Chapter 7 - Don't Need No Favors (1:5)
Author's Note: This is for the square "freedom" on the Clone OC bingo. :)
~ Amina Gila
Everything was going perfectly and completely okay – until Hunter tells us to go back to the ship. So predictable. "Seriously?" I huff, crossing my arms. "Right now? On our first mission together? We're gonna just hafta sit out forever?"
"That's an order," Hunter cuts off my gripe tirade.
Omega looks just as grumpy as I do about it. "Yes, sir," she agrees dejectedly, and I stomp off back towards the ship while the boys move out.
This is stupid.
Not like I know enough to fly if they need an emergency pick up, anyway.
"We... can start repainting our trooper," Omega offers. "We can make her a Bad Batcher, too."
"I need to paint a skull," I decide. "I need armor myself, actually. I don't think I'll be able to convince Hunter to get me any, though."
"Probably not," Omega agrees, and we get to work. Gonky comes over to us to watch as we work on repainting her – adding a red stripe to her armor like all our brothers have and painting a white skull. My half looks terrible, even if Omega's isn't much better. I don't even know how our brothers got such cleanly painted skulls – I'm looking at Crosshair for that. It shouldn't even be possible. Most of what Crosshair does shouldn't be possible, though.
Gonky honks at us, presumedly asking something or just wanting attention. "We're making some alterations to our trooper," Omega replies, holding it out to the droid, "Now she's a Bad Batcher. What do you think?"
The droid honks its approval, and I'm mid reaching out to pat its top when I hear something.
"We found their ship," a voice says, and Omega and I freeze. We? The slavers, probably. That's not good. Echo explained they capture and sell people or something, and that's definitely not something I want to think about happening to us.
"Gonky, hide," Omega whisper-hisses, before we scramble to hide behind the seat.
The droid just locks himself down and shuts off – probably smartest.
"We hafta leave," I whisper, eyes darting around. They're looking for us, and I'm not afraid of just taking them out, but not on our ship. I need to get a clear distance, a clear shot, and a view of what's happening, first. My eyes fall on the hatch below the gunner's mount. "The hatch."
"I'll get it," Omega mouths, darting over to it.
"Check the hold," I hear someone saying, and they're coming closer. Fast.
Omega ducks through first, and I shadow a second behind, jumping onto the ground below. "Come on, we need cover," I urge, grabbing her hand and running for the towering rocky formations in front of us. I hate to leave Gonky behind with those people, but we don't have much choice.
We pause, catching our breath and I draw my blaster. The Zygerrians are leaving the ship, heading back for their speeders – I need to learn to fly a speeder sometime.
I peak around the corner, but they're distracted. They don't see me, or it, coming. Probably, we could hide and wait until they leave, but I want to do something, and we can do something. I won't let them do anything to our ship, to Omega. We can't wait until they see us, and there's something about them that just makes my skin crawl.
They Look different, dirty, and it makes every instinct scream at me to end it, so they stop hurting everything around them.
I inhale deeply, closing my eyes and raising my blaster. I can See the targets, and in that moment, I just... let go. It's a strange feeling. I fire once, then again, in rapid succession. It reminds me of how Crosshair and Tech can scan heat signatures – it's sort of like that in my mind, where everything is black except what I need to hit.
Omega's voice shakes me back to reality, and I holster my blaster. "Hunter, do you copy?" she asks, sounding freaked out. "Tech? Echo? Wrecker? Anyone?"
"Me?" I quip, moving out from behind the rock.
"Something must be wrong," my sister worries, darting to the edge of the cliff where we looked out previously, scanning with macrobinoculars. I keep watch, just in case, though I doubt anyone else will come too fast. It's her slight gasp that really alarms me.
"What's wrong?" I ask, spinning around.
"They were captured," she tells me, brown eyes wide with fear.
I snatch the binoculars from her to take a look myself, and... yeah. Our brothers – all four – are sitting with the other slaves now, in chains and all.
Nothing could've prepared me for seeing that. I lower them, hands tightening, rage bubbling up inside me. "They're held captive and treated like property," Echo had said, and that's happening to our brothers now.
I already lost Crosshair.
I've been angry before, but this is different.
"The Dark Side hangs heavily over your future" something whispers.
I stand, tucking the binoculars away, a single-minded fury overtaking all thoughts of self-preservation. What we need is a direction. If Crosshair was here, he'd shoot out the Zygerrians nearby from afar, and give them a chance to break free. But Crosshair isn't here, so we need to take that role ourselves.
"'mega," I request, turning around, "Get me that energy bow."
"What are we doing with it?" she queries, though she snatches it up from the now-dead Zygerrian by the ship and holds it out to me. I take it, the weight heavy in my hands.
"What we need," I answer, shifting its weight to my left arm, turning it on and trying to balance myself, "Is Crosshair. But he's not here." I'm gonna do this, and it'll be fine, just so I can brag to Crosshair that I do, in fact, know how to handle myself without him babysitting me. Thanks. "So, we'll do it ourselves. We don't have a rifle, so I'll have to use this instead."
"Do you know how to use it?" Omega asks.
"How hard can it be?"
**w**
Note to Vision: never say 'how hard can it be'. The answer is always the same. Very. Except with a few experimental shots – despite Omega's worries that someone might hear – I get the feel right. Our plan is simple enough, and we take off for the edge of the cliff again, scaling down and approaching from afar. The weight is heavy and unfamiliar in my arms, but it's fun. Long-range is not my thing, but it's what we need right now.
Omega... got the zapper thingy. Which is too heavy for her to hold straight, but if we need to make it work, we can.
I'm at the edge of the cliff, crouching, staying low and out of sight. I can see their leader rambling nonsense to my brothers, like they might care about these Zygerrian's stupid attempt to rebuild an empire inside an empire. I'd have words for 'em if I was down there.
I don't calculate things the way Crosshair does, I know, but I can still do this. I stand, lowering the bow and closing an eye, looking down as I rebalance myself a little. It's clumsy, but I've annoyed Crosshair enough to play with his rifle once, and despite how much he whined about it, it was kinda fun.
It was heavy though. This is similar in concept.
But I don't have enhanced sight the way Crosshair does, so I just... use my own Sight. I close my eyes altogether, breathing, and firing when I pinpoint the leader.
He's near my brothers, and I refuse to think about what'd happen if I misfired.
I hear the startled yelps from down below, the sound of their weapons turning on. I pick another target and fire, then drop down as they start shooting back.
That's Omega's cue to move in from the other side. She needs to get to our brothers.
I poke my head over the edge again, keeping down so they won't hit me. I didn't see what happened. All I catch sight of is one of them hitting Wrecker with a golden whip-like thing, and the way Hunter flinches just watching, and I see red.
I push myself to my feet, firing down a few more times before ducking back.
Make it fast, 'mega.
I can hear movement, and I know they're breaking free. There's some... crashing? Do I even want to know what kind of distraction Omega just made?
I hear something crunching, and whirl around, dodging aside as a Zygerrian fires at me. Smart – they circled around. I whip out my knife, throwing it instinctively, though it sails way off-course and clangs onto the rocks behind. I scramble backwards, reaching for my blaster, because that's the weapon I know how to use.
I fire my blaster at him almost wildly, and he dodges aside, though it stops him from firing again. Instead, he moves closer, grabbing my arm harshly and ripping my blaster away. "You'll pay for this, skug," he snarls, shoving me towards the cliff edge. I yelp, thrashing and kicking, but he's far stronger than I am.
My blaster's on the ground, and I can't reach it. I need to. I need it, to get out of here, because I don't –
Think. My brothers are down there. They can help. "Hunter," I yell, knowing he can hear me, at least that someone can hear me. The Zygerrian is shoving me towards the cliff edge, and I do not want to die like that. I can't keep annoying Crosshair or get him back if I'm dead.
I maneuver myself, twisting and grabbing his wrist to catch myself when he tries to throw me off. Someone fires, hitting the Zygerrian in the head, and he drops to the ground. I swing myself onto the edge of cliff, fingers digging sharply into the rocks. It stings, but I drag myself up with an almost embarrassing level of flailing. I was supposed to be trained for this.
Honestly.
"Vision," Hunter's panicking voice is calling through my comm, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I pant breathlessly, "Fine. You?"
"We're alright," he assures.
"I'm on my way up," Echo tells me. "Just in case. We're getting the slaves out of here, and the rest of us are going after Muchi."
"Wait, what?" I squawk. Why is there something to go after? The child was right there.
"The child we were being sent after was a rancor," Echo tells me, voice laced with annoyance. "Cid apparently neglected to tell us."
I'm only half sure what a rancor is, but okay. Sunds like some kind of animal? "Probably, it's intentional," I shrug, uncaring. "Sounds like something she'd do just to be annoying."
Echo motions us forwards, and we move out. Something's... wrong with him, though. I can't tell what – it's more an instinctive knowledge. Their body gloves cover like, half of their necks – I still think it'd feel like being strangled – so I can't really tell, but his neck is sort of... red? It's inflamed, and it looks almost raw in a few places.
What. The. What happened to him?
We're being shot at though, so now isn't the best time to worry about it.
My bow is cool, but long-range weapons aren't my thing. I don't know how Crosshair can stand it. I prefer being up close and, well, personal. I snatch my knife on the way out, and we circle around towards the speeders so we can get the other people out.
Echo and I take out the Zygerrians shooting at us – even if my aim suddenly seems only half existent – and we move forwards. Omega pauses by one of the fallen Zygerrians, snatching up his bow with her left hand. She moves it experimentally, and the bow snaps open to its active form.
"Where's the zappy thingy?" I query, sauntering over to her.
Omega makes a face. "I tried using it," she says. "Once. It misfired and hit the... animal."
I giggle. "The dragon thingy? Sweet." I wish I got to see. That is so not fair.
"Vision, Omega, stay close!" Echo calls.
Omega turns off the bow, and we take off after him. I holster my blaster to use my own – these bows really are kinda cool. Much cooler than a rifle, and I do not care what Crosshair says about that. They're pink and gold, and those are not my colors, but they're still pretty. The gold is anyway – I officially love gold. It's my second favorite color, because nothing can compete with blue.
"You gonna keep that?" I ask as we half-run after Echo and the now-freed slaves. I didn't even know slavery was a thing a few hours ago. I can't imagine what that would be like. I felt so... trapped in Nala Se's lab sometimes. I always had hope for out though – I knew I had a way out. I knew eventually I'd be old enough to start training with my brothers, and I always looked to them as my future. I knew, if I didn't annoy Nala Se too bad and if I did well enough, I'd make it out, and I could... I knew I'd get freedom before Omega ever would.
It was hard sometimes, but it was something, and after everything she did for me, I was glad to get to do something for her for once. That was half of why I survived our month apart, but I – I miss even that now. I miss Crosshair. I don't know how to function without him. I always knew we'd be together, and I had no reason to think anything else. Most of our plans are literally based around his presence, on having someone far away to cover for us, and we don't have that anymore. Maybe that's part of why I'm asking Omega this, because we need someone with long-range weapons. It's just... easier. It's important.
"Yeah," she replies, waving it experimentally, "It's cool."
Seconded. "I think it'd be easier if you did," I offer, "We –" They don't seem to like it when I mention Crosshair, so I probably shouldn't say that. "We could use a distance weapon, y'know? And I don't offer."
For the record, if somebody tries to take my knife, I will bite their head off, thanks for asking. I refuse to part with it. Ever.
"You're free," Echo says to the now-freed slaves as we reach the speeders that I badly need to learn to fly sometime. "Go quickly." The green people climb into a speeder together, including the child, who waves at us.
"Bye," Omega calls after them, waving. She's cheerful about meeting another child, and I... don't really care? I don't understand the excitement, really. I have her, and my brothers, and I don't want to worry about someone else working their way into our family or any of that. I don't want to lose them. It's hard enough for me to keep my brothers. Why would I want anything else?
"Come on," Echo says, motioning to us as he climbs into the third speeder, "Let's get back to the others."
"Can you teach me how to fly?" I ask, hopping on behind him. "Or drive or whatever?" It looks fun. It looks freeing, actually, and I'm starting to appreciate freedom far more than ever before.
"Sometime," Echo agrees as the engine kicks in, and we take off.
I squeal at the air whipping past us, rebalancing my bow so I can wrap an arm around Echo to balance myself. I've never hugged Echo before, but he doesn't seem to mind it, either way. Omega loops an arm around me, and I grab her hand. The bow's getting heavier now. My arm's probably getting tired. I need somewhere to put the thing.
It couldn't even have taken a minute, but that was fun. Echo parks us by the others, and Omega's the first to jump off. Echo swings himself off the speeder, circling to where Tech and Hunter are watching Wrecker and Muchi beat each other up in slow motion.
The red marks on Echo's neck catch my eyes again, and I don't like it. It's – did someone hurt him? How could – The collar things they were wearing, isn't it? That hurt him somehow, whatever those were. All the slaves were wearing them. I want to kill everyone responsible for this all over again.
"How long's he been at this?" Echo queries dryly.
"To long," Tech answers cheerfully, "He's losing his touch."
Wrecker ducks a lazy arm-swing Muchi throws, and they're just – what are they even doing now? Tech's right for probably the first time in his life.
I set my bow down on the back of the speeder, jumping off, though I can't tear my eyes off Echo. What happened to him? Is he okay? Were the others hurt, too? I can't really tell. I'm at the wrong angle.
It isn't overly visible, either.
"Come on, Muchi. Go to sleep," Wrecker whines as they keep flailing at each other in slow motion before the rancor just gives up entirely and flops out on her side. Wrecker drops against her, unmoving. Probably, they both need to go to sleep. Or have a drink.
"There we go," Wrecker mumbles practically inaudibly.
"She's kinda cute up close," Omega remarks, walking over to them.
I eye the rancor. Gross. She is not. "Ew."
"Nicely handled, Wrecker," Hunter praises, and Wrecker gives him a barely half-hearted thumbs-up.
... I really think he needs to go to bed.
"Tech, bring the ship over," Hunter says, turning to him. "Echo, with him."
I snatch my bow while Echo and Tech climb onto the speeder. I watch them go, frowning, still uncertain as to what happened. I want to know. Probably, they won't want to tell me. Boys can be dumb like that.
... I still haven't asked Hunter 'bout that scar yet. I need to do that. Just don't know when or how. Could've on Pantora, but I was distracted.
"You okay?" Hunter queries, approaching me when I sit down in the dirt, feeling slightly worn.
My gaze instantly jumps to him. "Fine. What 'bout Echo? They hurt him, didn't they? And Wrecker, and – are you okay?"
"We'll be fine," Hunter reassures, "This is nothing."
Yeah, that doesn't help. They got hurt and it – I can't just get used to something like that. Wrecker lost one of his eyes and I'm still not fully used to that, even if it's been true since before I knew him.
The near fall was a bit creepy, though. For a moment, I was certain I'd go splat way below. "Can I get a grappling hook?" I request. "Or a jetpack? Or floaty shoe thingies?"
Hunter actually laughs, and stars, this is the first time I've heard it in a very long time. Months. Since before the Outer Rim Sieges, in the Glorious Horror Month. "You already have a blaster," he replies, "After this job pulls through, I'll see what we can do."
Hunter freezes when I squeal and jump into his arms. The bow clatters onto the ground, and I wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him.
I've never actually hugged him before, and he's certainly never hugged me either, but he presses a hand to my shoulder, just holding me. He's our leader, and even if he's just as human as any of us, I know he'd do anything to protect us. He's able too, also, not like 'mega – I trust her to protect me, but she shouldn't have to anymore. I'm the one who knows how to fight. That's different with Hunter.
I'd do anything for him because he'd do the same for us.
Hunter makes a three second attempt to get me off, and gives up when I refuse to move, stubbornly staying latched onto him. What? I can be clingy when I wanna be. Like right now. I can't stop wondering if someone else will just... fade away. I lost Crosshair, and that isn't something I knew I had to be afraid of. Besides. Being with Hunter makes me feel safe in a way nothing else can.
Omega's looking at me with something like longing, and I don't really get it – I might've known him a month longer than her, but that doesn't mean much. Except that I can see how drastically they've changed without me.
Tech lands the ship, and I don't unlatch myself from Hunter until then, when I head aboard to find a water bottle that I shove in Wrecker's face.
He mumbles a thank you and drinks half of it in one gulp.
Well, now the chaos is over, and it's time to get Muchi back home.
**w**
Riding Muchi is sort of fun, partly because I get the honor of Hunter helping me off – okay, he didn't have to, but I wanted him to because I'm still feeling clingy. Muchi's... caretakers or whatever take her off, and I wave goodbye before turning to our grumpy employer.
"Gotta say, fellas," she remarks, "I wasn't sure you could pull this job off."
"You could have told us we were going after a rancor," Echo throws at her, irked.
"Hmm. Must've slipped my mind," she replies flippantly, pointing to Hunter with her clawed hand. "You, dark and broody. My office."
"His name is Hunter," I snap back, annoyed. We have names for a reason.
"Yeah, whatever, Snippy," she grumbles, waving a hand at me and turning back for her parlor. I cross my arms, huffing, but Hunter just nods to Echo and moves after Cid like he's perfectly used to such treatment.
I do not appreciate that at all. Is this normal for them?! It certainly seemed like it with the regs, but not... not quite like this. That's the difference with natborns, I guess. At least regs were raised similarly.
Enough to get the name thing, anyway. 'mega and I don't always call each other our names, but that's different because we grew up together and it's just... it's not the same.
That aside, I'm still holding my bow, and if we keep them, we need to practice, right? And I still want to know what happened to our brothers. Crosshair isn't here to teach us so... I try to ignore the emotions welling up inside me. He's not here, so as hard as it is, I have to get better so we can get him back.
"Can I keep my bow?" Omega asks, "It's kinda cool. I like it."
"It's not a usual weapon, but you can learn to use it," Echo assures. "I've used... Similar ones. I can teach you."
Bonus of something, right? Now we just need a space.
Hunter returns a few minutes later, and there's a tightness on his face that sets me on edge. "The bounty hunter's name is Fennec Shand," he tells us, "What she's after or who she's working for, Cid doesn't know."
"Anything else?" Echo queries, obviously catching the edge in his voice as much as me.
He sighs faintly. "Let's get back to the ship," he replies instead.
"Everything okay?" I ask, grabbing his hand as nervousness bubbles up inside me.
"Cid offered us work, but I don't trust her."
Yeah, same. She's annoying and creepy, and I want to hit her. Even if she is a bit funny, too.
I don't figure out what happened, exactly, until we go back to the ship. Tech shoos Echo and Wrecker to the back where he can scan them, and I first see the actually very-visible burns on their necks.
"What happened to you?" I blurt out, and it sounds so stupid but I – they – what? It's almost a pity I can't go back and murder every single person somewhat responsible for that, because I want to. I want to gut them. Slowly.
Tech sighs. "Backtalking slavers is unwise," he replies shortly, and I think Hunter's trying to come back to collect me, but I ignore him.
"Those things, they –" The burns look pretty electric, sort of blackish in a central pattern and branch out. I don't know how I didn't notice them first thing, but it makes me sick. "They shocked them?" I squeak.
"We'll be fine," Wrecker attempts to reassure, reaching out to pat my head. His hand is huge, and I feel tiny, and normally I'd just find it endearing but right now I want to scream. And scream.
I throw myself into his arms instead, hugging him tightly. It's nothing to fix it, but it's all I can offer.
"We're soldiers," Echo replies, "We're used to injuries. This is nothing."
It certainly doesn't look like nothing. I don't take their word for it because Crosshair shot Wrecker and nobody ever talked about it again, but – but I'm not them. I'm not used to having to watch my siblings get hurt and I don't ever want to be. We're soldiers, yes, and I know it's something we'll have to deal with sometimes, but not like this. Not when... we weren't fighting. They were hurt senselessly.
I – Stars.
I want to go back and make sure every single Zygerrian is dead. I'm going to keep that bow just out of spite, even if it's not something I really use.
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