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The project? Can I leave now, please?
“Tech, is that you in there?” Crosshair’s hiss of a low whisper something Tech would recognise anywhere.
“Crosshair?” Tech just had to ask even he could tell it really was Crosshair.
“Yeah, genius, it’s me!” There was a low chuckle from the sniper.
Tech still wasn’t sure if this was an other one of the several hallucinations he had suffered from while being the guest of the Empire as they called his incarceration as. Or perhaps this was a memory or a dream he had conjured up to fend for his loneliness. Life as Tech knew it becoming somewhat of a blur and so not really trusting his senses at this moment in time.
Just in case this was real though, Tech got into a sitting position on the bed, making room for the sniper to join him there, to sit on it as well. What Tech had not excepted, was being grabbed, pulled against the body of Crosshair’s only to be held onto ever so tightly. Crosshair, was totally hugging him. And Tech was hugging Crosshair back.
As they let go of each other after what seemed a long while, the two simply stared at each other for a moment.
“Well, that was, new.”
“Yeah, kinda is.”
Crosshair having gotten his mojo back finally after Omega pushing on for the sniper to snap out of his haze. The kid finally managing to push the sniper to be part of the escape plan as well.
Crosshair was staring at Tech, him knowing what it was the sniper saw even if he wasn’t commenting. That was new too. The no snide remarks thing. But, Tech could only imagine what he looked like to Crosshair. The enhancements on his body sticking out like a sore thumb.
“I’m not exactly the same either.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter. You’re still Tech to me.”
“Well, mostly.”
Crosshair did not want to probe further, seeing it was uncomfortable for Tech to talk about. Another development for the sniper for sure!
“So, guess we are in the same place then?”
“Yeah, same hellhole of a prison. Omega’s here too among other clones.”
“Oh.” Tech had suspected as much, judging from a slip-up Doctor Karr had made at some point. Talking about an enhanced clone youngling. Which could only mean Omega. As before his fall, Tech was well aware the Empire had wanted Omega for their own sinister purposes.
“Yeah. But we are figuring a way out of here. Soon too. That’s why I’m here.”
Tech was contemplating the implications. Of what said escape attempts might mean. And deducing the reason Crosshair was there too.
“How did you find me?”
“Well, we did some digging, Omega suspecting you were still alive after the subterfuge of Doctor Hemlock’s. He had tried to be all coy about his new toy, but we both knew whom he was talking about… that bastard!” Crosshair was furious. It was one thing coming after him, but Tech, Omega, the rest of his team…
“I implemented Plan 99.”
“Yeah, Omega told me as much…. You… Idiot!” But it was said quite fondly, Crosshair knowing he would had done the same in Tech’s position.
“Still, they caught me. Brought me here… to experiment on…”
There was a spell neither of them spoke, there were no words after all.
“We managed to get into the system and figure things out… of what really was going on here.” Crosshair broke the silence just then.
“And you found me.”
“Yeah, Tech. We found you. And you are coming with us.”
There was a long pause again, the silence hanging between them somewhat of a theme it seemed.
Tech knew he could not go with them though. To endanger their chances of escape.
Being whom he was now, it would be much too dangerous just for the two of them to take Tech with them as he could not control himself most of the time. The program easily being able to take over. At least, Tech suspected any tampering, any deviation from the norm would make the Clone X programming to kick in Tech could not be sure of course, but it was the most likely hypothesis he could make with the information he had at hand. It was a safety measure he himself would have deployed after all. And they were using his brain for this. So…
“No, Cross, I am not going with you.”
“Wot?!”
“The changes they have made to me… I cannot risk it. Cannot risk you two.”
“But…”
“No, Crosshair. I want you two to go, get out of here. You can come back with full force later on.”
“I… Tech… I won’t leave you behind!” Crosshair having his best scary glare on, but that did not deter Tech.
Tech was silent for a moment again, then touching Crosshair on his arm and in a calm voice he said. “Crosshair, you are right, I have changed and not for the better. There is something going on with me and I cannot leave. Not yet anyway. Not with just the two of you. You would be helpless if I… turned… You two get out of here and then come back for me and whomever else they are keeping here.”
Crosshair could only stare at Tech for a moment longer but realising what Tech was trying to tell him. Tech, was different, something so… wrong going on with him at the moment.
“We’ll figure out a way Tech. We will come back for you. I promise you that, Tech.” Crosshair did not budge though, remaining by Tech’s side.
“Then we are in agreement.”
Tech forced a smile on his face, not sure if Crosshair or any of the others could keep the promise. But he could hope they could. Until then, he needed for Crosshair to move along, to get out and take Omega with him
With the promise made, Crosshair, albeit reluctantly, was gone. Leaving Tech in a slightly better mood though. As now there hope where there had been none. Even if it would take some time before Tech would be free again. Because if there was one thing Tech was sure of, that they never left their own behind, no matter how long it would take to get them all back.