The Runaway {Hunter} (WATTYS 2022)

Chapter 34

Cora crossed her arms, leaning her body on the wall as she watched Tech fiddle with the comm on Omega's arm. They all discussed while Omega was sleeping, that it would be best if the young girl had a way of contact with them, in case something were to happen to any of them. It was dangerous to begin with, not giving her a comm, but they never expected this to move like they did.

"It's not an exact fit." Tech said as Omega flexed her arm. She looked down to her arm before looking to Tech, who was kneeling to her level.

"I get my own comm device?" Omega asked in shock.

"Technically, it was Corsshair's," Tech shrugged, "but he doesn't appear to need it."

Omega smiled to herself, pressing the comm. "Echo, what's your position? Over." Cora couldn't help but smile at the seriousness in the girls voice as she pretended to be one of them.

Echo, who was behind Omega, looked less impressed by her impersonation. He cleared his throat as Omega turned around. "It's not a toy, Omega." Echo said seriously.

Omega looked cheekily over to Echo, before turning the comm on again. "Copy that."

Cora chuckled as Echo rolled his eyes. Omega looked up to Cora, who was the only one smiling at her silliness. Omega smiled as she saw the woman laugh, knowing she was feeling better.

Tech took Omega's arm and started to fix the comm again, trying to get it to fit better. "Why are we going to Ord Mantell?" Omega asked watching Tech work. "I thought the plan was to lay low."

Omega glanced over at Hunter, who was sitting at the computer, trying to figure out who the bounty hunter was. He turned in his chair and looked to Omega. "Not while a bounty hunter's after you two." He glanced at Cora who looked away from him. "We need to find out why."

"I know an informant there named Cid who might be able to help." Echo said.

"And you trust him?" Wrecker asked as he heavy lifted the gonk droid.

"Well, the Jedi trusted him." Echo shrugged.

"The Jedi who are all dead?" Tech said standing up.

Cora couldn't help but lift her foot and kick his leg, not hard, but hard enough to make Tech turn to her, glaring. She matched his glare at his nasty comment. She wanted to slap his smug face. Although the Bad Batch definitely weren't close with any Jedi, expect Echo, it was an unnecessary comment, especially since the wounds of the Jedi killings were still fresh.

"Well, anyone have a better option?" Echo glared to Tech as well. "Senator," Echo turned to her, her arms folded across her chest. "You knew lots of people, anyone we can turn to?"

Cora raised her eyebrows and huffed. She stood up straight and dropped her arms. "I was stranded on Mora for a few days after putting a distress signal out." She paused. "If I knew someone who could help me, I would have called them. Instead you all found me. So no, I don't know anyone."

The group fell silent at her sharp tone. The comm beeped again, Omega's voice ringing through it. "She has a point." Everyone turned to her, looking as her smiled faded. "Right. Not a toy."

~

The group had made it to Ord Mantell. Placing their helmets on their heads, they walked the streets towards the place that Echo had heard about. Cora could smell the filth off the streets, the place was run down and falling apart. It reminded her of the underside of Coruscant. The people, the smell, the feeling like you shouldn't be there.

"Remember the rules?" Hunter asked Omega, as they all walked down the many roads.

"Don't wander off, keep my eyes and ears on my surroundings, and trust no one but my squad." She listed off the rules that Hunter had told her.