Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Sora and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Romance Trials Of A Sniper Chapter 1
If Sora doesn't find a way off Tantiss soon, she will die. Sorry to sound so morose, but it's the truth with the inner turmoil broiling inside her soul.
Honestly, it's days like today that Sora seriously wonders what the point of it all is anymore.
A small handful of clones didn't make it through reconditioning and perished during the procedure.
All the darkness and cruelty she sees in this accursed place and there's nothing much she can really do to stop it. And the fact there's no way out does weigh even more on her.
Sora must keep reminding herself that there is still value to living. Next to everything else, hiding her true nature amongst monsters does help assist that.
Sora does wonder how much longer she can keep this up. Working as if she doesn't have emotions and doesn't care about the prisoners and various test subjects is already hard enough especially when the bulk of the clones haven't shown any vehement aggression to merit such treatment. It's difficult to watch the way things are and not be moved.
So, without giving herself away to a capacity, Sora does small things to help while remaining distant and hiding her concerns.
One of the biggest and most important things Sora does is sometimes look them in the eyes in order to help them make them feel like they're not alone. Give them hope.
Hope is important.
But under no circumstances can Sora directly interfere. That can bring about a one-way ticket either a death sentence or imprisonment right alongside them.
And what help can she be to them then?
Sora constantly tells herself to not risk her job or her life.
Sora could ask to be reassigned to another part of the facility where she doesn't have to interact with those suffering, but she'd rather be around those who feel, who feel intensely even in this state.
It reminds Sora of who she is and why she chooses to keep living in such a depressing place that sucks out all traces of light.
What Sora witnessed today alone was hard for her to watch and now she's been ordered to assist Doctor Emerie Karr and Doctor Royce Hemlock during interrogation of a clone trooper that may carry some vital information.
They'd just finished preparations in the interrogation cell when two stormtroopers arrived with the prisoner in question.
Sora doesn't look up from her datapad but does glance at him from the corner of her eye with concealed interest. Sora had only glimpsed him briefly when he'd been brought in but was intrigued when she learned that he wasn't like the other clones. Originally from a "defective" clone unit with an advanced set of skills to each one. A stickler for following the rules and all orders given and now he finds himself here of all places.
Like all the others Sora knows he shouldn't be here.
Turning to welcome them inside, speaking in a pleasant tone, Doctor Karr said "Good morning, Crosshair. How are you feeling?"
Scoffing, Crosshair said "What's it to you?"
Crosshair is giving is rough shove inside from the stormtroopers in response. He was shoved onto the medical bed with the stormtroopers guarding him.
"The doctor is on his way. Be smart and cooperate," advised Doctor Karr. "Or he will resort to methods that you will not enjoy."
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
The bringer of all this pain and suffering all these men have to endure himself.
Doctor Royce Hemlock.
Whenever Sora was in the man's presence, she always felt uneasy about him and did all she could to restrain herself from bolting.
This man should never have been allowed into the medical field. He'd been pushed out of the scientific community for a reason during the time of the Republic.
Just goes to show what sort of place the Empire is now judging by the characters behind the type of people they put in charge.
Doctor Hemlock enters the cell with one of his security detail, a clone commando.
"You've healed quickly, considering the state you arrived in," observed Hemlock.
"Why am I here," said Crosshair, tiredly.
"If you think this is punishment for shooting your commanding officer, you're incorrect. I think that shows a bit of initiative. No. No, you are here because I intend to give you a clean slate," said Hemlock, approaching Crosshair to stand before him. And all you have to do in exchange is tell me how to find Clone Force 99," directed Hemlock. "They're in possession of something I need."
"The kid," surmised Crosshair.
Nodding in approval with how fast Crosshair realized this, Hemlock chuckled "Very good."
Shaking his head, Crosshair said "You're wasting your time. They'll never turn her over."
"They don't have a choice. She is a clone and, therefore, Imperial property. Help me locate your former squad and you will have your freedom," offered Hemlock.
"I don't where they are," said Crosshair.
Not the answer Hemlock wanted to hear.
Frowning, Hemlock nods to both the stormtroopers.
The stormtroopers force Crosshair on his back onto the medical bed and bind him to it.
Leaning over Crosshair, Hemlock said "But you do know how they think, how they operate, contacts they'd reach out to. Surely you have something useful to share."
"Wrong," said Crosshair, defiantly.
Tightening the restraint on Crosshair's head, Hemlock said "Let's see if we can jog your memory. Begin."
An interrogator droid enters and injects Crosshair with a serum that would severely lessen his pain tolerance, block mental resistance, and compel him to reveal all he knows. These interrogator droids are relatively new and have proven to be very effective on their victims so far. Very few have been able to resist them so far much to Sora's sadness.
Crosshair is immediately affected by the serum as soon as it's injected through his skin. He groans in pain, fighting against his restraints as if he can physically fight off the serum by sheer will alone.
The interrogation is interrupted by another member of the medical personnel with important news.
She said "Doctor…one of our transport ships was attacked departing Balmorra. The prisoners aboard escaped."
"Inform me when he's ready to talk," said Hemlock to Doctor Karr.
Hemlock then departs to see what can be done about this matter.
The interrogation continues and after a sufficient amount of time has passed Doctor Karr calls the proceedings to a halt, ordering the interrogator droid to step back.
Doctor Karr gives Crosshair a shot after unlocking the straps on him to check over his vitals. Only after she deems Crosshair fit to continue does she give the order to tighten the restraints on him again.
The stormtroopers do the straps while Sora looks more at his vital signs. During this Crosshairs eyes open and he locks them onto a blaster one of the troopers left on the medical bed.
Sora notices this.
She doesn't know what comes over her or the reasons behind her actions, but Sora makes a choice.
Sora subtly nudges the blaster closer within reach of his hand.
Sora and Crosshair's eyes meet for a brief moment. Disbelief was in his eyes as he doubted what he actually saw her do was real.
Keeping the gesture as small as possible so that Sora does not draw attention to it, she nods and turns away as she tends to one of the machines.
Crosshair takes the chance she's offered.
While the stormtroopers are distracted, he steals the blaster and shoots both stormtroopers dead along with the interrogator droid before it can interfere.
Crosshair then directs the blaster at Doctor Karr and Sora. Both women raise their hands in the air.
"Take a breath. Think this through," cautioned Doctor Karr.
Straining from the drugs in his system, Crosshair said "Release me."
Sora reacts before Doctor Karr can. Quickly pressing some buttons, she frees Crosshair from the medical bed under the guise of not wanting to be shot, making sure her true actions are guarded.
"You cannot make it out of this facility," said Doctor Karr as Crosshair shakily stood. "Not in your condition."
Leaning on the bed for support, Crosshair demanded "Give me your access card."
"It won't get you outside. But even if you do manage that, the hounds will find you in minutes. Don't make this worse, Crosshair," said Doctor Karr. "There is no escape. Lower the blaster."
Not going to happen.
Switching it to stun, Crosshair hits Doctor Karr with a stun blast.
Doctor Karr drops to the floor knocked out with Sora catching her. Sora waits for Crosshair to hit her, too, but he doesn't. Instead, he flees with the access card in hand.
Sora can only pray that Crosshair can make it out or do what he needs to before he gets caught.
It isn't long before word soon reaches them that Crosshair has been apprehended. Caught trying to get a message out through terminal three in the communication network.
It is assumed he was trying to contact Clone Force 99.
Crosshair is brought back to the interrogation cell and this time there's no room for him to break free. No mercy is being shown to him this time.
"If your escape attempt didn't clue you in, the only chance you have of leaving this facility is if I allow it," said Hemlock.
A factor that Sora knows all too well.
"Perhaps now you'd like to reconsider my offer," suggested Hemlock. "Why suffer more? All I need is the young clone. She means nothing to you. Help me and you'll have your freedom.
Hemlock is known to be very persuasive when he gets like this. Many have caved when Hemlock has used this method in passing, but Crosshair will not be swayed in his course.
Crosshair stubbornly keeps his silence, ignoring Hemlock's compelling words. He will not fall into that trap.
Realizing this, sighing, Hemlock said "Increase his injection level this time. Let's see how long until you break."
Sora could only watch helplessly as Crosshair was put under even harsher conditions at Hemlock's command.
The one solace Sora could provide was the eye contact she made with Crosshair to let him know he was not alone.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.