Young Hunter finds an assumed stowaway on Kamino who forces him and his brothers to contemplate the dark underbelly of the Republic backed Kaminoan Cloning Program.
Word Count: 3.5K
Warning: Star Wars/Clone Wars canon violence, angst, brief mention of SW Clone Wars canon regarding termination of defective clones.
Hope I didn't do too badly. Struggled on where to stop in this story.
Note: This is an Alternate Universe origin story retelling (as these characters could NEVER meet up due to timeline/lifespan differences if they truly met this young in my original fic of this pairing) of my OC in the "Vagabonds" (Hunter) long fic. To find out what happens to the LittleOne in the Vagabond's universe, read Chapter 9 "In The Beginning"
“Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven....” Wreckers voice squeaked while covering his eyes.
Tech, Crosshair, and Hunter scattered STAT! They made a beeline for the door of their room, comically pushing each other out the doorway into the Kamino facility hallway.
Cross and Tech ran to the right, taking off together. Hunter could hear their matured male voices echoing down the hallway, as he sprinted to the left. Changes to their voices that he and Wrecker had yet to experience.
Earlier that day Hunter had spotted the perfect hiding spot.
The air ducts located between test laboratories.
Being the smallest boy of their group, it wouldn’t occur to Wrecker that Hunter could fit in there...or happen to bring along a small hydrospanner and flashlight tucked into his tunic.
Every time the Batchers played “Evade-and-Track", the process of hiding became MORE elaborate.
Poor Wrecker, already too big for his age due to the acelerated growth (but still sporting his adorable child voice), had the most difficult time finding ANY place to hide...so he was the Tracker MOST of the time.
Recently, Crosshair climbed up to the ceiling and laid his skinny frame ON TOP of the sewage return pipe. NONE of the boys would have found him, had he not fell asleep, and started snoring.
Then Tech picked an electronic lock on a seldom used laboratory and choosing to hide there. Bold move as it took the rest of the Batch to ding dong ditch every door on that level.
Medical staff complained of the boys being a total nuisance. New rule: NO hiding in places that could possibly disrupt any of the operations being conducted in Tipoca City.
Hunter loosened the screw slightly to the air duct vent. Just enough to allow him access but not push out the hardware too far and give away his position.
It was DARK inside as he lifted the vent and crawled inside the ductwork.
Hunter crawled several feet, anticipating the approaching right hand turn the duct would take, according to the Tipoca City’s schematics (If indeed they were updated...).
When out of view from the vent, he’d planned on practicing shadow animals. Hunter would have HOURS to mess around undetected with the flashlight before ANYONE found him...IF they ever did.
Rarely did they, and Hunter would show up much later to the Batcher’s room to join his brothers. Usually around mealtime.
Hunter learned early if he carried a datapad to surf while killing time, when Tech was “Tracker” or had been caught, all his brother had to do was trace Hunter’s datapad with his own.
From then on Hunter went analog.
Hunter attempted to make that turn...
He bumped into something that DIDN’T feel at all like the air duct!
And it GROWLED at him!
Hunter yanked the flashlight from his tunic, jabbing the power switch with alarmed surprise.
In the high lumen beam crouched...A GIRL!
The tunic uniform looked similar to his, but the patch displayed L1 in Aurebush instead of a Specialized Defective or Reg clone’s designation. He had NEVER seen these markings before! He hadn’t REMEMBERED ever seeing another young girl close to his age on Kamino...other than the occasional Padawan following their Jedi Master.
She was barefoot with long wild SILVER hair. Terrified yellow flecked green eyes peeked out from under it.
And there was BARED teeth.
She growled at him.
“Uhhhh...heh...sorry to BoThEr yOu.” Hunter smirked in embarrassment as his early adolescent voice cracked comically.
Not sounding tough and badass in the least.
The Wild Girl in front of Hunter quietly stared intensely into his eyes for a moment...
Then giggled...and growled.
“Who...are you?” Hunter implored, softening his features. Suddenly aware the growling wasn’t aggression but fear.
She slowly reached up parting her crazy mop so Hunter could get a clear view of her face. Then coyly jutted out her shoulder, nodding to it, communicating silently the designation patch.
Bright intelligent eyes stared out from the parted hair.
“NOT your designation. You’re NAME. WHO do YOU call yourself?” Hunter gently probed.
“LittleOne” She smirked.
Hunter chuckled “I’m Hunter” extending his had in greeting.
LittleOne glanced at his hand, then her eyes shot back up to him. She did NOT take his hand in greeting.
Instead, she SMILED...sat up straight, hair falling away from her now flushed face.
Hunter could see a red armband wound around LittleOne’s upper arm. Not an official armband, just a tied strip of cloth. SOMEONE was sending a message...red for CAUTION.
The Kami’s usually officially branded any major differences or deviances with uniform patches, NOT a slapdash fabric armband...that is IF the subject were complacent enough to change into or wear the updated clothes...or run off to hide when the last option was drugging them...
LittleOne could see Hunter contemplating the arm band.
“I BITE.” she proclaimed PROUDLY with a devious smile.
Then she GROWLED at Hunter again. But this time he KNEW she was showing off.
She was feral and weird.
He liked her.
Hunter felt confident his brothers would think she was COOL, too! He wanted to take her back with him. A NEW possible clone variant sibling for the defective CF-99!
His heart SOARED!
“I got FREE!” She calmly raised both hands up in front of her. The sleeves fell away to reveal both wrists dark with bruises.
Hunter recognized the marks of Kaminoan medical restraints.
One wrist with worn broken skin appeared slightly infected.
“Oh...that’s NOT good. I’ll...ah...go get some Bacta for THAT!” His eyes widened in concern as he started to back out the air duct.
Hunter’s blood ran cold. L1 “LittleOne” was a “normie” biological child and NOT a clone.
WHO let their child be put in a Kaminoan facility? Or...who TAKES a child...maybe CHILDREN...as lab rats?
Hunter understood his brothers and possibly the Regs had testing done...quite a bit and whether they liked it or not...but THEY were CLONES. Patented Kaminoan Technology and property of The Grand Republic.
Liddle was “someone’s” child. A citizen of the Republic whom the Clones served. Children who had the luxury of a "normal” life. Something very foreign to him.
Weren’t these children WORTH more???
“They don’t care.” LittleOne meant the Kami’s, Hunter was sure of it. She threw an arm over Hunter’s shoulder in a gesture of comradery. “You, me.... we’re nobody.” Gesturing with her other arm at the futility of their situation.
“The Kami’s...don’t know you’re gone, do they?”
“Not yet, but they always EVENTUALLY find me.”
She’s run away before.
Run away from the pain, torture, fear...
“Come with me. My brothers and I live in our own room away from the Regs. You can hide there and live with us! You’ll get along with Crosshair, he’s got hair like you AND likes to bite too. Wrecker can smuggle extra food from the cafeteria, and Tech will fill your head with useless info for hours... “
LittleOne’s face softened with a genuine expression of gratitude.
Hunter grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement.
Liddle squeezed back. “I... can’t.”
Hunter’s face fell.
“Ooh, I’m sorry Mr. Hunter Skellyface.” She laughed in a way that conveyed she’d wish she didn’t have to say no and to let him down gently. and she liked him enough to not drag him along with her personal dumpster fire.
“You and your brothers are the best people I’ve met here” Her deep green eyes boring into Hunter’s heart. “You ALL deserve so much better...ALL of the kids in this facili...
Then the air duct FLOODED with stark artificial light from the hallway.
“LittleOne, there YOU are!”
Hunter swung around, eyes squinting from the brightness. As they adjusted, he could see the silhouette of Ninety-Nine.
“Met Hunter I see.” He chuckled sweetly “Come out, my dear, we need to go.” Then Ninety-Nine addressed Hunter...
“Not a word now, young man” and put his index finger to his lips “You NEVER saw us.”
This seemed uncharacteristic of Ninety-Nine. He always advocated for honesty and transparency.
Hunter heard an exasperated sigh behind him. Then LittleOne scooted past him towards Ninety-Nine.
“Bye Hunter.” Little whispered to him as she exited the duct. “Maybe I’ll see you and your brothers another time...”
She looked sad to have to leave already.
“WAIT!” Hunter slid after her as she exited and the vent slammed shut. He pushed it up in time to see his beloved clone Ninety-Nine smile sadly as he led Little away and out of sight through another hallway.
Hunter dropped out of the duct, running after them.
He slid to a stop at the corner and peered around it quietly and cautiously.
Hunter could see Ninety-nine lead Liddle through the windowed doors of a restricted wing within Kamino’s facility. There an older Reg clone child and a Reg Clone officer from “Havoc” Squad waited. The doors closed just as the Officer addressed Ninety-Nine, he nodded and all four of them proceeded out of sight.
Unfortunately, the seal on the doors prevented Hunter from hearing ANYTHING that was said.
And he was barred access to that part of the building.
But Tech might be able to get them in. Hunter’s mind was building a new mission...
He ran like the wind in the other direction towards The Batcher’s room.
Wrecker had already found Crosshair and Tech. He sat on his bunk and watched the two of them squabble about who had the official rights to hide in a particular spot.
“LADS!!!” Hunter busted into the room.
“HAH, YOU GOT BORED QUICK! WE WERE JUST GOING TO LOOK FOR YA!!!” Wrecker squeeked loudly.
“Apologize!” Crosshair Crosshair demanded, hands on his hips.
Tech rolled his eyes at Cross, “You MUST be joking...”
“I FOUND A GIRL!” Hunter blurted.
Wrecker perked up. “Oooh...there are GIRLS on Kamino???”
Crosshair scoffed “Wrecker, you’re SUCH a HORMONE!”
“YEP!” Wrecker puffed up his chest. “Wait ‘til she gets a load a’ ME!!!”
“Not with THAT voice.” Crosshair jabbed.
Wrecker SMACKED Crosshair with his Lula.
Tech’s attention span allowed him to track what Hunter was saying “PLEASE elaborate, Hunter.”
“Found a young girl hiding in the air ducts. She was wearing a uniform similar to ours.”
“There are NO female clones on Kamino” Crosshair argued “He’s pulling your leg.”
Offended, Hunter leaned into Crosshair’s personal space “I cErTaInLy Am NoT!”
Before Crosshair could berate Hunter for his voice cracking Tech interjected. “Wait” Stepping up to Hunter and carefully pulling SOMETHING off the front of his tunic.
A LONG strand of silver hair.
“Judging by the length and color” Tech sassed at Crosshair “I’d say Hunter’s correct.”
“Yeah” Wrecker butted in with a mousey voice. “Definitely NOT your hair!
Hunter stood with both arms folded, frustrated with his brother’s stubbornness.
Crosshair incredulously took the hair from Tech, staring at it in his hand.
Another young person had had HIS odd hair color!
Hunter could see a very slight smile forming at the corners of Crosshairs mouth.
“I’m...guessing she’s NOT a clone.” Hunter explained “Got an L1 patch on her tunic. Goes by the name LittleOne. Said she had parent’s...well...at one point. Not anymore, though.”
“Parent’s???” Tech repeated with suprise. Wrecker and Crosshair were speechless.
“Yeah...and...” Hunter sighed rubbing the back of his neck with concern “She had BAD bruises on both wrists from medical restraints.”
Everyone fell quiet...
“The Kami’s are keeping non-clone CHILDREN at this facility?” Crosshair slowly remarked in hushed tones.
“Obviously, to use as complacent experimental test subjects.” Tech added, his eyes haunted.
Hunter replied, “It would seem so. Little isn't...complacent at all. They marked her as a caution.”
The Batchers glanced around at each other in interest.
“They took her away down the hallway we don’t have access to” Hunter added. “Think you can get us in there, Tech?”
“Unsure.” The wheels in Tech’s brain were spinning. “Let me research her designation. That should help us formulate a plan.”
Tech typed manically on his datapad, maneuvering past the Kaminoan firewall on the holonet and engaging his personal programmed spyware into the database.
It took awhile...
Hunter and Wrecker sat silently staring at each other, then the wall, then Tech, only to repeat.
Crosshair’s eyes never left the long strand of hair in his hand...
He had a HORRIBLE FEELING in his gut. A VERY familiar feeling.
The KIND of feeling ANYTIME he rebelled from expected protocol...which was quite often.
Hunter’s eyes snapped over to Crosshair...watching his micro expressions...
Wrecker noticed Hunter’s attention shift to Crosshair.
Tech kept tapping away.
Finally...
“YES!” Tech perked up. “PRISONER L1...confirmed to be listed as a former civilian. Humanoid female, planet of unknown origin. Purchased as bounty with TWENTY OTHER individuals...all varying ages under 10 cycles....”
“There are MORE OF THEM!!!” Wrecker almost screamed.
“...they were JUST listed as...
Hunter pressed “What is it, Tech?”
Tech stared speechless at his datapad.
“Uh, unfortunately...she was just...TERMINATED...for MALICIOUS Non-Compliance...”
Tech’s eye widened as he continued to read.
“She wasn’t alone. CT-_____, a young deviant Reg was terminated as well...at the same time...”
Wrecker squeezed his Lula TIGHT in fright.
Crosshair disassociated.
“WhAt?!” Hunter shouted suddenly and forcefully. His voice cracked.
Wrecker jumped with surprise to Hunter’s voice, then started to cry as the news sunk in.
Tech turned to address Wrecker when Hunter ran from the room.
Crosshair silently walked to his bunk, sat down, and put his head in his hand.
Hunter ran as fast as his legs could carry him, down the hallways...
He didn’t know WHERE he was going.
Just running.
Until he rounded a corner to see Ninety-Nine walking alongside Nala Se.
Had he not been in a state of anger and shock, he would have noticed the small blond child walking on the other side of Nala Se.
But Hunter was experiencing Tunnel Vision.
He ran right INTO Ninety-Nine yelling “WHY???!!!”
Nala Se stopped dead in her tracks. “CT-9901 I have never seen you SO...disturbed!”
“Oh...” Ninety-Nine shook his head, taking Hunter’s hand to lead him away. “Must’ve gotten into ANOTHER squabble with CT-9904"
“Must I intervene?” Nala Se mused.
“No no. Boys will be boys.” Reassured Ninety-Nine. “I’ll handle it.” While pulling a visibly upset Hunter down the hall and away from view.
Nala Se seemed to have her doubts. She stood staring in the direction of where they disappeared to.
Omega grabbed Nala Se’s hand. “Nala Se, there are Tubies to be decanted. We don’t want to be LATE.”
The Kaminoan turned to Omega “You are correct. We MUST be punctual.” Nala Se took one last glance then allowed Omega to lead her away.
Ninety-Nine pulled Hunter into an empty exam room and shut the door.
He turned to face the boy. “I know why your upset...and don’t blame you.”
“You LET THEM terminate HER!” Hunter squeezed his hands into tight fists. A tear rolled down his cheek.
“Hunter...”
“WHY?!”
More tears.
“HUNTER!” Ninety-Nine firmly shook the boy, then hugged him.
Hunter sobbed.
“It’s...NOT what you think. Can I TRUST you to keep a secret?”
Hunter got himself under control, then nodded.
Ninety-Nine whispered into Hunter’s ear “You’ll probably never see her again but trust me...she’s safe.”
“What? Where? How?” Hunter sputtered.
“That’s ALL I can say.” Ninety-Nine replied. The expression on his face told Hunter NOT to keep pressing the subject.
“There are SOME things a SQUAD LEADER must keep to himself...for the greater good and your squad’s safety.”
Hunter let it sink in.
“Can YOU do that?”
“Wouldn’t that be...insubordinate of me? Don’t good soldiers follow orders???”
“They do. But great soldiers also question them...and have a duty to NOT follow them if they are unethical.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good” Ninety-Nine smiled in a melancholic way. He pulled a few facial tissues from the counter and handed them to Hunter.
Hunter wiped his face and loudly blew his nose.
Ninety-Nine let Hunter have a few moments. Then he quietly addressed the young man.
“By the way...” He reached into his uniform pocket and pulled out a long strip of bright red fabric.
He handed it to Hunter.
“She ASKED me to give you this.”
Hunter took the fabric in his hand, felt the weave, then brought it up to his nose to sniff.
Sweet, sassy, and feral.
He sniffed back any new tears and stuffed the fabric it into his tunic pocket.
Tech had FINALLY calmed down Wrecker, opting to distract and appease him with some candy Tech had stashed away in his bunk.
Crosshair raised his head from his hand as Hunter quietly entered their shared room.
The boys got up and huddled together confident Hunter, who had been becoming their emerging leader in the group, would have SOMETHING good to report.
Hunter STRUGGLED to find the right words. He wanted to soothe his squad AND keep the secret Ninety-Nine trusted him with.
And, he wanted Little and the Clone child with her to have the BEST possible chances of a SAFE future outside of Kamino...wherever they were going next.
Everyone stared silently at Hunter until Wrecker could wait no more.
“Is it true? Is she...GONE???” He whispered.
“Yes” Hunter sighed.
“WHY? What happened???” Crosshair’s face showed veiled panic and sadness. The sadness wasn’t just for him...
Cross could tell Hunter was masking his own sorrow to remain strong for his brothers.
“I...” Hunter struggled but held a confident enough front, especially as his voice cracked yet again “cAnNoT sAy.”
Crosshair’s glanced down at the strand of hair in his hand.
Hunter coughed to clear his throat, motioning he wasn’t done speaking.
His brother’s waiting patiently
Hunter straightened up, assuming a position of authority and spoke...
His voice did NOT waver, instead it left his lips with a deep resonant smokiness what would continue for the rest of his life.
“Apologies. I’m making an executive decision to NOT speak any further about this matter.” It wasn’t a threat or anything negative towards his brothers. “And, I HIGHLY advise you all to do the same.”
They could SEE he was protecting them. A little bit of knowledge could be deadly...
Like an UNDERGROUND system of escape on Kamino involving MANY individuals on the inside.
Tech had already come to this conclusion immediately before Crosshair. Much later, they explained this to Wrecker. They MADE him promise to NEVER speak of it while on Kamino and to NOT pursue the topic with Hunter, either.
They RESPECTED Hunter’s privacy in the matter. They RESPECTED each other’s very lives.
EPILOGUE
Hunter slept deeply in his bunk.
Across the room Wrecker snored like a band saw.
Tech tinkered through the night per usual on his many projects by the dim light of his workbench lamp.
And Crosshair...
“Almost finished? Need to get some sleep.” Crosshair complained, leaning against Tech’s workbench, chewing on a toothpick.
“Making one last adjustment...” Tech ignored the grumpy edge to his brother’s voice.
Crosshair wracked his brain for DAYS after “The Incident”, as all three of them referred to it out of earshot of Hunter (Which was no easy feat) trying to figure out what to do with that one single strand of long silver hair.
Hunter never asked about it, nor broached the subject of “The Incident”. And, since then the eldest Batcher adopted a more mature and commanding persona...to go with his newly developed “smoky” voice.
Earlier today The Kaminoan’s promoted Hunter as Clone Force 99’s Squad Leader, something Crosshair, Wrecker, and Tech has expected for quite a while.
There was NO celebration for this. The Kami’s didn’t believe in “coddling” their clones. Their very first training mission would be bright and early tomorrow morning.
“There! Finally completed.”
Tech handed Crosshair the woven bracelet: Strands of Little’s silver hair, Tech’s dark auburn, Hunter’s (stolen from his hairbrush) deep brown, several black threads from Wrecker’s Lula (as he had NO hair to donate), a few multicolor wires from an old Gonk droid Tech was rebuilding, and the tiny sparkle of Crosshair’s silver stubble (as his hair was cropped short, but not shaved like Wrecker’s) caught and encased in clear lacquer to strengthen the construction.
Wrecker had come up with the idea and helped gather the materials.
Crosshair wove them all together and lacquered the weave.
Tech fashioned the metal catch and assembled the parts together.
“Not too shabby.” Crosshair remarked. “He’ll be SO TOUCHED...or some kind of crap.”
“Yes. Hunter is very...sentimental, even if he tries to not appear so.” Tech understood Crosshair was TRYING to be sweet...even if difficult to show it.
Crosshair took the bracelet and crept as quiet as a cat to Hunter’s bunk. Tech tip toed behind. Their shadow passed over Wrecker, who immediately stopped snoring and awoke.
Tech put his finger to his lips in hope Wrecker would stay quiet.
Wrecker grinned as Crosshair gently laid the bracelet on Hunter’s pillow next to his newly red bandanna bedecked head.
“Thanks...love you guys.”
Hunter’s brothers jumped in surprise at his even lower drowsy register.
“Thought you were alseep.” Crosshair sneered
Tech added “How LONG were you laying there listening to us?”
“We LoVe YoU tOo, HuNtEr” Wrecker’s voice cracked for the very first time ever...
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