"You said you needed help with something," worded Tech upon reaching Echo, finally regaining his stable balance after Omega's flying lesson over the sunny skies of Pabu. He readjusted his goggles slightly upon the Arc Trooper holding out a data stick filled with what remained of the imperial encrypted data from the prison ship he, Gregor, and a few others had retrieved Howzer from.
"Where's (Y/N)?" questioned Omega, briefly looking around Echo to the ship he'd been piloting. "You said you'd bring her with you," she added, hope filling her golden eyes at finally meeting the famed medic. The one she had heard stories about from both Echo and her other brothers. Tech had a few videos of her, although he'd only shared the humorous ones. Hunter's mood seemed to lift, too, when someone mentioned the medic, whereas Wrecker could never stop the grin from appearing.
"She on her own mission," sadly spoke Echo, the worry and dread he'd felt since they'd separated shimmering in his pale eyes, the fear he'd tried so hard to bury bubbling to the surface again. Although deep down, he questioned where his Snap was safest, on the run with Wolffe or within the imperial ranks as one of their specialized personnel, or maybe she would have been safer with the Batch there on Pabu. Out of the way and hidden. The latter two options posed a significant danger. The Empire had already shown its cruelty and willingness to dispose of those who failed or refused to do what was asked of them. However, being on the run wasn't much better, being constantly hunted and trying to survive in the ever-changing galaxy, the bounty hunters, and the lack of trust in everyone around.
"You'll meet her someday," commented Tech, stepping back toward the Marauder to decrypt the information on the data stick. He could sense the urgency and felt the information would somehow link to Snap and her mission. Omega soon ran over to Lyana, a playful but happy smile on her lips, Wrecker nearby, ready to play the game of tag he'd promised them days prior.
"How dangerous is Snap's mission?" asked Hunter upon the Arc Trooper joining him near the arched pillars. They watch the scene of Wrecker playing with the kids unfold before them. "I don't need enhanced senses to see you're afraid to lose her, Echo," added the sergeant, a shadow of a smirk appearing across his lips.
"As part of Cody's plan, she joined the Imperial ranks and the Dark Trooper project," began Echo, trying his best to push down the fear bubbling again. Even more so as he remembered Rex's last words before he left for Pabu. "She had a tracking device disguised as a necklace to find the Advanced Science Division's secret facility. It stopped transmitting weeks ago; the last known location was Wabani. Intel from Senator Chuchi suggests she was on Daro for a short time before being moved elsewhere," he explained, feeling the familiar feeling of impending doom again. No matter how hard they fought to get information and fight against the Empire, The Imperials and the Empreror always seemed to be several steps ahead.
"She'll be alright, Echo," started Hunter, placing a comforting hand on the Arc Trooper's shoulder. "She's a fighter. Stronger than most realize," added the Sargent, fondly recalling the past. The few times Snap had been on loan with them during the war. Despite her fragile appearance, she was anything but; easily getting each of them to submit to her, she'd read each as if they were an open book, even Crosshair. Like Omega, (Y/N) had picked up skills and learned from each—Tech more than most, who had taught her to fly confidently and a few other things.
"Found something," came Tech's voice over the coms, unusually void of emotions as if trying to hide how he felt about something. Hunter and Echo glanced at each other before their attention turned to Wrecker and the girls. Turning just in time to witness the human bulldozer trip over a tree root and fall while playfully chasing Omega and Lyana. The girl's laughter could be heard before Tech's message reached them. After which, it was as if the fun and laughter had been erased, as if they had never been in the first place. Replaced by cold seriousness as if the axe of execution hung in every shadow.
The short walk to the Marauder was filled with silence, neither pairing speaking a word even when they joined a small group and met Tech aboard the ship. On the screen before Tech was a picture of an unknown man and the limited information known about him. On another screen were the old communication logs from the war; it was clear there was a reason for their old communications to be up.
"Dr Royace Hemlock, head of the Advanced Science Division. It appears the clones Echo and co-rescued were being sent to him. All data regarding location had been erased; for all intents and purposes, he is a ghost," Tech started, a deep sigh escaping him. "I found a list of clones sent to him, and Crosshair is among them," he added, hearing the surprise lacing Wrecker's voice upon the question escaping his lips.Crosshair turned on the empire?"I checked our old coms as well. And found a message from him. Plan 88: The Seeker"
"I have a bad feeling about this," worded Echo, feeling the heaviness set over his chest. Everything seemed to point to the Advanced Science Division, and Snap was now in the middle of the danger with the mystery doctor. "I'll contact Rex to see if more information can help us," he commented before walking toward the cockpit. He sensed the sudden wave of tension, the confusion regarding Crosshair. He could sense the oncoming disagreement regarding joining the fight, even temporarily.
"Any word from Snap?" asked Echo once Rex had answered the call. Deep down, Echo already knew the answer but couldn't help hoping. "Or Wolffe?" he questioned, knowing Wolffe had also joined the ranks of the Empire intending to protect (Y/N), although it hadn't worked out that way. Instead, they'd been separated. Wolffe had been incorporated into the security bureau his knowledge and skills deemed worthy of a high position, and he'd been able to pass along valuable information.
"Wolffe found intel of a meeting on Eriadu," started Rex, a sense of guilt about him as he was once again to deliver the news there had been no word from Snap, despite Gregor monitoring the coms and tracking device with the hope of finding something. "Tarkin and a select number of high-ranking imperials. Hemlock is one of them."
"Send me the information," replied Echo without hesitation. Quickly devising a plan, if they could tag Hemlock's ship, they could track him back to the highly secret facility he was in charge of. With luck, they'd find Crosshair and (Y/N) there too. "It appears Crosshair turned on the empire, so he might be able to give us some more information if we can get him out," spoke the Arc Trooper once again, trying to bury the feelings bubbling up: fear, concern, dread, grief, and hopelessness. "Let me know if you hear from Snap," asked Echo before ending the call and rejoining the others, already knowing there would be no backup. Their numbers were already limited and stretched to the brink.
"He's our brother, and we don't leave our own behind," commented Tech as Echo returned to the gathering. At least confirming the Arc Troopers' suspicion regarding a disagreement had been correct. Wrecker was clearly unsure how to feel or express his feelings. Crosshair had chosen the empire but now seemingly turned on them. Meanwhile, Hunter was suspicious, as if suspecting a trap. On the other hand, Omega and Tech were ready to launch a rescue mission to retrieve their brother from the jaws of the empire and uncertainty.
"Rex's intel suggests Hemlock will be attending a meeting on Eriadu, Tarkin's fort," spoke Echo, almost spitting the last two words as if they were a vile poison. "If we go, we'll be going alone, no backup," he added, knowing there'd be no one to get them out if they ran into trouble. Like with Kamino the year prior and Skako Minor before that. Each time, they'd come close to losing everything, but by the luck of the maker, a Jedi, and AZ, they'd managed to get out on their own.
"Any word from Snap?" asked Hunter, knowing he was outnumbered. The risk was great, but each was willing to take it to rescue Crosshair and help the uprising gain more valuable information. The Sargent knew if there was a chance to get ahold of (Y/N) as well, they might as well take it, even more so knowing the chance may not arise again for some time, if at all.
"None. Even Rex is starting to get worried now," admitted Echo, suspecting the Captain regretted his decision to send Snap into the thick of things. She was a friend, and each had put her in harm's way, Snap herself included. "All we know is the facility is highly secure, nobody knows of its location, and imperials erase everything to do with it when under attack or caught," explained the Arc Trooper, pushing away the intruding thoughts of losing someone he cared for, a member of his family both those of Clone Force 99 and outside of it.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go get Crosshair and (Y/N)," called Omega, walking off toward the cockpit, almost as if she was silently saying she would fly them to Eriadu if needed. With a nod of confirmation from Hunter, Tech followed to input the coordinates. Meanwhile, Echo tried to busy himself by preparing the kits and ensuring all had what was needed for the cruel terrain waiting for them. Hunter, on the other hand, re-read over the data they had on Hemlock and the illusive advanced science division, trying his hardest to push away and bury all the feelings something was about to go horribly wrong. He wanted Crosshair back, too, for his small family to be whole once more, but he found himself asking what the cost would be. Just as he questioned what the price of Echo and Rex's war would end up being?
