Chapter Text
‘Sometimes, laying low, taking care of ones own, is just, not enough.’
“We have enough credits.”
Hunter was recapping their status for the umpteenth time. The team having hit a major score during their last op for Cid.
Or at least, it was the case in Hunter’s mind. Something enough to retire on.
“We can take pack up the Marauder with whatever we need for a longest time. Just the five of us. And leave.”
The others were listening in. Really carefully. As Hunter was once again, trying to sell his big plan to the team.
“We can find some planet, beyond the Outer Rim. Something with a mild climate, with little if no inhabitants there. Just making sure there is enough in food resources, like fish and meat and no major predators. With that, we should be able to lay low there for as long as we want.”
“As long as we want.”
Echo repeated the words in a rather monotonous tone.
Because this, was hardly what they all wanted, now was it?
Well, that much was for sure, at least in Echo’s mind.
“Yes, Echo, that is the idea. Our idea. The dream for us when we are free. To live our lives as we see fit.”
Hunter had his eyes fixed on Echo’s. The Sergeant clearly challenging him, even if there was no contest going on between them. Not really.
The other three did not comment.
But they had discussed this. Amongst themselves. As a group for sure.
But also, one on one talks had been held in the quiet corners of the night when no one else was listening in. About what they should do and what they wanted to do. And if seemed that for a few of them, they were the same thing.
But for Hunter, it was not.
The status quo, the way things were now.
Running ops mostly for Cid and a few for Rex, had been fun for a while. Well, not fun, mostly not. But something they had needed to do for their own survival and then, helping their friend and kin, Rex.
But, the Empire was breathing harder down their necks these days. Sometimes literally, with a few close calls during their missions. And so, it was no longer safe to simply run ops willy-nilly.
And that was why Hunter had started pushing for them to make the few final ops, even if the danger was ever present. Not the least one being the failure on Serenno, still fresh in all their minds.
But they had managed to pull smaller jobs and to save enough to do what Hunter was now suggesting. To retire.
Besides, Cid had already stared painting in the ever darkening clouds over all of them. The fact that the Empire was slowly but surely closing in on Ord Mantell.
Hunter gave a reflective glance around the table the five of them were seated at in the Parlour.
“So, shall we take a vote then? All in favour?”
Hunter was going to let them have this, even if he was the leader.
They all glared back at Hunter, but soon enough, the hands started rising.
Wrecker, Tech, Omega, even Hunter himself, raised their hands.
As they all turned to look at Echo, who was definitely not in the mood for any of this, but…
“Fine!”
Raising his hand in agreement of the plan. Even if he really did not like this decision, at all.
But they were a team. A tight knit family. And so, it was all for the good of their family. Right?