“Hunter, Echo. Anyone there?”
“We read you Rex, what’s the problem?” Echo answered the commlink, bringing up the holographic visual of the ex-captain. Rex only smiled as the rest of the batch came into view. Being on the run from the Empire wasn't the best but at least they were together.
“Have you heard the news?” Rex asked.
“What news?” Omega asked, coming up to stand in front of Wrecker and Tech while Hunter took a seat.
“Rampart’s dead”
The five members of the batch looked at each other in shock, “Captain, did you say the admiral is dead?” Hunter questioned, Rex could only nod.
“Come to Ryloth. I will explain everything" Rex explained.
The commline cut off as a set off coordinates popped up on their screens. Tech turned to look at Hunter who rubbed his face, “Tech set coordinates for Ryloth while I deal with Cid” Hunter muttered, feeling a headache coming on. Wrecker and Echo shared a look, Echo took up the co-pilot seat while Wrecker and Omega went to go count grenade’s in the armoury. Hunter sighed as he spoke with Cid who threatened that she wouldn’t wait for them forever. Their debt still had to be paid.
It didn’t take them long to reach the hidden coordinates in Ryloth, Omega smirked seeing Captain Rex’s ship just hidden by the trees. Rex looked up from where he was speaking to a now free Captain Howzer and Gregor. The three gestured for the batch to come over, Hunter mumbled something about being too open but Echo just patted his shoulder heading over to join the others.
“What’s this about Rex?” Echo asked, greeting his longtime brother who hugged him.
“Watch this!” Gregor exclaimed in a maniac tone. Wrecker smirked as Howzer activated his datapad, Tech gasped noticing a familiar code as he accessed the database with ease. On the video, it showed Admiral Rampart giving a speech about the loss of Kamino and a few other planets, he was speaking about protecting the people and blamed the clones for the cause. It got cheers in the crowd as Rampart smirked, he continued only to speak about peace and freedom when an accurate bullet shot through the crowd straight into the head of the Admiral. The feed cut off as the drone was shot out of the sky and it landed sideways only for it to catch every imperial guard death and for the crowd to dissipate. The drone captured one last image and that was off a painted skull on a rebellion symbol. With a knife through its eye. The video then cuts off.
“Woah” Wrecker and Omega said in sync, looking at the symbol admiring the artwork. Tech and Hunter shared a look.
“What’s this got to do with us?” Hunter asked, Echo turned to look at Rex who sighed.
“There’s been reports that a commander has gone rogue within the Empire and is being hunted down. There are multiple reports regarding clones going AWOL but we can’t confirm who. All we know is that Rampart was going to order all clones to execution when this rogue struck out killing the admiral” Rex explained turning to Howzer who nodded.
“We believe the rogue is heading for Ord Mantell, there has been a word going around, they are taking down all top individuals who have connections to the Empire as well as helping clones escape the clutches” Howzer reported, showing Tech the data, the engineer was quick to record it.
“Who would have thought my scouts would be right? Clone Force 99 is still alive, well part of it is” The unknown voice surprised the group as they all turned around only to gasp at the amount of stormtroopers surrounding them with Tarkin leading them, Rex moved to pick his helmet up when a whole lot of stun rounds headed their way. Omega crumbled as Hunter landed on her. She pretended to be knocked out as she worked out where they were heading she caught the conversation.
“Where are we heading sir?” A trooper asked as Clone Force 99 and the clones were put in handcuffs and shoved in a cell.
“To the capital, we will make a warning to any rebelling scum out there and hopefully catch us that rogue who is going around killing our men”
“Sir, what about the kid?”
“Bring her, children bring pain to others. She can witness her family's death and then we can return her to her purpose” Tarkin said with a smirk shoving the small girl into the cage with the groggy clones.
If Omega could voice opinion she would, this was one of her most longest uncomfortable flights ever, she heard groaning and was thankful her brothers were waking up. Gregor was the first to wake and nut his head against the side of the cage. Wrecker grunted doing the same thing, so he was kind enough to place an arm above his three brothers who sat up hitting Wrecker’s arm instead of solid metal. Tech nodded, in thanks waking Echo who was more groggy and lying in Rex’s lap, the captain remained silent as a figure walked up to the cage.
“Get up clones, time for you to pay for your crimes” The trooper prodded them with the electricity, Howzer stepped in the way when they aimed for Echo, the arc trooper patting the captains in thanks. They didn’t move until Omega was snatched away from Hunter and had a pistol against her head.
“Woah! If you had just said please, we would have moved straight away” Wrecker mocked as he took the lead only to gasp, they were led out into the bright skies of miserable Coruscant. A crowd of people stood at the bottom of the stairs while they were all forced to kneel on the platform in the order of: Wrecker, Hunter, Omega, Tech, Echo, Rex, Howzer and Gregor.
“These Clones are the reason why many of you suffer through pain and death, these abominations believe in a fake cause of rebel scum who think they can fight our powerful cause. The Empire protects…”
BANG
Grand Moff Tarkin gasped as he was shot in the shoulder, he was instantly surrounded by imperial troopers as smoke filled the area. Hunter gasped when a small object flew through the air only to take out two troopers in front of him. Omega yelped when Tarkin snatched her shouting, “I have a child held hostage, show yourself!”.
By this time the audience had disappeared and any rebels hid in the shadows. The clones looked around in confusion as the smoke cleared only for Tarkin to gasp as a hooded figure appeared in front of them all with a rifle attached to their back.
“Surrender or the child dies!” Tarkin ordered the individual who continued to walk forward only to disappear with the wind, a second wave of smoke grenades went off followed by multiple shots when the smoke cleared. Tarkin gasped, finding himself in a complicated position. The individual had him in their arms aiming a gun at his head. Any remaining Imperial troopers surrounded the two, aiming for the individual who didn’t make a sound as the clones watched the five troopers drop dead to the ground by one perfect bullet that bounced off surfaces. Tech gasped seeing the small circles, he nudged Echo whose eyes widened.
“What’s your plan now? Murder a high Imperial Member of the Empire” Tarkin questioned, gasping for air as the grip tightened. He found himself thrown to the ground in the middle of all the rebels who would deal with him. The hooded individual moved over to the batch and pressed a button removing their cuffs. Rex, Howzer and Gregor shared looks while the batch took a step in front of Omega.
“Just, who are you?” Rex asked as the group moved into the shadows as more imperial troopers appeared shooting at the rebels. They all took cover, Echo looked across at the hooded figure who moved swiftly in between the troopers taking them down with ease. Two ships flew above, “Haha! Someone’s flying your baby Techie!” Wrecker teased, the Havok Marauder landed beside them. “Go! Go! Go!” Rex called out as they ran for it, a figure popped out of the ship revealing to be Hera who waved. Omega instantly hugged her friend while they collected their weapons, an explosion behind them all alerted them to the rebels and the hooded figure whose cloak had been ripped off them, revealing to be…
“CROSSHAIR! WE GOT TO GO!” A voice yelled from the side, in the other ship. Rex turned on instinct recognising that voice, there in the doorway of the ship was Cody, the commander who had gone missing. Crosshair looked back at the batch sending a familiar signal and throwing something their way. Wrecker caught it on instinct, he gasped seeing a trigger for explosives. The demolition expert smiled, pressing it once the area was clear as the building blew up to smithereens.
“Tech! Follow that ship!” Hunter ordered, Tech and Echo complied following the ship through hyperspace until they were almost shot out of the sky landing in a facility. They gasped when they were surrounded by rebels. It took Rex removing his helmet for them to accept them being friendly.
“Never in my life, did I think we would be playing follow the leader, Rex”
Rex whipped around in shock seeing a smiling commander Cody leaning against a nearby wall, Rex rushed over hugging his ori’vod. Cody held him tightly as he looked at the batch, “You’re vod’ika is in that room, careful he can’t really speak. His chip really did a number on him” Cody gestured to the door down the corridor. Tech was the first one rushing off with Wrecker on his heels. Hunter saluted the two jogging with Omega to catch up to the other two leaving Echo to be manhandled into a hug from both Cody and Rex.
Opening the door to the room, Omega didn’t exactly know what to expect but she couldn’t help the smile settle on her face as Crosshair was hugged by both Tech and Wrecker, for once the marksman wasn’t complaining instead he was voluntarily hugging back. Hunter smirked, walking into the room only to meet the chocolate brown eyes of his baby brother.
‘Ori’vod’ Crosshair signed to Hunter who could only whisper, “Vod’ika, you're safe. We have you”. A punch landed squarely to his jaw followed by Crosshair slamming into his chest, “I definitely deserved that'' Hunter muttered, holding Crosshair close, his baby brother was safe and more importantly alive in his arms.
“Crosshair?” Omega’s small voice broke the brothers out of the hug, Crosshair kneeled down to her level and tilted his head. She could only smile as she ran her fingers over the new scar across her brother's throat, “When did you get this?” Omega asked, Crosshair only rolled his eyes.
“He saved my life and suffered the consequences as well as killing Rampart” Cody’s voice answered the question for the small clone. Omega gasped looking at Crosshair who could only nod, she was instantly in his arms. Crosshair smirked, leaning further into Hunter who smiled at him. Echo was quick to wrap his baby brother up, Crosshair hugged him close and soon enough Wrecker called out a Clone hug. As much as Rex tried to escape he was dragged into it.
Soon laughter filled the room as a family reunited, Omega found herself smiling from within Hunter’s arms while Crosshair leaned into Wrecker, the giant wearing a thoughtful expression.
“What is it, Wrecker?” Echo asked, trying not to yawn.
The demolition could only grin, “It’s just with Crosshair being a mute, I can say what I want and he won’t be able to snark a comment my way” Wrecker teased earning himself a dark look from Crosshair.
“Argh, little Crossy can’t bite back with words, instead he will….woah!” Wrecker soon found himself slammed into the wall and in the matter of seconds, handcuffed and tied to a chair. Omega barely blinked as the lights flickered back on having only been off for a few minutes.
“You have to show me that!” Omega cried out looking at the marksman who was smiling with his arms crossed.
“It would seem that is Crosshair one, Wrecker Zero” Tech pointed out while Hunter gave Wrecker a glare, his older brother instinct kicking in. Crosshair could only smile smugly as he taught Omega a few hand signals with Echo helping translate them.
Slowly, the batch started to leave the room intending on getting some sleep when it would seem they had forgotten about something.
“Hey guys! Anyone going to untie me?” Wrecker asked, he groaned when a knife appeared by the side of his head as the door shut and the room plunged into darkness. He hung his head knowing he deserved it unaware the ropes were untied and he was free.
The lights flickered on leaving the demolition to catch his reflection only to gasp at the pink splodge on his face followed by face paint making him look like a clown!
“CROSSHAIR!” Wrecker’s shout echoed around the facility, startling many of them.
The said man only stood in the doorway of the Havok Marauder still in his imperial armour with the smirk of a lifetime, “Good to have you back, Cross” Echo said patting his shoulder.
‘Good to be back’ Crosshair signed to them all, Omega smirked hugging his waist. The two moved into her room for full view of their demolition expert storming into the hangar covered in hangar, face paint and what looked like a pink tutu.
Hunter couldn’t help but smile as he settled down in his bunk leaving Cody and Echo to calm down the demolition expert. The sergeant slowly closed his eyes, he didn’t say anything as two bodies joined him in his bunk to get some sleep. He pulled the two close who smelled of a combined fresh air and orange. He never understood why Crosshair smelt like the orange fruit but it gave him a certain comfort as he pulled his ad’ika and vod’ika close.
Tech and Echo could only smile looking down at the father of the batch with his baby brother and daughter. Wrecker stomped in ready to give the marksman hell when he caught sight of his three family members and decided on getting revenge later on instead.
The End…
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