Currently feral as I write this.
Following the previous fic The Deep
“Fives?” Omega’s eyes went wide, and the air in her lungs seemed to freeze as she stared at him. “I know you!”
“Eh?” Fives tilted his head slightly once again, and let her pull her hand back.
“You’re Echo’s twin! He’s told me so much about you!” Fives nearly jumped out of his skin when Omega sat beside him, and felt her take his hand.
“Echo…is alive?” He doesn’t want to believe it, he can’t give in to that sheer hope, not again. “Please don’t be another false hope.”
The recorded voices started again, the darkness blocking Omega and Fives from view, but the audio was clear. Dr. Hemlock listened to the exchange over and over while scanning through Fives’ medical chart. He had forgotten the clone was still in the facility, having been one of Hemlock’s earliest and most resilient subjects gifted by the Emperor. He could still remember trying out various cybernetics on Fives’ chest, and a faint smile tugged at his lips for just a moment.
When he had strengthened, Fives had attempted many times to flee and warn the Jedi. Hemlock eventually grew tired of it, and decided once and for all to break Fives’ spirit.
The ocular units currently grafted to his face were of a personal design, able to scan through any material and register the health of any organics with ease. Some would ask why to give them those abilities, and if he bothered with a response, Hemlock would merely give one of the faint smirks that made others uncomfortable around him.
“I believe your trooper Kix would love to be able to do that, heal with ease,” Hemlock hummed as he circled the examination table, Fives struggling to free himself. “And being able to spot enemies before they realized it? Many clones would die for a chance to have such a skill.”
“Our eyes are just fine.” Fives hissed, and Hemlock smiled at the fear clear as day in those disgusting brown eyes trained on him.
You could hear the screaming throughout the base as the medical droid got to work, and after that?
Fives couldn’t save himself.
Hemlock made sure Fives wouldn’t know how to power the units on, and sometimes wanted to just to let Fives know how much he had been forgotten, but never had the chance. Now, as he ordered Omega to be taken from Fives and placed elsewhere, he produced a small control box from his desk and waited. He could hear the ray shield power down, and Omega resisted as she was grabbed by one of them, and that’s when he clicked a button.
Fives jolted as something seemed to zap his eyes, and all at once they powered on for the first time since they had been implanted against his will years ago. He could see Omega trying desperately to get her arm out of a trooper's grip, another having their gun trained on him as she’s dragged up and out of the cell.
“No!” Fives got up, and stumbled close to the door before the shield powered on, and his sight was taken in the same moment, sending the former soldier to his knees.
“Fives!” Omega tried desperately to go back to him, but wasn’t able to overpower the two beside her. “Let me go! Fives help me!”
“Omega, it’s going to be okay!” Fives called out, hoping she could hear him. He knew Hemlock was watching the bastard , and for the first time since he lost his sight, Fives felt raw fury start to course through his veins. He only saw her for a moment, a younger but mature-looking girl with wide eyes and wild blonde hair, he thought of Rex , but already felt love for her like his brothers. “It’s going to be okay…”
Hemlock was pleased, and neatly set the box back into his desk under its assigned label. The will of most clones was so easily broken, something that the doctor would never tire of as he got up from his desk, heading off to go and check on his latest experiment.
Omega ended up back in Crosshair’s cell, slumping against the wall farthest from the door and hugging her knees close to her chest. She had only been with Fives for two days before being taken away, and it was the first time she felt safe away from Crosshair. He was funny, telling her stories of his and Echo’s younger days to make her laugh, or reminiscing about his fellow brothers when she asked questions about his old unit. He asked about Echo more than a few times, clearly still in disbelief that he seemed to be alive, but was starting to come around to the idea before she was taken away. He even told her why his death had been apparent, Omega silent as the grave when he lost his cool at failing to save the Jedi, and those he loved. She hugged him after that, looking at the cables that trailed up his one arm leading to his chest, and had tried very hard not to cry.
“Someone made a new friend.” Omega’s head snapped up the moment she heard the chilling words sent her way, and glared at the doctor behind the shielded door. “Good, I was hoping you would. We can’t have you feeling so…alone.”
“It’s none of your business.” She tries to sound unaffected, and Hemlock chuckles in response. His eyes are trained on her, just idly rubbing his gloved hand while watching her like a curious child.
“I’ve had him here for some time, and had never let him see before today.” He hummed, and Omega felt sick. “I wonder if I finally, truly broke him, I’m still very surprised he still tries day after day. You seem to have that effect on my…people here.”
“He’s stronger than you.” Omega glares, and Hemlock cocks his head ever so slightly to the side and smiles as if amused.
“Is he? Hm, I don’t believe you mean what you say. Then again, strength can be mistaken for incessant persistence, depending on who you talk to.” He takes a step closer, and the room feels so much smaller all of a sudden.
“Believe me, child, once Nala Se does what I need, the Empire needs, none of it will matter. Every clone you’ve seen here, will die, and no one will mourn their passing. You, I will force you to listen to their screams of agony, and once the last one dies out, you’ll join them.” The smile he gives her is colder than ice, and as deadly as any blade Omega has ever seen. He watches as she hugs herself tighter, and then steps back, allowing the two soldiers behind him to carry an unconscious Crosshair to his bunk. “Pleasant dreams, Omega.”
The silence that falls into the cell when he steps back is deafening.
Almost as deafening as the silence in the Marauder.
It’s been well over a month since Omega had been taken, Tech had fallen, and Hemlock had won. The remaining Batchers were still coming to grips with how it had all happened so fast, going from a solid plan to nothing but agony. Cid had given them the money she had received from the Empire, after they had gone back to her bar to confront the traitor. She had been waiting, the credits untouched, as well as other things like food and fuel already packed up that normally she would never have given up. She was also terrified, watching as Hunter gave the room a split-second glance before barreling towards the black market dealer.
“I’m sorry!” Guilt colored her every word, but Hunter wasn’t having it. The bar owner is lifted off her feet and slammed against a wall, vibroblade less than an inch from her neck. She had never been so terrified, as if suddenly realizing the clones she had worked with were efficient soldiers who were taught to kill from their first step. Funny how she forgot that little fact.
“SORRY WON’T BRING THEM BACK!” Hunter snarled, eyes dilated from pure rage as the knife drew closer to her neck. “AFTER EVERYTHING WE DID FOR YOU, I SHOULD GUT YOU HERE AND NOW.”
“Hunter…” Wrecker placed a hand on Hunter’s shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look when Hunter spared a glance. “Put her down.” It’s a tense few moments, before suddenly Cid falls to the floor in a heap, clawed hand resting over her neck to find no blood.
“Wrecker, start taking the supplies to the ship. Hunter, tear apart her back rooms. Cid and I are going to have a chat.” Echo spoke after giving Hunter a moment to collect himself, and for once, they didn’t argue back. Seeing the way Echo was ramrod straight, pointing to one of the booths in a corner, Cid felt uneasy most of all with him. She sits down first, and Echo sits opposite, and for a few minutes, the sounds of Hunter and Wrecker taking whatever they could need in the coming days were all that passed between them. His eyes are laser-focused on hers, and Cid can see the incandescent rage bubbling beneath the surface of his calm facade.
“You are going to give me a list of names. I want every single one of your contacts, anyone who knows anything the Empire can or has used.” He’s calm, producing a datapad and sliding it across the table.
“You know this could tank my credibility,” Cid grumbles, but slowly begins to type in some names.
“I don’t care, not anymore. You’re lucky Wrecker stepped in, because I wasn’t going to.” Echo’s tone was curt and icy, and Cid doesn’t dare look up. “If Omega is dead…” The tone hangs clear, and Cid just keeps going for a while. She doesn’t care if all of her weapons are gone, her credits, for once in her life, none of that matters more than her own skin.
“Find Fennec Shand, she’s your best bet.” Cid eventually speaks, sliding the datapad back over and keeping her eyes on the table. Echo stands, and takes a step away before pausing.
“If I were you, I would move on. I hope it was worth it.” With that, he walks away, and eventually, Cid is left alone in her bar.
It wasn’t worth it, not like this.
Ever since they had been trying to track down Fennec to start, and it was clear to see they were all shattered by what had happened. Wrecker spent most of his time working out, holding Lula or just sitting behind Tech’s seat, so quiet for the man usually full of life. Despite not saying much to Echo as they navigated world after world, just being together in the same space was a comfort in and of its own way, and Echo was grateful.
Hunter was mostly locked up in his cabin, unable to face his brothers, and more importantly his failure. He was supposed to be the one to keep his family safe, to keep Omega away from the Empire, to survive in a world that changed more and more every day. He had never recovered after losing Crosshair, and now Tech? He cried for them every night, and a small part of him was grateful he didn’t see Tech fall, or he would probably be too lost to see the light of hope. It was small, almost lost in the sea of dark despair, but was still able to call out to Hunter.
They would find Omega, Crosshair, and so many brothers that were lost to this monster, or he would die trying.
The thud of a ship latching onto their airlock startles Hunter from his stupor, and he grabs his blaster before hurrying out to see what was going on. Echo and Wrecker were already at the airlock, quietly talking to each other before stopping when Hunter joined them.
“What’s going on?” He signs, holstering his weapon when the other two didn’t have theirs at the ready. It’s not unusual to see Hunter signing, his heightened senses sometimes driving the man into a nonverbal state, so Echo just points to the airlock without an answer, right as the doors hiss with the force of pressurizing both ships. The door slides open, and the red and black helmet they had dealt with before peeks out from amongst the fading steam.
“Hello boys, long time no see.” Fennec is surprised to see the trio weaponless, sliding her own blade back into its sheath with a click.
“You’re a hard woman to find.” Wrecker smiles, and it doesn’t take a bounty hunter to see he’s in pain.
"Where’s the kid?” Fennec had grown to like Omega in the short time they had been together, and was surprised to see she wasn’t there.
“The Empire has ‘er.” Wrecker sighed, and Fennec jerked her head up to look at him.
“That’s why we’ve been trying to find you.” Echo sighed. “We need your help.”
“Well, my “help” doesn’t come cheap.” She crosses her arms, and watches as Hunter jerks his head at Wrecker to head further into the ship for something. “What, no hello?”
“He just needs some time,” Wrecker grunts before leaving the small group, and Fennec finally decides that maybe she should pull back on the sass. She’s led towards the bridge, and leans against one of the seats as they wait.
“What happened to you guys?” She looks over at Echo, who doesn’t bother trying to hide the haunted look in his eyes. Sure, the last time they met, they were trying to kill her, but all of this? It was really depressing.
“Omega is gone, and we lost one of our own.”
“Oh.” Fennec shook her head, and it was not long before the bigger clone returned with a case full of credits. She reaches for them, but pauses and folds her arms.
“What, is it not enough?” Wrecker grumbled, and Fennec just pulled out her comm and hit a button.
“I can’t take credits from such a sad crew like you….well, not all of them. What I can do, however, is offer a trade.”
‘What kind of trade?” Hunter grumbles, feeling on edge as Fennec takes the case and sets it down on the seat she had been leaning against.
“I picked up a crewmate who, while valuable, I think can serve better here with the intel. In turn, let me have a look at the names Cid gave you, as well as a good chunk of these credits, and we’ll call it square.”
“...just like that?” Echo asked suspiciously, and he can see Wrecker shift into a fighting stance if needed.
“Just like that. He’s been a pain in the ass ever since I found him, so some credits will fill in the gap.” Fennec gave a wry smile as she slipped her helmet off, and began to fill it with credits.
“Another mouth to feed…great.” Hunter sighed, and it was not long before the airlock hissed with another entry.
“Up here,” Fennec called out, stepping out of the way to continue filling her helmet.
“What did you want now?” The door opened to an annoyed voice, and a face every brother knew scanned the room. It was a fellow clone, the man was surprised and confused to see the Batch, before his eyes fixated on Echo.
“Kix?” Despite the poncho covering his armor and long bedraggled hair, Echo recognized the medic instantly, the datapad in his hands falling to the floor. Said medic’s eyes were wide as saucers, running through a hundred different emotions before rushing over to engulf Echo into a bear hug.
“I’ll take those names now,” Fennec whispered to Hunter, who moved to grab Echo’s datapad from where he had dropped it on the floor. Fennec scrolled through the list, noting a few down in her own comm before returning it satisfied. “Did you kill her?”
“...no.” He grumbled, and Fennec shrugged, slipping a data spike into his hands.
“If you ever want it done, I’ll do it for a nice night out on the town. Anyways, enjoy that mess, and I’ll enjoy my quiet ship. Oh, and good luck on getting her back.” With that, the bounty hunter headed back to the airlock, detaching her ship a few minutes later. Hunter watched her ship leave without a word, and Wrecker watched the two smaller clones in front of him. They had since sunk to the floor, Kix hugging Echo while apologies spilled from him faster than the tears running down his face. Echo hadn’t said a word, just taking solace in his brothers’ arms, face buried into the rough poncho’s fabric.
“You alrigh’ Echo?” Wrecker finally asks and doesn’t miss the way Kix hugs Echo closer.
“I thought I had lost everyone.” He replied, his one arm clinging around Kix’s waist like a vice. He’s not ashamed to show he’s been crying too as he pulls away from the embrace, and for a moment there are sniffles and occasional cough.
“I thought you were dead.” Kix still had nightmares from the Citadel, of the way Fives had been in agony about Echo before his own death.
“No, I was…captured.” Echo glanced away, and Kix’s face contorted in anger for a moment before taking a deep breath. “What happened to you?”
“Yea, how does a bounty hunter just find someone?” Hunter took a seat in Echo’s chair, elbows on his knees as he regarded the new clone.
“Separatists kidnapped me, and I was in cryo for some time until Fennec found me. Was her medic for a while…until now.” He should be more irritated that all of his medical gear was still on her far-gone ship, but it didn’t matter now. No, one of his own was alive and breathing right in front of him, and that’s all he could focus on.
“Rough man.” Wrecker shook his head, offering to help the two up and onto their feet. “Good to have you on our side then! Always can use a good medic.”
“We will.” Hunter frowned, and eyed the data stick he had set aside. “She said she had some solid intel.”
“If there’s one thing she does well, it’s getting information.” Kix frowned, as if not wanting to admit anything good about her. “We snuck into an Imperial data center and took a lot of information, but I never had a chance to look through it.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t hide from me for long.” Echo ran his hand down his face, before looking at the main console. “Rex, he needs to know.”
“Rex is alive?” Kix blinked, and felt hopeful for the first time in ages.
“Yes, he is.” Echo nodded, scooping up his datapad and flicking through it for a few moments. “We can call him in two rotations. Which gives me time to work on that Imperial information.”
All eyes trained on the data stick, and for the first time since losing Tech, there was hope in the air.
“Then let’s get started.”
