The Havoc Marauder soon made its landing approach, Tech not showing off his skills this time. Instead thoseaboard the ship remained quiet. Almost as if their worst fears would be realized if one of them spoke up. With a silent nod, Hunter, Tech and Echo left the modified ship, looking around the vast baron waste land. The red skies above giving them an uneasy feeling, Echo soon pointed out a figure in the distance, stood still as if waiting for them to approach. Hunter soon lead the way forward, a sigh escaping him as he did so, almost as if he expect the worst but couldn't help but hope for the best. Only as the three former soldiers approached the unknown figure, did each of them become overwhelmed with a sense of familiarity, as if they'd unknowingly been there before.
"Its about time" spoke (Y/N), removing the hood of her black cloak, her voice surprisingly even. Her eyes scanning over them, quickly registering only three of them were there. All three former soldiers seemed surprised, a mix of emotions passing over their cloned features. Mere moments before they'd learnt their former Jedi General was on Naboo, now she stood before them. The three looked to each other, Echo being the first to break through the wave of emotions, walking up to his former general and friend, saluting her as he would have back during the war. (Y/N) simply pulled the loyal clone toward her, a smile spreading across her lips as she wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug. Doing the same with Tech and Hunter when they got closer. Her relief was obvious.
"Wrecker and Omega are back on the ship" spoke Tech, quickly summarizing (Y/N) already knew about Omega. (Y/N) nodded her head, listening as Hunter gave the order for Wrecker to bring Omega, informing the pair aboard the ship it was safe, despite the unnerving feelings most got from the outer rim world. Upon the pair reaching the group, (Y/N) greet Wrecker with the same friendly hug as she had with Tech, Echo and Hunter, offering the same to Omega, although officially introducing herself to the young clone.
"Crosshair" started Hunter, unsure how to proceed with telling the former general turned princess of the empire, Crosshair had chosen to remain with the Empire, his inhibitor chip was still intact and the sniper had given Omega her spare lightsaber. "He did come with us when he left Kamino, we all got out of Tipoca city together. He gave Omega your lightsaber" cautiously explained the Sargent, almost as if he expected her to condemn him for a crime of some sort. Unaware when it come to the silver haired sniper (Y/N) knew far more than she let on.
"Rex, Wolffe and Howzer retrieved Crosshair from Kamino. He was here until last week" responded (Y/N), hinting there was something far bigger than they realized happening. "He returned to the Empire to help with something else, his loyalty remains with me" added the Princess of the Empire, softness about her as she looked over the group, noticing AZ had since joined them. Omega seemed to brighten up, as if her thoughts can come true, Crosshair hadn't turned against them as so many believed, but was fighting for something else and seen his path was different from that of his brothers.
"Are you here for protection or for the job I offer?" came the voice of Maul from behind (Y/N). The former Jedi Knight not seeming bothered by his appearance or even surprised by it, instead it being likely she had sensed him coming, or sensed he'd been there for some time. The group of five looked to the former Sith Lord, those that remained of the small enhanced unit, seemed cautious but also sensed no threat against them, instead only calmness seemed to prevail.
"Both" responded Hunter, somehow finding confidence, as if knowing the truth regarding Crosshair and being reunited with (Y/N) again despite everything to have happened since the war ended, had brought apart of the sergeant he'd once been forward again. Maul simple nodded before walking away, a simple wave of the hand to gesture the group to follow, (Y/N) on the other hand stayed put, Omega at her side, as if sensing that too was her place. The young clone, reaching for the princess's black and silver single bladed lightsaber, as if it called to her, in a similar fashion to the beautiful humming song she heard whenever (Y/N) was close by.
Once re-entering the ruins of the Night Sister Temple again, Maul turned to face the four men, Wrecker looking back every now and again, as if wondering why Omega hadn't joined them or (Y/N) for that matter. The former Sith Lord sensing the curiosity and the unspoken questions, both for Omega, the job in question and how (Y/N) was even there. It was clear the four enhanced clones expected her to be somewhere else. Yet neither of them voiced a word, instead they stopped a few feet from the former Sith Lord, turned crime lord. Waiting for him to speak again, each of them taking in their surroundings, the ruined temple, and the things Maul had collected since the fall of the republic.
"The job I offer, is protecting my daughter when she leaves here on her travels" calmly voiced Maul, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he didn't wish to disturb the spirits of the dead to reside within the temple. "Food, accommodation, a safe place for Omega and any repairs or training necessarywill also be included" added the former Sith Lord, clearly stating anything they would needed would also be included, although he didn't mention, he'd been the one behind the jobs Cid often gave them, nor did he mention what (Y/N) planned to do while travelling off world. He knew about her desires to keep the two Padawans she sensed safe, but could sensed there was something else she had yet to speak of.
"What about Omega's training?" asked Echo, knowing he'd happily accept the offer, even more so when it allowed them to be with their former general again. Helping with whatever missions she sent herself on. Helping her achieve her goal once more. "Where will Omega be when (Y/N) leaves here?" asked the former arc trooper, finding the concern beginning to become unbearable, he truly did care for the young clone and worried for her future, yet he also knew when it come to training, there was no better than his former general. Even when there were few to choose from, she was still the best in his opinion.
"(Y/N) will train Omega in the ways of the force. The youngling will travel with you on certain missions, the more dangerous once she'll remain here with Merrin and the Night Brothers. The mid and outer rim are where most of the travels will be" admitted Maul, showing the protection and training for Omega weren't just a passing comment, but something that had truly been given thought to. "Its likely (Y/N) will train Omega in a similar way to how I trained her. I used to take her with me on some assignments, to continue her training and protect her against certain threats" confessed the former Sith Lord, revealing his suspicions.
"And Crosshair?" asked Tech, noticing the snarky sniper hadn't been mentioned, almost as if Maul was unaware of what his actual goal was or even why he returned to the Empire in the first place, despite the risks involved in doing so. The mention of the missing clone, seemed to peak Maul's interest, as if confirming he had no idea where the sniper was or what he was doing. All he knew was why Crosshair was doing it.
"He'll be back" responded Maul, recalling the sniper all but promising to come back when (Y/N) had requested him to. He'd simply answered with always, a hint of a smirk on his lips as he boarded the recently stolen imperial ship. "(Y/N) is the only one to know the true nature of his assignment, I follow her lead now, as many across the galaxy do" spoke the former Sith Lord, knowing the Jedi to remain and hidden likely seen (Y/N) as a symbol of hope, as many whom disagreed with what happened to the Jedi and Republic did. "She and Omega are more powerful than they realize, keep them both safe" added Maul, showing the softer side he rarely showed to anyone, as if his compassion was a closely guarded secret few knew off.
"What happened to General Skywalker?" spoke Hunter, surprise written across his features, almost as if he hadn't meant to voice his question. It was no secret (Y/N) and Anakin were best friends, the pair often offering assistance or going on assignments together during the war. Often a team to be reckoned with, even more so when General Kenobi was with them. Hunter soon began to wonder what happened to Obi-Wan too. Surely they would have survived, both were powerful in their own right. Yet at lass none had heard of their survival, none had seen nor heard from them since the war had ended and the Jedi were executed for treason.
"Empire says he was the last Jedi to fall in the temple" came the voice of (Y/N), she'd also questioned what happened to Ani, at first she had believed he was dead, but soon began to think otherwise when she began to sense him. It was obvious he too could sense her, although it was anyone's guess if he knew her location or where his loyalty truly lay. She had sensed his turmoil and pain, his struggle with something. Obi-Wan was a different matter, she knew he was alive but remained hidden, protecting something as Master Yoda had spoken, he'd cut himself off from the force, losing his faith in it after the betrayal and death sentence cast upon anyone whom was force sensitive. "I was on Kamino when I first sensed him, I thought it was a mistake until it happened again, several more times on Naboo. He's alive, but somethings different, his signature feels colder, more angry than before" admitted (Y/N), although not revealing she'd been trying to sense Crosshair when she had first noticed Anakin was still alive.
Hence she set herself on the side mission of discovering what had truly happened to her best friend. She knew something was different, where love and warmth had once been in his signature, had turned cold and hateful. Almost as if he'd become someone else entirely, or taken on traits of another person. Yet (Y/N) guessed her own signature would have likely changed too, everything had changed since the war had ended. The Empire had proven to be far crueler than they showed to the public, the emperor hid his true face behind a facade, like he did with the empires true purpose and his true motives for destroying the Jedi and Republic.