Chapter Text
‘The future is never written. It is or rather will be whatever you’ll make it to be for you and yours.’
“You know what makes us different from the droids? We make our own decisions and then live with those choices.”
Cody’s voice still echoed in his mind. Haunted him, taunted even. Until the choice was made. Because this life wasn’t the one he wanted any more.
*
Crosshair was running. Fast.
Zigzagging across the shadowy streets of Coruscant.
The imperial soldiers after him were firing and it was becoming more and more difficult to evade the blaster shots barely missing him. Hastening his pace while trying to get as far away from his chasers and to his rendezvous point.
Because time was of the essence. His contact waiting for him. Having been arranged by one of the imperial officers sympathetic to the clones trying to escape the Empire. And now Crosshair was one of the many taking their leave.
Permanently.
But if he was to miss the scheduled time of his ride then he would be stuck without any means of escaping on his own. Something his contact had warned him about. To be there on time or else.
Leaving the imperial base had already proven difficult. With Rampart watching over his shoulder at all times. Crosshair having become the prime suspect himself in aiding clones to escape. And even if it was true there was no evidence indicating him. That much Crosshair had made sure of.
Crosshair quickly visually scanned the area around him. Trying to make his best guess as to which way to head. Because he needed to lose his tail. Not to mention him being pressed for time. And so, taking a shortcut was a must.
Trying to remember the holomap he had memorised just before embarking on this chaotic trip to save his own life. And then it dawned on him. The route which he could take to make it to the extraction point in time. Hopefully.
Crosshair turned around quickly to have a check on his current status. Seeing the pursuers closing in on him again which wasn’t good at all. Making his choice was an easy one even if his selected alternate route was a dangerous one to take. But it was either that or getting caught.
As he was nearing the selected point Crosshair stopped in his tracks and started taking several steps back. Necessary for the speed needed for his jump. The ledge he had chosen to be leapt over just ahead.
With the imperial soldiers getting closer and closer, Crosshair was having little if no time to adjust his stance or even calculate his trajectory. No, this one would be a leap of faith if anything. And Crosshair was prepared to do just that. Leap into a fate unknown.
Crosshair started running as fast as his long legs could carry him. Closing in on the ledge he made the jump. Pushing his body as high up as possible sending him flying through the air in a way too fast speed to control. But it could not be helped now. If he was to fall. So be it.
Because the only thing running through Crosshair’s mind was the fact that he could not get caught by the soldiers chasing him. It was not an option any more. Going back. Because the consequences now would be that of his death.
Crosshair tried to control his landing the best he could. The tried to tuck in and roll. Unfortunately, the velocity of his jump was causing all kinds of havoc and Crosshair smashed right into the pavement. Hard. Crosshair could feel the impact all over his body. Most likely having several fractures everywhere.
Pushing all the pain, all the aches and thoughts of injuries aside and deep into his mind, Crosshair managed to get up and with a hint of a wobble finally managed to gain his balance. He looked back up from where he had jumped from and could see the soldiers glaring back at him. And just as he did look at them they took aim and started firing again.
Crosshair cursed out loud and with gritted teeth started moving again. It would take more than fractured bones to deter him of moving. And so he did. Move. Picking up the pace. Half jogging off the spot knowing it would take some time for the soldiers to reach the plateau he had landed onto.
Crosshair ran as fast as he possibly could with the toll of the injures soon kicking in.
But it wasn’t far now. The place he was supposed to meet his contact. His pickup. His way out of here. From the Empire. From Coruscant. And possibly, to freedom.
And so Crosshair kept on going. Defeat never an option for him. Not now when he was so close to escaping.
As Crosshair approached the coordinates he was able to see someone there. A shadowy figure all by themself. The contact? At least that was whom Crosshair hoped they would be. Sitting on the hover bike. Only waiting for Crosshair to arrive? Yes, it had to be the contact. And so trusting it was them, Crosshair pressed on.
Thank the Force for small favours!
Crosshair was out of breath. The sting of the various injuries all over his body resurfacing and the overall exhaustion of having run for a longest while were getting to Crosshair. But he was so close now. Crosshair could see the outline of the figure become to view more clearly even if his vision was starting to blur because of the exhaustion of the trip over.
Forcing his limbs to move with sheer willpower Crosshair was so close he could taste the beginning of his freedom. Reaching towards his goal with his last strength Crosshair could see the contact waving at him. He had been right to trust after all!
And then he heard the voice calling to him. His name. It was as if being inside of a dream.
“Crosshair!”