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The smell of burnt flesh filled the small med room where Crosshair laid, he had been drifting in and out of consciousness, his lungs hurt with each breath he took. How did his plan go so wrong so quickly? How could they have done that to him?
“If you can’t fix him, he’ll have to be decommissioned” came the stern man’s voice from behind the glass.
“Admiral, I don’t think that is necessary”
“What’s the point of an enhanced clone if he is unable to accomplish his programming”
“I do believe he’ll be able to accomplish it. He may need some time to recover” Nala Se pleaded.
“If it takes too long, it would be better to redirect resources to those who are better suited to fill his role” Admiral Rampart said without concern.
“Admiral Rampart, there is no one else who can fill his role”
*sigh* Crosshair heard a soft voice let out a loud gasp, and soft steps walking over to a control panel, “Admiral, Nala Se, maybe you can turn off the comm. I do not think this type of conversation is helping my patient. If it matters to anyone, I do believe he will make a full recovery. I will see to it personally. Please allow my patient time to rest and heal.”
Silence filled the room once again, and the soft steps walked over to Crosshair’s bedside, unfortunately, they stood on the side his eye was patched up.
“I’m sorry about them. Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you” the voice whispered into his ear. He still couldn’t see the face, when he had finally managed to turn his head, his blurry vision only saw dark hair and a white med coat walk out of the room. His face was wet, when had he started crying? Why was he left in this room alone? Why did his brothers leave him?
Crosshair fought against wanting to tear off the bandages, he fought against screaming out, he wanted to cry, he wanted to be comforted, he wanted to hear Wrecker’s laugh, to hear Tech’s ramblings, to hear Echo’s reassurance, Hunter’s leadership. He wanted his brothers. He even wanted to hear Omega calming him. The only thing that filled the room however was silence, and his own heart beat.
The door to the room slid open, he wanted to look but he didn’t have the energy to turn his head. He tried looking with his good eye, without moving his head, and saw the same dark hair and white coat, near one of the walls. This time the soft steps came to stand beside him on his good side.
He took time to examine the face before him, it was a kind face, not like the Imperials he had seen about the place, or even the face of the long necks. This was a face who held all their emotions in their eyes. Eyes that expressed sadness, at his current state. Eyes that were analyzing every inch of him, he felt safe, for the first time since his chip activated, he felt safe and seen.
“Hi Crosshair” the smile that appeared on the kind face was soft and tender, “I’m your doctor, the name is Eilami. I’m gonna do everything I can to fix you. I’m going to be honest, there’s going to be a lot of pain, but I’ll do my best.” Eilami reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, it was reassuring and comforting.
Crosshair closed his and clenched his hand at the contact, no one had touched him since his brothers left.
“I’m gonna try and get you back to them” she whispered in his ear. His eye shot open at that, he wanted to ask what she meant, but the mask was preventing him from saying too much, and the damage to his lungs was making it difficult to take the needed breath in order to speak.
“I’m not going to leave you, just rest.” Crosshair didn’t know why, but in her presence he felt safe, and he allowed her words to take hold, he closed his eye again, and this time he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Eilami stood there looking at Crosshair, she stroked his arm soothingly, she pulled over a chair to sit by his side, as his hand still clutched onto hers like a lifeline. She had seen Crosshair around the facility, since her first day all those years ago, she had been enamoured with the sniper, she loved watching the Bad Batch interact. She never had the courage to actually go up and introduce herself, she had learned a lot about them from Omega, when she would follow her on her rounds, when Nala Se allowed her the time.
Seeing Crosshair on the bed, battered, burned, and scared, she knew there was no place she wanted to be at that moment. For the rest of her life, all she wanted was to be by Crosshair’s side, it’s a shame really she never made the effort to get to know him before. She wasn’t going to allow those kriffing long necks to decommission him.
She took her datapad and began ordering the necessary procedures needed. First and foremost they needed to remove the dead skin, the burnt skin. Then he would need to be in a bacta tank for at least two, maybe three weeks. After that, they could assess what the damage was to his eye and to his lungs. Hoping that the bacta tank would be all that was needed.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
A month later ….
“How’s my favourite patient?”
Crosshair was in the med room, his hair hadn’t grown quite the same since the burn, his face was scared. It wasn’t as bad as he thought it could have been, but every time he looked in the mirror it was another reminder on how he was so different from all the other clones. His lungs had healed to an acceptable range. He still was healing, but at least he was at 97% oxygen capacity, which was a lot better than most had expected. Even his eye that had received the brunt of the burn, was practically healed. It needed a small lense implant, but he was able to keep his own eye.
“Fine” was all he could really say, how could he tell the Eilami what he really felt, how his heart quickened every time he saw her. How he appreciated she never left him? How he couldn’t imagine going through all of this without her?
“I say you’re better than fine. Your oxygen capacity is amazing. Your eyesight is even better than what it had been. How are you finding the lens implant? Are you getting used to it?”
“It will do”
“Hmmm, is it painful? Does it feel weird?”
Crosshair simply nodded.
“That’s going to be normal for a little bit. Give it time and you’ll find you’ll get used to it. Plus what you really need is to get back into the swing of things, get your mind off it. Which is why it’s good I’m signing you off for practice time in the range, be able to practice your sniping”
Crosshair looked up at that, the smile on Eilami’s face was unmistakable, it filled his heart with joy, caused his breath to quicken and to catch in his throat.
“Why?”
“Hmm” She had looked down at the datapad entering a few different orders.
“Why are you this kind to me?”
Eilami stopped entering the orders, and looked up at Crosshair, he was genuinely shocked, his face didn’t hide any of what he felt. She walked over and sat beside Crosshair on the bed, “Are you seriously wondering why I'm nice to you?”
Crosshair nodded, “I’m rude. I betrayed my brothers…” Crosshair stopped, wait, what did he say? He turned his head to look at Eilami, the smile that had been on her face grew, “Crosshair, what did you just say?”
“I … I said …” his voice was quieter, “I said I betrayed my brothers. How … Why don’t I…”
“I removed it” she leaned over and whispered in his ear. His eyes shot open, she did what? Eilami simply nodded, “now, that you are somewhat back to normal, and still under a doctor’s care, I say we get you into fighting shape, and then find a way off this horrible planet and meet up with your brothers.” She nudged him, for the first time in a long time Crosshair had a small smile appear on his lips.
“I think that’s an excellent plan”
“Good. Let’s get you into the shooting range, I want to see what this eye can do”
Without further word, they both stood as she followed him to the range. Crosshair stood before his station, his hands aching slightly from the lack of use from the past month, he held his rifle in his hand again. The moment he held the familiar weight, the strength that had been lacking returned. It was the missing piece to make him feel whole again.
He propped up the rifle, lined it up with the target and fired.
Miss
He tried one more time, lined up his scope and fired.
Miss
He tried a third time.
Miss
“UGH! I’m useless!”
“No, you're not useless! Cross take a deep breath, remember you were badly burned, and haven’t touched your rifle in a month, just try it again. This time just relax your shoulders, you are really tense, I can see it in the way you’re holding yourself. See if that makes a difference.”
Eilami came up beside Crosshair laying her hand in between his shoulders, the weight of his failure easing on her contact. Crosshair let out a breath, closed his eyes, trying to ease the pressure in his shoulders, he lined up his shot.
Hit!
Another target
Hit!
Two targets simultaneously.
Hit! Hit!
Crosshair stood up and looked down at the rifle, then to Eilami, a smile again appearing on her face. She was proud of him, he didn’t allow his injuries to derail him.
“We can come back and spend more time on the range, but there are a few things I need to go over with you.”
Crosshair nodded, there wasn’t much else he could really do. He needed to be well enough to get out of Kamino… to get them both off Kamino.
- - - - - - - -
“Listen Cross, there’s a few things you will need to be aware of, while being here in the facility.”
Crosshair didn’t know why he didn’t mind her calling him Cross, he only allowed his brothers to call him that, but the way it slipped from Eilami’s mouth was so natural and pleasant, he really didn’t want her to stop.
“You can’t act differently. You need to keep up the pretence that you still have the chip. We will also need you to keep your skills up. If the long necks or the kriffing Admiral think for a moment that there is something off about you, they won’t hesitate to decommission you. I’ve held them off. However, they’re …” Eilami rubbed her hand over her face, “… they’re looking for any reason, to prove enhanced clones aren’t worth it. Especially the Admiral.
“That’s nothing new, no one ever thinks we’re worth it.”
“Yes, but the last thing I want is for anything to happen to you.” Crosshair watched her face, she kept her eyes cast down a slight blush appearing on her cheeks, “For me, please be careful”.
In the quiet of her med room, the small confession made Crosshair’s breath hitch, no one outside of his brothers cared if he ever got hurt, or if he was treated badly. However, she cared. Those three words said all that she needed to say.
Crosshair simply nodded, “As long as you're careful too, they’ll be watching you too.” Eilami looked up to the sniper sitting across from her, his eyes locked on hers. She couldn’t help the smile appearing on her face, and she noticed how there was a slight upturn on his lips, those soft lips that she wondered how they would feel against hers. In all her time on the facility, from the first moment she saw him, she always wondered what he was like, what he … she shook her head, not the time to think about.
“I promise. I’ll be careful.”
Crosshair stood and exited the med room, a warm sensation radiating through his chest. He was going to get them out. No matter what happened, he would try to get them out of there.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Three weeks later…
“Do you think he's ready to go into the field?” Admiral Rampart asked Eilami
“I think the only way to know for sure is to try. I will need to be with him when he goes.”
Rampart simply raised his eyebrow, “Why?”
“Medical observation, I need to make sure there are no issues, either with the lens, his burns, and to make sure he can handle staying in one position for long periods of time, while on assignment.”
“Isn’t that something you should do here at the facility?”
“The facility allows for a specific condition, I need to make sure he is able to be functional in all conditions.”
The Admiral leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin, “Alright, go with him on his next assignment, however I want a full report when you get back.”
Eilami simply nodded. She stood to walk out. She was nearing the door, and had felt Rampart’s eyes on her the whole time.
“Doctor” Her hand hovered over the keypad, when she turned to look at him, a grin was on his face, “if you're not busy tonight, I would like the pleasure of your company for dinner.”
“Thank you for the offer Admiral, but I need to prepare for the assignment.”
“Maybe when you come back. I believe we could be … mutually beneficial for each other.”
“An idea to ponder. Admiral” she nodded and exited as fast as she could, there was absolutely nothing about that man that she wanted. She pushed the odious man out of her mind, he had a hot day on Hoth chance to go out on a date with her.
- - - - - - - - - - -
She found Cross in the shooting range, he had been there for several hours, probably would be for another few.
“How’s it going?”
“Better”
She watched for a moment, as he hit every target. The targets were coming faster and faster after each hit, and he never missed. A smile graced her lips at seeing his skill, he was incredible, truly formidable. She went to stand beside him, placing her hand in between his shoulders. It had become their own form of contact. Other than the soft confessions between the two to make sure they were careful, nothing else had been approached on the subject. She didn’t mind, she knew Cross knew what she felt, and she knew what Cross felt.
Upon sensing her comforting hand in between his shoulder blades, Crosshair turned off the target practice system, and laid the rifle gently before him. He turned to face Eilami, the smile still gracing her lips. His hand that rested by his side twitched, since the first day he met her, she has been nothing by kindness itself, all he wanted was to have his fingers trail over her beautiful face, over her lips, cheeks, her nose, her face was beauty itself. He knew that it was a pipe dream, what could he offer her.
“We got approval. I’m coming with you for medical observations.”
Crosshair nodded, “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow, they have a target for you. I believe Admiral Rampart will be calling you in shortly to give you the details” her hand that had slid from his back when Cross stood, now rested on his upper arm, absentmindedly she rubbed small comforting circles in his upper arm.
Crosshair didn’t even notice that he had moved closer to Eilami, not until the door to the range slid open and a stormtrooper was there. Eilami noticed how close they both were, and how Cross’ right hand now rested on her hip.
“Sir”
“Yes, trooper?” Crosshair took a step back removing his hand
“Admiral Rampart asked you to see him”
“When?”
“Now”
Crosshair turned to grab his rifle, he stored it on his back and walked away from Eilami before she could say anything again. Crosshair stood beside the trooper and glared into his visor.
“Trooper, what did you see?”
“The doctor assessing your arm sir, nothing more.”
“Good”
Crosshair continued walking past the trooper, the white visor looked at Eilami for a second before turning and following Crosshair. Eilami stood in the gun range alone, that was too close. She needed to be more careful, hopefully soon enough they would be out of here.
- - - - - - -
Crosshair sat at the table of the gunship, polishing his rifle, Eilami sat beside him at the table, writing observations on her data pad, she looked around the gunship noticing the four stormtroopers with them, they all watched Crosshair and Eilami, aside from the pilot and co-pilot, who were in the cockpit.
She wanted to talk to Crosshair, wanted to ask if he had a plan, but he just sat there quietly cleaning his rifle, while chewing on his toothpick. He didn’t seem phased or even worried, being surrounded by these stormtroopers.
“We’ll be landing in five minutes, sir”
Crosshair put away the cloth, reassembling his rifle. Eilami grabbed her bag, there wasn’t much in there, her data pad and a few personal items she didn’t want to leave on Kamino. Crosshair said not to bring anything unless absolutely necessary, but these items were all she had left of her parents. She wasn’t going to leave it on Kamino.
The gunship jolted a little as they landed, it was night time on the planet, nothing could really be seen.
“You four men will stay with the ship”
“Sir, we were told not to let you leave our sight.”
“Seeing as how I have to be discreet, you will not be coming with me. I don’t need four stormtroopers giving away my position. Stay with the ship, that’s an order.”
“Sir, yes sir!”
Eilami followed Crosshair, putting all her observations in the data pad, at least that’s the way it appeared to the troopers. Truth is, she had been talking to Tech the whole time, allowing them to know where her and Crosshair were.
They were now far enough away from the gunship and the troopers, that they could speak freely.
“Tech said they’re entering the atmosphere now, as soon as they land, they’ll give us the coordinates.”
“It’s not that easy,” Crosshair explained, “we’ll have to destroy the ship and those troopers, make it seem like we all died. Otherwise, they’ll keep looking for us.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Cross stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Eilami, his hand reached up to cup her cheek, “I do. Do you trust me?”
“With my life”
“Good, once Tech gives you the coordinates, you go there, and don’t look back. I’ll meet you there.”
“Cross”
“You said you trusted me, trust me to make it back to you”
Eilami didn’t know why tears were threatening to fall down her face, but she couldn’t help it. She simply nodded. Cross turned to walk away, but she held his hand against her cheek. “Wait”.
He turned to look at her again.
“Take off your helmet”
“Eilami?”
“Please” the tears started to slip down her face, she didn’t know what he was going to do but a sickening feeling was weighing in the pit of her stomach. Cross removed his helmet with his free hand. She didn’t wait, she closed the distance, pressing her lips against his. At first he didn’t react, shocked that what he had only dreamed of happening was now occurring, her lips were everything he dreamt of, soft, warm, comforting and tender. He dropped the helmet unceremoniously, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss as his hand rested on her lower back.
“I didn’t want to regret never having done that” Eilami confessed once both had pulled back when they needed to breathe again. Crosshair chuckled as his forehead rested on hers, “I’m glad you did it. I’ve been trying to work up the courage for a while now.”
“Promise me. Promise me you will come back to me. Promise me I’m not going to lose you.”
Crosshair pulled his head back, he wiped the tears that were still flowing on her face with his thumb, “I promise Eilami. I’ll come back to you, after all I owe you for saving my life. I need to repay that in full and often, as many times as possible” a cheeky grin appearing on his lips. Eilami couldn’t help but laugh. Her data pad beeped, a message from Tech. She looked at it quickly, “They’re here, they’re five minutes from our location.”
“Go to them now, and I’ll take care of the troopers”
She nodded, giving him a final peck, before she headed to the direction of the ship. She watched as he donned his helmet again, and climbed up one of the trees. As she got to the Marauder, she saw Hunter waiting outside.
“Hunter!”
“You must be Dr. Eilami?”
“Yes” she reached forward and shook his hand, “Where’s Crosshair?”
“He went to deal with…” her sentence was cut off from a loud explosion behind them. Hunter didn’t even flinch, as a smile began to form under the helmet, “That’s him, for sure” he let out with a chuckle.
“Shouldn’t you guys…”
Wrecker came rushing out of the Marauder “Who’s blowing stuff up and not inviting me?”
“Crosshair” Hunter answered
“Awwww man!”
“Shouldn’t you…”
“Come on Wrecker, let’s make sure he doesn’t need any help”
As they began walking in the direction of the explosion, a silhouette with a rifle strapped to his back emerged from the darkness.
“Crosshair?” Hunter asked, pulling a blaster out, Wrecker mimicking Hunter’s move.
Crosshair had his hands raised as he continued walking towards them, “Hunter, Wrecker, wanna put those blasters away, I got ‘em all.”
He stood before them, his helmet clipped to his belt, Wrecker didn’t wait, he put away his blasters and ran to his brother picking him up in his arms “Welcome home, Crosshair!!” Crosshair couldn’t help the smile that appeared on his face.
“Wrecker, let Cross go, we need to get out of here” Hunter ordered
“Nope, not letting him go. Never letting him go again.” Wrecker responded, he had turned Crosshair so he could face Hunter, Crosshair tried to scramble out of his brother's hold, but at the same time he really didn’t want to be out of his hold. Eilami couldn’t help the chuckle that appeared.
“I think it would be prudent if we all boarded and left the area” Tech informed, Echo and Omega both peering out of the Marauder as they watched Crosshair twisting in Wrecker’s hold. Without further prompting all four boarded the Marauder, Crosshair still in Wrecker’s arms.
“You can let me go, vod. I’m not going anywhere.” Crosshair pleaded
Eilami let out a louder laugh, “I think it’s cute”. Crosshair glared at Eilami, “Oh really? Hey Wrecker, Eilami loves hugs. Go give her a hug.” Wrecker let Cross go, and stepped closer to Eilami before grabbing her in his arms. He gave her his best bear hug possible, he whispered into her ear, “Thank you. Thank you for giving me my vod back”
“You’re welcome, Wrecker” her smile reached from one ear to the other. She looked over to Crosshair who stood against one of the walls watching her, his eyes were warm and tender. She couldn’t help but look at him adoringly as well.
“Wrecker let her go” Hunter said
“I don’t want to”
“Wrecker!” Hunter yelled
“Fine” Wrecker placed her gently back on her feet, he stalked off to another side of the ship. Echo, Tech, Hunter, and Omega, all came and welcomed her one at a time to the Marauder and thanked her for bringing Crosshair back. Crosshair had also been inundated by welcome backs, hugs, and Omega’s tiny arms gripping around his waist. Crosshair bent down and looked Omega in the eyes, “I tried. I tried really hard to fight it. I’m sorry I failed.”
Omega shook her head, “You didn’t fail” a smile appeared on her face, “Every shot you took, you missed on purpose. You fought and won, Cross!”
Crosshair pulled Omega into a hug, he didn’t want to let her go. Hunter stood beside them resting his hand on his shoulder, Echo came and put his arm around Cross as he kneeled beside Omega, Wrecker rested his hand on Crosshair's back, Tech placed his hand on the back of his neck.
“Welcome home, Crosshair. We’re never leaving you” Hunter promised. The ship was silent, as the silent tears streamed down everyone’s face. Crosshair was home. Together they could face anything the Empire decided to throw at them.