Prompt:
When a mission to help (Y/N) and Caleb Dume escape after Order 66 goes south, Hunter must say goodbye to one of his friends at the expense of his brother.
Requested by inparanormal
She/Her❥
2nd POV
♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
Order 66 had just been activated by the crooked Chancellor Palpatine. Unfortunately for you, you had been assigned to help Jedi Master Depa Billaba and her young Padawan Caleb Dume. Before Order 66 was initiated, it was a rough battle between the Droids and Clones, so Master Billaba called in Clone Force 99 for assistance. This ended up being the worst decision she could possibly make.
Right after Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair, and Tech landed on the planet, the Jedi and the Clones began to get to know each other considering you and the Bad Batch had never met before. Pretty soon, Hunter and yourself were well adjusted to the situation, and you were beginning to enjoy having the Clone Force 99 around.
Although it was mainly serious conversation, you still enjoyed their presence: specifically Hunter's.
However, Master Billaba's Clone Captain, Grey, received a com link from the Chancellor. After he finished the brief call with Palpatine, he swivelled around and shot Master Billaba right in the back,
"MASTER!" Caleb shouted, igniting his blue lightsaber.
You grabbed Caleb by the cuff of his robe and began pulling him towards the woods. The majority of Master Billaba's battalion ignored the two of you. They stayed in place, shooting Billaba ruthlessly despite her already being dead.
You managed to shoot a look at Hunter of disbelief over what had just happened! Had he known what the Clones would do? Was he with them? Did he try and talk to you just so he could stab you in the back later?
So many questions left unanswered.
Sweat poured down your forehead despite the bitter cold and sharp winds. You could feel Caleb begging the tears of betrayal and sadness to fade, but you didn't even try to correct him. This was the only instance that you believed was okay to cry. You wanted to cry. The Clones were your enemies— they wanted to kill you!
You racked your brain for answers. You hoped this was just Master Billaba's battalion and not a phenomenon stretching across the galaxy,
"(Y/N)!" a voice shouted from behind you and Caleb. You span around and locked eyes with Hunter. Wrecker, Tech, and Echo were nowhere to be seen, but he had Crosshair with him.
You ignited your (F/C) lightsaber and twirled it in your hand,
"Don't come any closer, traitor!" you shouted; your voice cracking from the pain of betrayal, "I will not hesitate to cut you down where you stand."
Hunter held his hands in the air in surrender and eyed his brother, Crosshair, "We are not your enemies. We do not know why General Billaba's battalion struck out like that, but we have no intention of attacking you. You have to trust us!"
Hunter looked so true with his words. You couldn't decipher if it was true, or if he was just trying to convince you of it just to shoot you and Caleb in the back like they did with Master Billaba,
"I don't trust either of you!" Caleb shouted, looking at Crosshair, "I sense uncertainty in Crosshair! I don't believe this for a second."
Hunter looked in shock at his brother. Indeed, Crosshair was shaking. It was as if everything inside him was trying to convince him to either cease fire or shoot the two Jedi into oblivion. Crosshair held down his weapon and nodded, "I am not going to hurt you by Hunter's orders."
By Hunter's orders? Would he have done something if Hunter wasn't here? Is he a risk?
"Stay away!" you repeated while pulling Caleb behind you in a protective manner, "You're a Jedi killer! You're both evil! Stay away!"
Hunter approached with his hands extended in surrender once more, "How many times do I have to say it? Crosshair and I are your friends! Wrecker, Echo and Tech have no idea what is happening either— you have to believe me! We want to help you just as much as you want to help the Jedi!"
"Crosshair said the only reason he wasn't going to shoot is because you said so!" you angrily shouted back, holding the lightsaber towards Crosshair.
Hunter looked to his brother, and before he could even start up a conversation involving Crosshair, the Clone let off a few rounds in Caleb's direction. You screamed and grabbed the Padawan; yanking him towards the tree line.
You could hear Hunter angrily shouting at Crosshair, and you could feel his fear and surprise through the force. He did seem legitimately concerned for Caleb, yourself, and the rest of the Jedi, but you weren't about to risk Padawan Dume to see.
The two of you climbed up trees; scaling all the way to the thinnest branches. Unfortunately thanks to the white snow, there were no leaves to provide cover, but it would have to do for now,
"What do we do, Master?" Caleb asked breathlessly while wiping away from stray tears, "Our ship is back with the Clones, and they have blocked transmissions!"
"We will just have to run and hide out until they leave," you answered immediately while looking around the area, "We should start moving. We can leap from this tree to others. It won't be the fastest or safest mode of escape, but it's out best chance."
The Padawan nodded without hesitation and jumped. The tree that the both of you were on was a good bit taller than the others, so Caleb staggered a bit trying to latch onto the other trees, but he was ultimately able to begin jumping from the trees. He reminded you of a Kowakian Monkey-Lizard from the planet of Kowak.
You readied yourself to jump, and you followed the Padawan. The two of you covered a great distance before Hunter found you. Crosshair was not with him.
By this point, the two of you had abandoned the tree-jumping plan, and had taken to the ground. Although the snow had grown to cover up to your calves, you still made some good distance,
"Master!" Caleb yelled while unsheathing his blue lightsaber, "They found us!"
"(Y/N)! Please stop and wait!" Hunter cried out loud while wading through the thick snow, "I left Crosshair behind! It's just me!"
Little did Hunter know that Crosshair wasn't left behind. The determined Clone had followed his Sergeant into the snowy wilderness, and climbed up to a steep hill, away from the naked eye.
He was currently ducked into a snow bank; his scope trained on your face as you spoke with Hunter,
"We will not fall for that!" you growled while pulling out your lightsaber as well, "I was beginning to like you and your brothers, and I would really hate to have to put you down, but I will not hesitate to!"
Hunter got within walking distance— still a bit far, but close enough to where he could speak to you without yelling over the harsh winter winds, "I don't know what's come over Crosshair and the other Clones, but it hasn't affected Tech, Echo, Wrecker and myself. Crosshair seems to be the only one with the intentions of the other Clones. Please, let my brothers and I help you out," he cut himself off and looked behind him, as if he could sense danger approaching, "I know your ship is surrounded by the other Clones. Let me help you!"
Caleb looked unsure. His eyes went to my face as he blinked back some unseen emotions, "Master, I think he's telling the truth. I can't sense ill-will in him like with Crosshair. Maybe he is telling the truth."
You wanted to believe it. Just like Caleb had said, Hunter seemed legit. There were no ominous undertones to his statement, and it indeed looked like Crosshair hadn't come along.
You nodded finally, and sheathed your lightsaber, "If you try anything, I will not hesitate to kill you. I don't want it to go in that direction, so please don't try anything."
Hunter seemed to breathe out in relief once he saw both yours and Caleb's lightsabers go away and back on the belts. He hurried over and brought a com link from his pocket; flicking it on,
"Your ship is right in the centre of the group," he said while pointing his finger to the exact area, "Grey and his boys have it guarded pretty well, but if I can contact Wrecker, he can take care of them."
"You'd be willing to kill them for us?" you questioned suspiciously, "You boys would do anything for each other."
"I don't want it to go that way, (Y/N)," he answered, ignoring the 'General' title you once wore, "But, the Jedi and the Republic are the only reason I was created. I swore to protect both of those things with my life whenever I became a Sergeant, and I'm not planning on abandoning that promise."
A smile rose to your lips at that sentiment. Hunter was different, and you liked different.
Your Clone Commander was a special man named Widow, and you trusted him with your life, yet you felt like the Commander couldn't be trusted anymore. At least with Hunter, you could develop those close and trustful feelings once more— that is, if he is telling the truth,
"I wish we could've met before today," you mumbled as the Padawan, the Sergeant and yourself filed into a horizontal line, "I would've liked to have gotten to know you better."
"You can get to know me better regardless," he smiled, earning a confused look from Caleb, "I will stick with the two of you no matter what happens. We will find out what's wrong with my brothers and put a stop to it if we can."
You laid a stiff hand onto the Clone's shoulder. Although he was wearing around, you could feel his shoulder flinch from the touch, "Thank you, Hunter. Thank you."
A smile rose to his lips, and he was about to respond when something unthinkable happened.
A blaster bolt ripped through the chilled night and embedded itself into your shoulder blade. You screamed from both pain and surprise as you plummeted to the white earth below,
"What?" Hunter shouted; his eyes scanning the wilderness in bewilderment, "No! NO! (Y/N)!"
You gasped and sputtered as the snow below began to turn an ugly crimson red from your blood. Caleb was screaming in anger, but you couldn't make out a single word. It felt like you were listening to the conversation from under the water.
Life began to blur away. There was a blue swish of light, which was obviously Caleb's lightsaber. It was deflecting blaster bolts; sending it back to the person who originally sent them. You suddenly felt stiff hands clamp on your shoulder and pull you off the cold snow below,
"Caleb, run!" Hunter yelled anxiously; his voice just as blurred and fuzzy as it was moments ago, "Take my com link and contact Wrecker! He will help you!"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, CLONE!" the Padawan yelled back while racing off into the forest, "YOU'VE KILLED THOSE I CARE ABOUT MOST! I HOPE YOU SUFFER!"
You blinked away heavy tears as the realization of what was happening began to settle. You had been shot by an unknown individual, and this was truly the end. You had never felt so alone,
"It's okay, (Y/N)," Hunter whispered, his voice becoming clearer than ever, "I won't leave you. It's going to be okay."
"Did..." you began, coughing, "Did you do this? Was... was this all a trick to get to... C-Caleb and I?"
"No, of course not," Hunter responded while clasping your cheek into his hand, "I am loyal to the Jedi and the Republic. I am loyal to you, (Y/N)."
Somehow, you felt indifferent about that fact now. It didn't matter. As long as Caleb is safe, you can die peacefully,
"May the force be with you, then," you coughed again, looking up into Hunter's hazel eyes, "I-If you see Caleb again... keep him safe. He's just a boy."
Hunter nodded and kissed your forehead softly, "I promise, (Y/N). I promise you."
Crosshair emerged from the woods at that very moment and stared suspiciously at Hunter, "What are you doing?"
"It was Crosshair?" you mumbled softly, the sweet warmth of death approaching.
Hunter rose to his feet and drew out his blasters, "Leave us, you murderer! I will kill you myself if you don't go!"
Crosshair looked quite unamused and rolled his eyes, "I will be reporting you to the Empire after this. Have your precious time with your dying Jedi."
Hunter let off a few blasts from his blaster as an intimidation tactic, but Crosshair just lazily walked away. Hunter turned back around and gasped as he saw you. You had paled out as the blood continued to gush from your wound, and you were no longer conscious,
"(Y/N)!" he cried out while falling to his knees to hold you once more.
"May the force be with you... find Caleb... protect him," you repeated once more before slipping from his grasp.
December 19th, 2022