A/N -Changes to the finale here, also an angst-heavy chapter. I do hope you like the "surprises," though.
"Was that the rest of your squad?" asked Emerie, watching as the black-clad troopers took the remaining three members of Clone Force 99 away. Although she was concerned for them, it didn't override her need to protect the children wandering the warzone the facility had become. Echo could only nod to the question; despite the dread building up further, he was at least glad they had gotten into the facility. Although now he made the mental note to rescue them after helping to get the kids to safety and finding (Y/N) at some point.
"Where are they being taken?" asked Echo, trying to remain in his role as a TK Trooper, even if all he wanted to do was tear the armor off and go after Hunter, Crosshair, and Wrecker. To go after Snap and finally be the man he'd all but promised her he'd be so long ago. Give her the life she deserves.
"I don't know," honestly responded Emerie, as it slowly dawned on her how little she truly knew about the goings on within the facility. Within the last few hours, she learned about the Zilo Beast, a near-indestructible creature kept in the sub-levels of the facility. From Hemlock's concerned rants, she knew about the Dark Trooper project now, too, and only parts of what Project Necromancer truly included.
Elsewhere in the facility, Hemlock pridefully walked into the circular room, an almost wicked grin on his features at finally capturing the remaining members of the original Clone Force 99. For a few short seconds, his eyes found (Y/N), still trapped within the reconditioning device, passed out now, although she still muttered "Tech" every now and again. Almost as if she was calling for someone to rescue her from the hell she'd been put through.
"If you survive, you'll all be great assets to the empire," worded Hemlock, turning his attention to Hunter after taunting him about the possibility of losing another brother. In truth, he'd hoped all of them survived, including (Y/N). He'd hoped to reunite Clone Force 99 again; after all, they were a force to be reckoned with during the war, and there was no reason to think it could be any different now. (Y/N) as both their creator and commander, the unit would be unmatched.
"We'll survive … but you won't," breathlessly replied Hunter, determination alight in his smokey voice. One way or another, Hemlock would pay; he would fall and be the message to the empire. After receiving the news the databanks had been destroyed, Hemlock once again turned on Hunter's machine, almost smiling sadistically as he left the circular room to the sound of Hunter screaming out in pain, his heightened senses being overwhelmed to a torturous degree.
"Tech," mumbled Snap, this time as if she was calling out to another, her eyes barely open as she tried to move her restrained arm, as if she was going to point at someone. The CX Trooper present seemed to take notice of her mumbled words, at least enough, where he'd chosen to turn off Hunter's machine and end the misery the enhanced soldier was going through. "Cody," added (Y/N), the name seemingly making the topper stop altogether, as if he recognized the name and, by extension, the Civvi medic calling it.
"That name," spoke the black-clade trooper, standing between (Y/N) reconditioning device and Crosshair's. "Who is … Cody?" he asked, a sense of both recognition and curiosity breaking through, confusion too.
"You," whispered Snap, "You're Cody."
"No,"
"I … I did … this to you … Forgive me, Cody."
"I'm not Cody."
"The others … Comet, Dogma … Tech … M'sorry."
"That's not me, I'm CX-3. I'm a soldier of the Empire," argued the black-clad trooper, stepping back enough to notice Omega trying to release Wrecker. To which he turned his attention to her.
"Wolffe … you need … Wolffe," uttered (Y/N) again before passing out, not seeing the confusion paint on Wrecker's features; he'd heard everything; the trooper was a friend, someone they knew, and Tech was one of the four they'd fought in the landing bay.
"Which one is Tech?" asked Hunter upon being released from the machine. He'd wobbled over to Snap while Wrecker released Crosshair, at least while Cody was knocked out. "Snap!" urgently called the sergeant, pulling the fragile medic from the machine. Although it soon dawned on him that she'd already spent some time going through the torturous process, her mind was scattered at best and broken at worst.
"Tech," mumbled (Y/N), just about finding the strength to point in CX-2 direction. Crosshair seemed to understand instantly. Reality dawned on the sniper: the reasons why CX-2 knew them so well, why he ignored orders, why he targeted Crosshair in particular. CX-2 wasn't an ordinary clone but their thought-lost brother. "Necklace … Goggles … Clone Force 99," she added, reaching to pull at the necklace hanging from her neck.
"You two go after Omega," spoke Wrecker, "I'll take care of Snap. These two aren't going anywhere," he added, reaching to pull the civvi medic into his arms, carrying her to the window, away from the machine used as an instrument of suffering. "Who's who Snap?" asked Wrecker, allowing her to tell him who each black-clad trooper was, if only so they could be saved.
"Wolffe …" whispered Snap, as if she hadn't realized Wrecker was the one caring for her. "Comet."
"Oi, Wolffe, your CX Trooper is Comet," yelled Wrecker, alerting Wolffe to the truth before the killing shot could be delivered. The shock written across the former Commander's face left little to the imagination regarding his thoughts. His only response was to throw his blaster away and reach to tear the helmet from his enemy. If only to confirm he truly was Comet, his brother.
"Dogma,"
"You got it, Snap," soothed the human bulldozer. "Echo!" called Wrecker, distracting both the Arc Trooper and the CX one. "You're fighting Dogma."
"Fives…"
"Snap … Snap … Wake up … Come on (Y/N), wake up," said Wrecker, gently shaking the civvi in the hopes of waking her again. His instinct to protect kicked in upon seeing the reflection of CX-2 looming closer. Wrecker doubted Snap would lie about who each trooper was, but simultaneously, the human bulldozer had trouble accepting Tech was one of them. After all, he'd seen him fall and felt helpless to stop it or save him.
"Wrecker!" called Echo after working with Wolffe and the remaining prisoners to incapacitate the two troopers in the training facility. "Where's the others? Snap? Omega?"
"Hunter and Crosshair went after Omega, Hemlock took her," voiced Wrecker, "I got Snap. She's the one who said who the troopers were," he added, not being able to speak of (Y/N)'s wellbeing. How could he say she'd been tortured, so much so that she likely didn't know where she was, let alone recognize those around her?
"Tech," mumbled Snap, almost like the name was repeating in her broken mind. Once again, CX-2 crept closer but still kept his distance. Almost like he recognized the name, knew it was his own, but didn't know what to do with the information.
"Bring her to the shuttle," Echo called, feeling the terror build up. Wolffe, too, seemed to feel it as he searched for a way to the circular room.
"Not … not without … Tech … Cody," started Snap, struggling to find the words to speak what floated around in her head, conveying the message she wanted to get across. "Reverse … Necklace … Rex … Fives,"
"Hey!" yelped Wrecker, as he was all but pushed aside by CX-2 and Snap taken from him. Wrecker would have protested but stopped himself from doing so upon seeing the black-clad trooper seemed to understand her.
With a shaky hand (Y/N) reached out, pressing the button on the side of the CX-2 helmet, revealing his face, just in time for Crosshair and Hunter to return with Omega. She didn't hear the sharp intakes of breaths or Omega's squeak. Tech looked back at her with mismatched eyes, seemingly ignoring his family around them.
"M'sorry Tech … I … I can … reverse it,"
"We can," replied Tech, taking hold of (Y/N)'s shaking hand, at least trying to comfort her. Although his mind wasn't his own, he could tell the damage done to Snap was likely worse than she was showing now.
"Come with us," called Hunter, trying to ignore the obvious signs the Trooper he now knew for certain was Tech displayed. He was going to run and likely take Snap with him. "We'll help keep both girls safe, away from harm and the empire," he pleaded. His heart couldn't take losing Tech again, especially after just getting him back.
With a subtle nod, Tech agreed. However, he refused to allow another to carry (Y/N) and protected her instead.
"Cody…"
"I've got it," called Wrecker as he all put clobbered the former Marshal Commander over the head with a piece of thick mental before throwing him over his shoulder—a satisfied smile on his lips.
"Fives … chamber … code."
"Fives, as in Domino Fives? Echo's twin?" asked Omega, a sense of dread again. Fives was dead. Everyone knew it. He was killed by Fox during the war after being involved in an entire conspiracy and assassination plot.
"1 … 9 … 1 … 6 … 7 … 5 …5 … 1 … 7" Snap mumbled with resolve to succeed. Despite her dire situation and crumbling mind, she was still determined not to leave anyone behind, especially a friend. "Rex … Gregor … Reverse."
"Get Fives, then we move out," ordered Hunter, allowing Crosshair to pull Omega closer. Hunter moved closer to Tech, noticing the hesitation shown briefly before he realized there was no threat to either. "Will she survive?" asked Hunter, preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. He didn't need to be a genius to know severe damage had been inflicted on (Y/N). Her torture and suffering extended past the reconditioned machines.
"Yes," replied Tech, holding Snap a little closer as if she was about the only thing grounding him to reality. "But her mind …"
With a heavy sigh, Hunter nodded to say he understood. Snap would survive, but her mind would be unlikely to heal. Once she woke up again, a question would remain about how much she remembered. That likely motivated her to say the names of those around her, the troopers she had turned into elite soldiers, and why she was so determined to convey her message.
"Echo and the others are waiting," called Wrecker, with Cody flung over one shoulder and Fives over the other. "He's not gonna know what to do," he added, quickly understanding Echo would be torn between his thought-lost brother, Tech, and Snap. His loyalties would be tested as he would be faced with a decision and a cruel one at that. Continue his fight against the empire or stay by Snap's side, holding on to the slither of hope she could return to her previous self.
"Whatever he decides, we'll take care of Snap," pointedly replied Crosshair as the group slowly made their way toward the docking bay. Navigating the halls, some in disaray while others remained in prime condition—a reflection of the group in a way. "We're family, after all."
"And we don't leave our own behind," added Omega, not noticing how her words seemed to affect Tech. Like before, he recognized the words spoken and the person who had voiced them. Perhaps Snap was right; neither he nor the other CX-Troopers were a lost course. She had ensured they could be saved, even if she couldn't.
