Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He didn’t need the panicked chatter on the holonet, nor the hushed gossip in the corridors to know their time was coming. All he had to do was look at the shifting loyalties, hands trading credits, and numerous failed negotiations to know that a war was being born. It was just a matter of time now.

War as a concept was generally not something people desired. It brought death, destruction, and losses of all kinds and matters. At least that’s what he’d observed from historical documents on the subject.

It was rather strange then that war to the clones held something else and wasn’t as feared as the general populace. It was what gave them purpose. It was what they were created and designed for. War was a way of fulfilling their destiny in some ways. Perhaps, if one believed what Crosshair spoke of sometimes when he was in a more poetic mood. If destiny was a real thing. He’d yet to find a quantifiable way to determine if such a thing truly existed.

So while Tech read of fears and foreboding predictions in his nightly data gathering sessions, it was a bit of a juxtaposition of what he observed around Kamino. The regs whispered, but it was in excited hushes. Anticipation. They all thought they were ready. After all, they had been trained for this their entire existence. How could they not be ready when it was written into their very genes?

All of them could see the evidence that war was coming, and that they would be called upon. New armor was being manufactured and tested in their facilities. Practice drills were becoming more frequent. If they had access to the more secure systems then they would also see platoons, squads and even legions being formed. Just waiting to be sent out for formal assignment. There were promotions and titles being handed out like blasters as the chosen officers were prepped and primed for finally taking charge.

Everything was falling into place it seemed. And just in time, seeing as the first gens were still quite young even by clone standards.

That just left Tech and his brothers wondering where they belonged in all this.

As far as he’d seen, he had not noted their squad referenced in any of the rollout plans. It was almost like they’d been forgotten. There was no legion they were listed under, and no commander to report to. Tech didn’t even see that they were slated for any of the practice drills that were now happening daily.

War was not something to be desired. He knew that. But purpose was.

After all this time, and all they had gone through to get this far, did they still have purpose?

He could feel his mind itching for stimulation, his data pad and all it contained had sufficed thus far but was losing its luster. Even their occasional trips to the off world training camp were beginning to fall dull, even if they were still refreshing to attend.

Tech did not want war. No sane or morally sound person did.

Tech just wanted to see more of the galaxy he’d read about all his life and knew the only way that a clone like himself could do so was by making it as a soldier and being deployed. And they had done that, all four of him and his brothers had surpassed all expectations regarding the defect squad. They had been trained as specialty soldiers, capable of the impossible due to their enhancements and peculiarities. They’d proven themselves time and time again.

So why did it look like they were being looked over yet again? In a sea of identical faces, what more could it possibly take for them to stand out and be called upon?

Would they just be left behind?

Tech liked to have answers to everything, and he was now constantly finding himself with only more questions instead. He could feel his brothers growing more frustrated as well as they also noted the developments around them. Crosshair with his keen eyes could see every change and his swift analytical mind would have already seen a pattern of what was happening. Hunter would have sensed every shift in the city, the power drawing deeper as production was increased. And Wrecker, so perceptive of others, would have seen the regs excitement and anticipation long ago.

The clone’s time was coming.

Tech just hoped that their squad’s time was coming as well.

“Aw, kriff it all, who pissed off Tech this time?” Hunter nearly shouted as he turned back to the open room to stare down at two of his brothers.

Crosshair was sitting at the table reading up on his still favorite and yet to be obtained rifle, and barely glanced up from his pad at the irate squad leader. Lazily he pointed his finger over at their largest brother, where Wrecker was rubbing at the back of his head while effortlessly lifting a large dumbbell in the other hand.

Hunter whirled on him and angrily pointed to the carefully disassembled caf machine behind him, “What did you do to him to piss him off this time? We only just got the hot water back in the fresher last week.”

“Hey, that was Crosshair’s fault! He’s the one who hid Tech’s hair gel,” Wrecker shouted back, pointing accusingly at the sniper who only snorted and lifted his head proudly.

Crosshair shrugged at Hunter’s less than impressed look, “I was bored,” he said, not at all sounding like he was trying to defend himself before he turned back to Wrecker, “Oh, but tell Hunter what you did,” Crosshair said with a smirk, enjoying the growing flush on Wrecker’s face as he teased him.

“Uh, I may have sat on one of his projects.”

Hunter groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. It was still far too early for this, and he didn’t even have the proper caf to handle it, “Wrecker, he’s told you before his work bench is not a chair. Now we’re going to have to go to the mess,” he groaned, not wanting to have to interact with the regs prior to his morning jolt. With all the excesses excitement, the regs were even more boisterous and bold than usual. It had gotten to the point that they’d avoided the place as much as they could, even going so far as to re-enact more of their childhood heists to sneak out food on occasion. Maybe they should just skip it. Wrecker must have some snacks stored away in here…

Hunter was still debating the merits of another midnight run versus fresh caf when Tech entered their barracks. From the laziness of his steps and the lingering scent of grease on him, Hunter guessed he’d either gotten up excessively early or stayed up all night working on something in the hangar. He almost missed the imposed curfew for the younger cadets, seeing as how Tech now believed he didn’t need to sleep since they’d graduated their training a few months prior. It was like he constantly had to keep busy now, even when nothing was happening to their squad.

“Good morning,” Tech stated, although he had noted before he only did so as a polite courtesy and it had no indication of whether or not he believed it to be a good morning or not. Hunter was leaning more towards the ‘not’ himself, and from the dark circles under Tech’s eyes he may be as well.

“I don’t believe Hunter is having a good morning, little brother. He just discovered your latest downgrade to the caf machine,” Crosshair supplied almost gleefully. Of all of them, Hunter was by far the heaviest drinker, only followed by Wrecker and that was only because the bruiser needed more caf than most to even get a buzz. Crosshair refused the stuff entirely, claiming it made his hands shake and would affect his aim.

Tech glanced up from the data pad in his hands to where Hunter was still standing by the caf machine and the wires dangling out from its side like it had been disemboweled electronically. Tech only lifted one shoulder in indifference, “Seeing as none of you will allow me to partake, I don’t see why I should have to let you all have it without me.”

“That sounds fair.”

“This doesn’t include you, Cross,” Hunter snapped before this could get any worse.

Crosshair shrugged, “Doesn’t include Tech either, apparently.”

“Hey, you made the rule in the first place,” Wrecker pointed out, reminding all of them of Crosshair’s very firm rule that Tech was forbidden from consuming any sort of caf. That had been a standing decree since they were young cadets. At the time it was to make sure their vod’ika still chose to sleep over projects, but seeing as how he chose not to sleep anyways now Hunter was starting to wonder if it even mattered.

The three of them continued to bicker as Hunter turned back to the machine in question and sigh sadly as he poked at one wire, only to sigh deeper when it sparked and fizzled at the touch. It did not look like something he’d be able to repair on his own. Given how this morning had started, he didn’t think it would be worth it to go to the mess now. It wasn’t like they had much going on that day anyway.

For them, it had been simulation runs. Range practice. Close combat practice. Flight simulations. Weapons tests. Meals. Long range sniping practice. Demolition simulations. Sleep. Endless studying of languages, planets and cultures. Their training had been completed, all four of them coming off the line with some of the highest scores in clone history in their fields of skills. Hunter had been so proud of them, and he truly thought that they were finally ready to take on the galaxy.

Only for them to be stuck here in their dark barracks just waiting to be called upon.

War was coming. They all knew it by now, even without Tech’s updates on the political climate out there. Hunter could see lines, squads, platoons, and legions being formed around them. A sea of activity and somehow the four of them were one lonely little island in the middle of it.

It frustrated Hunter to a point, knowing that they were more than capable of being soldiers at this point. His boys were skilled beyond measure and deserved everything for how hard they had worked and for everything they’d ever been put through. They were all going stir crazy having all these skills and not being able to use them, all while being stuck in a closet of a room on a planet full of people who’d rather they didn’t exist.

Hunter knew they all just wanted to experience something more, and their ticket out of here relied on them finding a place in the army that was being assembled around them.

Even if Hunter still held reservations about the means by which they would be deployed. Impossible missions were what they had been promised, and Hunter had promised to keep his brothers safe. It was his job as squad leader after all.

The voices of his brothers behind him soothed the sudden anxious feeling in his chest as he thought about what may actually be waiting for them after Kamino. They were all still there, all still alive and healthy. And getting louder.

They just needed to get out of here.

He turned back to the three of them, noting that things had escalated enough that Wrecker had lifted a bench up in the air seemingly for no reason, and Crosshair had finally gotten up to stand beside Tech, both of them with their arms crossed over their chests.

“We have exactly eleven designated seats in this room, I just don’t see why you see fit to add my bench to the list! There are only four of us, it’s not like we’re short of places to sit.”

“Well I don’t see why your stuff has to be so delicate! Why don’t you just make it destruction proof or whatever?”

“That is entirely beside the point, but they are in the assembly stages. They don’t become reinforced until they are braced and the outer casing is done. It is not made ‘destruction proof’ until it is completed.”

“And yet somehow you poor little caf machine didn’t stand a chance. Even against yourself.”

Tech rolled his eyes and scowled at Crosshair who was smiling at the chaos unfolding in front of him. Clearly the sniper was bored enough that this was his new favorite kind of entertainment. How far they had fallen.

Sensing that this particular argument would not solve itself any time soon, Hunter braced himself and made his way over to his brothers.

He came up beside Crosshair, close enough that their shoulder’s would have brushed if they were still of a height together. He couldn’t help the small pout the formed on his lips when he once again was reminded bitterly of how quickly Crosshair had grown taller than him, something the sniper continued to point out whenever he needed a particularly good jab at the squad leader.

“I’m just trying to draw attention to the fact that there is nothing that necessitates having to sit on my bench when it is covered in components,” Tech said, arms still tightly crossed over his chest, “You don’t see me trying to sit on Lula, do you?”

“Intriguing notion,” Crosshair hummed thoughtfully, glancing over to where the stuffed tooka was sitting proudly on Wrecker's bunk.

Wrecker gasped loudly, pointing an accusing finger at Tech, “You wouldn’t dare!”

Tech rolled his eyes, “That is the point I was trying to make, Wrecker. I—”

“Alright, that’s enough from all of you,” Hunter cut in before this could get any worse, “Wrecker, apologize to Tech and stop sitting on his bench. Tech, I’ll find you whatever parts got smashed if you fix the kriffing caf machine. And Crosshair,” he turned to the sniper beside him and raised a finger at his face, “You’re making this worse. Stop enjoying this so much and go shoot something for a while.”

The smirk didn’t leave Crosshair’s lips, but he saluted lazily and went to grab his practice gear to do just that. Wrecker mumbled some sort of apology to Tech before shuffling off to find some food for them that he’d stashed somewhere. And Tech, looking mostly satisfied, turned to the caf machine. Much to Hunter’s joy.

He’d only been up for one hour and Hunter already felt like he needed a nap. If only they could just get out of here…

He sighed and slowly trailed after his youngest brother. Maybe if he watched carefully he’d be able to fix it himself the next time Tech decided to take out his frustrations on their electronics.

It only took two minutes for Hunter to realize he would not be able to manage it after all. He’d gotten lost after the third wire. Maker have mercy.

“I think I’m starting to question my sanity,” he said mostly to himself, but Tech was close enough to hear and rolled his eyes.

“As long as it doesn’t answer back, you are fine,” his vod'ika stated dryly and then walked off after hopefully fixing the caf machine. Hunter really needed it now.

Some hours had passed since that morning.

Crosshair had a decent internal clock, although nowhere near as accurate as Tech, but he found that he often lost track of time when it was just him and a rifle. He lost himself in the pattern of center, aim, breathe, squeeze, and breathe again. He imagined he found the same peace in this that Tech did when he lost himself in a new language, plant, creature or planet. It was an escape from where they were still held captive here, seemingly forever.

Why they weren’t gearing up their squad along with the regs was beyond Crosshair’s comprehension. The Kaminoans were almost as data driven as Tech, if not for their love of credits, and there was no denying that the four of them far surpassed the abilities of any other squad in their fledgling legions. It was written into their scores and files all that they had achieved. Not using them would be a mistake they would surely regret.

The thought made Crosshair angry, and almost distracted him from his next shot. It hit a centimeter off center. A failure to him, but an achievement to anyone else. No reg could compare to them. It wasn’t fair that they should get to fulfill their destiny while the gifted defects were left behind to rot here. Unused and unwanted, like the sour kelpis fruit they kept trying to serve in the mess.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Hunter sent him off that morning. It was only a matter of time before his boredom got him in more trouble with his brothers. His annoyance was bleeding into their usual soft teasing of one another, and their words had grown sharp barbs that didn’t use to be there. Their skin was collectively thicker as they had grown used to nasty words spoken by the regs, but that didn’t mean they should suffer the same from their real brothers.

Tech was skilled at letting such things roll off his shoulders, Hunter seemed to absorb all wounds within himself and never let on anything hurt anymore, and Wrecker could bat away anything like it was nothing. Crosshair just bit back harder.

He shouldn’t let his frustrations get the better of him. It wasn’t their fault they were stuck here after all.

Crosshair was too well trained at this point to sigh when he was trying to aim. He suppressed it. Like everything else.

Perhaps he was forcing himself to focus a little too much, because he almost missed the soft footsteps approaching him from behind. He knew who it was even before their boots came into sight though. There was only one person who liked to sit with him while he trained for hours on end.

Tech sat down easily beside him, his thigh close enough to pick up on Crosshair’s warmth, but not close enough to touch. Touch could possibly lead to affecting his aim, and Tech knew better than to do that when he was in a mood like this. Just like Tech would know what exactly mood he was in easily. 

“You are sulking.”

See?

Tech spoke it with as much certainty as he would if he were reading from the latest version of an encyclopedia. And he was kriffing right. No one knew him better than his vod’ika. Something that equally pleased and irked him. There was no hiding from his brother’s assessing gaze, much like how Crosshair could read Tech like Basic written on a wall.

“So what if I’m sulking. Better here than back in the barracks,” he replied, his voice softer now that it was just the two of them, “Besides, Hunter told me to stop having fun.”

Tech was getting better at delivering side-eye around the frame of his goggles, Crosshair gleefully noted.

“You mean that he told you to stop antagonizing the situation,” Tech said dryly before laying back on the floor, holding his data pad aloft over his head. Crosshair wondered if he’d end up dropping it on his face again.

“Whatever you want to call it,” he waved his hand dismissively, even though it meant he had to re-align his shot, “I’m still bored and we’re all still stuck here. Nothing has changed. Better that I just stay here for a while and make sure I don’t get rusty like a tool left in the corners of your toolbox.”

From the deep sigh he heard from Tech, his brother did not disagree. And more than that…

He flexed his abdomen to bump his hip against Tech’s to draw his brother’s attention back, “You’re upset.”

There. He could state the obvious too.

There were three beats too long of silence before Tech responded, “I am…fine.”

Crosshair snorted his disbelief and worked to line up his next shot. Keeping his eyes on his work gave Tech the illusion of privacy, much like Tech did looking at his data pad while those around him processed their thoughts and emotions.

“I believe that as much as I believe Wrecker won’t sit his shebs on your projects again,” he said flatly.

“Perhaps I’ll booby trap my bench then. I need to practice my skills as well, seeing how I’ve not been much use lately,” He could hear the scowl on Tech’s face as he spoke.

Crosshair hummed in absent agreement. Staying useful was what kept them alive since they had been unproven cadets after all. They’d worked themselves to the edge time and time again to make sure that they had a place in this galaxy. It was only because of their exceptional skills that they were even alive still. Too many times they had faced death before even seeing battle, mostly in the way of the Kaminoans believing they were a waste of genes. No other defects had made it this far besides the four of them. They were the lucky ones.

Yes. So very lucky.

To have spent their whole lives proving themselves only to be left behind.

Crosshair pulled the trigger for another perfect shot, just thinking of what a waste this would all be if he never got to go in the field. He glanced over at his brother and thought about all the skills his vod’ika possessed that had still not seen their full potential cooped up here. He thought about Wrecker’s large presence stuck in a too small cage for the rest of his life. And he thought of Hunter’s senses forever being limited just to the four of them and this sterile place.

They all needed to get out of here. They had to.

Crosshair shifted minutely to the left, making it so he felt his leg touch Tech’s. He needed a little solid reassurance in that moment, and seeing how Tech did not comment on the sudden contact and Crosshair’s affected aim, he maybe needed it too.

Chapter Text

Their first sign of hope came in the form of a promotion for Hunter.

It was sudden and without fanfare, but that was to be expected. Especially given that it would have likely been delivered as a simple data burst if not for Cody seeing the paperwork while reviewing the new officer’s list for that week. After seeing it, he had decided to inform Hunter and the squad in person. At least that is what he told them to their four equally stunned faces one seemingly random morning.

“Surprised or not, it is well earned and deserved, Sergeant. You’ve led your team admirably the last few years and we’re all looking forward to what your squad can accomplish in the future,” Cody said with a gusto that only one of his rank could manage.

Hunter was still staring down at the pad he’d been handed, his mouth agape still as he tried to process it. Tech himself had already managed to school his own surprise and filed away the new information and taken note of all implications it brought by the time his ori’vod seemed to shake off his shock.

Hunter shook his head once and looked back up to meet Cody’s expectant look, and reached out for the offered handshake, “Thank you, sir. We saw that you were given the title of Commander recently. Congratulations. That was very deserved from what we’ve seen, and I know we’ll feel better knowing someone like you is in charge somewhere,” Hunter said, feeling his brothers all nod eagerly beside him.

“Thanks. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I’m glad to take it on if it means supporting my men as best I can. And…you may not be assigned to my legion, or any legion, but I’ll be here for you boys if you ever need me. You can bet I’ll be calling on you if something special pops up,” he said with a smile that all of them met.

Tech felt a spark of hope well up within him hearing that Cody, a full-fledged commander, was willing to utilize them someday. Their chances of being recruited for a mission eventually just went up exponentially from the dismal statistics they had been at. Although it was just a little better than multiplying a factor by zero, it was still something.

However, hearing that not even Cody thought they would be assigned to a legion was not comforting. At least not to Tech. Crosshair would probably be relieved that they would not be grouped together with regs from the get-go, but even his socially reluctant brother would deal with regs if it meant getting deployed.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged before Cody saluted them and turned on his heel, leaving the four of them to stand there in their barracks as the other three still completed their mental processing time. Tech allowed them the time in silence like usual, turning his attention to his own data pad until his input was required.

“Wow,” was Wrecker’s first impression it seemed, his awe quickly shifting to excitement as he boisterously laughed and slapped Hunter on the back in his usual congratulatory physical expression, “Congrats, Hunter! Now we really have to listen to what you say. Ya hear that Crosshair?”

Crosshair rolled his eyes, “As long as he doesn’t order us to do something stupid.”

“So nothing has changed then, just Hunter getting some rank added to the squad,” Wrecker said with a loud whoop of joy that made both Hunter and Tech wince at the noise. 

Crosshair’s face turned sour as he slipped a toothpick into his mouth, “As if we needed anything more rank in here. Clean up your snacks, Wrecker. It’s starting to smell in here again, and if you’re not careful it’ll become permanent.”

At the mention of snacks, Wrecker was hit with the sudden inspiration that he was hungry again and was quick to recruit Crosshair to go with him to the mess. Tech declined the invitation, his mind already ramping up on the next logs and schedules he wanted to investigate regarding their squad since they now had evidence that they had not been forgotten after all. Food was the last thing he cared about now.

Crosshair seemed to acknowledge this, even if it was with a long-suffering sigh, and mumbled a bitter promise to bring back something for Tech to eat later. Even if Tech did not think he would be hungry later, he still thanked his brother and eagerly made his way over to his workstation to begin what was promising to be a long splicing session.

It wasn’t until the door shut and silence fell over the room that Tech even noticed that Hunter still stood where he’d been left by Cody.

Tech’s fingers stilled over his pad as he watched his brother from a distance. While he wasn’t the most naturally skilled at emotional interactions, he had studied hard to identify all sorts of expressions and correlating emotional cues that they were tied with. Growing up with Crosshair as young cadets had been the perfect challenge to enhance those skills, seeing how his brother was a master of micro expressions and rarely gave anything away easily.

Compared to Crosshair, Hunter was like an unlocked data pad.

“You have concerns regarding your promotion,” Tech stated into silent room. He kept his voice level and soft, knowing that Hunter and the rest of his brothers found it to be soothing that way. Especially with Hunter’s enhanced hearing.

Hunter didn’t respond right away, but Tech did not repeat himself at a higher volume. He knew Hunter had heard him and was just gathering his thoughts, and Tech could be patient.

Eventually, Hunter slowly walked over to Tech’s workbench where it seemed like he was going to lean against the surface, only to think better of it and sat on Tech’s bunk instead. They’d all suffered enough from squashed projects recently, and Tech appreciated the effort. Components like these were hard to come by on a forgotten defect’s non-existent salary, of course.

As Hunter continued to gather his thoughts, Tech turned his attention halfway back to his data pad. Starting by setting up a few search functions that he’d be implementing soon, and making a list of databases he could check. He made sure he didn’t get too sucked into his work just yet, keenly aware of his brother’s presence behind him. It paid off two and a half minutes later when he heard Hunter’s low voice filter across the small space between them.

“Are they sure I’m ready for this? I mean, Cody I understand. He’s earned that title four times over at this point, but me…”

“Cody has seen more battle simulations and been groomed for command since his decanting, yes. But you have been squad leader for several years now with no direct or ongoing concerns. All your leadership and strategic aptitude tests earned high marks, and you’ve proven effective in team training simulations,” Tech rattled off absently before he turned to smirk over at Hunter, “And you’ve managed to get Wrecker and Crosshair to listen to your commands. I’d say that’s reason enough, don’t you think?”

Hunter returned the smirk but it faded quickly as whatever thoughts were plaguing him swept over him again, “I get that, and I’ll continue to try and lead you all the best that I can, I swear. I just feel like I haven’t earned this yet.”

“Well, it appears you have the approval of the Kaminoans, the forming Republic army, and from your squad. All that’s left is your own approval and faith it seems. So that begs the question, why haven’t you earned your own approval yet?” Tech shrugged and turned back to his work. When it came to personal questions like that, this was something Hunter would have to answer. There was no data set of Hunter’s mental process for Tech to refer to, after all. He was a human, not a coded droid with a bug in his system.

Hunter fell silent again, and Tech left his to his thoughts. He had his own questions to answer now, so he went back to work.

The next sign of hope came in the form of a name.

Tech objectively knew the importance of names. He’d been CT-9909 for long enough to remember what it was like to just be a number, a product, and then to be gifted with a name of his own that made him an individual, and a person. He’d forever be grateful for Crosshair accidentally giving him the name that he still wore proudly to this day, and loved the feeling of belonging and uniqueness it brought.

When they’d given themselves the squad name The Bad Batch, it had given them their first feeling of a unified squad together, even if their database system name had dubbed them CT 99 squadron still. The feeling of belonging was addictive to defects like them, cast aside and ignored for their differences for far too long.

The Bad Batch was how they described themselves, and it was the name they referred to when talking about their team as a whole. Just saying it made Tech feel like he was a part of something bigger than himself for once.

But it was a name they had given themselves. In the Kaminoan system they were still just marked as arbitrary CT 99 squadron.

Until now that is.

“Clone Force 99.”

Three sets of eyes stared up at Tech from the table where they had a halfhearted game of sabbacc going on. They’d been playing together while Tech was still elbows deep in his database diving, and probably thought he’d at it through the night given their shocked faces at his sudden appearance at their side.

Crosshair was the first to recover before he sighed lazily and turned back to his cards, “Is that supposed to mean something, or are you just glitching again?” he glanced accusingly over at Hunter, “I told you he needed more sleep.”

Tech rolled his eyes, “I get an adequate amount of sleep, thank you—”

“Because ‘adequate’ makes it all sound better.”

Tech scowled at his ori’vod before turning his attention back to the data pad in his hands and the information he was trying to share with his brothers, “I was referring to the new Galactic Army of the Republic database. It seems we have finally made an appearance in the registry of squadrons. This time, under the name of Clone Force 99. I had not noticed it prior, since it was a derivation of our current designation, but Hunter’s CT number came up as the sergeant leader. It seems we are officially marked as an active squadron.”

That got them to perk up, their hands of cards forgotten and dropped to the table.

“Wait, so we’re actually part of an army now? It’s really happening?” Wrecker stood up and hopped in place, like he couldn’t contain his joy when Tech nodded his head. Even Crosshair was pleasantly surprised enough to smile wide enough that his teeth were showing.

Tech could understand their enthusiasm. This is what they had been working towards their whole existence. It was what they were made for. It was what they were supposedly destined for too. It was a life fulfilling moment where they were actually part of something bigger than themselves. A small piece of a grand army.

And they had another name. Just for them.

“Clone Force 99, eh? That’s not as bad as it could have been,” Hunter said at last. He was trying to remain stoic as usual, but there was a bit of pride in the way he held his shoulders as he tried on the name like a new set of armor.

Crosshair shrugged in his own indifferent agreement, not one for showing any sort of easily won compliance. Wrecker had no complaints either, and was already running of to look for the armor paints that were tucked away in Tech’s footlocker.

“I’m going to paint 99 on my stuff. Cross, you want me to do yours too?” he called out over his shoulder, but Crosshair was already leaping off his bench to follow after.

“I will do my own, Wrecker. I’m not about to let you mess it up by painting something silly on there. And don’t deny that you would try!”

“It was one time, and it was Lula! She’s like a mascot for us!”

“The pits she is!”

Hunter sighed long and heavy, but there was enough softness in his eyes and a small quirk to his lips that Tech knew it was in fond annoyance that he got up to mediate the paints before a fight started up. They may have all been almost biological adults at this point, but their youth still clung to them tightly at times where Tech and Hunter wondered if they had really matured at all.

Tech was about to go back to his own data mining when he heard Hunter call his name quietly. He looked up to see Hunter smiling at him and jerking his chin in the direction of their brothers who were about to arm wrestle for rights to the red paint.

“Come on, Tech’ika. Don’t you want to do yours too?”

Tech hesitated only for a moment before he nodded and followed his brothers. It wasn’t necessary to mark up their armor, but it was just another way to show their uniqueness.

“We should have a thing though, like Kel told us about the Mando’s and their clan symbols,” Wrecker nearly shouted as they all began to mark up their armor.

Tech hummed thoughtfully as he dragged his brush over his left pauldron, “If we were to follow the cultural traditions in that regard, we would need to have it symbolize something we overcame together as a clan. Most wait until after their first great trial before marking themselves though. We may be a bit ahead of schedule in that regard.” Mainly, they had not seen real battle yet. But they had overcome many things together without ever having to see such things.

Wrecker leaned his chin onto his hand as he thought, not really paying attention to the brush in his hand as it swiped against his ear. It left a long streak of white along the shell that Tech noted, but did not comment on yet. He didn’t want to interrupt Wrecker’s thought process.

“What about those meli-whatevers from our first off-world trip?” he suggested.

“I’m not putting one of those things on my armor. They were ridiculous looking and we didn’t even kill one of them. They just almost killed us by kicking a bunch of rocks over,” Crosshair argued. Tech had to agree his brother had a point.

Wrecker did not seem deterred though, “Well what about the reptiles then? Hunter and Tech killed two of em!”

Crosshair sighed hard enough that it ended in a growl, “Yes, Tech and Hunter did. Not us. Try again.”

“We overcame starvation together by breaking into the mess together!”

Hunter winced at the embarrassing memory, even if it was treasured by all of them in some regard, “I dunno, Wrecker, I don’t think a meiloorun fruit or pudding cup is going to look intimidating on our armor. Maybe something else? We’ve overcome loads of things together. Surely there’s something we can all agree on? Something that took all of us to get here.”

Tech was certain there was, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Symbolism was not his area of expertise. He left such things to his brothers.

Crosshair snorted indelicately at Hunter’s words, but Tech knew it was less insolence and more from a point of his long lasting bitterness over all that they truly had overcome together.

“Our squad is practically built upon a fight to survive. I don’t need to wait for a blaster to be pointed at my face to know what facing down death feels like,” Crosshair muttered as he slapped red paint heavily on his own pauldrons.

Hunter nodded absently in his own agreement, his face suddenly sad and withdrawn as he painted a red streak of his own on their already darkened armor, “You’re right. Sometimes feels like we’ve been standing on a pile of bones to get to where we are.” They all knew that he was referring to the many defect brothers who had come before them and had not lived long enough to even outgrow their cadet tunics. Hunter and Wrecker’s batch had been lost long before they could remember, but that didn’t mean they didn’t feel that loss in a different way than Tech and Crosshair who lost their batch brothers later in life. The Kaminoans had not been delicate, nor caring of their experiments success until there were only four left of their enhanced clones.

A strong sense of melancholy came over Tech as he though back to all the brother’s they had lost, and had to agree with Hunter’s statement. It was through their loss that Tech and Crosshair had grown stronger and became as close as they were.

The truth in the statement was not lost on Crosshair either, seeing how his brother’s anger turned to sadness and regret, his brush strokes becoming longer and more careful than before.

“Well, I guess I can paint bones on here if you want. Tech’s gonna have to pull up some reference pictures though, cause it’s been a while since that crash course field triage lesson. Forgot what the leg one looks like…” Wrecker said after a beat, scratching at his head with his brush and seemingly not noticing the white blotch that ended up on his eyebrow as he did so. And then his nose. And then across his brow as he tried to mentally picture something in his head.

Wrecker may not have known the depth of everything that they had gone through, but he knew best how to lighten a mood.

“Well Wrecker, I believe you may be on to something already. I see a rather accurate depiction of a human skull reflected in your work,” Tech said smoothly, not a hint of humor in his voice even if he felt a bubble of laughter growing in his chest as he glanced meaningfully up at his largest brother.

Crosshair and Hunter both looked up from their work confused to what Tech was talking about only to smirk as they saw the splashes of paint that were now almost completely covering half of Wrecker’s face. It took a moment longer before Wrecker noticed all of them looking at his face and one glance at the window to their barracks he saw his reflection.

He barked out a laugh and reached for the rag they had, but Hunter grabbed his arm to stop him before he could.

“Hold up, I want to see if I can paint that first,” Hunter said as he yanked Wrecker over to get a closer look. He was smiling, the first real one that Tech had seen in days.

Yes. A skull would do for them.

Tech got to work on his own. He already had an idea for his helmet in mind.

The next sense of hope they got came in the form of an armory.

Not the one that they had grown up with, the one loaded with standard practice blasters and stunners. No, a real armory that held the latest weapons that the Republic had to offer.

Tech had seen the arrival of the inventory when he’d spliced into the ship manifests, something he did regularly now just to have a little more data to what to expect next. It took a few days for most of the regs to get outfitted with basic blasters and a few specialized weapons for the clones who were trained in different combat methods. Tech watched as the inventory dwindled while their squad waited their turn to be outfitted.

It took long enough that Tech wondered if they would not be outfitted until they were actually deployed, which would not be ideal at all given they would need time to get used to their new weapons before facing a real battle. He worried especially for Crosshair since a sniper’s rifle was something specific to them, something that they needed to know inside and out. Or at least that is what Crosshair had said to him before. And Hunter was very particular about his vibroknives and their balance.

Pits, Wrecker had only ever gotten to work with real explosives a total of five times during their off-world training.

It just didn’t seem fair to Tech to see his brothers not get the same courtesy as the regs when it came to their assigned weapons. He was beginning to wonder if he’d have to build them himself, like he’d done with their specialized armor.

And then Hunter got a ping on his pad one afternoon, calling them all to the armory.

Wrecker was vibrating. Crosshair may have been salivating for all Tech knew since his brother had chosen to wear his newly painted helmet. Even Hunter looked excited, even as he tried to rein in Wrecker as best he could through the corridor.

Tech was excited for them. Weapons were not where his own interests lay, but he was intrigued to see what his brothers ended up with and to find out if there were any helpful modifications he could apply.

The armorer was hardly impressed by the four defects standing before him, but regs rarely were if they already knew of their squad’s existence. Hunter was still polite as he checked them in and gave over their codes. Then his brother did his best to keep Wrecker from leaping over the counter after the reg to go help himself to whatever he wanted. Rather than whatever had been chosen for them.

“Hello, boys. Here to pick up your weapons?”

Cody’s sudden appearance was at least enough to get Wrecker’s feet back on the ground and draw his attention away from the treasure trove on the other side of the counter.

“Yes, Commander. Got our summons this afternoon,” Hunter said, meeting Cody’s arm for a quick shake.

“Glad to hear it. I saw you lot were slated for pick up and I decided to stop by. I wanted to see what they outfitted our most special squad with,” he said as he peered around the corner to where the reg had disappeared to.

“I was unable to find that information prior to coming here,” Tech admitted sullenly, ignoring the way Hunter hissed at him for admitting to his unsanctioned activities in the military databases.

He needn’t have worried as Cody laughed and gently squeezed Tech’s shoulder in comfort, “Don’t worry. That’s not because your splicing skills are any less impressive than before. It isn’t decided until the quartermasters here see your files and then checks inventory for what is on hand. They’re back there deciding what to give you now.”

Tech’s eyes widened in surprise and he scrambled up beside Wrecker to peer around the corner with him, his curiosity now renewed as he wondered what aspects of their files would determine their chosen weapons.

The anticipation was growing as Tech caught sight of the reg coming back with a cart full of cases for them. He could feel Crosshair move up close behind him, probably able to make out a bit more due to his enhanced eyesight than whatever Tech’s poor eyes were capable of. He also knew how much Crosshair had been looking forward to this day, when he’d receive his first true sniper’s rifle. Tech could remember vividly from when he was still quite a small cadet and crawling into Crosshair’s lap and seeing his ori’vod looking up rifle specifications on the holonet. He’d been dreaming of one in particular for years.

Tech felt his anticipation grow as he thought about Crosshair finally getting his hands on the rifle he had been training for his whole life. It was what he deserved after all.

What actually arrived was enough to deflate them all, however.

Wrecker was still excited to see a basic demolitions kit for himself, but that’s all it was. Basic. The kind that was given as a standard to any regiment in case they needed any sort of explosion. Not something a demolitions expert would use.

Hunter didn’t seem displeased with the blaster he’d been given. It was a model similar to the practice ones they’d all used before. The vibroknife however…even Tech could see that it was better suited to cut unruly bread better than whatever they’d be facing in the field.

Tech’s own blaster was a basic DC-17, and it would suffice. Even if it was clearly a refurbishment. It was the correct size for his hand and his holster…well, one of them anyway. He’d been wielding dual DC’s for years now, ever since Crosshair had discovered his ambidextrous capabilities and shoved a second blaster in his left hand. He wasn’t disappointed in his own weapon. At least not to the extent Crosshair was…Tech found his own shoulders sagging in a shared depression as they looked down at their team sniper’s weapons kit.

His brother was staring down at the rifle tucked into the small kit, all light and previous excitement dimmed to nothing and quickly turning into a deep scowl the longer he stared at it.

“An AD-11? That’s practically a relic,” Hunter huffed, glaring accusingly up at the quartermaster reg at the window.

The reg crossed his arms and glared back, “It’s a perfectly functional weapon,” he defended.

“For a basic combat shot of perhaps a hundred meters. Crosshair is capable of executing a shot accurately up to 8 clicks or more. This is like using a spoon to cut meat,” Tech found himself arguing back, his usual monotone breaking for once in defense of what he saw as an injustice to his brother.

“We saw his scores. If his skills are so superior then we figured he wouldn’t need a rifle like that to back him up,” the reg groused back at them, only flinching minutely when Wrecker’s large frame flexed menacingly from beside their sniper.

“Is that so, trooper?” Cody’s voice may have been almost imperceptibly identical to all other regs, but there was an authority there that had the regs behind the weapons counter straightening their spines to come to attention as the Commander stepped forward from where he’d been hidden behind Tech and his brothers. He cleared his throat, all friendliness gone from his features in place of judgmental indifference, “It seems to me that anyone of high caliber as these soldiers deserve only the best. They are marked in their files as special ops, and I don’t know about you, but that sounds like they need top of the line equipment to complete their missions. Correct?”

The reg shrank back on himself a bit as he flicked his eyes between them and the Commander, “Top of the line, sir?”

“Of course. Weapons that fit their unique skills. That sounds fair, right? I’m assuming that is how it has been done for all the clone troopers who have come here before,” he said as a statement, brow raised challengingly.

“Uh, yes sir!”

Cody nodded sharply, “Good, then you should probably take a second look at the armaments for all of Clone Force 99. Just to be sure they received the correct items.”

“Yes, sir!”

Within five minutes Tech found himself the proud owner of two new DC-17’s, Hunter the largest vibroknife they’d ever seen, Wrecker a demolitions kit the size of a footlocker, and Crosshair…a Firepuncher rifle. The one he’d been dreaming about for years.

“That you, sir. We appreciate you sticking your neck out for us,” Hunter said as they all walked away from the flustered quartermasters. He was still admiring his knife, flipping and twirling it seamlessly in his hand like he’d had it for years.

Cody scoffed, “Hardly sticking my neck out. I meant it. You lot are going to be taking on the most difficult missions and tasked regularly with the impossible. There is no need to make your job harder by giving you children’s toys instead of real weapons. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you think you’re not being treated fairly.”

“We’re used to getting second hand stuff is all,” Wrecker said, his new case tucked against his chest like a large and clunky Lula replacement, “Tech just takes that stuff and makes it better if he can. Look at how cool our armor is!” He said as he flexed his arm to show off the new paint job.

Cody smiled indulgently, “It is quite impressive. Still, I’m here if you lot need a favor here and there. I know I’ll be calling on you for favors plenty soon,” the smile fell from his face, “It’s only a matter of time before we’re all getting deployed. The war may not have started as far as papers and the senate are concerned, but it’s all too real for too many innocent people already. We must be ready when that time comes, and I want all our men prepared to do their duty to the best of their ability. That includes you boys.”

The four of them nodded in agreement. If Cody said they would be called upon, then it must really be happening. It was beginning to feel as real as the DC-17’s strapped to his thighs. A heavy and dangerous weight, just waiting to be put to use.

Tech felt his heartrate pick up at the thought, and he wondered if Hunter heard it.

The last thing that came to them that made it all real was the best gift that Tech had ever received since he’d gotten his name from Crosshair.

It came in the form of a summons for Tech to report to back bay hangar four.

His brothers were leery still, even years after Tech had grown to an almost full-sized clone, of letting their brother go off on his own into the city. They’d all had one too many incidents happen when they were on their own to ever be completely comfortable with the idea of one of them traipsing off alone, so Tech understood and indulged them trailing behind him.

The summons had not listed any details for why he was needed. He thought perhaps he was requested to assist with repairs on one of the cargo transport ships since he was known to have studied the manuals of every model ship in the Republic military database. Or maybe they were short on certified pilots and needed Tech to run a quick drop off to a nearby station? Whatever the reason, Tech was not one to ignore a summons. Not when he ached almost physically to be useful these days.

He entered the designated hangar, his brothers on his heels, and he looked around to take in the contents. Hangar four was one of the mid-sized bays, capable of holding up to eight large vessels or twelve smaller ones. Tech had only been inside a few times during his mechanical trainings and for a couple of his piloting sessions. He recognized most of the ships as belonging to the officers for smaller tasks and missions. There was one other one tucked at the back of the room that had not been there before.

He was intrigued by its presence since it was not a standard vessel for the growing clone army. It was too small to carry more than a handful of people at a time, so it would not fit the needs of the majority of the legions. He’d read of the model before in passing and had teased himself with ideas of what he’d do if he ever had one in his possession, but had never seen on in person before. The flexibility and endurance of the engines alone, paired with the angles of the tri-wing configuration…

One of the Kaminoan bay handlers and a reg mechanic approached Tech, cutting him off from his train of thought. They seemed relaxed enough that Tech felt himself calm as well. From their neutral expressions it was unlikely a dire situation to be addressed.

“CT-9909, thank you for coming so quickly,” the Kaminoan male said in their usual slow paced manner.

Tech ducked his head in the casual sign of respect, “Of course. What am I required for?”

“We’re handing out ship assignments. Upper command wants everyone to have time to get to know their ships prior to deployment, so we’re informing all pilots of what they’ve been given. I’ve got yours ready for you over there,” the reg said in a bored tone, and gestured to the back of the hangar where the previously unknown ship stood.

The reg cleared his throat and glance down at the pad in his hand, “Looks like you lot have been given a—”

“An Omicron-class attack shuttle,” Tech finished for him, the excitement already beyond containment as it finally dawned on him that this was it. He’d been assigned his first ship! He couldn’t wait to begin modifications on it. His fingers were already twitching in anticipation. He barely even registered the sound of surprise from his brothers behind him.

“Uh, yeah. So it’s yours. Name is listed as the Havoc Marauder. Specs and manual have been sent to your box. Feel free to explore and let my team know if there are any repairs you need done,” the reg finished in the same bored tone and turned away. Probably to continue handing out ships to other squads.

Tech didn’t care much. All his attention was on the ship. His ship. He was already running towards it before the reg had even finished talking.

He’d already read enough of attack vessels like this to already know exactly how to open the ramp and didn’t waste a second lowering it to get inside. He scanned the interior only for a moment before darting straight for the cockpit, running his hands reverently over the controls and the pilot’s seat as soon as he was within reach.

“This ship looks kinda beat up, Tech,” Wrecker said from somewhere behind him.

Crosshair had moved in beside Tech as some point, not seemingly as excited as his vod’ika about the ship, but lingering close enough that Tech knew he was at least interested.

“Remember what Cody said. If this isn’t good enough—” Crosshair began to say, but Tech cut him off with a quick shake of his head.

“No, this is perfect. Please, let’s keep this one?” he asked at the end, looking up at his brothers with his eyes wide and pleading. Just like he’d been taught worked best to make his brother’s cave to his desires long ago.

Even Wrecker looked doubtful as he glanced around the limited interior, “I dunno, Tech. She seems pretty basic. Does it even have bunks?”

Tech wasn’t hearing it though, he knew in his head and in his heart that this was the ship for them. They may not be able to see it yet, but this was it. He turned his pleading eyes to Hunter, knowing he was the most vulnerable to the expression, “I know she doesn’t seem like much, but she will be modified…Like we were.”

They all exchanged cautious glances before Hunter seemed to deflate in defeat, “Okay, Tech. You’re the primary pilot, so your say matters most, but,” his face warmed into a smile at last as he glanced around the ship again. This time more fondly, “it sounds like she’ll fit right in with us then once you’re done with her.”

Tech breathed out a relieved sigh and nodded, “Precisely.”

Hunter and Wrecker then wandered off to start exploring the rest of the ship, leaving Tech to coo and inspect the rest of the cockpit with Crosshair hovering close behind him.

The Havoc Marauder was theirs. They had their ride off this planet at last. Now they just needed a mission. It was all coming together before his eyes, and Tech was finally truly starting to believe it. He just hoped he had enough time to complete his first round of modifications before they were deployed, which could be any day according to Cody.

They had a Republic to protect now. He hoped that they were all ready.

Chapter Text

“Anything yet?”

“Not since the last time you asked five minutes and thirty-four seconds ago, no. Please stop asking, Wrecker, I’m trying to concentrate,” Tech scolded from across the room where he was at his workbench once again, tinkering away with something Crosshair didn’t even recognize. He’d been rather ticked off at being yanked away from the Marauder by the sniper earlier that evening, and seemed to further his rebellion by starting up yet another project instead of resting like Crosshair had told him to.

Sometimes he missed how obedient Tech used to be when he was still the tiny cadet that barely came up to Crosshair’s chest. Hunter had said Tech had gotten all his stubbornness from Crosshair and that he was the last person allowed to complain about it, but what did he care? He was the sergeant now and he could only hope that they all listened to him once they finally got out of here.

Wrecker groaned loudly from where he was laying upside down, draped over the edge of his bunk. Almost oozing out of it in a pile of boredom onto the floor, “Everyone else got deployed weeks ago. I just wanna know when we get to leave too.”

Hunter sighed loudly but did not voice any opinions on the matter. They all were aware of what was going on and had grown tired of discussing it. Except Wrecker it seemed.

As annoyed as Crosshair was with the continuous whining, he had to agree with Wrecker on that. They’d all had to stand by and watch from the hangar as platoons after legions of regs got shipped off-world, while the four of them got left behind with all the cadets still in training. Maybe Tech had been able to distract himself with his big, and somewhat shiny new toy, but the rest of them could only entertain themselves to a point handing him wrenches and screwdrivers all day.

The bitterness was coming back the longer that they were stuck here, filling their time running the same simulations, practicing at the same range, waiting…

All the promises and signs that they were finally going to make it seemed like cruel teasing now. Crosshair was a fool to have let himself have hope. He should have learned long ago that hope was not for defects like them.

Crosshair growled low under his breath and stomped over to Tech’s bunk, throwing himself down on it roughly, not caring what wires and gears flew off in the process. Tech should keep his bunk cleaner anyway. Crosshair needed to get away from Wrecker’s groaning for a while, knowing it was only making his anger worse. Moving here also had the benefit of being able to glare out the window easily at the never-ending rain outside.

There may have been some comfort in being close to his vod’ika, but that was not his intention when choosing to sit on his bunk. It had its usual effect though when Tech absently started to talk about his latest project quietly as Crosshair stared sullenly out the window. Almost like his brother knew the effect his rambling still had on the sniper. Or maybe Tech was smart enough to know how to make Crosshair slightly less pissed at him for staying up half the night the day before working on the kriffing ship again. Tech was getting smarter about things like that.

“…I hope to fully incorporate the new design into the pressure gages to alert us the moment that it goes outside of the acceptable ranges, rather than waiting for—”

“What do you think they’re waiting for?” Crosshair found himself cutting in at some point, his voice low enough that he wasn’t sure Tech had actually heard him if not for the way his brother stopped talking immediately.

The tension came back into Tech’s shoulders as he continued to work, but Crosshair knew he was just processing the question rather than ignoring him. Tech always answered them, like he couldn’t resist sharing what knowledge he had.

“It is uncertain, given I have no data set to compare our situation to. We are one of a kind, and so is this scenario. I can speculate that given the early state of the yet-to-be-declared war, there have been no missions that required our skill set. Or perhaps the Republic is hesitant to send in a special ops team when political tensions are still too high. Or—”

“Or they’ve already forgotten about us,” Crosshair cut in, his self-doubt and bitterness making him lose his patience even with his beloved younger brother. Tech would understand though, he always did and never took Crosshair’s moods personally.

Tech sighed, his hands never pausing in his work, “Or they forgot about us,” he conceded eventually, just with less inflection to his voice.

Crosshair saw Hunter shift uneasily out of the corner of his eye and knew their new sergeant was easily hearing every word of their conversation. Hazards of having a sensory enhanced brother in their barracks. They were all thinking the same thing, Crosshair was just the only one able to verbalize what they all feared. That all of this had been for nothing. They would never get out of this cage of a place and would never reach their full potential. They’d never get to prove everyone wrong for thinking they were failures.

“You give up hope so easily,” Tech said quietly a moment later.

Crosshair snorted and kicked the back of Tech’s chair lightly, smirking to himself when it caused his brother to lose his grip on his tool, “As if your logical mind can fathom such a thing. I dare you to quantify hope.”

“I believe the entire field of statistical mathematics would be a good place for me to start,” Tech quipped back, making Crosshair roll his eyes. Of course his smart-ass brother would out-logic him over something as fleeting and abstract as hope. Tech finally turned to give him a smug glance before turning back to his work, knowing he’d bested his ori’vod yet again, “And statistically all is not lost. Not with Cody looking out for us, and not with the unrest escalating in the rest of the galaxy. You are a sniper, Crosshair. I thought you would know something of patience.”

The dig went a little too deep for Crosshair’s ego to take for the moment, so he sulked back into Tech’s bunk further, grumbling under his breath as he did so. Even if he had his own doubts, what Tech was saying did offer some comfort in a way. That comfort was probably why Crosshair didn’t kick at the back of Tech’s chair again, and why he didn’t bother moving from his vod’ika’s bunk back to his own when he started feeling tired.

If he ended up falling asleep in Tech’s bunk again, that was his brother’s problem. It wasn’t like he’d been using it much anyway. Although, given Tech’s sleeping preferences, there was a chance that Crosshair’s presence just might…

He’d fallen into a light doze when he felt the mattress move beside him and he smirked when he felt Tech squeeze in beside him. They were both almost full grown adults at this point, even if they were still in the gangly stages of late adolescents, but they still managed to fit on the bunks together well enough that no one fell off. It had been difficult for Tech ever since they were little cadets to resist a source of warmth in his sleep, the little heat seeking missile he was. After one too many sleepless nights tinkering with their new ship, maybe Crosshair should have lured him to bed like this sooner.

Especially after Tech nearly melted into his side with a weary sigh and was asleep within seconds of laying down. Clearly his brother needed it.

And perhaps Crosshair needed it too as he let himself fall back into that doze, letting his worries and doubt slip aside for a moment as he enjoyed the proximity to his brother that had become less frequent since they’d grown up. He could forget everything until morning, and just enjoy on quiet night with his brothers around him.

And so he slept. It was warm and he was safe. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do anyway. Plus it had the added benefit of trapping his brother and tricking him into sleep he desperately needed. Even if his so called brilliant mind prevented Tech from sleeping like a human being most of the time.

And when he woke up, Hunter was standing beside their bunk, face grim as he gently shook them both awake. Crosshair looked up at him as his mind woke quickly, even if Tech wiggling slowly in his grasp was not as quick, only managing a bleary blink up at their sergeant upon waking. The window outside was still dark, even with rain clouds it was obvious that it was still quite early in the morning at best. Hunter never woke them early unless they were summoned for a spot inspection or individual training sessions, but they hadn’t had anything like that done in months.

It begged the question that was perched on the edge of Crosshair’s lips. Why the kriff did you wake us up this early?

He would have asked that question too, if not for the serious look on Hunter’s face, and Wrecker’s matching one behind him. It made him tighten his arms around Tech slightly. If Tech had been more awake he would have probably beaten him to the inquisitive punch, and in a more polite way. But they didn’t need to wait a second more as Hunter leaned down close, his voice low and apologetic as he roused them.

It may have been too early in the morning for what he said next, but Crosshair found his heart leaping in his chest at the words Hunter finally said.

“Time to get up, vode. We’ve got a mission.”

Chapter Text

There was a subdued scramble to gear up after Hunter had woken them all up, all of them wrapped up in their own thoughts no doubt. Tech found himself able to wake faster than he ever had at the prospect of it was finally happening. Since emotional identification and classification were not his forte, he felt that the only way to mentally catalog what he was feeling at the moment as an exclamation point. Perhaps several of them.

Wrecker seemed to be in a similar state, albeit a much more verbal version of the feeling. From Tech’s estimates, his brother was talking at ten-point higher decibel level than his usual outstanding volume. That was probably a factor in why Crosshair had chosen to use Tech’s bunk to put on his boots than using his own that was beside Wrecker’s. Not that Tech minded.  

Tech was rather proud of himself for having a ready to go pack made for all of them when the first whispers of war hit their ears, and he was able to dress in his armor without sparing much conscious thought as he tried to grasp the severity of the moment. It would be easier managed if Hunter actually had answers to his questions though. It was hard to gage how he should be reacting when he had so little data to work with about what they were headed into.

“Who requested us?”

“Cody.”

“Did he say where we were going?”

“Not yet.”

“Did he specify the nature of the mission?”

“No, Tech.”

“Did he say if we were gonna blow something up?!”

Sigh “No, Wrecker.”

As patient as Hunter had been with Tech’s multitude of questions over the years, it was apparent that it was finally beginning to run thin. Possibly a side effect of Hunter’s own frustration at having no information to share. Tech huffed out his own annoyance, but still sent a message to the hangar to have their ship fueled and the floor cleared for take-off.

“Kriff, what kind of summons did you even get then? Did Cody even ask for us, or did he just send his greetings and you got confused?” Crosshair groused as he pulled on his boots.

Hunter groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. He already looked tired and stressed even to Tech’s imperfect sight, “He sent us a message saying he had a mission for us and to meet him at some specified coordinates. I’m sure Tech can get more details once he plugs them into the computer, so let’s just get to the ship and we’ll figure it out soon enough.”

“Wow, sounds super secret then. Like he can’t discuss over an open channel,” Wrecker gasped dramatically and bumped Hunter soundly on the back, “Oh, and I bet it’s super dangerous too. Why else would he call us in?”

Tech felt a small surge of pride, thinking of their squad and all that they had been capable of achieving even before they’d even graduated. Behind him he saw Crosshair smirk at Wrecker’s words, most likely thinking along the same lines. Getting called in for the most challenging missions was a compliment to them, because if no one else could manage…well, they’d pulled off the impossible too many times to quantify at this point.

Tech expected to see some semblance of pride on Hunter’s face too, knowing how proud their ori’vod was about their squad, but instead Hunter’s face looked drawn. It could have been due to the fact they were getting pulled from their sleep cycle early, but they had all worked through worse sleep deprivation before without Hunter even showing the barest signs of wilting.

Hunter did not answer to match Wrecker’s enthusiasm, although it would have been a challenge for any of them to do that, but he did manage to shrug his shoulders indifferently. If not heavily.

“We’ll see. Let’s just report to Cody and hear what he has to say. Let’s get a move on,” he said to them, just as they all finished pulling on their packs.

Tech added another exclamation point to his emotional status as they all headed out the door together.

It was finally happening for them.

Crosshair could feel his heart lighten with every lightyear further they flew away from Kamino. Part of him always doubted that this would happen, even if every ounce of him believed they deserved this. The whole galaxy seemed to conspire against them since their faulty creation, and he’d been slapped around by fate enough that he almost expected a new blow to be dealt at every pass.

But now here they were. Just like he’d pictured it when he sometimes let his mind fantasize about a possible future for them. The four of them on their own ship headed towards some special mission that only they could achieve.

Tech sat in the pilot’s chair, his posture sure and strong as he manned the controls with a confidence not found in most young pilots. Arrogance was nearly a prerequisite for young pilots though, but his vod’ika seemed to have that mostly under control. If he had any arrogance, it was well earned in Crosshair’s opinion. Just like his own arrogance regarding his sharpshooting skills was well deserved.

While Crosshair had gone through the basic piloting lessons that all clones got, he still had taken up residence in the co-pilot chair for this flight. If Hunter was going to be all broody over by the nav computers then Crosshair was going to take full advantage of that. Just like Wrecker was taking advantage of the seven hour flight to nap.

They’d all woken early, but Crosshair found himself far too eager to even contemplate closing his eyes. Even if he didn’t let that eagerness show on his face.

The coordinates that Cody had sent had not given away much when Tech had plugged them in. They were meeting him on a cruiser for a brief and then they’d be sent off immediately afterwards. The quadrant of space they were headed to were where a few of the first victimized planets were located. Some skirmishes here and there as the war began to pick up speed, but there were also several hostile takeovers of several smaller planets and cities.

Crosshair wondered if they would be asked to liberate any of those entrapped planets. It was a very tall order, but who knew what they could manage now that they were finally being allowed to stretch their legs. He was excited. This is what they had been created for. He didn’t know what had gotten Hunter so withdrawn and pissy when they were all finally getting what they’d always wanted. He’d let his brother brood for a while. Maybe that crown of leadership was finally getting too heavy for that fuzzy head of his.

Crosshair glanced over at his brother, noting that while his brother did not seem to be in an overly emotive mood he also didn’t seem apprehensive like Hunter was. It wasn’t the excitement that Crosshair was hoping for, but it was something.

It made him suddenly become a little sentimental, thinking about how far the two of them had come. It had been just the two of them for a while, before they had bumped into Hunter and Wrecker, and it had been a bleak existence with little hope for anything. But look how far they had come.

Gone was the tiny little thing that Tech had once been, his goggles so large on his face he looked like an insect most of the time, and in his place sat an almost full grown adult clone (Crosshair was still holding out hope his vod’ika would also surpass Hunter in height just so that he could gloat more) with all the confidence to back up his exceptional intelligence. And Crosshair knew that his skills were unmatchable by anyone in the galaxy, and he was ready to use them to whatever means he was directed to. He now had three found brothers who he would protect with his dying breath if it came down to it. It was a far cry from the shattered and lonely cadet he’d once been, angry at everything and himself for the life he’d been given.

Yes, just look at them now.

“What do you think it will be like?” he found himself asking Tech quietly, a small smile playing on his lips as he let himself think of all they may accomplish together.

“I believe it will be a primary mission objective comprised of battles on various fronts,” his brother replied absently, his focus still on the controls in his hands.

Crosshair blinked as he absorbed the answer right before his face fell into a scowl, “That was not what I meant, Tech.”

“Hmm? What did you mean then?”

“Nevermind. I’m sure we’ll all find out soon enough.”

The Negotiator was a magnificent ship, even by what little standards Hunter had. The massive size of it compared to their stealthy little attack shuttle was imposing, but Tech had steered them towards it without even a single shred of hesitation. Hunter stood by proudly as their vod’ika flawlessly guided them into the specified bay, not leaving even a scuff mark on the floor.

“Not a bad entrance,” Hunter said, clasping Tech’s shoulder warmly.

“Eh, I dunno. Kinda boring if you ask me,” Wrecker said just as the ramp opened for them.

Hunter chuckled, but it sounded forced even to his own ears, “Let’s save the excitement for the mission. I’m sure we’ll get plenty of it soon enough.”

“One can only hope,” Crosshair muttered darkly as he stomped his way down the ramp. Of all of them, boredom had taken the worst toll on their sniper. The strict structure and growth they saw before graduation at least had given their brother a feeling of accomplishment. But when they graduated and were left to their own devices, they lost all of that. A bored Wrecker meant absent destruction. A bored Tech meant absent creation. And a bored Crosshair meant a miserable mix of the two. Creating his own entertainment while breaking whatever it took to get out his frustrations and self-doubt.

As apprehensive as Hunter was about all this, he was glad to see his brothers finally get out from the shadow of Kamino at long last. It had been painful to see his brilliant siblings dimmed by it.

They were greeted by one reg with a pad in his hand, his starkly white and unmarked armor matched most of the other regs they could see about the bay and corridor outside, and it only made them stand out even more than ever before now that there weren’t any cadet tunics or training gear to break it all up.

“Ah, Clone Force 99 is it?…weird squad name…says here you are to report directly to Commander Cody. I’ll take you to him,” the reg said, barely even looking up from whatever log he was checking, and waved at them to follow.

Hunter and Crosshair exchanged raised brows, both of them thinking that this was one of their better encounters with a reg. Perhaps getting off Kamino and meeting some new faces for once had done them all some good.

The four of them followed along silently. Hunter could tell by the frantic swiveling of Tech’s head that he was barely containing his curiosity, but his brother had gotten better at knowing when to ask questions over the years. Maybe Cody would be able to indulge their vod’ika after the mission was completed. Cody always had a soft spot for him.

“He’ll be right through here,” the reg said, stopping outside of a busy control room and waving them inside.

Almost instinctively Hunter’s spine straightened as he spotted heavy pins and epaulets of higher brass inside, and he felt his brothers do the same beside him. He drew in a sharp breath and forced himself to walk forward.

This is what you were made for. This is what we were all made for. This is what you were made for…

It wasn’t hard to spot Cody, his armor touched with gold that shone even in the dimmed lighting of the room. It also helped that he was the only one who smiled at them as they approached. The nat borns around him only glancing at them curiously.

“Hello, boys. Thanks for coming in,” Cody greeted warmly, giving Hunter’s hand a quick shake.

“Of course, sir. Thank you for calling us in. We were starting to think we’d never get off that rock,” Hunter said, feeling the vice around his chest loosen when Cody laughed.

“We’re just getting started, don’t worry. You all will be kept quite busy going forward I bet. Now, are you ready for your brief?” he asked politely, but they knew that it wasn’t really a question. They had to be ready.

They all nodded and Cody led them over to a console at the back of the room where a star map was already pulled up. Tech was the first to crowd up to the map, his goggles glinting with the light bouncing off of them being so close. His head tilted to the side curiously as he noted a marked planet there.

“Cuanae, hmm. If I recall correctly that is a primarily oceanic planet, known for its salt production and tepid climate,” he said as he adjusted his goggles.

Crosshair rolled his eyes and bumped his hip against Tech’s, “As if you ever recall anything incorrectly.”

Cody seemed pleased though, “Ah, so you’ve heard of it. Wonderful! Any information you have on it may come in handy. It looks like you’ll be needed on the surface, or perhaps even deeper than that given it’s mostly water.”

“Deeper? What’s that supposed to mean?” Wrecker asked, squinting at the mark even though there was nothing really to discern just by the red mark on a map. Hunter found himself thinking the same question.

Cody shrugged, “Well, given that nature of the mission, and the fact that the planet is covered in…what percentage of water coverage, Tech?”

“Ninety-seven point eight,” Tech promptly replied, the planet already pulled up on his data pad.

Wrecker groaned loudly, “Aw man, we just came from an ocean planet!”

Cody chuckled again and patted Wrecker’s arm, “Ah, but this one is much warmer. So almost ninety-eight percent covered in water. I’m no mathematician, but I’d say that puts the odds of you lot going swimming pretty high.”

Wrecker groaned again, swimming was definitely not his strongest skill. At least he could swim though, even if it wasn’t fast.

“So what is the nature of our mission then?” Hunter asked, already getting a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he was going to hear.

Cody even seemed a little apologetic as he drew in a breath, “We’ve got an outpost not far from Cuanae, mostly they just monitor the area around there for Separatist activities but lately things have gotten a little more aggressive and they had a battle a day ago. It was one of the first major skirmishes of the war and several ships were destroyed, and…one large cruiser vessel was taken down as well.”

“Aw, yeah!” Wrecker cheered, drawing the startled looks from a dozen of the occupants in the room. Hunter tried to smile at them apologetically for the noise, but they had already turned away before he could.

Cody smiled at Wrecker indulgently, “It was a victory for sure, Wrecker. The captain of the outpost did an exemplary job of manning that battle. He’s actually the one who reached out to me with this mission since it was outside of his people’s abilities. At least we think it is. That cruiser vessel that went down was not completely destroyed as far as our data shows. It received a critical hit to its engine as it tried to retreat, and our sensors showed it plummeting down towards Cuanae’s gravitational pull last they saw it. They lost track of it after that, I’m afraid. What has us curious is that the shields still looked mostly functional, and may have prevented too much damage from occurring.”

Hunter ran his thumb over his chin, his mind already thinking of the possible outcomes of such a fall for a vessel as large as a cruiser. The damage would be extensive and non-survivable if it hit land…but Cuanae was mostly water, “Are you wanting us to go and look for enemy survivors?”

Cody shook his head, “The ship is entirely powered down from what we can tell, and we’ve detected no unaccounted for concentrations of life forms on the planet. This is a recon assignment as of now, but may change depending on what you find.”

“And just what is it we are looking for?” Crosshair asked, slipping a toothpick between his teeth.

“Well, first you need to locate the cruiser. Be it on a shred of land or sunk in the ocean. Then you are needed to recover any information or data you can from it.”

Hunter raised a brow, “Just any data?”

Cody shrugged, “Anything at all could prove useful as we become more familiar with the Separatists. Inventory, allies, databases, manufacturing plants, manifests…any of it could be important as we try to gage their tactics and get a feel for their resources.”

Hunter was almost relieved to hear that. A recon mission wasn’t bad at all. Easy even considering that Tech could pull data in his sleep. Perhaps insultingly easy going off of the disappointed looks of his brothers, but Hunter was happy enough about it.

“We’ll see it done, sir.”

“I know you will. Unfortunately I won’t be able to take you boys there myself. Captain Homes will be having you shuttled down to the planet after you’ve all located the cruiser. I’ve already had the coordinates sent to you. Some of his men will be on standby for you during the mission if you need back up at any time. But, report back here after you’ve completed your mission. I think I’d like to hear all about it,” he said with a conspiratorial wink. It lasted only a blink, before his arm shot up in a stern salute, “I’d love to chat more, but we are welcoming our new General on board here soon and I am needed to be there. Good luck out there boys, we’re counting on you. Dismissed!”

The four of them reflexively did the same, even if Wrecker nearly took out his own eye rushing to do so. At least Crosshair contained his snickering until Cody had walked out of sight.

Hunter sighed and turned to his brothers, “Alright you lot. Let’s get back to the ship. Looks like we’re going hunting.”

At least that was something he was good at.

Chapter Text

Crosshair was grumbling. Again.

Normally this was not something that was bothersome, and certainly not new to Tech who had lived with the sniper since they were quite little. It was, however, somewhat distracting since his ori’vod had chosen to sit in the copilot’s chair while Tech was busy running scans and flying the ship simultaneously.

“Should have turned it down…too easy. Insulting—” Tech could hear teeth gnashing harshly against his latest toothpick on that last word and it made a repulsed shiver run down his spine.

He turned to his brother with a long suffering look, “Would you please take your dental destruction somewhere else. I am trying to find a crashed ship that may be under hundreds of meters of water on an ocean planet. I know I make flying this ship easy, but sea winds are nothing to scoff at,” he scolded. He didn't mean to sound so harsh even to his own ears, but this entire day had started off so positively and then degraded ever since. The bickering between all of them had gone on for months as they all waited restlessly for what was to come, and old habits seemed to die hard in this case since none of them seemed to have stopped yet. It was far too tense in the ship, enough that even Tech wasn't oblivious to the tension. Especially between Hunter and Crosshair, not that it was a particularly new state for them. No matter his own discomfort at the situation, Tech made a mental note to apologize to Crosshair later. 

Crosshair huffed, but did not bother to move. In fact, he seemed to sink even further into the seat. His brother had been especially volatile since they had received their brief, and while Tech understood some of the frustration, he had hoped Crosshair would have been happy to at least be on their first ever mission.

“Yes, what a difficult mission for you. Glancing at a screen occasionally while we look for a ship full of already drowned enemies. How fitting for our special squad,” Crosshair said as he glared out the viewport. Before them all they could see was endless water, not an unfamiliar sight given where they grew up, but this place had distinct differences that no one could miss. Especially Crosshair. For one, the water was a jeweled blue rather than daunting black like back on Kamino. The temperature was much warmer too, even if they hadn’t been off the ship to feel it yet, but Tech had a feeling they might end up doing so. He couldn't remember a time he felt warm outside of an embrace before.

It did seem a little easy for a squad that had been trained to take on the impossible and dangerous, but Tech wasn’t about to complain at the opportunity to explore a new planet at last. He could see where Crosshair would be put out by a frankly junior level mission, but he hoped that his brother would see the bright side eventually.

“We are lucky that the waters of this planet are relatively quite shallow in comparison to Kamino. This keeps them quite warm off of the volcanic vents just under the surface, and allows for life to flourish there. I’d never seen so many aquatic species documented on one planet before, large and small ones. The patches of land here are quite small and dispersed, but they also hold some wonderful species of plant and creatures,” Tech began to recite, hoping to sooth his ori’vod with the deluge of information. It had worked when they were younger many times.

It seemed to not be working very well given the growing depth of Crosshair’s frown.

Tech sighed and cast a pleading glance towards the chairs behind them where Wrecker was trying his hardest to keep from getting too bored. Their second hand power droid was currently victim to their largest brother’s boredom and was being lifted up and down repetitively. It’s little legs kicking at air pathetically.

Wrecker noticed the look and grimaced. They all knew how hard it was to pull Crosshair from a mood once he was already well immersed in one. It would be more of a daunting battle to get him to smile than their current mission it seemed.

Wrecker put down the droid, and it quickly shuffled off to the back of the ship sensing an escape, as he cleared his throat loudly.

“Sounds real nice, Tech. Maybe we’ll get to spend some time at the beach!”

Crosshair growled and whirled around in his seat, “We are here to complete a mission, not to fool around.”

Huffing, Wrecker crossed his beefy arms over his chest, “Well you’re the one grouching that this mission is the pits. If you hate it so much then lets just get it done fast and move on to the next one.”

“And what will the next mission be then? Cleaning the deck of the Venator ship? Handing out food at a cafeteria? Maybe they’ll be so impressed with us after this mission that we’ll be given the honorable job of picking up an officer’s freshly cleaned armor?”

Tech rolled his eyes at the over exaggeration of Crosshair’s depiction of their current mission.

“At least we’re doing something. Kind of,” Wrecker tried to say, but it only seemed to aggravate their brother over more.

By now Crosshair was kneeling in his seat backwards, spitting venom back at Wrecker, “That something is insulting to everything we’ve done to get here. We’ve worked harder, and suffered more than any of the other soldiers who got sent out, and for what? We’re looking for ship scrap that, if we’re lucky, will have basic intel to share with Cody.”

“I’m not saying this is a good mission, I’m just saying it beats sitting back in our barracks!”

Tech sighed again. When enlisting Wrecker’s help he was looking for positive encouragement, not antagonistic. Oh well. His next pleading glance was back further in the ship where Hunter was reviewing maps on the nav computer, but there was no missing the raised voices of their brothers with his level of hearing.

It was just starting to get loud enough that Tech’s skin was beginning to crawl when Hunter finally decided enough was enough and made his way aft.

“Hey, take it easy you two. It doesn’t matter what kind of a mission it is, we have our orders. Crosshair, stop grumbling and help Tech watch the scanner. Wreck, go in the back and see what kind of aquatic gear Cody gave us,” Hunter cut in before it could get any worse.

But perhaps Crosshair was more agitated than initially thought, because instead of doing what he was told, he turned his ire towards their squad leader in the form of a pointed finger.

“Why do you seem so fine with this? You should be insulted that this is what they assigned a sergeant of a special ops squad.”

“Cross, it’s our first mission. Let’s just test the waters, yeah? We don’t need our first time to be blasters and explosions from the get go,” Hunter’s reasoning was sound to Tech, but it did not seem so soothing to Crosshair. While the four of them agreed on many things, and had more in common with each other than any other of the millions of clones out there, there were still some differences between then that led to some of their more heated discussions. Hunter knew by now though that he was treading on unstable grounds when it came to Crosshair.

Tech could see it in the way his ori’vod stood, sharp shoulder’s tensed and hiking up towards his neck. It had been a fight from the start to get where they were, and to Crosshair…sometimes the cost had not justified the reward. Much like now.

“So you’re just fine doing grunt work then?” he hissed at their sergeant and brother.

“Hey, a mission is a mission,” Wrecker cut in, taking a stance behind Hunter.

Crosshair got up from his chair, his newly achieved height on full display as he stared them down, “We’re better than this and you know that.”

“We don’t have to jump feet first into a lava planet from the start to prove ourselves. We’ll work our way up the ladder,” Hunter argued back. Meanwhile Tech winced at his brother’s metaphor. At least he hoped it was a metaphor. One did not jump feet first into a lava planet under any sane circumstances, and he certainly hoped that wasn’t what Crosshair was truly looking for.

“No, this is something else. You’ve been off ever since we got Cody’s call, before we knew this was a second-rate mission. Why are you so happy to lie down and take this insult to us?”

Tech watched as Hunter’s face closed off, and became dark and shadowed. It was enough of a shift that all of them fell quiet and were looking at their ori’vod now. This had not been something that Tech had considered yet, but Hunter’s current acceptance paired with his earlier reluctance seemed at odds with one another. Of course, Crosshair would pick up on such things.

“It doesn’t matter. We accepted this mission from Cody and we will see it done. Now get to work,” Hunter said shortly and turned on his heel to go back to the nav computer.

Tech blinked his eyes rapidly, further confused at his brother’s behavior. Crosshair he could understand his emotional motives, but he was missing some key piece of data when it came to computing what was going on with their new sergeant. Hunter had snapped at them before, it was hard not to when they were all as rowdy and restless as they were growing up, but this was different.

Crosshair scowled and flung himself back into the chair beside Tech, but he did as he was told at least. Same with Wrecker.

Tech wondered if this had something to do with Hunter’s new rank. Perhaps this would be how it was going forward? It begged for more time to analyze, but Hunter was right. They had a mission to complete and Tech still had a role to perform, so he turned back to piloting. Trying his best to not stare at Hunter’s profile where he was leaning his head in his hands back at the nav computer.

“Hunter, I may have something.”

Tech’s calm voice was very welcomed after that spat in the cockpit a few hours ago, and Hunter heaved himself out of the chair to go see what his brother had found. Crosshair was still up front with him, and seemed to refuse to acknowledge Hunter and he stepped up between them. He heard Wrecker come up behind, probably just as eager as he was to have some news.

“What do you have, Tech?”

“A ship. A large one, approximately the size of the cruiser we are looking for,” Tech reported easily and tapped on the screen to pull up a holo.

The hazy blue shape came into partial focus, and they could just make out the edges of what looked like the ship they had been looking for. Hunter suppressed a sigh of relief. Finally they had something to do, rather than sit around the ship and try not to piss each other off more.

“That looks like our target. Take down the coordinates and depth, and do a life scan of the vessel. Once we have that we’ll head to Homes’ base to dock, gear up and get a shuttle,” he said, careful to keep his voice steady and certain. Any waver or uncertainty would just be an opportunity for Crosshair to question him again, and Hunter just wasn’t ready to answer any of those needle pointed questions. Sometimes his brother was too observant for his own good, and Hunter’s own good too.

It was getting harder to hide his own uncertainties regarding this mission, and whatever may come next, from them. He’d even felt Tech’s gaze prickle the hairs on the back of his neck, knowing that if their distractable brother was picking up on his anxieties then he was doing a relatively poor job of concealing them. That wasn’t good. Hunter needed to be a rock for his squad now, the person they could look to for guidance and protection through this war. And instead he was just making them even more wary and distrustful.

He'd have to be more careful going forward. It would be so much easier if he felt as confident in this role as the others seemed to be. It would be so much easier if his choices didn’t have such heavy consequences too.

Homes was…quite stern. At least that was the best word that Tech could use to describe the captain. It was almost as if his face was carved from metamorphic marble stone in the way it barely shifted from its resting state of a frown it seemed. It almost made Crosshair look friendly by comparison.

Usually Tech would be happy to go into depth of his findings, but this time around he kept his data report short and to the point. Probably a wise decision going off of the relieved look Hunter had when he finished quite quickly. Even Wrecker was looking nervous under the captain’s scrutiny, while Crosshair looked like he was trying to win some sort of angry face contest with him.

“Hmph, so what are your next steps for investigation then?” Homes asked Hunter directly, and Tech took that as his queue to step back between Wrecker and Crosshair where he felt slightly more safe, and blocked from view.  

“Tech said that the hull still seemed intact going off of the contained air pressure inside. We will need to dive down and find entry to see if there is any extractable data left for us,” Hunter replied promptly, standing at attention so tightly it looked like his back hurt. It made Tech feel slightly more self conscious about his own slouch and he tried to straighten up, only to crumple back down when he felt Homes eye his movement.

The diving down aspect was something that Tech was both anticipating and dreading. While it would allow him the opportunity to explore the warm tropical oceans a bit, it also would make their job at least thrice as difficult simply because they were underwater. Wrecker’s report regarding their borrowed aquatic gear did not make it any better. They had been given aquatic armor suits, but they were all standard clone sizes and therefore would not fit them very well. Or in Wrecker’s case, not at all. At least the water wasn’t too cold or overly pressurized at the depth they were going, so the suit wouldn’t really be all that necessary.

Tech and Hunter would fit loosely, and Crosshair’s may be too tight to allow for proper arm movement. And poor Wrecker would have to forgo it all in exchange for just a re-breather which would remove any sense of verbal communication with them. And he still hadn’t memorized hand signals, much to Tech’s dismay. Water proof weapons were another thing found lacking, effective if not a bit unruly. The design was good for short range, but they may not even need them in the water though, so it may not end up mattering. Tech was also still trying to figure out how to manage his goggles under that kind of helmet…

But still, they would have to make it work. At least he may be able to see some fish.

Homes’ face remained in his carefully school antagonistic neutral state, but he at least nodded at Hunter, “Fine. I’ll have one off my teams shuttle you down to the water. Send them a beacon call when you return to the surface and they’ll bring you back here to your ship. Dismissed,” he said shortly and waved down one of the lingering pilots nearby, probably to send them off as quickly as possible.

Even though his back was turned, it had been hardwired into them at this point to still slap up a salute to him.

“Didn’t even offer a good luck,” Wrecker grumbled as he nudged Crosshair.

The sniper just shrugged and slipped in a fresh toothpick.

“We won’t need luck, Wreck. We’ve trained for stuff like this. Let’s just get this done fast and efficiently to make the brass happy, okay?” Hunter said to them all, even if Crosshair was still refusing to look at their ori’vod.

Tech was happy to believe Hunter in this case though. They had performed admirably in hundreds of different simulations, even if none of them had been entirely underwater. They were soldiers now, they would adapt. That’s what soldiers do, wasn’t it?

Chapter Text

Adaptation was a process that could take moments to millennia though, although as far as Tech could estimate neither he nor his brothers would be capable of developing gills in the next hour. He’d never encountered and scholarly article documenting evolution that occurred so spontaneously at least. It was a shame though because they were all discovering the difficulties that Tech had predicted now that they were attempting to gear up on the shuttle down to the planet below.

“I didn’t think my head was that big. Not compared to Tech’s anyway…”

“It’s his forehead that’s massive. You’re the one sporting his own natural orbit around that moon you call a skull.”

Tech spared a moment to scowl over at Wrecker and Crosshair, rethinking his previous offer to assist them in suiting up. They could figure it out for themselves if they were so smart. Turning a blind eye to Wrecker who was mere moments away from ripping the wetsuit he was trying to pull on, Tech focused back on his own problem that was unfortunately the opposite of his larger brother’s.

Hunter may be a little shorter than most regs, but he was still built solidly enough that the suit didn’t hang off of his body like an extra skin. It did bunch uncomfortably around his ankles it appeared though. Not like Tech’s whose body was still struggling to fill out with the same muscle that his brothers had found before him. Tech was staring down at the loose ends of the legs the bunched around his knees and feet, and felt the gaps around his neck and wrists that he knew would fill easily with water as soon as he submerged himself in the ocean. At least the water wasn’t all that cold. Not like Kamino's fridig depths.

Crosshair growled as he tugged roughly at where the suit cut into his neck and shoulders, and Tech could already see a red pressure ring appearing there as the fabric cut into his skin, “First mission and we can’t even wear our own armor. What a kriffing joke.”

“Well you are more than welcome to wear your own armor, you will just have to manage swimming with the excess weight. Perhaps the extra effort will enhance the challenge you are so eager for,” Tech mumbled, his own annoyance making him irritable and less inclined to put up with Crosshair’s complaints. They were all suffering together after all.

“Take it easy, lads. Save the fighting for the war,” Hunter cut in. Their sergeant still seemed a bit withdrawn and somber for the occasion, but it wasn’t like any of them were jumping for joy anymore. Hunter reached out, only hesitating for a moment, before helping Crosshair pull at the fabric. It was unlikely to loosen it enough to be comfortable, but it seemed they both relaxed under the touch.

Tech wondered if they were nervous.

“We’re five minutes from your drop point. You lot geared up?”

Hunter sighed and glanced up at the P.A box above them, “Almost, we’ll be ready,” he called back. They’d only been spared a pilot and his co-pilot to assist them back to the planet, and even Tech seemed a little put off by the lack of tangible back-up. They still weren’t sure what they would be finding down there, but only two regs to assist if there was an emergency was less than comforting.

Crosshair rolled his eyes, but any further muttering was cut off as he slid his borrowed aquatic bucket on. At least he and Hunter would be completely decked out in the appropriate armor. Tech and Wrecker however…

“Will you be okay?”

Hunter’s voice was warm and comforting, like it usually was, and Tech was glad for the familiarity as he debated how best to approach his own attire.

He sighed as he stared down into the helmet, “My choices are either swimming almost entirely blind or uncomfortable and partially blind. Neither are ideal, but I did not anticipate needing aquatic gear for myself so soon. My mistake,” Tech said bitterly. Then he felt another hand close over his shoulder and glanced over to see Crosshair hovering close. He couldn’t make out his ori-vod’s expression, but his shoulders were slanted in an apparent sympathetic manner that relaxed Tech even more.

“I’ll be your periphery down there if you can manage the discomfort,” his brother said softer than he’d spoken in days.

Tech sighed and nodded, it was the better of two choices. Resigned, Tech forced the bucket over his head and over his goggles, pressing the edges of them painfully into his occipital sockets to the point he knew he’d have bruises if he wore it like this too long. At least he could wear a helmet.

As if they were all thinking the same thing they all turned to Wrecker who stood before them in his usual armor, completely unable to fit into any of the provided aquatic gear, and standing no chance of getting the under water capable and air tight helmet on properly. The abandoned wet suit lay in a heap on the floor.

But Wrecker was not one to focus on the negative too long, and knew better than anyone how to roll with the metaphorical and physical punches thrown at him. He smiled at them and shrugged lightly, holding up the re-breather apparatus they all had attached to their belts in case of emergency, “Don’t worry, I got this little guy and some goggles,” he nudged Tech playfully with his elbow, “Now we both get to wear some!”

Tech did not see how that was a good thing for either of them, but at least one of them was looking at this optimistically. Going from the whirring down sounds from the engines, it looked like they were descending and decelerating to their final stop.

Suddenly his stomach felt like it was tying itself in knots and there was a fluttering feeling in his chest where he knew his heart had sped up in the presence of an influx of adrenaline. Diagnosis, he was nervous.

The cargo door beside them opened up, letting an almost blinding light pour into the ship, revealing a clear and calm sky over jeweled blue waters. Even Tech had to admit to himself that it was very pleasing to look at. Even the calm planet didn’t seem to do much to calm his nerves though. Hunter must have heard his heart rate increase because he felt his brother’s hand close over his shoulder and give a series of small and fleeting tight squeeze as they herded towards the door. Tech recognized it as the matching pattern of his natural heart rate.

“Wrecker won’t be able to talk down there, so everyone keep him in sight for any signs of distress. Tech, I want you glued to Crosshair if you can’t see well down there. But no matter what we all stick together, no swimming off alone. We dive in, get in, get the data and get out. Got it?” he addressed them all, getting three nods in return.

“We’ve arrived. Have a nice swim and call when you need a ride back.”

It was a short dismissal from the reg pilot, but they couldn’t really linger around much longer without looking stupid, something Tech detested. It was enough to get his feet to move to the edge of the ship and stare down at the water mere feet below.

“I’ll go first, then Wrecker, Cross and then Tech. Swim down once you hit water to get out of the way. Let’s move,” and then Hunter leapt from the ship. Tech’s stomach lurched at the sight as he watched his ori’vod plummet below and splashed into the depths. Objectively he knew that this ocean was very different from Kamino, where the frigid water would shock any of them and feel like ice shards hitting their skin. That did little to make him feel much better as he watched the other two follow quickly behind Hunter.

And then Tech was left alone. He counted to ten to give Crosshair enough time to move away, and then gulped audibly, even if only to himself, and pushed off the ship.

The fall was quick, and he was hitting the water before he even registered the feeling of falling. The water was cool, but in a refreshing sense. His aquatic armor was not preventing water from reaching his neck, so he felt the temperature change right away.

Through his aching eyes, he turned around until he spotted his brothers all waiting for him a few meters down. Quickly Tech oriented himself and swam down to them, taking position to Crosshair’s left flank where he’d be out of the way of his sight range and weapons range if something happened.

“Okay, everyone follow me. I think I’ve got a read on the ship, and it isn’t too far from us. Stay close.”

The voice modulator in Hunter’s helmet came out almost startlingly loud in the pressurized silence of the ocean, but they all obeyed and began to swim after their squad leader. While Tech’s data pad was waterproof to a point, they had decided not to risk exposing it to too much moisture under uncertain water pressures they may encounter. Hunter had got enough of a feel for the small amounts of energy the sunken vessel was giving off, so he’d follow that like a beacon in place of Tech’s readouts. It was probably for the best, this way Tech didn’t have to focus entirely on his data pad as they swam through what looked like an incredible world of life around them.

Kamino’s oceans were vast and bare, but here…it looked about as busy and teeming with life as Coruscant. Only with fish and coral reef structures in place of sentients and buildings. Tech was delighted to see so many colorful fish swimming around them, and marveled at the array of coral species coating the ocean floor like bright underwater mountains.

There were so many species that he didn’t even have the time to review and memorize them all before coming down here, but he took mental note of each kind of creature he saw and promised himself to look them up later. Not even his lack of peripheral vision was enough to annoy him now that he was finally getting a chance to see something new.

He heard Crosshair chuckle beside him and felt his brother reach out to pull Tech back from where he apparently had been drifting away, “Stick with your own school, Tech. We’re not here to pet the fish.”

While Tech had no plans to pet the fish, he still blushed slightly and let himself be pulled back beside Crosshair. It was their first real mission and he was already getting distracted. No matter how easy a mission it was, they still were soldiers first…and not really anything else second. They were soldiers, not scientists. Soldiers. He had to remember that.

Tech shook his head of any lingering thoughts of the fish and stuck close beside Crosshair as they swam on. They were making steady enough progress that the crystal blue water was already beginning to darken as they moved deep enough that sunlight was no longer cutting through easily. The water that licked at the back of his neck was getting colder too, and he suppressed a shiver.

Up ahead, Hunter still was taking the lead, turning back every few seconds to check that they were all still following closely. Even though Wrecker had been second to jump in after Hunter, he was already starting to fall a bit behind, his armor weighing him down when he already wasn’t the best swimmer of their squad. It wasn’t long before he drifted behind Tech and Crosshair, but not too far away. They were all supposed to stick together after all.

Even with the changes in the water, Tech noted that there wasn’t much of a decrease in the amount of creatures swimming at this depth. They just changed in species, took on more muted colors and were larger in size. They were ignored and avoided by these fish just like the ones above, and that was fine.

Tech wondered how Hunter was handling his senses at this depth. He’d said before that water muffled his ability to read distinct energy signatures, but he could pick up vibrations tenfold down there. It must have been very confusing to follow the vibrations of thousands of fish around them while hunting down one remote energy signal from a powered down vessel, but he seemed sure enough of the direction they were going that he must have been managing fine for now.

They swam on, and the water got colder and darker again. Dark enough that Tech allowed himself to click on the torch on his helmet. The beam of light only pierced a few meters in front of them, revealing only more dark water ahead that loomed ominously. Tech couldn’t suppress the full body shiver that racked through him as he felt the temperature drop again and he knew that Crosshair felt it beside him where they were swimming close enough to brush up against one another.

Crosshair turned his head towards Tech once, and then back at Wrecker who was still trailing a ways behind them. He lifted a hand and clicked on his comm, “How much further down?” he called out, and below them Hunter paused in their descent.

“About two thirds of the way there now. How’s everyone holding up?”

Before Tech could respond that he was fine, Crosshair cut in again, “The cold is affecting Tech and Wrecker keeps falling behind.”

“Good to continue?”

“I am fit to carry on,” Tech reported immediately, before Crosshair could say otherwise. They both seemed to accept his answer at least.

Hunter swam up closer to them, and they all watched as Wrecker slowly caught up. They wouldn’t be able to ask him anything directly, and as far as Tech knew he had yet to learn the hand signals, but even a thumbs up from him would be a good sign. Once he caught up that was.

Tech bobbed absently in place as they waited, and allowed himself to sweep his torch around. It didn’t carry far, and there was very little to see now, but he was uncomfortable with the limited sight he had to not at least take a look. Although…there really was nothing to see now. The water had suddenly become empty when not long before it was full of fish. Had they gone too deep for those fish already? It didn’t seem like that long ago that he had seen a school of some spectacularly shiny species pass by.

He was still pondering over it when he felt Hunter tense up beside him. Crosshair must have felt that too because he tensed up and whirled around to face in the direction that Hunter was looking.

Tech began to feel dread pool in his gut when he realized they were looking down at the water under where Wrecker was still swimming towards them. That did not bode well.

Tech gasped, “Hunter, the fish are all gone. Something must have scared them off.”

“I think I know what it was, and it doesn’t sound good,” the ominous way that that Hunter spoke sent a shiver down Tech’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold water. Then he watched as both his brothers drew their borrowed water weapons and set them. Tech followed suit.

“Wrecker, hurry your shebs up!” Hunter called out, but Tech knew that their brother would be unlikely to hear much beyond a muffled shout from this distance. Hunter began to frantically swim back towards Wrecker just as Crosshair grabbed for Tech and shoved him behind the sniper.

“Stay. Back,” he said sharply, and Tech forced himself to obey. Crosshair reached up to tap his comm, “Hunter, where is it? I can’t kriffing see.”

Hunter’s voice chimed back almost immediately and out of breath, “I can’t tell. It feels like it’s coming from everywhere. Swim back in the direction we were heading and head for the ship, I’ve almost got Wrecker. Go, it’s the only cover down here!”

Tech startled at that and couldn’t stop himself from glancing around them in all directions, flicking his torch around at the same time. It only cut through a few meters, but it still just seemed like dead, dark and empty space.

And then suddenly his limited visor vision was filled with a long row of teeth that seemed to shoot towards him like a missile. Tech was firing his borrowed blaster without even thinking and he saw something with black scales writhe and fall back from the shot. He’d hit it, but he didn’t get a moment of relief because not even a second later three more sets of teeth were taking its place.

He felt one pummel into his side, sending him and Crosshair swirling away in the water. Tech could only see a small fraction of his visor, but gone was the empty dark water and in its place seemed to be countless black scaled bodies swirling around them like a hurricane.

It wasn’t one threat that Hunter had been sensing, it was hundreds. From the shape of the teeth he could see, he knew these must be carnivorous fish. All of them at least the length of his arm. Alone they wouldn’t pose much of a threat, but there were far too many schooling around them in a feeding frenzy.

“Move!” Crosshair said as he shoved them both around roughly enough that Tech felt his head spin. The natural instinctive urges to go back and help the others was warring against his trained instincts to obey a direct order from his superior, but Tech knew he wouldn’t be much help in this case. He could barely make out what direction they were even supposed to be swimming in, let alone where the others were.

He began to kick in earnest, his only main mode of power to swim away since one of his hands was latched in Crosshair’s grip and his other hand was not wildly shooting at the fish that had now begun to nip and gnash at them.

“Make for the ship, make for the ship!” Hunter’s voice rang out clearly in his helmet, enough that he could almost hear how his teeth were grinding together with effort.

“Did you get Wrecker?” he found himself asking as he used his blaster hand to bash away one of the creatures that tried to bite at Crosshair’s leg.

“A couple of these things got to him first, but he’s still swimming. Just keep moving and you can check him later,” Hunter snapped back, and Tech heard the distance sound of blasters going off a ways behind them.

Tech was about to call out to Crosshair when he felt a sudden sharp pressure on his arm that left him breathless despite the oxygen being poured into his helmet. He must have made some sort of noise of shock or pain because suddenly Crosshair was yelling out obscenities through their shared comms and a blaster went off far too close to Tech’s head, and then suddenly the pressure was gone. In its wake felt like his skin was made of glass and everything felt hot and cold all at once.

“I’m fine, keep going,” Tech managed to choke out once he registered in his brain that he had gotten bitten and Crosshair had managed to free him. Sticking around fussing over him was more dangerous than it was helpful in this case, and his brother seemed to realize that as well because he only growled low and continued to yank them both downwards. Hopefully towards the ship.

Tech kept shooting off his blaster as best he could with his limited vision, trying to keep their path clear while also trying to catch glimpses of the others. Crosshair was systematically picking off the bolder ones that made it too close. They may not have been substantial in size, they were clearly hunters that knew how to use their numbers to their advantage. They just didn’t expect their prey to fight back and it made them slightly more cautious.

Tech barely caught movement out of the corner of his visor and was moving before it even fully registered, but all he saw was a body of black darting towards Crosshair and he acted.

He wasn’t fast enough to prevent its teeth from snagging on the loose fabric of Crosshair’s left side, but he was able to drop his blaster and grab at its tail. He wasn’t able to risk hitting his brother with a blaster that close to his side, but the least he could do was keep it from getting a firmer hold on skin there.

Tech could feel it’s squirming body in his hand, the strength of the muscles in its slim form surprising him and making him struggled to pull it away. Those sharp teeth were caught in the suit and they didn’t seem like they would let go easily. And Tech didn’t have anything to injure it…or did he?

He ripped his hand from Crosshairs, easily done now that his brother was still occupied trying to keep the rest of the swarm off of them, and reached for one of his tools. He knew exactly which one would work best, and as soon as he felt his fingers curl around the handle of it he jammed it up into the creature. The spark only worked through connectivity, so he didn’t have to worry about it effecting himself of Crosshair as the body writhed in agony from the charge shooting through it.

It fell away stunned or dead a moment later and Crosshair didn’t wait even a second before he was pulling Tech along behind him again.

“I see the ship! Move!”

It wasn’t as if Tech needed the encouragement because as soon as he got his bearings enough to know what direction Crosshair was referring to he was kicking towards it with all his available strength. His injured arm ached, but he’d long ago learned how to push past such pains. They may have been young, but their training growing up had not been easy, nor kind. Pain was as familiar as a friend by now, even if it wasn’t as welcomed as one.

“We’re right behind you. Tech, what’s the quickest way in?”

Thankfully, Tech had been quite prepared in this regard, even if he had apparently been lacking in the dangerous fish species knowledge. He peered ahead as best he could and could just barely make out the shape of the vessel below, noting that they were approaching it from the back end by the engines. He’d counted over a dozen access point that they could use for entry without too much worry over water pressure, and six of them were located at this end. Four would have required a bit of engineering. One would require cutting and welding, and one would require brute force in order to close it off.

“Head for the left-side access port for the ion engine. There will be an external service station with a door we can break through,” Tech called back. Crosshair shot off several more blasts right beside him as more of the creatures attempted to attack. They were getting even more bold and Tech truly feared that they would realize that all they needed to do was swarm all at once to overtake him.

The ship wasn’t even that far off now, but they were moving far too slowly thanks to the seemingly endless barrage of fanged fish coming at them. Tech found himself using his legs more for kicking their slithering bodies away than swimming, and even Crosshair’s aim wasn’t enough to pick them all off efficiently. It made Tech worry even more for Hunter and Wrecker since he could not see their condition at all. It was only the occasional orders from Hunter that they even knew the others were still alive. He didn’t even have time to turn his head and check that Crosshair hadn’t been injured lethally by that previous fish, let alone glance down at his own arm to see what damage had been done.

They were just coming too fast from all directions, frenzied around them and Tech felt his throat start to close up in panic. It was just four of them against hundreds. Ill equipped and out of their element, they didn’t stand much of a chance now.

He’d keep fighting though. Giving up was not in his nature, and it certainly wasn’t in his brother’s either. He may be down a blaster but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t fight tooth and nail to defend himself and Crosshair.

He began to kick with a new ferocity, never straying far from Crosshair’s side, inching them slowly towards the ship. By his mental calculations they were unlikely to make it as they were, but somehow that only made him fight back harder. He lost himself in his fighting and defensive instinct for a while, only to pause when all of a sudden…there was nothing to fight against.

He heard the fluttering sound of fish swimming away without any notable reason, his last kick hitting nothing but water as they were finally left alone in the dark water again.

Tech blinked rapidly in surprise and turned to glance over at Crosshair beside him. They couldn’t see each other’s expressions through their helmets, but it was clear both of them were stunned and confused. Tech’s next glance was over to where he caught sight of Hunter and Wrecker at last, a few dozen meters away from them, but still alive and in one piece for the most part.

There was a concerning blush of red staining the water around them, but after a quick observation of himself and Crosshair they weren’t much better. Wrecker waved enthusiastically at them, easing a little bit of the worry inside of Tech at least. Blood dissipated quickly in water, so it most likely wasn’t as large of a quantity as he was first worried about. Odd though, as far as he recalled from his studies, carnivorous fish were drawn by the scent of blood in the water, not repelled by it.

“You two alright?” Hunter commed over, the two of them already swimming back to meet up with them.

“Nothing lethal,” Tech reported absently. Now that he had located the others, he was starting to wonder what had cause the fish to scurry off when they were just about to be successful in their hunt.

“Let’s just get to the ship before they come back,” Crosshair mumbled, his voice carrying a sharp edge to it that spoke of his own retreating panic. That had not been a good situation and they were lucky to still be alive. It still begged the question of why though.

“Those fish…they swam away so suddenly. Almost like the smaller fish did when the carnivorous ones began their approach. How odd,” Tech muttered to himself, but his comms were left on an open channel and the others clearly heard him. By the time he finished the last word his brain seemed to finally catch up and he felt his throat tighten again and his heart leap in his chest just as Hunter cursed loudly.

“Kriffing pits, something bigger is coming. Go, go, go!”

None of them needed the order or the encouragement, but the sentiment was shared with all of them as they began to paddle frantically towards the ship. This time Tech took the unspoken lead so he could take them directly to the quickest access point.

He didn’t dare waste a moment to turn around to see what was coming, leaving that task to Hunter to sus out. Focus was something he both excelled and failed at depending on his interest in the subject at hand, and right now his focus was entirely on his and his squad’s survival. That required getting them inside before something came along and consumed them.

He heard Crosshair’s gasp behind him just as he felt the daunting shift in the water around all of them. For something to cause that much of a disturbance at this depth it must have been very large. The sounds of blasters started to go off again behind him, as Tech swam the last few meters onto the submerged service station. The door was just where he estimated it to be, but he knew that opening it would take a moment since unlocking the door electronically was nearly impossible while under water, and while the ship was powered down. This would take mechanical work, and he had just the tools to do so.

He just hoped he had the time to do it before whatever it was behind him ate them all.

“Cross, aim for its eyes!”

“If it would just stop moving around so much then I’ll do that!”

“Its going to make another pass, be ready!”

“Wrecker, we don’t know what you’re saying. Stop waving your arms around and just shoot at the kriffing thing!”

“Watch out!”

“Pits that was close. Try going for the mouth again, it didn’t like that!”

“Wrecker, stop waving your arms and focus! We need you to help keep it busy while Tech works.”

All the chatter was absorbed as background noise while he worked steadily to rip open the door mechanism box and begin to manually push and pull all the levers associated with this door. As much as it irked him to have to go through so many steps, he understood why the engineers of the ship would not want an external door to their ship’s engines to be easily accessible. He just hoped that it didn’t cause them all their lives due to their efficiency in the matter.

“Hurry up, Tech. I don’t think we’ll be able to hold it off much longer,” he heard Hunter press, but he hardly needed to. Tech was already quite aware of the time stress and wanted inside the ship as much as any of them by now. Any wonders and awe he had for the fish earlier were almost completely gone in favor of finding shelter now.

“Dank farrik, Wrecker we can’t understand you,” Crosshair snarled at their brother, and Tech began to wonder what it was that Wrecker was trying to communicate to them. He’d hopefully survive to find out later, because his mental calculations still had him finishing his work in approximately sixty seconds. A short time in the grand scheme of things, but in a life or death situation it was a lifetime. Sometimes literally. It may be too long a wait before whatever it was came back.

“Kark, it’s coming back again. Blasters up, boys!”

Tech felt his body go tense but his hands didn’t slow as he continued to work at the lever system. The lack of knowledge of what was going on behind him was like a physical pain in his brain, but he couldn’t allow his curiosity to drag his attention away. Not now. Not when the others were in danger and relying on him.

“Wrecker, what are you doing?”

Almost there.

“Are you crazy, get your blaster up!”

One more lever to go…

“Is that a thermal detonator?!”

Ah, there!

The last comm registered with only enough time for Tech to blink in surprise before he felt an eruption go off behind him at the same time the door finally swung open and the osmotic properties of the water pushed him forward in a rush to fill the now open vessel. Tech’s body was dragged inside without even him having to move a muscle. He did finally get a glimpse of what had been behind him as he was sucked inside, and felt his muscles spasm in fear at the massive creature looming outside. It’s mouth alone could have swallowed the Marauder! But a glimpse was all he got before he was swept inside.

The flood of water pouring into the vessel dumped him violently on the floor below, knocking the wind out of him for a moment as water continued to pummel over him. He heard three distinct thuds beside him seconds later and knew the water had pulled in his brothers as well. It was fortuitous that the creature outside was far too large to fit through and could easily have fought off the vacuumed pull of the vessel, but that didn’t solve their new problem.

Tech forced himself onto his knees, and them onto shaky legs as he tried to remember how to use them in a somewhat dry environment, “We have to close the door, hurry!”

“Kriff, we just opened it,” came Wrecker’s voice in a tired whine, but it was good to hear it nonetheless now that he must have already spat out his re-breather.

“Come on, I’ll need your help,” Tech called back over his shoulder, already trying to make his way past the deluge of water pouring in. He’d be able to lock it easily himself, but the sheer force of weight on the door right then was more than any normal human could handle. It was a good thing then that Wrecker was no normal human.

“Ugh, fine, fine. Move,” Wrecker said as he came up behind Tech.

The tendons on Wrecker’s neck showed, giving away just how much strength it was taking to move the door slowly. Inch by inch, cutting off the flow of water inside the ship. The last thing they wanted was the ocean to come inside. Tech was quite done with it for the moment, and he imagined the others were too.

The gush of water went down to a stream, and then down to a steady pour, then to a trickle…and then finally cut off as Wrecker finally slammed the door shut. Tech scrambled over to lock it in place with a click.

And then it was silent inside.

It was like a switch went off somewhere in his brain, and any capabilities Tech had to stand were gone in an instant and he crumpled uselessly to the ground in a heap. Not far to his left he heard Wrecker slide down the wall, landing in a wet splash of the inch or so of water under them now.

Tech realized he was heaving in heavy breaths, and he hadn’t really noticed he’d closed his eyes until he felt the forgotten pressure around his occipital sockets was suddenly relieved. He forced his eyes to open and saw Crosshair slumped on his side next to Tech with the removed helmet in his hands.

That was two brothers accounted for.

Tech barely found the strength to turn his head once more to where he heard another person breathing heavily off to the far end of the room. He could make out the silhouette of Hunter over there in the near pitch-black room. The only thing illuminating it was Tech’s helmet torch that still remained on.

But they were all breathing. They were all there. And they were all alive.

Tech did not think this mission could be categorized as easy anymore.

Chapter Text

Hunter couldn’t see much in the dim lighting of the room, but that didn’t stop him from seeking out his brothers the moment that the threat of death by consumption was finally off the table. He’d been swept into the room a bit further than the others, but it wasn’t hard to locate them seeing as the only source of light in an otherwise pitch dark room was the torch on Tech’s helmet it shown like a beacon that Hunter was all too happy to fall into.

They were bleeding. All of them.

He didn’t need his heightened sense of smell to tell him that, and the pungent scent of it only made his heart clench and his stomach churn dangerously.

Guiltily, he watched as Wrecker slumped bonelessly to the floor, landing heavily in a puddle of water below him without a care. They were all soaked anyway. There was some glistening dark liquid dripping from where Wrecker’s neck met his armor, a vicious bite he’d gotten before Hunter had made it over to him. If it weren’t for Wrecker wearing his usual armor a whole chunk of flesh would have been ripped away, rather than just a few stray teeth snagging and tearing at the skin there. It wouldn’t be a pretty wound, but it could have been so much worse.

A bit of movement dragged his attention to where Crosshair was crawling along the floor, still panting as they all fought to catch their breath, until he reached Tech’s side. The sniper had one hand pressed against his side where Hunter could make out the torn edges of his blacks underneath, and acid pooled in his belly at the sight. The sniper didn’t settle until he had made it up to their vod’ika and gently pulled the helmet from his head. It may have been dark, but Tech’s torch was lighting up their two younger brothers well enough that Hunter caught the painfully tender look on Crosshair’s face as he stared down at Tech.

Tech wasn’t moving much, but it appeared more due to exhaustion than any horrible wound. At least that’s what Hunter hoped. He was holding one of his arms stiffly against his chest though, and he could see red dripping steadily down from the cuff of the vambrace there. It was pooling in the water below them, staining it darker with each drop. He could hear the drops too, each out sounding louder than the last.

It was only another movement that pulled his attention away from the macabre sight and up to where he was Tech’s eyes searching for him. Even with the goggles distorting his face, Hunter knew when Tech spotted him because he saw the instant the relief dropped his shoulders. Hunter ducked his head to the side before their eyes could meet. He didn’t feel worthy of their concern right now. Not when all of them were hurt and it was his fault.

As much as he’d like to fade into the shadows to drown in his shame and the one inch of water on the floor, his worry for his squad won out and he forced himself to his feet to stumble his way over to them.

Three gazes watched him, but Hunter refused to meet them.

“Let’s get that pack off of you, vod’ika. Looks like we’ll be needing that first aid kit,” Hunter mumbled as he set down next to their specialist. He knew Crosshair was watching him closely, but he focused on the task at hand.

Tech shrugged out of his pack as best he could while still holding one arm pinned tightly against his chest, “This pack is water tight, so the bacta patches will be dry and should suffice for most of our injuries. Although I will need to get a closer look at everything to be certain. It will be important to dry the area of the wound first, however.” He began to turn to reach for the pack but his good hand was brushed away by Crosshair before he could even make contact.

“Let us patch up that arm first, di’kut. You can hardly treat us with one hand tucked up like that,” the sniper scolded, but there was little heat in it. There was little heat at all actually, especially in the room. It felt like a fridge in there, only made worse by their dampened state. Hunter suppressed his urge to shiver, but he noted that Tech wasn’t able to do so and Wrecker didn’t look like he was having any luck either. They were shaking enough he could hear their teeth chattering in the echoes of the empty room. 

Tech sighed wearily, but didn’t argue as he let Hunter and Crosshair gently pull his arm out for inspection. As they began to remove the armor and fabric from his arm, Hunter glanced over at Wrecker who was shuffling closer to them.

“How you holding up, big guy?” Hunter asked when he felt his brother move in closer.

“Ugh, I must have hit my head harder than I thought. Everything looks like it’s upside down,” he groaned as he looked all around them.

Beside him, Tech rolled his eyes, “That’s because everything is upside down. This vessel appears to have flipped over during its descent into the ocean.”

It must have been too dark for him to notice before, or he had been too distracted by the state of his squad, but looking around now he could see that they were right. The four of them were huddled on what was the ceiling of a small airlock room. The doors were all several feet above the ‘floor’ from where they sat, and Hunter could make out the recessed lighting around their feet. Once quick glance up showed all the usual control panels bolted to what was now the ceiling. It was almost dizzying to see it all flipped in such a way.

“Well that will complicate things,” Crosshair grumbled, but he seemed more focused on the angry looking welts he’d just found on Tech’s arm than the orientation of their surroundings. He growled low in his throat as he poked at one sluggishly bleeding puncture wound.

“Ouch,” Tech winced and tried to pull his arm back, but Hunter held it firmly in place for Crosshair.

“Hold still, nerd. A tooth got left behind, I need to pull it out.”

Oddly enough, that seemed to brighten Tech’s mood as he peered curiously down at his arm, “Oh, is there really? Can I have it to study later?”

Wrecker laughed behind them, “Huh, and you guys think I’m weird about keeping things.”

“It’s one thing to keep a tooth from an intriguing species of carnivorous fish. It’s another thing entirely to keep the wrapper of a previously consumed sweets bar because you want to remember how good it tasted,” Tech pointed out but broke off in a hiss and Crosshair pulled the tooth free.

“Here, this will keep you busy while I finish cleaning this up,” the sniper grumbled as he shoved the tooth in Tech's eager hand, and went back to his work. He seemed entirely focused on getting Tech all fixed up, but since all Hunter was doing was holding Tech’s arm still he could let his eyes wander. And he could see that Crosshair was leaning slightly to the left, favoring the side with the ripped fabric.

“We’ll have Tech look at you next,” he said lowly, ignoring the way that Crosshair rolled his eyes at him.

“It isn’t deep.”

“As if I’d trust your judgement in such matters pertaining to yourself,” Tech cut in absently, still twirling the tooth in his hand to better catch the light for study.

When Crosshair didn’t immediately bite back, Hunter knew that their sniper was more affected than he preferred to let on. And somehow Hunter didn’t think it had anything to do with the sluggishly bleeding wound in his side, but possibly more due to the other sluggishly bleeding wounds in the room. It wouldn’t be the first time that the sniper ignored his own hurts when he saw one of his brothers injured, and certainly wouldn’t be the last. Tech in particular held a soft spot in all of their hearts, and even more so in Crosshair’s case.

He'll feel better once the bandage is in place and he can’t see it anymore, Hunter assured himself and eagerly pressed the large bacta patches into the sniper’s hand as soon as the area was cleaned. With the blood mostly wiped away Hunter could make out the individual teeth marks along Tech’s arm. They were deep and ringed with a painful purpling of skin where the pressure of that thing’s jaws had burst all the blood vessels around them. Hunter winced, knowing that Tech’s arm would be very sore over the next few days and made a mental note to account for it accordingly. It was lucky that Tech was ambidextrous and the impaired use of one of his arms was unlikely to slow him down much…but even one small thing working against his reaction time could be so incredibly dangerous.

That uncomfortable churning in his gut came back at the thought.

“What about you? Do I need to do a full assessment, or are you willing to admit any wounds needing attention?” Tech asked suddenly.

Hunter shook his head, “I’m fine. Worst I got was a few slaps in the bucket from their tails, but nothing damaging.”

“Yeah, you should have seen him with his knife! He was dicing them up left and right like we was going to cook them for dinner,” Wrecker said, looking like he was about to slap Tech on the back to emphasize his excitement before he thought better of it and put his hand back down sheepishly. The glare Crosshair sent him was enough warning since he was still doing his best to finish up his first aid work.

After a few more minutes, Crosshair finished the last wrap on Tech’s arm and they quickly switched places so that they could check on the sniper’s wound. Hunter was relieved to see it was little more than a nip to the skin there. It bled a fair bit, but didn’t go as deep as the muscle. Tech still insisted on dressing it correctly to avoid infection, much to Crosshair’s annoyance, but in the end they had managed to slap on a bacta patch and some antibiotic spray before their reluctant brother slid away.

Crosshair began to a walk slow and careful circuit around the room they were in while their attention shifted to Wrecker.

“Protocol would require me to inform you to not overuse this shoulder while the skin knits back together…but your historical efforts in the past for such things indicated I am wasting my breath,” Tech muttered as he very carefully pinched the skin back in place with some adhesives. A good chunk had been taken out of the area between Wrecker’s neck and shoulder, and the first grisly sight of it was more than Hunter’s conscience could take. He found himself staring at the floor as Tech worked, unable to look his oldest friend in the eye.

“Ah, I’ll be fine. It’ll take a lot more than that to bring me down,” Wrecker said in his usual boisterous manner, but Hunter felt a gentle nudge to his foot and glanced up to see the bruiser smiling softly at him. Like he knew what Hunter was thinking…probably because he did know. He could read his brothers better than any book, and as much as Hunter didn’t think he deserved Wrecker’s acknowledgement, he still let it warm him, “What’s next, sarge?” he asked.

All eyes turned to Hunter, and he forced himself not to wilt under their attention. No matter what, he still needed to be strong for them. Strong leaders protected their squad. Weak leaders were as bad as faulty armor, a deathly accident waiting to happen. No matter what Hunter thought of himself, giving up now wouldn’t do any of them any good.

He drew in a deep breath and got to his feet, letting himself look around the room, “We made it to the ship at least. Once we’re done here we’ll need to find out if the vessel is still intact throughout the rest of it and if it will be possible to get to the bridge for the data pull.”

“The ship doesn’t appear to have any power on at the moment though, so movement towards the front of the ship will be quite slow. If we can find any console nearby along the way, I may be able to divert enough power to it for a quick log in and then I can assess the state of the ship from there by accessing the last status report,” Tech informed him readily.

Hunter nodded his thanks, “Good, we’ll start there. In the meantime, we will need to start thinking of how we plan to get out of here. We barely made it here in the first place, and I have a bad feeling those things will be waiting for us as soon as we debark.”

“Yes, and even if they aren’t, I believe it was the scent of blood that drew the larger creature to us. Seeing as most of us are wounded at this point, just going out into the water would be like setting off a homing beacon for more of them,” Tech’s assessment was something that Hunter already suspected, but hearing it from him just solidified the fact that leaving the way they came in was a bad idea for now.

Wrecker blinked and shuffled his feet nervously under him, “Wait, so we can’t swim out of here?”

Hunter shook his head again, “Not like we came in here anyway. They’d be on us in seconds, and I don’t fancy our chances of out swimming them to the surface.”

They all heard Crosshair scoff from across the room where he was still poking around, “Well, this is going well then. What about those regs waiting for us to call? Maybe they can send a submersible this time rather than send us for a dip.”

Now Tech was the one to shake his head, already fiddling with his comm, “I had thought of that, but any attempts so far have been blocked. Perhaps it is too much interference surrounded by water, or maybe something else is jamming us. This vessel is possibly still quite intact and may have a jamming system active for all foreign frequencies.”

Wrecker groaned and slumped back against the wall, “So we can’t even call for an extraction?”

Shrugging, Tech dug into his pack to pull out his data pad from its water proof container, “Not presently, but perhaps I can rectify that once we get to the bridge and power is returned to the ship. I won’t know for certain until I see what we are working with.”

It wasn’t good news, but Hunter was starting to get the idea that good news was a lot like good luck when it came to their squad. In very short supply. While they had dealt with some pretty hairy situations during their training before, Hunter had hopes that this mission would not lead them right into a life or death situation right from the start. He should have known better. They couldn’t even manage a simple hike through the woods without a rockslide, flood, and carnivorous reptiles getting in the way. Why would their first real mission be any different?

He looked over his brothers again, taking in Wrecker’s tired slump, Crosshair’s rigid posture, and Tech’s shivering twitches one by one.

“On your feet, boys. We won’t learn anything by sitting around in here. At least by moving we’ll warm up a bit,” Hunter stated firmly, and helped Wrecker to his feet and then did the same for Tech.

Crosshair had half expected the room to suddenly start flooding with water as they opened the hatch that led back into the vessel, but all it did was reveal a pitch black corridor. Not even emergency lighting was on inside, but at least it was dry. If not very cold. The water on the outside must have leached away all heat once the engines had powered down, leaving the place feeling like a large refrigerator.

Their suits had kept them mostly dry, but the rip in his side had let in enough moisture that he felt the cold seep in quickly, and knew that the others were probably feeling the same. Moving helped a bit, but they would have to find some way to warm up if they weren’t getting out of there any time soon. He was hiding the way his hands shook by holding his rifle firmly in them, but Hunter was painfully aware of all of them at any time. Too attuned with their bodies, and Crosshair had no doubt that their brother was already aware of how cold they were. He could see it in the way the corners of his lips turned downwards, blaming himself for not being able to hand them all a blanket and tuck them back into their bunks.

Well that was too kriffing bad. They were soldiers, not cadets anymore. It was time they all started acting like it.

It was why Crosshair was pointedly ignoring the persistent ache in his side as they made their way into the corridor. Hunter would only distract himself worrying over them when all their injuries were superficial at most. Of course Crosshair was wary of Tech’s arm and Wrecker’s shoulder, but they had to be objective now. Even though some part of his mind still screamed at him to bundle up Tech somewhere to help him get warm again, and tie Wrecker to a post somewhere so he wouldn’t accidentally aggravate his wound, Crosshair had to stay focused. This was real now…more real than he thought it would be.

Of course he knew that going into a war wouldn’t be loth cats and candy. They’d gone through enough pain and suffering growing up that he already fancied them as seasoned soldiers in many ways. But…seeing their blood mere hours into their first mission was a bit more than he was prepared for. Even now just seeing the stark white bandages around his vod’ika’s arm was enough to send shivers up his spine.

He felt ashamed for thinking all this because he’d been the one so eager to go in blasters blazing from the start, not that he would say as much out loud. There was no way he could have known that a supposedly junior level mission would turn south so quickly, but what would happen when they did get those higher level missions? If they survived this one that is.

Crosshair shook his head, not wanting to think on it too long. No matter what, they were soldiers now in a war that wasn’t going to end anytime soon. He couldn’t change anything now. He just felt foolish for letting himself believe he was ready for something more dangerous than this. Why would he even want that? Why did he feel the addictive need to prove himself at the risk of himself and his brothers’ lives? He could have easily lost any of them. All of them even, back there with those kriffing fish. And what would that have proven?

“Any idea where to head first, Tech? Normally I’d feel alright leading us, but with everything upside down…I’m kind of at a loss,” Hunter admitted from in front. As much as Crosshair would have loved to tease him about mister tracker himself getting lost, but even he was feeling a bit disoriented with everything turned on its head. The darkness only made it worse. They may have had their torches, but the shadows were bouncing in all the wrong places.

“As you are aware, these are new vessels created by the Separatists for the war. Their interior mapping was not made public knowledge, and all structural designs were kept secret. I am mapping as we go, and I can theorize locations based on several structural cues, but I will need to gain access to a computer to get a better idea,” Tech reported.

“We entered through the back, so why don’t we just head forward? That’s where the bridge will be. Don’t need a map for that,” Wrecker groused, but his grumpiness was most likely from the fact Hunter had him in the middle with Tech rather than taking their six like usual.

Crosshair could practically feel the sigh that came from Tech and he couldn’t help but smirk at the long suffering noise he made.

“That is the general idea, but I hope that you observed the extensive size of this ship while we were all swimming towards it. This isn’t like finding the cockpit in the Marauder. I estimate at least two bridges, one for command and one for ammunitions, seven levels, four warehouses, six hangars, and far too many unaccounted for areas that we have no indication of purpose as of now. I believe that is why Cody wanted a thorough data pull on everything. Knowing what this vessel houses could be very useful in knowing the kind of resources the Separatists have.”

“Great, so…why can’t we just walk forward?”

Tech groaned and rubbed the heel of his hands over his eyes that must have still been sore, “We can, but knowing where we are going will save us time and prevent us from walking into anything we shouldn’t. It wouldn’t help us to try opening doors and accidentally opening an airlock. We still don’t know the full hull integrity and water could be let in anywhere if we aren’t careful.”

Hunter cut them off before they could start one of their more common arguments of sensible logic versus knowledgeable logic, “Okay, so we head forward, but we still try to find a console along the way. There are some doors up ahead. Let’s take a peek and see what we’re working with. Fair enough?”

Crosshair shrugged, not really caring either way. They’d have to start opening doors eventually.

“Fine, but I don’t see what the problem is. The scans showed no life forms on board, so as long as Hunter doesn’t hear water on the other side of a door then we should be alright. The ship’s dead, innit? Nothing to worry about!” he laughed and elbowed Tech roughly in the side.

As much as Crosshair thought Wrecker may have a point, he had his own reservations about their safety in this case. Vessels didn’t fly themselves, and this one was still very much intact. Even if there weren’t humans on board, there must have been something flying. Right?

Chapter Text

This place was kind of creepy. And that was saying a lot considering where they grew up. Those tubes always make his spine get all tingly when he saw them.

Wrecker had gotten used to dark places as well as overly bright ones, but this was far from home and having it all upside down didn’t help matters. There was just a lot to take in down here. An empty ship that belonged to the enemy, all that water above them, endless dark hallways...That monster that tried to eat them, and the fish that tried before that. And really, the ceiling as the floor was messing with his head. Especially since it was the reason he kept hitting his head.

“Ow…” that must have been the third time in the last fifteen minutes.

“Wrecker, just a suggestion, but have you tried ducking?”

Wrecker stuck his tongue out at Tech, “Hey, it’s dark in here and I’m not used to expecting desks to be hanging from ceilings, alright? I’d like to see how well you would dodge all this stuff if you didn’t have your goggles. And you’re naturally hunched over anyways, what with your face being glued to your data pad.”

Tech scowled back, “I’m trying to map this place out for Commander Cody.”

“And I’m trying to keep watch around us, not be on watch out for enemy furniture!”

“Guys, come on. Can we just focus on the mission and save the bickering for when we’re done?” Hunter sounded more tired than usual, and Wrecker felt a little bad for picking a fight with Tech again, but he didn’t like it when people stated the obvious to him like he was dumb. Tech always stated the obvious no matter who it was, but Wrecker was still too used to people talking down to him that he was quick to lash out. And worse yet, he insulted Tech right back. His vod’ika may not have meant it bad, but it sure sounded like it.

Tech wasn’t one to hold much of a grudge though, and his face softened back into his relaxed neutral state quickly. Wrecker drew in a breath reminding himself that Tech wasn’t trying to insult him, and recentered himself with the mission.

They did need to focus. Three out of four of them were already injured and they’d only just got here. Wrecker didn’t need to make things worse by giving himself a concussion. Not when he knew how distressed Hunter had been back in that room as they patched up their wounds. There was a lot of weight on his vod’s shoulders, and no matter how strong Wrecker was, sometimes he just wasn’t able to help carry that weight for him. Not when Hunter put it there himself anyway. He’d done that for as long as he’d known Hunter though, and knew how it only grew once they’d taken in Tech and Crosshair years ago. Hunter may not have gotten all bitten up and slashed out there with those fish, but he felt each of their wounds as his own. And then some. Guilt sometimes hurt more than any cut or burn, as Wrecker had seen many times before.

Wrecker didn’t need to make it any worse by snapping out because he was already tense from the situation, and used to people picking on him. They were all stressed enough as it was. They’d started the day bored to tears and anger, and then it had gotten a little too exciting even for Wrecker’s tastes. He was used to being the biggest, meanest looking thing around, but that toothy monster fish even gave him a fright.

They’d all been scared, even Crosshair. And especially Hunter. He saw it in the way Hunter’s face became shadowed and haunted even in the dim lighting of Tech’s torch.

Regretting adding to the tension, Wrecker offered Hunter an apologetic smile from where his brother was standing up ahead of them. He knew that Hunter saw it for what it was because his shoulders relaxed just a little bit.

“Just…sigh, try to avoid hitting your head. And Tech, try not to walk into anything either. We’re all banged up enough as it is. Keep your eyes up and maybe we won’t hit any of the hanging stuff,” Hunter grumbled and started forward again.

Crosshair snickered and leaned towards Wrecker with a sly grin, “That won’t be a problem for you, now will it, Hunter?”

Wrecker couldn’t help the loud burst of laughter that escaped him, the sound of it strong enough to echo through the new room they were scouting and down the corridor outside. No matter what the circumstance was, it seemed like Crosshair could not resist a joke about Hunter’s height.

The laugh may have been a bit too loud though, because all of them were wincing as the last echoes of it faded down the ship like its own PA system.

“Uh, sorry. At least the ship is empty, right?”

Crosshair rolled his eyes and stomped on ahead, following Hunter into the next room they were checking out. From what he could see through the doorway it just looked like another office room, and it made him wonder why they even needed so many offices on this ship. The room was clearly unoccupied, so Wrecker stayed outside in the corridor to keep watch. Hunter and Cross could check out the room themselves.

Tech lingered by his side, still carefully documenting each of their movements on the map he was creating, and Wrecker took a peek over his shoulder (not that it was hard at his height).

“What’s all this empty space?” he said pointing at a huge blank space in the center of his map.

Tech tapped a few more buttons and the screen zoomed in on it, “Uncertain. It is possible that this large area is segmented more than I have estimated, but from what I can tell of the beam work we’ve seen and general area of the rooms we’ve visited, and accounting for the corridor spaces, it is a very large storage area. Or a hangar of sorts. I will not know for certain until we can gain access.”

Wrecker whistled low, “Seems pretty big, even for a hangar.”

“My thoughts as well. Cody did not state the mission this vessel was on, likely because he did not have that intel, but it is quite possible that with a warehouse of that magnitude it may have been carrying supplies for the Separatist’s armies. That would account for the lack of life forms on board at least.”

“It would?”

“Indeed. From the reports I’ve seen, the Separatists seem to prefer using their extensive manufacturing resources to create armies of droids, rather than use sentients for their battles. It would not be out of the question that droids were used to fly this vessel in the first place, since it was meant to be a supply run,” Tech said, but it was said in that absent sort of way that he did when he was only theorizing and not actually stating facts. Wrecker had learned the difference over time, but he’d also learned that while Tech was reluctant to state anything as a fact unless he was certain, he very often ended up being right anyway.

It made him wonder where all the droids went then. Maybe he wasn’t as smart as Tech, but something was flying this thing before it went down, and they weren’t bumping into any bodies.

There was some noise from inside the room and then Hunter and Cross were coming back out, shaking their heads together.

“Nothing in that one, let’s move on to the next,” Hunter said wearily, sounding ten years older than he was.

They fell back into formation and continued down the corridor, only peeking into a few more doors they passed. Ones that weren’t clearly marked as ‘freshers or maintenance closets. Tech kept plugging it all into his data pad though, ‘freshers and all. Cause like Cody said, they’d never know what was useful. Not that Wrecker thought a ‘fresher would be all that useful to know unless they were really stuck down here for a while.

Tech’s face brightened suddenly as they came up to one doorway, and his sudden alertness made the others glance at each other in confusion. It just looked like all the other doors they’d checked so far.

“There may be something here, just look at the structural beams! And those screws in the wall may indicate some intricate wiring on the other side. Yes, this one,” he said and was about to push forward to head in, but he was stopped by three separate arms crossing in front of him first.

“Let me and Cross head in first to clear it, Tech. Then you follow with Wrecker,” Hunter said firmly, and Tech blushed at forgetting protocol so easily.

The two of them waited outside obediently, even if it was boring out there. Wrecker tried to stifle a yawn, but failed miserably. Tech was still working on his map, so his vod’ika wasn’t about to get bored yet at least.

“Wrecker, it looks like we’re about to head into another low bearing room, with many instruments bolted to the floor, well the ceiling now I suppose. There may be many more objects to watch out for. I’ll try to warn you if I see any,” he heard Tech tell him quietly from his left, and Wrecker knew it was his brothers attempt to rectify what ‘he had retroactively identified as a rude comment’, or whatever he was calling his gaffs these days.

“Thanks,” he said simply, keeping his voice light this time to let his brother know it was fine. Tech liked to talk, but he’d learned from them that not everything needed to be said in words. Hopefully he knew this was one of those times.

At first, once the light from Crosshair’s torch lit it up, the place looked empty. Until he remembered that he was looking at what was once the ceiling, and he tilted his head back to see what was above. Even he recognized consoles when he saw them.

“Hey, we found em!”

“Indeed,” Tech said, his voice carrying some relief in it.

Crosshair began to prowl around the perimeter of the room, his light trailing where he went while the others gathered in the center, staring up at the computers above. It was a decently large room, but nowhere near the size of the control center on the Negotiator.

“This appears to be a security control room, from what I can tell,” Tech mumbled as he pushed his goggles back in place. His neck was craned back at what looked like a really uncomfortable angle as he walked under the consoles.

“Is that okay?” Hunter asked, also looking upwards. It hurt Wrecker’s neck just watching them do it.

Tech dipped his chin for only a moment before going back to his looking, “It will do quite nicely. All maps should be accessible here, and it should let us know where to head next. It may take a moment longer to access the computer systems since security will be heightened, but that won’t stop me. It will take a few minutes at least.”

“Right, then go ahead and get started. We’ll keep watch.”

“Ah, well there are still two matters to attend to before then,” Tech said sheepishly and he cleared his throat, “I will need to first power up the console, seeing as the ship is completely powered off at the moment.”

Hunter’s face fell a bit, but it quickly morphed into resignment, “Okay, and you can do that?” Tech nodded and began to pull some items from his pack, gingerly using his injured arm to keep the pack open as he dug through, “Right, and what’s the second matter?”

Tech stood up with a battery and a handful of wires in his hand that looked like he was holding a bunch of snakes. He didn’t say anything, but he craned his neck back up to where the consoles were. Wrecker and Hunter stood there staring, wondering if he’d eventually say what he needed. Wrecker’s neck was starting to ache in sympathy again. Those things were sure up there. Even if Wrecker reached up he’d struggle to be able to touch the buttons and switches.

Oh.

“Uh, is this another Plan 7 moment?” Wrecker asked, uncertain.

Crosshair snarled from across the room, and stomped back over to them, “No it kriffing isn’t. Just put him on your shoulders, throwing the vod’ika is not always the answer, di’kut!” he said as he placed himself between Tech and Wrecker. At least nothing changed there, even on a mission Crosshair always put Tech’s safety first. It made Wrecker smile.

Hunter didn’t look so sure though, looking between Tech, the consoles above, and then at Tech’s arm. A wrinkle was forming between his eyebrows that Wrecker knew meant he was worried about something.

“That’s going to take a bit of arm work up there, Tech. Are you sure you can manage?” he asked gently.

Tech sighed and tried to flex his arm, wincing when he tried to move it above waist level. Crosshair slapped his hand back down when it looked like he was going to try again.

He’d seen it enough times before to know that when Tech and Crosshair’s eyes met that they were having one of those silent conversations done in only eyebrow twitches and squinting eyes. It was funny to watch usually, but now even Wrecker was feeling a little uncertain about making Tech do heavy work with his arm all busted up.

Whatever they were saying, it ended with Crosshair growling suddenly and stomping off to rest his rifle against the nearest console, muttering under his breath as he went. When that was done he stomped back over between his vod’ika and two confused but patient ori’vode, and snatched the wires out of Tech’s hand.

“Fine, but you don’t get to yell at me if I get a wire wrong,” he snapped, making Tech smile his small grin.

“Noted, but I believe with the two of us working together it will not be a problem. Wrecker? Would you…” he trailed off and gestured between the three of them.

Then Wrecker understood. It may not have been the tried-and-true Plan 7, but he could manage just as well with this, “Oh, sure! I can do that.”

They’d done some pretty weird stuff to get the job done before, at least in their simulations they had. This didn’t even make it into the top ten of weird things, but it was still odd to watch his two vod’ika balanced on Wrecker’s shoulders as they worked up at the consoles on the ceiling.

It was lucky that Tech and Crosshair were still stuck in that long and slimmed limbed lankiness of adolescents because it made it easier to fit onto Wrecker’s shoulders at least well enough not to slide off. Much.

“We only have two more wires to route and then we can hook up the battery. Do you see the primary red cable by the input circuit?”

“You ask me that like I have any kriffing idea what that is,” Crosshair snapped back, but from what Hunter could tell their sniper pulled the correct wire anyway and easily pulled it over to Tech’s good arm.

Tech’s other arm was clutching the battery close to his chest, and Hunter could make out the small tremors there as it struggled to hold the weight for this long. Hopefully they’d be done soon so he could rest it. Maybe Hunter would need to make him a sling for it later. It didn’t help seeing Crosshair favoring his left side either as he tried his best to reach up above their heads to work.

They’d all been busted up in different ways before, but it never seemed to get any easier seeing them hurt. Actually, Hunter was beginning to think this was worse than all the other times before. This time it was all on him…

“Alright, this is the last splice needed. Now we just need to hook up the battery, Crosshair, could you hold it steady please?” Tech said, and the sniper was grabbing it from his bad arm before he could even finish his sentence. Tech sighed in relief, but it was short lived as he re-focused back in on his work.

Crosshair was eyeing the battery warily, much in the same way that Hunter was as half a dozen wires were attached to it. It just looked a little too much like one of Wrecker’s bombs for comfort.

“You sure this is safe, Tech?” Hunter hedged, eyes not leaving the battery precariously held between them.

“Hmm? Of course it isn’t, I have no way of knowing what kind level of stagnant energy is left in this console as it is, and we’re about to introduce an uncontrolled amount of charge,” Tech answered lightly, not even noticing the panicked looks his brothers shot his way at his declaration, “Tell me, is there a puddle of water anywhere in the vicinity?”

“Uh, yeah. Right where I’m standin’,” Wrecker said nervously. None of them had time to really dry off from there swim, but Wrecker’s clothing wasn’t meant to repel water in the first place. Instead it had soaked it all up and had been puddling under him since they got inside.

Tech tutted gently and nudged his knee against Wrecker’s chest, “Three steps to the left then. If there is excess current expelled you don’t want to be standing in a puddle of water in its path.”

“Uh, and what would have happened if I didn’t?” Wrecker asked nervously as he edged away from the growing puddle.

Tech hummed absently as he turned back to his work, “If an electrical arc had made it into the water, or by passing through our bodies, it would have worked as a conductor and practically cooked us from the inside out, and interrupted our body’s natural currents. The science behind it is rather fascinating however, given how a lot of sentient biological functions carry their own electrical charges, making the effects of being electrocuted become even more damaging. Even non-sentients, like droids, would be unable to withstand that kind of amperage in their circuits. In some aspects, we share that same weakness with droids.”

Wrecker shifted another foot away, “…So we could die is what you’re saying?”

“Gruesomely.”

“I’m starting to think this could have been better thought out.”

“Your observation is noted, Crosshair. I will be using non-conductive tools to turn it on, but feel free to step down if you like. I won’t need you for the next part,” Tech said.

Crosshair humphed, but chose to cross his arms over his chest defiantly rather than get down. And as worried as Hunter was of an arc flash, he also moved a little closer in case he had to catch anyone falling. Trust your team. Tech knows what he’s doing. I hope.

Tech did one last check to see that they were all a decent distance away from the battery before he flipped the switch on the console. Hunter’s head immediately filled with the unforgettable buzz of electronics powering on, and then his ears heard the sizzle and pop of sparks going off as well. He panicked for a moment seeing the rain of sparks drift a little too close to his brothers for comfort, but they quickly died out and the buzz of electric current turned back into a more controlled hum a moment later.

Hunter blew out a relieved breath, and only once Tech nodded his approval of their success did Crosshair finally slide down from Wrecker and take up his perimeter check again.

Watching Tech work hurt, and not just because of how far he had to lean back his head. Somehow his vod’ika was able to type and work seamlessly even with everything displaying upside down. Eventually Hunter gave up trying to follow along, he always got lost anyway, and chose to just linger close as Tech worked his magic.

Not that Tech would call it magic. In fact he’d probably be offended if his skill was mistaken for magic.

“What do you see, Tech?” Wrecker asked after his limited patience began to wear thin.

Tech clicked through a few more displays before finally pulling his gaze away to peer down at them, “The architects of this ship knew what they were doing in terms of security and failsafe protocols. As soon as the vessel went down, it looks like all systems and power sources were cut almost completely to prevent anyone infiltrating their systems easily. Everything is encrypted, and the manifests can only be accessed from the main bridge of the ship from what I can tell. It also appears that a ship wide jamming program was put in place to go off in the event of this vessel being captured or lost, just as I feared. We will be unable to call for extraction as long as that jammer is in place.”

Hunter bit back a groan, wondering how this easy mission turned so ugly so fast. He rubbed at his eyes as he tried to process everything, “Okay, and how do we unjam the frequencies?”

There was some more tapping from above as Tech searched for an answer. It was a few minutes before he turned back to Hunter with regret in his downturned mouth, “It appears that will also need to be addressed in the main bridge.”

“So we can’t call anyone, we still don’t know what’s even on this ship, and the only way to find out is by going to the bridge?” Wrecker’s voice was rising with his incredulousness, “This sounds like we just wasted a lot of time hooking up this computer then.”

Tech looked a little crestfallen at that, probably because they were all headed to the front bridge anyway. Crosshair must have noticed his expression and made his way over until he stood in front of where Wrecker was still holding Tech up, and he gently slapped his hand against his brother’s boot.

“Did you find a map?” Crosshair asked in most gentle gruff voice.

Tech nodded hesitantly. Crosshair nodded back, more sharply, “Then this was worth it.”

“Cross is right, but we needed to check just in case. Any information at all could help us in this case,” Hunter added, “Plus, now we know not to stand in a puddle while hooking up a battery.”

Wrecker laughed again and lowered Tech to the ground, slapping his soundly on the back, “You got that right! Now let’s get moving. I want off this thing. I know it’s empty, but I still get the creeps.”

Hunter had to agree, now that Tech had turned on the console, the hum of electrical currents were pushed to the back of his head like white noise where before it had been eerily silent with nothing but his brothers and the ocean life outside to sense. It was rare for them to find themselves this isolated, having grown up in a very crowded city, and Hunter found himself jumping at each and every buzz and current now that they had powered something on.

He couldn’t let it distract him though. He had to stay focused and not let the unfamiliar vibrations confuse him. But…something wasn’t right. Something had changed…

He just didn’t know what.

Maybe they would find out once they reached the bridge.

In the cargo holds below…

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    ///     connection.Open(failsafe active);

    ///     var codeLength = GetCurrentCodeLength(Connection Made);

    ///     using (var generator = Activate Security Measures(connection, BATTEL DROID rows 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6))

    ///     {

    ///         var codes = Combat Mode(10000);

    ///         foreach(Objective: Remove Intruders)

    ///             Console.Active(code 27);

    ///         if (Exterminate > Present Life Signs)

    ///         {

    END: (Life Signs </= 0) : FAILSAFE ACTIVE }

Chapter Text

“Four intruders have been detected in the lower levels, sir. Six platoons have been powered on in response to the trigger code. Do you have our orders?”

“Protocol states to eliminate the treat. Do not stop until there are no life signs detected. Scans show that they are armed. We must be prepared to use all force necessary. Activate failsafe code: Lockdown when targets are spotted. We can pick them off that way.”

“Roger, roger.”

 Something had shifted, he just didn’t know what yet.

It was like a growing itch in the back of his skull that had started and he couldn’t seem to fully ignore now that it was there. And it had started the moment Tech had powered on that console. As much as he wanted to believe it was just the normal thrum of energy he felt when on a ship, this was something more. Like hundreds of individual buzzings in his head getting louder.

He had thought maybe it was a little like those deprivation chambers that the Kaminoan’s had stuffed him in from time to time when he was younger, cutting him off from all of his senses until there was nothing…and then letting it all come back at once. They had said it was to test his ability to take in sudden stimuli, but Hunter didn’t care what it was for. He just knew it left his head aching for days afterwards.

The ocean wasn’t like that chamber though. It just wasn’t like the city either, where they were surrounded by technology, millions of lives, and all kinds of energy all the time. Life had its own thrum that he could pick out, just like he could sense the more mechanical buzzing of electronics and such. The ocean had been teeming with life, but it was muddled and murky from the water’s interference. But there was almost no electrical buzz. There was less of that water interference now that they were inside the ship, and up until Tech had turned on that console…it had been almost blissfully silent. Save for the distinct presences of his brothers.

Something had changed. And it was making him worried.

It had been getting more pronounced since they left that security room, and he was beginning to feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

They were still holding formation as they trudged deeper into the ship, thankfully guided by a map this time. Hunter could see and sense each one of his squad and he took comfort in that. Even if he still felt his guts twist when he caught sight of a bandages on them. It was distracting him from identifying what it was that was buzzing in his head, which he knew was not good. He had to do better. For his squad, his brothers…

He just wanted this mission done with so they could head back and get those wounds better treated. And get them off this ship. But it was still slow progress. Map or no, the ship was still powered down according to Tech, and that meant no lifts could be used to reach the bridge quickly, and most door required manual workings to get them open.

The one they were working on right then was one large bay door that should take them out into another long labyrinth of a corridor. Hunter had seen the map and had let out a low whistle at the tight weavings or hallways and doors. Going off the interior they’d seen so far, all hallways would look the same too. Kind of reminded him of home in some ways.

“Alright, it’s been unlocked Wrecker,” Tech announced, moving away as Wrecker cracked his knuckles and bent over to grab hold of the door. As the giant tried to get a handhold in place, Hunter wandered over to Tech’s side. The itch was getting worse, and he couldn’t pretend it wasn’t anything, not when he knew that out here, on this crap show of a mission, where anything could be something deadly. It was like those little fish, gathering into something deadly.

His brother looked pale, the skin around his mouth drawn tight in pain. No doubt from his arm aching horribly, but he had refused pain killers until after the mission. They all had, stubborn bastards the lot of them. Tech was still standing though, and had been just as quick and efficient in his work like always. Still didn’t help Hunter’s guilt all that much. It also didn’t do much to distract him from the itch in his skull.

“Hey, Tech? You powered down that console from before, right?” he asked quietly, eyeing Wrecker and Crosshair who were propping open the bay door.

Tech blinked up at him, his face pinching in confusion, “Of course I did, we will need that battery to help activate the bridge computers if we are unable to power on the ship. You saw me unplug it. You even refused to let me put it back in my bag myself,” he huffed.

“Hey, I just wanted to make sure you didn’t strain your arm. And, that’s good, I just…I’m picking up some electrical feedback since that thing was turned on. Wasn’t sure what it was,” he said, watching Tech’s face for any sort of alarm at the statement. His brother’s face turned contemplative and his fingers pushed up his goggles before resting on his chin.

“As I stated before, this ship’s system is filled with failsafes and trigger codes. It is possible that powering on that console activated something. Do you have any idea what kind of energy you are sensing?” he asked. By now the door was fully open, and the others were wandering over. Probably wondering what they were talking about.

Hunter grimaced and shut his eyes, trying to focus on what he was sensing. Closing his eyes had been a suggestion of Tech’s years ago when Hunter mentioned getting his sensory inputs jumbled and overwhelmed easily.

“Then reduce the amount of input. Close your eyes, or cover your ears,” he had stated it so simply that it almost made Hunter feel like an idiot for not thinking of it himself. Since then closing his eyes allowed him to identify frequencies more easily. Doing so now Hunter had cut himself off from staring at the stark white bandages on his brothers, stopped him from taking in the shadows around the darkened corridor, and let him zero in on the itch.

His brothers would keep watch for him while he had his eyes closed. They always had his back.

“It’s not completely new, I guess. Different in some ways, but familiar in others. They feel like droids actually. Like some of the simulations we did where they sent entire platoons at us,” as he spoke the dread began to pool in his belly, because now that he thought of the comparison it was too much of a fit to ignore. He remembered what Tech said earlier about the little-known tactics of the Separatists. This was different in that it was more concentrated and…larger.

Oh no.

“What is it?” he heard Crosshair ask, his voice low and concerned. Their sharp-eyed brother must have seen something on Hunter’s face and already was picking up on a threat. He hadn’t opened his eyes yet, but he heard his brothers shift into a ready stance.

“They’re getting closer, kriff,” Hunter cursed and he opened his eyes and frantically looked around them.

“Who?” Wrecker asked, arming his blaster at the alarmed tone in his sergeant’s voice.

“Droids, lots of them. More than we’ve ever faced before,” Hunter said tightly, pulling out his own blaster at the ready. Crosshair and Tech did the same.

“How close,” the sniper asked, already steadying the rifle against his shoulder.

Hunter shook his head and signaled for them to head through the door they just opened, “Too close, we need to move quickly. They’re coming from multiple directions I think. Let’s go!”

They tore into the corridor together, not caring about the noises their boots made now that it was obvious that something knew they were here. Hunter couldn’t believe it took him that long to identify the threat that was coming, and now it may be too late.

He could feel their presence now like a burn now, going far beyond the idle itch he’d felt for the last half hour. And they were about to head into a maze of hallways and doors, no cover beyond turning the corner, but that didn’t help if they didn’t know exactly where the damn droids were even coming from!

“Tech, try to lead us in the direction of the bridge, but keep an eye out for sustainable cover if you can,” Hunter called out ahead where Tech nodded and raced ahead to do that. He was the fastest of them all and was the only one with the map. As much as Hunter worried about having him without a frontline defense, they needed him to take point right now. With what felt like hundreds of droids coming up on their heels and from both sides, they would need direction.

They never had a simulation like this before, but the familiar rush of adrenaline and training was kicking in enough that Hunter didn’t feel himself get lost to panic. They had been too well trained to fall victim to things like that, that was something the Kammies had not failed in readying them for. The blaster in his hands was a familiar weight, and the sight of his brothers with him was too.

There could be no mistakes here. Not with their lives and the mission at stake.

That may have been a new concept to some of the reg soldiers coming from Kamino’s facilities, but not to their squad. They knew ‘do or die’ all too well from an early age. As much as Hunter had hated that their lives depended on their success as children, it did prepare him for moments like this.

He didn’t know if they were prepared for what he felt coming for them. It was almost enough to make that giant water creature before seem almost small in comparison. And this was such a twisted and narrow set of hallways…

“Which direction are they coming from?” Crosshair called back over his shoulder, his rifle still held up at the ready.

“Four, Six, and Seven o’clock,” he called back, hearing a chorus of curses from the others (save for Tech) at the news.

“Hunter, we’re coming up on several diverging paths. All can lead towards the bridge, albeit indirectly, but I cannot discern which ones are clear,” Tech called out from ahead. Hunter could make out his goggles glinting against the bobbing light of his torch. It was still so dark in here, and it was so easy to get turned around not seeing a path until you were right beside it. Didn’t kriffing help that everything was still upside down.

“Just keep running, Tech. We’ll have to outrun them to stand a chance. Keep the torch lit, we’ll follow you!” even as he shouted it, he knew that they weren’t going to be fast enough. Already he could feel the buzzing grow louder until it was like warning klaxons in his head. And then he heard it.

It was strange and loud enough that he almost stopped in his tracks to hear it, but it didn’t take long before he knew what that sound was. It was the sound of far too many metal feet coming towards them.

The others must have heard it too, because their heads began to swivel around them. The way it echoed off the walls made it seem like they were coming from all directions, and it was deafening in its threat.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Wrecker even sounded nervous, something rare for him outside of academics.

Tech grimaced as he glanced behind at them, “No it does not,” he agreed, and Hunter could see him tuck his injured arm closer against his chest. He was far ahead of them, leading them all along. The distance was getting great enough that it was beginning to make Hunter nervous though.

Crosshair was silent though, and it made him turn his head to where their sniper was too many paces behind Tech. He still held his rifle up, but Hunter could tell he was flagging. He’d been favoring his left side after the injury, and running like this was only making it worse. Tech’s torch only reflected the sharp edges of his brother’s face as it bounced off the walls, and it made him look even worse.

Wrecker was a couple of paces behind Crosshair, but was losing ground quickly. His running endurance and speed falling behind their leaner brothers. They were too spread out now. They needed to regroup, but…

They weren’t going to be able to outrun these things if they did.

He didn’t even have time to re-evaluate before he heard a startled yelp from up ahead followed by a loud slam. He knew the shout was Tech, but when he tried to spot him ahead…he was gone. And so was the light coming from his torch.

He flicked on the night vision settings in his helmet, but he only saw Crosshair and Wrecker. The two of them also glancing around for their missing brother.

“What the kriff happened? Where is he?!” Crosshair shouted, his voice coming out harsh between pants.

“That door, it was open a minute ago. Tech, we’re coming buddy!” Wrecker shouted back, and then let out a monstrous roar as he threw himself at it, pummeling the reinforced durasteel paneling with his fists. They didn’t even dent.

The metal footsteps were getting louder.

“There they are, get them!” a mechanical voice called out, and the footsteps grew faster and louder until a group of battle droids suddenly appeared.

Then the blaster fire started. It erupted far enough down from them that they weren’t getting hit, but it was still far too close for comfort. Hunter swore he could feel the heat from them radiating through the hallway as they scored the walls and floor with carbon ash.

Even though none of them wanted to move away from the door that their vod’ika had disappeared behind, there was no cover there and their armor would only protect them to a point. Hunter had to signal to them to dive off to the left into the empty corridor beside them.

“We need to go back for him,” Crosshair panted as they tore down the length of the hallway, away from the blaster fire and away from where they’d lost Tech. Hunter felt the growing distance with an exponentially matching ache in his chest.

“We need to clear a path first. Let’s find cover and make a plan from there,” Hunter instructed, but there wasn’t much cover to be had readily. Not unless they started diving into some of the bay doors that had been left open around them. He just hoped that wherever Tech had been locked up, that he wasn’t facing an army of droids on the other side.

They had no real direction they were headed now, since Tech had the map and this place was designed to be a maze it seemed. Hunter hadn’t lost his sense of orientation at least, but kriff if he knew what hallway they were in now. All he knew what that the droids behind them were closing in, and the ones he still felt around them were getting closer.

They turned another sharp corner and there they were.

“They’re over here, shoot them!”

While battle droids were hardly threatening in their size, they could become deadly efficient with sheer numbers. Much like those fish from earlier. They had been put up against many training and they all knew how easy and quickly they could be overrun by droids such as these.

And this was no simulation.

Kriff.

“Destroyers, up ahead!” Crosshair called out, just as he began to volley off answering blasts from his own rifle.

Hunter cursed again under his breath. Droidekas were beasts in their own right, and they had already thrown up their shields before Crosshair’s shots even reached them. He didn’t even have time to shout out his next orders, but it would have been lost over the sound of blaster fire coming from two directions now.

Hunter felt a blast coming for him and reacted swiftly by throwing himself backwards. He just barely caught sight of his brothers doing the same, only even further apart from one another.

Between the red streaks coming from all around, Hunter saw Crosshair scramble backwards holding a hand to his injured side until he passed through a doorway on the opposite side of the corridor. Before Hunter could even blink, the bay door slammed shut in front of Crosshair, cutting him off from sight.

No, no, not another one!

Hunter’s eyes immediately began to scan the fray looking for Wrecker now, while he also tried to find cover in the closest doorway. It took him a minute, but eventually he saw a toe of his brother’s boot sticking out from one hallway where he saw blaster fire being aimed at the incoming droids. So Wrecker was at least still able to fight back.

But before he could take any comfort in that, or figure out a way to get over to his vod, another bay door shut between them.

Hunter was on his own now.

There was no way for him to fight off two hoards of incoming droids by himself, and he knew no matter what he had to survive, if only to find out what happened to the others. He didn’t see any other choice.

He clenched his jaw and let himself fall backwards through the closest doorway, and watched as the bay door slammed shut as soon as he did.

It was pitch dark inside.

But he was alone.

Very alone.

Chapter Text

Tech didn’t quite know what to think when the bay door slammed shut between himself and his brothers, but he knew what the felt at least. And that was rather annoyed, and quite a bit scared. It wasn’t often that he was away from all of his brothers at once, and never in a simulation. It just had to be during a mission. Their first even. To have it occur so suddenly and without any prompting was startling to say the least. Not to mention statistically improbable.

His shivering was growing more pronounced, and he wasn’t entirely sure if it was due to the latest rise and drop in adrenaline or his body handling the temperatures poorly once again. He tried to push it from his mind for the time being, as it was not what was most concerning at the moment.

He thought he heard the muffled voices of the others on the other side, and a quick check of his comm showed that muffled shouts would likely be all he would hear until he undid the jammers on the ship. The annoyance was getting more pronounced, as was his growing dread.

And the sudden muffled ruckus of blaster fire on the other side did not help matters at all. He knew there was no cover where they were, and the others would be stupid to stick around and try to pry the door open again. They would have no choice but to retreat to either find cover and regroup, or find a way around to Tech another way.

The latter of which would be difficult seeing as Tech was the only one with a copy of the map.

And while Tech was very adept at unlocking doors, he would not be able to lift them open without Wrecker’s help. That left him with a few choices of how to proceed.

Unfortunately, even with his brain computing his various courses of action faster than a computer was not quick enough to come to any sort of conclusion before his ears picked up on the sound of metal footsteps coming his way.

More droids, his brain supplied helpfully, and Tech was quick to scurry off in the opposite direction of the sound before he could be spotted. He may have gotten more skilled in his defensive fighting skills, he did not fancy his chances alone against an entire platoon of battle droids alone. His best chance would be in evasive maneuvers, and he brought up his latest recall of the map and darted down the corridor that would provide possible places to hide until he thought of a better plan.

As much as he wanted to regroup with the others first, he had no way of knowing where it was that they had to run too, and they would have no way to track down Tech after he had to run away from the incoming droids. The mission had to come first, Tech had to remind himself as he tore down the empty hallway, the one that would take him further away from his brothers than any of them were comfortable with.

They were all headed to the bridge. Wrecker said it himself, they just had to keep moving forward. Perhaps they could meet up there, or they’d get lucky and encounter one another on the way.

Not that Tech believed much in luck. Not just because it was a fanciful and unquantifiable subject, but also because he’d never seemed to have ever had any to believe in the first place. Perhaps there was no such thing as bad luck, simply because 'bad luck' was simply the absence of luck in general? A question for another time, perhaps when he reunited with the others. Hunter or Crosshair should be able to answer that one.

With the battle droids hot on his heels, Tech forced himself to keep going forward and tried not to think about how the others were fairing right then, and ignoring the persistent ache in his arm as he jostled it with each new step.

Crosshair stared at the two smoking carbon marks on the bay door, breathing heavily as he mentally cursed anything and everything that had just occurred to cut him off from the others. Shooting the door with his rifle had only helped his frustration levels to go down a small fraction, but he didn’t dare waste any more energy shooting at the door again. Not when he knew it would be useless, and not when the noise may alert those kriffing droids to his position.

The night setting in his helmet cast an eerie glow to the corridor he’d ended up in, the emptiness around him all the more stark because everything was still upside down in this place. He knew that most people got the impression that he enjoyed silence, given his lack of want to fill it himself, but silence was something he hated. Silence meant he was alone, ignored, abandoned, or lost. All unforgivable scenarios in his opinion. Silence meant that none of his brothers were there. No Hunter twirling his vibroknife and humming under his breath. No Wrecker grunting as he lifted dumbbells or shared his latest insufferable joke. And no Tech chattering away about whatever had struck his intellectual fancy that day.

Silence was damning.

Tech had just been cut off from them all just before Crosshair found himself in the same position, and he knew nothing of what could have happened to him or the others. Were they going to try and open the doors? The blaster fire that had been going off before he’d been shut off would suggest no. Protocol would have them regroup and complete the mission, but without a rendezvous re-grouping would take a back seat to the mission objective. They would waste precious time trying to find one another in a maze like this. Especially since they all technically did have a rendezvous in place. The bridge. That was their target and where they were all collectively headed.

If Crosshair wanted to complete this mission, and find his brothers again, then that was where he needed to go.

Maybe he would have stood around a while longer, glaring daggers at the door that dared come between him and his brothers, but he could already hear more droids coming his way. He forced himself to tear away from the last place he had seen the others and began to head down the nearest hallway that was partially in the direction he needed to go in.

His side was aching after all that sudden movement, but he couldn’t afford to slow down to nurse a small wound like that. It wasn’t life threatening, even if it did hurt like a bantha had kicked him in the side. If he let little things like that slow him down then he didn’t deserve to call himself a soldier. Pain was something the four of them lived with from a young age. Hunter’s and Crosshair’s headaches, Wrecker’s growing pains, and Tech’s sensitivity to the cold were all things that they had learned to deal with. And Crosshair could deal with this too.

Ignoring the cold air inside this ship was a bit more difficult, because he could feel it numb his fingers and the skin where his suit had been torn up by teeth. He could ignore pain well enough, but numbness made his reflexes slow and sloppy. It also made him worry how Tech was faring since his body struggled on the best of days regulating his body heat.

He worried about all of them.

Out of sight, but never out of mind.

He needed to find the bridge.

He needed to find his brothers.

Crosshair ran onward, the sound of droids still closing in behind him.

“This isn’t good,” Wrecker grumbled to himself as he volleyed off a few more rounds from his blaster before wedging back against the wall for cover.

He’d lost sight of Hunter and Crosshair a few minutes ago, and going from the bay doors that he was pretty sure were open before, he guessed whatever had happened to Tech happened to them too. That left Wrecker on his own in this corridor facing down the herd of battle droids coming his way.

They were advancing in a tight pack, blocking Wrecker’s hits from getting much further than the ones standing in front.

He growled when he could still see them advancing on his position, only a few falling at a time thanks to his blaster. They’d all seen this before in simulations, and this was usually when Crosshair would pick some off from above while Hunter provided cover for Tech to break them into wherever they needed to go. Or sometimes if Crosshair couldn’t get shots in then Wrecker would charge forward with a yell and bowl them all over…but he only did that when he knew the others had his back. He didn’t have them right now to make sure his reckless charge wouldn’t end up getting him all shot up. It was just him.

Well, him and his explosives.

Hey, I’ve got explosives!

Wrecker pulled one of the detonators from his belt and probably would have kissed it if he wasn’t still wearing his bucket. He’d only ever gotten to use one of these babies in training, and now he got to blow things up for real this time!

He wished the others were here to see it at least.

I’ll just have to find them and tell them all about it, he thought to himself, making it a promise to get them all back together quickly.

With that he tossed the ball into the hallway, watching with glee as it rolled right into the center of the incoming droids. All of their heads tilting down to watch it curiously.

“Hey, I think I know what that is,” one said, its crackling mechanical voice sounding about as panicked as a droid could be. It never got a chance to inform its buddies about what they were looking at because the detonator went off a second later and blew the whole bunch to smithereens.

Wrecker whooped in delight and punched the air as bits and pieces of metal and circuits went flying in all directions. Unfortunately, the sudden movement reminded him sharply of the wound he still had in his shoulder, but even the pain didn’t dim the smile under his helmet.

Now that he’d taken care of that problem, he had to move on to the next one. They still had a mission, and he needed to find his brothers. Quickly. Who knew what kind of trouble they’d get into without him.

He could still feel them. He wanted that to be enough, but right now, with droids hunting them and the four of them stuck at the bottom of an ocean, it wasn’t.

At the very least, there were three distinct heartbeats and life energy signals down here that he knew better than the back of is own hand. He even knew what direction they lay in. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was this kriffing ship was a maze, scattering them all further apart as they tried to find cover and a way back together.

Some sergeant he was turning out to be. First mission and he’d gotten his squad stranded in a drowned vessel, let them all get injured in the first ten minutes, and then let his men get scattered to the wind just because some droids showed up and slammed shut a few bay doors. Was it really that easy to take down a supposedly highly trained and capable black ops squad? Cody would be ashamed of the faith he put into Hunter if he saw him now.

Hunter rolled to his feet and started down the nearest corridor that didn’t have the staticky signature of droids coming down it, hefting his blaster back up and switching on his night vision on his HUD. Despite his shame at losing control so quickly, he didn’t even spare a thought to giving up.

A mission didn’t just end because they made a mistake. There weren’t any do-overs now, as if there were any before. His team had always been expected to see things through, and that hadn’t changed. Hunter still had to find his brothers, and there was still time to finish what they started. If he managed to bring them all home safely then he’d give them the choice of choosing a new sergeant for the team. One that wouldn’t have let any of this happen.

One that wasn’t scared of letting it happen again.

Get to the bridge, that’s where they’re all headed.

Hunter felt his feet begin to move swiftly under him as he charged through the dark hallways. He could feel the droids still coming for him, but he’d know they’d reached him well before they caught sight of him. He just had to think of a way to shake them off or take them all down, so he wasn’t leading them to his brothers and the bridge. He didn’t need to put his brother’s in any more danger than he already had.

As he tore around a new corner, he spared a thought for each of them. He’d been told years ago to trust in the abilities of his brothers, even when he wasn’t there for them. Just thinking of that lesson made Hunter’s heart stop clenching painfully for just a moment as he pictured where each one of them may be just then. Running through the hallways like him, alone and in the dark, but all with a direction to head in. Wrecker was strong enough to take down anything in his path, and didn’t overcomplicate things that would slow him down. Crosshair’s brain was a sharp as his tongue, and Hunter knew without a doubt that he’d be able to find his way even in the dark. Their sniper was as capable of watching his own back as he was theirs, when he wasn’t too busy watching their backs that is. And Tech, his vod’ika could out puzzle a computer and was the most resourceful person Hunter had ever met. No matter what obstacle he encountered, he always found a solution to get around it eventually.

He tried to let that faith in them soothe his frayed nerves, shredded by the sudden and unexpected separation. He could drown in his own self-pity and failures once he’d found them and gotten them all back home. He couldn’t let it choke him now.

The back of his head began to buzz louder. The droids were catching up, probably because they had the ship’s all mapped out in their coding. Kriff.

Hunter picked up the pace and began to plan.

“We’ve got the intruders separated. The platoons are closing in on them now.”

“Good. Make sure there are no survivors.”

“Shall we call for reinforcements from storage?”

“Not necessary. Each of them has a whole platoon of droids following them. No one can take out that many droids at once. Proceed with the original protocol plan.”

“Roger, roger.”

Chapter Text

Crosshair wasn’t sure how, but he’d ended up back in the belly of the ship after what felt like ages trying to outrun his personal droid assassin escort. They’d caught up with him far quicker than he anticipated, but he liked to think that he was far more clever than they had anticipated given they had yet to catch up. It wasn’t easy, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep this up much longer. Not with his flagging energy, and the growing ache in his side.

At least he wasn’t cold at the moment. It was still dark though, only his night vision HUD setting making it possible to not trip over everything around him.

His boots scraped at the floor as he pulled to a sudden halt to take a look around. He’d ended up in a far too open area, with pipes, circuits, shafts, and generators lining every part of the expansive walls.

“Great, somehow I ended up in Tech’s happy place,” he growled to himself as he took in the engine room with wary eyes. Just thinking of his vod’ika brought a new kind of pain into his fore vision, because it was one thing for Crosshair to be alone in enemy territory…it was another to know that Tech was too. They all were. And he’d bet his new rifle that each of them had their own dedicated army trailing behind them. How kriffing considerate of the droids.

Without a map, or Hunter to direct them, Crosshair got lost far more easily than he would ever want to admit. His first thought when he’d started this game of hunter and prey was that he needed to get to the bridge to meet up with the others…only for that to go out of the kriffing window like one of Wrecker’s poorly aimed ball tosses. He lost all sense of direction when he suddenly felt blaster fire peppering the ground under his feet, so close it served to warm the back of his neck a bit.

His feet and survival instincts took the reins from there, somehow leading him through this maze of a ship. In short, Crosshair had panicked. If his feet weren’t so busy trying to carry him out of danger, he may have kicked himself for his lack of control. He’d yet to find his control again as he’d continued to run through the ship, and it was eating away at him like acid in his gut.

He didn’t like feeling like prey. He was supposed to be the one picking off his victims one by one, not running away like some coward. Leaving his brothers unprotected, out of his watchful gaze.

The stitch in his side, the warm blood he could feel leaking through Tech’s carefully placed bandages, and the way his lungs were beginning to feel too small for his chest were not important. He knew he needed to focus, make a plan, and gain back control. Otherwise he would eventually be caught by his mechanically driven enemy. Droids didn’t tire like clones did. Trying to outrun them was useless.

They’d faced plenty of droids in simulations before, almost like the Kaminoan’s had known who their future war would be waged against. But that had always been as a squad. Even if it was just that time when it was just himself and Tech, he still had not been on his own like this. Trying to blast his way through and hope for the best would not work, it would just get him killed. Who would watch over his brothers then?

Standing his ground here would be just as useless as trying to keep running forever. Large open spaces were not Crosshair’s battlefield of choice, so he knew that he could not linger there. Not with the echoing sound of droid feet getting louder. He needed to make a plan, and find a battleground that suited his strengths. And he needed to do it quickly, before the ache in his side became too much or before his legs gave out from beneath him.

Curling his lip in anger, Crosshair forced his aching and tired body to keep moving.

As lost as he was, it would be best if he tried to find the outer edges of the vessel and work up from there. First though, he needed to get rid of his escorts.

“Sir, we’ve lost track of one of the targets. I’ve got one in the lower levels, one on the mid level outer port region, and one near the mid level storage rooms. The last one is gone.”

“What? Where’d he go?”

“We’re still trying to locate him, but in the meantime we still have visuals on the other three.”

“That’s good at least.  Boot up another squad from storage and send them to the last place the fourth one was seen.”

“Roger, roger.”

This is not ideal.

Unideal situations were hardly out of the norm for their squad, even as newly minted soldiers. Still though, Tech would have preferred just a little more accommodation than this, or at least a little bit more elbow room.

This was far easier when I was smaller…

Tech grunted with effort and he continued to pull himself along the ventilation shaft that was tucked in the ceiling (perhaps it is considered flooring now). It had been relatively easy to yank free a panel to access these shafts, seeing how they were by his feet rather than up on the ceiling for once. That still didn’t make them designed to fit an almost full-grown male humanoid body inside.

Having one arm injured did not help things in the slightest. Although when did any injury help anything in the slightest?

He’d tried to spare his arm as best he could at first, but with little to no wiggle room in there he’d given up quickly and was now trying his best to ignore the persistent ache he felt with each new push or pull he used to move himself onward. He knew without looking his arm was likely bleeding freely with overuse, but he doubted he’d be able to do anything about it if he had the time to stop and assess. He wouldn’t even be able to open his pack, seeing how he was currently pushing it in front of himself as he inched along. It wasn’t like it was life threatening, which made it slightly easier to push the pain to the back of his brain as something to address later.

Tech had been quick to deduce that while he was very fast on his feet, it was unlikely that he would be able to outrun the droids perusing him while dodging blaster fire, returning fire, and also while headed for the bridge of the ship. So, logically he decided to take another route. One he knew would not be filled with droids. The ventilation system.

All the while pointedly not thinking about what sort of depreciating jokes his brothers would have to say about him going back to his old habits of crawling into small spaces like some sort of rodent.

It also had the added benefit of letting him access rooms even without Wrecker’s assistance. Which was how he happened to come across another room that triggered some semblance of a plan in his head. One that he hoped would help him get an understanding of just how much their original plan had been deterred at this point, and where the others may have ended up. There were many things that Tech disliked, but being uninformed was at the top percentage of that list.  

It took quite a bit of maneuvering and flexibility on his end, but Tech managed to pry open the vent door into the new room and make the sharp 90 degree turn to get himself out. If he hoisted himself out in an undignified heap on the floor, then at least no one was around to see it. What was worse, there must have been a water leak nearby, since he found himself laying in a cold puddle on the floor. It wasn’t deep, but it did extend across the floor a large bit. Because of course it did.

Not for the first time, he cursed his underperforming hypothalamus for making it difficult to stay warm under normal circumstances. At this point he’d be chilled to the bone until they were finally able to get back to the surface of the planet.

As he lay on the floor on his back catching his breath, he took note of the consoles all faithfully bolted to the new ceiling of this vessel. With no Wrecker to hold him up, Tech would have to devise another way to gain access to those computers. And without Crosshair, he’d have to find a way to manage with his less than mobile, and somewhat damaged, arm. It had to be done though.

So, allowing himself a moment to sigh heavily, Tech righted himself and began to plan. There must be something in here he could work with.

Dodging through the hallways remaining undetected was very familiar to Hunter, given how often he and his brothers had found themselves needing to sneak around the city as cadets. All that practice as kids made it almost so Hunter could think of this as nothing more than another nighttime raid of the kitchens, if it weren’t for the fact he was still very alone and he never recalled blaster fire being part of their previous escapades.

It would have been child’s play for him to track and avoid these droids, given the energy signatures they put out in a desolate place like the bottom of the ocean. However, nothing could be as easy as that when it came to this mission it seemed. Energy signals were popping up like flowers from the dirt around this ship now, and all constantly moving around what still felt like a very dead ship. And then he would think he had caught wind of one of three familiar heartbeats, only to lose track of it a moment later when the sound of metal feet began to approach again.

Sure, Hunter could track them down, but it sure as pits wasn’t easy with everyone moving constantly and in all different directions. They were all leaves scattered by the wind, and he was waving a hand around uselessly trying to catch one only to have it blow away again. It was frustrating to the point he would have been yanking at his non-regulation hair if he wasn’t still wearing his bucket.

He at least had the general structure of the ship mapped out in his head now, and was sticking close to the outer edges as a guide to get back on track. It was mostly large empty corridors out here, which may have put him as an easy target, but he had the advantage of knowing exactly what was approaching and from where at any time. He’d been able to pick off the droids following him easily enough without risking too much exposure, all with the added benefit of moving quickly through the open hallways.

As far as he could tell, he only had a few more droids trailing behind him now. Easy enough.

He was already starting to plan when to take out the last ones when he skidded to a sudden halt in the middle of the corridor. His eyes went wide as he felt the flicker of something familiar nearby. His own heart lurched with hope in his chest as he whirled around in a circle. It felt so close, where was it coming from? It was like it came out of nowhere, and then suddenly it was…right here.

But as Hunter looked around him there was nothing. Not even a door on either side of him.

The flicker pulsed as he stretched out his senses and he found his chin tilting upwards as he squinted at the ceiling above him. With the ship belly up like this, he estimated that it was the engine rooms above him. Maybe. Tech would know better.

Did one of his brothers end up in the lower levels somehow?

As much as Hunter would suspect Tech being the one to seek out a refuge in his element, the pulse he felt now trailing off under his feet didn’t feel like their specialist. No…Crosshair.

The pulse was headed off in a new direction, getting fainter the longer Hunter stood still, and that wouldn’t do at all.

Head tilted back uncomfortably, Hunter began to chase after that familiar heartbeat. First quickened steps, and then breaking into a hard run the moment he felt more energy signatures pop up above his head. All of them also following after his brother.

As much as Tech would like to be proud of what he’d accomplished without his brothers, he guessed they would be as unimpressed with his precariously stacked cargo boxes and chairs as he was. It was not an elegant solution to gaining access to the consoles, nor was it particularly stable…but it had to do.

At least that is what Tech convinced himself of as he scaled the trembling structure beneath him. Just when he thought the whole thing would tumble out from beneath him, it seemed to reach some sort of equilibrated balance and stilled under him. Quite a mercy, seeing how Tech was unsure if he’d have been able to catch himself in a fall given his damaged extremity.

From there it did not take long to hook up the same battery from before, already knowing where the wires lay this time. It made his arm ache with a vengeance that had him longing for another rush of adrenaline to numb it again, but he managed to hook everything together well enough.

He cast one wary look at the water below, thinking the crates he was balanced on should not conduct current back up to him. He hoped anyway. And he switched on the battery.

He let out a relieved breath when all that happened was the console humming to life, and quickly attached his data pad to begin his search. At least he still had all the same splicing codes in place to bypass as many security measures as he could in seconds rather than minutes this time.

It was easy to locate the others, seeing how they were the only life signs on the whole ship. As happy as he was to see that they were all still alive and well, they also appeared to be far too scattered and all were seemingly on the run as well. That would not do at all. Crosshair and Hunter weren’t even moving in the right direction. At least Wrecker seemed to be going the right way, but he was still in a central corridor. A risky place to be since it could access, and be accessed by any part of the ship.

No, no. This would not do at all.

Tech would have to find a way to direct his brothers back on track, before any of them got hurt or even further separated.

He tapped his chin lightly, squinting up at the consoles around him. He scowled when he realized it was too dark to see much. He was about to lower his visor and activate his night vision setting when an idea struck him like lightening down his spine.

He knew how to draw the others back together, and he could do it from here!

As the sizzle of his most recent popper died out, Wrecker let out a weary sigh as he leaned back against the wall. Just for a sec. He really needed to catch his breath before he started to…head wherever he was gonna go next. The latest handful of droids that had been following him lay twitching in a pile across the hall from him, but he didn’t pay them much mind.

Just like Tech had said, electricity hitting droids like this took them out pretty damn well. It also served as a reminder to Wrecker to not be standing in a puddle when he set one off. Being cooked from the inside out didn’t sound like much fun.

He’d kind of hoped to be making more progress than this, but Wrecker was finding it difficult to remember which direction the front of the ship was in when all the hallways looked the same and he kept getting all turned around by those droids that kept popping out of nowhere!

For the most part, he’d been able to keep the droids off his back. At least long enough for him to run down a few more corridors before the next group showed up. It was tiring though, especially after that rough swim just to get in here in the first place. He needed a snack, a nap, and maybe some water too, but he didn’t think he’d be getting a chance for any of that soon.

He was starting to run low on poppers too.

He knew he should have snuck more from Homes’ armory.

At least with his progress being slow, he kind of remembered where he’d been and where he was going? He hoped it was towards the bridge anyway. Wrecker was starting to feel bad about teasing Tech over the map earlier, and also kind of wishing he’d asked to look at it more. That thing sure would have come in handy now.

He’d tried a few times to call out to his brothers, but stopped quickly after when he realized it only drew the attention of the droids. While he could handle them with another well placed popper, it also meant that if he brothers called back to him it may draw blaster fire their way too. That was the last thing Wrecker wanted.

The sting in his shoulder was enough of a reminder to keep quiet, cause he really didn’t want to add any more wounds anytime soon. This one alone hurt plenty enough on its own. And he’d need to be ready to help his squad. They always needed his help. He didn’t like thinking about them on their own out there. Sure, they were all deadly in their own special way and all that, but they were also delicate in their own special ways too. It was Wrecker’s self-appointed job to make sure those almost imperceptible weaknesses did not become…perceptible.

Being an anchor for Hunter when his senses went wacky.

Watching Crosshair’s back when he was too busy watching theirs.

Being the strength that Tech didn’t have himself.

Those were as much Wrecker’s jobs as being demolitions expert was, and he was doing a lousy job since he wasn’t even there for them!

He just needed to find them. And that kriffing bridge. Whichever came first.

Wait, no, he’d like to find his brothers first if he could manage it. It would make him feel better than a rations bar to find them again.

Wrecker knew he needed to start moving again soon, even if his head just thinking about trying to figure out which direction he was supposed to move in now. But before he could even push himself off from the wall, his helmet’s HUD flickered suddenly, making him startle.

He blinked rapidly, wondering if he had imagined it, but no, he had seen his screen flicker for a moment. The green night vision greying out for just a moment, but it did happen.

“Did someone just try to turn on the lights?” Wrecker wondered out loud, staring at the light fixtures (the ones at his feet cause this place was still flipped over). They flickered again, just for a sec, but they did!

Years of living with his brothers in their little barracks, Wrecker had dealt with flickering lights as long as he’d known his vod’ika. Wherever there were surges or cuts in power, Tech was probably the one responsible. Seeing something so familiar in such an unfamiliar place brought a happy grin to Wrecker’s face.

“That means you can’t be that far off, little buddy. I’m coming, Tech!” Wrecker quietly cheered to himself, and began to follow the lights.

Chapter Text

“Sir, we’ve picked up an energy surge in one of the mid-level security rooms.”

“Where did that come from?”

“I dunno, maybe it’s the missing clone? Do we go check it out?”

“I guess we have to. Send two teams to intercept it though.”

“Roger, roger.”

From Tech’s best estimations, he assumed that the single life force sign he was detecting was that of Wrecker simply because of the speed at which it moved and the brash movement pattern. Hunter and Crosshair were far more cautious in their movements, much like the two other life signals that were steadily getting closer together. It made no sense, however, that neither of them were moving in the right direction.

Tech sighed and started setting up a new sequence to run for the lights down where the two life signs were headed. At least Wrecker had taken the bait and was making excellent progress towards Tech’s temporary hideout. He only hoped that he wasn’t leading his brother here in vain. By activating the power in this room, Tech had already determined the risk that doing so could either set off another failsafe, or worse, give away his position. But it was a risk he needed to take seeing how lost his brothers had become in such a short time.

He only hoped he could remain here long enough to regroup with them. Even if the room left something to be desired in its condition.

Tech eyed the large puddle of water that was growing beneath his makeshift ladder with trepidation. It was almost covering the whole floor now, slowly spreading out over the last fifteen minutes. While he was hardly worried about it filling up from what was obviously some sort of water breach in the walls, it was filling far too slowly to be of any real concern there, he was worried about facing off against any droids in this cramped and flooded room. Not when there was no real cover to be had in a room where all the furniture was bolted to the ceiling. He may have had some semblance of a plan regarding an unexpected attack in here, but he’d much rather not deploy it if he could manage otherwise.

What was more vexing was that droids such as these would not appear on any life scans, hence why Cody’s and Homes’ information had come back with only a dead ship diagnosis. So Tech had to devise another way to at least figure out where the droids were currently. Normally he could splice into security feeds with little more than a blink of his eye, but with the ship powered down that was easier said than done. He’d have to turn them on and off much in the same way he was manipulating the lights to guide his brothers. Doable, but came with risks and drawbacks like any semi thought out plan.

He would have to manually switch on and off cameras in hopes of spotting something, and he would draw more attention to the terminal he was working at. No, not ideal at all.

But it was the best he could manage with the tools and time provided.

Needs must and all that.

So Tech sighed again and dug his hands back into the wiring. He had more work to do.

This ship had clearly had not been designed to allow long range fighting styles. Which Crosshair had to begrudgingly admit was probably a good idea for security purposes. That didn’t make it less annoying though.

He had ways around that however, and it was almost with glee that he began to set up his trap.

He still had no idea where the kriff he’d ended up besides what appeared to be a maintenance hallway, but it had enough pipes and electrical boxes around that he had been able to spot a few good hiding places.

Tech had once called Crosshair the most patiently impatient person he’d ever met, in that the sniper could wait for hours on end for his perfect shot without moving a muscle, but when it came to waiting for anyone or anything else he had all the staying power of a wave in the ocean. That was probably true, but it wasn’t like Crosshair would give his vod’ika the satisfaction of telling him he was right in this case.

He needed to hide now to put his plan into motion, and let all the pieces fall in place. Easier said than done, like most things tended to be. Right now, the thought of sitting still somewhere was one of the last things he wanted to do. Not when he already felt the cold creeping in around his neck, and side where his blacks had been torn through. It only seemed to get colder the longer they were stuck down here, and the damp feeling from their swim had not gone away in the slightest.

His injured side had ached as he had run, but the cold had almost kept it numb enough to function. He worried that once he stopped, and he had to regulate his adrenaline down again to steady his hands, it would start up again with new ferocity. He almost wished he’d taken the pain killers when Hunter had suggested, but refused to cloud his head in any way while they were still on a mission. Not if he could still stand and hold his rifle.

It still wasn’t a life threatening wound, but blood loss, exposure, and exhaustion were a recipe for disaster and could become life threatening in their own special way. He hoped that Tech and Wrecker weren’t off somewhere being stupid about their own injuries, even if he knew that they would do whatever it took to survive, even hurt. That was what they knew. That was what they were taught.

Crosshair had to bite his lip in order to keep the pained grunt from giving him away as he hauled himself into his temporary hiding spot. His own personal droid squad would be approaching very soon, and he’d need the element of surprise to get them in place. No noises. No movements.

No whimpers. No shivering.

Suck it up, solider, he thought to himself bitterly. He was a solider now after all. Like he’d always wanted.

He’d never pictured it like this though.

“This isn’t so bad,” Wrecker panted to himself as he hurried along.  He’d reach Tech in no time if he kept up the pace now!

It was kind of weird though. He’d been followed by three groups of droids so far, and of course he’d blown them all up easily, but…the three had come right after one another. Now though, there hadn’t been a new set in a while, and his progress was awesome…and a little suspicious if he was being honest.

It wasn’t like he missed having droids come at him, even if it was fun to see them get blasted and all that. But it would have been a nice to know where the enemy was at. Right behind him was at least a place he knew about and could work with. Unknowns were…well, unknown. Maybe that was why Tech was always so determined to know everything about every place and everyone? It made sense to Wrecker now if that was the case. He certainly would feel better knowing where the droids had gone off to, cause there must be more, right?

The lights under his feet blinked up ahead, almost like Tech was hearing his thoughts or something creepy like that. At least he was nice enough to give Wrecker directions to wherever he was! Maybe he’d already rounded up Hunter and Crosshair too.

Tossing his suspicions behind him, Wrecker charged on, following the lights.

“Sir, we have three new patrols headed to the location with the power surges.”

“Good, three should be enough to take down the clone. What about the others?”

“Still in pursuit, but the central one is getting close to where the power surges were located and already knocked out all the droids we sent his way.”

“Send another patrol down to the power surge location then. Maybe we can take them both out at once with enough of us there.”

“Are those your orders?”

“I guess? I had thought we would have a commanding officer at some point, but maybe we don’t get one until we’re actually delivered.”

“Guess they didn’t expect the ship to get shot down so quickly.”

“Does anyone expect their ship to get shot down?”

“I don’t know, my programing just says shoot the enemy.”

“Are those your orders then?”

“Pretty sure that’s been our orders all along.”

“Roger, roger.”

Getting close now. I can feel him…kriffing finally stopped moving, thank the Force.

It was a good thing that Hunter had not let any of them relax after graduation when it came to their fitness regimen. If he didn’t regularly run like this he would have likely passed out several corridors and one flight of stairs ago. The light above him were flickering occasionally, but he ignored them in favor of his laser focus on finding where Crosshair went. His brother was being chased too, and he’d be damned if he let something happen to him by getting distracted by some lights shorting out.

Future mental note, stairs are not the same upside down. He probably should have known that, but it was still startling to reach the stairwell only to find himself screeching to a halt as his brain tried to process what he was seeing. This place was a mental nightmare to him. Like living in those intellectual puzzles that Tech did when he got bored. He would have the worst headache after this, he just knew it.

At least he was on the same level as Crosshair now, and felt him ahead rather than below him. Almost there, finally. He could also still feel his droids in pursuit, as well as a few ahead of him, making him grind his teeth in annoyance.

His fingers were starting to ache with how tightly he was gripping his blaster, but he refused to loosen them. Not with droids on all sides, and standing between him and his vod.

He’s still got a heartbeat. He’s still alive.

It kept his feet flying under him and powering through the burn in his legs.

The droids were getting too close to Crosshair now. Why wasn’t he moving?! Was he hurt and couldn’t keep going? Did his wound get worse? Was he trapped at a dead end?

“Damnit,” Hunter growled and reached for his vibroblade with his free hand. No matter what the reason, he’d eliminate each and every threat that stood between them now.

Almost…almost...they just need to come forward another thirty-three-point-seven yards…

Tech gritted his teeth as he waited for what he still assumed to be Wrecker coming along quickly. Crosshair and Hunter seemed to have found one another going off of the other two life signals proximity, but they were still too far away from Tech for comfort. The more he fiddled with the lights, the higher chance he stood of drawing more attention to his location, making his rendezvous more dangerous than helpful.

His boots had soaked through, something he hadn’t known was possible in this gear, and he felt… or rather didn’t feel his toes begin to numb within them. He loathed the idea of having to run again any time soon if the droids found him again, so Wrecker better get here quickly. The puddle on the floor was still spreading and it was making Tech nervous to still be working with the electronic components in such conditions. He may still be up in his little tower of stacked objects, but it wasn’t guaranteed to protect him from shock if he dropped a wire.

If only Wrecker would just get here…He wouldn’t admit it out loud, much like Crosshair, but Tech always felt safer with his largest brother at his side. There was security and kindness in those large arms of his, not just the brute strength that could pummel through doors and walls for them. And right now, Tech felt decidedly unsafe, and not just because of the wires dangling dangerously close to the water below. Because…there was a time that Tech barely remembered, the only time he was ever without at least one of his brothers by his side, and perhaps it was best that most of that time had been forgotten. It felt as cold and dark back then as Tech did now.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. They’d all been so disappointed with being assigned an easy mission, unable to prove themselves from the get go, only to find themselves almost killed several times over in the first hour. And then they had all ended up torn from each other’s side. While each of them was highly skilled in their own regard, even Tech knew that their abilities had an exponential increase with all of them together. As doomed as this mission had begun to feel, Tech knew that if he could just get them all back together then they stood a better chance of making it out of this alive.

He just needed to bring them back. He could do that. He could do that for them as well as himself.

Tech shook the thoughts from his head, trying to focus back on the task at hand. He sent a small surge to the light that would lead Wrecker down the last corridor that would lead him to his hideout. Just a little further!

But what was that sound? Metallic. Repetitive. Sharp. He knew that sound all too well now.

The droids had found him.

And Tech had just led his brother into an ambush.

Chapter Text

Crosshair’s finger held steady over the trigger as he stared down the corridor. Any moment now.

A lesser trained soldier would have been flexing their arm or finger by now, unable to hold still for that long. Crosshair was no lesser trained soldier though. He could have been a fixture on the wall to anyone who would have been staring into the shadows where he was hidden. Or maybe just another long and skinny pipe, practically camouflaged in that regard.

He wouldn’t need long to make his shot, he just needed the right set up to make his move. It would come. He just had to be patient. And ignore the occasionally flickering lights above.

He had his suspicions about the lights, a common signature of his vod’ika to fiddle with such things when left to his own devices too long, but he didn’t want to let his attention waver from his aim long enough to decipher if Tech was indeed trying to send some sort of message. If it was him at all instead of some buggy electrical surge. Who knew in this kriffing ship.

Careful to keep his breathing steady, Crosshair suppressed the urge to sigh or growl at his growing annoyance, but allowed himself a quick blink to moisten his eyes. The cold was beginning to make him shiver though, a useless bodily reaction to the cold that would only make it harder to aim. To make this shot not as perfect as it needed to be.

He still couldn’t believe how utterly idiotic he’d been assuming this mission would be easy. Of course he had no reason beforehand to think any differently, but it still stung now to think of how he’d so ignorantly assumed this would be simple and beneath them. Nothing in their lives had ever been easy. He should have known better. Because maybe if he’d assumed the worst, something he was prone to do anyway, then he would have been better prepared for all this. And none of them would have been separated. And he wouldn’t be alone.

The lights above had stopped flickering, he noted absently. He tried not to think about what that meant if it was Tech trying to communicate somehow, but it was hard to keep the doomed thoughts at bay in a place like this, when he already felt so cold and unsafe.

His spiraling thoughts were cut off as the engine room began to fill with the echoes of metallic footsteps, bouncing off the durasteel walls threateningly getting louder with each passing second.

Crosshair knew his time had come. He had one shot at this. If he missed his position would be revealed and he’d be an open target. He forced his breathing and hands to remain steady, and squinted his right eye as he spied the reflector mirror across the room.

Eight droids entered, double lined as they were prone to doing, and Crosshair took aim. If he timed this right, he could take out all of them with one shot. He’d done it before in simulations, even with greater numbers. This should be easy. Five more steps…four…three…two…one…

Only it turned out he didn’t have as much to say in his body’s natural reaction to cold as he’d assumed.

His frozen and numb finger slipped barely perceptively as he pulled the trigger. It would have hardly made a difference if it was just a shot aimed at a single incoming droid, but when Crosshair was aiming it to bounce off a minute angles it made all the difference. Only five droids fell to the ground, and three remaining droids had zeroed in on his location.

“Crosshair, get down!”

Crosshair was diving down from his perch as soon as he heard the familiar voice of Hunter ring out across the room, cursing to himself at missing what should have been a perfect shot. Blaster fire erupted from above him, aimed at the spot he’d been occupying not even a second before. A rain of sparks came down on him, burning the skin at the back of his neck where the too small suit did not cover. He winced when one shot burnt into the wall mere inches above his head.

He risked glancing up to where he saw Hunter diving into the room, his single blaster raised in one hand and his vibroknife held high in the other.

Two clones against three droids was hardly a difficult fight, but they were in close quarters and blaster fire was bouncing off of everything dangerously. And…Crosshair could see the shadows on the wall from the corridor Hunter just came from. He cursed and dove for the nearest cover he could see.

“Are you hurt?” Hunter called out as he took his own cover behind one of the engine boxes across the room. Only frontal cover…

“No more than before. I know how to take care of myself,” Crosshair shouted back. He didn’t ask Hunter his condition because he had seen enough of his sergeant moving to know nothing was impeding his movement. It seemed he also knew how to take care of himself.

He heard the whistling sound of a knife flying through the air and saw one of the droids fall to the ground in a twitching pile, Hunter’s knife plunged into its cable box chest.

Crosshair was close to being pinned by two of the remaining two droids though, but his focus was on the shadows getting larger on the wall, right behind where Hunter was crouched low. Exposed. That wouldn’t do at all.

If at first you don’t succeed…Crosshair ignored the sounds of fire around him, and Hunter’s expletives once he’d noticed that the sniper wasn’t paying attention to the two droids closing in on him, and focused back in on that one reflector disc. Surely Hunter could hold off the others.

“Kriffing—Cross, I don’t know if I can get a clean shot at them. Can you move? Cross? Karking snipers—”

It was all just background noise to him. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, knowing that Hunter’s concerns were real and that those two droids in the room could possibly make a shot at him…but Crosshair had something else to worry about. Mostly the group of ten droids headed straight for his ori’vod.

Of course, it wasn’t an ideal shot, but he wasn’t worried about making it this time. He smirked and pulled the trigger.

This time he was in complete control, knowing exactly what was at stake beyond his own safety. His shot flew true, buzzing by Hunter’s head close enough that there would be no mistaking the heat even through his brother’s helmet, and then hitting the first reflector disc straight on to bounce on to the next.

Hunter managed to shoot down the last two droids aiming for Crosshair before yelping and ducking down as the blaster shot zoomed by his head. If it weren’t for the helmet, he’d have probably gotten some of his too long hair taken off. Pity.

He didn’t need to watch to know that all ten droids would fall into burnt heaps after each of their heads were blown off, but he did anyway because it lessened a bit of the frustrations he’d been feeling since they were assigned this kriffing mission.

The room was finally silent, and Crosshair let out a content sigh as he hoisted his rifle onto his shoulder, turning to smirk at Hunter as his brother emerged from his cover.

Even with the helmet, Crosshair could tell he was pissed. His smirk grew wider.

“Relax, it was never going to hit you,” he said, tilting his head in a way that he knew Hunter would interpret as insolent.

“A little warning would have been nice!” Hunter growled back, getting to his feet and trying to find whatever dignity he had left.

Crosshair chuckled, feeling his chest loosen from the vice he’d felt since getting cut off from the others, “Of course, next time I’ll shout out my intentions for all the enemy droids to hear as a courtesy to you. I’m sure they’ll politely ignore me and not use such information for any edge in battle.”

Hunter continued to grumble as he made his way over to Crosshair, yanking his knife from that one droid as he approached, “Whatever, still a little close for comfort is all I’m saying. You sure you’re alright?”

Crosshair watched as Hunter pulled off his helmet, and took in his brother’s haggard and worried expression with a practiced eye. They’d only been separated for an hour at most, but it looked like Hunter had lived days since then going off of how he looked as he knelt beside Crosshair.

It was only once his brother took a knee beside him that Crosshair realized he was still sitting on the floor. He didn’t even remember when he’d gotten there. Now Hunter’s concerned expression was making more sense and Crosshair watched as his sergeant reached towards the bandages at his side.

Crosshair startled and hissed as soon as fingers brushed over the blood stained gauze, the pain flaring up anew at the barely there contact. Hunter’s face darkened and his fingers pulled back into a tight fist.

“It’s fine, just moved around too much,” Crosshair said between clenched teeth. The tight jaw had the dual benefit of preventing him from screaming and his teeth from chattering in the cold that had now sunk in dangerously deep.

Hunter sighed and shook his head sadly, “We’ll still need Tech to take a look at it. He’s got all the first aid supplies.”

“Well, I was planning on finding the little nerd next anyway. Did you see the lights?” Crosshair asked, grunting as Hunter helped him back on his feet.

Hunter nodded, “I saw them, but was a little too focused on finding you to pay much attention. Haven’t seen so much as a flicker in a few minutes though. If that was him then hopefully he tries again soon.”

Crosshair hoped so too. He was more lost than he cared to admit, but having Hunter back was far better than before. Hunter could be better than any map Tech may pull from a server. He’d have to just trust Hunter to lead them back to…wherever he was leading them. For now, Crosshair was more than happy to lean into Hunter’s warm side, arm slung over his shorter ori’vod’s shoulder and be half carried away to wherever they were headed.

“Well that isn’t good. They were supposed to take out the clones, not be taken out themselves.”

“Do we send in more reinforcements, sir?”

“I guess we have to?”

“Roger, roger.”

Well, this wasn’t good.

It was one thing to have droids coming at him from behind, he knew that meant they were following him. Wrecker could handle that. It was another thing entirely to see droids swarming into a different room ahead of him. A room that until a few seconds ago it looked like some lights were leading him into.

Kriff. Tech must be in there.

Wrecker’s heart lurched at the thought, knowing that while his littlest brother may have been the most resourceful of all of them, it wouldn’t be easy to take on that many droids at once. As much as Wrecker would have liked to think he had the element of surprise, he knew the sound of more approaching droids better now than ever before. He’d been followed too.

He could stay and take out the incoming hoard himself, he had just enough explosives to do it again, but that would mean leaving Tech on his own for whatever had come for him. But, if Wrecker dove in after Tech he ran the risk of his own group of droids overwhelming them both.

Wrecker groaned as he through back his head. Decisions like this were supposed to be Hunter’s thing, not his!

He glanced into the room ahead, catching sight of Tech balanced on top of a tower of less than stable looking stuff, wires dangling down all around him. There was blood soaking through the bandages on his arm that was still being held stiffly at his side…and his blaster was still holstered!

That alone made Wrecker’s decision for him as he roared with fury, charging forward after the droids that were crowding around his vod’ika. As if Wrecker would let them lay one mechanical finger on him if he could help it!

He’d deal with his own incoming droids in a minute.

Tech didn’t have time to really think things through. Sure, he could calculate odds in mere seconds if necessary, or devise an escape route with only the barest amounts of data available, but sometimes his mind had other paths to take, other inputs that were not quantifiably motivated.

Tech’s brain calculated a dozen different outcomes to his current predicament, and taken note of the possible and probable outcomes of each one in the time it took for the droids to enter the room and for Tech to catch sight of Wrecker coming in hot behind them. The unmistakable roar diverting the droids attention for the moment. It would buy him precious seconds to do what needed to be done.

He’d led Wrecker here, and had also inadvertently led the droids as well. One of his arms was too damaged to wield his baster effectively. The other arm was being used to hold himself steady on his now swaying tower. The electrical components he was working on were all still charged and dangerous, the wires swaying precariously close to himself and the water soaking the entire room below. Wrecker was about to charge in too. The puddle on the floor was now reaching as far as the doorway that all the droids just entered. At the speed Wrecker was going, and the rate of the water, the voltage of his battery, the droids proximity, his own proximity…hmm…

There was only one course of action that Tech’s brain deemed acceptable though, even if he knew it was by far the most dangerous. Because…sometimes his brain wasn’t entirely motivated by numbers. Sometimes emotions won out. Like now.

With that last desperate and haphazardly calculated thought, Tech made his move. He used his one remaining functional arm to release his grip that held him steady and used it to grasp at the dangling wires above his head. With one strong yank, he felt their coiling come loose, sending an angry spray of sparks down around him as the lines dropped into the water on the floor below.

The effect was almost instantaneous.

The electrical current traveled through the water as predicted, sending the battalion of droids into mechanical spasms. Their arms and legs twitched uncontrollably until smoke started to emerge from their chest plates where the overworked circuitry had burnt out. Wrecker saw all this thankfully, and skidded to a halt just before he entered the room, his eyes wide and alarmed as his gaze met Tech’s across the expanse of the area between them.

Of course, Tech barely had time to register much more than the visual implications of this because it was the second wave of exploding sparks from the console above him that made him lose his balance. Just as he feared he might. He was falling before he could do much else besides brace himself for an impact he wasn’t likely to feel much of anyway.

He just hoped he did well enough to make his brothers proud.

And then Tech landed on the soaked and charged floor below.

The lights flickered again. But it didn’t raise any sort of hope in Crosshair like it had before. Instead it only filled him with dread, because something wasn’t right.

It was a flicker only in that the lights only turned on momentarily, but instead of only a few rows of lights being lit for a moment, it was the entire hallway that they were located in. And from what Crosshair could see of the corridors ahead, those too. Only for all of them to fall dark a moment later.

The brief, yet powerful surge was not a signature of his clever vod’ika. Tech had a finesse to his work that something like this could never reproduce.

Hunter tensing up under him with a sharp gasp was also not a good sign.

“What was it?” Crosshair asked through gritted teeth, blinking rapidly as his sensitive eyes recovered from the sudden shock of light.

Hunter blinked wildly as well, but probably for another reason entirely. Such a sudden and strong surge of power would have certainly caught Hunter’s attention through his other senses. And not in a pleasant way.

“Power surge. I big one, I—” his head turned in the direction of one of the corridors to their left, “It came from this way.” At least now they had a direction and a location to follow, not that it made Crosshair feel much better about what had just happened.

“Tech was messing with the lights…” Crosshair muttered, knowing both of them were far too aware of the implications of such a thing. Nothing else on this ship should have been messing with anything electrical.

Hunter’s pained expression told him that he had the same concerns.

“Come on,” he urged, and Crosshair let himself be pulled along. The pain in his side seemed to ebb in favor of the pain quickly growing in his chest. He had a bad feeling about this.

Chapter Text

There were many times in his young life that Crosshair found himself truly believing he did not have a heart. That it died along with his first batch mates years ago. A mercy to be relieved of the emotions that cut through it one too many times, leaving behind something cold, severe, and hardened. 

Then there were the times he was painfully reminded that it still beat within him, and could still break a thousand times over. That as much as he had tried to save himself from feeling such things ever again, he had failed. This was…one of those agonizing moments.

Crosshair and Hunter rounded the last hall coming up on a sight that had him falling to his knees as his throat tightened up to the point he was certain he wouldn’t ever breathe again. He was only dimly aware of Hunter’s choked moan beside him, his own focus centered on the sight of his vod’ika’s limp body being cradled in Wrecker’s arms as the giant sobbed over him.

It didn’t take much for Crosshair to absorb the scene, trying to make sense of what could have possibly happened to his little brother. He could see the dangling wires from above, the seemingly innocent water below where a score of smoking droid husks lay still. The few droids that were not in the water were clearly torn into bits in a rampage that only Wrecker could manage, with the walls stained with ash and soot from what must have been the last of his explosives. Tech’s warnings from mere hours before of the dangers of electric currents in water rang through his skull ominously.

“No,” came Hunter’s cracked voice, and Crosshair felt him stumble forward beside him. His hand outstretched weakly to where the others were. Without thinking, Crosshair numbly fumbled his way back to his own feet and followed.

Wrecker must have heard their approach, because his tear soaked face lifted up to them as they came closer. He sniffled loudly, and pulled the body in his arms even closer against his chest…as if he was trying to hide the sight of Tech’s lifeless body from them.

His heart reminded him of its presence again by constricting so tight it felt like a punch to his sternum.

“I saw him charge up the water with the wires he was using. He did it to take down as many droids as he could. There…” Wrecker choked back another sob, “there were too many coming after him and me, and I think he knew I was going to try and take them on myself t-to keep them off of him. I didn’t even get a chance though, he was lighting them up before I could even get in the kriffing door. I’m sorry, Cross. And I tried Hunter, I swear I did. He just—”

“Shh, we know you tried Wrecker. His brain always moved faster than we ever could,” Hunter tried to say in some false soothing voice, but even Crosshair could hear the quiver in their new sergeant’s voice. They were all falling apart. Spiraling.

Crosshair couldn’t say anything. No words could make their way past the knot in his throat, not that he had anything to say. He leaned in closer, ignoring how Wrecker tried to pull the body closer again to shield Crosshair from what lay in his arms.

Crosshair ignored his efforts as he knelt down beside him, and pulled at Wrecker’s arm just enough to allow him to gently pull the helmet from Tech’s head and peered down at his vod’ika’s face.  It was soft still, those last bits of adolescent roundness still clinging to his jaw, and his eyes were shut behind his askew goggles. To Crosshair’s gaze, it looked like he’d just managed to catch Tech restfully asleep for once.

Absently he noted the feeling of a hand on his shoulder, and saw Hunter had reached out to him. The older clone’s grip was vice-like as it latched onto Crosshair, but he didn’t register any pain from it. Hunter’s eyes were glassy with moisture as he glanced between all of them, as if unsure who to tend to in this scenario. Like he didn’t know if he should be rallying his remaining troops like a leader should…or taking a moment to mourn like a brother would…And at last Crosshair was starting to understand the position Hunter had been put in, how he was pulled in two directions at once. Crosshair did not envy him this role, because even he wasn’t cold enough to turn away from a lost brother. Dead or not.

And Wrecker…he’d never seen his brother look so broken before.

Unsure of what to do, Crosshair found himself reaching out for his little brother. A habit he’d had ever since the day he realized it would be himself and Tech against the galaxy, before Hunter and Wrecker found them. Before he had hope again. Gently, he let his gloved fingers card through his brother’s hair.

His vod’ika. It couldn’t be. His one lifeline to what little humanity clones were allowed to have. Gone. And Crosshair wasn’t even there to protect him like he’d always promised. Shame, guilt and agony overwhelmed him to the point that the old familiar shield of numbness was threatening to come back.

The strands of hair between his fingers were the only thing that felt real in that moment.

Crosshair would have lost himself in that moment if not for Tech’s body suddenly jerking violently between them.

“Kriffing--?!”

“Kark, what in the pits?!”

“AHH!”

All three of them fell back on their haunches, eyes wide and gasping out their shock and surprise. Wrecker looked pale as he gaped down at the now groaning and weakly moving body in his arms, his arms holding Tech out at a distance now as if Lula herself had come alive in them.

“I thought you said he was dead!” Hunter nearly shrieked, the first of them to come out of his shocked stupor. Crosshair was still trying to process the sight of Tech’s head lolling slowly around as he tried to gain his bearings again.

Wrecker gaped, color starting to come back to his face in the form of red cheeks, “He wasn’t moving!”

“Di’kut, did you even check for a pulse?” Crosshair found himself snarling and he scrambled back to Wrecker’s side and started to help put Tech back on the ground. The youngest of the batch was starting to groan weakly, his eyelids twitching but not opening yet as they lay him flat.

“Hey, he said if this happened we’d be fried from the inside out! Kind of figured that meant dead,” Wrecker defended, “He wasn’t twitching anymore by the time I got to him.”

“Wait, you just went in after him without confirming if the water was still charged?” Hunter asked incredulously, “You could have gotten shocked too, Wrecker! Kriff, I should have listened for a heartbeat myself,” he muttered, running a hand over his eyes, “I was too busy keeping track of any incoming droid signatures.” It went unspoken that he probably had refused to try and listen for Tech's heartbeat because he feared it wouldn't be there, but Crosshair knew Hunter better. 

Wrecker rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, “Hey, I’m not stupid. The lights stopped flickering and went out, so I figured the battery he was using must have died.”

“And yet you still didn’t check for a pulse?! Kriffing pits, Wrecker, we thought he was dead!”

“Well so did I! Did you not see me crying?”

“Shh, all of you, he’s waking up,” Crosshair scolded, moving to cradle his brother’s head in his lap. Once again his hand found its way onto his head, smoothing away the pained lines in Tech’s face.

The two older clones clammed up just as Tech’s eyes began to flutter open. Finally Crosshair felt his heart resume beating, and he tried to force himself to take his first breath since he’d turned the corner minutes ago. He choked on it.

Wrecker nearly knocked Crosshair over in his eagerness to get into Tech’s sightline, “Kriff, Tech, we thought you were a goner. You said you’d be fried if this happened.”

Tech blinked slowly behind his goggles, clearly trying to process what was happening around him. It took him a moment to take everything in, as well as his brothers hovering over him, before he seemed capable of finally answering, “Ah, well, it appears I was wrong in this case,” he coughed weakly, eyes blinking rapidly up at them, “The battery’s charge must have been depleted prior to my falling.”

Hunter sighed heavily and ran a hand through his thoroughly disheveled hair, “Thank the Maker for that.”

Wrecker chuckled, “I’ve never been happier that you were wrong about something. Even after that bet I won last month.”

Tech’s brow furrow under Crosshair’s hand, “The statistical probability of the mess hall serving the same pudding for the eight day in a row was remarkably low, therefor my bet was logical and sound. Probability is not certainty.”

“Whatever, I’m just glad you’re alive!”

“Me too, little one,” Hunter breathed out, sounding like there were a thousand thoughts and emotions hiding in his short words.

Me too, Crosshair thought to himself, but couldn’t make the words form on his lips. But Tech could read anything, and could see the words in Crosshair’s pained gaze as if they were written there in Basic. He felt Tech’s fingers curl around his wrist and squeeze gently, and knew he was right.

Tech’s lips twitched up into some sort of smile, but it was clear that he was still not quite back with them physically. If he was then he’d be asking questions, or pulling out his data pad, or at the very least commenting on the brilliance of his plan to lure them all here with the lights, like they were his wayward pet insects. But he was still quiet, and seemed content tucked up in Crosshair’s arms for now.

A few moments passed with all of them quietly taking in the fact that they were once again all together, but they all knew they couldn’t linger long. They were still on this sith spit of a mission, and death was inching far too close for comfort. Just the thought of how close it had already come had Crosshair pulling Tech further into his lap.

Crosshair could tell just from the deep shadowing on Hunter’s face that their time for rest and relief was coming to an end.

Hunter stood after giving Tech’s shoulder one last lingering squeeze in time with the youngest’s continuous heartbeats, “Wrecker, I’m going to need you to grab Tech. I’ll take his pack. We’ve got to get moving before more droids come back here. We need to find cover somewhere we can regroup and come up with a new course of action. Crosshair, I’m going to need you on point while I take up the rear. We’ll bracket Wrecker and Tech until we find better cover. And Tech,” he paused as if pained to even ask anything of their injured brother in that moment, “They are obviously tracking us somehow. I need you to jam our life signs as best as you can. We won’t get to recoup if they’re still on our heels.”

As much as Crosshair was not happy to have to let go of Tech so quickly after almost losing him forever, he knew lingering was going to make things worse for them. And so he let Wrecker take their vod’ika from his arms and got to his feet. His rifle was the next best thing to hold, and it was in his hands in the next second.

Tech was still blearily looking around them, quiet and no doubt still in pain from his growing list of ailments, but he was alive and dutifully pulled out his datapad to get to work. Crosshair could work with that, even if it still felt like he’d yet to start breathing again.

Hunter took one spare moment to place Tech’s helmet back on his head, not before ruffling his hair one more time fondly, and then jerked his head in the direction of the door, “Let’s move out. I’ve got a sense for the front of the ship, so we’ll head that way. I have a feeling it won’t be long before more droids are on the move, so let’s get going.”

They all nodded back and followed after.

“Oh no, they took down both squadrons. What do we do now?”

“Send more, I guess? Let’s send four at once this time. That’s got to be enough, right?”

“I sure hope so.”

“Come on, I’ve got a place we can lay low for a bit,” Wrecker urged them on as quietly as his voice would allow, beckoning them with one massive hand that still held his charged blaster. The other arm was still cradling their injured brother just as gently as when Tech had been so much smaller years ago. Hunter didn’t even question where they were being taken, deciding to trust Wrecker knew what he was doing while relived that he wasn’t the one having to lead them blindly again. Every time he so much as glanced at any of his brothers, Hunter felt the raw guilt burning like a flesh wound.

It had been Crosshair that dealt the final blow to the droids coming after him. It had been Tech who led them all back together. It was Wrecker who was leading them now to someplace safe. What was Hunter doing? Feeling guilty is what he was doing apparently.

“I passed it before when I was still on the move. I saw the sign, but knew I wouldn’t be able to open the door myself. But now that we’ve got Tech back, that’s no problem,” Wrecker grinned at them all, proudly presenting the sign marking the room as an explosives armory.

Crosshair stared at the sign for a moment before huffing and placing a hand on his hip, “Explosives? Somehow I don’t see how safe and explosives could possibly be related when it comes to you.”

Tech was blinking owlishly at the door, as if also curious and concerned about Wrecker’s choice of lodgings. His data pad was held limply in his lap, which Hunter assumed meant their life signs had been covered up. For now.

Wrecker hardly seemed concerned at all, “Hey, if there is ammo inside then we can arm up. These kinds of rooms are always hard to break into ‘cause of security and whatever, and are built to withstand lots of force. You know, in case they try to break in after us,” he gestured to the clearly blaster proof door and intricate locking system beside it, “The one on Kamino was built kinda the same. And Tech can break through anything.”

Three sets of eyes turned to the clone in question whose head merely tilted to the side for a moment and then shrugged, “I don’t see why not. The reasoning is sound, and the door shouldn’t prove much of a problem.” He wriggled a bit in Wrecker’s arms, and the larger clone carefully let Tech slide his feet onto the ground.

He wobbled a bit, his knees much too rubbery for Hunter’s liking, but he was able to keep his balance well enough to stand by the controls and plug in his data pad.

Without prompting, Crosshair took up protective stance behind them facing the hallway as Tech worked, and Hunter forced himself to do the same. Wrecker would keep Tech standing and be able to help pry open the door. This was fine.

Mostly fine anyway. Hunter and Crosshair were by far the less talkative ones in their batch, but Hunter still felt the silence physically standing beside the sniper. Did Crosshair blame Hunter for everything that had gone wrong so far? Usually, his younger brother was far more pronounced in his judgements of Hunter’s performance, but he’d been mostly silent on the matter since they’d made it on this kriffing ship.

Crosshair’s words were as sharp and deadly as his aim, and Hunter was an open target. So why wasn’t he taking his shot at him?

Before Hunter could find the words to reach out to his brother with, they both heard the sound of a door opening behind them, and Wrecker’s cheerful call that all was clear.

Hunter allowed himself to move ahead of the others, this time being sure to scout the room ahead for any threats to his squad. That was something he could do, something useful. Thankfully there were no vibrations that indicated life, and he blew out a relieved breath at finding a mostly empty room. Well, except for the cages of explosives and puddles on the floor. Better than nothing. It was kind of a mess though. The ship being turned on its shebs has scattered a lot of the cargo around that hadn’t been strapped securely. Thankfully whoever loaded this thing had handled the explosives correctly, otherwise this place would be a crater rather than a damp room, but there was still bits of scrap and debris scattered about.

“Hmm, it seems this room was not spared from the water leaks the vessel is developing,” Tech mumbled quietly, letting Wrecker lead him into the room. The door had been locked firmly behind them, and that seemed to sap the last bits of energy out of the specialist, making him sag heavily against Wrecker’s side. Tech grimaced at the largest puddle in the corner of the room and Hunter could feel his shiver from where he stood. Crosshair echoed that shiver a moment later.

“Yeah, this place is getting pretty wet. I can’t wait to get out of here and get into some dry blacks. My feet feel like mush,” Wrecker chuckled again and helped lower Tech down beside one of the racks of thermal detonators, letting him lean back against the railings.

Now that they had found some cover for the moment, Hunter found himself itching to do…something. The Sergeant side of his brain told him that he needed to do a sit rep and quickly begin planning the next move…but the brother side of his brain told him that he needed to take care of the others. Tech and Crosshair were shivering and nursing various wounds, and Wrecker’s shoulder was bleeding again.

Hunter didn’t feel much like a sergeant right then.

But he always felt like a brother to them, so he forced his feet to carry himself over to where the three of them were gathering around Tech. All of their buckets came off, finally letting Hunter see their weary expressions rather than just feeling them radiate off.

For all of his chuckles and laughs, Wrecker looked about a decade older than his biological age. Hunter wondered if he looked the same, because he certainly felt like it. His large brother slowly lowered himself down beside Tech, and let the smaller clone scoot in closer for warmth. It looked like for a moment that Wrecker was going to put his arm around Tech too, but decided not to at the last moment. Hunter knew it was because Wrecker always worried about hurting anyone by mistake, and in that moment…Tech looked about as fragile as glass.

Tech was far too pale for one with his tanned skin, and his hands shook with small tremors that even someone without Hunter’s senses or Crosshair’s eyes could detect. The occasional skips in Tech’s heart that had been coming and going since Hunter had realized he was alive were getting more concerning the longer they occurred. Nobody just walked away from getting electrocuted like that. Even Hunter knew that.

And Hunter had wondered just how it was that Crosshair seemed to be keeping it together so well, especially when he’d thought his beloved vod’ika had been dead mere minutes ago, but seeing his face now Hunter knew that their sniper wasn’t keeping it together at all. He was just keeping it in. There was a storm fluttering inside of Crosshair, the ripples showing on his usually passive face. The hands clenched so tightly that he could hear the gloves groan in protest…

Crosshair stood stiffly a few feet away from the others, staring down at them with a focus he usually reserved for his targets. It was unnerving to see that kind of blank focus directed at them, when usually he spared all his small and soft expressions for his brothers. For all of his anger and passion, to see his eyes so dead when looking at his brothers was setting off warning bells inside of Hunter’s head.

No matter what Crosshair thought of Hunter in that moment, he couldn’t just stand by and watch his brother self-destruct from the inside. This Crosshair was one that Hunter caught glimpses of in those first few months they’d known him, and it was not something any of them every wanted him to become again.

Hunter’s feet carried him over to their sniper, and he rest a hand on one sharp shoulder. He squeezed it in quick bursts, in the exact pattern of Tech’s heartbeat at that moment. Perhaps a bit quicker than usual, and a little unsteady, but it was there. Hunter expected to be brushed aside at the touch, but instead Crosshair seemed to gasp back to life, his body jolting awake under his hand. Crosshair glanced at him once with searching eyes, not dead ones, before finally moving to sit beside his vod’ika on the floor.

Finally Hunter had all three of his brothers together, huddled close on the ground for warmth, and all pressed closely enough to almost squish Tech between them.

They looked awful.

But they were together.

That was enough for now.

“Take a moment to rest. I’ll keep watch, and then we’ll patch up again and start planning,” Hunter said tiredly. Perhaps it sounded more like an order than he intended, because no one argued as they settled in to one another even more.

Maybe it wasn’t an order. Maybe it was just them being too tired to care. Either way was fine, Hunter would still keep watch.

Chapter Text

Tech woke to the feeling of his brothers breathing beside him. He doubted he had slept long, given how damp he still felt from falling into the water earlier, but it was better than nothing. His body ached fiercely, more so than he could ever remember. He supposed that made sense, given that he’d suffered a significant electrical shock to his body not even two hours ago. He didn’t quite process just how much it would hurt even afterwards.

His mind shuffled through the files of his mind to what he had learned about electrical shocks and how to medically treat them. He knew that rest was unfortunately not enough to recover from an injury like this, and that he would need real medical treatment as soon as they got out of this mess. Well, if they got out of this mess. The probability was still there, and Tech preferred to be an optimist when he could, no matter what the statistics said. Until such a time though, he would not be of much help to his brothers like this.

More like a burden. And that was thinking optimistically.

Liability would be a more realistic description.

He shivered and leaned more heavily into what he knew to be Crosshair’s side. With how bony the shoulder felt, he knew it had to be his ori’vod.

Eventually Tech forced himself to open his eyes enough to take in the room around him better than earlier. Back when he was already halfway passed out and only had eyes for the floor. He could make out the racks of explosives, the door that remained firmly shut, and the pacing shadow of his brother across the room.

Tech’s eyesight was not optimal under the best of circumstances, but even in the dark room he could make out the downturned mouth and furrowed brow. Hunter was upset, and possibly thinking about something too hard. At least that was how Wrecker described it when Hunter got that same expression before. He imagined that Hunter was struggling with this first mission as much as all of them were.

Tech hadn’t quite pictured it going like this himself, and he highly doubted that his brothers did either. It was unwelcomed and unexpected. But…

“We’ve been in unfortunate circumstances before. And…well, we’re all still here,” Tech called out softly, jolting Hunter from his deep thoughts. It was rare to catch him off guard, and Tech did not delight in knowing his brother was so distracted he hadn’t noticed when Tech had woken up.

Hunter turned to him, blinking widely before a reluctant smile passed over his lips before fading away again, “I know we have, I just…this time is a little different. This time it’s all on me, every failure, every wound, every step…and I just want to get you boys home.”

It was a confession of sorts, and Tech understood his concerns. A sergeant’s duty was to his men, but it was also to the mission. A split loyalty that was unfamiliar to their fledgling squad.  Whatever happened in this mission, successful or not, was a direct reflection on Hunter’s leadership. Even if he had no control over what happened. That was just how it was.

Tech could understand the confusion Hunter was feeling. The weight of it all was a lot for one person to bear.

“Well, we’re all still here and we are still trying to complete the mission. Technically you haven’t failed in anything yet,” Tech pointed out, the logic of it bringing comfort to himself. Surely a fact like that would bring comfort to Hunter as well?

Hunter laughed, but it didn’t quite sound like one. How odd.

“Thanks, Tech. Shouldn’t you be resting though, little one?”

Tech wrinkled his nose as the old endearment, wondering if he remembered that Tech was rapidly growing to soon surpass Hunter’s own height. He shrugged it off as a correction for another time though, focusing back on their current situation.

“I am finding it difficult to rest, it—” Tech sighed and glanced up at Hunter guiltily, “Everything hurts, and I think I’m too cold to sleep.” He could see his breath coming out in puffs from the light in his goggles.

Perhaps, given how quickly Hunter’s face fell at Tech’s words, informing him of his discomfort was not the best idea. But, Tech always disliked it when his brothers hid the extent of their injuries from him, and he’d made a mental promise not to do the same to them in circumstances like this.

Yes, perhaps not a great idea at all given how his words also caused Crosshair to stir beside him. Disrupted from whatever rest the sniper was getting. He had hoped Crosshair would get a bit more rest in. He had looked as exhausted and cold as Tech felt, and was still favoring his side heavily.

There was a scowl on his brothers face even before he finished the process of waking, not a good sign.

Sharp eyes blinked open, first falling on Tech before sliding off to check the rest of the room's occupants. Thankfully it still was just their batch…wait no, their squad. They were a squad now, not just a batch. Tech had to remember the distinction.

“We’re still here. How unfortunate,” Crosshair drawled, he shifted gingerly closer to Tech. Tech was uncertain if that was due to the discomfort in his side or because he was still cold. He concluded that it was due to both.

Hunter scowled right back, “Go back to sleep. I was going to give you another twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes won’t make a difference asleep or not. I would rather get out of here sooner rather than later.”

Tech had to agree a bit. He’d lost almost all sensation in his toes at this point, and it was getting near impossible to suppress his shivering. Crosshair shivering next to him did not help things. At least Wrecker was warm. And moving now, he must be waking too.

“Ugh, I was kinda hoping this was a bad dream,” Wrecker groaned as he sat up from his slouch, stretching his arms over his head until it disturbed his injured shoulder and he lowered it back down.

“Just our usual unfortunate reality, Wrecker,” Crosshair mumbled darkly, crossing his arms over his middle. Tech could see the way he cupped his side where the fabric of his blacks revealed soggy and red stained bandages.

Tech sighed heavily, “Hunter, my pack if you will please.”

It was a mercy that Crosshair did not fight him as he slapped away his brother’s hands to get access to the bandages. Tech wasn’t sure if he had enough energy in him to deal with Crosshair’s usual medical avoidance habits. As he peeled away the soiled bandages, he allowed himself yet another heavy sigh. The injury had been exacerbated?? Significantly, most likely due to their fleeing from the droids earlier. It was not immediately life threatening, but enough blood had been lost that it was a wonder that Crosshair wasn’t shivering even worse. Or passed out for longer at the very least.

“I will need to clean and re-bandage this, but you will need to take it easy if you do not want to make the bleeding worse. You don’t have a lot to spare at this point,” he spoke loud enough to make sure that Crosshair would not be able to ignore him, and that Hunter heard as well. He’d need to know that Crosshair was not in fighting condition anymore.

“Hard to take it easy when we’re being hunted down by battle droids,” Crosshair growled, “Why are there so many of them on this ship anyway?”

“War supplies probably…” Hunter mumbled, glancing up at the stocked armory around them.

“Hunter is most likely correct. This ship, as well as its contents, was possibly on their way to add to the Separatist was effort. From what GAR intelligence has discerned, the Separatists seem to favor battle droids over sentients for their battles. As seen in the attempted hostile takeover of Naboo. These droids were purposed to fight against the clone army once delivered, and were being escorted by the fleet of ships Homes’ legion intercepted in battle. Until our fleet took down this ship, anyhow,” Tech recited as he worked. Besides the occasional flinch and shiver, Crosshair was being remarkably still as he worked. Somehow this worried Tech more than it relived him.

“So did we get them all then? The droids, I mean,” Wrecker asked, yawning widely enough his jaw cracked.

Tech fastened the last wrap and pulled up the map of the ship on his data pad, “Unlikely. Between the four of us, I estimate we have taken down less than ten platoons of battle droids, and less than a dozen droidekas,” he pointed to the large center warehouse that they’d seen on the map before and all pondered over, “I would guess that this is where they are storing the droids. If it is filled to capacity…well, there will be a legion's worth of droids inside.”

Hunter cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair while Wrecker whistled lowly.

“Oh goodie, we’re all going to die. Finally,” Crosshair mumbled, slapping Tech’s hands away from where he was admittedly fussing over the finished bandaging.

Hunter shook his head, finally stepping closer to them. Until now he’d been keeping his distance, odd given how separation caused him anxiety at the best of times, “Let’s not think like that. We’ve taken out loads of droids before in simulations, and that was in tight quarters with high concentrations. We just have to pick them off, or come up with a plan to wipe them all out at once.”

“Of course, because we’re all in excellent shape to run and hunt down thousands of droids scattered around a massive vessel like this. Just look at Tech, he’s barely able to stand, let alone go traipsing around this place facing an entire legion with four clones,” Crosshair gestured at Tech, who blushed a bit at his own apparent weakness.

“Well, you’re one to talk. You’ve been holding onto your side this whole time like your guts are about to fall out,” Wrecker groused, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“Says the one with a chunk of flesh missing from his neck.”

Seemingly ignoring the bickering going on either side of him, Hunter’s face morphed again into something pained and worried, making Tech feel even worse for his current condition, “How bad is it, Tech? Really, don’t hold back, we need to know.”

Tech gaped for a moment. He’d been told many times in his life that he should hold back on information. Being told to share it all was not as freeing as he’d always thought it would be though. He’d learned that by withholding some information, he could spare others of emotional reactions, or ‘lessen the blow’ as it were. But now his three brothers were all staring at him intently, and Tech found himself shrinking back under the attention.

“I am fully capable…mentally,” Tech began hesitantly, “and I can still extract the necessary data for the mission, provided we can make it to the bridge.”

Crosshair’s eyebrow twitched, a usually sign of annoyance, “And? Surely you are more than a brain.”

“Of course I am,” Tech said rolling his eyes, “I will admit that I will continue to be somewhat incapacitated until such a time that I can get medical treatment for my electrical shock.”

“You mean you don’t feel better after sleeping a bit? We’ve still got those painkillers, right?” Wrecker asked hopefully glancing between them all.

Tech bit his lip, unsure how to phrase anything at this point without alarming his already frazzled squad. Perhaps if he spoke with little to no intonation? Casually mention it in an offhanded nature? He was still contemplating his approach when Hunter suddenly kneeled down in front of him, startling Tech from his thoughts.

Hunter had a way of looking at them that made them all feel safe and cared for, and Tech felt that as his brother met his gaze steadily, resting his hand on Tech’s shoulder. He began to squeeze it in short and rapid bursts, and Tech recognized it at Hunter’s habit of mimicking their heartbeats. Hunter’s squeezes slipped from their pattern, just as Tech felt an uncomfortable lurch in his chest.

He knew he’d been caught.

“It’s your heart, isn’t it? It’s why it keeps fluttering. Something is wrong,” Hunter stated, more than asked. Tech nodded anyway.

“I will require bacta injections to repair the internal damage to my heart’s inner walls and my nervous system. Until then…I am afraid I’ll be of little use physically. Exertion would be…inadvisable,” he admitted at last. He kept his eyes on the floor now, refusing to look at Crosshair who he knew would be fuming now. His worry almost always translated to anger. Or sarcasm, depending on the situation.

He didn’t need to look up to know that all his brothers would share similar expressions to this confession, Tech found he actually preferred to look at the growing puddle of water on the floor than the others at that moment. Even if the implications of further flooding did not bode well either. It meant they couldn’t wait here forever. Not that they planned to anyway, but having a more pressing deadline never helped matters.

He heard his brothers’ voices hissing back and forth at one another over his head as he continued to stare at the puddle. Normally he was quite good at splitting his focus between his own personal musings and whatever was going on at the moment, but he found himself quite tired and distracted by his aches and pains. They would bring his attention back to the present when he was needed there.

There was a piece of debris at the edge of the puddle, and Tech watched in absent fascination as the edge of the water caught on it. It must have been less dense than the water given how easily it floated on the surface. Or perhaps the surface area and composition were favorable? He sighed and watched it float closer to where they were all seated, barely registering the others still talking around him. It was getting a bit louder, so Tech assumed that with the amount of agitation present in the din that they had yet to come up with anything useful in favor of traded insults and poorly thought out suggestions.

Tech thought he heard something about Plan 7 and let his shoulders slump, knowing that for once there truly was no application for that plan down here. Absently, he glanced around the room to make sure that no exposed wiring existed in any corner. He was not of a mind to get electrocuted again any time soon.

The floating jetsam was getting closer to where they sat, the longer they all argued. Tech sighed, thinking that they would have to get up and move again soon if they didn’t want to get wet. Again.

“Ugh, I’m starting to hate puddles,” Wrecker spat, also spotting the waterline’s progress. Tech found himself agreeing with the sentiment. The others also seemed jolted from their bickering as their attention was drawn to the water.

Wrecker stood up and without prompting reached down to scoop up Tech in his arms. It hurt enough to move anything that he couldn’t suppress a wince, and Wrecker shushed him gently as he carried him over to a dryer location. The others followed silently behind him, Crosshair still favoring his side.

“If we don’t want to get soaked again, we better figure something out. You know, before we drown in here,” Wrecker said, turning to the others.

Crosshair rolled his eyes, “Well perhaps you should offer a better suggestion than throwing us around like grav balls.”

“Hey, Plan 7 is a tried and true method! It’s worked loads of times before.”

“Wrecker is not wrong, it has proven quite successful in multiple scenarios prior.”

“Why are you still talking? Aren’t you supposed to be dying?” Crosshair hissed back at him, but Tech didn’t even flinch. He was far too used to Crosshair’s habit of lashing out when he was upset.

Tech shrugged, “Well, not quickly at least—”

Before Crosshair could retaliate, Hunter silenced him with a firm hand to his shoulder. The physical contact seemed to work, pulling Crosshair back from whatever rage he was about to fly into. No matter how uncertain Hunter was right now, he did know how to comfort his brothers when they needed it.

He stepped between them all, taking a firm stance for the first time Tech could remember during this whole disastrous mission, “Take it easy, boys. This isn’t helping us. We all want the same thing right now. To get this mission done, and to get out of here together. Alive. We shouldn’t have to fight about that, we just need to figure out how we do that. We’re in an armory for kriff’s sake. Surely we can come up with something? We’ve already taken out a few dozen.”

“Like what? So far the most droids taken out at once were done by Tech roasting himself alive in a charged puddle. Forgive me if I don’t wish to recreate that,” Crosshair’s words alone may have been what Wrecker would deem “fighting words”, but the effect was lost when his voice cracked with emotion halfway through, “We’re stuck on a sunken ship, we have a sea monster waiting outside for us like he’s in the food line at the mess hall if we even manage to get out of here, we have an entire army of battle droids set on our annihilation, three out of four of us are injured, and we still haven’t even completed what was supposed to be a simple mission.”

As much as Tech hated the growing frustration he heard from Crosshair’s voice, his words struck something within him. He blinked and finally let himself look up, gasping quietly.

It must not have been too quiet though, because he quickly found himself on the receiving end of three sets of eyes. Perhaps his habit of gasping when he’d come up with another brilliant idea was more prominent than he anticipated, because he saw hope in all their gazes.

It made him smile proudly and sit up slightly from his pained slouch, “I think we should use puddles!” he proclaimed, finger pointed in the air.

Ah, well, there went the looks of hope. Perhaps he’d gain them back once they heard the rest?

Hunter bit his lip, “Uh, I don’t know. That didn’t go great the first time, Tech. No offense.”

“It was a disaster. Full offense intended,” Crosshair growled lowly.

“Yeah, little buddy. That was pretty scary. Don’t really want a repeat,” Wrecker chuckled nervously, rubbing at the back of his head.

Tech was not so easily deterred though. They wanted a viable idea, and he had one! They just had to listen.

“I’m not saying we have to lure them into a small pool of water and hope they don’t shoot us before stepping in it, that would be silly,” he scoffed, ignoring their nervous glances at one another, “I’m saying that we use the water to our advantage. It's already leaking everywhere, we just need to encourage that effect. Effectively taking out every droid at once.”

Hmm, still rather doubtful expressions. Perhaps he was not explaining himself well?

“I’m saying we should flood the ship,” Tech finished quickly, waiting for the smiles and nods of agreement…only they did not come as anticipated.

“Flood the ship? Was your brain fried along with the rest of you?” Crosshair asked, ignoring Hunter’s hushes beside him.

“I have already stated that my mental state is fully operational.”

“Could have fooled me, given you just told us you want to flood the ship. You know, the ship that we’re all stuck on,” Crosshair was getting agitated again. And so was Tech.

Tech frowned deeply, crossing his own arms over his chest to match Crosshair’s stance, even though Tech was still unable to stand on his own, “And why is that such a problem?”

“Because we’re some of the di’kuts still stuck on this kriffing thing!”

“Oh, I meant to only flood very specific areas of the ship, not the entire thing. Goodness, I thought that part was obvious.”

Hunter clearing his throat was enough to draw their attention back to the present situation, even if Crosshair still was taking the time to rub his hand down his face in an exasperated manner. Wrecker shuffled uneasily next to Tech, just waiting for someone to say something.

Thankfully, Hunter complied, “Okay, Tech I need you to explain your plan very carefully for the rest of us. Full detail, no assumptions. Alright?”

Tech nodded eagerly.

“Awesome, does it include Plan 7?”

“…no, Wrecker. Not this time.”

Chapter Text

“What’s your status, Crosshair?”

“Oh, can’t complain. Wait, yes I can. This plan is moronic I can’t believe we’re following the plan of someone who may or may not have just fried his body well enough to sell as street food on Coruscant.”

Wrecker laughed somewhere behind them. At least Tech had been able to fix their comms, but they were still a little spotty. He'd continue to try and perfect the longer range settings in case they got split up further, but this would do for now. There was the unfortunate possibility of the droids catching wind of their frequency, but that was always a risk. 

Tech was beginning to suspect that Crosshair was being a little dramatic in his assessment of his health, but that was to be expected he supposed. Tech’s body would continue to weaken until he received proper treatment, something the others had undoubtedly noticed by now, and that was bound to agitate any of them. Especially Crosshair. But Tech had completed his assessments, and this was the best course of action.

Although, last time he chose the best course of action it led to his electrocution…but no, he still did not regret his choice then because there would be no possible way to determine if any other of the choices he had resulted in himself or Wrecker getting shot by the droids.

Tech shook his head, now was not the time to doubt himself.

Granted, his plan was…a little unorthodox, however, that just meant the droids basic programming would struggle to follow along with their logic. They would be fine, statistically speaking. Hunter had already been out scouting their escape route and that was going smoothly enough. He hadn’t even been shot at yet.

“Are you three in position?”

Hunter was clearly ignoring Crosshair’s grumblings, something that was probably for the best.

“Yes, Hunter. We are ready when you are,” Tech said before Crosshair could fuss anymore. Of course he understood that all of his brother’s grumblings were coming from a place of concern, but there was little else they could do to make him feel better besides getting off this vessel. Besides, Tech liked it when Crosshair was against a plan at first, because his brother was exceptionally good at finding all the possible holes in his ideas. It was almost a mental exercise to have Crosshair belittle one of his plans. Not that he would say as much. Otherwise, his ori’vod would challenge him on everything.

“Alright, Wrecker load up and all of you be ready. Corridor is almost clear, just head left on my command. No droids are on to us yet, but they’ll move fast as soon as they spot us.”

Hunter was right to be concerned. While they had effectively hidden their life signatures from the droids for the last several hours while they recuperated, that had given the droids time to spread out platoons around the entire ship to try and track them down. If they were spotted, then every droid would converge on them in numbers that they wouldn’t stand a chance against.

This was incredibly dangerous, but Tech could not think of a more effective way to clear out an entire army of droids with just the four of them. He bit at his lip nervously, glad that no one could see it. This was his plan. Either it worked or they perished.

“Okay, time to go I guess. Ready, Tech?”

Tech looked up at Wrecker nodding, noting how tired his brother looked. They’d been relying on his strength so much in the last day when he was already injured, and now he still had more to carry. He felt terrible at being yet another burden for Wrecker to have to bear, but he felt no such judgement from his largest brother as he was gently lifted from the ground.

He glanced over to where Crosshair was already seated on the transport contraption Tech had scrambled to build in the last hour and only just finished the undercarriage a few minutes ago. His brother’s arms were still firmly crossed over his chest like he was angry, which may have been true, but it may also have to do with the irritated wound on his side. Another day out here and Tech would begin to worry about infection becoming a real problem, but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

As carefully as he could, Wrecker placed Tech beside Crosshair on their makeshift stretcher. It was clunky in its design, but it had a dual purpose to it that wouldn’t allow for a sleeker look. There were only so many items in the armory that would suit their very specific needs, but Tech knew how to make do on scraps.

“At least you got wheels on here, otherwise this may have gotten a little bumpy,” Wrecker said as he loaded the small crate of explosives onto the back, tucked up next to where Crosshair was scowling deeply. Wrecker had wanted to take more from the armory, but Hunter had been able to reason with him that carrying too much would only slow them down. Thank goodness for that. Tech didn’t relish the idea of sitting next to any more explosives than necessary.

“It would be easier if you’d just let me walk,” Crosshair growled, not for the first time. Actually, Tech believed it to be the seventh time he’d stated it since the conception of this part of the plan.

“Nope! I’ll be your chariot this evening, so shut up, sit back and enjoy the ride,” Wrecker quipped back, wheeling them closer to the door. Tech had already rigged it to lock permanently behind them after they left. And for a thermal detonator to take out whatever was left inside in a controlled explosion. No reason to allow the droids to restock on weapons if they didn’t have to.

Tech sighed and let gravity slide him more firmly against the sniper as Wrecker lifted the top of the stretcher. He had to admit he felt a little bit like cargo being wheeled around like this, but Wrecker would need at least one hand at the ready with a blaster, and neither Tech nor Crosshair should be walking in their conditions, let alone running.

Even now Tech was struggling to keep himself sitting up straight, his muscles overtaxed from the charges that had made them spasm a few hours before. Literally every muscle in his body was screaming at him like they’d gone several rounds in the gym, even his heart. But he was needed now. It was his brain that was his best asset after all, not his body. He just hoped it was enough to do his part for the squad.

Sharp eyed as ever, his brother must have noticed. Crosshair must not have been all that angry at Tech, seeing how he placed a steadying arm over his shoulders. It felt nice, comforting even, knowing he was still there supporting him even though he was not a great supporter of this plan. He could read it in the tense way he held himself and in the unwavering stare across the room. Crosshair was worried for them, and felt helpless, burdensome. Tech understood that clearly and knew that it was draining his brother’s already depleted morale.

“I know you don’t like this plan, but I promise you that it’s the best course of action given our circumstances,” Tech said quietly to his brother, pleaded almost.

He felt Crosshair sigh heavily against him, and he wished that they weren’t already wearing their helmets so that he could look for more emotional cues. Wrecker had his back turned to them, and even though he was clearly in earshot of their conversation he was attempting to give them a bit of privacy in doing so. Something Tech was grateful for.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve thought one of my plans was moronic,” Tech pointed out with a small chuckle, and attempt to lighten his brother's mood, “And those turned out alright.”

Crosshair didn’t move at all save for a slight tightening of his arm around Tech, “Those plans were… usually not life or death scenarios. This seems bigger somehow.”

Tech hummed thoughtfully, leaning more heavily into his brother's side, “Well, this time the mission is more than a simulation we’re graded on. There could be civilian lives saved with the successful retrieval of that data.”

“I don’t know if it’s those lives I’m worried about right now. We’re soldiers, our purpose is to serve. No matter the cost. I knew that in regards to myself, and I was fine with it. I was just too stupid to realize that the cost didn’t just apply to myself.”

Ah. That made sense. Now if only I knew how to respond in a comforting matter in regards to his concerns.

Because for once, Tech was at a loss for words. He didn’t think there was comfort to be given. Their creation was not meant to be beautiful and serene. Their reality was a harsh one.

"Caring about our lives versus theirs doesn't necessarily need to be mutually exclusive. Our success is theirs," Tech hedged, even though he knew that this was not the comfort that Crosshair wanted. 

His brother was quiet at first, save for one long drawn out sigh, and then he spoke almost too quietly to hear, "Then I suppose we will have to keep our mission success rate perfect."

"That...would be ideal, yes," Tech said slowly, but before he could say anything else when his comm crackled.

“Be ready…on my mark.”

Hunter’s voice broke Tech out of his solemn silence, and he tensed up at the ready. He heard Wrecker’s grip tighten up on the stretcher’s handles, and felt Crosshair shift minutely beside him. It was almost time to finally put his plan in motion, and get them out of here with the mission completed. There would be time later to revisit his conversation with Crosshair…he hoped.

Tech’s words earlier had woken something inside of Hunter. Yes, he still doubted his role in this, and feared he was only going to lead his boys into their demise, but…he hadn’t done that yet. There was still a chance to salvage this. The plan, while rather loony in sound, may be just what they needed. Something no droid’s programming could predict. There was no one else out there in the galaxy with Tech’s brain, Wrecker’s strength, Crosshair’s accuracy, and Hunter’s senses all on one team. They were the surprise no one would ever suspect out of an army of identical clones.

He'd almost forgotten that the greatest asset of their squad was their uniqueness. Cody may not have known it when he’d given them this ‘easy’ mission, but no one else would have been able to come up with a stunt like this, let alone follow through with it.

At least, Hunter hoped they could follow through with this. That still remained to be seen, but he was done wallowing in his own self-doubt. They still had to get out of here, with or without the data. They’d been survivors their entire existence, fighting for their lives with each year bringing new challenges and doubts. They’d all survived so much, they just needed to do it again. One more miracle.

His thoughts were interrupted as is senses began to swirl with agitation at the back of his skull.

Hunter could feel his squad’s approach after a few seconds had passed, but then forced himself to drift his senses back to where the droids were coming from. They were scattered everywhere it felt like, coming from above, below, left, right, up ahead, down back ways. It almost sent his brain into a tailspin trying to track them all, but he tried to rein it in best he could.

And he knew they were likely to get caught. Especially once—

*BANG*

And there went the armory. Tech and Wrecker had given it a thirty second detonation rigging to give them just enough time to get away, but not long enough for the droids to stock up on anything. Hunter had been mildly worried the explosion would send water cascading into the corridor after them, but it looked like the re-enforced paneling around the room held as Tech said it would. Thank the Maker for that.

They only had one real shot at this. There was no room for error as far as he was concerned.

The droids would be swarming this way after that kind of explosion, drawn by the sudden activity. They would know it was the clones, they’d be coming for more blood.

All part of the plan.

He caught sight of familiar armor as Wrecker turned the corner, pulling Tech and Crosshair behind him. Neither of them looked overly thrilled to be carried along, but Hunter was glad they weren’t pushing themselves more than necessary. They both still had a big part to play in this, and they no one else could do what they do. It was up to Hunter and Wrecker to give them the opening they needed.

“Alright, follow me,” Hunter ordered easily, surprising himself with how the demand slipped from his lips. Perhaps it was just the eagerness to get this over with.

The others followed without question, letting Hunter lead them down the corridor that he’d cleared. Tech’s map had shown him exactly what room he needed access to in order to make this happen, but Hunter was in charge of leading them to it.

“The droids will be converging on the armory in the next thirty-four seconds. The others at the extremities of the ship will be behind them,” Tech said through their comms.

“Keep moving quickly, don’t slow down for any reason,” Hunter called back. He had timed this as best he could, like Crosshair taking his calculated ricochet shots. There were at least a dozen droid squads running around this part of the ship, and they needed to bypass them all.

He could hear Wrecker panting behind him. Running long distances was not his greatest strength, especially not while carrying two brothers and a cart behind him, but Wrecker was keeping pace with Hunter well enough.

He could hear each of their heartbeats echoing in his ears, all of them several notches faster than usual. They were scared, even if they weren’t showing it on the outside. That was fine, nobody needed to know they were scared besides Hunter. He’d just be sure to hide his own fears. His team didn’t need him to be scared right now, they just needed him to be strong for them.

Even if I don’t trust myself, I trust my squad. We can do this.

There, on the periphery of his senses, one platoon of droids took an unexpected turn. They’d be coming this way.

“Wrecker, we have to move! We’ll be intercepted if we don’t pick up the pace,” Even as he spoke Hunter was doubling back to grab hold of the cart holding their brothers and helping Wrecker pull it along.

Crosshair removed his hold from Tech and pulled out his rifle, arming it swiftly. Hunter knew that trying to shoot that thing while sitting down would leave Crosshair unbalanced, especially with how fast they were all careening down the corridor now. They just had to make it to the kriffing room! The droids were coming up fast, he couldn’t get an exact count, but it was a larger group. They must have doubled up after too many thwarted attacks.

Hunter and Wrecker also had their blasters pulled, but they were completely exposed at the front of the cart and half focused on just running.

“They’re getting closer, they’re going to intercept us before we get to the control room,” Hunter grit out.

“The control room is only one corridor away, but if you take the next right there is a longer route that may be clear,” Tech said a beat later, his data pad with the map pulled out.

“We’ll take it,” Hunter decided, catching sight of the turn Tech pointed out. It was still a bit away…

There was some shuffling and a grunt of pain behind him and Hunter glanced back to see Crosshair getting to his knees. He was about to order him to stand down when he saw Crosshair lightly tap Tech’s shoulder and jerk his chin at his rifle meaningfully.

Tech’s eyes brightened behind his goggles, and he quickly arranged himself to be sitting with his back to Crosshair.

Hunter and Wrecker exchanged confused shrugs, but then he saw Crosshair steady Tech with one hand and use Tech’s shoulder as a tripod to level his rifle.

“Keep moving, I’ll cover us,” Crosshair said, eye already level with his sight scope.

That was good enough for Hunter who gladly let Crosshair take charge of that, and just in time because the droids just turned the corner at the other end of the corridor.

“Hey, we found them!” the first one in line chirped excitedly right before its head was blown clean off by a shot from Crosshair. That was enough to alert the rest of them it seemed because they all began firing after them, but it was already too late.

They’d turned right before any of the shots could make it to them.

“Man, that was kinda close,” Wrecker chuckled nervously, still panting with each breath.

“A little too close, let’s keep moving, no slowing down. It won’t take them long to follow us and start shooting again,” Hunter said, also starting to lose his breath now.

There was more shuffling behind them and Hunter didn’t even need to turn and look to know that Crosshair and Tech were shifting to face the other way now, waiting for the droids to close in behind them. That left their two wounded exposed to blaster fire, but there wasn’t much they could do to change that. He did hear a soft slide of leather against metal though, and knew Tech had drawn his twin blasters too.

“Almost there, boys. I can see the door!”

“Wonderful, now we just have to get it open,” Crosshair shouted back, just as the blaster fired began again. Hunter could hear shots from the familiar weapons of his brothers, and the buzzing heat of the droids’ shots whizzing by them.

Wrecker and Hunter skidded to a halt right outside the door, reaching their destination but also facing blaster fire from too many droids coming in behind them quick.

Wrecker was already pulling Tech off the cart and heaving him over to the door. Tech was barely able to keep his balance at this point though, but he didn’t have to worry because Wrecker had leaned Tech against his back, supporting and shielding his younger brother as he worked.

Hunter nodded sharply at them both before leaping over the cart to join Crosshair in laying cover fire.

“How long to open the door, Tech,” he called out. A blaster shot burned past his shoulder close enough he could feel the heat.

“Twenty more seconds!”

It seemed like such a short amount of time, but in a fire fight like this it felt more like an age. Crosshair was steady beside him, despite the wound in his side and the cold that still gripped them all. Together though, the two of them held the advancing droids at bay just long enough to hear the soft click of the door unlocking and the whoosh of Wrecker prying the bay door open at last.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Wrecker shouted, and Hunter needed no further encouragement. He leaped back over the cart, letting Crosshair continue to rapidly send out shots as he pulled the last of them into the control room.

The door slammed shut behind them with a crash, but Hunter didn’t dare try to catch his wasted breath until he heard the click of the lock engaging once again and three steady (if not elevated) heartbeats beside him.

They’d made it. Now it was time for the next step. They still had work to do.

Chapter Text

“Jeez, Hunter. Any more knives on you and you’ll be a Spiner,” Wrecker joked as they loaded themselves up for the last run.

Hunter only just barely resisted sticking his tongue out at him as he tucked away the fourth knife into his boot. Tech rolled his eyes beside him as he slowly got up from the cart, “Wrecker, any more explosives on you and you will be dust.”

That at least got a snicker out of Crosshair who was still clearly on edge. Hunter doubted his brother would feel any less on edge until they were all out of here, so he’d just have to deal with that. They still had a fight ahead of them, and they had to work together to make this work. Crosshair knew that too. They all did.

“Right, we’ve only got one shot at this, boys. Let’s make it count, yeah?”

Wrecker slammed his fists together, cracking his knuckles loudly.

Crosshair growled low and held his rifle at the ready, shifting firmly in front of Tech.

And he could see the way Tech’s eyes narrowed behind his goggles, his hands already twitching around his most deadly weapon. His trusty data pad.

Hunter had seen the determined looks on his brother’s before, but this time he felt their resolve as surely as he felt his own. They were going to either get out of this mess or go down fighting. It was the only way they’d ever known. Maybe they were more ready for this mission than they had thought.

Hunter nodded sharply, pleased at their non-verbal responses.

“Everyone to your positions then,” he ordered smoothly, not even doubting that they would listen because they were already moving before he finished speaking. Pleased again, Hunter moved into his own position.

“What are we calling this one, sarge?” Wrecker asked as the two of them stood by the door, weapons at the ready.

Hunter hummed for a moment, glancing over at Tech over his shoulder, “What number are we at, Tech?”

“The next available number is forty-five,” came the prompt reply.

“Do we really have to do this now?”

Wrecker laughed, “Of course we do, Cross! It’s tradition to number all of our plans!”

“Ugh, whatever. Just nothing stupid, I beg of you.”

“Operation Flush and Flash it is then!”

Hunter chuckled, but didn’t turn down the idea. He’d let Wrecker have his fun, and meanwhile Hunter could enjoy Crosshair’s expression of disgust. Tech didn’t shoot down the idea either, but that was probably because he didn’t understand the unfortunate references it alluded to.

Crosshair growled again and slid his helmet back on, taking his spot between Tech and the door, “Let’s just get this over with. I want out of this kriffing ship.”

Hunter couldn’t agree more, “How’s it looking, Tech?”

“I will be ready momentarily,” Tech responded, and Hunter could see his data pad light up green as he began to run his scans, “It appears we were correct in assuming that the large central storage is the warehouse for all these droids. There is still a mostly intact army inside there, while over a dozen platoons are now patrolling the entire ship.”

Nothing new there, that’s what they had assumed. They could do this.

“Do you have access to the vents then?” Crosshair asked in bored tone.

“Of course, just as I said I would. I’ve already got the vents to the outside shifted into the open position. It will take approximately three minutes to fill with water entirely,” Tech responded crisply.

Three minutes would go by fast. Hunter gripped his blaster tight in his hand and felt Wrecker shift beside him, both of them ready to do their part. He was mentally going over Tech’s map in his head again as he waited, but Wrecker was starting to get a little impatient.

“Hey Cross?”

“…What?”

“Wanna see which one of us can kill the most droids?”

“…you’re on.”

“Aw, yeah!”

Somewhere off to the side of the room he swore he heard Tech sigh, and it made Hunter smile. They were all acting like brothers again. Maybe they were better brothers than they were soldiers, and that would be okay with Hunter. Just as long as they got out of here, it would be enough.

“Okay, time to flush then?” Hunter asked, knowing without seeing his face that Crosshair was rolling his eyes again. As if he could claim he was the most mature out of all of them. That honor unfortunately went to the youngest of their squad, much to their own shame. 

Tech didn’t seem to notice anything, “Vents are flooded,” he said and turned to face them all, “You will need to place the detonators into the flow at the exact place I marked for you. If your placement and timing is off, then the explosives will go off prematurely and kill us all. Best of luck.”

Well that was rather ominous, Hunter thought, but nodded that he understood. He imagined Wrecker and Crosshair had matching shocked faces at Tech’s nonchalant warning.

“Right. Blasters at the ready. Tech, be ready to close the door behind us,” Hunter called out, holding his blaster up and Wrecker and he crouched on either side of the door. He could feel the presence of droids gathering outside in the corridor. Three minutes had been enough time for too many to gather there, but they had known this would happen and had planned for it.

This was the first part where Wrecker came in.

The glint of a thermal detonator poked out from Wreckers large fist closed over it.

Hunter blew out a breath and nodded to Tech.

Not even a second later the door was opening and Wrecker immediately rolled his detonator out at the same time that Hunter tossed out a smoke bomb. The blast going off was their next signal, and he and Wrecker tore out the door into the mess of wrecked droids and clouded air.

Hunter knew where they were going, smoke or not, and Wrecker followed closely behind him and they fought their way through the remaining gathering of droids that were lucky enough not to be pieces on the floor. Yet.

They’d be shattered by the time they were done with them.

“Come on, the pipes Tech wants us to hit are this way,” he called out, and knew Wrecker would follow.

“Oh goodie, it sounds like they made it out,” Crosshair drawled lazily, but Tech could still detect the undercurrent of concern in his voice. It was difficult to be the ones left behind while Hunter and Wrecker did the heavy lifting, but that was something Tech was used to. For Crosshair this had to be insulting his ego in some way.

Tech was embarrassed and ashamed enough that he was trembling with effort just from standing at this point, but there was little that could remedy that right now. He could feel is ori’vod lingering close behind him, fully aware of Tech’s weakness and there to catch him if he should fall. Again. It was comforting, but Tech wished his brothers didn’t have to worry about him. They had enough concerns at the moment. 

Tech just...he wanted to be useful. Not a burden. Never a burden. Was his brain really enough to make up for his weaknesses? Especially now that he could barely walk?

He felt Crosshair move in closer behind him, radiating a little warmth in an otherwise frigid room.

He paid it little mind though, still busy trying to keep track of the puzzle of ventilation and plumbing he had to puzzle through. It wasn’t like they could flood the entire ship, after all. It was like Crosshair stated, they were still some of the di’kuts stuck on this thing. So Tech had the intellectual puzzle of directing flow where it needed to go, while avoiding the places they needed safe. Opening and closing vents on little power was easy. Directing it was the difficult aspect.

He felt Crosshair come up behind him, glancing over his shoulder like he sometimes did when he was curious what Tech was working on. Another thing that Tech paid little mind to. He had to get this right. There was no allowance for error. Not now. They needed him to be right.

“Take a breath,” he heard Crosshair say and immediately he did so, not realizing he’d been holding it for long enough to feel dizzy.

He breathed out slowly, and then in again, immediately feeling his body calm once again, “Thank you, ori’vod,” Tech spared a moment to whisper.

“Just keep breathing. You’re doing well,” Crosshair said and then fell silent again, letting Tech focus back on his work.

There were droids scattered everywhere in the ship, and Hunter was struggling to keep his head focused on just what was immediately around them rather than what was happening on the floors above and below. They’d all be coming after them now anyway.

“I see them, up ahead!”

“We got em, blasters up!”

The voices of the droids were cloying in his ears, but Hunter was able to block them out as useless input at least. They were getting closer to the location that Tech had marked for them, and they’d already blasted their way through three patrols.

But there were still more coming. Like they were coming out of the very walls of the ship themselves.

“I think they’re closing in faster than we thought,” Wrecker shouted back at him as they turned another corner just narrowly avoiding more incoming fire from yet another platoon of droids.

“Kriff, I think you’re right,” Hunter replied, already reaching out his already taxed senses to see what was coming, “Stick to the plan. We’re almost there. I’ll hold them off while you plant the detonators.”

“You got it, Sarge!”

It was amazing to hear Wrecker use the title and it not sound the least bit sarcastic. Like he meant it.

Hunter turned down the last corridor, and immediately spotted the large pipe that Tech had described for them. It would have been easy to spot anyway, given how it was vibrating with the flow of water running through it. He could hear the gushing within it, and the groaning pipes as they carried far more weight than what they were intended for. There were small puddles forming in the weak joint, from small leaks, but they were nothing compared to what he and Wrecker were about to cause.

“That’s the one, Wrecker. Get to work!”

“Aw, yeah here we go!” Wrecker cheered, already pulling the two detonators from his belt, “We’re gonna start with you, little guy.”

Hunter focused back on the incoming droids, knowing that Wrecker would be handling the pipes behind him. He kept a rapid pattern of fire going to keep the droids at bay, not even giving them a moment to regroup. He didn’t need to look to know that Wrecker was probably just finishing up the first tiny detonator, and he was proven right when only five seconds later there was a small blast behind him and the sound of gushing water pouring onto the floor was heard.

“I sure hope Tech was right about the timing on this,” he heard Wrecker say, and Hunter couldn’t help but agree. They only had three more of these detonators left.

“Since when have his calculations ever been wrong before?”

“Uh, did we not just see him get fried alive?”

“I heard that, and you’re welcome. If I’d not chosen to ‘get fried’ then it’s possible we would have both perished.”

“Hey, you fixed the comms for real!” Wrecker laughed, completely unbothered that Tech had heard them.

“Yes, I had a spare moment and thought we could use some communications. I’m thinking now I should have waited another five seconds to avoid insult to an already aggravated injury.”

“Are you done yet?” Crosshair’s voice cut in sharply.

“Just about,” Wrecker called out as he armed the last detonator, the largest one they could find in the armory, “Here goes nothing!” And he shoved it into the small hole inside of the recently burst pipe, letting the last of the water to push it along.

Hunter followed its pulse in his head, pleased when it was carried along just like Tech had said it would be. It would go off in the next ten seconds. Nine, eight, seven, six…

He continued the count in his head as he herded Wrecker along away from the growing flood of water. Just as his mental count reached zero, he felt the shockwave ripple through the air, the floor, even felt it in his kriffing teeth.

“Wow, Tech, was it supposed to blow up that hard?”

“Ideally, yes. Each battle droid stored in the warehouse was equipped with their own blasters and several cannon transports. Your large scale detonator would have trigger them all to explode, effectively wiping out the entire warehouse in one go. Quite ingenious if I do say so myself.”

“Ha! I’ll say!”

“That still only counts as one, Wrecker,” Crosshair said, and Hunter could practically hear his smirk over the comms.

“The hell it does!”

“Enough, focus on the mission. We’ve still got the clear the way for Tech and Cross to make it to the bridge,” Hunter said, bringing them all back to the present focus.

“Of course, please proceed.”

“Uh, Hunter. I’m getting tired.”

Wrecker’s confession came as no surprise to Hunter. They’d been running around this maze of a ship for the last thirty minutes, trying to clear the way of as many of the remaining droids as possible, but…it was taking too damn long and there were still too many. Both of them were gasping for breath in between volleys shared with the droids, and they weren’t even able to stop in between. Patrol after patrol coming after them like they were lined up at the mess waiting for third meal. Wrecker’s injured shoulder now hung heavily at his side, the wound finally catching up with him hours later.

“By my estimates, you’ve only managed to destroy about ten percent of the remaining droids on the ship. All the while, you’ve also drawn them all to your location with all of the noise and destruction. I am concerned that you will be overwhelmed within a matter of minutes.”

Tech’s estimates also didn’t come as a surprise to Hunter, given he could feel them all drawing closer with each passing breath. He also knew without asking that it was not clear enough to even attempt going back to collect Tech and Crosshair. Too risky to them, and the chances of success were slim.

This wasn’t going to work. Wrecker would keel over soon if they didn’t change tactics.

Hunter lifted his wrist to his helmet, “Tech, we need a place to regroup at catch our breath. We can’t keep going like this.”

“Understood. I have a storage room not far from you that should suffice while we come up with an alternative plan.”

“If there even is an alternative plan.”

Hunter sighed, ignoring Crosshair voicing his own internal thoughts and worries, “That’s fine. Just direct us there.”

Three minutes later, Tech had them couped up in what was little more than a glorified maintenance closet. But…it was empty, and they could breathe.

“Well now where’d they go?”

“I don’t know. Did we kill them?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe we need to send more droids after them?”

“They destroyed the warehouse, who’s even left?”

“Oh no, I think it’s us.”

“Well, let’s go then!”

Tech had to think. This was supposed to be his strong point, his one real skill, but he still found himself struggling. Hunter was right, they couldn’t keep this up. They’d underestimated how difficult it would be to wipe out the last of the droids, and overestimated how quickly the droids would hoard in on them. They had to adapt, but how?

“What I would give just to feel dry again,” he heard Crosshair grouch from behind him. He spared a moment to glance at his brother who was angrily kicking at a floating piece of debris in the larger puddle that was forming on the floor. He knew that his brother struggled with being useless, much like Tech did, and would not be brought out of his mood until they could actually help the others.

But as of now, Crosshair’s skills weren’t needed. What was there even to shoot at right now? Given the fire power in his rifle, he was more likely to cause a breech in the hull and flood the whole ship, and—

“Kriff, that’s it!”

Crosshair turned to him finger pointed accusingly, “Hey, what did I say about you cursing.”

“You said it makes all of you uncomfortable and Hunter feel like a failed ori'vod, but if you can do it then so can I, however that’s beside the point. I have an idea!”

“Tech, why am I both scared and hopeful to hear that?”

Tech rolled his eyes at Hunter’s voice over the comms. Honestly, it was like they weren’t even a little bit appreciative of his genius plans that more often than not worked.

“We can still make this work, I just need to do a little quick engineering and then I need Crosshair to make a very calculated shot for us. Easy.”

Crosshair was staring at him unmoving for a moment before he sighed heavily, “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“You rarely do. Now, I need you to find everything in this room that has a physical characteristic property of density lower than that of water and bring it to me.”

“How the kark am I supposed to know what has a physical characteristic of anything in here?!”

Tech sighed, pointing angrily at the water on the floor, “Just see if it floats!”

Chapter Text

“I was right. I do not like this plan.”

“That means I was also correct in stating that you rarely are.”

“Not helping, Tech.”

“Technically, I am. Whether you like it or not, this is the only plan we have and I think it’s working splendidly.”

“I dunno, Tech. Even I think this one is a little out there.”

“Your concerns are noted, Wrecker, but I don’t hear any of you offering viable alternatives. Now, have you released the detonator into the pipe as directed?”

“Yeah, and now it’s getting wet in here. I think I preferred you playing with the lights and chilling in the vents over this new plumbing thing you’ve got going on,” Hunter was also sounding less than pleased with the new course of action, but at least they had gone along with it.

Tech tightened the last screw in place on their newly modified transport and tapped his helmet to call back, “Excellent, then the corridor outside will be rapidly filling with water by now. Albeit at a faster rate than your maintenance closet. Was Wrecker able to close the pipe back up?”

“Affirmative, but not before we got soaked to the bone.”

“Ah, well it’s a good thing that technically our bones are always wet to begin with then,” Tech chirped back, looking over at Crosshair to see if his brother shared his amusement. It appeared he did not, and may have also been slightly disturbed by the thought.

Tech shrugged, turning his attention back to the carrier that they’d scrambled to transform as best they could. Limited supplies and all that. Before it had been fashioned with wheels to take them through the halls, but now it had been fitted with several floatation devices strapped to its base. It would serve as an aquatic transport, capable of carrying two slightly built clones along flooded corridors.

Shortly put, it was a raft.

“It’s hideous.”

“Function over aesthetic, Crosshair. It will serve its purpose,” Tech reminded him, panting a little bit at the exertion it had taken to build this raft. His heart was fluttering uncomfortably in his chest, and he knew that he needed to be careful going forward. His mind wandered uncomfortably to memories of his and Crosshair’s past, when they knew someone else who was lost to his heart malfunctioning. He promised himself that he would not make Crosshair re-live that if he could help it. Nobody deserved to live through losing their best friend like that twice.

He knew Crosshair was most likely already thinking along the same lines, given how closely he was hovering around Tech the more weakened he appeared to be. But they did not have much more time to waste. They needed to move before the corridors entirely flooded with water, otherwise they’d just be trapped here.

“Are you ready to go?” Tech asked.

Crosshair huffed, but nodded, “Let’s just get you on this thing,” he muttered and helped get Tech settled on the raft and began to push it towards the door.

“By my estimates, there should already be several inches of water in this level of the ship. If we hurry, we can make it to where Hunter and Wrecker are located before it reaches half height,” Tech was glad that he’d modified his data pad to be waterproof long ago for circumstances such as this. He had a feeling things were about to get a lot wetter from here on out.

“The water is pushing the droids out of the way. You guys should be clear. Ready?”

“Ready, Hunter,” Crosshair drawled over the comm, sounding like he’d gladly be anywhere but here, “Open the door, Tech.”

It only took him five seconds to power the door to open, and the moment it began to slide water started to pour into the room. They could both feel it push against their raft for a moment, and Tech heard Crosshair grunt painfully as he tried to keep them from getting pushed backwards, and instead began to slide them out into the corridor.

It took some effort, and Tech was starting to feel his chest well up with worry for Crosshair’s injured side, but then his brother was able to push them through the doorway and into the rapidly flooding hallway.

“Just get us past the doorway and you should be able to hop on too,” Tech urged, trying his best to encourage Crosshair. It was hard work under normal circumstances to fight against a current. It was another thing entirely to do so while injured. He glanced down at his brother's side and saw his bandages turning red again, but there was little else to do. There would have been no way for Tech to manage this on his own.

But his brother was struggling though. The pull back into the room was great as the water was pouring in, trying to fill all volumes equally. And in doing so it was fighting against everything they were trying to achieve. Crosshair’s face was scrunched up in a pained grimace, and Tech could see the beginnings of panic there when it was looking like he may not be able to do it. Tech could feel the raft shift under him, slowly creeping backwards.

Not good, Crosshair was losing this fight. But…his brother never lost a fight. And Tech wouldn’t allow this to be the first time.

He leaned down close to his brother’s face, meeting his gaze even if it made his skin crawl, “I know you can do this. I’ve seen how strong you are a thousand times before. You never cease to amaze everyone, including myself. Come on, ori’vod,” he said, making sure that Crosshair was meeting his eyes.

It must have worked, because Crosshair’s face hardened from its pained grimace as he heard his younger brother urge him on. As much as Tech hated making Crosshair solely responsible for saving them, he knew how his brother would respond to his encouragement. Tech never underestimated how far his brothers would go for each other, and Crosshair was no exception.

Suddenly Tech felt the raft jolt under him, but this time in the correct direction.

“That’s it! You’re doing it!” he cheered, surprising himself with his own volume. Usually he left the loud noises to Wrecker, but with his larger brother not here it was up to Tech to make the celebratory shout.

Crosshair must have found the role reversal amusing as well, given the smirk that fell over his lips even as he continued to push them forward. It was getting easier now, due to the reduced forces the further away from the door they got, and because the flow of the water was starting to flow in a more helpful direction.

It was only a few moments more before Tech felt the raft catch on the current, and they began to quickly move along. Tech turned back to his brother and reached out his hand. Crosshair’s hand slapped into his own, and Tech began to pull with all his remaining strength until he felt Crosshair fall onto the raft beside him.

They both lay there together, breathing heavily for a moment before scrambling back up on their knees. Getting out of that control room was just the start, they still had to find the others.

“So, uh, how long do we have to wait?”

“Hopefully not much longer, I can hear the water outside of the door and I’m honestly worried we won’t be able to open it soon,” Hunter sighed, his hand pressed against the door as he felt the vibrations of the water getting higher.

Wrecker groaned, crossing his arms over his chest annoyed, but his scowl lost its intimidating effect when his blacks squelched wetly where they’d been soaked through. Kriff, Hunter missed being dry.

“I hope this works, cause we all know I ain’t the best swimmer,” Wrecker grumbled, the cold and his aching shoulder making him more irritable.

“Well, Tech said that it would take at least forty-five minutes for this ship to flood on the bottom two levels entirely. With the rest of it still locked up, we’ll still hopefully have a place to go dry off once we’re out of here.”

Wrecker grunted again, still pouting off in the corner. It may have just been the physical discomfort. Or maybe it was in part due to the fact that they had not finished up their part of the plan themselves, and were now having to rely on their injured younger brothers to clean up the mess they’d left behind. At least that was how Hunter felt, even if he didn’t say it.

Tech seemed pretty confident about this though, and Crosshair was stronger than he looked. It was strange, but Hunter felt confident too. Like he didn’t even doubt that they’d make it back to them, despite being the younger ones of their batch. Of course, Hunter worried about what condition they’d be in, but no, he didn’t doubt they’d make it this time.

And not even a minute later, he heard knocking outside of the door, shocking the both of them onto their feet.

“Anyone order a leisurely row down the river?”

Hunter laughed and knocked back on the door, “Cross, is that you?”

“I certainly hope so, otherwise we’re all kriffed.”

“We can save the poorly timed humor for later. We need to make haste if we are to reach the central point in time.”

“Gotcha, Tech. Just move aside and we’ll be out in a second,” Hunter turned back to Wrecker who was already on his feet, smiling once more and cracking his knuckles.

“Let’s do this thing!” Wrecker roared and started to pull at the door with all that he had left. Hunter could see the strain, and didn’t hesitate to step in beside him to help.

Water began to pour over their feet, but Hunter felt the door give way under their combined strength. They caught a glimpse of their two brothers on a strange raft that looked a little familiar before the water crashed over them.

Hunter kicked his feet on the floor under him and kicked back to the surface. Tech and Crosshair’s faces greeted him, and a second later Wrecker came up sputtering beside him.

“I don’t think we’re all going to fit on that thing,” he pointed out.

“Very astute, Wrecker. You are correct, but you may both grab onto the sides and float along with us. If you kick then it will help us move faster,” Tech chirped, sounding proud of his little raft. And Hunter had to hand it to him, it was serving its purpose.

“I guess that’s okay. At least we don’t have to worry about being eaten by fish in here,” Wrecker chuckled and grabbed on behind where Crosshair sat.

“Where do we need to go for the next part?” Hunter asked, and Tech pointed down the corridor to the left, “Alright, let’s get going then.”

“Ahhh, I can’t swim!”

“You mean we weren’t programmed for water? What do we do now?”

“Heck if I know! I knew we should have gone back to the upper levels. They’re reporting that it’s still dry up there.”

“Well that isn’t good. Guess we just float here until they figure out how to get us out?”

“You idiot, we’re made of durasteel. We don’t float!”

“Oh no.”

The closer they got to their next stop, the more Tech could feel the apprehension growing within his brothers. And that was saying a lot, given his personal strengths did not lie in emotional awareness at even the best of times.

And Tech understood their increased stress levels. Even he was feeling his heart flutter as they got closer, and not just because of his little electrocution episode. He was nervous to re-enact this same technique again when so recently it had almost killed him, and led his brothers to believe he’d died. It was all still quite uncomfortably fresh for all of them, so Tech was sympathetic to the increasing depth to their furrowed brows as they got closer.

“Are you sure that we'll be alright doing this?” he heard Crosshair ask as they approached the stairwell up ahead.

“Yes, if we are out of the water then there should be no residual effect on ourselves.”

“You are certain? I don’t think you could survive another session of cooking to your insides,” Crosshair pressed, and Tech could practically feel Hunter and Wrecker’s eyes on him as well.

This was coming from a place of concern, and not any real doubt in Tech’s intelligence, he knew that. But it still stung a little that they weren’t ready to take his word on this. Ah well, perhaps they would be more inclined to trust him in the future once this ended up working. Because they still had a chance to have a future if this worked out. There would be more missions. More chances to prove themselves. More chances to get better.

His brothers just weren’t so far sighted about all that right now, but Tech was.

“I am certain, and we are here,” Tech replied simply, and pointed to the hatch above them. It would have been an escape hatch on the floor below, if the ship weren’t on its back and hatch was now on the ceiling above. Even so, it would serve its purpose.

“That’s pretty high up there,” Hunter commented, implying that he was hoping that Tech would have an idea on how to even get up there. Which of course he did.

“Yes, that is where Wrecker’s suggestion will come into play.”

Wrecker perked up from where he was treading water, “I had a suggestion? I thought this was your plan.”

“It is, but you were the one who mentioned Plan 7. I think this may finally be an applicable situation to incorporate that plan,” Tech said, side-eyeing Crosshair who began to sputter and curse at the mention of his least favorite plan in their ever growing book.

Wrecker punched the water with a laugh, “Alright then, whose first?!”

In the end it was Hunter who went first, seeing as how he was the only one fit enough to grab onto the handle of the hatch without too much trouble. It had been hard for Wrecker to get enough force into his throw while treading water, but using the raft as leverage seemed to help. Even if it made the raft quake violently afterwards. Tech would have fallen into the water if it weren’t for Crosshair holding him in place.

Hunter dangled from the hatch levers for only a moment before wrenching it using his weight as he twisted forcibly. Even if he weren’t injured, Tech did not think he’d ever have the strength to do what Hunter was managing, but it was working and that was all that mattered.

It took half a dozen twists, but then the hatch fell open, nearly sending Hunter falling back into the water.

“Kriff, I’m gonna feel this in my shoulders tomorrow,” the sergeant grumbled as he pulled himself up at last and onto the next floor above, “All clear up here for now, but we better hurry. There are still droids on this level.”

“At least we’re about to take out half of the leftovers, right Tech?” Wrecker laughed and beckoned the youngest forward. While Tech did not revel in the idea of being thrown around, he was looking forward to getting off this raft and start their way back to the bridge at last. He was quite done with this mission.

Tech easily let himself slip off the raft and into Wrecker’s waiting arms, trusting his brother to take care of it from here. It felt good to be held by one of his ori’vod, even if it was just for a moment before he was launched into the air.

Of course there was always the chance that Wrecker would miss and Tech would splatter against the ceiling, but he’d never missed before and Tech felt himself go weightless for a moment before another set of strong and familiar arms grabbed him.

He’d been getting taller, a far cry from the small cadet that barely stood at half Hunter’s height when they first met, but his brother still managed to make him feel small, safe, and protected as he was held by Hunter over the open hatch.

“I got you, little one,” Hunter said gently as he lowered Tech onto the floor beside him. That was two through the hatch, now that just left Crosshair and Wrecker. Tech chose not to comment on the term of endearment, even though it no longer was accurate to call Tech 'little'. He surmised that it was just force of habit for Hunter after so many years.

Not even a minute later, Crosshair suddenly appeared in the open hatch and Hunter grabbed him just as he had Tech, although perhaps not as easily. Crosshair was not overly bulky by any means, but his lean muscle made him far heavier than he appeared.

Still, that was three of them.

“We’ll need something very heavy,” Tech said, jerking his chin at a fallen filing cabinet in the corner that looked like it would serve the necessary purpose. Just as Wrecker began to shout from below.

“Hey, what about me? It’s not like I can throw myself.”

“Hang on, he’s got an idea,” Crosshair called out in a bored tone. It reminded Tech of how his brother sounded during the last few years of their simulations. When they’d already run the same ones hundreds of times and everything was predictable, certain, and achievable. To Tech’s ears, it sounded like Crosshair was falling back into his confident nature at last. Like he had hope again.

Hunter grunted loudly as he pushed the cabinet forward, not even asking why they needed it in the first place. It screeched terribly against the floor, but that just meant that it was as heavy as it needed to be.

“Wrecker, I need you to move the end of the raft under the hatch, just left of center by about six inches. Then you need to climb onto the edge and stay there,” Tech called out.

“Oh no, I think I see where this is going.”

“Me too,” Hunter grunted, sliding the cabinet just to the edge of the hatch until it was just barely leaning over, “Let’s just try not to drop it on his head by mistake this time, or on his foot like the time before that.”

“Third time’s the charm then,” Crosshair muttered, moving to take Hunter’s place holding the cabinet in place. Hunter would be needed elsewhere in a moment.

“You guys better be right about this.”

“That’s good, just three more inches to the right. Almost…almost…there! Just hang on and don’t move, Wrecker. Brace yourself in three, two, one…”

Crosshair let the cabinet go at once, and it fell easily through the hatch until it landed squarely on the opposite end of the raft, launching their brother into the air.

Wrecker was far larger than they were, and a heavy mass to project, so he only just barely caught hold of the hatch lid, preventing himself from falling back in, “Kriff, okay get me up already. I’m hanging here!”

Hunter was already sliding into place, reaching down to grab for his brothers’ hand. But between their two vastly different body masses, Tech knew that it would be nearly impossible to pull up Wrecker on his own.

Which was why Tech was already yanking back on Hunter’s belt with as much force as he was able to at the moment. Both of them began to grunt and groan as they heaved back. Tech wasn’t sure that it was doing much until he felt Crosshair slide in next to Hunter.

With the three of them pulling, Tech finally was able to take a step backwards, and then another, as they slowly pulled Wrecker up after them. His heart was fluttering again in his chest, but before he could worry too much about over exerting himself they all fell backwards in a heap.

With Wrecker on the floor beside them.

They had done it. Now for the next part. They needed to be sure no droids would be left behind down there. They couldn’t chance them finding a way out of the flooded levels and coming for them. So…

Tech pulled the last battery from his pack. It was already half drained from using it to power the most recent control room, but if they managed to do this part right it would serve its purpose. He could see Wrecker shift nervously at the sight of it, knowing that mere hours before it had been a similar battery that had almost ended Tech’s life prematurely. He offered his brother an apologetic wince before walking it over to the hatch.

“Now, I’m going to drop this battery down, but Crosshair…I need you to shoot it before it reaches the water. It needs to be active before it touches the surface, otherwise it will not ignite to the amount of amperage needed. There needs to be a surge of power arcing out, and this is the best way to do it. Understood?” and he saw Crosshair nod sharply, pulling his rifle from his back and arming it.

It wasn’t an overly difficult shot, especially for someone like Crosshair. But it was an important one. If he missed there would be no redo. This was something they all had to come to terms with from now on. This wasn’t a simulation that they could fail and then try again the next day with fresh eyes. No. Their time of simulations were over. They were real soldiers now. Their successes and failures extended beyond themselves now.

“Are you ready?” he asked, and Crosshair’s only response was to cock his rifle and slide it into place on his shoulder.

Tech had known his brother long enough to know the signs of his readiness without words, so he stepped up to the lip of the hatch and powered on the battery, and then dropped it.

And Crosshair hit it true six inches before it hit the surface, spreading a spiderweb of electricity out over the water right before the battery landed in a sizzling splash.

“What just happened?”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“I just lost radio contact with eleven platoons of droids is what happened. Where did they go?”

“You mean we’re the only ones left!?”

“Looks like it. Round up the remaining droids on the top two levels. If the clones are still alive after whatever that was then we have to come at them with everything we have left.”

“And…what do we have left, sir?”

“At least eight more platoons, four on each level. I’m radioing them now.”

“Who thought four clones would be so hard to kill?”

“Guess that’s why they sent so many of us?”

“Must be! This is going to be a tough war if it’s this hard to kill four of them.”

Crosshair smirked before turning to Wrecker, placing his rifle proudly against his shoulder. He looked far to smug for someone who was still bleeding and limping as he moved, but it was nice to see him acting more like himself. Even if Tech was curious as to why his brother was standing in front of Wrecker in a challenging manner.

Hunter was rolling his eyes before he even spoke, seemingly knowing what was about to be said.

“Looks like I’m going to win the kill count,” Crosshair announced smugly.

Tech suppressed a laugh as Wrecker roared his denial.

Chapter Text

Their relief was short lived.

They had barely enough time to hoist Tech onto Hunter’s back, and Crosshair onto Wrecker’s when Hunter felt them coming. Felt all of them coming.

“Tech, direct us to the control room. Crosshair, lay cover fire. Wrecker, let’s move!” Hunter called out, feeling the droids circling them like water down a drain. There were only two levels left on this ship, it would be harder to hide, but Hunter didn’t think hiding would be enough anymore. Not with the amount of droids coming for them.

Tech called out the first left almost immediately, and Hunter turned sharply enough that he felt Tech nearly slide off of his back. He felt Tech’s legs tighten almost painfully around his waist, but it was better than dropping him in this case.

There was some muffled cursing next to them and Hunter recognized Crosshair’s voice as he tried to hold his rifle steady as Wrecker bucked and turned under him.

“Thirty paces to our six!” he called out to his squad, alerting them to the incoming threat. He felt Tech’ tense up against his back, and spared a moment to pat his leg comfortingly, “I’ve got you, vod. Just hold on to me.” He would make sure to keep his brother safe and close, where he should always be. He felt a rush of affection when he felt Tech’s skinny arms circle around his neck for firmly. He was certainly heavier than he used to be, kriffing lot bigger too, but it was a burden Hunter was happy to bear. 

The rushed tender moment seemed to be lost on their other brothers who were struggling a bit more to settle into the new transportation methods.

“Kark, Cross. Are you trying to choke me or something?” Wrecker yelled, or tried to with half his windpipe closed off by one of the sniper’s arm. The other arm was holding his rifle aloft, unsuccessfully trying to find a way to steady himself.

“This would be a lot easier if I was facing the right way!” Crosshair snarled, just as Hunter felt the droids come up behind them in the corridor.

“Well why didn’t you just say so!” Wrecker growled and reached up over his head to snag Crosshair by the back of his cuirass. The sniper yelped at the rough handling until Wrecker secured him against his chest plate, with Crosshair now able to see over his shoulder.

“That’s better,” the sniper grumbled and used Wrecker’s uninjured shoulder to balance his rifle on like he’d done with Tech earlier.

“They’re here!” Hunter announced just as the sounds of blaster fire filled the corridors once again. He fell in line with Wrecker behind him, keeping Tech’s exposed back covered with Wrecker’s bulk and Crosshair’s rifle. Almost immediately he heard Crosshair’s answering shots and the electronic buzzing of sizzling droid parts.

“Next right, up ahead and then an immediate turn left at the intersection,” Tech called out, his voice almost too loud in Hunter’s ear, but at least he wouldn’t miss a turn this way, “The corridors up ahead are more open. We’ll be exposed to more blaster fire.”

There were more droids closing in from all sides, and Hunter grit his teeth hard enough he thought he might crack them. He hoisted Tech up higher from where he felt his brother slipping, his own strength waning to the point he could hold himself up anymore, and charged on.

“Cross’ gun is getting hot, guys,” Wrecker called out, no doubt feeling the rifle reaching its maximum rapid fire sequence. He’d need to slow down or risk burning it out. Hunter stretched his left arm further under Tech and slid out his right arm to grab for his own blaster. He could feel the strain of Tech’s weight, but he wasn’t about to drop him.

He glanced behind him and saw that Wrecker was doing the same, “Alright, let’s take turns then vod! You shoot and then I shoot. Can’t have you hoggin’ all the kills!” Wrecker yelled, and turned around just enough to get a few shots off of his own before turning back and Crosshair sent off a volley of his own.

Hunter heard them switching off back and forth, and it sounded like it was working well enough. He turned his attention back to leading them onwards. Because none of this would matter if they couldn’t get to the bridge.

“How’s it looking, Tech?” Hunter asked between gasps for air.

He felt Tech slipping again, and his arms trying to tighten across his chest. Whatever had been done to his muscles and heart seemed to be getting worse, and Tech was only uselessly pawing at his armor trying to stay up. Hunter had to waste a precious second to hoist him back up again.

He felt Tech’s visor’s hum as it turned on and Tech looked over the map before him, “If we attempt to run all the way to the second level control room, then we have quite a ways to go yet. However…we can access the main bridge from below if we can access the lift system in the corridor two hundred meters ahead.”

“Lift system? How’s that going to work in a powered down ship? And an upside-down one at that?” Hunter asked, turning to catch a glimpse of the others again. They seemed to be holding their own, but Wrecker looked exhausted once again, falling silent in order to conserve energy, and Crosshair was leaning heavily against his ori’vod’s chest plate in order to stay upright. They couldn’t keep this up much longer.

“Well, as it is, gravity still applies to sunken ships. And I said main bridge. We were on course to reach the bottom control deck, but I found a back route that may be more expeditious. The main bridge is on the bottom most level, so we would only have to get into the lift system and well…jump,” Tech said, sounding tired but confident.

“Didn’t we just flood the bottom decks?” Crosshair snarled from a few paces behind.

Hunter felt Tech’s half shrug, “Yes, but only the main corridors. The bridge was locked shut upon crashing. It should be dry, and there will be no droids anymore thanks to Crosshair hitting that charged battery. For the most part anyway. I cannot tell if there was any damage to the viewport to that bridge from my maps.”

Hunter could feel the droids closing in on them, choking them too fast.

It was a ricochet blaster that made the decision for him. He felt it coming, even if he didn’t see it. He tried to turn his body just enough when he felt its trajectory headed straight for Tech’s back, but didn’t get to step out of the way before he felt it sear through his side.

Hunter cried out as he felt his flesh burn, an agonizing pain that he wasn’t able to quite process at first. One minute he was standing and trying to save Tech from a stray shot, and the next he was on his knees gasping through the agony.

“Hunter? Hunter!”

“He’s been shot, flesh wound to his left side. We need to get him out of here.”

“Kriff, Wrecker put me down and grab Hunter.”

Hunter’s world turned on its head for a moment as Wrecker flung him over his shoulder, it only took a moment for him to clear his head enough to start protesting.

“No, I’m fine. Let’s head for the lifts, they’re coming fast and we won’t be able to take them all on like this,” Hunter gasped out.

“Not running like that you’re not. Leave it to me, I’ve got this,” was all he heard before the voices of Tech and Crosshair joined his own protests. He managed to open his eyes just enough to see he was draped over Wrecker’s good shoulder looking behind them, and barely catching a glimpse of Tech and Crosshair’s legs dangling out of Wrecker’s other arm. Hunter winces, imagining that was hardly comfortable for any of them.

He had just enough presence of mind to pull out his blaster again when he felt the ominous buzzing of droids catching up again, and began to fire back volleys of his own as he covered their backs. Or well, Wrecker’s back, Hunter’s front, and apparently their little brother’s legs.

“Where now!?” Wrecker asked, sounding mildly panicked as he tore down the hallways.

“Left, left Wrecker, left!” Tech squeaked out, probably all but crushed between Wrecker’s arm and Crosshair’s body against his own.

“Got it!” Wrecker shouted back, even though they weren’t even a few inches away from his mouth, “Now what?”

He heard Tech grunt once before the visor buzzed to life again, “The lift up ahead, we need to get inside. If you put me down, I can—”

“No time!” Wrecker announced, and before any of them could say anything at all he kicked the door open hard enough to make the durasteel buckle under the force of it, “In we go,” and Wrecker squeezed them all through the bent doors without another thought.

Only he seemed to have forgotten something.

“Kriff, where’s the lift?” he cried out, realizing that they were all now balancing on the very edge of a platform before a deep lift shaft. Blaster fire was getting close again.

“Get out your grappling cables, boys. Wrecker, get Crosshair. I’ve got Tech again,” Hunter ordered, quickly fishing his own out from his belt and locking it into place on his blaster.

“Uh, you sure, Sarge?” Wrecker asked, sounding nervous and uncertain.

“I won’t have you passing out halfway and dropping Tech while you both plumet to your deaths,” Crosshair snapped at him, although the usual intimidation that could radiate off the sniper was lost given how he was being held like a large, uncooperative tooka right then.

Hunter nodded absently, still setting up his hook, “We don’t have another choice. Wrecker, get yours ready and hand over Tech.”

Surprisingly Wrecker obeyed and gently let Hunter down long enough to hand over their youngest squad mate. Crosshair looked reluctant to let Hunter do this, but Hunter knew the sourness in his expression was more to do with his worry for them then his disbelief in Hunter’s abilities for once.

It would be easier to hold Tech against his chest this time, mostly because he didn’t think his brother had enough strength to hold on to his back anymore. Tech was barely able to hold himself upright as he was passed over, his head falling limply against Hunter’s shoulder, but he still tried his best to tighten his grip around Hunter’s neck.

“I’ve got you,” he promised, making sure he said it loud enough for Crosshair to hear. Tech only managed to nod back, sighing sadly as he dug his fingers into Hunter’s armor.

“And I got you,” Wrecker said in serious tone as he glanced down at Crosshair. Wrecker had just enough time to adjust his grip on Crosshair and get his own grappling hook ready before the blaster fire started up again.

Hunter jumped without another thought.

It had taken three adjustments and re-shots of their grappling lines, but eventually…they made it to the bottom of the shaft.

Crosshair couldn’t believe it. He stopped hearing the sound of blasters a while ago, an eerie silence returning to the ship once more as they descended back into the flooded part of the ship. When they reached the bottom, Wrecker had tried to put Crosshair back on his own feet, only he tightened his grip back up when he realized that Crosshair wasn’t able to stand anymore.

It surprised the sniper as well. He’d known he’d pushed himself a bit too far in their last push to get through with this mission, but he hadn’t realized just how much he’d done so until the adrenaline began to wear off and the blood loss began to kick in.

The bandages on his side were soaked through again. Tech hadn’t been exaggerating when he said that any further movement would be dangerous, Crosshair couldn’t remember a time that he felt this terrible. His head swam if he turned it too quickly, and he had started shivering uncontrollably again.

But his own deteriorating condition did not prevent him from trying to find out if his brothers were alright.

To his own misery, he could tell that they weren’t.

Wrecker was dragging his feet under him, still panting as he clutched his arm tight against his chest. The bandages on his shoulder were soaked through with blood too. Crosshair could only hope there wasn’t any irreparable damage done to him using the limb when it was torn up so badly.

Tech was crumpled on the floor beside Hunter’s feet, no longer able to stand on his own and struggling to stay awake it seemed. His eyes blinking slowly behind his goggles. It seemed Crosshair wasn’t the only one who overexerted themselves.

And kriff it all, Hunter was wounded now too. Even if he didn’t have his enhanced sight there would be no mistaking the singed skin on his side. While blasters had the added benefit of cauterizing wounds, he knew just how painful that injury would be until they could get it fixed up right. And it didn’t look like Tech would be up to much of anything for a bit.

“I need to get to the controls,” Tech mumbled, but the silence of the bridge was stifling enough that they all heard him. Wrecker sighed as he did it, but he still was painfully gentle with their littlest squad mate as he scooped him up and cradled him in his massive arms. It was a significant difference to how they’d all just been hauled like sacks of grain through the halls, but they were all feeling a little delicate in that moment.

Crosshair was about to just accept that he’d either have to crawl his way over or wait for Wrecker to come back when Hunter stumbled over to him, offering a hand up.

Without any hesitance, Crosshair slapped his hand into Hunters and let himself get pulled back to his trembling legs. Neither of them seemed particularly stable at the moment, so Crosshair didn’t grouse when he felt Hunter’s arm sling over his shoulder. And Hunter didn’t say anything when Crosshair did the same for him. They could lean on each other for many things, and this was another event that Crosshair would gladly share the burden between them.

All together they started to move deeper into the bridge.

The room was pitch black to the point that Crosshair knew even he wouldn’t be able to see anything without the night vision setting in his helmet. It seemed to be mercifully dry though, the one thing that had been in their favor this entire time. That meant the viewport must have remained intact, even if all Crosshair could make out ahead was darkness.

“The top of the ship appears to be buried in the sand,” Tech commented as they walked forward.

“Is that going to be a problem?” Hunter asked, his voice tight with pain as he limped after them.

Tech shook his head after thinking for a moment, and let it rest against Wrecker’s chest. Even that small movement tiring him out. Now that the adrenaline was all but depleted, all of them were starting to finally cave into their poor conditions.

That meant they didn’t have much longer to get this right. This was it.

There were several control consoles in the bridge, given the large nature of the vessel they were on. Despite how many there were, Tech seemed to know exactly what was needed as he pointed to a central table that they all started to hobble towards.

Sigh. Of course it would all be on the ceiling though.

“Put me on your shoulders, Wrecker. I need to assess the conditions of the ship now,” Tech requested softly. Crosshair could see his brother’s quick and pained glance over at where his other two brothers were barely holding each other up, and knew that Tech was struggling to choose between his medic and specialist responsibilities. But all it took was one small shake of his head from Hunter that Tech seemed to allow himself to turn back to the controls Wrecker had lifted him up to.

Crosshair let himself close his eyes just for a moment of rest as they heard Tech begin to work, only to feel like he was snapped back to awareness a second later when the lights began to turn on around them. After almost an entire day in darkness, the sudden lights in the room were almost blinding. Crosshair hissed at his discomfort, and heard Hunter whispering quiet soothing words as he adjusted.

“We have power it seems,” Tech called out absently.

“Yeah, no kark,” Wrecker grumbled, but his lack of enthusiasm had more to do with his own discomfort than anything else. Tech seemed to know this and continued to work as best he could. Even from a few feet away, Crosshair could see the trembling in his arms.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Crosshair asked the room at large.

Hunter adjusted beside him, trying to take on more of the sniper’s weight, “Well, we made it to the bridge, so I guess Tech can finally pull that data we needed.”

“That is correct,” Tech called out, not stopping in his work still.

“And…what next? How are we gonna get out of here?” Wrecker asked next, sounding tired, and worried.

Of course, he had every reason to worry. They were stuck on a flooded level, on a downed ship, under an ocean, and all of them were injured. Even if they weren’t injured and attempted to swim out of here, that kriffing sea monster would be out there waiting for them. The blood soaked on all of them would draw every carnivorous fish out there to them. No, they wouldn’t be able to swim out of here any time soon.

“Data is retrieved,” Tech sighed, but continued to dig at the controls for a bit after passing the data stick down to Hunter.

“Take it easy, Wreck. We’ll figure this out. Tech, can we call for help on the long range communicators?” Hunter asked.

“Hmm? Oh, possibly. I would need to disrupt those jammers to do so. And then we would need to come up with a way to board any submersible they could send. Although seeing as they did not have a submersible available from the start, that may take a moment to retrieve. If they were going to go through the trouble that is,” Tech said as he yanked on several more wires and started to cut and rewire them.

Wrecker’s face twisted with doubt, “I think Cody would try to come for us at least, but, that sounds like it may take a while…”

Wrecker wasn’t wrong. Four unproven defect clones would not be the highest priority of the new army fighting a new war. They had been sent on a milk run mission, and hearing that they needed to be retrieved (without knowing the whole story) would only make them look like liabilities, and not worth the effort of saving. If they could even save them in time.

They wouldn’t be able to survive for days down here. Not in this cold, not with their blood loss, and not when Tech was tiptoeing on the edge of collapse and heart failure and Crosshair was a hours away from bleeding out with a festering wound.

Crosshair felt a familiar dread begin to consume him, like that sea monster slowly feasting on him bit by bit. They’d made it this far. Would this be as far as they got though? All this…and all of their lives filled with struggles for nothing?

Hunter must have felt his despair coming in hard, because his brother began to squeeze him closer while rubbing his arm up and down Crosshair’s uninjured side.

“Tech, how much power does this ship have left in it? What systems can be booted up?” Hunter asked after several painfully silent moments passed.

“Now that we are at a real control bridge, I have access to any and all systems. As for power, this ship was only halfway to its trajected location. There is a formidable amount of power left.”

“And how badly is the ship damaged to begin with?” Hunter pressed.

Tech linked up his data pad to the console, running one of his endless lists of programs and waiting for the data to download. It beeped after only a few seconds, “It appears that the greatest amount of damage was sustained to the main engines, shields, and landing bay docks. The shields went first, then the docks were blasted away, and then the main engines were heavily damaged.”

“So, it’s immobile?” Hunter asked bitterly.

But then Tech shook his head, startling them all, “I didn’t say that. It certainly isn’t sky worthy, but it isn’t immobile. The landing gear, landing engines and auxiliary thrusters are still in working order.

Crosshair felt himself choke on his sudden hope, “Wait, does that mean—”

“What do you think I’m working on?” Tech grunted with effort as he yanked at one more coil of wires, not caring about the sparks that flung out from it, “If you would all just give me a moment, I can attempt remedy this unfortunate situation,” he paused for a moment to catch his breath before glancing over at Crosshair and catching his eye. Tech’s eyes were crinkled behind his goggles mirthfully, like he was smiling under them, “I’ve always wanted to fly a ship as big as this. I suppose this will suffice for now, even if we won’t be able to do much more besides break the surface of the water.”

“So you can get us back up there?!” Wrecker already was sounding more alert, his usual bright energy flaring to life even just for a moment in the face of real hope.

Tech nodded again, “I first need to evacuate all quadrants of the ship from here using the airlock system. This is mainly to purge the lower levels of water, and then the upper levels of any remaining droids. Only then will the vessel return to its usual load weight capacity, allowing for a probable egress from these depths.”

“You can do all that?” Wrecker asked in awe. Crosshair had to admit he was a little impressed too.

He saw Tech roll his eyes, “Of course I can, I’m at the bridge finally. I can do whatever I want within our energy limitations. I just need to power everything on and we may begin.”

“Well, what are you waiting for, an invitation?” Crosshair tried to growl, but it came out more excited and eager than anything.

Tech’s head shook, “No, I am merely waiting for Hunter’s orders,” he said simply.

Tech’s words seemed to shock them all, especially Hunter. But despite everything, despite how rough and painful this mission had been…Hunter was still their sergeant and had guided them here as he was supposed to. Taking on the burdens when necessary, but also letting them all take point when it was also necessary. Even Crosshair had to begrudgingly admit that Hunter had done well, all things considered.

So, Crosshair let himself fall silent. All three of them looking to their leader to make the final decision out of respect to his station.

He could tell from the startled expression on Hunter’s face that he hadn’t expected anything like this, but after a moment his face hardened back into something a little more confident.

“Let’s finish this mission, boys. I think Cody will be wanting this data…and we’ll bring him this ship as a bonus, yeah? Time to go home,” and he gave Tech one sharp nod, and that was all their specialist needed to power the ship back on.

All around them the ship hummed to life.

“What the, what’s happening over there?!”

“Kriff, it looks like something is coming up out of the water. Think it’s one of those creatures we picked up on radar earlier?”

“No way, this is even bigger than that. We need to call this into the commander, I think it’s the ship that got sunk. Look at the shape on the radar! Call the commander, now!”

“On it! Does it look like it’s going to attack?”

“I don’t know, it just looks like it’s rising up for now.”

“What about those weird clones?”

“What about them? They’re half a day late coming back, and haven’t radioed in.”

“What if it’s them?”

“…they were sent for some data, weren’t they? What are they doing trying to fly the whole kriffing ship? Argh, just call the commander!”

“Wait, I’m getting a signal…it’s a friendly code! Those must be them…and there’s a call for medical aid. Call for medical aid while you’re at it!”

They all gaped as the ship that they’d all thought was sunken for good broke through the surface of the water, hovering just about the waves.

“They are going to have one hell of a story to tell to explain this, I know it.”

Medics arrived on scene not long after Cody got word of what had happened. The commander had diverted some of his best trained medics to fly down to the planet rather than waiting on the retrieval team to handle it alone. He wasn’t taking any chances with those boys, not when they were asking for help.

It didn’t take long to get word back that they had breached the bridge where they had found the only life signals on board. All four clones were accounted for, but all of them were in rough shape. Two of them bordering on critical.

Cody had felt his heart lurch in his chest at the news. He’d yet to lose any men in the war, it being so early still, and the possibility that it could have been these boys being the first losses…he didn’t even want to think about it.

He ordered them to be taken aboard for treatment immediately, but added one more command on the end as an afterthought that he knew would be necessary.

“See to it they are kept together. Never try to separate them from their brothers, even during medical treatment. Do I make myself clear? And someone do something about that ship!”

Chapter Text

Cody could scarcely believe it.

If he hadn’t known Hunter for years, he would have assumed they were just making up a story to appear all the more impressive. But no, he knew that a story as crazy as this could only come naturally from Hunter and his squad. He’d always known they were a special bunch, and not just because of their enhancements. They’d been through so much, and already managed the impossible at such tender ages, it only stood to reason only these kids could pull it off.

Although, he was going to have to stop thinking of them as kids now, wasn’t he? They’d not only completed their first mission, but he could tell just by how weary Hunter had been when he told Cody the story that they had left their childhood behind back in that ocean. They were still painfully young, but they were soldiers. Their childhood was over now. It was something that Cody was coming to terms with himself. Already he had to start acting more like a commander rather than an older brother. There was still a balance there, but it was harder when you were in command. Much like Hunter seemed to have discovered for himself. It was not an easy transition.

But they had done it. They’d completed their mission and then some, and made it back.

Granted, they were in terrible condition, but after the latest medical report Cody had been able to finally blow out the relived breath he’d been holding since he first saw them brought in on stretchers. They would be fine. Even Tech’s heart was looking better after his first round of bacta injections. They would be fine.

You didn’t send them to their deaths, Cody. Breathe.

It had been worrisome there for a while, when almost a day had passed with no word from his bad batch. He’d tried to stay calm, but the concern had been present ever since he saw them off that morning. It was supposed to be an easy mission to ease them into things, so Cody could use their first success to start getting those boys something more to their skill set, but it seems now that it had been anything but easy.

Wrecker’s shoulder had been a mangled mess, only made worse by continued use. There would be an incredible scar from it, but Cody had a feeling Wrecker would probably like that. As tired as he had been, Wrecker was one of the two who made it back conscious, and had smiled brightly upon seeing Cody run over. He even tried to wave using his bad arm but Hunter stopped that quickly by reaching over from the next stretcher and forcibly lowering it back down.

Kriff, Hunter had actually managed to get shot on his first mission. What were the odds? Tech probably knew. At least the sergeant had also been mostly awake by the time they’d brought them on board, and was able to give a full debrief while Cody followed them back to the medical ward. He’d had other duties to attend to, but he could not seem to leave the squad’s side at the time. He held Wrecker’s hand as they began to debris the wounds, and was there to sooth Hunter as best he could while the other two were being seen to across the room.

Crosshair and Tech had both been unconscious when they’d been brought in. Their bodies being so still on those stretchers had made Cody’s heart lurch as he took in their pale faces and heard the medical droids listing off the critical natures of their injuries. If Cody felt that worried at seeing them like this, he could only imagine how Hunter and Wrecker were handling it.

He could still remember a time when these boys had all been under chest height on him. When Tech’s eyes looked too big for his face, and Hunter’s hair was shorter than now. Looking at them now all tucked into their cots, it almost looked like they hadn’t grown at all. But he knew better.

“You lot are going to turn me gray at a tender age aren’t you,” he muttered in awe as he kept watch over the four slumbering soldiers, his lips twitching up into a smile as Wrecker snorted in his sleep, and curled in closer to Hunter’s side. Hunter didn’t even twitch in his sleep, happy enough to have Wrecker pressed to his left, and Tech bundled up close on his other side, and Crosshair’s arm draped lazily over both the sergeant and specialist.

It was a sweet display of the closeness of this unit, but…Cody still had a little voice in the back of his head wondering if they would get to stay this innocent for much longer. The war had begun, and these boys had only gotten their first taste. It would only get harder from here on.

Just as he’d ordered, the medical team had kept them all together. They may not have understood why their commander had ordered them to do it, but they didn’t need to know really. It wasn’t like it was too big of an ask to push their cots together after the initial treatments were done. They didn’t need to know it was to soothe on poor sergeant's nerves after a rough mission, and Cody wasn’t about to tell them either.

Hunter needed his squad close, and Cody could give him that for now. Kark, Cody was even reluctant to leave them now. Even after the danger had finally passed.

It had been a close one for the two younger boys. Too close.

Crosshair was half bled out, and well on his way to a raging infection taking hold in his side. The exhaustion and cold temperature of his body had only made it worse, speeding up his decline to where he’d needed an entire transfusion of blood as soon as he was gotten on board. He was improving now, but Cody hoped that Crosshair would learn to give his injuries the respect and attention they needed out in the field. Pretending they weren’t there only made things worse.

Something Tech probably knew. His knowledge and caution were most likely the only reason the kid was still breathing. If he’d gone and pushed himself any further…kriff, Cody didn’t even want to think of it. He knew how special the youngest was to their team, and didn’t ever want to see what would become of this squad if he were gone.

“Commander, your presence here is no longer required. The patients are all recovering and will be resting for a while yet. We can send an alert to your comm if they should wake up,” some busy-body AZ droid said, buzzing too close to his ear like some sort of mechanical insect.

He damned well knew he wasn’t required here any longer, but he’d wanted to stay and keep watch over them as long as he could. So that they could rest knowing they were safe…but, looking over at them all comfortably laying in a heap together…maybe they already felt safe?

He sighed and glanced at his comm, wincing at the multiple messages he’d been ignoring. Maybe he did need to get back to work. There was still a war on, and it didn’t wait for anyone. Not even four tired and injured clones, and one concerned commander.

“Fine, keep an eye on them and alert me to any changes. I will want to see them when they’re awake.”

The AZI droid dipped its head, “Yes, sir. Of course.”

It took another entire day before they began to slowly wake one by one.

Wrecker was the first to come to. At first he’d been instantly bored and annoyed. Someone had wrapped his shoulder, but they’d also strapped it down to his chest so he couldn’t move it at all. And he would have torn off the bandages himself if it weren’t for Hunter still sleeping beside him.

Wrecker knew that ripping off his bandages would wake his sensitive brother, so he forced himself to stay still. At least until Hunter woke up. He could try to do that, even if it meant being bored out of his mind for a few hours.

Besides, it was nice to see Hunter looking better after one hell of a kriffing day. He’d never thought their missions would be so crazy. Sure they’d had some misadventures in the past, but this had been different somehow. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but this one had them all re-evaluating things.

Heck, even Wrecker was thinking about stuff seriously. None of them got out of this unscathed, and he wasn’t just talking about the physical stuff. He’d almost lost each of his brothers back there at one point or another. His brothers were everything to him. If they were gone then…he’d have nothing.

Kriff, at one point he’d been cradling Tech’s body thinking he really was dead. Just thinking about that made his throat and chest feel funny.

They’d all gotten hurt pretty bad. And this was supposed to be an easy mission. So what did that mean for him?

It actually seemed like a pretty easy answer to him now that he thought about it. He just needed to be stronger. His brothers were counting on him and he knew he couldn’t let them down. It had been so easy to step in and take the loads, like he was made for it. Which, he kinda was?

He was scared to have to face almost losing his brothers again, but…there had been fun parts too. The kill count with Crosshair was the best part, and he couldn’t wait to tell Crosshair that he’d beaten the sniper when he woke up! He was finding that he was eager to get back out there surprisingly. Now that he knew what his team needed him for, he was ready.

They’d trained their whole lives for this, and they’d finally proven themselves!

Wrecker always like to think they were the best, the strongest squad ever created in the labs of Kamino. That through all the kark they’d lived through they’d come out better for it. Resilient. Strong. But now…now he knew they were.

He was still grinning wildly as he felt Hunter begin to stir beside him at last. Finally, someone to talk to that wasn’t some annoying AZI droid.

Hunter woke to the feeling of warmth, and the sound of three steady heartbeats.

That would have possibly been the best way to wake up if it weren’t for his aching side and head, but all things considered (once the memories poured back in) this was pretty nice.

It was good that he’d been able to stay awake as long as he did to fill Cody in, and then wait for news on the condition of his squad. It wasn’t until he’d gotten the last positive update about Tech that his body finally allowed him to take some of the rest he desperately needed. His younger brothers had not woken at that point, and Wrecker had fallen asleep a while before, but Hunter felt they were far enough out of the woods to let go. Just for a bit.

But a bit turned out to be an entire day.

He had blinked awake to a chatty Wrecker who was already regaling him about their mission. His brother’s usual enthusiasm and humor was back, making Hunter easily relax against his side. No matter what had happened down there in that ship, he knew that Wrecker would be the same. The squad’s rock and anchor.

“Oh man, and did you see how close that last set of droids had gotten to us? I swear I could have counted the bolts on them!”

Hunter chuckled, leaning back into his brother’s chest, “I know, I was there too, Wreck.” He kept his voice low as he carded his fingers through Tech’s hair. His youngest vod’ika had been wrinkling his nose and shifting for the last half hour, and Hunter was hoping he’d wake soon. He’d been worried sick over him down there, and just wanted to see him be back to his usual bright self.

He glanced over at Crosshair, whose arm was still curled protectively over Tech’s waist. Even in his sleep he looked mildly pissed off, probably because of the overly bright lights of the medical ward interfering with his rest. Hunter made a mental note to ask one of the AZI’s to dim the lights next time they hovered over here. No matter what mood Crosshair woke up in, Hunter would be glad for it. He just wanted them all safe and together.

“If only I had more of those thermal detonators, Hunt. I would have gotten even more, boom!” he said, his body jolting their shared cots enough that Hunter winced and Crosshair finally began to stir.

“Keep it down, and turn off the kriffing lights,” Crosshair mumbled, still mostly asleep as he swatted at the air above Tech. He looked like he was about to adjust his sleeping position and go back to sleep when his movement must have aggravated the still healing wound in his side and he gasped fully awake.

His hand only hovered over his own wound for a second before he turned his frantic attention to the brother in his arms. His hand dropped over Tech’s chest this time, as if feeling for his heartbeat.

The pissed off expression had morphed into one of fear, and Hunter was quick to reach out to steady him.

“Easy, Cross, easy,” Hunter hushed gently.

Crosshair glanced up at him, “Tech, is he alright? Did they fix him? Did they check his heart?” his rapid fire questions were so unlike him that Hunter found himself still hushing him and squeezing the sniper’s arm in a very specific pattern. Tech’s heartbeat. It would bring them both comfort in how strong and steady it was.

“They checked him over. He is due for a couple more bacta injections over the next couple days, but they said he’ll recover just fine,” Hunter soothed, feeling Crosshair begin to relax under his touch.

“And…no lingering heart problems? They’re sure? None?” Crosshair pressed, his gaze turning back to Tech where his hand still rested over his chest.

Hunter shook his head, not entirely sure why Crosshair was that worried, but glad he could at least assure him that all would be fine. Tech would be given a perfect bill of health in a few days. All of them would be.

Crosshair slumped down from his rigid posture at last with a pained sigh, “Okay, okay…” he said, like he was trying to tell himself that. His face was still creased with concern, but it suddenly smoothed out in surprise when Tech began to stir between them at last.

“Hey, there you are,” Hunter whispered as he gently coaxed Tech back to consciousness, still running his hands through his hair.

Tech’s eyes blinked widely behind his goggles as he looked around the room they were in. It must have been a little startling to black out after flying a ship to the surface, only to wake up in a brightly lit medical ward.

“Hi, Tech! You had us worried for a minute there,” Wrecker laughed, reaching over to lightly tap his brother’s back. Tech grinned over at him shyly.

Then Crosshair finally moved his hand from Tech’s chest down to his hand and squeezed it, “Welcome back, nerd.”

He seemed to settle a bit after hearing his brother’s voices, and slowly began to pull himself into a half slumped position. He looked them all over for a bit, poking at bandages and such, before falling back at ease against Crosshair. Seemingly tuckered out after less than a minute of playing medic.

“You all seem adequately recovered. Nothing lasting I hope?” he asked sleepily, rubbing one fist over his eyes. It would have knocked his goggles off his head if not for Hunter gently pushing them back in place.

“Just a few more days of treatment and we’ll be able to leave I’m told,” Hunter said, and Wrecker cheered at the news, “But we should all rest while we can. You still look pretty tired, both of you,” he said knowingly, glancing at the two younger clones.

“I’m not a child,” Crosshair snapped.

“I know you’re not. You’re an injured soldier, and so is Tech. I need you both rested and ready for the next mission,” Hunter replied easily, but not without a bit of edge to his voice. One that actually had Crosshair jolting in shock at. Like he just remembered it was his sergeant he was talking to, and not just another brother. But then Cross settled back with a happily smug look, like he was glad that Hunter was throwing in his rank for once. 

Tech seemed to think it over for a moment, “Would they be able to bring me my data pad now?”

Hunter shook his head with a laugh, “Pretty sure Cody has it tucked away somewhere until you’re feeling better.”

Tech’s lips twisted up like he tasted something sour before he blew out an agitated breath, “Fine. Might as well rest more then,” he grumbled, and turned around until he was pressed more firmly against Crosshair’s chest.

Crosshair’s arms almost reflexively encircled his brother and settled down with him, even thought he was grumbling continuously until they were both reclined against the pillows.

The sniper had shut his eyes for a moment, only to snap open into a glare a moment later. Boring holes into the older clones, “You both look like kark too. If you don’t sleep then I’m calling the droids over and telling them you have headaches.” His threat lost some of its effect because they were said while holding his vod’ika like a stuffed tooka.

Hunter and Wrecker both put their hands up in surrender, Wrecker chuckling as he also reclined back against the pillow.

“Fine, fine. Too boring to stay awake anyway. I want to get out of here and get our next mission!” he said. His words made something in Hunter’s chest pull with that same anxiety he had felt when Cody had given them their first debrief…but this time he was able to quell the surge of panic when he remembered what his brothers and him had just managed. As scary as it was, and as difficult as it had been…they’d done it.

“Rest first, Wrecker. Then we’ll see who wants us next. But before you all bunk down, I just wanted to say…I’m proud of all of you,” he said calmly, feeling the truth in his words.

Crosshair’s nose wrinkled up in distaste at the heartfelt confession, while Tech blushed furiously from within his arms.

“We’re proud of ya too, Hunt. Thanks for leading us out of there,” Wrecker said this punctuated with a sound slap against Hunter’s back that nearly had him doubling over. It hurt where it hit, and where it jostled his healing wound, but Hunter managed a small smile before it fell again as he caught sight of the bandages on his brothers.

He sighed, and stared at the thick wrap around Crosshair’s abdomen. He couldn’t see it now, but he knew there would be a scar there that a simple bacta patch wouldn’t be able to fade away. Wrecker too. Scars cut into his brother’s skin permanently, proof how close it had been.

Crosshair seemed to read his mind, because he growled under his breath and rolled his eyes, “Don’t look at them as your failures, like I know you are doing,” he said and gestured to his side, “This is proof I am still here. This is proof of all I’ve lived through. This is proof I survived and I’m stronger because of it. Don’t sully them with your guilt, Hunter, because I’m as proud of these as you are of us.”

It was sharp and harsh, but it was exactly what Hunter needed to hear.  

He sighed, looking them all over with tired, but happy eyes, “Having my brothers at my back is the best and worst thing I could ever imagine heading into battle. I didn’t want to put you in danger, but here I am leading you into it again. I want to do right by all of you, and I don’t want to mess up because that means you all getting hurt or worse. That’s why I was so hesitant when we got this mission. I was scared that I wasn’t going to perform as needed. I didn’t doubt any of you, just myself. I shouldn’t have let my own fears get in the way from the start, and I’ll try to do better next time.”

Crosshair groaned like Hunter’s little speech pained him, but then he caught Hunter’s gaze with a lazy stare over Tech’s open and earnest face, “If it is of any consolation, we not only trust you to lead us into danger, we also will do our best to protect one another too. It’s not all on you. We are soldiers, we know what that means now. You don’t have to soften a blow we were all ready to take.”

“We wouldn’t have followed you this far if we had any doubts,” Tech added firmly.

Wrecker nodded too, “There’s no one else who could lead us like you do, vod.”

“And I would agree entirely.”

All four of them startled as Cody’s voice suddenly entered the room, all of them turning to see the commander smiling as brightly as his painted armor as he walked up to them.

“Sorry it took me a minute to come see you boys, I was stuck in a meeting when the droids sent a message that you were awake. I wanted to come by and congratulate all of you on your first and very successful mission,” he said, looking over them proudly.

“Uh, thank you, sir,” Hunter said, awkwardly pulling up the thin blankets over all of them. He hadn’t expected to see the commander while dressed in nothing but scrubs and with all four of them piled together, and he was struggling to not blush under the attention. The others seemed equally flustered, save for Tech who was perking up again as Cody appeared.

“Did you get the necessary data?” Tech asked eagerly.

Cody nodded, “Sure did. Everything was there for us to start piecing together some intel on our enemies. Although, you lot went a little bit above and beyond in that regard. Not only do we have data maps and flight paths, but with the ship we’ve been able to learn more about what kind of armament we may be encountering in future battles. They’ve even begun to review the ship’s structure for possible weaknesses in designs. The generals are very pleased and a little confused, but nonetheless grateful for your efforts.”

Tech’s head tilted like it often did when he was confused or thinking too hard. Crosshair had joked it was because all his thoughts had gotten too heavy to hold his head up straight, and that thought always made Hunter chuckle.

Tech pulled slightly away from Crosshair’s arms to lean towards Cody, “Did we really do a satisfactory job though if we all returned injured? We had to alter our plans several times as well when circumstances kept changing. I…” he glanced down at his hands that he was wringing together, “it was my plans that we had to keep changing when things started to go wrong,” he admitted guiltily. Hunter tensed up ready to jump in and defend Tech and his plans, but Cody raised his hand to stop him, beating him to it.

Cody was looking down at Tech with such fondness that it made Hunter’s heart ache. It wasn’t often that anyone showed any kindness to them, let alone someone with as much power and rank as Cody.

It seemed not even the commander was able to resist ruffling their vod’ika’s hair, and he did so for a moment before letting his hand linger there, making their eyes meet, “No pilot learned anything in calm skies, kiddo. You are soldiers, missions go awry, and you must adapt to survive, Tech.  Just like you’ve been doing your entire lives. You boys are only just getting started, and if this mission is anything to go by… then you lot will rattle the stars.”

Hunter was shocked at hearing the praise. And so were the others it seemed. Crosshair was silent, not words of sarcasm to be found. Wrecker was just blushing under the kind words, too happy to even shout for once. And Tech seemed satisfied enough to lay back against Crosshair with no further questions.

Of course Hunter had been proud that they had gotten out alive, and even got the data, but hearing that they’d done well by Cody and the generals too…kriff, it felt like for the first time that maybe they were as good as they’d always hoped to be. That all their training, pain, and drive had finally paid off.

They’d really done it, hadn’t they?

All four of them exchanged shocked looks that quickly melted into content smiles as they all finally took in the victory that came with their first ever mission completed.

Cody was still beaming at them, but all it took were some AZI droids buzzing closer spouting the benefits of rest for recovering bodies that had the four rolling their eyes and Cody laughing at their put-out expressions.

“Well, I suppose that means I’m about to be kicked out of my own medical ward. I will be back later though, I want to hear more about this mission of yours. Until then, rest up. The GAR will be needing your skills again very soon, I assure you,” he said with a wink, turning on his heel and walking away.

Seeing him walk away, suddenly they were all very very tired. And this time they truly believed that they would need to recover enough to face whatever came next. Because they had a ‘next’ now. This was only the beginning. They could scarcely believe it.

So the four of them settled in to rest, none of them too far from the other. Together, as it should be.

Epilogue

Cody had been right. They’d barely gotten the all clear from the medics before Hunter got a message detailing their next mission. This time to a planet on the outer rim suspected of smuggling weapons into neutral zones. The real catcher there was that most of the planet was covered in volcanoes, making it dangerous for any normal squad to investigate. But they were no normal squad.

Plus, Tech had nearly bounced out of his boots in excitement at getting to go to such a “fascinating” planet. Hunter made note to keep an extra close eye on his brother, just to make sure he didn’t walk into any lava pits while distracted by everything else. But he had to admit even he was a little curious about such a place. It would be good practice for him to track in such a different environment.

It was nice to be able to leave the medical ward at last too. They all could use some stretching, because Wrecker was right. Sitting around here was boring. The medics didn’t even let him have his new knife to twirl to pass the time, something about injuring himself worse, but whatever. He had it back now, and he’d start practicing with it the moment Tech got them out of atmo.

He guessed that Tech was just as eager to get his data pad back, and Crosshair his rifle. Cody at least had been nice enough to bring Wrecker Lula early on, her being the only thing that was deemed safe enough for the medics to allow.

Things were finally falling into place as they should be, and they were all getting back to normal.

“Now if Tech could just avoid cooking his insides this time, then this mission should go much smoother.”

Wrecker laughed as they boarded their ship. The Marauder this time, ready to accompany them as part of the squad, “Given where we’re going, I’d be more worried about him cooking his outsides.”

Hunter saw Tech roll his eyes as he boarded the ramp behind them, “My decision to electrically charge that puddle may not have been the most logical one, it had most definitely been the correct one,” Tech said with a huff.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I still think I could have taken those droids on myself. Then my kill count would have been even higher!” Wrecker said as he playfully elbowed Crosshair in the ribs.

Crosshair sighed, slapping his arm away, “You got lucky. It won’t happen again.”

“Ha! We’ll see!”

Hunter let their bickering wash over him like cool water, washing away any lingering doubts about him and his squad. There had been enough doubt about them their whole lives, and it was written into their blood to show them that they were all wrong. And they would rattle the stars to prove it.

In my head, I'm a chemical dreamer
Speed up to burn out mode
Coming up in the fifth dimension
Beautify, don't crucify me, yeah
So I need no mind game poisoning my lonely soul
Losing sure is easy, so I am no more

But I'm not broken, in my dream I win
And I take over, 'cause I'm no loser
And I'm in and you're not, bad dreams don't stop
But I'm all screwed up, a cosmic castaway, yeah
A cosmic castaway, yeah
A cosmic castaway

-Electrasy