FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

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

I've done everything right?... Crosshair cursed himself. No, I've done everything that isn't right. Athena and I, we should have ran away from the Empire when we escaped Endor. She has ruined her life by waiting for me to wake up and realize my neat, little fantasy has plummet into nothing before my eyes...that everything I dedicated my service—my purpose—to meant nothing. When I did wake up, I never expected the one 'something right' to emerge out of all this, would be her. And I fought to get back to her, with Mayday, and the three of us could move on from all this. For good.

The soldier had no energy to even attempt to profess his feelings. How her embrace was the closest resemblance to a home he never had. That despite her charming, chaotic, and cocky nature making him roll his eyes everytime she scrunched her nose, her fierce, beautiful presence was comforting, like he could fall asleep with a smile and wake up to she'd taken care of everything. He suddenly felt more safe than he ever has before. He'd fallen in love with her...and he couldn't muster the strength to tell her.

"What is the meaning of this?" The shrill voice of Lt. Nolan cursed the air. "Get back to work! All of you!" The crowd dispersed as quickly as it formed. Athena lifted her attention to the officer, who moved in until he towered over the clones, his shadow casting over the bounty hunter. His hands folded behind his back. "About time you two returned." he chided, then glared down at her. "Ensign, make yourself useful, get up, and assist in loading the crates."

"I'm exactly where I need to be." Athena growled, tightening her grip around Crosshair's chest.

"H-he...he needs a medic." the elite clone panted. He reached over and gently slipped off Mayday's helmet. Athena's stomach clenched and a lump formed in her throat. The commander's tan complexion had flushed into a sickly green and ash-gray. His jaw locked in agony as he groaned.

"I see you didn't retrieve the crates, which means you've failed your mission." Nolan sighed with disappointment.

"Did you hear what I said?" Crosshair lifted his head weakly from Athena's arm, his face contorted anguishly. "Help him!" The bounty hunter was absolutely struck speechless by his desperate pleas...

"Certainly not. That would be a waste of the Empire's resources."

Tick. Tick. Tick.

"Are you mad?" Athena turned her chin to the Imperial monster, disbelief fuming in her eyes. "Get the man—"

Hhyuck.

Athena's words choked when she heard Mayday hacking up blood. She lowered her chin and somberly watched the once-dignified eyes of the commander roll to the back of his head, his body shrivelling one last time, and his doomed soul releasing lifelessly... Crosshair panted, dropping his head into the crook of Athena's arm in utter defeat...

Commander Mayday had survived excruciating pain for almost two days, clinging onto the hope he would receive medical attention because Crosshair was determined to get him some...to save him. And Mayday believed his comrade could and would. He heard Crosshair's demands for help. He recognized he had a friend or two with him by his side. Lamentably, he died in front of the man who carried him all the way, refusing to leave him behind, within help's reach... It was as if the moment Mayday knew he would acquire none...he surrendered to his suffering.

"He served his purpose as a soldier of the Empire." Nolan said in a befitting fashion, as if to provide a sense of condolence. His factitiously cruel tone boiled Athena's blood. Her heart pumped violently in her chest. Her fingers clutched Crosshair's armor, bending her nails into its thick surface.