"Where's Echo and (Y/N)?" asked Crosshair, looking to his brothers and Omega. The rescue had been surprisingly quick considering Coruscant was the center of the former republic turned empire. The sniper looked between each of them, hope in his golden eyes mixing with uncertain, dread and fear. He didn't want to be judged again, least of all by his brothers. Yet at the same time he couldn't deny the fear tightening around his chest and stomach, settling its grip on his heart.
"They caused the distraction with Rex, if all goes to plan we'll rendezvous with them on Ord Mantel" replied Wrecker, all but pulling Crosshair from his feet in a bone crushing hug. Omega was quick to join in, the hug helping to drown out her sadness of (Y/N) and Echo not being apart of the long awaited reunion too.
"Not to worry. (Y/N) is more than capable of handling whatever the Empire throw at her. Plus with Rampart's recent arrest the odds of the capture is low" casually spoke Tech in an attempt to lighten the dread each of them felt, even if it was more obvious in Hunter and Crosshair. Even now it was clear Hunter regretted the idea of letting (Y/N) and Echo, even more so when it meant the little family would be broken a little longer, and the fear of losing someone he loved grew the longer they were all parted.
"Why did you come for me now?" asked Crosshair, failing to stop the words slipping passed his lips. He'd always thought (Y/N), his beloved would lead the crusade to retrieve him when the time came. Yet here he stood, surrounded by his brothers and Omega. No Princesses in sight, no Echo either. Instead it had been the three to hurt him the most. The more Crosshair waited for one of them to respond, the more his thoughts of (Y/N) planning for this crossed his mind. He had no doubt she planned for them to reunite eventually. She intended for them to be on the same page again, a force to be reckoned with, as they were during the war.
"Princess's orders" simply responded Hunter, finding his self unsure. Like Crosshair he'd always imagined (Y/N) to be with them, instead she was working closely with the former Arc Trooper and Captain. "You know better than anyone how stubborn she can be. She was insistent we come and get you and you get this" calmly spoke the Sargent, holding a hologram out to his younger brother. Once again feeling the guilt bubbling up. Just seeing Crosshair didn't do anything to help it. Even more so with how terrible he looked. Hallow cheeks, lines from the constant frowning, eyes dull, he slouched now too. Hunter was willing to bet Crosshair had lost weight as well, although it was difficult to tell with the black armor. "I'm sorry .."
"Don't" simply responded the enhanced Clone, looking to Hunter, before his eyes flicked to Tech and Wrecker. He'd been so focused on Hunter, he'd failed to realize Omega had moved, coming to stand at his side, her small hand wrapping around his long fingers. She gave the same comforting feeling (Y/N) often did, the peacefulness being a welcome sense. "Save it for when Echo and (Y/N) are back with us" added Crosshair, wanting nothing more than the impending reunion to happen quicker. Hunter soon nodded, recalling the amount of times he wished, he'd spoken those words sooner. How many times he'd wished to have done things differently. So many things could have happened, had they just taken Crosshair with them when they left Kamino, after the reign of fire.
Crosshair soon walked to the seats near the communication panel, the place he'd once religiously cleaned his rifle after every mission. Even now Crosshair could recall what each of his brothers would have been doing. Hunter would always be sat opposite him, silently thinking about something as he calmed his overwhelmed senses, all while mindlessly spinning his vibroblade between his fingers. Tech would be in the cockpit, ensuring everything ran smoothly, Echo with him towards the end. The two deep in conversation about something. Wrecker would be on the sleeping racks, complaining they were too small for him, while also attempting to stay on them when fighting to get comfortable.
Back then (Y/N) would have been at the communication panel, cleaning her lightsabers before continuing on with the torture known as reports. She always hated the paper work and the endless council meetings, yet still she got through them. She'd always have the softest of smiles on her lips when looking around to each of them. Almost as if seeing them safe and sound, gave her a sense of peace.
Crosshair soon began to look around the ship now, as his brothers and Omega made their way to different parts. Wrecker headed for the cockpit, attempting his hand at flying them away from the imperial capitol. Hunter returned to the communication panel, the place (Y/N) would have once wondered off to. Where as Tech took a seat opposite him, concern in his eyes, although he didn't voice anything. Instead he watched as Crosshair looked around their old ship. Omega soon wondered off to her little room in the rear gun hold, settling into position to meditate again.
"You'll see her again. Mustafar will freeze over before she lets anything happen to any of us" calmly voiced Tech, acting as if he would've before the Empire took control. Before order 66 had ripped their brotherhood apart. Crosshair simply nodded, knowing there was truth in his younger brother's words. "Lets not waste her efforts. She wanted us all here now, together. She wants us to mend what has been broken" spoke Tech, ensuring even Wrecker could hear his words. He was no fool, he knew there was a reason (Y/N) chose to go with Rex and insisted Echo go with them. Just as there was a reason she didn't argue with Omega staying with them.
Crosshair simply looked to his little brother, curiosity in his eyes. His princess had purposely chosen not to be there. With a sigh the sniper nodded. Of course she would do this, Echo had been the one to constantly fight for them to go back for both himself and (Y/N), where as Omega was the innocent one for now, taking (Y/N)'s place as peacekeeper. A role the younger Jedi in training seemed to be fully aware of.
"I understand there was nothing you could have done on Kamino. My inhibitor chip had full control, had you stayed you would have been captured or worse killed" started Crosshair, admitting he had long since accepted why he was left behind back then. There was nothing any of them could have done to change it. Plus he wouldn't have been able to live with himself had they been executed by the empire for treason. "Same with Bracca, there was no way you could have gotten me without getting captured, the imperial forces were too strong, plus Cad Bane. Retrieving Omega was the top priority" he continued, looking to each of them, including Wrecker lent against the door frame leading to the cockpit. "But that doesn't stop the hurt, or betrayal. It doesn't stop the pain or the abandonment. I know there was nothing any of you could have done then, but why did you leave without me after Tipoca City. I would have gone with you, all I wanted, was to hear say you still needed me, you still wanted me" whispered Crosshair, admitting everything, all the pain, the betrayal and even the hope he had.
"We didn't want to leave you. The first time, we were going to go back and find you once we got our armor, but you got to us before we found you" started Hunter, taking a deep breath before continuing. "When we found out about the inhibitor chips, we came up with so many plans to get you out. Every time we tried you were either surrounded by Imperials or impossible to find. When we tried to find (Y/N), it was like she'd disappeared. We thought you two would have been together. Only Echo realized the Empire would have used her against you" spoke the former Sargent, looking down with guilt painted on his features. He hated what happened, hated how Crosshair was made to suffer and feel. He hated how things had turned out.
"By the time of Kamino the second time. We thought you already hated us" admitted Wrecker, his voice resembling that of a shout in the quiet ship. Even Omega's soft breathing, as she meditated sounded far louder than it was. "I thought you would hold what happened against us. That you would demean us for failing to find and protect (Y/N). You'd blame us for abandoning her too" voiced the lovable human wrecking ball, his voice serious as his eyes sincere. All that time he truly had believed Crosshair would blame them, he believed Crosshair had looked upon them as his enemies rather than brothers. Only now did he see how truly wrong he'd been to think those things.
"Echo always said you'd come back. He said (Y/N) would find a way to get all of you back together again" calmly whispered Omega, a soft smile on her lips, as if she could hear Echo's voice speaking those same words. A chuckle escaping him too. Even more so when she imagined he was with Rex and (Y/N) speaking the old line ofI told you.Rex likely playfully rolling his eyes and (Y/N) thanking him with a chuckle, just like old times. Hunter, Crosshair, Tech and Wrecker looked to Omega, clearly having heard her words. "He always said (Y/N) and General Skywalker were alike in a lot of ways" added the enhanced clone with confidence. She wanted to know more about General Skywalker, but knew it was impossible for the time being. (Y/N) almost refused to answer questions on the Jedi Knight and had all but lock the files regarding him away, even Tech had trouble decoding the files.
"Oh no" spoke Hunter, dread and fear flooding his smokey voice, as realization hit him. Quickly he put out the orders. Sending Tech to change the course, going to Dathomir rather than Ord Mantel. Although he didn't state why which only served to cause more panic among the small unit. Crosshair especially, as it suddenly dawned on him what his princess was likely up to and where it could lead.
"She's not" stuttered Crosshair, knowing one of the things (Y/N) wanted outside of freeing all the clones, and reuniting the little family again. Was to find out what had truly happened to Anakin. She'd stated she could still sense him, she knew he was alive, but something was different. She wanted to know what happened to him, she wanted to finally answer the questions regarding her best friend. One of the few people she truly had left.
Hunter didn't word his response, simply opting to nod in confirmation. Quickly summarizing Crosshair too had figured out what the former Jedi Knight was up to. And what it could eventually lead to. The former Sargent heard Crosshair whisper something about (Y/N) being stupid for attempting something like this without all of them with her. Yet a soft grin appeared on his lips the moment he heard Crosshair call (Y/N) runi. The single word speaking volumes on how much (Y/N) meant to his sniper brother. Just as indicated how desperate they all were to save her from her own stupidity, and the cost of failing.