Clone X OC Week 2025 ( @clonexocweek ) - Late entry
Conflict
Author's note: This idea is for a chapter in "Wisdom Throughout Seasons". The story mainly follows the Bad Batch series but with some rewrites and many additional scenes. This chapter took place in the first act of "Juggernaut". Chun-Jin wanted to join the mission but Crosshair stopped her. They had an argument, which led to Crosshair revealing the truth. (Echo was on Pabu because he suffered from a burnout after working too hard for the Clone Rebellion, and he was ordered to get some well-deserved rest on Pabu. Also CX-2 is Tech in this story)
Rating: SFW
Word count: 1040
Warnings: Talks of illegal experiments and torture done on clones, mentions of planned physical assault and/or murder, trauma, imprisonment, brainwashing.
As Chun-Jin was approaching Phee’s ship, the Providence, Crosshair stepped in and blocked her path.
“Crosshair, what are you doing?” she asked.
“You stay here and wait for our return,” he commanded her.
“And why? Is it because I used too much of my Force power and got knocked unconscious by Tech?” she questioned him, feeling slightly hurt that he did not believe in her abilities. “I know I have severed my connection with the Force for like a year, but I have resumed my training for like a month or two now. I can use the Force better now, and I can still fight with my lightsabers well, so I should go. Besides, I need to make sure that Tech can snap out of the conditioning. When I was using the Force on him, I sensed that something was changing in his mind. Like he was trying to break free. I believe that the Force has given us a second chance with him, and this is our chance to make things right.”
Crosshair remained unconvinced by her explanation.
Chun-Jin sighed but she was not giving up. “I’m part of the Bad Batch. I have the responsibility to rescue Omega and Tech, and that means I also have the responsibility to look after you, Crosshair. Since you don’t want to go back to Tantiss due to your trauma, it will be best that you stay on Pabu instead, and let me go with them!”
“I’m also part of the Bad Batch, and it is my responsibility to rescue them because they are my brother and sister. I also have to look after you, and that means you must stay on Pabu,” Crosshair countered as he narrowed his eyes, trying to hold back his anger.
“Why are you doing this, Crosshair? Why are you pushing me away?! I can help you! I really can!!!”
“Because I can’t lose you!!!”
Chun-Jin’s eyes widened as she was startled by Crosshair’s outburst. Crosshair laid his head down as he couldn’t bear to look into her eyes. His right hand began to shake violently as painful memories began flooding his mind. His left hand gripped his right wrist as he tried to soothe the tremors.
“Hemlock knows that you are with the Bad Batch… and the Clone Rebellion…” Crosshair began his explanation. “So he has created more… specialized troopers…”
“What do you mean?” Chun-Jin was confused. She noticed his right hand shaking, and she used both her hands to hold onto his. She breathed in, putting herself in a calming state of mind. As she breathed out, Crosshair could feel a calming wave of emotion flowing into his right hand and then throughout his body. Gradually, the violent tremors became milder. “Are you saying that there are more brainwashed troopers like what Hemlock did to Tech?”
“…Yes. And… two of them were your troops. And another two were your Master’s troops.”
“…Do you remember their names?”
“…Poise… Frenzy… Brawl… and Dealos,” Crosshair stated their names one by one. Chun-Jin knew the clone troopers. Frenzy and Brawl were part of her clone battalion, while Poise and Dealos were part of her Master’s clone battalion. All four of them were trained to use special weapons for battle. Moreover, she used to practice her lightsaber skills by sparring with them.
“I was in the program… I used all of my might to resist the brainwashing… but… I saw them… gradually losing their memories… they don’t remember any good memories with you and your Master… and they eventually forget who they are… they don’t remember their own names, their brothers… it haunts me ever since…” he stammered repeatedly as he recalled the traumatic memories on Tantiss.
Chun-Jin clung onto his right hand tighter to remind him of her presence, so he would feel safe. “It must be tough… to see all of those things…” she comforted him. “…So you suspect that Hemlock has chosen them because of their connection with me?” Chun-Jin speculated.
“Yes…” Crosshair admitted. “I think Hemlock wants to hurt you… or worse… he wants to kill you. He probably knows that you can’t use the Force anymore…”
He tilted his head slightly higher so his eyes could lock onto hers. “When I was imprisoned there, I kept worrying about you… I kept hoping that you would stay safe and avoid capture. When I managed to escape there with Omega and Batcher, I didn’t want to tell you the truth. I don’t want you to risk your life to save them… Who knows what Hemlock has prepared to capture you or kill you? He would have set up a trap for you, knowing that a Jedi’s compassion is their weakness.”
Crosshair placed his left hand on top of Chun-Jin’s hands that were holding his slightly shaking right hand. “Your Master ordered me to protect you. I have to continue following his order even though he's gone now. I don’t want to fail him. And I don’t want to fail you.”
Chun-Jin stood there in silence. She tilted her head downwards as she was in deep thought, and Crosshair nervously waited for her response.
“Crosshair, I am not mad at you for hiding the truth from me,” she reassured him when she looked back up at him. “I do appreciate your efforts of trying to protect me. But I am not going to be alone facing Hemlock’s brainwashed troops. I always have the clones fighting beside me.”
Chun-Jin shifted her hands, and now they were holding both of Crosshair’s palms. “We will work together to rescue Tech, Omega and the other clone prisoners, including the brainwashed ones. Together,” she declared as she locked her eyes on his.
Seconds passed. Crosshair finally gave her a small nod, a gesture that approved her involvement in this dangerous mission.
“Wait, did you say about rescuing Tech? Is he alive?!”
Chun-Jin and Crosshair turned to the direction of the voice, which belonged to Phee. She was standing at the loading dock of her ship, with a shocked expression plastered on her face. Hunter, Wrecker and Echo were peeking from the corner of the opening.
“Looks like we owe her a really long explanation over the ride,” Chun-Jin sighed.
Clone X OC Week 2025 ( @clonexocweek ) - Late entry
Quality Time
Author's note: This idea is for a chapter in "Wisdom Throughout Seasons". The story mainly follows the Bad Batch series but with some rewrites and many additional scenes. This chapter took place in between "Extraction" and "Identity Crisis". Since Chun-Jin is a Jedi that has joined the Bad Batch and the Clone Rebellion, this means that Hunter and Wrecker would not need to seek Fennec for help, and Ventress would not appear. This story shows Crosshair and Chun-Jin discussing about emotions using metaphors, which is a common occurrence in their conversations.
Rating: SFW
Word count: 1157
Warnings: Mild swearing; mentions of death, abuse, animal cruelty, physical assault and near-death experiences.
Crosshair noticed that Chun-Jin was standing at the beach, with her arms crossed as she stared into the blue ocean of Pabu. She had remained there for some time now. He quietly approached her from behind.
“Alone with your thoughts?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she immediately replied without turning around.
“Mind if I join you?”
She did not respond. Crosshair sighed and he stood by her side, crossing his arms like she was doing. The sound of waves crashing on the shore created a calming, soothing atmosphere.
“It’s so strange…” Chun-Jin finally broke the silence as her eyes was fixated on the ocean. “Looking at the ocean… its surface looks so calm… yet deep down… there are many beautiful creatures… and monsters of the deep…”
Crosshair grunted in agreement. “The ocean has a complex ecosystem,” he bluntly stated.
“Each creature has a part to play… and they affect one another and the world… just like our emotions and thoughts…”
“Well, now you make it sound like we shouldn’t go fishing for our dinner.”
“Don’t people love fishing for good memories and feelings?” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Hmph. Not for me,” he responded with a slight bitter tone in his voice.
“Kamino, right?” she guessed as she gazed back at the ocean. “I bet those memories became bitter when you got stranded there.”
“They became more… bittersweet,” he corrected her.
She looked at him once more. “You do care about your brothers and sister. And me.”
“Mmm-hmph,” he grunted.
They continued to stare into the ocean. Chun-Jin turned around to look up at the large walls that were built around Upper Pabu. “The walls have been fortified since the last sea surge. The people here understand how dangerous nature can be,” she pointed out.
Crosshair also turned his gaze to the sea walls. “When you mean ‘nature’, do you mean natural disasters or something else?” he asked.
“You get me,” she smiled. “I was talking about emotions.”
“Ah, yes. The primitive nature of emotions, am I right?”
“Yes,” she responded and turned to him. “It’s so strange… I always build walls around my mind, making sure that emotions from the outside won’t flood my mind… and that my own emotions won’t break out and hurt people. Of course, the walls have failed a few times, and I have to rebuild them. But you, Crosshair? What I see in my vision about you… you are an island in the middle of the ocean. There are no walls around your island, just a lush jungle in the middle of the island, where the animals can roam freely. Like… why? Why you don’t have barriers in your head?”
Crosshair began to give some thought to her question.
“Chun-Jin, when things get emotionally charged, I choose to rise above my emotions. It is like a mental isolation, like you have done on a regular basis. But I am still connected to how I feel, and I do react to it,” he explained.
Chun-Jin tried to understand him. “…Do you ever feel shame… for acting on how you feel?”
“No,” he replied almost instantly.
“What about killing the Imperial Officer… who left Mayday to die?” She was hesitant to ask that question as she did not want to make Crosshair uncomfortable.
He hesitated for a few seconds. “It was the right thing to do at that moment. But I do regret my actions,” he eventually answered.
Chun-Jin nodded, accepting his answer and not wanting to continue that traumatic topic further. “So you think it’s better to let your emotions roam around and wreak havoc everywhere?” she asked him.
Crosshair narrowed his eyes at her. “You perceive that the primitive nature of emotions as a bad thing. Why is that so?”
Now it was Chun-Jin’s turn to give some thought to his question.
“Because the primitive nature of emotions can lead one to the Dark Side,” she revealed. “I almost gave in to it…”
“Chun-Jin, you have to accept that emotions are naturally primitive, and because of that, you shouldn’t cage them,” he advised her. “I remember what Omega told me about Batcher. She said that the lurca hounds were locked in their cages most of the time. They were mistreated, that’s why they were so aggressive. Nevertheless, Omega managed to tame Batcher, and she freed her. Against all odds, Batcher survived in the wild, and she is happier now on Pabu, able to roam around this island freely.”
As Crosshair narrated the story, his right hand began to shake. His left hand instinctively grabbed on his right wrist, trying to stop the tremors. Chun-Jin noticed his shaking hand, and she gently placed her hand on his. She closed her eyes as she channeled the Force through her palm. Crosshair felt a soothing wave of emotions coming from her touch, and the tremors he felt from his right hand subsided.
Chun-Jin opened her eyes, and she found herself staring into his brown eyes. “Are you saying that… I should let what is naturally primitive… to be comfortable of being… primitive?”
“Perhaps,” Crosshair replied. “I was a prisoner, thinking that it’s hopeless to escape. But when Omega broke me out, I remembered letting out all my pent-up rage at the TK troopers. I was not holding back at all.”
“Of course you are not holding back at all. You are already a huge ball of rage, and being locked up for months is enough to push you to the limit,” she stated.
He smirked. “That’s the point, Chun-Jin. You can’t always lock away your emotions, and you can’t always block other people’s emotions. They always turn ugly and destructive.”
“So what do you want me to do now?” she questioned him, feeling slightly frustrated. “I don’t feel comfortable letting people in. What if my intense emotions hurt them? Like what had happened in the past?”
“Well, you can let me in. I can help you,” he offered with a small smile.
“Seriously? I bet your skinny ass that you can’t handle my emotions,” she sneered at him while crossing her arms.
“First of all, I am surprised that you said a bad word. That’s wonderful progress coming from you. And secondly, I am certain that I can handle your powerful wave of emotions,” he stated confidently with a smirk on his face.
“Oh yeah? Prove it.”
“I have survived two drowning attempts, and I have also survived being buried by an avalanche. And bearing the snowstorm without my helmet on.”
Chun-Jin pinched the bridge of her nose, not knowing how to respond.
“Is that sufficient proof, my dear?” he asked her in a teasing tone of voice.
She sighed. “I think so, yeah.”
“Good. Now let’s get started, shall we?”
Crosshair immediately took Chun-Jin’s hand and pulled her towards the steps.
“Hey! Where are we going?” she asked, startled by his sudden action.
Clone X OC Week 2025 ( @clonexocweek ) - Late entry
Intimacy
Author's note: This idea is for a chapter in "Wisdom Throughout Seasons". The story mainly follows the Bad Batch series but with some rewrites and many additional scenes. This chapter took place at the end of "The Cavalry Has Arrived". After concluding that the Mission to Tantiss was a success, Chun-Jin could finally rest. Crosshair offered her some comfort. (They officially become a couple a few days after returning to Pabu).
Rating: SFW
Word count: 381
Warnings: Death (but it's Hemlock)
As the shuttle entered into hyperspace, Chun-Jin could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Hemlock was dead. The clones were saved, including Scorch and the CX Troopers. Tech was back, and Omega was safe at last. Project Necromancer was foiled, and with all the databanks destroyed, it felt that their ordeal was over for now.
Chun-Jin took a glimpse at Crosshair, who was leaning against a large cargo container with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. She smiled at the sight of him resting. She then let out a small yawn and she began rubbing her eyes.
Crosshair opened his right eye. The crosshair tattoo made it look like he had set up his crosshairs on Chun-Jin. “You look exhausted,” he pointed out.
“Yeah…” Chun-Jin groaned as she continued rubbing her eyes. “I guess using Force Stun continuously on 5 clones without break is a bad idea…”
“You did what you had to do,” he assured her. “It’s the best non-lethal way to stop them in quick succession.”
“Mmph,” she grunted in agreement.
“You can take a nap here with me,” he suggested as he pointed at his lap.
“R-Really?” She scratched the back of her head while averting his gaze.
“If… if you are comfortable with it…” he stammered. He did not want to push her, but he sought out her presence for she had the ability to chase his nightmares away.
She noticed his pleading eyes, and immediately knew that he was in a vulnerable state. She even sensed his thoughts through the Force. “Do you need me to chase your nightmares away?” she asked him in a compassionate tone of voice.
His lips curled into a small smile. “You get me,” he replied.
She smiled back and approached him. She gently sat on his lap and leaned on his chest. “After everything we have been through, I also need your presence to ensure a good rest,” she explained.
He grunted in agreement. He then wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his chin on top of her head. Not long after, they both dozed off.
Tech was walking around the ship, trying to check on Crosshair and Chun-Jin. He stumbled upon them, cuddling as they slept.
Since when they are a couple? Tech thought to himself.
Clone X OC Week 2025 ( @clonexocweek ) - Late entry
Future
Author's note: This idea is for a chapter in "What Comes After Spring". The story is post-s3 Bad Batch, and it focuses on the Clone Rebellion and the characters settling down on Pabu after the end of the Clone Rebellion. This chapter shows Crosshair and Chun-Jin making plans for their upcoming wedding. (Tech and Phee are already married in this chapter, and Crosshair never lost his hand because Chun-Jin fought back the CX Troopers)
Rating: SFW
Word count: 708
Warnings: Some flirting, kissing.
Crosshair was busy tapping away his datapad as he sat at the rocks close to the beach. Chun-Jin approached him from behind. “I see you are busy about something,” she remarked with a smile.
“Yes, it’s for our upcoming wedding,” Crosshair replied in a slightly annoyed tone of voice.
“What’s bothering you?” she asked as she took a seat beside him.
He sighed. “I don’t know whether I would want a large wedding,” he explained. “I mean… a large wedding sounds great. It is the day we get to show everyone that we officially become husband and wife. But… I hate interacting with guests.”
“I understand that. But don’t worry, I am sure that my excellent mood during the wedding day would make you less grumpy and more tolerable towards the guests,” she chuckled.
“Hmph, sounds delightful,” he was amused.
Chun-Jin’s eyes fell on Crosshair’s datapad. “Can I see what you have planned?” she questioned. Without hesitation, he handed his datapad to her.
She read through the notes displayed on the screen. “Crosshair, these ideas are similar to Tech and Phee’s wedding months ago,” she commented.
“I know, I am just taking references…” he stated while scratching the back of his head. “I just want our wedding to be perfect!”
Seeing how embarrassed Crosshair was, Chun-Jin gently put down the datapad and held his hand. “Crosshair, our marriage is more important than our wedding day. You don’t have to make it perfect, because all we need is each other,” she reassured him.
Crosshair calmed down and gave her a small smile. Chun-Jin smiled back. “Instead of copying other people’s wedding ceremonies, how about we make our own? I know some interesting wedding traditions from my homeworld that we can include for our wedding,” she suggested.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I am listening,” he smirked.
“On Haiekon, there is a wedding tradition called ‘the Door Games’. It is held by the bride’s family and friends, and it is done in front of everyone. The purpose is to test the groom’s loyalty and commitment to the bride.”
“Hmm, sounds like an ego boost to me.” His smirk grew wider upon learning this tradition.
“The bride’s family and friends will usually give three games for the groom to play. The first game is usually a pop quiz to test how well the groom knows his bride. The second game usually makes the groom eat a few food samples with different tastes to show that he is willing to endure the ups and downs of marriage. The third game could be anything, so for you, Crosshair, it would be a sharpshooting test.”
“Well, my shooting hand may not be in the best condition anymore, but my eyes are still as sharp as a vibroblade,” he confidently said as he examined his right hand, which was still shaking slightly.
“Want me to make the game easier for you? They are just games. The bride’s family and friends never take the games seriously as they always intend on letting the groom take the bride,” she suggested, hoping that Crosshair would not be embarrassed if he did not manage to hit the target in the first try.
“Are you kidding me? Make it a challenge for me. Like the hardest challenge for me!” he exclaimed, feeling pumped up. “I will show everyone how much I understand you, and how much I am willing to endure for you, and nothing shall stand in my way to your heart!”
“Okay, but don’t say that I warn you,” she rolled her eyes playfully while crossing her arms.
Crosshair chuckled. He picked up his datapad and started tapping. “I’m adding the Door Games for our wedding day,” he stated with a smile. “It would be great.”
“I’m glad that you think that way,” she replied with a smile too.
He turned to look at her. “I can’t wait to marry you,” he said and planted a quick kiss on her lips.
“For what? So we can finally share a room together?” she teased him with a tilt of her head as she looked at him.
“Heh, it’s more than that,” he corrected her with a smirk.
She smirked back and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
Clone X OC Week 2025 ( @clonexocweek ) - Late entry
Okay, I didn't plan on doing this but then inspiration hit me a bit too late. I learned that late entries are accepted until 23rd February, so I hope to catch up.
Introduction / First Meeting
Author's note: This idea is for a chapter in "The Tales of Haiekon". This story takes place during the Clone Wars, featuring my OCs Jedi Knight Chun-Jin Hui, Jedi Master Wei-Yang Gang, and their clone battalions. Both Jedi hailed from Haiekon, a mid-rim planet that housed a rich biodiversity. Many of its plants had healing properties, anti-aging properties, and connections to the Force. The Republic Science Corps built its lab there to carry out various experiments and research (Dr. Hemlock would appear but my Jedi OCs and Clone OCs would never met him in this story).
Chun-Jin has Force Empathy, which allows her to sense people's thoughts and emotions. However, other people's intense thoughts and emotions can overwhelm her. To make things more difficult, her own intense emotions and thoughts can affect the people around her. Not wanting to hurt others, she keeps her emotions mostly hidden, and she mentally blocks other people's emotions and thoughts.
Chun-Jin also has a unique way of seeing Force Visions. Instead of seeing the actual people and places, she sees "living metaphors". She tries to interpret the visions to understand what they mean.
This story took place some time after the Bad Batch arc in the Clone Wars. This is when Chun-Jin meets Crosshair for the first time.
Rating: SFW
Word count: 2456 (this is longer than I expected)
Warnings: Being chased by a wild animal; implied (almost) drowning
Master Gang, Commander Krone, Chun-Jin and Captain Gen stood in front of the Havoc Marauder that had just landed. “That’s a very dangerous landing maneuver,” Captain Gen commented with concern.
“At least they made it on time,” Commander Krone replied without looking at the captain.
The ramp opened, and five clone troopers in unique armor stepped out one by one. They took off their helmets as they approached the Jedi Generals, Commander Krone and Captain Gen.
“Generals,” the clone that wore a red bandana and spotted a skull tattoo across half of his face greeted Master Gang and Chun-Jin.
The Jedi Generals bowed down to the five clones, which surprised them.
“We bow down to people who are willing to help us, regardless of status and position,” Master Gang explained with a smile upon noticing the clones’ confusion. Chun-Jin also pulled out a small smile.
“Generals, this is Sergeant Hunter,” Commander Krone introduced the clone wearing the red bandana. He then introduced the rest of the teammates to the Generals. “The one with the scomp link is Echo; the one wearing goggles is Tech; the big guy back there is Wrecker; and the one with a crosshair tattoo is Crosshair.”
Master Gang nodded. “Welcome, Clone Force 99. I am Jedi Master Wei-Yang Gang, but you can call me General Gang,” he introduced himself. He then placed his hand on Chun-Jin’s shoulder. “This is Jedi Knight Chun-Jin Hui. You can call her General Hui.” Chun-Jin nodded at the five clones.
“We are currently dealing with an overwhelming number of droid attacks across the planet,” Master Gang explained. “I have requested Commander Krone to call for reinforcement, and he has called for you five.”
“You can count on us, General! We will finish the droids in no time!” Wrecker exclaimed with excitement.
Master Gang smiled at the clone’s enthusiasm. “Alright, then. Let’s move out!” he ordered.
As Clone Force 99 marched behind the Jedi Generals, Commander Krone and Captain Gen, the close proximity began to give Chun-Jin strange images in her mind. Since she was the closest to Hunter, her mind conjured a mountain where its peak was obscured by white clouds. The blue sky stretched endlessly, and below the mountain was a lush grassland, where grapevines grew in abundance. Vines were even growing around the mountain, trying to reach the peak. She was amazed by the beauty.
Chun-Jin blinked her eyes to snap out of the vision. Curious about the other members, she shifted her focus to Tech, who was busy tapping on his datapad. Her mind immediately conjured a new vision. She saw darkness enveloped her, and then she noticed sparkles. She took a closer look and found that the sparkles came from precious gems. The darkness was suddenly illuminated by the endless sparkling gems. She gasped in wonder at the sight of it.
A shadowy figure appeared out of nowhere, which startled Chun-Jin. She noticed that this shadowy figure spotted a pair of white wings, and it looked like he was searching for something. Once he located the gem he was seeking, he pulled it out and examined it. He turned to Chun-Jin and began to approach her. Upon noticing her nervousness, he showed her the sparkling gem in his hand, encouraging her to touch it. She carefully approached him and placed her hands on the gem. The shadowy figure held onto her hands, and he suddenly took flight, bringing her with him. She let out a yelp. The darkness dissolved and now the surroundings were enveloped by a bright light. Chun-Jin saw the winged figure was no longer a shadow, but a winged figure that spotted heavy white armor.
She blinked her eyes, snapping herself back to reality. Her sight fell on Wrecker, and a new vision appeared in her mind. She found herself in a dark room. Suddenly, a spotlight shone down on her, and more spotlights were activated consecutively. The lights shone down on various helmets, armor pieces, blasters, explosives and heavy artillery lined up between her in seemingly endless rows of shelves. She was fascinated by the extensive collection as she walked along the path. Then, she noticed that the shelves now held various droid parts as if they were trophies. She found the sight slightly unnerving.
As she reached the end of the path, she found that the dark room led to a white room. When she entered the white room, she spotted various explosive patterns with bright colors on the walls, ceiling and floor. It looked like glitter bombs had been set off in this room. As she walked further into the room, she saw colorful Tooka plushies and different types of food scattered across the floor. She also noticed droids that were positioned as statues and they were painted with bright colors. She felt that this white room was an art studio.
With a blink, she was sent back to reality. She decided to take a peek on Echo. A vision took over her mind, and she found herself standing in front of the crater of an active volcano. However, she did not feel any unfathomable heat emitting from the crater. Instead, it was surprisingly warm and cozy. She looked down from the edge of the crater, and found a glowing orange light at the bottom of the volcano. She jumped into the crater and used the Force to ensure a safe, controlled descent towards the bottom of the volcano.
Once her feet touched the ground, she found herself standing in front of the orange glowing light. She slowly walked towards the light, and found that it was a burning flame on a round, open hearth. Near the hearth, she noticed a mat, an empty bowl, a big wire rack, a basket containing loaves of bread, a pot of soup, a teapot and a cup. It looked like the hearth was used for cooking.
Suddenly, a loud banging of metals erupted across the area, which caught her attention. She followed the noise, which was coming from a tunnel deep into the volcano. She entered the tunnel, wondering where it would lead her to. As the banging sounds became louder, the temperature of the tunnel began to rise. Chun-Jin placed her palms on her ears and pushed forward. When she finally exited the tunnel, she found herself inside a workshop. As she wandered around the area, she realized that the intense heat she was feeling came from an open furnace that was heating some metal ores. She carefully walked around multiple stacks of books on the floor, not wanting to topple them and startling anyone who was working here. She noticed that the walls were covered with blueprints of battle plans, armor, weapons and mechanical parts. As her eyes fell to the table, she was surprised to find cookbooks and plenty of written recipes scattered across the surface. At the corner of the workshop, she saw a figure banging a metal piece with a hammer. She took a closer look at the figure, and her eyes widened at the sight of its prosthetic limbs. The figure suddenly turned his face to look at her. She could see the fire in his eyes, burning so intensely that she swore that it could melt any metal, yet she did not feel any fear.
The figure and the workshop disappeared from her very eyes, and Chun-Jin found herself back to reality. She caught a glimpse of Crosshair walking ahead of her and towards Master Gang. She suddenly experienced a vision and she found herself in the jungle where the trees had grown so high that sunlight could barely reach the ground. She trekked through the jungle, and she could hear the croaking sounds emitted repeatedly from the crows above the canopy. A deer appeared in front of her. It stared at her curiously. She carefully approached the deer, not wanting to startle it. She extended her hand, wanting to pet it. Before she could, the ground shook violently. The crows flew away in groups and the deer bolted. Chun-Jin was left confused until she saw a giant wild boar approaching her and it was emitting a deep growl. The beast had bloodshot eyes, thick fur and sharp tusks. It immediately struck fear into her.
Upon realizing that she was in danger, she started to run away, and the giant wild boar started charging towards her. The beast trampled the thick roots and foliage, and toppled down trees that stood before its path. A ray of sunshine shone through the jungle, showing a clear path for her to escape. As she dashed towards the light, she heard something was fired. As she was running, she gasped as multiple golden arrows were flying pass her, and one arrow barely flew pass her cheek. The arrows pierced the wild boar’s fur, while the one arrow that nearly hit her managed to strike one of the beast’s eyes. The creature cried in pain and it stopped chasing her. Chun-Jin let out a sigh of relief, knowing that she was safe for now.
When she sprinted out of the jungle, she was greeted with the sight of a sandy beach and a blue ocean that seemed to stretch out endlessly. Sensing that the wild boar was not coming out of the jungle, she decided to take a stroll along the beach. As she observed her surroundings, she suspected that she was on an island located in the middle of the ocean. Suddenly, strong winds began to blow against her. She noticed that black clouds had gathered around the horizon faraway from the island. Lightnings flashed amidst the dark clouds and not long later, thunder rumbled across the surroundings.
Chun-Jin wondered if she should take shelter in the jungle, knowing that the wild boar would hunt her down once again. The memory of being chased by the beast sent shivers down her spine. Lost in her thoughts and emotions, she failed to notice that a large tentacle had creeped across the sand and upwards to her hips. When she finally took notice of the strange feeling around her hips, it was too late. The large tentacle immediately tightened around her hips and arms, and it swiftly pulled her into the ocean. She took a deep breath before she hit the water. As she was dragged deeper into the ocean, she struggled to break free but to no avail. She tried to use the Force to pull her lightsabers that were secured at both sides of her hips, but the grip of the tentacle was too tight on her hips, making it difficult for her to pull her weapons out. As the ocean began to turn dark, she came face-to-face with a giant squid, whose tentacle had bound her. She looked into its eyes, and she felt that it was staring into her soul, which made her uncomfortable. She struggled again, but it was no use. Her vision was becoming a blur as she began to lose her strength.
“General Hui?” a smoky voice snapped Chun-Jin out of her terrifying vision. She turned to see Hunter, who had a concerned look on his face. “Are you alright? You seem stressed.”
“Uh… yeah, I am alright. Don’t worry about it,” Chun-Jin replied. She took a deep breath, trying to forget the vision she had seen. She turned back to Hunter. “Thank you for your concern, Sergeant,” she added. Hunter smiled back at her.
What was that? Why did Crosshair give me such an… intense vision? I have to fortify my mind. Don’t want to be distracted during battle. Chun-Jin thought to herself, feeling concerned by what she had experienced just now. She started to envision herself stacking more stone bricks on top of a wall, ensuring that her mind would be well-guarded from external influences like other people’s intense thoughts and emotions.
Meanwhile, Crosshair was walking beside Master Gang, which piqued Commander Krone’s interest. “I thought you would stay beside your Sergeant,” he told the sniper.
“The older Jedi General wields the highest authority. As a clone trooper, it is my duty to protect General Gang,” Crosshair replied.
Master Gang smiled. “I appreciate your loyalty, obedience and protectiveness, Crosshair. But I would prefer that you follow General Hui instead,” he stated. “She was my student, but I treated her as my daughter. She became a Jedi Knight a few days before the war began. The transition was quite difficult for her, but she had managed well.” He turned to Crosshair. “She still needed help, and that is why I want you to protect her.”
Crosshair was silent. Master Gang smiled and added, “that is an order, Crosshair.”
“Yes, General,” Crosshair responded and gave him a nod. He then walked towards Chun-Jin.
As the sniper got closer to Chun-Jin, she experienced a vision where water was seeping through the gaps in the stone wall. The floor began to flood in a rapid pace. Thinking quickly, she used the Force to push the water back into the gaps. She then pushed harder to secure the stones in position, blocking the water from the other side. She breathed a sigh of relief when the vision ended. She turned around and was slightly startled to see Crosshair walking beside her.
“Oh! Crosshair! I thought you are with General Gang,” Chun-Jin blurted out. She cursed herself for losing her serious composure for a second.
“I was. But General Gang has given me a new order: to protect General Hui,” Crosshair answered.
Ugh. Great. She groaned in her mind. Among all the members of Clone Force 99, I have to be paired up with this guy.
The sniper noticed her silence. “Disappointed?” he teased her, hoping to get a rise out of her.
Silence once more.
“…No,” she finally responded.
“I’m not convinced,” he replied, feeling amused.
Chun-Jin rolled her eyes, annoyed by his antics. Crosshair instantly took notice of it. “You know, it’s rude for a Jedi General to roll her eyes around her clone troopers. You are acting like a misbehaving Padawan.”
Chun-Jin took a deep breath, trying not to lose her cool. She turned to face the snarky sniper. “Just keep a distance away from me, okay? For everyone’s sake,” she requested, and then quickly added, “that’s an order.”
“I am afraid that I can’t follow your order, General,” Crosshair explained in a slight teasing tone. Chun-Jin swore that he had a smirk underneath his helmet. “General Gang is older and wiser, and he has more experience than you. His order overrides yours. Besides, you should stay close to me, so that you won’t be gunned down by those droids.”
“Ugh, fine,” she sighed in frustration and defeat.
