Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Employer.
The bounty hunter on Pantora opened Hunters’ eyes, it was too naïve to assume the empire was going to let them disappear without a fuss.
After another couple of missions Cid finally had enough incentive to pull some strings in the guild, “According to the bounty hunters guild, the employer is Shu Mai.” Tech typed away on his computer.
“Why does that face look familiar?” Wrecker pointed at the smug Gossam staring at them from the monitor.
“We faced her on Felucia a couple of years ago.” Tech reminded.
“Looks like she holds a grudge.” Echo quipped, the mission was before his time with the squad. Hunter remembered her cruelty, even towards her own people.
“Hmmm, this is strange, the bounty is only for Omega, why would she be after her?” Tech questioned, “In fact, how would she even know of Omega’s existence?”
“Let’s go ask her.” Hunter stared him down. This woman put out a hit on Omega, that was something he couldn’t let stand. Wrecker cheered in agreement.
“I’m ready.” Omega stood up. Wrecker lifted her to his shoulder. She had gotten good enough in training that Hunter didn’t feel a constant squeeze of panic whenever she left his side. Time and time again she had proven that she truly belonged to be on this squad. Hunter gave her a nod of approval and her face lit up.
Tech had already pulled up the schematics, “Breaking in won’t be so hard, we did not have any trouble last time.”
Breaking into the palace indeed wasn’t as hard, not even as hard as the last time they were on Felucia. The bad batch found Shu in at her desk. Tech cut off the power and set off explosions around the base as a distraction. When most guards ran towards the commotion the squad jumped down from the rafters and cornered the Gossam.
“What?!” She exclaimed, she made a reach for a blaster hidden underneath her desk but Echo knocked it out of her hands. Hunter leveled his blaster to her head.
“What’s your business with Omega?” Hunter demanded. "What do you want with her?"
“Who’s Omega?” she had the gall to deny. Wrecker roared and picked her up by the neck, her feet dangling inches over the ground.
“Don’t play dumb with us, you put a bounty on her head, why did you do it?” Wrecker roared.
“Something’s not right.” Tech said, the security cams he had sliced were shutting off one by one.
“Stop, stop." she pleaded, when Wrecker unsheated the knife from his leg, "He made me do it.” She blubbered.
“Who?” the hairs on Hunters’ neck stood on end. He picked up the patter of feet on the roof and balcony, as well as multiple blaster rifles charging up.
Her eyes flashed towards the window to the balcony and Hunter followed her gaze.
When they looked at the window, they stared straight down Crosshairs’ scope. With one shot he took down Wrecker. Omega screamed and stood in front of Wrecker bow drawn. Her shot took out a trooper behind whom Crosshair had ducked.
Another trooper clicked open a device and set off an EMP, shutting down Tech’s equipment and Echo’s legs and mechanical arm. Echo tumbled to the ground. All blasters powered down and Omega’s bow shut off.
Hunter positioned himself in front of Omega, knives drawn.
“You are so predictable.” Crosshair taunted, he flicked another device. Omega stared at it as it ticked harmlessly over the floor, it didn't seem to be doing anything. Suddenly, Hunter screamed, he clutched at his ears and head and fell to the ground writhing in pain.
“Hunter!” Omega cried, she stood in front of her squad, her legs trembled as Crosshairs shadow swallowed her. Troopers flooded the office, blocking any exit.
“Take me, but let my friends be, please.” She pleaded, ready to stand down.
Crosshair took off his helmet, she did not like the smirk on his face, “You? Who said I wanted you?” Crosshair mocked and glared at Hunter squirming on the ground. “I knew you’d never show up unless I threatened someone close to you … it is your worst quality.” He stood over Hunter.
Outraged, Omega charged and kicked at his knees. Crosshair dropped down, not expecting the onslaught. Before he could retaliate, Tech tackled him to the ground and punched him in the face.
“I can be unpredictable if you wish.” Tech said, he made for the weapon incapacitating their leader. The troopers surrounded them and opened fire, their weapons somehow immune to the EMP.
Tech dove with Omega behind the desk for cover, the device out of their reach.
“Tech, this isn’t good.” Omega whispered.
“It isn’t ideal.” He admitted.
"What is happening to Hunter?" She whimpered.
"High frequency emitter, Hunters' hearing is too sensitive." Tech concluded, but was unable to assist their leader at the moment.
A roar had the room in turmoil, they peeked from behind the desk and saw Wrecker had woken up, he was taking on the army. Crosshair did not realize they had fixed the weak spot in Wreckers’ armor.
“It is looking better.” Though Tech was less effective without his visor, he was far from helpless.
Crosshair had Hunter slung over his shoulder, the wall exploded and a cruiser stood ready, their former teammate threw Hunter on board and they vanished into the night.
“No!” Echo yelled, he tried to fire his blaster but it was still submitted to the EMP, all he could do was crawl one handed towards the danger. Wrecker was still too busy fighting the troopers.
Tech peeked from behind the desk but the soldiers on the ship laid down too much cover fire.
“They’re getting away!” Omega yelled, but Tech held her back behind the relative safety of the desk. There was an evil glint in Crosshairs’ eye. Tech knew him as well as Crosshair knew them, he could feel his final strike coming.
“Oh, no.” he realized seconds before Crosshair reached for his grenade.
“Incoming!” Tech yelled. Wrecker must have realized the same thing because he had already slung Echo over his shoulder and broke through the wall. Tech followed them out with Omega, he heard the tick, tick of the grenade bouncing behind them and then the ear deafening explosion which propelled them all forward.
“That was embarrassing.” Wrecker lowered Echo in his seat at the ship.
“You’re telling me, at least you did not have to be carried off.” Echo was furious.
“What are we doing? Aren’t we going after them?” Omega jumped up and pointed to the sky.
“Of course we are but we have to be careful.” Tech advised, “They will have taken Hunter to Kamino by now, which is, as you know, not the friendliest place.”
“Also, Crosshair knows our every move before we make it, he’ll be ready.” Echo continued, the power had finally returned to his legs.
Wrecker sagged his head clasped between his hands. He was having more trouble lately, the evenings’ events probably did not help much either.
“We can’t just do nothing, Hunter would never leave us behind!” Omega countered.
“Don’t you think we know that?” Tech exploded, Omega shrank back momentarily but recuperated when she felt his instant regret and pain.
“Let’s think of this logically,” Echo laid his hand on Tech’s shoulders. “Crosshair knows every tactic we have and every move we’d make.”
“How does that help us?” Wrecker groaned, “besides, Hunter usually comes up with the plans.”
“Precisely,” Tech exclaimed, “that can work to our advantage, it will be all he’ll be ready for.”
“He knows us as well as we know him …” Tech turned towards Omega, “… he doesn’t know you.”
“What? Me? I have to come up with a plan?” Omega fumbled, “I’ve only been on a hand full of missions with you guys, and I hardly did anything.” Her usual confidence disappeared underneath the pressure.
“Maybe that’s better.” Tech reasoned, “Crosshair will anticipate our logical solutions, we need an illogical plan.”
“Besides, I’ll bet no one knows Kamino inside out like Omega does.” Echo concluded, “If she investigated the base half as well as she did the ship, she’s the best guide we could have.”
“So, what’s the plan boss?” Wrecker asked.