Chapter Text
‘The constant grind, never really feeling fine… it’s starting to get old, really, really fast!’
They had fallen into a, well guess comfortable wasn’t really the word, but a routine no less. Having become used to their captivity. As this was what soldiers did. Adapt.
Omega, Tech and Crosshair had made their stay as comfortable as possible with what little they had in the harsh environment of the laboratory housing the several clones held in stasis pods right there beside them. Not a pretty sight but there was nothing they could do for them at the moment. They could hardly do anything for themselves either except to give blood and yield to most of the testing they were subjected to. Luckily for the three though, it seemed that for now the testing had become less and less. For the moment.
Whatever that meant was a whole other can of worms.
But the three went through their days, biding their time.
Tech had gotten his glasses back thankfully. They weren’t the same as his old ones but still good and Tech was finally able to see after several days spent in the blur in the beginning of his stay after waking up from the medical coma.
Omega too had some leverage through Nala Se. Getting them some entertainment in the form of games and a datapad, a one not connected to any network. Well, at least that was the general consensus of it by the imps. Because Tech had started tinkering on it as soon as they had gotten it, doing his small adjustment whenever they weren’t being monitored. Which was rare but still there were times Tech could do his thing though.
It was time consuming but moving forward just the same. Bit by bit, pun intended.
What was the more frustrating part in all of it, was the three had no idea why they were being tested. Not of their own sakes nor the other clones being held in the base. Why they were being detained in the lab? What did the Empire want from them?
Dr Hemlock had promised Crosshair his freedom if he would give up the location of Clone Force 99. He had not. And still they had found the Bad Batch. For now they had Crosshair, Omega and Tech. As to Hunter, Wrecker and Echo, they had no idea. And no one was talking about the why to them. Not even Nala Se.
Emerie had made a big revelation for sure when Omega had arrived. That she was Omega’s sister.
But Doctor Karr had been quite absent from the trio’s room lately. Most likely helping Nala Se in her research. Whatever that was about. None of them knew anything. And being kept in the dark wasn’t something any of them liked. Especially not Tech, wanting all the possible information all the time. But none of their queries had been answered to.
What a surprise!
“Anything Tech?”
Crosshair was fidgeting around the small table the trio were allowed to use while eating, playing their games and well, watching something on the datapad. Not optimal for such interactions, but what was the other option? Do nothing and be bored? After all, Crosshair had seen the other clones in the cells, similar to where he too had been held before. And there was nothing there for them except their solitude, their own thoughts as their company for most of them. Not an ideal setting for any clone as they were never meant to be solitary. Something which Crosshair had figured out the hard way.
“Hold your horses Cross! This, is a delicate operation.”
They had little if nothing tool wise. Omega having managed to steal a few small tools when she had been taken to visit Nala Se. Something which the Kaminoan scientist had demanded as assurance to cooperate with the Empire. To make sure Omega was alive and well. And luckily, Dr Hemlock had agreed.
Omega still did not trust Emerie. But whenever Omega was visiting Nala Se, Emerie had tried to strike a conversation with her. And well, guess Omega had kind of warmed up to her? And Emerie sure had not commented nor ratted them out clearly having noticed Omega taking the few tool from the other lab. So there was that to consider.
“Do you need something else to complete the task? Other tools?” Omega was immediately trying to make herself useful. Trying to use her contacts to get them what they needed.
Tech tried to pinpoint something on the pad having opened the backside with the motherboard exposed. But the tool was way too big for the task and his hands seemed to be trembling. It was the aftereffect of their latest tests, all three of them having felt it to be worse than the few before. But whatever happened to them during said tests, they were unaware as they were usually sedated during the procedures. Thankfully.
“What do you need done?”
Crosshair having moved closer and offering his help. Hoping his hands to be more steady than Tech’s at the moment. Even if the two of them had recovered from shocks to their body before landing on this base, Tech’s had been in much worse condition and it had taken longer for him to heal.
They were still unclear as to how and where Tech had landed, having no real recollection of what had happened during and after the actual fall. Something of a mystery for sure. For now at least as Tech did have some thoughts about the possible scenarios of his subsequent survival.
Tech sighed in frustration. A simple task which before his fall and the consequent injuries would have been an easy enough task to complete even without proper tools. But his hands were still shaking. Worse than Crosshair’s.
“Look here.” Tech pointed at the place he had been tinkering with. “You need to connect this piece of wire to that one.” Giving the precise instructions to Crosshair, whose acute vision immediately honed in on the precise spot on the board.
“Should be easy enough.”
Crosshair sat right next to Tech and pulled the pad in front of him. Tech moved close enough to be able to supervise, his breath literally on Crosshair’s neck. Crosshair sighed and turn to Tech.
“Do you want this done or what?”
Tech adjusted his new goggles, still trying to get used to the feel of them. Nothing like his old ones had been, lacking in so many ways. Tech reluctantly moved a few inches away, leaving Crosshair the needed space to work in.
“Fine.”
Crosshair simply shook his head and started on the task. It wasn’t as easy as it had looked as the tool was too big for the job after all. But after several tries, he finally succeeded.
“There.”
Crosshair’s audience, Tech and Omega looked at the datapad and the result of Crosshair’s task.
“What happens next?”
Omega was only too hopeful they could actually make the datapad work in a way they could send out a message. One message most likely only. Tech having warned the connection on the board was not permanent.
But, there was another aspect for that to happen as well. They needed someone to cover for them. To make sure the frequency wasn’t detected. And that was where Emerie came in. Only none of the three trusted her.
“I still need to make a few adjustments and configure the now unlocked communications port, and then we should be able to to send the message.”
Tech had explained the process for the other two already once. But it was still a lot of technobabble neither Crosshair nor Omega were fully on board with. What it really was Tech had been able to do to the supposedly stripped down and secure datapad.
“So, we need Emerie to help us.” Omega sounded disinterested in the task at hand as she was the one the Doctor had been most friendly with. Tech and Crosshair not really interacting with Emerie part from when she was dealing with them during the testing procedures.
“That is the gist of it.” Tech knew from the facial expressions Omega wasn’t too happy in involving the Doctor in this. “And if we don’t get someone to cover for the brief time needed to send the message out then unfortunately we will be discovered.”
“Fine. I will talk to her.” Omega knew she needed to play it nice with Emerie. And that was going to be a trick she wasn’t sure she could pull after all. “But I don’t exactly trust her.” Repeating herself in the sentiment, the fact becoming quite clear.
“You said she was a clone.” Crosshair commented.
“She said it herself. But, there is no way to verify it. We don’t have the means to do it and when in asked Nala Se, she did not comment.” Omega had been spending some time almost daily with the Kaminoan so they did talk somewhat whenever they could as the Empire was always vigilantly watching them.
“But you don’t think she can be trusted.” Tech recapped pretty much what Omega had just said.
“No.”
“Well… if she doesn’t help us, we really are out of options as Nala Se isn’t able to do it due to her… um status of being a prisoner herself.” Tech wasn’t too happy about their odds.
“We have to try. As what other options do we have. Rot in this hellhole?” Crosshair had gotten more antsy the longer their stay had become with their non too gracious host.
“I agree with Crosshair.” Omega had thought about it too. “I mean the odds are against us, but we still need to try.”
The three were silent for a moment before any of them dared to talk. As it seemed they had ran into a wall after all the effort of modifying the datapad. Counting on the fact they would get some help in one of their two allies to run some interference on their behalf.
“So…” Crosshair stared at the other two.
“I will talk to her.” Omega sighed heavily, wanting to do her best. But also being afraid of the ramifications if Emerie was their enemy. Clone or not.
*
“Omega, I heard you wanted to talk to me about something?”
Emerie had gotten the message that Omega wanted to see her. Feeling happy about it as perhaps Omega was finally opening up to her. Wanting to bond perhaps? Having felt the hostility from the younger clone until now. Something Emerie could not really hold against Omega.
“Yes, Emerie… may I call you that or is it Doctor Karr?”
Omega was at her sweetest, with a fake smile plastered on her face. Thanks to Crosshair and Tech’s coaching her on how the fake it until it was breaking time. As they really needed Doctor Karr on their side. Or at least on Omega’s.
“Emerie is fine.” Dr Karr smiled suddenly and motioned for Omega to join her at the seating area in her small office space they had brought the young clone to. “What can I do for you, Omega?”
As so far, the young clone had not shown too much interest in her, not really wanting to spend time with her “older sister” even if Emerie had been on the earnest in wanting to get to know Omega. Having even expressed the sentiment to Omega flat on.
Omega seemed somewhat fidgety. The topic not an easy one as if she was to ask for Emerie’s help… well, there were two ways this could go. Either Emerie would help them or then, she would betray them to the Empire. Have their small team split or worse if word of their current attempt got out.
Omega was trying to get her act together. Remembering what Crosshair and Tech had taught her to do. How to act, what to look for in Emerie’s demeanour. All that spy stuff, as she had put it, which she had never really learnt before.
Drawing a deep breath, Omega composed herself. Putting on her best mask of a face and then deciding to come clean on what she needed from the good Doctor. After all, Omega needed to start somewhere and so staring from the top of why she was there for would be the simplest option.
“Look, Emerie…” Omega paused, thinking her words really carefully, not wanting to make the wrong comment to upset Emerie in any way. “I know we aren’t that close. Not really and not yet and honestly, I have no right to ask you what I am about to ask.”
Omega had been staring anywhere but Emerie, but her eyes quickly found the Doctor’s and letting Emerie read the hopefully truth found there. As even if she was a spy in a manner of speaking right at the moment, she still hoped Emerie was a friend rather than a foe and that the two could actually bond on some level.
“It is fine Omega.” Emerie’s tone was soft, calming even. Feeling the nervousness of the young clone clearly present. And the reason for Omega being there now more than simply coming by to say hello. “Please, tell me what’s on your mind.” Emerie motioned for Omega to sit down, the girl having fidgeted around the room so far.
Omega took the offered seat but feeling somewhat nervous still, she glanced around and then with a low tone asked. “Is this a… um, safe room?”
Emerie knowing immediately what she meant only nodded her response.
Emerie being no fool. Knowing how the Empire operated. And so, having installed a scrambling device in her office for any curious ears whom might just be listening into her conversations. Not that she conducted many a discussions there. But, having learnt the hard way to be safe than sorry, Emerie had made sure there was at least one place on the base she could feel, unwatched.
Omega looked at Emerie for a long moment before getting her courage back.
“I, we need you to help us with something.”
“You mean you and your two Batchers.” Emerie did not seem too fazed about the request.
“Yes.”
Emerie seemed to digest this for a moment. But she did not take too long to decide either, much to Omega’s surprise.
“I will help you.”
Omega was surprised, having prepared herself for the inevitable rejection. The troopers arriving to get her. After all, there was no reason for either of them to trust the other. Despite their supposedly shared DNA. At least that was what Emerie had claimed even if Omega had no proof of this to be true and Nala Se sure had not denied nor verified the fact either.
“You will?”
“Yes, of course. You, are all my family.”
Yeah, there was that claim again. Them being family. Clones. But Omega was willing to take the response at face value, the help offered. For now.
“Alright then. So, this is what we need for you to do…”
Omega quickly briefed Emerie on the plan and what the three of them needed Emerie for to be able to convey the message from the hacked datapad. As there was most likely only one try only Tech having warned about. And so this, them working together was crucial.