The Runaway {Hunter} (WATTYS 2022)

Chapter 41

"Let's not to something like that again." Echo huffed as he placed the caged on the bar.

Cid bent down and looked into it as it made sounds, Omega sitting at the bar next to her. "That is one strange looking lizard." Cid mumbled turning to the group.

"What's your client want it for?" Cora asked.

"Maybe it's a pet. Maybe he wants to turn it into a stew. Don't know, don't care." Cid shrugged.

"As long as you get paid." Hunter said as Cid turned away.

"Now you're catching on." Cid turned back, "and goes what? That means you get paid too." She eyed them. "Bring the lizard in the back." Cid told them as she walked towards her office.

Something was making Cora fell uneasy. It wasn't the lack of sleep or food, none of which was easy to convince her to do. She didn't like to eat anymore and sleep was foreign to her. Her body grew thin and weak sometimes but this wasn't the effects of those two things. But it was something else. Scanning the room, her eyes landed on a figure sitting in the corner. His hood was over his face with a drink in his hand. Cora gazed at him for a moment, her heart racing.

"Cora?" She was snapped from her thoughts as Tech tried to get her attention.

"Hm what?" She blinked.

"Could you run back to the ship and grab the supply list?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure." Cora said nodding her head.

Looking back towards the figure for a split second, she wondered why such a strange character was giving her an off feeling. "You alright?" Hunter asked after talking with Wrecker and Omega.

Cora nodded, looking to him. "Fine." She said before smiling.

Hunter always kept a close eye on her, something Cora had grown used to. It was never a bother now because he was only trying to help. Sometimes he would convince Cora to eat or sleep, but most of the time it was an uphill battle. The Senator contributed her anxiety for her lack of food consumption, her stomach normally tied into notes of worry and stress about anything and everything. Hunter could sense when she was falling into one of her anxiety lows. His heighten senses picked up on her change in breathing and the way she held herself. There was no point in hiding it from Hunter, because he knew. But she still tried.

The woman turned and made her way back up towards the busy street above as Tech, Echo and Hunter talked with Cid. Cora walked through the streets as different creatures and types of people walked past her. Her helmet rattled on her belt as she rushed back towards the ship to get the list of things they needed for supplies. Rushing into the ship, she grabbed the pad that was sitting on the table where the computer was. Clicking it on, she scanned the list, and made her way back into the street. Walking down the steps of the bar, she turned the corner, reading the list over, going through her mind, making sure the list was correct.

"Hey Tech," she said as she walked towards the bar, "I got the list but I think we need more-"

As her gaze lifted forward landing on him. Standing there, their eyes locked. Cora's heart dropped to her stomach as a wave of relief fell over her. Dropping the pad in her hand, her knees grew weak.

"Rex." She whispered.

Standing in front of her, was Rex. Her Rex. His eyes grew as he locked eyes with her, his shoulders no longer tense. Cora could see the faint blue from his armour under his poncho, as she stepped closer to the Captain. She felt like she couldn't breathe, and all the weight of the universe had been lifted off her shoulders from weeks of worry.

"Cora." He whispered back to her.

With her face in shock, she approached him. Completely and utterly shocked and relieved that Rex was alive and well. Without thinking, she jumped forward and flung her arms around him, embracing him in a big hug. Rex stumbled back as she hugged him, taken back by her action, he chuckled and hugged her back. Cora pulled away as she tried not to cry.