We pick up this story just before Wrecker learns that Cid is now working for the Empire.
"Here, this one's on the house," Cid said, offering a drink to Wrecker.
"It won't help," Wrecker replied.
"I'm sorry about Goggles. I liked Goggles," Cid said.
"Yeah, me too," Wrecker replied miserably. Cid looked down, then at Wrecker awkwardly.
Meanwhile, It was a warm night for Summer at Ord Mantell City and even hotter on the Havoc Marauder. Echo sighed as he struggled to process Tech's death. The only sounds Echo could hear were the wind and the groans of the Havoc Marauder. He can smell and taste his grief and the metal of the ship. The seat he's on is solid but supportive. Everyone can see Tech's empty chair, but only Echo notices it contoured slightly to Tech's body. Sighing, he looked over to the unoccupied pilot's seat.
Gonky then made noises as he approached.
"What is it?" Echo asked. Gonky buzzed back, and Echo jumped up and departed the ship. There, to his shock, a Venator Class Star Destroyer hovered overhead.
"Hunter, the Empire's here. Hunter, do you copy? Wrecker?" Echo tried to communicate, but the Empire was jamming communications.
Running back into the ship, Echo tried again, but nothing.
"They're jamming our comms," Echo said. Gonky made noises, but Echo replied, "No, stay here. I'll find them," as he grabbed his helmet and ran out.
(Back in the Cantina, Cid was nervous. It was a late night in her Cantina, and the air was hot for a summer night. There was no light except the bar. Cid could hear the conversation between Hunter and Omega in the distance. She can smell and taste her nerves and the grief emanating from everyone. The ground is solid and unsupportive. Everyone could see the drinks stand, but only Cid knew of the secret exit to the back of her Cantina. Cid had immediately sold the squad to the Empire, but who would come to take them? The last thing Cid wanted was Dr Hemlock. What could she do if it was him? That comes down to what he wants.)
Suddenly, she got a brainwave. She remembered from her intelligence reports that Nala Se was on Mt. Tantiss. Dr Hemlock, maybe after Tiny. What could she do to protect Tiny? Cid then remembered several times Tiny returned sick during the early days of the squad working for her. And then it hit her. They could fake Tiny's death. Her immune system might still be weak. Secondary shock can kill fast. Maybe she had a way out. Like a good Trandoshan, she would play both sides.
"What's with you?" Wrecker suddenly asked.
"You know. I tried to look out for you boys. But you've got too much heat on you. And you brought it here, to my place of business. I had to make the best of a bad situation," Cid explained. Immediately, just as Wrecker said, "What did you do?" Cid ran for it, calling, "Sorry, Muscles," The Commandos then burst in and stunned Wrecker.
Hunter and Omega heard the commotion, and immediately two Commandos spotted Hunter and Omega. However, instead of opening fire, they ran back.
Hunter looked at Omega, then followed. The corridor was old and rough, with barely maintained carpets, and Hunter could smell and taste the dust. What little light there was came from dusty lamps, and the carpet was rough. It was hot and stagnant in the corridor, and Hunter knew it wouldn't be good long-term for anyone.
"You sold us out," Hunter growled.
"I had no choice. You've got too much heat on you, and you ran out on me," Cid replied apologetically.
"We trusted you. And you betrayed us. You decided to work for the Empire. How could you?" Hunter snapped.
Suddenly, they heard "Hunter" from the Cantina, and Hunter and Cid froze.
"No. The Empire sent him," Cid whispered.
"Who?" Hunter asked.
"Dr Hemlock. I recognise that voice from a recent recording. I'm not handing Tiny over to him," Cid replied.
"What?" Hunter asked, confused.
"Look. I was hoping it'd be another Imperial group, one you guys had a chance of fighting. Dr Hemlock is after Tiny. And someone else related to her and Nala Se. I didn't think it'd be him the Empire would send," Cid explained.
"Hunter," came Dr Hemlock's voice a second time.
"What do we do?" Hunter asked.
"I've thought about it. And we're faking Tiny's death. I sold you out immediately when you got back. Enough time has passed that Tiny could've died of her injuries between then and now. How does that sound?" Cid replied.
"What else will we get out of it?" Hunter growled.
"Well, if you cooperate, I'll give every credit I got to you. And we can never interact again. You can retire with Phee. How does that sound?" Cid suggested.
"Looks like I don't have a choice," Hunter replied, and they returned to Omega's room.
It was colder in the room than in the corridor for an Ord Mantell Summer and significantly more light thanks to ceiling light and fan. The only sounds came from the fan, and Omega could smell and taste the blankets and wood of her bed, her not fully healed injuries and her pain and grief over Tech. The bed was soft and supportive. Everyone could see the patterns, but only Omega could tell that Cid had changed the blankets from when she vaguely woke up just after they reached Cid's Parlour.
When they arrived, Omega asked, "What's happening?"
"Cid sold us out but had a change of heart. We're going to fake your death. You'll need to lie still and try to hide your heart rate. Alright?" Hunter suggested. Omega shot a dirty look at Cid, then nodded.
"What is going on?" AZ asked.
"Sorry, AZ," Hunter replied as he disabled AZ. Hunter then grabbed Omega's helmet, and Omega lied back and tried to calm down. Hunter flexed Omega's helmet and managed to make a crack in Omega's helmet significant before they departed.
Hunter and Cid split near the back exit. Hunter reached the main Cantina to see Dr Hemlock and half a dozen Commandos surrounding Wrecker with Dr Hemlock in front. The atmosphere had changed dramatically. It was colder now than earlier, and the smells and tastes were different.
"That's not very strategic, Hunter. You don't need to use your enhanced senses to know we outnumber you," Dr Hemlock said as the standoff continued. Dr Hemlock then turned towards Cid and said, "The Empire thanks you for your assistance," as he gave her the credits, "Now leave,"
Cid looked super guilty as she started to leave. She remembered something and whispered to Wrecker in Trandoshan, "We're faking Tiny's death," which Wrecker acknowledged with a tiny nod.
"Please, consider your next move very carefully. We outnumber you. A battle could end poorly for both of you. Here is how this is going to go. You will lower your blaster and hand over Omega, and I will allow you to keep breathing," Dr Hemlock warned. Hunter kept Omega's helmet behind his back as he kept his blaster held.
"If you're looking for Omega, you're too late. And even if you weren't, she's not going anywhere with you," Hunter replied.
"Who knew Clones were so parental? Fascinating," Dr Hemlock replied,
("I was sad to learn of your friend's demise. What was his name? Oh yes, Tech," Dr Hemlock mocked. A Commando then gave Dr Hemlock a pair of shattered goggles.
"I'm afraid this was all that I could salvage. Consider it a gift," Dr Hemlock continued before he threw it to Hunter. "To lose one of your own. That must be a lot to bear as the leader. And if you don't lower your blaster, you'll lose another,"
Finally, Hunter lowered his blaster and kneeled to pick up the goggles, keeping Omega's helmet hidden behind his back.
("What's that hidden behind your back?" Dr Hemlock asked. Finally, Hunter showed that he hid a helmet Omega wears behind his back. The helmet looked wrecked.)
"Make that two lost. As I said, you're too late. Cid sold us out as soon as we got back, didn't she," Hunter said.
"That she did," Dr Hemlock replied.
"Well, I guess Cid didn't tell you that Omega died from complications due to her injuries in the last few hours," Hunter said.
A Commando returned to the Cantina, "Sir, we've found the girl,"
"Very good. Where is she?" Dr Hemlock asked maliciously.
"In the back, sir. Why?" the Commando asked.
"Because Hunter is claiming she's dead," Dr Hemlock replied. The Commando realised he hadn't checked her heart or anything. And that crack in the helmet was huge. He didn't want to think about what kind of injuries Omega had to cause a break that big.
"Commando, take Scorch to the room she is in. I want to confirm Hunter's story," Dr Hemlock replied. Scorch nodded and followed the Commando towards the room.
On the way, Scorch said, "I'll examine Omega, alright? I'm better at figuring this out than you,"
"Fine by me," the Commando replied. Soon, they reached the room.
"Stay here. We don't want any ambushes," Scorch told the Commando, who nodded. Scorch then entered the room.
Omega heard the door open and then close. The environment hadn't changed much, though Omega could now smell and taste the Commando Armour. She opened her eyes a millimetre and saw a Commando approach. She tried to calm her traitorous heart but knew it was useless. She heard the Commando approach, put one finger over her heart, and then lean into her and listen to her chest. Suddenly, she heard him speak.
"Psst, Omega, if you answer my questions honestly, I'll play along with faking your death," she heard Scorch say. Omega gave it a moment's thought. Could she trust him? She decided her best chance was to answer his questions as best she could.
"Go ahead," Omega whispered.
"Have you been to Kashyyk recently?" Scorch asked.
"Yeah. A few months ago. Why?" Omega replied.
"While there, did you see anyone who looked like a Clone Sniper?" Scorch whispered.
"Yes. I thought it was Crosshair, this squad's sniper," Omega whispered.
"Thank you," Scorch replied. He then got up and left. Omega lay there, hardly daring to breathe. Had she just convinced the Commando to play along?
Scorch exited the room, and the Commando turned to him.
"Dead," Scorch said.
"Right," the Commando replied as they headed off.
Once the two Commandos reached the Parlour, Scorch reached Dr Hemlock and said, "She's dead. Looked like either blood loss or secondary shock,"
"So, you were telling the truth. It looks like you've got two funerals to plan for," Dr Hemlock replied, signalling for the Commando to cuff Hunter and Wrecker before leading them out.
As Hunter and Wrecker left the Parlour, someone dropped a smoke grenade among the Commandos, Dr Hemlock, Hunter and Wrecker. When it went off, the smoke blinded everyone. The smoke allowed troopers to free Hunter and Wrecker from their restraints. Then they were led away by another group of soldiers.
When the smoke cleared, Dr Hemlock and the Commandos realised that Hunter and Wrecker were no longer with them. Instead, several dozen troopers were surrounding them.
"Commandos, get them back," Dr Hemlock ordered, but the Commandos were quickly scattered, with the troopers giving chase. One figure vanished into the Cantina.
"Find them," Dr Hemlock ordered, and the Commandos spread across Ord Mantell City, backed up by AT-AC walkers. Dr Hemlock, meanwhile, re-entered the Cantina, deciding to see if Scorch had lied about Omega's death.
When Dr Hemlock entered the Cantina, he noticed a buzz of electricity had joined other sounds. He saw a figure sitting at one of the holo tables. Dr Hemlock looked puzzled, then asked, "Omega?"
"You would conclude that. Wouldn't you," came a voice from within the figure. It sounded nothing like Omega. But it did sound part-way between Nala Se and Lama Su. It sounded like another Kaminoan.
"Who are you?" Dr Hemlock asked.
"Who do you think it is?" the figure stood up, and Dr Hemlock quickly recognised the eyes.
"Khan So. Well, look who decided to show himself. Come to mourn the death of your sister?" Dr Hemlock mocked.
"I've come to retrieve her body so she can get a proper burial," Khan So replied, pulling the cloak back to reveal a younger male version of Nala Se, though with cheek features and Kaminoan eyes unfamiliar to Dr Hemlock.
"So you're Khan So, Nephew of Nala Se. I can see it in your facial features. Well, I suppose if Omega is unavailable, you'll serve as a nice Substitute," Dr Hemlock sneered.
"Let me guess. You're trying to control my Aunt. Well, I'm sorry, but that's not happening," Khan replied.
"Very discerning. But you must see this is hopeless. My Commandos will take care of your troops and return here shortly to capture you. Not very strategic, Khan So," Dr Hemlock replied.
"That's where you're wrong. Everything is going according to plan. Your Commandos are distracted, and you're unarmed. Omega's gone, and Nala Se won't like that her Assistant is dead," Khan So replied.
"I'm hardly unarmed," Dr Hemlock replied. But before he could pull his blaster, Khan replied, "I'm not either," he pulled his blaster out and stunned Dr Hemlock. With Hemlock stunned, Khan So ran into the back rooms to find Omega.
When he entered, he saw that Omega had her eyes closed, and judging by her breathing pattern, she had just fallen asleep. Khan So noticed a disabled medical droid near the bed and recognised it as AZ. Other than that, everything else seemed normal. Except for the injuries Khan could sense on Omega, that didn't seem fully healed. Walking up to her, he gently shakes her awake.
"Wha! What the? Huh? Where am I?" Omega asked, briefly confused and disoriented. It seemed like she had just fallen asleep. When she looked up at Khan So, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately scrambled to her feet.
"Khan?" Omega asked. When Khan nodded, she threw herself around him.
"Khan! It's so good to see you again! How are you?" Omega asked. Khan returned the embrace, then said, "I'm doing well. We've got to get you out of here. Dr Hemlock is stunned in the Cantina, but the Commandos with him can't be far away,"
"Then let's get out of here," Omega replied as she awoke AZ.
"Omega, what's going on?" AZ asked before turning to face Khan So.
"Khan So? What are you doing here?" AZ asked.
"Heh, you remember me. Good. And we've got to get out of here," Khan So replied.
"Let's go," Omega replied, and they ran outside.
"Dr Hemlock must have suspected that Scorch lied about my death," Omega said as they ran past the stunned Dr Hemlock.
"I'm not surprised. Hemlock thought I was you at first," Khan So replied, which made Omega briefly cringe.
When they break into Ord Mantell City, the heat of the Summer Night hits them. Omega cringes as she sweats profusely for a few seconds as her body adjusts. The moon is out, providing light. Omega and Khan can hear the sounds of battle all around them and smelt and taste the blaster residue mixing with the dirt, rock and metal that made up the ground and buildings around them. The terrain is solid and unforgiving. Everyone can see the age of the buildings, but only Omega dn Khan notices the speeder nearby.
"I used that to get here," Khan said," This way, that's where the troopers took Hunter and Wrecker," Khan called to Omega, and they started down a pathway. However, immediately they encountered two Commandos who were patrolling nearby.
Khan and the Commandos exchange stuns, and Omega and Khan briefly pull back.
"This way," Khan suggested, and they ran down another path. The Commandos followed, and one radioed Omega and Khan's location. Khan threw Omega a blaster. Khan and Omega subsequently worked together to stun the two Commandos chasing them.
"Any Commandos looking for us would expect us to go this way, so we need to go another route to throw them off. I think they radioed our position," Omega said as they found a hiding spot.
"You're fast, Omega. Clone Force 99 have trained you well," Khan said.
("They have, though injury impedes me," Omega replied.)
"Alright. Then take it easy. Is there anyone we can look for to help?" Khan asked.
"Echo. He's around here somewhere," Omega replied. Khan nodded, then used the Force to sense where Echo could be. Quickly, he locks onto a half-organic signature heading straight for them.
"Echo's the half-metal member of your squad, right?" Khan asked.
"Yeah, that's him," Omega replied.
"He's coming this way. You hail him," Khan said. Omega nodded, then looked out and saw Echo running towards them. She turned the other way just in time, and she and Echo pulled back as stuns passed them. Echo returned fire, as did Khan, and soon, the Commandos were either stunned or retreating.
"What are you doing here, Omega? Where are the others? And who are you?" Echo asked when he reached them.
"Cid sold us out but got cold feet when Dr Hemlock arrived. She helped us fake my death. The Kaminoan is Khan So. Remember that brother I mentioned from my time on Kamino?" Omega quickly explained, pointing to Khan as she finished the sentence.
"Nice to meet you, Khan. Sorry I can't be more formal, but we must get back to the ship. The Empire jammed our communications, so we'll have to get to Rex to help rescue Hunter and Wrecker," Echo replied.
"We can use Gonky for short-range communication. And Khan's Force Sensitive, so he could probably sense Hunter and Wrecker," Omega remembered. Echo looked to Khan.
"Do you know Kuan Si?" Khan asked.
"Yes," Echo replied.
"Kuan Si is my father and, why I'm Force Sensitive," Khan So replied.
"That would explain it. I hope you're telling the truth," Echo confessed as they exited their hiding spot and ran for it.
They didn't get far before they had to scatter behind nearby buildings to avoid fire from an AT-AC.
"How do we take that out?" Echo asked. Omega tries her bow, but the shot bounces off the armour. Echo attempts a detonator, but it falls well short.
"Let me help," Khan said, "Throw another one,"
Echo nodded, then threw another detonator. Khan used the Force to guide it until it was next to the walker's legs. Upon detonation, the AT-AC stumbled and fell.
"Move," Khan called, and the trio ran past the fallen walker, stunning the pilots as they tried to climb out.
"Let's get back to the ship. Maybe we can pick Hunter and Wrecker up using that," Echo suggested.
"Lead the way," Khan replied. Echo nodded and led the way.\
As Omega, Echo and Khan ran towards the ship, a stormtrooper group intercepted them. Khan blew them away with the Force. They went down another corridor to avoid another patrol, but soon, the Havoc Marauder was in sight.
"Get me on the ship, and I can contact my father to tell me where Hunter and Wrecker are," Khan told Echo, who nodded.
"There are troopers around the ship, though," Omega said.
"Then we will take them out," Echo replied. The trio slowly snuck around behind the crates, stunning the troopers one by one until they had cleared the ship of stormtroopers.
Once they got onboard, Khan used the Force to reach out to his father, Kuan Si, who was sheltering with Hunter and Wrecker.
"Hey, I'm on the Havoc Marauder with Echo and Omega. Where do we go to pick you guys up?" Khan asked.
"The spaceport to the north of the city. Be quick, though. Our defences are failing. We might not hold out much longer," Kuan Si replied.
"We'll be there," Khan replied before cutting communications.
"What was with the urgency in your voice, Khan?" Omega asked.
"We've got to hurry. The Commandos have the others surrounded," Khan told Echo as he took off.
"We'll be in the north soon. And I know of a way to get everyone out. Just tell your father to stay away from the north wall," Echo replied. Khan communicated Echo's message to Kuan Si. The others learn of the plan when Kuan Si tells them.
It takes a few minutes to get to the north of Ord Mantell City, and in the meantime, Khan had to go to the gunner's nest to blast off a V-Wing that decided to pursue them.
As they reached the north, Khan stated, "Is this nest your room, Omega?"
"Yeah. Remember, I didn't have a room on Kamino. My room wasn't mine. It was Ninety-Nines. He let me use it after particularly nasty tests," Omega admitted, a haunted shadow briefly crossing her features.
"Sounds like we've got some things to talk about, Omega," Echo called.
"I think we do," Omega replied, returning to the front with Echo.
"We're here. Now, one well-placed shot should open enough of a hole to allow everyone to get out," Echo said. He steadied the Marauder, then unleashed laser fire that blew a big hole in the wall. Seeing this, Kuan Si showed Hunter and Wrecker out of the hangar before a CR90 Corvette landed nearby to collect the troopers. Once everyone was onboard, the two ships departed and were soon in Hyperspace.
"Everyone OK?" Hunter called.
"We're alright. Still, how wild was that? Cid sold us out, then got cold feet and helped fake Omega's death," Echo recounted.
"That's sadly how Trandoshans usually work, especially in Cid's business," Hunter replied. They then got a message.
"This is Kuan Si. I thank you for helping to keep my son safe. And I'm glad that neither of them fell into the wicked hands of Dr Hemlock. Here are your coordinates. I have something to give to you that will help you in your quest to rescue Crosshair," Kuan Si said. Once the message concluded, the coordinates came through.
"Follow me," Kuan Si concluded before the CR90 entered Hyperspace. After plugging the codes in, the Havoc Marauder followed.
The Havoc Marauder exits Hyperspace and connects with the CR90. Kuan Si enters the ship and reunites with both Khan So and Omega.
"Thanks for the save," Hunter said to Kuan Si and Khan So.
"No problem. We weren't going to let Dr Hemlock off that easily. Anyway, I have this for you," Kuan Si replied, giving a data disk to Echo, who put it into the control panel on the ship. When the control panel lit up, they realised this data disk was advantageous.
First, the disk contained where the Empire was holding Crosshair. The planet Wayland. But the other information on the disk made everyone recoil in shock, for it concerned the true fate of Tech.
"Well, it looks like you have another mission. Khan, we'd better get going. We have our missions to conduct," Kuan Si said.
"See you around, sis," Khan replied, and he and Omega shared a tight, close embrace.
"May the force be with you, bro," Omega replied once they broke apart. Khan smiled, waved, and followed his father onto the Corvette, which the Havoc Marauder detached from and headed into Hyperspace.