AND WE ARE BACK, BABY!
Oh, I'm so excited to be posting again! Finally we get to see Crosshair and Omega go to Kamino!
Thank you for all your kind words and support during the hiatus. My nephew is fine, adorable, and very disgruntled by the world. His mommy is tired, but healthy, and we've started a consistent editing schedule again.
IrishDrunk14: The Tech Fives dynamic has been such a lovely surprise to me. Like, it just fits. I think that it's that Tech is straight forward and blunt in a situation where many would be just trying to comfort Fives. Fives doesn't want comfort, he wants facts. Tech is willing to give them to him. AND YOUR WISH SHALL BE GRANTED WITH THIS CHAPTER. At least regarding the Crosshair and Omega content.
OneLittleSpark18: Oh man, I hope the Star Wars stuff was amazing! Glad you're enjoying the dynamic and I did enjoy my hiatus!
Paladin Stormwind: I'll get him a hug- eventually. And we'll be back on Mandalore within the next couple of chapters. I can't remember specifically though lol.
4thwallbreak: Do not worry. The only time I considered killing Fives has passed. He is safe. Is he happy? Ehhhhhh
Bvadams: Thank you! But then, where would I put the angst? Plus, you know, it wouldn't be as satisfying when he eventually gets there.
Venomizer!: Thank you for both comments! Good luck with your own story!
MaisyMason: THE WAIT IS OVER
Fear Glitch: Good to see you! Sorry about the fake out, but WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH A NEW UPDATE
Ugh I love this chapter.
I don't think there's any Mando'a in this chapter. Huh.
TW: Gaslighting, medical torture, blood, bodily fluids, and implied child abuse
"Welcome to Kamino, Senator Omega."
Taun We spoke as if Omega hadn't spent most of her life here. In fact, Omega was feeling overwhelmed by the familiarity of the white walls and bright lights. Crosshair shifted closer to her. Whether or not it was to comfort her uneasiness, or his, she didn't know.
"Come this way, please." Taun We said. "The Prime Minister wishes to meet you for dinner. Your bodyguard may stay here."
Omega swallowed, anxiety swelling at the idea of losing Crosshair.
"Allow Crosshair to be left behind." Tech's voice came in through Omega's earpiece. "It will give him the opportunity to look for the data we need. However, protest at first, to make it more believable."
"I'd prefer if Crosshair stayed with me." Omega said.
Taun We blinked slowly.
"Very well." She said.
"Oh." Tech said. "I did not expect them to allow Crosshair to attend. We will work with this."
Omega and Crosshair exchanged glances as they followed Taun We.
There were no clones. It was an odd sight, and it made Omega oddly wistful. It was wonderful, of course, that the clones were free and gone. Omega had grown up here. Since the clones were old enough to guard, they had patrolled this place. It seemed empty and sad without them. The clones had suffered here, yes, but they had also brought life and love.
Crosshair subtly nudged her and gave a tiny jerk of his head down a hallway. There was what looked like a training droid, repurposed to stand watch.
"Matches the place better." Crosshair said under his breath.
Omega agreed.
"Hope you like fish." She whispered to Crosshair. "It's their main diet."
Crosshair's face twisted in disgust.
"I doubt it'll be to our taste." He muttered back.
Omega smiled faintly at that.
It took a while before they reached the dining room. There was a long table along with the ladle-like chairs. Two Kaminoans stood, waiting for them. One was Lama Su.
The other-
"Senator Omega has arrived, Prime Minister." Taun We said. "Senator, you know the Prime Minister and Doctor Nala Se."
Omega had instinctively shifted ever so slightly behind Crosshair. He in turn edged his hand out in front of in a protective motion.
"Why is she here?" Crosshair said.
"No, Crosshair." Omega said. "It's better that she's here."
"I do not see how." Tech's voice said. "She is causing you distress, Omega. You can ask for her research from Lama Su without her presence."
Omega took a deep breath.
"Hello, Prime Minister." She said. "Hello, Doctor."
"We are pleased to have you visit, Senator." Lama Su said. "Please, take a seat."
Omega reached for the nearest seat.
"Your place is over here, Senator." Nala Se interrupted.
Omega blinked. The seat Nala Se was indicating was the furthest from the doctor's place. Was she being considerate of Omega's feelings?
"This is the finest aiwha steak tartare." Lama Su said. "We will eat first, and then discuss business."
The aiwha tartare was cold and rubbery and the dinner conversation even more so. Lama Su inquired after her health and the health of Echo as her co-senator. Omega tried her best to give answers that would inspire further conversation. Neither Lama Su or Nala Se took the bait. The way that the Kaminoans ate didn't help. Watching them swallow their bites whole and seeing the lumps of food slowly travel down their necks as they were ground down by the internal teeth there made Omega's appetite non-existent. Not to mention Nala Se spent the meal unabashedly staring at Omega.
Omega thanked the stars that she had Crosshair's steady presence near her as Nala Se's gaze was on her.
Finally Omega choked down the last of the slimy meat and looked up at Lama Su.
"Senator Burtoni has explained our position, yes?" The Prime Minister said.
Omega nodded.
"You need our help to get clients." She said.
"Yes." Lama Su said.
"I want something in exchange." Omega said.
Lama Su blinked.
"You are remarkably straightforward for a politician." He said.
"I don't think any clone likes beating around the bush." Omega said.
"What are your demands?" Lama Su asked.
Omega took a breath. She had rehearsed this with Tech.
"I need every file on the clones of Jango Fett." She said. "Including any data any scientist might have kept for themselves."
"I cannot give you everything." Lama Su said. "Trade secrets. I cannot reveal our exact methods-"
"I just want the information about the DNA and the changes made to it." Omega said. "We don't care about the methods."
Lama Su seemed to relax at this.
"Of course." He said. "I will contact every scientist involved with the project and request their data."
"I refuse." Nala Se said.
The entire table turned to look at her. She was placid as ever as she stared back at Omega.
"It is my personal property." Nala Se said. "You cannot compel me to reveal my research."
Omega went cold. Of course Nala Se would refuse.
"I expected this." Tech said. "We may have to recover the data through other means."
Lama Su was furious. Omega could see it in the slight tensing of his weak jaw.
"We will discuss this further, Nala Se." He said. "In the meantime, Senator, your quarters are ready if you wish to go to them now. It grows late."
"Yes, thank you.!" Omega said brightly, ignoring the dread building up in her stomach.
"Excellent." Lama Su said. "Taun We will show you to the guest quarters."
"They had these kind of beds this entire time, and they made us sleep on those slabs they called bunks?"
Crosshair scowled at his surprisingly comfortable bed as if it had personally offended him. Omega sat on the edge of hers, watching him.
"What's our next move, Tech?" Omega asked.
"For now, rest." Tech said.
Crosshair frowned.
"This is the perfect time to snoop." He said.
"I have been conscious for the last fifty hours." Tech said. "If I am to aid you, I need to sleep first. I will be back in five hours. Do not attempt anything by yourselves."
Crosshair's frown turned into a scowl.
"Fine." He said.
"Goodnight, Tech!" Omega said.
"Goodnight, Omega." Tech said.
She heard a click and the comm went dead.
Omega crawled onto the bed. Crosshair removed his armor carefully and dimmed the lights. He sat down and began to look over his rifle.
Omega pulled the blankets around her but as inviting and soft the bed was, it did not change the fact that they were on Kamino. The white walls seemed to gleam at her, even when her eyes were closed. The clinical smell seemed to seep into her skin. Neither brought pleasant memories.
"Crosshair?" Omega said into the darkness after a few minutes of tossing and turning.
"Hm?"
"I don't think I can sleep here."
"Why not?"
"It's Kamino." Omega said quietly.
Crosshair didn't reply, but Omega heard footsteps. Her mattress did not creak as Crosshair settled down on the side of it.
"Go to sleep, Omega." He said.
The presence of her brother so near and the silhouette of his rifle as he cleaned it allowed Omega's eyelids to grow heavy. She was safe. Crosshair wouldn't let anyone take her away. She fell asleep to the sound of his steady breathing.
Omega's eyes opened to the glowing optics of a droid. She gave a half-shout and with barely a rustle Crosshair had leapt out of his bed, rifle trained on the droid hovering above Omega.
"AZI?" Omega said.
"You know this droid?" Crosshair said, keeping his rifle up.
"Yeah!" Omega said. "Nala Se used him as an assistant too. He's my friend."
"It is good to see you, Omega!" AZI said, his torso twirling in delight. "What are you doing back on Kamino?"
"What are you doing in our quarters? How did you get in here?" Crosshair demanded. "I locked the door."
AZI turned his head towards Crosshair.
"I did not use the door." AZI said. "I used the maintenance tubes."
He gestured to one of the hatches up near the ceiling. Crosshair glanced at them before returning his glare to AZI.
"I heard Nala Se and Lama Su arguing." AZI went on. "And they mentioned a Senator Omega. This is the only occupied guest quarters as of now, and I wished to see if Omega was truly here."
"It's all right, Crosshair." Omega said.
"That droid worked with Nala Se." Crosshair said. "I don't trust it.
AZI cocked his head.
"Nala Se has not interacted with me ever since the human cloning program had been shut down." He said. "And I recall no orders regarding you."
Crosshair still didn't put his rifle down.
"I trust AZI, Crosshair." Omega said. "He would disobey orders from Nala Se all the time for me."
"I would not say 'all the time,' Omega." AZI said. "I recall only a dozen times that I did so."
"You still disobeyed her." Omega said.
Crosshair's rifle dipped and he got a contemplative look on his face. He walked over to the rungs leading up to the hatch and climbed a few. He studied the opening.
"Could we fit?" He asked.
"Yes." AZI said. "It is how I got the clone Fives through Kamino."
"Crosshair." Omega said. She quickly checked the chrono. "It's only been a bit since we went to bed. Tech won't be up for another two hours at least. He said not to do anything without him."
"That was before we knew about these." Crosshair said.
"I'm pretty sure Tech already knew about them." Omega said.
"I'm going." Crosshair said. "You may remain behind if you want."
He turned to AZI.
"I need somewhere I can access the main database of Tipoca City." He said. "And not get caught."
"That is easy!" AZI said. "There are many access points in Tipoca City, especially in the clone training facilities. Those are as of now abandoned."
"Take me there." Crosshair said.
AZI floated over to the maintenance hatch and opened it. Omega watched Crosshair don his armor, hands clasped and pressed into her stomach. In a deft movement, Crosshair removed the top of a hypo with his teeth and jabbed it into his own neck. Omega squeaked.
"A precaution." Crosshair said.
He looked back as he put a foot on the rungs. He raised an eyebrow. Omega swallowed, but hurried forward to follow him. She could have sworn Crosshair had smirked in a proud way before heading further into the tubes.
The tunnels were just tall enough for Crosshair to walk without stooping. He and AZI led the way, while Omega followed close behind. These tunnels were eerie. Omega had been in them once or twice. Nala Se had caught her and told her that young clones had gotten lost in the tunnels and never found. Omega didn't know how true that story was, but she could see it happening. Luckily, they had AZI to guide their way.
"What information are you looking for?" AZI asked.
"Information on the DNA of Clone Force 99." Omega said.
"Oh! That was Nala Se's personal project. It is unlikely that you will be able to access that information from an average terminal." AZI said.
Crosshair stopped in his tracks and Omega bumped into him.
"Then where can we access her files?" He asked.
"There are three possibilities." AZI said. "Her lab in Tipoca City, her personal quarters, or her personal lab near the sea floor."
"Where is she least likely to be?" Crosshair said.
"Her lab in the city." AZI said. "She rarely frequents there since the human cloning project was shut down."
"Take us there." Crosshair said.
"What if we're caught?" Omega said.
"We won't be." Crosshair said.
"The cameras-" Omega started.
"I can disable those." AZI said cheerfully. "It is a simple matter."
"Crosshair, it's dangerous!" Omega said.
"We were in danger the moment we stepped foot on this scum hole." Crosshair said.
Omega swallowed, but summoned her courage. They needed this information.
"Lead the way." She told AZI.
The lab was empty as AZI had said. Crosshair climbed down first and helped Omega off the rungs. Omega hadn't been in this lab before. She'd been kept in the lab far below Tipoca City for most of her life. The computer system would be the same, though, and Omega was familiar enough with that.
But then she turned on the console.
"She's wiped the data off of here." Omega said.
"Everything?" Crosshair demanded, leaning over Omega to get a better look.
"Everything." Omega said. "It was a complete system wipe. Even the backups were destroyed."
Crosshair swore under his breath before turning back to AZI.
"She'll be in her quarters, right?" He said. "We need to know where to go next."
For the first time Omega heard strain in Crosshair's voice. His teeth were clenched around a broken toothpick he hadn't bothered to replace and he was holding his rifle close to his chest. Omega realized he was worried. She put her hand on his arm. He looked down sharply at her.
"It's going to be okay, Crosshair." She said. "We're going to get that data and we're going to be okay."
Crosshair looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"It is unlikely that she is in her secondary lab." AZI said. "I have accessed the cameras and she was seen on the upper levels within the last ten minutes."
"Then let's go." Crosshair said.
It took much longer to get down so deep, especially on a ladder. Omega's arms were aching by the time they were halfway and they had to take rests every few levels after that. Crosshair was silent, but Omega could tell he was getting more and more nervous by the increasing rate he was chewing through toothpicks.
Omega herself was more frightened than she wanted to admit. She didn't want to go back here, where her sisters were killed, where her brothers were taken from her, and where she had been a prisoner. But she had to be brave. Crosshair had come back to Kamino for this and she knew how much he hated it here. She could do this.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the bottom. It was dark down here, the only light being Crosshair's helmet and AZI's eyes. Crosshair opened the hatch and dropped in.
The lab was just as Omega had remembered it: low lit with glass tubes seemingly on every wall. It made her shiver. She and Crosshair wasted no time making their way to the nearest terminal. Crosshair removed his helmet and stuck another toothpick in his mouth as Omega turned the screen on.
"It's here." She said in a near whisper. "Everything about our development."
She pulled the datastick Tech had given her from her pocket and jammed it into a port. The screen indicated that all data was being transferred.
Omega waited breathlessly as the indicator ticked through its progress. Then she frowned. The air- it was getting hazy.
"Crosshair!" She said.
Crosshair looked up and glanced around the room, now filled with a pale yellow gas. He reached for his helmet but froze. His body began shaking before he collapsed to the ground.
"Crosshair!" Omega cried again.
She knelt at his side. What was happening? Why didn't she feel anything? Crosshair's eyes were squeezed shut and his jaw was clenched.
"Get- out." He wheezed. "Run."
"I won't leave you!" Omega said.
She glanced around wildly, and then froze when four repurposed training droids lumbered into the room.
"Omega." Nala Se's comm-garbled voice echoed from somewhere above. "Please do not resist."
"What did you do to him?" Omega demanded.
"I warned you of the consequences, Omega." Nala Se said. "I warned you that I would exploit the weakness in Clone Force 99's DNA."
Omega's breath caught. Of course. Of course. She wasn't being affected by whatever was flooding into the room. It was so obvious that Nala Se would target Crosshair, or any original member of Clone Force 99 that Omega brought.
"You will follow the droids." Nala Se said. "And you will wait for my arrival. If you cooperate, I will attempt to reverse the effects on CT-9904 and send him back to Coruscant."
The droids stepped forward, one of them grabbing Crosshair by the leg. Omega winced as it dragged her brother across the floor. The others surrounded Omega. One reached out and snatched the comm from her ear. They nudged her after Crosshair. Omega glanced back at AZI, who had hidden behind one of the tubes.
"You said she wouldn't know!" Omega said.
"I-I did not think she would!" AZI squeaked. "I am sorry, Omega."
The cell that the droids deposited them in was familiar to Omega. It was where Nala Se would lock Omega up if she was being particularly rebellious. The sound of the laser shield springing up made Omega flinch.
She knelt by Crosshair again and touched his face. It was burning with fever. Sweat was beading at his brow and his entire body was trembling.
Why did she bring him? Why did she come at all? Why didn't she just quietly go back to Nala Se without risking any of her brothers?
"Don't." He said before Omega could open her mouth. "Don't go back to her."
"Crosshair-" Omega started.
"You let me die and wait for Tech." Crosshair said through gritted teeth. "I don't care what happens to me. Don't go back."
Omega swallowed the lump in her throat and steeled her resolve.
"I promise." She said.
"Omega." Tech said. "Omega, respond!"
It had been half an hour since Tech had awoken. He had spent that time trying to reach Crosshair or Omega. Neither had responded. Panic was beginning to burn in his throat. Long range communications could be finicky, but Tech had tried everything in his power to connect with them. In theory, it should have worked.
He could guess what had happened. Crosshair and Omega, despite his warning, had gone and investigated Kamino by themselves. They had obviously been caught, and now were facing a nebulous punishment.
Only the darkest possibilities were running through his head now.
Why hadn't they listened to him? And why did his cursed human body need the interference of rest? If he were a droid, he would have been able to help and guide them. Now he was trapped on Coruscant as two of his siblings were facing their worst nightmares.
Tech tried one more time. Nothing. Tech stood. He needed to speak with Echo.
Echo looked at Tech, his already pale skin nearing the whiteness of snow.
"And you sent Crosshair?" He demanded in a whisper. "When you knew that Nala Se had the ability to kill him with no effort?"
"I did not send him unprepared." Tech said. "I created a genetic shield that would have provided some protection for attacks against certain parts of our DNA. We can assume that it was not enough."
Echo put his scomp to his forehead, brow creased with worry. They had sent Wrecker and Hunter off for a meaningless perimeter check and now were alone in his and Omega's office.
"I am well aware of the flaws in my plan, I assure you. We cannot dwell on my mistakes." Tech said, though he knew he personally would dwell on this for a long time. "We need to act."
"We've got one possible ally on Kamino." Echo said. "I just hope we can contact them."
Tech merely nodded. If Omega and Crosshair did not come home, Tech did not know if he could live with himself. He found that he understood Fives' position far more now.
Nala Se arrived within twenty minutes of Omega's and Crosshair's imprisonment. The doctor stood in front of the laser shield, observing Omega quietly. Omega didn't look at her, staring at Crosshair's clammy hand that she was clasping.
"This is your doing, Omega." Nala Se said. "If you had come when I had asked, he would not be suffering."
Omega didn't respond. She already blamed herself for what was happening. She didn't need Nala Se to remind her.
"If you agree to stay with me," Nala Se continued. "I will reverse the effects. He will not have to die."
Omega thought she felt Crosshair weakly squeeze her hand.
"N-no." She said. "I won't stay with you."
"You have always been stubborn and selfish." Nala Se said. "Now he will die because of you."
Omega fought back tears as Nala Se turned away.
"He has approximately three hours left." Nala Se said over her shoulder. "But I cannot cure him after a certain point. The intense sweating and expelling of liquids from his lungs will cause severe dehydration. Once he has lost consciousness, there will be nothing I can do. If you change your mind, you must do it soon."
Omega clutched Crosshair's hand as she cried silently. But she would be strong. Crosshair did not want Nala Se to win. He wanted Omega to be free.
Crosshair was rigid, his jaw clenched. Sweat was already pouring off of him, soaking his blacks. He pulled away from her and clutched at his head. Blood began to bead up where his nails dug into his scalp.
He mumbled something Omega couldn't hear. She bent down and put her ear near his lips.
"Water." He whispered.
Omega's strength nearly failed her. He called again, slightly louder.
"Water." His voice was nearly a sob as he begged for relief.
"Can't I give him some?" Omega begged through the shield. "Or painkillers, or anything!"
Nala Se looked up slowly.
"You made your choice, Omega." She said.
A comm beeped at her console.
"I must leave." Nala Se said. "I will not return in time to treat him. The droids will remove the body."
Omega had nearly made up her mind to call out to Nala Se, to beg her to save Crosshair, to promise that she would be good and stay, when the lift doors shut behind the doctor.
"I'm sorry." She sobbed to Crosshair. "I'm sorry."
She didn't know if she was apologizing for not saving him, or for not being strong enough.
Soon Crosshair began hacking up mucus and blood. Omega couldn't do anything but wipe his mouth after each coughing fit. He didn't know her anymore. He would stare at her with glazed eyes, brow furrowed with pain and confusion.
"Omega?"
AZI had come quietly to the shield.
"I can release the shield." He said. "I am sorry for not coming earlier. I was waiting for the other droids to shut down."
"It doesn't matter." Omega said. "It's almost too late to treat him. He's going to die and it's my fault."
Crosshair shifted, and he began to mutter again.
"Not Hunter." He said in a rough voice she could barely hear. "Please, it's my fault. Don't- don't put him in there. It's my fault."
Omega squeezed his hand tighter. He was reliving some memory of their training.
"Not Tech. Not Wrecker." He rasped. "I made the mistake. Don't hurt them. It's not their fault."
His voice broke into coughs and blood dribbled down his chin. But he fixed his eyes onto Omega. He knew her again, at least a little. He raised a trembling hand, as if trying to touch her face.
"It's not your fault either." He said. "It's not."
Then his hand dropped to the floor and his eyes closed.
"Crosshair!" Omega screamed.
He was still breathing, but only barely. They had so little time left.
"Omega, what is it that Nala Se infected him with?" AZI asked.
"She didn't infect him with anything, AZI." Omega mumbled. "She exploited the weakness in his DNA."
"She could not have done so with an airborne agent that acted so quickly." AZI sounded confused. "It would need more time to enter his bloodstream and circulate through his heart. One moment."
Omega looked up at the droid, trying not to feel anything resembling hope as AZI took a sample of the air.
"There are traces of bacteria." He declared. "I believe it to be a hyper concentrated form of Affliceria."
Omega stared at him.
"But that's just a regular disease!" She said. "I breathed it in too!"
"It is easily preventable." AZI said. "Nala Se may have had you vaccinated."
"Or she gave the cure to me earlier." Omega said slowly. "By having me eat from a specific plate."
She looked sharply up to AZI.
"AZI!" She said. "Nala Se has the cure around here! She had it to put in my food. It must be here! Let me out!"
She jumped to her feet and darted from the cell as AZI released the shield.
"She keeps her experimental bacteria and cures over here!" Omega said, leading the way to one of the storage panels in the wall.
She tore it open, thanking the stars that Nala Se was so organized. Within seconds she found the vial labeled 'Aff. antibiotic.' She knew where Nala Se kept the empty hypos and within a minute she was kneeling by Crosshair's side again. She pulled down the collar of his blacks and plunged it into his neck.
His faint breathing hitched and Omega watched carefully. In order to cure a concentrated dose of Affliceria, the antibiotic would have to be equally or more so concentrated. That meant Crosshair would show signs of recovery in minutes.
"Get him a saline IV." Omega ordered and AZI was off.
Was it her imagination, or was his skin less red? Was his breathing a little easier?
"Oh, no- Omega!" AZI suddenly cried.
Omega heard the sounds of the sentinel droids powering on and whirled around. The four hulking clankers stomped towards Omega, pushing AZI aside. Omega tried to shield Crosshair from them. They raised their arms and Omega flinched.
They did not fire.
"Omega, you have once again been disobedient." Nala Se's voice said.
The doctor came from the lift, walking as briskly as a Kaminoan could to the droids' side. Her neck and head bobbled back and forth in an unsettling manner as she hurried. She looked at Omega with subtle displeasure.
"I will give you a final chance." She said. "Stay with me, and I will not order the droids to terminate CT-9904."
Omega glared at Nala Se.
"Never." She said. "I'll never stay."
Nala Se blinked.
"Then I will terminate him." She said. "And it will be on your hands."
Omega closed her eyes and grabbed for Crosshair's hand.
"No." She said. "It won't."
The lift door opened again.
"Stand down." A slow, but frantic voice said.
Omega opened her eyes to see Lama Su striding across the lab, followed by his own droids. Nala Se's droids were lowering their arms.
"What have you done, Nala Se?" Lama Su said, as agitated as Omega had ever seen a Kaminoan. "Do you care nothing for the fate of the Kaminoans? You have threatened and blackmailed our only chance for economic recovery!"
Nala Se only looked at Lama Su.
"I have never cared for the Kaminoan people." She said. "I care only for my work."
"You will have neither." Lama Su said. "Arrest her."
The droids jolted into motion, taking Nala Se roughly by her arms and placing binders on her wrists. Omega avoided her staring eyes as she was taken away.
"I must deeply apologize." Lama Su said. "Senator Echo contacted me and told me he had lost connection with you. I could not imagine that Nala Se would act in such a way. Know that her actions were not in any way condoned by myself or any other Kaminoan. She acted alone."
AZI came forward timidly, holding an IV and a bag of saline solution. Omega took it from him and quickly found a vein in Crosshair's arm. His breathing had become much deeper and some color had returned to his face.
"Do not punish the Kaminoan people for the actions of one." Lama Su pleaded.
Omega glanced at him and then back to Crosshair. She knew this disease. It was the fever and dehydration that killed. Crosshair's fever had already dropped from dangerous levels. He was getting the liquids he needed.
No permanent harm had been done.
"Make sure that Nala Se receives the justice she deserves," Omega said quietly. "And allow us access to her work, and I will consider it all forgotten."
I was looking through some of the Bad Batch fanfics and there is a HORRIFIC lack of Crosshair and Omega fluff on there. And Tech and Omega. Just from what I could see. So I decided to rectify it! ...With Crosshair and Omega angst. Oops. Eh, there's a little bit of fluff. I like finding the balance of Crosshair showing how much he cares and keeping in line with his more prickly exterior.
I decided that Nala Se was extremely manipulative and gaslighty to Omega growing up. Omega was more like a pet than a daughter and fell under Nala Se's definition of work. She also CLEARLY does not give a single crap about the Kaminoan government. Otherwise she wouldn't have helped Omega get off of Kamino and sent Fennic to stop Bane.
I had some fun taking some liberties with the Kaminoan biology to make that dinner scene very uncomfortable. Inner neck teeth, can you imagine? Ugh. Also imagine a Kaminoan walking quickly. That would be so unnerving.
Canon Crosshair cares SO DEEPLY (you can't convince me otherwise) and I just need that care directed at Omega. IT'S POSSIBLE HE ACCEPTED ECHO HE CAN ACCEPT OMEGA. Add his deep pettiness (you can't convince me otherwise) and he is WILLING TO DIE to keep Nala Se from Omega.
It was fun (wow me, fun? really?) to show Crosshair in a moment of weakness. He's so unflappable normally. My headcanon is that their trainers would punish them all for any one's mistake. Crosshair felt that deeply. The trainers might have not even told them who screwed up so they all just blamed themselves. I also headcanon that they would have specific punishments for each member of the Batch. They'd put Hunter in a sensor overloading chamber or something like that, take away or break Tech's goggles, mostly just hit Wrecker, and isolate Crosshair.
AZI is fun to write, I like figuring out solutions that Omega can do to save the day, and Lama Su was an unexpected hero! He's definitely still Lawful Impure, but saving Omega was definitely in his best interests.
Affliceria is a real fake Star Wars sickness. It does cause dehydration, fever, and upper respiratory problems, but I added all the other bits. Also disclaimer: I have no idea how having a super strong antibiotic for a specific disease would affect someone, and even if it would be faster. Oops.
Poor Tech. The human body's stupid, amiright? We'll see more how badly this affected him next chapter.
We'll be back with Rex and Ahsoka and others next chapter! And we'll be back with Guily/Absolved next Monday!
Stay safe, remember to review, and I will see you guys next week!