Episode 3.14—"A Change in the Air"

Tarkin stands in his office on Eriadu, reviewing a report. He fixes his eyes on Hemlock as the doctor enters the room. Passing Hemlock the report, Tarkin confirms that Emerie has sided with the clones. While Tarkin finds it unsettling that one of their top scientists has rebelled, he concedes that Hemlock's choice to let her rescue the one they call "Tech" had its benefits.

Raising an eyebrow, Hemlock asks if Tarkin likes the soldiers he created. Tarkin evenly says the troopers would have crushed their targets had it not been for their flawed armor. Hemlock looks pleased. He inserts a datastick into the computer and pulls up an improved armor design. He points out the reinforced sockets and faceplates, as well as the additional layer of Zillo Beast scales that will protect the soldiers from EMP grenades.

When Tarkin asks when this new armor will be available, Hemlock says he has had it ready from the beginning. A smile crosses Tarkin's lips. Hemlock continues that their results on Eiloh could not have been better. The clones watched the Partisans kill one of their own, shattering any chance of an alliance. Now that they have escaped Eiloh, the two factions can spread the news to their cohorts. Pulling up a chair, Hemlock asks if Tarkin is ready for Phase Two.

On Coruscant, the Regs gather around the transmitter in the Rowan Squad's shop. Echo steps out of the crowded main room and into the stockroom, where Omega is sitting beside a disoriented Tech. She offers Tech his datapad, but he shows little interest in it. Concern creases Omega's brow. Echo gently reminds her that Tech is in a new environment and is still trying to process his surroundings.

They turn to see Hunter and Wrecker emerge from the stockroom's tunnel. As Wrecker sets down a crate of supplies, Hunter says he contacted Phee. She has settled Pabu's refugees off-world, so it's safe for the squad to return to Cid's parlor. Hunter hasn't located Crosshair or Emerie, but he doubts they plan to join them. Wrecker insists they should stay here until they find a way to help the Dark Troopers. He reminds them that he was controlled by an inhibitor chip before, and he knows how awful it feels. Hunter agrees to stay until the Regs secure help from the Senate. They glance through the doorway, where the other clones remain crowded around the transmitter, awaiting a response from their senate allies. Echo asks what's taking so long. Hunter explains that the senators are in the middle of a debate.

Inside the Senate Building, Riyo Chuchi struggles to make herself heard among the arguing senators. She claims that the protests on Coruscant persist because the Empire has not met its promises. Bail Organa agrees that they must provide the citizens with the support and protection they were guaranteed. Another senator reminds him that the entire galaxy is clamoring for aid. They can only spread their resources so thin. As the senators discuss how to quell the protests, Chuchi reminds them of the homeless clones they decommissioned. Her words fall on deaf ears. Banging his staff, Mas Amedda silences the arguing and adjourns the meeting.

An exhausted Chuchi steps outside for some fresh air. She notices Bail watching her. The two withdraw to a remote area, where Bail slips Chuchi a datacard copy. After Bail departs, Chuchi switches on her transmitter. Her eyes widen when she receives the clones' binary message.

Elsewhere, Emerie ducks into a dark alley and continues adjusting her comlink. Switching it on, she whispers that the clones are safe, but she needs more resources. Emerie freezes as a shadowy figure enters the alleyway. Her initial fright gives way to annoyance when she realizes her visitor is Crosshair. Keeping his weapon trained on her, he asks who she contacted. Emerie responds that she was securing help from a sympathizer. Crosshair confiscates her comlink and refuses to lower his blaster until she reveals why she is really helping the clones. Emerie suggests that Crosshair follow her.

Meanwhile, Chuchi meets with the clones in the Rowan Squad's shop. She arranges for a private transport to move the injured Regs to safety. They tell her about the Dark Troopers, but she is reluctant to expose this corruption to the Senate, given how poorly that turned out last time. Instead, Chuchi adds their report to her datacard. She explains that many Imperials on Coruscant are unaware of the atrocities the Empire has committed off-world. The datacard contains proof of the Empire's crimes. She hopes to sway sympathetic Imperials by sharing this evidence with them.

When Rex asks who Chuchi has in mind, she shows them a hologram of a man named General Collins. She believes Collins could be a valuable ally, but she has no way to pass her information to him. Coruscant's off-duty Imperials reside in a separate district that no one can enter without clearance. Omega is confident that her squad could infiltrate the district, but Hunter isn't eager to send the clones into a crowd of Imperials. Chuchi agrees that this approach is too risky. However, she makes a copy of the datacard and leaves it with them, hoping they find another way to contact Collins.

A frustrated Omega turns to her squad as Chuchi leaves. She says they finally have a chance to fight back against the Empire, and they can't let it go. Hunter, who is in the middle of lifting an injured clone, takes in her agitated expression. He orders Echo and Wrecker to keep an eye on her while he helps move the wounded.

On the other side of the Business District, Emerie leads Crosshair into an abandoned building. Dr. Boll waits inside, studying a datapad. Emerie explains that Boll is on their side. Boll says she has compiled a list of labs where Imperials are experimenting on clones. The list is far from complete, but it's a good starting point if they want to free the clones. As Boll steps away to send a transmission, Crosshair scrolls through the datapad. He asks how the Empire secured the resources for these experiments so quickly. Emerie responds that the Kaminoans funded many of these labs during the Clone Wars. She believes that the Republic always intended to recycle the clones as lab material after they served their purpose in the war.

Anger darkens Crosshair's face, but it mixes with suspicion. He grimly asks why she cares. She didn't grow up with the clones, so why risk her life for them? Dropping her gaze to the ground, Emerie shares that her mother died giving birth to her. Jango abandoned her immediately afterward. Her weeks with the clones have been the first time she ever felt like she was part of a family—and she'd do anything to hold on to that. She asks if Crosshair will help her.

Back in the Rowan Squad's shop, Hunter and the Regs have left to transport the injured clones. In the stockroom, Tech has regained some awareness. He accepts the crushed-up ration bar that Echo and Wrecker give him, but he recoils when they offer him water. Omega sits alone in the main room. Distress crinkles her face when she hears Tech struggling to swallow. Peering through the crack in the wall, she sees a spasm shudder through him.

Omega's eyes simmer and determination settles in her jaw. Through the peephole, she spots the dresser that contains the datacard. While Echo and Wrecker focus on Tech, Omega sneaks in to retrieve the datacard. She slips a blaster into her pocket, then tiptoes back to the front door. The door is boarded up, but the transom is just large enough to accommodate her. Balancing on a crate, Omega unlocks the transom window and climbs outside. She waits for an Imperial to pass, then starts trailing him.

Night is falling when Hunter returns to the shop. When he realizes Omega is missing, he mutters that he knows exactly where she went. Echo and Wrecker offer to help find her, but Hunter says he will have a better chance of tracking her on his own.

Meanwhile, Omega has followed the officer to the Imperial District. Droids guard the gated entrance, but Omega finds a building that borders the sector. When no one is watching, she scales the side of the brick building. Clutching onto a drainpipe, she slides down the other side. She edges around the district, keeping to the shadows as she scans the passing Imperials. One officer notices her out of the corner of his eye. He looks back to confirm his sighting, but Omega has already fled down a dark alley.

She looks down the end of the alley and spots Collins heading into a bank. She starts to follow, but someone jerks her back. Before Omega can cry out, Hunter presses his hand to her mouth. Once she relaxes, Hunter removes his hand. He whispers that she needs to get out of here while she has the chance. Avoiding his gaze, Omega claims it doesn't matter where she goes since Hunter plans to get rid of her anyway. Hunter quietly says he didn't mean what he said on Eiloh. Unconvinced, Omega sets her sights on Collins, who has stepped out of the bank.

Hunter implores Omega to look around. There is no way she can get to Collins without running into more Imperials. Clutching her datacard, Omega takes in the hopelessly crowded streets. She quavers that people need to know what the Empire did to the clones. Hunter promises they will help their brothers, but this isn't the way to do it.

Omega hesitates, watching as Collins heads to his speeder. Desperation cracks Hunter's voice as he says he cannot lose her again. Omega studies Hunter's earnest face. After one last glance at Collins, she returns to Hunter's side.

The relief on Hunter's face is short-lived. From his perspective, the sounds of the city amplify to a piercing level. He winces as the streetlights blaze. When Omega asks what's wrong, Hunter pulls her behind him. The Imperial who noticed Omega earlier looms in the alleyway. Hunter turns his head from side to side, sensing stormtroopers advancing down the backstreets. He grabs Omega's arm and runs.

The two weave through the alleys, but stormtroopers converge from all directions. Omega drops the datacard in the scramble. Hunter yanks her away from blaster fire before she can retrieve it. He pulls her down an empty backstreet, where they reach a dead end. Hunter closes his eyes. His senses continue to overwhelm him, alerting him of all the troopers approaching. He says he has an idea. He hides Omega behind some trash bins and instructs her to retrieve the datacard when the coast is clear.

Gripping his blaster, Hunter runs back up the alley to meet the approaching stormtroopers. He dodges their fire, then ducks into another backstreet as they pursue him. Once she has a clear path, Omega emerges from her hiding place and scurries to retrieve the datacard. Omega peeks around the corner to see Hunter entering a dim alley. When the stormtroopers arrive, Hunter shoots the streetlamp, bathing the alley in darkness. The troopers struggle to gain their bearings, but Hunter closes his eyes as his senses roar to life. He hones in on the lifeforms around him. He starts firing, and every shot hits home.

Hunter returns to Omega. As she hands him the datacard, he detects another stormtrooper behind him. Before the trooper can shoot, Omega raises her own weapon and fires. Hunter regards Omega with surprise as his senses return to normal. Glancing down the alley, he suggests they head back.

We return to Crosshair and Emerie. As Dr. Boll rejoins them, Crosshair asks who she contacted. Boll replies that she asked the Partisans to meet them here. She has agreed to provide the Partisans with information in exchange for weapons. Irritated that Boll is involved with the Partisans, Crosshair turns to leave. Emerie grabs his arm. She says that if he wants to help the clones, he has to work with some of his enemies. He jerks his arm away and strides out of the building.

Back in the Business District, Echo refuels the Marauder in the abandoned warehouse. Hunter ascends the gangplank and enters the quiet ship. Omega sits alone in her room, staring at the ground. After a pause, Hunter says she made a good shot in the alley. Omega hollowly responds that she has done better. When Hunter apologizes for shutting her out on Eiloh, she admits that she knows Hunter was trying to protect her. Hunter concedes that she knows a lot more than he has given her credit for. Sitting beside her, he says he wants to understand why she is so upset.

Omega speaks in a tight voice. She confesses the deep anger she has felt since her capture on Tantiss. She hates having this feeling inside her, but it boils up every time someone hurts the clones. Hunter assures her that he feels the same way. He says it's okay to feel angry sometimes, because you can use that energy to fight for what's right. Hunter continues that he has never seen anyone fight for their beliefs as hard as Omega does. It amazes him how she can endure so much, yet remain gentle and compassionate. When he looks at her, he sees a defender who will not stop fighting until those she loves are safe. He makes her promise to never lose that spirit, no matter how hard things get.

Tears spill down Omega's face. She confides how helpless she feels. She couldn't free the children on Kamino and could only stand and watch when the Partisans attacked the Dark Troopers. And Tech…he's alive, but she can't bring the old version of him back. Starting to cry, she says she still feels like he's dead. Hunter holds Omega close as she sobs. He doesn't say anything; he just keeps his arms around her as tears fill his own eyes.

By the time Echo has finished preparing the Marauder, an overcast morning has dawned. He glances through the ship's window, where he sees Omega still sitting beside Hunter. She has fallen asleep with her head resting against his arm. Thunder fills the air, waking her. The two descend the gangplank to speak with Echo. Crossing his arms uneasily, Hunter says he feels like something is coming.

Wrecker rushes into the warehouse and tells them to look outside. The four gather around the window, where they see unmasked Dark Troopers marching down the street.

END OF EPISODE FOURTEEN