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Crosshair snarled at them with an unreadable expression, ignoring Omega’s pleas. The others stared at the ground, seeming to have accepted their fate.
“Crosshair! This isn’t you, its the chip!” Omega cried desperately. She was ignored. Crosshair lined his rifle up with Wrecker’s forehead. A shot rang out, and his body dropped to the floor.
“No!”
Another shot. Echo fell to the floor. Omega was the only person with any reaction.
She could hardly breathe at that point.
Tech was next. It was almost more painful, to see the shot go through his head compared to the others. Tech’s mutation was his brain. He was smart, and he was proud of his intelligence.
Omega couldn’t see anymore. Her vision was blurry, and she was mutely aware of the tears dripping off her chin.
Her head was jerked up, making her watch Hunter be forced to his knees. When had she lowered her head? There was a painful grip on her hair, but she could hardly feel it. Not over the pain of watching her family die.
Crosshair lined up his rifle.
Hunter raised his eyes, meeting Omega’s. He tried to smile, but it was painful and awkward, a last ditch attempt to comfort her. It only succeeded in making her cry harder.
Crosshair took the shot.
She closed her eyes before she could watch the bullet enter his brain.
She was pushed onto her knees next. She didn’t resist. What point was there? Her family was dead. By Crosshair’s hands. The Crosshair who was once a part of this family. She knew it wasn’t really him, but what could she do at that point.
The rifle was lined up with her forehead.
A shot rang out.
Omega bolted up in her bunk, panting hard. Lula was clutched to her chest, and blonde hair plastered to her forehead with sweat.
She dragged a hand down her face, exhaling shakily.
At least it was only a nightmare, right? Even under the influence of the inhibitor chip, Crosshair would never kill his own family.
She crept out of the makeshift room Wrecker had made for her a few rotations ago. Once down the ladder, she picked up Lula again, holding her securely in her arms.
Omega started to walk to Hunter’s bunk, wincing as the door hissed open. By no means was it loud, but in the silence of the sleeping ship it was almost piercing.
She made it over to stand in front of his bunk before pausing. Did she really want to wake him? He had already tried to get rid of her once. Burdening him with her childish worries may only make him try to get rid of her again.
She glanced at the back of slumbering man, before making a decision to leave. She couldn’t be any more of a hassle than she was already.
“Omega?” She cursed under her breath a word she had heard Echo use. She was too loud and woke Hunter up.
“Sorry, Hunter. I’m just leaving.” She whispered, hugging Lula.
Hunter turned around, sitting up and blinking blearily at her. “What’s up?” He asked, expression shifting to one of concern once the tear tracks down her face became visible in the low light.
“Nothing, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” She wiped away the tears, offering him a shaky smile. His eyebrows pulled together.
She had just turned to walk out of the room when he spoke up.
“Nightmare?”
She turned around slowly, looking down at the floor. She nodded, not meeting his gaze.
She could hear him climb out of bed, before kneeling down on the ground in front of her and tilting her head up to meet his eyes. She kept her her eyes down, refusing to look him in the eye. He would be able to read the shame in her eyes.
“You’re not a bother, Omega.” He said, voice gentle. Her eyes didn't move. “Look at me.”
She shook her head, bottom lip wobbling. “Look at me.” He repeated. She raised her eyes, expecting to see annoyance or anger. All she could find was patience and kindness.
“I didn’t wanna wake you.” She said, reiterating her earlier statement. Hunter’s face fell slightly, and Omega took a step back from him. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely audible to herself.
She moved to run away.
“Omega,” he clasped a warm hand over her shoulder and halted her footsteps. “C’mere, kid.” He turned her around and scooped her up, chucking slightly at her yelp.
He sat her down on his bunk, and grabbed her hands. He turned her to face him as he sat down.
“We all get nightmares. Nothing to be ashamed of.” She looked between their clasped hands and Lula sitting in her lap, biting the inside of her cheek. She nodded, but it lacked any real sincerity.
“Every one of us.” He released her hand to tilt her chin up for the second time that night, but this time she didn’t fight meeting his eyes, “I get nightmares, too.”
She looked at him, disbelief in her eyes. “Do you wanna know what mine are about?” She hesitated, but nodded. “I have dreams that I can’t save the team in time, save you. I dream that I gave orders that kill the team. I dream about what would’ve happened to me if the long-necks didn’t assign me to this team. About futures where I didn’t meet this family. Omega,” He said her name with urgency, “You are apart of this family.”
She scrunched her nose up. “Don’t argue with me,” He said, in his sergeant voice. She fought a smile by biting her lip. Hunter ruffled her hair, and she leaned into the touch.
“You don’t have to talk about your nightmare. Not if you don’t want to. But were all here to listen if you do.” She nodded, and met his gaze with a small smile.
“Okay.” She whispered, though her voice cracked from the earlier stress of crying.
Hunter offered her a smile, and pulled the covers down and patted the pillow next to him. “Sleep,” was all he said.
Omega crawled up to the head of the bed, burrowing under the blankets and nuzzling her head into the pillow that smelled like Hunter.
Hunter shifted behind her, laying down and throwing his arm around her. Omega grabbed his arm, holding it along with Lula. He laughed slightly, and kissed the top of her head.
“Sleep.” Omega took a deep breathe, and released any tension left in her body. She focused on Lula in her arms and the comforting presence of Hunter behind her, holding her steady. If she focused enough, she could almost hear the snores of the rest of the team.
Neither one of them had nightmares for the rest of the night.