FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R F O R T Y-O N E

"What is?" Omega chimed in.

"Nothing!" Hunter and I shouted in unison. I hastily shoved the poster between my legs. I then shot daggers at our squad leader. "You were saying?" I scoffed when he bit his lower lip. "Your aversion of this peaked topic, Sergeant, is quite fascinating, if I'm being honest.

"Hey, Hunter, I thought you said we were going to get food." Wrecker marched up from behind. "Let's go! I'm starv—Oh, no."

"I thought you said you threw those out." Hunter growled under his breath, glaring at him from the side. "What if Omega found them?!" While he subtly scolded the muscular clone, I reached in and peeked at the other posters in the compartment, my lips sharply sipping air when the prints escalated in provocativeness. Hunter stepped forward and knelt down swiftly. His hand sprung to remove the posters from my possession, but I slapped it away. "Hunter, Hunter, Hunter," I tsked my tongue. "I never took you as someone who—"

"I'm not." he interrupted, staring me at eye-level. "I mean, I was not."

Wrecker then chuckled, rubbing the nape of his neck. "You think that's bad, Fern? You should've seen the nose art on the Marauder before the war ended. Ha!"

"Not helping, Wrecker..." Hunter groaned over his shoulder. I raised a brow as my mouth parted in disbelief. I didn't think Hunter's face could flush even more, but alas his ebony skull tattoo was beginning to divert against the claret.

"What's so bad about nose art?" Omega asked.

"Yes, Hunter," My lips curled into an amused grin. "what was so bad about the ship's nose art that you had to remove it?" Hunter sighed through his nose, his own lips twisted once he realized I wasn't offended nor upset. My nose scrunched teasingly. "Don't worry," I leaned forward and kissed him sweetly. "I suppose we all have our, um," I glanced at the covered posters on my lap. "phases."

"Very funny." Hunter grumbled, but his eyeroll and content expression betrayed him. Cupping his stubbled, tattooed jawline, I kissed him again, then proceeded to roll up each pin-up. Tucking them under my arm, I rose to my feet and strolled to the ship's exit. Wrecker objected with a whine, but Hunter stopped him. "Let it go. You were supposed to get rid of them a long time ago anyway."

Once I disposed the posters, I clapped my hands together. "Alright, I'm famished. Food, right?"

The magic word cheered the big guy instantly. "Yeah! Let's go!"

"I want to come, too!" Omega jumped down from the gunner's mount. I smiled, holding out my hand for her to grasp.

"You will want to postpone the comestible expedition for a moment." Tech called from the cockpit. Wrecker roared in frustration. I had to agree the big oaf; my stomach had been rumbling for the past hour and craved for me to appease it. "We are being hailed," The intellectual clone adjusted his specs. "by Rex."

That definitely distracted us from our hunger. All six of us gathered in the cockpit. Tech accepted the call and a holographic image of the clone captain popped up front and center. He greeted us with a kind grin. "It's been awhile, boys. Fern, it's good to see you, too. Any chance I can use your squad's expertise for a mission?"

"Finally!" Wrecker said, crossing his muscular arms. "I'm tired of waiting around for Cid."

"What do you need, Rex?" Echo asked. I detected a little eagerness in his tone.

"I'll explain everything when you get to Coruscant." Rex said.

"Coruscant?!" Hunter and I repeated in unison. My arms hugged my torso at the very concept of hovering over the ecumenopolis planet much less land on its surface. Hunter lowered his chin. "That's a big ask, Captain."

"Why?" Omega questioned in between me and the sergeant. "What's on Coruscant?"

"It is the galatic capital and, thus, the heart of the Empire." Tech explained.

"Meaning it's the last place we ever want to step foot on." I sighed. "Especially since the Empire thinks we were destroyed on Kamino. I would like to keep it that way. Even if no one is actively looking for us, there is too much risk for, for slip-ups, and we could be spotted by anyone." My spine shivered at the thought of coincidentally running into Athena anywhere on the planet...

"It's a covert mission, Fern." Rex assured, his eyes softened when they met mine. "A simple data extraction, but a crucial one. I'll send over a flight plan to bypass Imperial security and coorinates to a safe landing zone."

"We're on our way." Echo decided for all of us. Hunter and I exchanged a wary expression. Once Tech ended the connection, I turned and walked out the cockpit; Hunter and Echo followed me. "Coruscant is too risky for us." I sighed, tightening my crossed arms to my chest. "There are unfathomable dangers there."

Echo arched a brow. "No offense, Fern, but isn't that a little dramatic?"

I should really tell them about her. I told myself. How long am I going to keep this secret from all them? I know I'm protecting them by keeping them oblivious, but now we are heading...No, I've been strong this long. I'm just paranoid. I trust Rex, and so if it's covert, then we don't have anything to worry about.

I inhaled through my nose, and cheeked a smile. "Hey, I'm just looking out for us. Someone has to when we are now heading to the 'heart of the Empire.'" I patted both men on their shoulders. "But seriously, no funny business. I know you two are the last I need to tell that to—just remember, our squad's safety comes first."

"Of course." Hunter agreed. I looked to Echo, who simply smiled and nodded.

"Okay, let's do a quick supply run and get out of here." I clapped my hands together. "I'd hate to keep Rex waiting."