Chapter 9 - Go On and Chase Us (1:6)

Author's Note: This is for the square "snuggling" on the Clone OC Bingo. :D

~ Amina Gila

From there, everything explodes into chaos. I draw my bow, firing at the approaching droids, and lose track of everyone else amidst the chaos of trying not to get shot. It's a bit thrilling, though minorly terrifying without my brothers right beside me.

Everything seemed fine until I feel a dull throbbing in my head. Burning. Something –

Echo is yelling at Wrecker to get to the main control panel, to reboot the system. Wrecker doesn't sound happy.

Something's about to happen.

My gut flips, and I drop down, crouching against a railing, panting. There's a dull throbbing ion my head that doesn't feel like my own, and my vision is blacking out at the edges. I lower my bow, turning it off so the light doesn't get the droid's attention, if they track by sight anyway.

I drop my head against the rail, closing my eyes and breathing in, surrendering to the violent, stormy currents.

I see myself, energy-bow raised, fingers clenched over the handle. 'mega's standing across from me, eyes wide with fear, and – and –

"Good soldiers follow orders," Wrecker's voice is in the background, and I see him on the platform by some control system somewhere. He's mumbling out a desperate string of no's and his hand is pressed to the side of his helmet.

And there's flashes of something, blaster shots and more that I don't understand and –

And then there's hands, someone holding onto me, and I feel myself jerking and reaching for my knife –

It vanishes, and I drop my bow altogether, clinging to the railing as I gasp for air. Stars, what was that? Why was I – what were Omega and I doing? I glance at my bow again, suddenly not wanting to touch the thing again. I couldn't have been about to hurt her, but something was happening, was wrong and it – I –

Wrecker. He's...

I scramble to my feet with a gasp, snatching up my bow despite how badly I don't want to touch the thing. "Wrecker?" I call into my comm. There's no answer. "Hunter, something's happening to him. I'm going to find him."

"Be careful, kid," his voice crackles back, and I hear his worry.

"I'll be fine. Could still use that grappling hook, though." I miss my blaster, no thanks to Rafa who I still want to punch for that. I also wish I could actually use my knife. I glance around the factory, making out the platform area I saw in my vision and take off instantly.

Minus the part about how I nearly got shot by droids a few times, well, I make it.

Somehow.

Wrecker is laying on the ground when I get there, unmoving. My heart skips a beat, and I dart over to him, shaking his shoulder. "Wrecker?"

"Good soldiers..." he mumbles, entirely unaware of his surroundings, and I wince when I catch the rest of his words. Crosshair said that on Kamino, and I don't know what it means that Wrecker's saying the same thing. Is he okay? Is... this something about his chip? Is that possible? Please, no. I can't lose him, too.

"Wrecker, wake up!" I shake his shoulder harder, desperation flaring up inside me. I need to know he's fine, that this – that it doesn't mean anything. He's still not moving, and I smell smoke and burning. It's like when he was shot back on Kamino – did he get shot again?!

Panic is building inside me, hot and desperate, and I reach out, tugging his helmet off. I know it's not wise in action but like... I don't know what else to do. Omega's told me before that stepping into someone's line of vision makes them focus on you, and she does that to keep me calm. Something about focusing on a person instead of surroundings, something, and she did that to me way back when this all started. "Wrecker." I drop the helmet beside him, bow reattached to my back again, hand on his shoulder.

Come on, come on, wake up, look at me, something –

He lets out a sort of growl-groan, head turning a little towards me, though his eye is wild, unfocused.

"It's okay," I try. I wish Omega was here. She wouldn't sound like a babbling idiot. "You're okay, the – I'm here. The droids are gone. We'll be fine, we –" What am I even saying? I sound like an idiot.

He blinks at me, half unseeing, but some of the haze is clearing. Uh. Okay. I guess I'll keep rambling like an idiot.

"Wecker." I try shaking his shoulder again. "Come on, they need us. We're still here; we need to move. The droids – are – are you okay?" Stupid question. I am so dumb sometimes.

He groans, twitching away and pressing a hand to his head again, other hand clenching.

I have no idea what to do. I'm panicking enough that I can't think straight. "Wrecker, come on." I don't think clocking him over the head is a good idea, but like. I have no idea what to do. "Come on, wake up." This is such a dumb thing to call Hunter over, though I'm still panicking. I don't even know what happened to him.

He groans, pushing himself up. The shot doesn't look too bad, but I could be wrong. "Hey," Wrecker supplies, rubbing his head and snatching up his helmet. "You okay?"

"Are you?" I ask anxiously, reaching for him. He presses a hand to my back and tugs me against him. I throw my arms around his neck, clinging to him. Something tells me that I could've just lost him, the same way I lost Crosshair.

"I'm fine, kid," he promises, patting my head, and I snuggle closer, trying to just breathe. Something else is wrong, though.

I don't want to touch my bow again, but whatever. Rafa stole my blaster, and I'm still about to throttle her for it.

"They need us," I say, pulling back, staring up at the perpetual-screaming face on his helmet. My comm beeps, and I answer it instantly. "We're fine," I answer instantly.

"Good," Tech's voice replies, tone clipped, "Because we could use your assistance."

"Huh. I guess we can still be useful to something." I look up at Wrecker, who scoops me up.

"Hang on," he tells me a bit gleefully, and I swing myself onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck again.

The fall is fun. It always is. I squeal the whole way down, jumping off the moment Wrecker lands and starts firing at the approaching droids. "I got tired of you guys having all the fun," he cackles.

I jump off, rolling and drawing my bow, taking shelter behind him and firing at the droids. My aim's far from perfect, but it still works.

**w**

Don't know what they meant they needed us. The other girl – Trace – or Tech or someone or everyone decided it was a brilliant idea to reawaken the battle droids and send them out at the police droids. Which is funny to watch, but we don't have much time.

The droid gets shot, obviously, because Trace insisted on carrying it herself. I pick up my blaster again – I'm still of the mind to shoot Rafa but like. That wouldn't serve a purpose – and we run aboard their ship.

The doors close, and we take off.

"Whoever Cid's buyer is isn't gonna be happy," Omega says, dejected.

"Let me get this straight," Rafa snaps, "You knew how dangerous the information on the tactical droid is, but you didn't know who you were giving it to?"

"Guess what? It's not our problem, nor is it yours," I snap back, glowering.

"We're being paid to acquire and deliver, not ask questions," Hunter replies.

"Our contact needed that information to fight back against the Empire. They're trying to help people and make things better," Trace says, and I stare. Huh. Apparently, they can be nice. Sometimes? My respect for her skyrockets. Wait. There are actually some people brave enough to Actively fight the Empire? Sweet. Immediately, my mind jumps to Anakin, but I force the image from mind. He's probably still out there, but like, there's nothing we can do about that.

"Why aren't you fighting for the Empire? Isn't that what you clones do now?" Rafa asks.

"They're boring," I deadpan, "Just like you."

Omega gives me this look that I genuinely cannot read.

"Not all of us," Hunter responds. "We're different."

"Yeah, I've heard that before," Rafa replies, disappearing into the cockpit where Wrecker's lounging in the pilot seat.

They... know other clones who defected? Maybe we're not as alone as I thought.

Rafa and Trace talk to Omega, and to Hunter, right after we land, but I back off, standing in the center of the platform. The others have already boarded the Marauder, and something's wrong. Everything else is somewhat zoning out around me, and all I can focus on is how something is about to happen.

I wave goodbye at Trace, anyway, but there's something –

I See it before anything else, someone in the shadows, finger lingering on the trigger.

"Hunter, duck!" I yell, reaching for my bow. He does, right on time for a blaster shot to whiz over his head.

Stars, that could have hit him in the head. Now is not the time to think about how I just saved his life.

Omega lets out a panicked gasp, whipping around and drawing her bow. The shot fires again. I shoot back, wildly, in time to see someone in black and orange dodge behind something.

We can't get to the ship, or she'll – no.

"Get to the ship," Hunter orders, drawing his blaster.

All I can think about is how I lost Crosshair, and I can't – I can't leave him. I can't lose him. He's everything to us, our leader, our –

I duck into a roll, reaching for Omega and scrambling for the ramp either way, because I have to get her to safety, first. Hunter knows what he's doing. 'mega doesn't, not really.

A shot strikes the ramp, and I jump back with a yelp. Omega drops down, shielding her head with her arm.

He fires at her again, ducking into a roll when she steps out of hiding from behind the structure she's against, firing back at him.

There is no cover except what she has. This is a hangar bay. Hunter doesn't even have cover, and we...

Wait. Wait, what we need to do is draw her fire. She's not after me, and I'll be fine. "'mega, stay down," I order. "I'll draw her fire." Where are the others?!

I take off, bolting for the edge of the hangar, trying to circle around her and box her in. Hunter is shielding Omega now, ducking the bounty hunter's shots.

It works 'til it doesn't. I skid towards her, and I hear Hunter yelling my name, but I can't think about anything else. I can't just stand here, and watch. The bounty hunter fires at me instead, and I duck against the wall with a yelp.

It's so fast.

She practically tackles me, ripping my bow away, and grabbing my arm. She has her blaster out, aimed at me, and I jerk against her grip fruitlessly.

"Let. Her. Go," Hunter hisses, and my breath catches – it's happening. I saw this once, right before Pantora. He's standing now, Omega mostly hidden behind him. The others are coming, finally, appearing in the door.

The bounty hunter's blaster is trained on me. I can feel it. "Hand over the kid," she replies smoothly, "And I'll let her go. She's not the one I'm here for."

I jerk against her fruitlessly. "You're not touching 'mega!" I twist, trying to glare up at her. I need to get out of here, too – the knife. Right. There's that.

"What about you, kid?" she asks, looking at Omega, who somewhat creeps out from behind Hunter now. "Come with me, and I'll let your friend go."

"Sister," I hiss, because that's important, snarling when I see how terrified she looks.

"Is she?" the bounty hunter replies, "I'm not paid to ask questions. Hand her over."

"I have a better idea," I snap back, stomping on her foot. She jerks back a little, grip unfaltering. "Maybe you should take me instead and I can dye my hair blonde." Sounds nice. Then I could drag Crosshair back. Even if he's kicking and screaming the whole way.

My hand wraps around the hilt of my knife. I need to be careful though, because her blaster is trained on me, and her intentions are obvious. She's using me to get them to stop firing at her. I just need to make her let go. I draw the blade mid-talking, using my arm to shield the visibility of what I'm doing. It makes noise when I draw it, and I have to cover it up.

I stab backwards, ramming the blade into her thigh, and feel no sympathy for her whatsoever when she screams.

Her hand loosens, and I duck forwards into a roll, jerking away and running for the others after snatching up my bow. The others are shooting now, and the bounty hunter must've scrambled for cover. Wrecker scoops me up the moment I'm close enough, carrying me aboard. I wrap my arms around his neck, still holding my knife – it's a little bloody and I don't really know what to do about that. Omega's a second behind, and Hunter takes up cover while Echo and Tech scramble to fly us out.

We don't relax until we're out of the hangar, heading back for Ord Mantell.

"How did she find us?" Omega queries shakily.

"We saw her first on Pantora," Echo replies, "Could she have tracked our ship here?"

"It is possible," Tech replies, "In which case, she knows we have been to Ord Mantel. I will run a scan."

"Do it," Hunter orders, standing, "Vision, knife?" He extends a hand to me, and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"What for?" What, did I screw up again?

"You have to keep it clean. It's easier to do that before the blood dries."

Oh. Yuck. Yeah. I forgot about that.

He takes it to the 'fresher, and Wrecker finally sets me down again.

Omega throws her arms around my neck, clinging to me. I wind my arms around her waist, pulling her tight against me. I press my face to her neck, exhaling shakily. Now that we're safe, the adrenaline crash is hitting me hard. My hands are freezing.

The fact that there's bounty hunters after Omega has never seemed more real. They could hurt her, would hurt all of us to get through to her. And knowing my sister, she would do something just as stupid as what this bounty hunter had asked of her. Turn herself over to protect the rest of us. She's selfless like that.

And I'm afraid of what it could mean.

She's my sister, and she deserves to be safe. I need a way to make sure that doesn't happen.

Omega presses against me, sniffling. Wrecker hovers nearby. "Are you okay?" Echo queries, turning to us.

"Yeah," I nod, still not letting go. I kind of just want to curl up in the gunner's mount with her and Lula, but I don't want to be alone, either. We came so close to losing someone today. More than once. If I hadn't Seen it right when I did, Hunter would've... The bounty hunter was gonna kill him, and just like that, it would've been over. I don't think I've ever really thought about death before, not until now.

I could handle the thought of myself being... gone, but not them.

Still, though. I can't annoy Crosshair if I'm already dead unless ghosts are real.

Hunter comes out of the 'fresher a minute later, calling my name. I reluctantly let go of my sister, though I feel the absence of her warmth instantly. He hands my knife back, and I slide it back into its sheath.

"Thanks," I mumble, glancing up at him. I'm half expecting him to say something, to tell me that I should've listened and gone aboard instead of trying to attack her, but he doesn't.

Omega grabs my hand again, and I lean into her side, though I'm still watching Hunter. I need to talk to him sometime, and I don't know when or how. I don't want my sister to overhear it, either, which means I'll have to wait a while. Don't know how long, but it can't just... wait.

"There is a tracker on the hull," Tech says, approaching Hunter. "I suggest we land to remove it."

"We'll have to drop out of hyperspace," Hunter replies, "We can't let her know we're going back to Ord Mantell."

Yeah, that wouldn't be ideal if we'll be working with Cid for a while. Hunter gave the information to Rafa, so... we're probably going to have a problem with her, period. Either way, I'm too tired to worry about it.

"Anyone think we should go back to the Ordo moon to get it off?" I deadpan, which isn't fully a joke, but something has to lighten the mood.

"No, thanks," Echo replies fiercely.

Huh. Guess he hated it as much as me.

I sort of just feel... cold. I'm not entirely of the mindset to think about anything in much clarity right now. Hunter nearly just died, and I can't get it out of my head. And I knew that bounty hunter would show up, but that doesn't mean I was ready. Stars, I really just want to sleep, but I'm afraid to. I keep dreaming, and I miss when I was able to just sleep normally, and dream sometimes, but not nightmares. Not violence. Is that all that's left for us?

I want action, but not – I don't want to lose anyone else. I can't lose Omega. She's all I've ever had. I need to make sure she's safe.

We settle in the gunner's mount together, both sapped of energy compared to earlier, and it hurts to see her so... scared. She tugs me down next to her, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, pressing her hand to my side so I can curl up against her. I rest my head on her chest, relaxing in the warmth of her body next to mine, half wishing I was still tiny enough to curl up in her lap.

Even if constantly looking up at everyone is annoying.

After a heartbeat, I feel her cheek pressed against my hair, feel the way her breathing evens out as she calms.

How am I supposed to find a way to keep her like this? I'm... not the same to her as her brothers. If something like that happened again, if there was genuinely a risk of someone hurting me... I know what she would do. And it's stupid because I'm the one who's trained and knows what I'm doing.

I wrap my arms around her waist, and we shift a little to curl up half on top of each other on the floor. With me half sprawled on her, anyway. I drag Lula into the pile, careful to keep the droid away from us. We don't need any more hair scenarios. That was a nightmare.

In a couple years, I'll be fully grown and far too big to snuggle with her like this. Omega won't be. Not as fast as me, and I need to – to keep her safe. Protect her like she did me. It was partly thanks to her that Nala Se kept me, that I didn't get another purpose or just dumped off with the regs.

Don't know what I'd have done if I was.

I've never seen our brothers affectionate with each other like this before. Wrecker's rambunctious playfulness doesn't count. I still think they used to be, though – have always thought Crosshair was at least. He used to be. 'mega would hold him whenever they were sleeping at the same time. It... makes me wonder if he used to do that after, too, if he and Hunter ever slept like this. Can't quite imagine Crosshair curling up with anyone else.

Certainly can't imagine him, or anyone, doing that with Tech. That's traumatizing.

I'll probably never know, though. ... okay, that's not true, if we can find a way to get Crosshair back.

Why does it have to be an if? Why is no one talking about it? Why isn't that...

I glance up, feeling someone watching us more than anything else, and my eye catches Hunter standing not too far off, just... watching. I can't read his expression. Something wistful and longing in one. Pretty sure that answers that.

He turns away when he sees me watching, and I hear the others talking, but tune it out.

It's... a while later when we've landed and dealt with the thing, then taken off and are back in hyperspace to Ord Mantell. I don't want to bother her, but I have to talk to Hunter, and I've been dozing in and out a bit – okay, I probably slept a lot longer than I thought I did – and I'd like to get to feel calm about it.

The others are sleeping, except Hunter who's up in the cockpit. I slowly wiggle my way away from my sister, who cracks her eyes open at the movement. I freeze, mumbling an excuse about requiring a 'fresher trip – I am so lucky no one else is in there right now – which isn't entirely untrue before scrambling off and tugging the curtain over. I'll move it when I come back.

I tiptoe into the cockpit where Hunter's in the co-pilot seat, arms crossed over his chest. Do they never take off their armor? "Hey," I whisper, shuffling, contemplating climbing into the next seat, but I don't really want to, either.

"Can't sleep?" he guesses, spinning the chair around to face me. There's a strange heaviness lingering in his eyes, and I bite my lip.

"About earlier, I..." Where do I start? "What the bounty hunter said to Omega," I supply awkwardly. "I was afraid that she'd... do it. And I need to know that we'll keep her safe."

He sighs, and stars, he sounds so tired. "Even if she had wanted to, I wouldn't have let her," Hunter assures me, "You're both part of the squad, and none of you are any more important than the other."

"'mega is," I tell him fiercely, because I know it's true. She's different than we are, even, special, and it – she deserves to be treated like that. I know he feels it, even if he's denying it. "If – if something like that happens again, if it's a choice between Omega and I, I want to know you'll choose her."

He stares at me, lips parting slightly, as though half uncertain what to tell me. I can't blame him for it, either, because it's kinda out of the blue, but I need to know. She is everything to me. I'm just... annoying. (Does Crosshair miss me? I have no idea. Don't want to think about it either. Probably not – he seemed to find me more annoying than anything else.)

"She's important," I continue when he doesn't answer, and it's taking too long. I need to hear it, to know. I'd believe him if he said it, because this is Hunter, and he wouldn't break his word. "You know that. I'm a soldier. I know what it could lead to, what could happen. I understand that, and Omega – she doesn't deserve that. The action is... what we've always wanted, but the – I need to know she won't be hurt from it. I know we'll protect her, but it came so close today, and I just..." I trail off, huffing out a sigh, searching his face desperately.

There's a tightness in his expression now, and I can't help feeling like I screwed up again.

I'm not entirely expecting it when Hunter reaches out, laying his hand on my shoulder, but I lean into his touch instantly, pressing a tiny hand over his. I need it – him – and I...

"Vision," he says slowly, "That's never gonna happen. We'll protect you both."

"But it almost did!" I kind of really want to cry right now. "Please? Promise me. I need to know."

I didn't see anything wrong with asking, but now that I see the look on his face, I hate myself a little for having to ask it of him. I don't know what else to do, though.

"Okay," Hunter concedes at last, "I will."

I want to hug-tackle him just for that, and if it means lifting the heaviness in his eyes, but now probably isn't the time to get emotional. Instead, I just nod firmly, the way my brothers do sometimes. I squeeze his hand, snuggling a little closer up against his leg and yes, I know there's nothing to feel but armor.

Still though.

I badly want to hug him.

"For the... um. Earlier, I know you told me to get on board and I was ignoring your orders, again, but I..."

"It's alright," he assures me. "If you hadn't reacted as fast as you did, I wouldn't be here."

I shudder. "I don't want to think about it."

"Was the 'fresher thing just an excuse?" he queries, faintly amused, though there's still a lingering pain in his eyes.

"Yeah. Well, not really." I don't want to, but I back away, anyway, because if I don't scramble, someone else might steal it. Wrecker, presumedly, broke the lock system on the door ages ago – apparently, that's a thing? Kamino didn't have those.

And getting walked in on is weird. Okay. Only if Tech does it. (He did that once, and I yowled him back out.) Or Echo (not as if that'd ever happen – he's too big on personal space), because I'm not quite as familiar with him. I grew up knowing about the others, but Echo was... a new addition that I'm still getting used to, even if I love him the same as the rest.

I glance back at Hunter again, hovering, uncertain, mostly not wanting to leave him here alone, but I don't know what to say to him, so I take off to the back.

'mega's waiting for me.

(I miss Crosshair. I used to wonder what it would mean in our months apart, how we'd do that, how we'd sleep on the Marauder. I wanted to think I could still sleep next to him, even if 'mega had to pile in too, but he's not even here. He's... just gone. Does he miss us? Is he okay?)

Omega's sleeping again when I curl up next to her, dragging Lula in between us and wrapping an arm around her to grab my sister's hand.

Somehow, I still don't know what it means to be home. Won't, until we reach that undefined point in the future where our whole family is together.

Final Notes: Reviews are always appreciated! ^-^

Come hang out on Discord (delete spaces), discord . gg / nqSxuz2 or find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes)

We've got a YT channel for tributes! (delete the spaces) youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA

ALSO: We have SW gift request forms for General, Anakin-Clones-centric, and Bad Batch fics. :D (delete spaces) bit . ly / CourtesyTrefflinFicRequests