Chapter 5 - Don't Need No Savior (1:2-3)

Author's Note: I stupidly thought the drama wouldn't start just yet? xDXD

~ Rivana Rita

PS. This is for the square "confessions" on the Clone OC bingo. :)

~ Amina Gila

There are so many things I could say to that, but I don't even – I'm supposed to be one of them. It's the only place in the galaxy we belong.

"Why?" Omega asks, hurt flaring across her face. "Did we do something wrong?"

"You need a family," Hunter replies, "They're good people. They'll give you the lives you deserve."

"You – you can't just get rid of us," I protest, desperation washing through me, and I don't even care how frantic I sound. I probably should. "I'm one of you! I –"

"What does it take to be one of you?"

He never did confirm it.

"We've – it's the only life we've known," I continue, and I really, really just want to cry. I don't know why he's doing this. "We're a squad. We – we're supposed to stick together." Or does that not matter, because Crosshair ditched us first?"

"But... we want to stay here," Omega objects. Her voice is shaky, desperate.

"It's all we've ever had." I can't even care that every shred of the desperation I feel is leaking into my voice, or that I'm nearly pleading, because this – it's all I've ever had. "It's the only place we belong!"

"Quit holding up the line," a reg snaps in the background, and we need to move, but I can't go, because this is all we've had, but staying will draw attention, but I can't just walk away.

Hunter glances up, then back at us. He's reluctant, but he's still doing it. "You have to go, Vision, Omega. It's for your own good." He stands, pushing us towards the line.

... I probably need to get my weapons hidden, actually.

"But –" I start protesting, a million things on my mind. "I – I can't go there like this," I blurt out. "My blaster is..."

He glances towards Cut and Suu. "I'll take it," he says, reaching out, and I want to scream because Hunter gave this to me,and it's all that marks me as one of them. I can't – can't – give it up.

I do anyway.

I still have a comm though so maybe – maybe I can still contact them.

"And – and I didn't have time to tell you, but I told Echo, and I dreamed about someone after us. They were chasing us. We need you, Hunter."

He hesitates, indecision warring on his face, before sighing. "Vision, if someone's after you, it's because of us. Go," Hunter says, nudging me forwards. I want to scream. Or cry. Or both, but Omega's moving, and I follow her instinctively. At least we're still together.

I pull out my knife, crossing my arms, tucking the blade up against my body, hidden under my arm. Is it dangerous? Little bit, but I don't quite care if I stab myself right now.

"I just lost Crosshair," I manage finally, itching to grab 'mega's hand, but I can't. "I can't lose them too."

We file into the line with Cut and Suu, and just wait. And watch. I can't look back, even though Omega keeps throwing glances back. Omega's arm wraps around my shoulders and I lean closer, pressing against her.

"I know," she whispers back, "We have to go back."

I look at her for the first time, the world blurring over, and I want to wipe my eyes, but I can't well do that without revealing my knife. "How?"

The regs are saying something, and people are moving, and the others are going inside, and I follow numbly, but I don't care for anything except Omega and how terrified, confused, and lost I am. I've never been anywhere without Omega or our brothers. I'm not about to start, either. I like Cut's family, but I don't know them, and they're not my family.

I nearly jump when I see Suu touch Omega's shoulder. "Ready?" she asks, blue eyes soft and kind in a way that reminds me so much of Anakin. She's not him either, though.

"I can't leave them," I blurt out, pulling back. "I – they're our family."

Hunter's the only one who can help me with my abilities, him and Echo, because Hunter's are somewhat similar with so much to feel – in my case See – and Echo understands Jedi and the Force. And they need us in the aftermath of losing Crosshair. It's so simple, and I don't know why Hunter doesn't get that.

And yes, I was mad at him earlier, and I'm very mad at him now, but that doesn't mean I – that I don't want to see him again. I need him. He's – he took care of me, and Omega is the only person who did that but it's different with Hunter because he's our leader, our sergeant, and it's his role. I take care of 'mega just as much.

"We have to go back," Omega agrees, backing away.

"Good luck," I nod, and the next bit is honestly a blur. I don't really remember it, but then we're moving, heading back to the Marauder. I can hear the shooting, and I pick up the pace a bit, winding our way across the port.

My knife is useless, because I hardly know how to use it, but I scramble over the barriers, snatching the blaster of a fallen reg. The shootout's nearby, and they're using live rounds, but I have never used a live round and for all that I hate the regs, I do not want to kill anyone. I can See it, as their lives fade away, and it's twisting something inside me, chipping it away, until I'm freezing, and I can't do that.

I flip the blaster to stun and start firing. My aim is good, at least.

"Wait for us!" Omega calls, waving. Up ahead, Hunter and Wrecker are on the ramp, shooting. Echo and Tech must already be on board. Hunter darts down the ramp instantly, and I'm almost impressed by how fast he reacted, though I don't stop stunning the regs I can see long enough to get a clear aim at before Hunter pushes us to cover behind a crate. I duck down, dropping my blaster, and he passes my own back to me.

"Get to the ship," he orders, touching my back again, nudging me forwards, his touch light and gentle but firm and so him that I want to cry.

I just... don't get it. I need them, and he...

We scramble aboard, Hunter and Wrecker covering, before they dart inside, and we take off. I feel awkward though, out of place. My knife and blaster are in place again, though I ought to get something better to fit and hide them with. I... don't want to pretend nothing's happening.

I climb into the chair behind Echo's, and Omega behind Tech's, watching as we take off. Once we're safe, Wrecker moves to play with Gonky who just honks at him. No idea if he's scared or just talking, though.

I close my eyes, tilting my head back against the seat, sighing.

I could've lost our entire family. Everything that matters to me, the one place that I am, and I – I don't understand why, but I just want to curl up and cry. I tuck my knees up to my chest, and just... be. Hunter's still in the back, and I don't really want to see him right now anyway, and Echo and Tech are distracted, so there's no one around to see mee cry.

Omega pats my shoulder. "I'm going to talk to Hunter," she tells me. "Do you wanna come?"

I shake my head. He just... yeah, no.

"Okay," she says, moving back.

Wrecker, unsurprisingly, also known as the best brother in the universe, is the next person to notice. His hand is enormous, really, but when he touches my shoulder, I lean into it instantly. "You okay?" he asks, worry coloring his tone.

I shake my head, sniffling.

"What's wrong?" He sounds freaked out.

I launch myself into his arms. Wrecker makes a sort of yelp, but he catches me, pressing a hand to my back and holding me in his other arm. It's kind of like how Omega used to carry me when I was little, back when I was still small enough for her to hold me.

"Hunter," Wrecker says a few moments later, during which I just cling to him and cry, the million emotions I've been drowning under since Kamino finally breaking out, piece by piece. "What do I do?"

"You need to hold her," Omega tells him. I hear footsteps, like she's getting closer, but I bury my face against Wrecker's armor and refuse to look. It's hard and cold and not exactly comfortable, but I... I don't even care. I just want an assurance that they'll stay, that we won't be apart again. I need them.

I don't think that made Wrecker feel any better, but I hear him moving farther back, away from the others. "Kid?" he asks awkwardly, patting my back. I always forget how huge his hands are.

"Mm?"

He makes another freaked-out sound, climbing into the gunner's mount and sitting on the floor and awkwardly setting me down beside him. "Here," he offers, passing me Lula, and I don't hesitate to curl up around her. Crosshair made her for Wrecker and – and I miss him. But then again, Hunter's not the first person to make me question if I belonged here.

"Am I one of you?" I blurt out, sniffling, wiping my eye. "Do I belong here, Wrecker?"

I don't think he's the best person to ask that. "Y-yeah," he replies immediately, patting my head. "Of course."

I wish I felt that simple about it. "Hunter was gonna send us with Cut and Suu," I explain shakily.

Wrecker freezes. "He – what?"

I hear Hunter's audible sigh, and I almost feel bad for telling Wrecker that. Why didn't he already know? He would've wanted to. "Vision –"

"I don't want to talk," I reply firmly, tugging my knees close to my chest, hugging Lula tighter. To his credit, he doesn't push. Wrecker lingers a bit longer before leaving himself. Omega's hovering nearby, but I don't think she has a clue what to say to me, either.

I don't even know what I want to be said.

Of all people, it's Echo who finally drops by. "Vision?" He sounds uncharacteristically gentle.

I've been brooding here long enough that I should get up and try helping, because the ship was damaged and they're trying to repair it right now, but I don't know if I even can help. I don't have the energy to get up and do something, either. "Yeah?"

"Hunter told us what happened," he says quietly, crossing his arms, standing next to me, "And truth is, we don't know much about raising a child. Certainly not in hiding. He should've told you in advance, but there wasn't time."

I glance up, a bit tiredly, but I understand what he's saying. I didn't grow up with them, and I'm not trained properly or their age. There really isn't much I could do. "I thought I was part of you." I don't know how to explain what upset me so much, and it doesn't help how I suddenly feel almost stupid for being upset. "I don't know what I..." I give him a desperate look. "Did I screw up? I didn't mean to yell at Hunter earlier, I just..."

"It's okay," Echo assures, "You were scared. It's the first time you've been in a life-threatening situation, you and Omega both. The first time is always hard."

I look up at him, surprise washing through me. "Was it for you?" I can't imagine that.

He smiles, though it's bitter. "A little bit." He glances back towards the hold. "You should talk to Hunter," he tells me, "He made a mistake, but as our sergeant, not all choices are easy."

There are sacrifices in war, but I want to be able to fight. It's who I am. It's what I was made for. I just nod to him, and Echo moves back towards the front to get back to work. I watch him go, then scan the ship for Hunter. Guilt swells up instantly. I shouldn't have snapped at him, not when I know he's struggling, too. He must've panicked when he saw us out there. I would've for my brothers, too.

I glance at Lula, setting her down propped against the wall before climbing down the steps. Omega's sitting by Gonky now, looking at something on a datapad.

"Hey," I say quietly, walking up to Hunter, who's still doing something at one of the computers. I feel almost as nervous as when I first saw him. "I'm sorry for yelling at you," I supply finally. "That was mean."

Hunter turns his seat towards me, and he looks half surprised, half amused. "It's fine," he assures, "I guess we've all got a lot to learn."

"Yeah." Part of me wants to reach out and take his hand, but I'm hesitant, afraid. "I... I dunno what to say."

"If you want to stay here, then you will," Hunter tells me, and there's an earnestness in his eyes that sooths me somewhat. "It's not that we don't want you here; it's about what you need. Omega's not a soldier, and I thought she would be safer with Cut. I know what she means to you, Vision. I wasn't going to separate you."

The thought makes my gut twist – I was apart from 'mega for a month back when I first met our brothers, and it was maddening. I spent a ridiculous length of time sporadically wanting to cry because I missed her so much. I couldn't even sleep. "Thank you," I tell him, a bit grudgingly, but I... it's the right thing to do. Echo's right that he doesn't always make the right choices. No one does, but that doesn't take the hurt away. "I just..."

Hunter reaches out, touching my shoulder, and I should probably look at him, but I still can't meet his eyes. Hey, in my defense, he looks spooky in blue lighting. Honestly, half his face is black, and the lighting makes the rest look way too light. "I'm sorry for doing that to you, Vision. I didn't realize..."

I just nod, not trusting myself to talk. I want to tell him it's okay, but it's not, even if it hurts a little less. "Does Echo need help fixing the ship?" I ask.

Hunter throws a glance towards the cockpit, squeezing my shoulder. "I'm sure he could use the help."

I nod to him, running off to find Echo.

**w**

Turns out I'm not much help. I spend a ridiculous length of time bouncing around trying to help, but Echo's just grumpy, and we need Tech, who's ignoring us both. Then, predictably, just when I'm thinking nothing else could possibly go wrong, we get yanked out of hyperspace.

Which Tech maintains is absolutely, completely, one-hundred-percent normal and okay. "We're not dead so we're fine", basically, and I just laugh at him, but strap myself into the seat behind him while we crash.

It's fun, even if Wrecker screams the whole way down and Omega panics.

We're searching for a replacement capacitor – why is there only one on board when they can be damaged by a tiny little blaster shot, Tech? – when Omega drags out Crosshair's weapon's kit with a much too hopeful "is it in here?"

And every single person in the ship just goes dead still.

My hands clench, nails digging into my palms as I stare at it.

"What?" Omega asks, freezing.

"'mega," I say, blinking a few times as the gnawing, emptiness and grief flares to life full force. "That's Crosshair's. It's his weapon's kit."

The silence that settles over us is heavy and awkward. Wrecker's the first to break it. "Fine," he grumbles, crossing his arms, "I'll say it. I kinda miss him." Kinda isn't enough to cover the obvious grief they all share. Echo and Tech are being short and snappy, and frankly, Hunter isn't much better, even if he's better at hiding it, because he always is. Now that I think of it, that's probably a good part of why he wanted to send us off, because Crosshair didn't believe in him, and...

If Omega started questioning something I did, I wouldn't be able to do it, either.

"He shot you, remember?" Echo throws back, and I flinch.

It's Crosshair they're talking about, not some enemy, not some reg. He's one of us, our brother, and he – he just left us, like we were nothing to him. And he hurt Wrecker. Like. I could totally understand it if he hurt me, or even Tech because he is very annoying sometimes, but I'd still want to smack him in the face with the hilt of a vibroknife for it. But Wrecker? He's just – he's Wrecker, and he's a big baby. How could someone hurt him?

"Ha! I sure do," Wrecker replies, rolling his shoulder. "That hurt!"

"It's worth noting the possibility that Crosshair's actions were influenced by his inhibitor chip," Tech interjects, and my eyes widen a bit.

Suddenly, the "It's not your fault; you can't help it" makes sense. A horrifying amount of sense, but I don't know what these things are or what they do.

"It can do that?" Echo demands incredulously, jerking forwards. Hunter crosses his arms, looking at the floor. He's so good at keeping his face blank, but I can somehow tell how he's feeling, anyway. The guilt and grief and self-recrimination he's feeling are obvious.

"That's what it was designed to do," Omega replies quietly.

"So, it wasn't Crosshair's fault?" Wrecker asks, and he sounds so hopeful it breaks my heart.

"I knew something was wrong with him," I admit quietly, "I could See it. Something about him was..." How do I explain this? "When I See him, it's like fog. But when I was last there, it was... weird," I supply finally. "It was sort of smoky and black. That's not what he's supposed to be like."

"Well –" Omega starts.

"Look," Hunter cuts in. "Debating this won't fix the ship. Right now, we need to find that capacitor and get off this rock." Whatever he feels about it is carefully hidden, and I want to ask, but that's for later. I need to figure out exactly what this means, first.

Echo and Tech go outside with breathing masks, and Omega and I steal a couple to play with in the cockpit. "Can you tell me about these... chips or whatever?" I ask as we climb into the seats. Omega's in the co-pilot seat, and I steal the pilot's seat, because I very badly want to fly someday, and Tech will probably relieve me of my head if I try. He's not around right now, though, so I'm safe. "Like, how do they do this or whatever? What do they do? Is it like... mind control or something?"

"Yeah," Omega replies, fingering the edges of the mask, "It's... it controls them if it's activated."

"Why'd only his work?" I ask, because that's what I need to know.

"I don't know." I can't make sense of the look on her face, though it's obvious she's hurting, just thinking about him, and I feel bad for mentioning it, but I need to know. "It's in the same part of his brain that's enhanced, I think. Nala Se wasn't sure their inhibitor chips would work, because of how different they were."

"But Crosshair's did," I mutter, feeling sick. He shot Wrecker, and he couldn't stop himself. That's – it's – I don't know, but it makes me feel sick. I can't even imagine it. Is he alright there alone, all by himself? What's been happening to him? Is he okay? Is he scared? Does he even know what's happening? Stars, no wonder I was dreaming about him. We have to help him.

The "I'm not going anywhere" echoes through my mind again, and I groan, reaching up to tug a hand through my dark curls.

"We gotta help him," I say finally.

"Yeah, we do," Omega agrees.

I suddenly freeze, another thought occurring to me. "Wait, wait, does that mean we all have one? Or –" I'm cut off when the lights in the ship suddenly blink off as it powers down. I squeak, looking out the viewport.

Something smacks against the hull. It's big, and I can hear the clanging, and then I see it on the viewport itself. Omega outright shrieks, not that I blame her, and our brothers are spilling into the cockpit a second later, after the thing's already taken off.

"Some kind of creature," Omega explains, raising her hands to demonstrate, standing in her seat. "About this big, with a long tail. It ran off with the part."

Echo's at the controls in a heartbeat, powering up the ship. Something flashes on the screen. "She's right," he says, turning around. "The capacitor's gone, and that was our last one."

"Well, we gotta find it, right?" I ask, jumping off my seat. We cannot get stuck here forever. That would be stupid, and we don't have anyone to ask for help.

"We will," Hunter assures, "Tech, what are we looking at?"

"The creature is most likely an Ordo Moon Dragon," he explains immediately, "A species that feeds on raw energy. It was probably drawn to the capacitor's electric charge."

"Well, that would've been good to know beforehand, Tech," Echo throws back, annoyed. What's with them arguing suddenly? I thought they were besties...?

"You two get those other systems online," Hunter says, "Wrecker, stay here. I'll go after the dragon and get our part back."

"I'm fine," Wrecker tries arguing, though he's holding his head.

"You okay?" I ask, frowning.

He groans. "I must've hit it in the crash."

"You're staying," Hunter says firmly, reaching for one of the masks.

"I can go," I volunteer, "I can help you track it."

"Me too," Omega adds.

"No, that thing could be dangerous," Hunter argues.

"We're part of the squad now, too, right?" Omega objects.

"Hey," I grumble, a shred of my frustration and worries from earlier resurfacing, "I can still be useful."

Hunter looks to Echo and Tech, who return it, before turning back to us. "Alright, kids," he agrees, a tad reluctantly, "Just stay close."

Omega jumps off the seat, putting her mask on and running past them towards the ramp. I follow, skidding to a stop and waiting a moment for Hunter to show up.

"So," I say cheerfully as we step off the ramp, "Tracking time?"

"Tell me if you see anything," he replies, scanning the dark ground and crouching. He's tracking now, and I don't understand how his abilities work exactly, but I have no clue if he tracks them by scent or what. His brain's a bit different, though I don't know how exactly. He has electro-senses, whatever exactly that means.

The wind, despite the lack of breathable air, is strong, whipping past us, blowing my hair across my face. It's tugging at my sleeves and skin and the air feels weird. I don't like it, which ought to be encouragement to get back to the ship fast. But me, unlike Hunter, can only track the future, not the past, so I don't know if I'll be able to sense anything.

"What are you doing?" Omega asks, standing at Hunter's right while he tracks.

"Tracking," he replies, eyes briefly darting to her before moving forwards.

I sprint after, pausing and crouching myself when he stops, dropping my hand to the ground and closing my eyes. I can't See anything, though. "Yeah," I huff. "Nothing to see." Why am I being so useless these days?

... or maybe I always have been and just didn't know it?

"Could I learn to track like you?" Omega asks, catching up to us, and I try my hardest not to snort.

"Well, it's an enhanced skill," Hunter explains, "Wrecker and Tech, we each have one."

"And me," I add, waiving, "Though I'm pretty useless in that regard."

"You're still learning," he reminds.

"And Crosshair," Omega adds, and somehow, I have the feeling she's been waiting a while to get this conversation to happen. Hunter pauses at the name and looks away, staring stonily ahead. "You shouldn't be angry at him," Omega tells him gently, "He can't help it."

He sighs, and he sounds so tired, and way older than he ought to be. He's nine. That's... only three years older than me. "I'm angry at myself. We don't leave our own behind."

I'm about to offer a very real reminder that he'd have fried somebody if we'd stayed, but Omega beats me with a much more logical response, of course. "Then we'll find a way to get him back," Omega offers, touching his arm. "Somehow."

Hunter looks relieved, like he actually believes it somehow, and I think I do, too.

Maybe. A little bit. I had a dream one time, a long time ago. A vision flash, actually, of me and Crosshair. It was the first time in my life I felt happy, contented, and I cling to that like a lifeline, because I need to remember I'll find that place someday. That I'll find this place where... I belong. Where we all belong.

I'd try to find it again, if I knew how to make my visions come back.

I feel a bit calmer, safer, as we keep moving over the rocky ground together.

We pause by a rock together, crouching behind it. Hunter shines his flashlight onto a light I spot blinking in the darkness. It's the capacitor alright. I have no idea why the thing grabbed it if it was just gonna abandon it. That seems rude.

"See it?" he asks, stepping out from behind the rock and gesturing for us to stay put. "Wait here."

I nod, even if he can't see, eyes narrowing as he moves forwards. Something's... coming. Unease is snaking up and down my spine, coiling within, making me tense and braced for action. "Hunter," I whisper-hiss over the sound of the wind. "Careful." He's so close now, kneeling, reaching out to pick it up it and...

I see its claws first, wrapping over the giant rock in front of Hunter, before all at once, the dragon climbs over, snarling.

Hunter stills, just like Shaeeah told Omega and I to do on Saleucami when we got attacked. It must be a typical dealing-with-animals thing, but my hand is already on my blaster, about to draw it. I am not letting that thing near Hunter, even if my aim isn't exactly the best. Sometimes I hit dead center, sometimes I'm way off.

With a snarl, the creature jumps at him, and I whip out my blaster, firing, though the shot misses. The animal throws Hunter to the ground, snatching up the part and taking off. I fire after it again, hissing angrily.

Omega's moved out from our hiding place now. "It's getting away!" she cries.

I'm lowering my blaster, grumbling a "I know, I know, I can't hit anything, ever" when I realize that Hunter's mask is off and he's...

Stars, no.

I drop my blaster altogether, taking off towards him, snatching up his mask. By the time I reach him, he's already on the ground, mostly unconscious. I put his mask back on, and Omega turns it on. We hover over him, watching as the goldish light of the mask pulses in and out. I can hear his breathing, for as faint as it may be, but it's there.

I reach out, laying my hand on his chest plate, just feeling and breathing as I struggle to calm my racing heart. He'll be fine. He's Hunter, but he could have died just now. Apparently, our coming was a good idea, after all.

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