Hello everyone! I'm so sorry this is late, we got hit with some sickness and we couldn't get things edited until now.
ZabuzasGirl: Thank you! I hope you had a good one!
Peachpopsicle: Thank you so much for your comment! It's always a joy to see new readers enjoying! And I hope you had a good Thanksgiving too!
Bvadams: lol if only Fives could hear you!
Lothcat99: It'll be a minute before you see this and I'll try and get in touch beforehand, but don't worry about being dramatic! Your comments are delightful and they encourage me so much!
Venomizer: Hey, I hope you're doing okay! Don't worry about forcing yourself to comment if you're not up to it!
All right, maybe we'll get some answers this chapter! Things might get a little intense though.
TW: slightly graphic torture
Mando'a translations at the end!
"Omega!" Wrecker roared.
He couldn't help it. They had been so scared the last few rotations and seeing his little sister bounce down the ramp of an unfamiliar ship was just about all he could take.
Omega scurried to him and Wrecker caught her up in a hug. Her little arms wrapped around his neck and he pressed his cheek into her soft hair.
"You scared us." Wrecker mumbled. "What'd you gotta go and do that for?"
Omega gave a shaky laugh.
"We didn't mean to get stopped." She said.
Echo appeared at Wrecker's elbow and reached to pat Omega's hand.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Uh huh." Omega said.
She reached for Echo and Wrecker grumbled as he realized his turn was over. Still, he let Omega slide from his arms and into Echo's. Echo needed a hug and Omega was about the only person he'd take one from right now.
Wrecker looked over to see Tech, Hunter, and a lady he didn't recognize step off the ramp.
"Tech!" Wrecker called with a grin.
In two steps he ran to them and grabbed Tech for a quick squeeze. He heard Tech sigh, as if Wrecker's hugs were the most awful thing in the world. It was too bad. Wrecker had stopped cracking ribs with his hugs years ago and he needed to feel that his brother was okay.
Hunter was stiff when it was his turn and he pushed Wrecker off after only a moment.
"Is there anything?" He demanded.
Wrecker felt cold as Echo shook his head and Hunter's eyes got scared. He wished they could tell him anything good, but they'd found nothing in the hours since they'd started looking.
"Rex keeps saying to wait until Commander Tano wakes up." Echo said. "He- they have some sort of Force connection and he might be able to get more info."
Hunter and Tech didn't look happy at that. Wrecker knew how they felt. They didn't have much dealin' with Jedi during the war. Wrecker knew that the Force did- something but he didn't like having to rely on it. Especially when his brother was in danger.
Omega had tucked herself into Wrecker's side now.
"Do you think he's okay?" She whispered as Echo told Hunter and Tech everything they knew.
"'Course he is!" Wrecker lied. "You think Cross could be taken down by some CIS sleemos?"
Omega just buried her face in Wrecker's armor. Wrecker stroked her head.
"It'll be okay, 'Mega." He said.
It had to be true. Wrecker didn't know what he would do if they lost Cross for good.
"Omega." Hunter suddenly said. "Go with Phee. She'll take you to the Senate building and you can check in with Chancellor Amidala."
Wrecker blinked and then eyed the lady who hadn't said anything yet.
"And we trust Phee?" Echo said, saying what Wrecker was thinking.
"We do." Hunter said, while Tech nodded.
Echo and Wrecker stared at them.
"Uh, why?" Wrecker asked.
The lady, Phee, laughed.
"I feel like I've won some sort of prize." She said.
"Kinda, if Hunter trusts you." Wrecker said.
Hunter didn't trust anyone, especially with Omega. This Phee must have sold her kidney for Omega or something.
"Phee has proven herself trustworthy in several situations where it would have been advantageous to betray us." Tech said.
Phee beamed at Tech. Wrecker raised his eyebrows. She was looking at Tech the way that Hunter'd look at Chancellor Amidala when he'd watch her speeches during the war. All moony.
Wrecker just about fell over when Tech smiled back. It was a tiny smile, sure, but Tech's smiles were for their Batch and that was about it.
"Oh boy." Wrecker mumbled.
Omega looked up at him.
"What?" She asked.
Wrecker realized everyone was looking at him now.
"Nothin.'" He said.
"We need to get going." Hunter said. "Omega-"
"Hunter," Omega said in a tinier voice than usual. "I want to come and help look."
Hunter came closer and knelt in front of Omega.
"The people who took Crosshair are dangerous, Omega." He said. "He would want you safe."
Omega sniffled before throwing her arms around Hunter.
"Find him." She said. "Please, bring him home."
"We will." Hunter said.
Wrecker's insides felt tangled as he thought about Crosshair being all by himself. He wasn't too worried about his situation, but there was a reason they were a squad. Crosshair couldn't do everything, not by himself.
"Omega," Echo said, putting a hand on her shoulder as she pulled away from Hunter. "I need you to represent us while I'm working on this. Our brothers still need leading."
Omega gave a firm nod, though she still had tears in her eyes.
"I'll do my best." She said.
Wrecker smiled. She was so tiny, but she was as fierce as any clone. She'd do a good job, even by herself.
Phee put her hand on her hip.
"You'll have to introduce me to the rest of your brothers later, Omega." She said. "Got a speeder we can borrow?"
Wrecker watched her, a little suspicious, as she guided Omega away. But if Hunter and Tech trusted her-
"Take us to the apartment." Hunter said once Omega was safely gone.
Echo nodded and beckoned for them to follow him. Wrecker was eager for Hunter and Tech to investigate. If anyone could find anything, it was them.
Wrecker watched with flutterbugs in his stomach as Hunter and Tech slowly moved through the apartment. They had to find something.
Echo stood next to Wrecker, rubbing his scomp. Captain Rex was sitting on a kitchen chair, head in his hands. According to Echo, he was trying to reach Commander Tano through their weird bond. Wrecker never thought a clone would be involved with Force stuff. He even had a hard time imagining the little cadet that was being trained as a Jedi.
A couple of the Coruscant Guard were watching too.
"Is he- sniffing that cupboard?" The Commander, Mayday, asked.
"Yup." Wrecker said.
"Er- why?" The Lieutenant, Retch, asked.
Wrecker glanced at Echo, but he was too focused on watching Tech and Hunter work. Tech was normally the one to explain Hunter's enhancements. Wrecker's heart clenched as he thought of all the times Crosshair had chimed in with sarcastic, but proud comments. Well, it was Wrecker's turn to give it a go.
"Uh, he's got enhanced senses." Wrecker said. "He's kinda like a massif, but smarter. And he can feel- electric stuff in the air."
"Huh. You're an odd squad." Mayday said. "But it looks like it was on purpose. He's the tracker, you're the muscle, the other one's got the brains. Your brother that was taken, what was his job?"
Wrecker swallowed. He didn't like how the reg said 'was.'
"He's- He's the sniper." Wrecker said. "Got the best eyes in the galaxy. And really steady hands."
Mayday nodded slowly.
"Must be hard on you." He said. "I understand what it's like- to have a brother go missing."
Wrecker got the feeling that this reg really did know.
"What happened?" He asked.
Mayday shrugged.
"Don't know." He said. "He was my squadmate on Kamino. Gave me my name before we shipped out to different fronts. Last I heard of him was a year before the war ended. Tayl and his Jedi Commander just- disappeared. They think- Trandoshans got them."
Wrecker swallowed. That didn't make him feel better. Mayday seemed to realize that because he patted Wrecker on the shoulder.
"That was before we had the Chancellor." He said. "We've got people in charge who care if a clone goes missing."
Wrecker nodded. That was true. There would never have been such a big fuss over a trooper disappearing during the war, even a commando like Crosshair or commander like Cody.
Though it wasn't only Crosshair and Cody. If anyone had to be kidnapped, Wrecker was glad that a Jedi, or whatever they were now, was with his brothers. Commander Tano might be able to protect them and they'd try harder to find them.
"Two intruders." Hunter announced. "I think they'd been watching the apartment for a while."
"Any indication of what species they were?" Tech asked.
Hunter shook his head.
"Maybe human, for one. I can tell you that they're not Wookies." He said. "There has to be something more."
As they waited longer and longer, Wrecker kinda wished that he had gone with Omega. That would have been better than just watching.
Then-
"Here." Hunter said. He was crouched low to the ground at the entrance to the apartment. "Something spilled. It's newer than the other scents, besides the intruders'."
Tech hurried over to examine the spot. Carefully he scraped at the floor and placed the bits he got into a glass vial.
"Any hypotheses?" He asked Hunter.
"Some sort of drug, I'd wager." Hunter said. "Makes enough sense if it was. They'd need to sedate Crosshair if they wanted to get out without a struggle. How long until you know what it is?"
"Our process takes-" Mayday started, but Tech talked over him.
"Approximately thirteen minutes." He said. "Fourteen, if the substance is particularly complex."
Mayday stared at Tech and Wrecker couldn't help but smile. People knew that Tech was smart, but they didn't realize that he was smart.
"That usually takes us hours at the fastest." Mayday said.
"The process the Republic uses is out of date." Was all Tech said.
Thirteen minutes was still a whole lot of time when you didn't have much else to do. No one said anything. Hunter paced, Echo sat with Rex, and Wrecker just- stood there. It was all he could do. He didn't know why he bothered to come back here. They just needed Hunter and Tech. Now that the war was over, it felt like everyone needed Hunter, or Tech, or Echo, or even Omega. Not Wrecker. Unless they needed someone to look scary.
The next thing that happened didn't come from Tech. Captain Rex sat up straight with a sharp breath.
"She's waking up." He said.
"Can you tell anything?" Hunter demanded.
Captain Rex squeezed his eyes shut.
"She's too far for much." He mumbled. "But- she's on Coruscant."
"Are you certain?" Tech asked.
"Yes." Captain Rex said. "I can feel it."
Tech frowned and Wrecker knew why. Tech didn't like when stuff was based on only feelings.
"It's a starting point." Hunter said.
"We have more than that." Tech said, looking at his data pad. "The substance is a drug known as somnitoxin."
"And what does that tell us?" Hunter asked.
"It is a potent sleeping agent." Tech said. "Developed and used by Umbaran special forces."
"So we're looking for an Umbaran." Mayday said, folding his arms. "On Coruscant. We don't have many here."
"Which could make things easier or a hell of a lot harder." Hunter said.
His eyes had a fire in them that Wrecker knew. Hunter was gearing up to go. He'd find Crosshair and he wouldn't stop until he did.
Rex stood. They had information, a starting point. It was time to search.
"Let's get going." He said.
"Hang on." Mayday said. "Let us get an APB out. Coruscant is still a big place."
He paused and glanced at Rex.
"You might want to get your armor too, vod."
Rex swallowed. He hadn't bothered getting replacement armor after the Kaminoans had taken his. To be fair, he hadn't been in his right mind for much of the time and it hadn't been a priority. And- he didn't want new armor, especially a new helmet. He had never liked the phase II design.
But he would need it, if he wanted to help find Ahsoka.
Echo glanced at him.
"Let's go back to the apartment and gear up properly." He said. "Mayday is right. We should wait to see if we can narrow down our search. And we should get General Skywalker up to speed."
Rex nodded.
Be safe. He pleaded in his mind to Ahsoka. She likely wouldn't be able to hear the words, or even feel his intent. He was too far away. Force willing, he wouldn't be for long.
"Rex, the General is here."
Rex looked up from putting on the armor Echo had gotten for him. It fit, but it still felt strange. At least they'd managed to find kamas and a Captain's pauldron. He grimaced at the helmet. He wasn't looking forward to using it.
"What does he need?" Rex asked Echo.
"He wants to see you."
Rex straightened and left his room. General Skywalker was waiting nervously in the living room, holding-
"Rex!" The General said. He held out what seemed to be a modded helmet, a combination of phase I and II. Just like Rex's old helmet. "I can't come with you, Padme and the twins need me. But I thought you'd need this."
Rex took the helmet, speechless. It was almost exactly like his old one, the weld lines matching up in most places.
"How?" He asked.
"They told me that your armor was destroyed on Kamino a while back." The General said. "I made that when you got back, but I didn't think you'd really want it- until now."
Rex nodded slowly. It was nearly perfect.
"Thank you." He said.
"You find her, Rex." General Skywalker said, his voice nearing a growl. "And kill the bastards that took her."
"I will." Rex said, tucking the helmet under his arm. It felt right. "I swear it."
General Skywalker nodded.
"Good luck." He said, and left.
Rex looked at Echo.
"Do we have any blue paint?"
He didn't have time to do an extensive job, but he needed two things. The first was his jaig eyes, carefully placed where they should be on his helmet. The second was Ahsoka's markings, over his heart.
He felt more like himself than he had in months when they received a starting point from the Guard.
Ahsoka groaned. Her wrists hurt, her head felt like she'd been drinking with the men the night before, and her lekku felt pinched. What had happened? She strained to piece together what she remembered last. Rex, his warm, golden presence. And then- Obi Wan? Obi Wan had forced her further into sleep.
Why would he do that? Was that the reason she felt so terrible now?
No- because Obi Wan had left her and someone else had come. She only could remember a vague feeling; they had had no presence in her mind. She had sensed an intent- an intent to hurt her?
And then nothing.
A terrible feeling riddled her insides.
She forced her eyes open to find only darkness. Something was tied around her face. She tried to bring her hands to feel at it, but found that her hands were bound behind her back.
Ahsoka jerked into full wakefulness. She was lying on a cold, hard surface. The thing covering her face felt like a rough cloth and she was pretty sure she had binders on her wrists.
She shifted and her foot bumped into someone else. With more concentration than it usually needed, she probed the Force and found herself with Cody, Crosshair, and Oddball. Obi Wan and Kor were nowhere near.
And there were two unfamiliar people in the area with them. With her mind still a little fuzzy, she couldn't get a good read, but she doubted they had pleasant intentions.
The Separatists seemed to have finally caught up with them.
But what had happened to Obi Wan and Kor?
Ahsoka took a deep breath and reached through her bonds in the Force. Obi Wan was the furthest away. She could barely feel him. Plo was nearer, but likely on Tython. Anakin and Rex were the closest, on the same planet perhaps? Were she and the others still on Coruscant?
Rex and Anakin were too far away for more than a nervous pulse, just to let them know she was alive and awake. Force willing, their search would bring them close enough for more.
There was movement and voices. Ahsoka went limp, listening.
"I'm telling you, they won't wake for another hour." A cool, calm voice said.
"You don't know Jedi filth like I do." This voice, by contrast, was dripping coals. "The bitch will likely overcome the drug quicker."
A door opened.
"Watch." The second voice said.
Ahsoka coughed out a gasp as a booted foot kicked into her side.
"Spigs-" The first voice started, but Spigs cut him off.
"You're awake then, little Jedi." He said. Ahsoka forced herself not to cringe as a hand grabbed her face and forced it up. "Just as I thought."
Ahsoka spat in the direction of his voice. He laughed, a rough sound, and then a hand slapped across Ahsoka's face.
"Spigs!" The other voice was harsher now. "We're here to retrieve them, not break them!"
"I don't know if you've noticed, Vezda, but we're missing the kriffing main suspect. And I'd bet their bounties that these meat droids and the Jedi witch know something."
"Ask them a question, then. If you must, make it productive."
Ahsoka could smell Spigs' breath as he leaned down close to her.
"Fine then. Where's Kenobi, scum?"
"Go to hell." Ahsoka said.
He slapped her again.
"There's no escape for you." He said. "The CIS will have you. But in the meantime, we can make your stay pleasant or- not."
Ahsoka felt the sharp point of a knife trace over her lekku.
"You've heard my demands." She said. "Until they're fulfilled I won't be saying anything."
Spigs laughed again, though there was anger in the sound. The first cut was made. Blood dribbled down the length of her head tail. She heard a drop hit the floor as Spigs cut again- and again- and again.
"Lady Kryze, there are messengers from the Republic here."
Bo Katan didn't bother trying to hide her scowl; she had her helmet on. The younger warrior still seemed to sense it, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.
The other Clan leaders standing around the holo table weren't hiding their displeasure either. Bo Katan didn't know how long she'd be able to keep this group united under this cause. She didn't know how long she'd be able to keep herself going with this cause.
"Bring them in." Bo Katan said and turned her attention back to the holo of Saleucami, where the CIS were gathering their troops. "Why they couldn't send a kriffing comm-"
A few moments later the door to the war room opened again and Bo Katan's mood worsened. A group of four clones came in.
She should have known that the meat droids would have rejoined the Republic's army. They didn't have enough free will to not.
"Lady Kryze." The apparent leader said, stepping forward. "I am Commander Jesse Toora. This is Dr. Kix and ARC troopers Ram and Beem. We've been sent as liaisons to your army."
A last name? She hadn't ever heard of a clone with one before, except Fett and those adopted into Mandalorian families. And a doctor instead of a medic?
"Great." Bo Katan said. She knew it'd be useless to try and get rid of them. "Stay out of my way."
The clone, who had a giant kriffing Republic cog tattooed on his face, scowled.
"With all due respect, Lady Kryze," He said, his voice dripping with disrespect. "We're here to make sure that we have a united front against the CIS. If we want to minimize casualties in this war, we need to work together."
Bo Katan was once again glad for her helmet. She couldn't quite meet the clone's eyes. Did they suspect her upcoming betrayal at all?
"Fine." Bo Katan said. "Fine. Feel free to make suggestions. But I don't have to take them."
"Understood." The Commander said. "Just don't shut us out."
Bo Katan gritted her teeth and continued the briefing. The clones watched quietly, but seriously. Every once in a while they gave simple and annoyingly insightful comments. Bo Katan had no choice but to accept some of their suggestions if only to keep up appearances.
"Not here." The Commander said, pointing out a planned outpost. "It's well protected, yes, but it encourages sieging."
"We can handle sieges." Ursa Wren said.
The Commander shook his head.
"It takes too many lives to break out of a siege." He said. "And we don't want to prolong the war by indulging them."
Bo Katan snorted.
"You mean your politicians don't want to prolong the war." She said. "You clones would want it to last forever."
The Commander looked at her and Bo Katan was taken aback by the solemn, tired look in his eyes.
"Perhaps some." He said. "But far from all. I'd personally like to get home to my wife and daughter as soon as possible."
One of the Clan leaders, Vesh Awaud, scoffed.
"The Republic called for volunteers." He said. "You enlisted. Your sham of aliit'to'se are nothing compared to your honorless wars."
The clone whipped around and glared at Awaud.
"So I'm supposed to stand aside when those bonds are threatened?" He demanded. "You're saying you wouldn't leave your heart behind in order to protect it?"
And Bo Katan saw a man there, a man tired of fighting and death, a man who longed for home, a man with hopes, fears, passions, a soul.
She had avoided the clones adopted into Mandalorian clans because she feared this. She had been comfortable believing that they were soulless agol'duse. Flesh to be thrown away.
She had been petrified of the truth.
Not only did that mean that the Fett boy had a claim on the throne, but the hatred she felt towards the clones had nowhere to go.
Nowhere to go but towards herself, where it belonged.
"Awaud, udesla'haalas." Bo Katan said. She was suddenly so exhausted. "I was out of line. We need to focus so that we can get this war over with."
"Shouldn't we focus on finding Lord Kryze then?" Ursa asked. "We can step out once he's safely rescued from the CIS."
Bo Katan noticed that the Commander and the doctor perked up at Ursa's words. They were invested in finding Kor?
"The war will end when the CIS gives up any claim to the life of any Mando'ade." Bo Katan said. "But yes, we must find Kor."
Despite her patron's promises that Kor would not be harmed, Bo Katan was still terrified for her nephew. At least before he hadn't been in this man's direct clutches. Now- any mistake of Bo Katan's could lead to Kor's immediate execution.
"Lady Kryze, will you be sending any assistance to the search efforts?" The Commander asked.
"What is it to you?" Bo Katan asked coldly.
"Our Commander was taken too." The doctor spoke up. "As well as a few brothers."
"We would do anything to see her safe." The Commander said.
Bo Katan hated that she could see genuine concern and love instead of the dogmatic obsession she wanted them to feel. She hated them for not being what she wanted, needed them to be. They couldn't be honorable men. They couldn't. The blood in their veins could not be at all the Mandalorian blood of their donor.
Because if it was and she spilled it like planned, she would never be able to wash it from her hands.
Mando'a:
Vod: brother
Aliit'to'se: familial bonds
Agol'duse: flesh waste
udesla'haalas: calm your chest
Mando'ade: Mandalorians
From the top!
First time I've written a Wrecker POV, at least in my main two fics. He's intimidating, honestly. You've got to make him childlike, but not too childish. Make sure he's not too stupid, but don't give him the same vocabulary as Tech. I think I did all right.
Wrecker 100 percent broke people's ribs with hugs as a kid. It was a problem.
I actually really like the idea of Hunter and Phee trusting each other and working together.
I also think Hunter had the biggest crush on Padme out of the Batch (based on the deleted scene) with Wrecker not far behind. Though the idea of Crosshair having a crush on her is very cute.
I make up Mayday backstory. Because I can. And it just kind of happens.
The Batch don't really 'get' the Force. It's really hard for them that one big lead they have is from a 'feeling' that Rex has. I feel like they'd really struggle if Omega turns out Force sensitive.
I tried implying that Rex just used phase II armor and it felt wrong. Especially since I'm pulling him back to who he is. So I figured that if Anakin tinkered around with Ahsoka's sabers in Canon, he'd maybe replace Rex's helmet here. Especially since he felt he couldn't do more for Rex.
Hey Ahsoka! And Obi Wan's disappearance has screwed her, Cody, Crosshair, and Oddball over! Good job, Obi Wan!
Having Ahsoka being tortured is kind of new. I usually have Rex suffering or Ahsoka's suffering mentally or because of her Force powers in Across The Stars.
Heeeey Bo Katan, speaking of making bad choices. I realized that Jesse would get a last name because he married Rhys! Annnd then I realized that I never gave Rhys a last name. Oops. So it's Toora. Jesse and Rhys Toora. And Kix is a real doctor now!
Actually Bo Katan, Kor is fine. Well, as fine as you can be when you've been kidnapped by your dad who's making a bunch of bad decisions.
Doesn't it suck when your worldview is broken, Bo Katan? Maybe don't get into deals with dubious shadowy people if you're not up for letting a bunch of people die.
Okay, that should be everything. Across the Stars should hopefully be up on time this week.
Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!