The Runaway {Hunter} (WATTYS 2022)

Chapter 53

After getting the the planets atmosphere, and transporting the clearance codes from the client they were working with, they finally landed on Raxus. Echo was in no way willing to help, he didn't like the idea of it. Neither did Cora, they were right in the heart of their old enemy, and they had to help the Senator on Raxus.

Cora tried to not think about Senator Singh. She had met him a few times on her home planet, but she was younger then. She didn't tell anyone that she knew him, because she was afraid some secrets would slip and the truth would be revealed to the group. Cora didn't want them to know the truth. It was better left as a secret.

The trees towered over the group, their orange and reds shimmered in the sunlight. Tech was explaining to Echo that the code worked, but not because the client was a Separatist. Cora walked behind Echo as she pulled her blasters, unsure of what kind of trap, or not, that they were possibly walking into.

"Forget politics. We're here to do a job." Hunter interrupted Tech and Echo as they bickered.

A voice came from the trees as the group turned towards it, blasters ready. "I'm very pleased to hear you say that."

A droid walked out from behind a tree and approached the group.

"Who are you?" Tech questioned.

"I am your client." She told them.

"We're working for a droid?" Wrecker lowered his blaster.

"That is correct." The droid stiffly nodded. "My master, Senator Singh was arrested for speaking out against the unjust occupation—"

"We don't care." Echo groaned.

"Echo." Cora whispered harshly, glaring to him.

"Just take us to where the senator's being held." Hunter said to the droid.

"Right to it." The droid nodded again, "I like you. Very well. Follow me."

Cora followed the group as the droid brought them closer to the city. She glanced towards Echo who didn't seem too pleased. "You could be a little nicer." She jutted her head towards the droid.

"She's a Separatist droid, and so is her master." Echo turned to her, "Back on Bracca you questioned our loyalties, why change now? Why doesn't this bother you?" His voice was harsh and annoyed.

Cora knew why it didn't bother her. She knew enough about Senator Singh to know that he didn't want this. He was a clear man, calm and collected. A huge juxtaposition to her father. He never really wanted the Separatists on his planet, he only did it to keep his city alive. But from what the droid had told them, he was still the same. But this time, he spoke up against the Empire and decided it was time to end the hatful rein on his planet.

But Cora could say any of this. A Republic Senator talking about her time spent with a Separatist Senator, it would be a tangled mess of explaining, one which would spill her truth.

"I just have a feeling this one is different." She told Echo, which made him scuff at her.

~

Sneaking past clones and patrols, the group made it into the city. They hid behind a few bushes as they walked clones walk past.

"We have reached our destination." The droid told them.

Tech flipped down his visor and scanned the area where the Senator was being held. "There are six exterior guards and multiple heat signatures inside. Four in the subterranean level."

Echo turned and pushed the droid against the wall. "Why do I get the feeling you're setting us up?"

"It is against my programming to send my allies into danger." The droid said.