FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R S I X T Y-F O U R

Athena Quinn overheard stormtroopers gasping and quietly clamoring. Her eyes narrowed as she rose to her feet for the first time in 36 hours. Her legs wobbled as she stepped out from under the tarp and into the sun, shielding her face with her fingers. There were people beginning to crowd, blocking her view. They all faced the platform ledge.

"Move!" she grunted, storming forward and shoving the troopers from her path until she stumbled in front of the pack. Her head jerked up. When her eyes instantly caught sight of what caused the commotion, her mouth gaped, choking on a sharp gasp.

Crosshair...

Athena forgot any sense of the aching pain in her legs. Her feet bolted across the platform, sprinting and pumping her arms. The wind roared in her ears. Suddenly, when her eyes locked on the weary soldier, her pace drastically dwindled... He was dragging Mayday's limp body in his arms. The commander was using his sniper rifle, an instrument of destruction, as a crutch. Lastly, while Mayday's helmet was secured on his head, Crosshair's...was nowhere to be found...

It wasn't the only thing amiss...the symbol of his Imperial role, his Imperial rank, his Imperial future, his Imperial ideology...all have vanished. No signs of him trying to find something to defend without stopping to think if it was worth defending at all...In fact, there was not a single trace of the numb demeanor he sternly exhibited at the start of the entire transport mission. Nor the stoic, unyielding shell he had curated and guarded ardently... Now, there was nothing left to be shielded.

And there, she detected the regret in his strained, amber eyes...and the anguish and frustration with himself...

After shaking her head, Athena resumed her sprint, nearly tripping over her feet when she finally reached her partner. "Dank ferrik, Crosshair, you really know how to worry a girl." She didn't understand how she could possibly be witty at this moment. Nevertheless, as her body collided with his, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and under his free arm, her sympathetic disposition flipped on like a switch. "What happened out there? Mayday..." She pushed on Crosshair's chestplate with one hand to support him as she veered her attention to the commander. She heard labored breaths through his helmet's modulator. Crosshair's heavy respiration clouded her ear.

"He's—cough—He's dying..." the elite clone said.

Athena pulled her head back so she could see his face. He was sickeningly pale. The rife scope tattooed over his left eye was more prominent than it ever has before. When her fingers cupped his stubbled jaw, he was numb to her touch. His tired eyes could hardly stay open. But was the most shocking was the genuine pain and worry strickened in those eyes. The bounty hunter's breath shuddered as she nodded. "Yes. Okay. Stop. Stop, Crosshair."

She forced the enduring soldier back, when abruptly Crosshair's knees buckled. "Hey, hey! Easy. Let Mayday down." She helped both clones down, laying the wounded commander on his side and scooting herself on Crosshair's right, pulling him closer. "Collapse onto me. I got you."

Her eyes scanned the crowd that had gradually formed. Her eyes narrowed as her mouth twisted in disgust. "What are all you standing around for?! These men need help! Move it!"

"Athena..." Crosshair muttered.

"Shh." Athena wrapped her arms under his chin and around his shoulder blades, hugging him tightly. She swallowed down her tears as she pressed her lips into his forehead. Then again, just above his brow. Her final kiss planted itself on the bridge of his nose. Crosshair sank deeper into her embrace and allowed his eyes to close momentarily, his mouth buried into her jacket sleeve. Hearing Athena bark orders at the troopers was soothing to him. Her voice then changed when she addressed him, nonetheless consoling to his troubled soul. "You did well, Crosshair. Remember that. You've done everything right."