject. He has a name,' Omega spat.
Both Emerie and Hemlock ignored her.
'His heart rate continues to remain dangerously low,' Emerie observed, 'If we wish to extract any information, it would be unwise to continue the current methods of interrogation.'
Hemlock nodded, agreeing, irritably,
'They have been unproductive, at least on this particular clone. It may have even strengthened his resolve to resist.'
Crosshair heard the two move across the room to continue their conversation, which was a small respite.
Omega sat back down beside him, cast a covert glance their direction, before retaking his hand.
Deliberately, she tapped her fingers to his palm, a coded message,
'What do we do?' stunning Crosshair.
For a moment she imagined he had lost consciousness, but then a hesitant response came,
'You understand this?'
Omega gave a small smile, tapped,
'Tech taught me.'
Crosshair sighed, silently.
'He was a good teacher.'
Crosshair was getting weary, knew he would soon be forced to sleep. Controlling his heart beat, his reflexes, all took a heavy toll in his weakened state.
Omega glanced up briefly as Nala Se entered the room, flowed over to meet with Hemlock and Emerie.
Crosshair heard her.
'Everything they say will be a lie,{ Crosshair warned, and he felt her nod.
'I know.'
After a few moments, she tapped,
'I won't leave you. We have to get away.'
Firmly, Crosshair tapped,
'We will,' and drifted into unconsciousness.
'Ah, Mistress Se. It seems CT-9904 does indeed have some type of connection to your young clone.'
Nala Se looked over at Omega, who was holding Crosshairs hand with both of hers. Her large eyes blinked slowly, but she remained silent.
Hemlock smiled, holding his left forearm tightly with his right hand, said,
'I suggest a new tactic. We can use the child to break him.'
Nala Se drew back in horror,
'Are you suggesting we torture Omega?'
Hemlock smiled at the idea, but shook his head,
'No, at least, not yet. Perhaps convince her that it's in everyone's best interests for him to cooperate.'
Nala Se looked between Hemlock and Emerie, them back toward Omega, who had laid her head back on Crosshairs chest, her arm draped protectively across him.
'CT-9904's resistance has been that difficult to overcome?' she finally asked, folding her elegant hands together. Her voice was its usual slow calm, but the words were an obvious insult.
'His physical condition continues to deteriorate,' Emerie admitted, handing her data pad to Nala Se for her to peruse.
'We can continue with these methods, but it will soon result in the termination of the subject.'
After spending some time consulting the information, Nala Se handed the pad back to Emerie.
She studied both Hemlock and Emerie, her expressive eyes barely blinking as she considered her reply.
Omega sat up, a worried frown on her face as Emerie gestured for the two armed orderlies standing in the doorway. Nala Se extended her hand toward Omega, said gently,
'Omega. You must come with me,' as the orderlies moved her aside, prepping Crosshairs gurney to be moved.
Omega shook her head, resisted when Nala Se took her by the hand. Dug her feet in, insisting,
'Where are they taking Crosshair?'
'He's coming with us, to my personal lab,' Nala Se assured her, 'There are some concerns over his slow recovery. Perhaps together we can effect a change for the better.'
Omega glared at Hemlock, still wearing his ghastly smile, snapped,
'So they can torture him more?'
Nala Se ignored her query, set off down the hallway, keeping a firm but gentle grip on Omegas hand.
Hemlocks cruel, soft laughter followed them.
Omega kept looking back over her shoulder, determined to keep Crosshair in sight.
The orderlies walked to either side of the gurney, one hand on their blaster.
Omega wondered why they were so tense. Crosshair wasn't a threat in this condition, was he?
'Omega, do you remember why I had a private lab, on Kamino?' Nala Se asked, calmly.
Surprised at the question, Omega quit trying to pull free, frowning up at her. After a moment, she replied, confused,
'Yes.'
'Then, child, please adhere to the same rules which we had there. Do you understand?'
Omega, still frowning, nodded, and abandoned all resistance, walking quickly alongside to match Nala Se's long strides.