Chapter 9 - Into the Breach
Tantiss looks the same when Hunter drops her off. Omega's not surprised about that. Hemlock takes her in to the lab, to where she used to work, and to where Nala Se should be.
Emerie is in here, working with blood samples the way the Kaminoan used to be.
She scans the room, gnawing on her lip. "Where's Nala Se?" she inquires finally, eyeing Hemlock warily.
"Confined in her cell. I'm afraid the Kaminoan was no longer cooperative after your escape, but we don't need her help any longer." He tells Emerie to take Omega's sample and leaves the room.
Omega sits on the edge of the same table where she has so many times before, watching her sister. They're alone now.
This, she's waited and counted for, and unlike Hunter, actually feels capable of.
"You don't have to do this," Omega tells her.
"I'm sorry," Emerie replies, taking her hand. "But I do." She's older now, even if it's only been a couple of months, but her face is tired and eyes are worn with an exhaustion that Omega doesn't remember from before. Tantiss is wearing on her.
"But for what it's worth... I'm glad you're safe."
"Am I?" Omega asks her quietly.
Emerie's eyes flicker up to her and she looks away again. She believes her, somewhere deep inside, even if it's not a fact she's willing or able to confront yet.
But it's true, because no one is safe on Tantiss.
"Remember Hunter?" Omega asks.
"I remember all of your brothers," Emerie answers, pulling the blood sample back and emptying it into the test tube. Whatever it is about her blood that Nala Se was trying to hide is about to come out, and Omega suspects the Kaminoan knows exactly what it is. She's been trying to hide it, and somehow, Hemlock must've figured it out.
"He's still alive," Omega continues, "He's been here for months. Hemlock did something to him. He doesn't remember us anymore." She sighs. "He took our brother's mind from him."
Emerie is quiet. Omega expects her to argue, to justify it, but she's just quiet as she works through running the blood through the machine. "I am sorry about what happened to him," she says at last.
"Did you know?" Omega asks her. "About Hemlock's operation?"
"No," Emerie promises immediately, "Had I known your brother was alive, I would have told you."
"He's your brother, too."
Their conversation is interrupted when Hemlock comes back in and takes her away to a place called the Vault, but despite the closed-ness of the expanse and the dull, gray walls, she already knows she won.
It won't take much for Emerie to help them. She cares about them, and it's only going to be a matter of time before Hemlock himself causes the final push.
Assuming he hasn't already.
Now, all she needs to do is work on finding a way out.
Again.
**w**
Phee drops them off just outside the facility they need to be breaking into. It's foggy, which is helpful, and they sneak up to one of the ports so Tech can plug in and get a read on Rampart's location while Wrecker and Crosshair keep an eye out.
Crosshair scans their surroundings as he waits, eyeing the details of the facility.
"I have located Rampart," Tech finally speaks up, "He is tagged to be transported back to the prison from the mining facility."
"The prison is on the other side of the bridge," Crosshair observes.
"I believe our best attempt at getting him would be when he is being transported from the mine," Tech supplies.
"Take on a turbo tank?" Wrecker asks, instantly perking up. "Now, you're talkin'!"
Crosshair shakes his head in genuine disbelief. How is Wrecker still so reckless? "We can't hit it head-on. They'll see us coming."
"That is why I instructed Wrecker to bring his tank," Tech informs flatly. "We will disable its wheels and come in from the side."
It's not like this can go any worse than it already will, Crosshair decided grumpily, but he really doesn't have a better plan, so they stick with Tech's. Wrecker blows out the bottom of the tank, and they grapple themselves onto it hopefully before they see what happened.
They climb on top of the tank, and the hatch on top opens a moment later, a stormtrooper clamoring out. Wrecker stuns him and jumps down inside to take out the driver. Tech takes the controls, and the twins move to the back to get Rampart. The few guards go down with hardly a fight, and Crosshair stops to look over the prisoners in the back.
"CT-9904?" a much too familiar, incredulous voice asks and his gaze snaps to Rampart.
He looks insanely different now, especially in prison clothes, but it's definitely him.
Somehow, Crosshair almost forgot how much he hates him. Almost. "You remembered. How touching," he snarks before comming Tech to tell him they've got what they came for.
"Are you here to kill me?" Rampart demands.
"Tempting, but no," Crosshair tells him shortly.
"What about them?" Wrecker asks, looking at the other prisoners.
"Let them out," Crosshair replies. There's no reason to leave them here. They might as well make things a lot harder for the Empire while they can. A lot of these people probably don't deserve to be trapped here anyway even if that's not really their concern. It's also a good distraction.
The other prisoners take off as soon as the back doors of the transport are open, and they jump out after Tech comes to join them, Wrecker shoving Rampart along in front of them.
"What are you doing?" Rampart asks, very disgruntled.
"You'll find out," Crosshair snarks back at him.
"I have already called in our pickup," Tech says as they run, trying to put as much distance between them and the transport as possible.
The sound of approaching engines catches Crosshair's attention only seconds later. He looks up to see gunships incoming.
Great.
A laser blast tears through the ground right next to them and they all dive out of the way. Crosshair lifts his rifle and fires at it a couple times. He hits a few of the stormtroopers as the blast doors open, but it's not enough to slow the ship down.
Wrecker fires his mini-tank that was probably once part of an actual tank at it finally, and the blast throws it off-course, sending it crashing to the ground a distance off.
But there's still more coming.
Rampart tries to take off but Tech catches him before he goes far, hard enough that he nearly falls.
And significantly slows down their escape, as if they have time to deal with the former Admiral being an idiot when they're running for their lives.
This was a very bad plan.
Not that Crosshair can talk when he didn't have any better ideas, but still.
He really, really misses Hunter and the way he always knew exactly what to do and how to do it. That's something he's been without for so long, he almost doesn't remember what it felt like anymore. He wanted to come back just to feel that again, so something in his messed up life would make sense again, but they're still stuck here without him, and they have to figure this out on their own.
Somehow.
Crosshair jerks his rifle up again when the gunship comes around, firing at the pilot through the front viewport, the shot going through their heart. The ship crashes, spiraling out of control.
Thankfully, that's when Phee finally shows up, dramatically lowering her ramp with a snarky "Not exactly a stealth exit, boys."
She's annoying, but at this point, Crosshair is so grateful to hear her he can't even complain.
"Our ride is here," Tech calls.
Wrecker grabs Rampart and throws him onto the ramp, ignoring his yowling.
They jump on after and the ship takes off, laser shots streaking past them as they fly back into the sky.
They wait until they're safely away from the facility and making the jump to hyperspace before turning to Rampart. He's sitting sullenly on the seats in the back of the shuttle and Crosshair kicks his foot to his attention. And maybe also just because it was too tempting to resist.
"What?" Rampart demands, scowling up at them, "You didn't come there to free or to kill me, which means... you must want something from me."
It's unsurprising that he figured it out. "The coordinates of Tantiss base," Crosshair replies curtly.
"It's... more complicated than that," he offers.
"How is it complicated?" Tech demands, stepping forwards. He's clearly very, very short on patience right now.
"No one knows the coordinates to Tantiss. It was designed that way. But I might know how to get around that."
"Tell us now," Tech orders sharply. "We do not have time for this."
"Only if you're letting me go after this," Rampart argues.
"You are in no position to bargain," Tech replies, glaring.
"I think I am. If you agree, I'll give you what you want to know."
"Only on the condition your information is valid."
"So start talking uUnless you want to be dropped back in that Imperial prison," Crosshair adds, before Rampart gets the idea this is a situation he can try to bargain with.
"Now, now. No need for threats," he grumbles, "After all, we're in this together."
Together.
Sure.
As if he could care in the slightest if they ever find Tantiss or not.
"Hemlock put safeguards in place to protect the base's secret location," Rampart says, though he looks very grumpy about it, "Any ship going there must first dock at Imperial Station 003, in orbit over Coruscant, where the coordinates are transmitted directly to the navicomputer."
Well, that's not actually as hard as Crosshair thought it might be. It won't be nearly as risky going to Tantiss itself and whatever's going to happen after that. He's still not ready for that. He never will be.
**w**
Crosshair doesn't know what makes it finally occur to him when they're waiting for Echo's arrival after Phee drops them off. Maybe because Tech tells them of how Omega was kidnapped after Bracca, and she was taken here. She escaped, and this was where they came to pick her up.
Hunter was there with them then, and he wasn't, because he was in the medbay on Kamino recovering from getting an engine turned on in his face and burning half his face off.
Not quite, but close enough.
Hunter was there then, and he's not now. He's alive, and that's all that's mattered to Crosshair, but he knows the CX's. A little, but enough. He knows they're basically mindless assassins. They don't remember who they are. That's the first part of Hemlock's brainwashing. He strips them of their identities and memories.
Hunter doesn't know who they are anymore. He's never going to again.
He might be alive, but the brother they all remember is gone forever. Crosshair is still never going to get the chance to make up for any of the things he said and did to him, because Hunter doesn't remember.
Even if they're able to somehow get through to him and pull him out of there, it's still not going to be the same.
The Hunter they all knew and loved, that Crosshair came back to be with again is gone forever. He left him behind on Kamino, and he's never going to get to see him again.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean we have to be enemies."
That's always going to be the last thing Hunter said to him, because even if he's alive, he's not the same, and Crosshair still lost him. He's the one who made this happen, and he has no idea what to do about it. There is nothing he can do to rewrite the reality he made for them all. Nothing he can do to deal with it.
His Hunter is gone. And he's never going to be able to stop missing him.
"You think this is gonna work?" Wrecker asks, breaking through his thoughts.
"If Rampart is not lying, then it is likely it will," Tech replies.
"Even if it does," Crosshair points out because the others need to remember this in whatever they're about to face, "Hunter's... different now. He doesn't remember us."
"I know," Wrecker replies, deflating miserably, "But isn't there somethin' we can do about that?"
"I am uncertain," Tech replies, instantly consulting his datapad as though he can research on the holonet a thing about Hemlock's program, "I do not know what caused the memory loss but in most scenarios, brain damage of that nature is permanent."
"Hemlock erases their identities. That's the first thing he does," Crosshair replies, looking away. His hand is shaking again and he clenches it tightly, as though that would be enough to make it go away.
Tech and Wrecker are both quiet for a long pause. He knows they're thinking along the same lines that he was.
"He will never be the same again, but he is still one of us," Tech says finally.
Which is a fact, of course, but it doesn't help any of them begin dealing with it, not even Tech. There's nothing any of them can do to change this. There's no going back.
**w**
"Where in the blasted galaxy did that pirate abandon us?" Rampart says frustratedly, pacing back and forth outside the station as they wait for Echo. "And why are you keeping me here?"
Seriously? They already talked about this.
"Would you prefer we return you to the Imperial labor camp?" Tech asks, shoving Rampart's shoulder.
He scowls at him. "We had a deal. I already told you what I know about Tantiss."
"And you will remain with us until we have received the exact coordinates of the base," Tech snaps back.
A shuttle finally flies in, and Echo walks down the ramp. "A stolen shuttle is the best I could do on short notice," he says in greeting, "The supplies we need are onboard. You really think we can trust that hydrosnake?"
"I can hear you," Rampart calls.
"I do not trust any of what he has said but we have no one else to extract information from," Tech replies.
Crosshair shoves Rampart forward hard as they head for the shuttle.
Rampart repeats the details again, which Echo confirms as best he can. Echo already brought a captain's uniform for the former Admiral to disguise himself in, which he is very cranky about.
Good.
They're going to pretend to be Rampart's security and that means their armor can't stand out like this.
Tech works on stripping their armor while they're on the way there.
Crosshair watches, watching the way the colors fade away to black except around the very edges. It's a little ridiculous to feel a strange sense of loss at watching all the colors removed but he can't help it.
He still remembers when they painted the marks on their armor for the first time. When Hunter was there to lead them. When everything was simple and they still did everything together, like they never will again.
It's been strange to see Tech and Wrecker with such different colors of armor but it almost felt like it fit better, even if it always hurt knowing that was something he never could to be a part of him. Because of his own choices. He always wondered what color Hunter's armor was but he'll never get to know. Especially now.
So maybe it is fitting that all of them have black armor now – the same way Hunter does – but it still feels like a very visible reminder that whatever they used to be will always be the past now.
Wrecker nudges his shoulder. "You 'kay?" he asks, frowning.
"Yeah," Crosshair replies, sighing. It still feels a little like a lie.
But he needs to refocus on the mission. Hunter and Omega both are gonna need him to stay focused to pull them out.
**w**
They come out of hyperspace over Coruscant and land at the orbital station, ignoring Rampart's grumbling. So far so good, but Crosshair's not very convinced it's going to stay that way.
"Wrecker, stay with this ship and be prepared to fly us out," Tech orders as they step off the shuttle together.
This is really happening. They're going right up against the Empire now and Crosshair is still terrified of how it's going to end, even if he's resigned himself to the knowledge that there's truly no way out of it.
An officer comes out to meet them, looking none too happy. "Who is responsible for this vessel? It is not on my docking manifest for today."
None of them reply. This is Rampart's job after all and he's not saying anything.
"What division are you with? These uniforms are not regulation. I asked you a question, trooper," the man snaps when no one says anything.
"Step aside," Rampart retorts, "My division and my orders are classified. If you have an issue with that, Lieutenant, then contact Governor Tarkin."
The Imperial backs off, stutting apologies and they enter the station without any further complications.
They stun the technician in the control room when they get there and Tech plugs his datapad into a port, getting to work.
Rampart paces back and forth, obviously growing increasingly frustrated. "This is taking far too long. Can you crack the encryption or not?" he demands finally.
Tech looks up sharply, obviously glowering at him beneath his helmet. "There is no encryption I cannot crack," he retaliates.
Which is right when Wrecker's voice crackles through their comm. "I had to sideline an Imperial. Someone might come looking for him."
"I will be finished soon," Tech replies, looking back down at his datapad, "I am now in. A science vessel docked in Bay 8 is set to depart for Tantiss very soon, but the data is to be transmitted directly to the navicomputer."
"Did that slip your mind?" Crosshair snarls, starting toward Rampart.
"You expect me to know technical details like that?" he whines.
"I will break through the rest of their encryptions from here, but it will trigger alarms across the station," Tech says.
They'll have to be ready then.
It's only a minute later that alarms do start blaring.
"Tech?" Crosshair demands, urgently.
It takes him another few seconds before he unplugs his datapad. "I have the coordinates."
They take off for the door wordlessly. They've barely made it into the hallway when a group of stormtroopers rounds the corner, shooting at them.
They duck back against the wall, firing back at them. But troops are coming in from the opposite side of the hall too now. They're being boxed in.
A shot nearly catches Crosshair in the shoulder and he presses back against the wall, next to Echo and Tech.
"They've found our ship," Wrecker's voice suddenly crackles through their comm. "I'm holdin' them off, but they keep coming. We're not gonna be able to get out this way."
That is not good.
They've being overrun.
Tech tells him the corridor to meet them in, above the sound of constant blaster fire, "We will find another way out."
What other way out, he still isn't certain of.
They stay where they are for now as they wait for Wrecker, trying to hold off the stormtroopers who just keep coming. There's probably some other shuttle they can still but first they'll have to get out of this alive. They've had worse odds but –
Usually Hunter was there.
Another dozen stormtroopers round the corner, only for blaster shots to catch them from behind, taking them all down. Wrecker skids into view, running over to them.
They take off through the halls again, before more stormtroopers find them again.
"There's a chance Hemlock's going to know we got the coordinates," Echo points out as they move. "And if he does, he'll be expecting an attack."
Good point.
This is why Crosshair doesn't want to go back there.
"What are you suggesting?" Tech asks shortly.
"You said a science vessel was already going there," Echo replies, "If I could get onboard, I could infiltrate directly."
"There is also a risk that you could be captured," Tech points out.
"Not if I'm disguised as a stormtrooper. And you should get there right after I do."
It could be disastrous or very helpful. He wishes Hunter was here to decide that. If he was, Crosshair wouldn't have to be worried about whether or not it was the right decision.
"Then do it," Tech concedes.
Echo nods, sparing them all a final glance before he takes off for the nearest vent, pulling himself up into the shaft.
The rest of them could probably move around a lot easier that way except for Wrecker and they aren't going to separate from him. They only make it one more hallway through the facility before stormtroopers swamp them again, coming in from both sides.
They duck up against the wall again and Tech goes over to a port, plugging his datapad in and forcibly closing all the blast doors except the one in front of them. It doesn't last long, though – the stormtroopers cut through the door before they get much further down it.
They have nowhere to fall back to when they're so surrounded.
Wrecker finally pulls out his tank, firing it down one of the halls. The blast rips through all of them, but then there's the shrieking of metal as the wall starts to collapse and cave, closing off the hallway entirely.
"Did you have to do that?" Crosshair demands breathlessly. Now they're really cornered.
"I didn't know that was gonna happen!" Wrecker whines.
"It's a tank," Tech snaps back, "What else did you anticipate would happen?"
The only way out is the vents now and Wrecker will never fit. They aren't leaving him behind. They can't back away anywhere either. They could only try to move forwards, but aside from Wrecker's tank, they're out of explosives.
Crosshair can't remember a time they were outmatched in a fight, but that was back when they were a squad, when Hunter was leading them.
The only choice they have now is to surrender. It's the only way they're going to stay alive.
The stormtroopers immediately move forward to put them in restraints as soon as they do, shoving them away. Crosshair glances around discreetly, past the desperation burning inside of him, but there's nothing they can do.
This is why he didn't want to face down the Empire.
Not only are they failing their mission but they're also captured with no way out, and at least Echo's not here anymore but he's going to be entirely on his own now, and –
Crosshair's spiraling thoughts stop abruptly when he sees where they're being led to. It's the exact same shuttle Tech got the information about. The one that's going to Tantiss.
They're being taken to Tantiss like this, as prisoners. And unless Echo is able to rescue them, there is going to be no way out for them again. This is exactly what he was so terrified of from the start. He should've known something was going to go badly. That – that they would end up failing eventually because Hunter is gone.
He just didn't think it would be at the one moment where they couldn't fail. What's going to happen to them now? Or are they going to end up in the exact same state Hunter is?
Or, he can't help thinking darkly, are their efforts to get Hunter back going to end in success, with them working together as a squad again – and all entirely mind-wiped and brainwashed like Hemlock wanted?
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