Chapter Text
Oh, everything hurt. Oh force, why did he feel so heavy?
Crosshair woke up in his bunk on the Marauder feeling like a commando droid just shot him, and then ran him over with a tank. He sat up and, oh wow. That did not feel good.
All he wanted to do was just go back to sleep, if he even could with the on coming headache he was feeling, but he couldn't. It was already two hours past the time Crosshair usually got up, the others would be suspicious if he didn't get up now.
He couldn't possibly be sick right? Clones were engineered to have a better immune system than regular nat borns.
Better, not completly immune to any disease.
Kriff.
He was sick wasn't he?
Crosshair got out of his bunk, and immediately wanted to lay down again. Oh how he wanted to shoot something if he could only do it without feeling horribly wrong.
Oh, nice, sore throat. Didn't even notice.
Crosshair walked into the ship's refresher to see how bad he looked, and honestly? He looked even worse than how he felt.
No way was he gonna be able to hide this from the others, even Wrecker would be able to spot the change, and he's only got one functioning eye!
As if on cue, Hunter knocks on the door.
"Hey Cross, Wrecker saved you some of those muffins we got on Pantora if you wanted some."
His voice would probably give him away, but better to make Hunter of all the idiots on this ship suspicious.
"I'm not hungry."
Like that sounded convincing.
"C'mon Cross! I saved you three of em!
Wrecker, that time. He sounded further away, which meant he was yelling from their too small "kitchen."
"I said I'm not hungry."
And it's true, he wasn't. He'ld probably just throw up whatever he ate anyways, or at least that's what it felt like.
"Okay, just eat something soon," Hunter, "you know we have that mission later."
Of course he knew about the mission. It was a stupid data retrival mission. Yes, he knew that sometimes these missions were difficult, but this one was about as easy as shooting a bantha.
Except this time, it wouldn't be that easy. What, with a sick sniper that didn't wanna keep his eyes open, was constantly getting headaches, and was barely able to even get out of bed that morning? He'ld just have to power through it, or else he'ld cost them all this mission. Then what? The Republic would know he was sick. Then the Kaminoans, then he'ld be sent back. Would they even want to cure him? What if it was too expensive?
K calm down. Hunter can probably already hear his escalated breathing.
Just power through it, they'll find out eventually, but they won't find out now.
He stepped out of the refresher and went towards their small excuse for a kitchen. Crosshair still didn't think the GAR even meant for there to be a kitchen in this ship at all.
"Mornin' Cross! Woah, what happend to you?"
Wrecker was about to grab Crosshair before Echo shot his remark.
"Looks like you tried to cover up two punches to the eye with eyeliner."
"Kriff off, reg."
It didn't look that bad, but it deffinetly looked like someone punched him in the eyes.
"Didn't sleep well."
Mabye that would ward off Wrecker's suspicions, but Crosshair could already feel Hunter's stare on the back of his neck.
Thank the force Tech wasn't here right now. Echo's comment easily would've gave him away. He wished he had his helmet, but that's just as obvious as him looking like this now so it would've been pointless to grab it earlier.
"Crosshair, can I talk to you for a miniute?"
Hunter, great. Was he really that obvious?
At least it was an excuse from eating anymore of that muffin, he was only able to eat half of his first one.
They walked to the back of the Marauder. (what would one day be Omega's room) Crosshair was usually able to tell what Hunter was thinking, really any of the batch, but whether if it was the illness or the fact that Hunter's face was still running in neutral, he wasn't really able to tell until Hunter started speaking.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Anger, dissapointment, and some form of leadership was spit out along with those words.
"Eating a muffin, what's your problem?"
"You're sick. You and I both know that."
Kriff.
"Really? I think it's more one sided."
Hunter sighed. Great. He's really not gonna let this one slide.
"What're your symptoms?"
"I don't have any."
"Really? I guess I'll go grab Tech then."
Karkin di'kut
"I'm fine."
"And Tech will make sure of that."
Crosshair made sure to spit some venom in his last remark, but it went unnoticed by Hunter.
Crosshair went back to his bunk, he'ld probably have a little bit of time before Tech walked in. He could get some more sleep until then. He was still only dressed in half of his armor, so he could sleep somewhat comfortably too.
He only got about five miniutes of sleep before Tech walked in.
"From what you've told me, he does seem to be in some sort of ill state."
Crosshair groaned, he only wanted more sleep, couldn't anyone tell that?
"Yes, he definetly seems to be in some sort of ill state."
"Kark off."
"Not till you're treated I'm afraid."
"I said, kark off."
"Cross come on, if you want to feel even remotely better, just let Tech help."
Crosshair said it with much more venom this time.
"Kark off!"
"I will not hinder to sedate you if you do not let me help Crosshair. You can sleep as much as you want, just let me help."
Crosshair sighed and opened his eyes, only to be met with a stern looked Tech and a concerned looking Hunter. The others were probably right outside the door for all he knew.
Tech scaned him with something and whatever the thing said most likely wasn't good. No one said anything for a whole eight seconds.
"Fever of 102. What other symptoms do you have?"
There was silence for a while till Crosshair answered.
"Sore throat, tiredness, and stomach aches."
He sat up after Tech made a face, Tech only makes a face if something is wrong.
"It's a possibility that you have the Pantoran flu that I was talking about before our supply run on Pantora."
"I thought only the Pantorans could have that?" said Hunter.
"Yes, but it is not uncommon that someone not of Pantoran lineage is also able to contract that particular illness."
"Didn't you say that flu got real bad?"
Wrecker then. So he had been listening.
"I did. But we are acquainted with most of the supplies that Crosshair might need. Unlike some of the others who have had the flu and a very bad case of it too."
There was silence till Crosshair spoke.
"What supplies?"
Everyone knew Crosshair didn't like anything medical, none of the batch did in fact, but Crosshair especially had a problem with being vulnrable to someone else. And needles.
It took Tech a second to answer.
"Various hypos, if needed, pain medication, and other medical items if the flu got exceptionally worse."
"What other medical items?"
Crosshair said that with more venom than usual, he didn't like it when people, or more so his brothers, kept things from him. Especially things medical.
"An oxygen mask... and possibly an IV."
Crosshair absolutely hated needles. It was exceptionally bad when he was a cadet, but he learned to at least get used to hypos.
Sort of.
IV's were still a problem, and all of the batch, including Echo, knew this.
If the needle just came straight in and then out like a hypo, Crosshair didn't think he'ld have such a problem with them. But no, the needle has to stay in, and it's big. As a cadet once, he started hyperventilating because one of the medics walked out with a huge needle attached to an IV for him because he was sick.
He hated this, he hated this feeling.
Hunter was always able to notice when Crosshair was overwhelmed even when they were cadets, so when he noticed it now, he ushered everyone out of the room, except for Tech, then he sat down next to Crosshair.
"It'll be fine. it's not likely for it to progressivly get worse," said Hunter.
"Actually, with the symtoms Crosshair already has, it is very possible for it to get worse."
Hunter just glared at Tech, while Tech made a face of "well did you want me to lie?." All while Crosshair kept feeling worse and worse.
What if it did get bad? Then, what if the Kaminoans found out? He could be removed from the squad. They wouldn't even cure him till they ran their tests. Then what? Even if he did get better would they let him back? Or they could keep him. Say he died then keep him stored away for any time the needed to experi-
"Crosshair, it'll be ok. Just breathe."
Hunter had his arm wrapped around him now. Kriff he didn't even notice, he really must be sick. Tech had the same level of concern laced in his eyes as Hunter did too.
"I'm fine."
"Considering that you are ill, and were close to having a panic attack just a second ago, I would not describe you as fine."
"So you're a therapist now? Kriff off!"
"Crosshair relax. All we want to do is help, and if it does get bad, then we'll pull through like we've done before, you're not gonna end up in an experimental lab."
How was it Hunter always knew what was bothering them? Crosshair himself could usually tell what was bothering his brothers most of the time, but Hunter nailed his shot every karkin' time. Even when Echo first joined, he always knows what's troubling his vod'e.
"Tech? Can you give him anything now?"
"I can't exaclty do anything right now, other than give him pain killers. Until we know for sure if he has this particular flu, I can't figure out a way to help it."
"I'll grab the pain killers!"
That was Wrecker, who had apparently still been eavsdropping.
"The only form of pain medication we currently have on the ship... would be in a hypo form, but it should help with your throat and aches."
"Goodie."
Crosshair meant to say his remark sarcastically, but he went quiet when Wrecker walked in with the hypo.
"Hey Tech, let me give it to him."
Tech nodded and handed over the hypo to Hunter, who then put the hypo on Crosshair's neck and his other hand on his shoulder before he injected the medication through the needle.
Crosshair flinched.
Dank farrik, he should be used to these by now.
"Just rest alright? I'm sure the GAR can get another squad to do this mission. I already reported that our ship had a problem on Pantora and that we're stuck in the Outer Rim."
Lying? For him really? If the Kaminoans found out, they'ld all be in trouble. Surely, they all already knew that, but they shouldn't do that for him, he wasn't worth it.
"I'm surprized you made that sound convicible."
"Can it. Get some rest."
And with that, they all walked out. Finally he could actually sleep.