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The dull ache in your body gradually stirs you awake, the memories of the sudden attack swirling hazily until your eyes adjust to the soft light filtering into the room. A panicked voice breaks through the fog, and you turn your head to see Omega's friend, Lyana, kneeling beside you, her expression etched with deep concern.
"Are you alright?" she asks, her voice trembling slightly with worry.
"I... I think so," you reply tentatively, uncertainty lacing your words as you carefully sit up, the ache intensifying with the movement. "Or maybe not."
Battling away the pain, your attention swiftly shifts as you catch sight of Wrecker, unconscious, on the other side of the room.
"Wrecker!" You pushed through the discomfort, rushing to his side and taking his hand in yours as you gaze down at him. Then, the memories flood back.
Wrecker's panicked scream, the blinding flash of light, and the overwhelming heat—all come rushing back in a torrent. The Marauder, your sanctuary and home, reduced to ash in an instant. "Is he okay?" you ask aloud, AZI suddenly materialising by your side to provide reassurance that Wrecker's vital signs are stable.
"What a mess," you murmur, a heavy sigh escaping your lips as you try to process the devastation. "Where are the others?"
As you observe Lyana's uneasy demeanor, a sinking feeling washes over you. "Lyana, what's wrong?"
She fidgets with her hands, her expression weighed down by sadness. "She was here... with Crosshair."
Your heart skips a beat. "And were they alright? Where did they go?" You press, lowering yourself to her eye level, your concern palpable.
Lyana's voice quivers as she speaks, tears welling in her eyes. "I overheard her telling Crosshair that she was going to surrender... to protect us."
Your breath catches in your throat as panic grips you. You know Omega's selflessness, but you can't bear the thought of her facing such danger alone. Determination floods your veins. You have to find Omega and Crosshair before it's too late.
"Comm me as soon as Wrecker wakes up; I need to find the others," you instruct urgently, your tone commanding as you brush off AZI's and Lyana's pleas for you to rest. The thought of losing Omega again drives you forward.
Stepping out into the darkness, you move swiftly, avoiding any beams of light that might give away your position. Attempting to contact Crosshair, Hunter, and Omega yields no responses, intensifying your growing panic.
As you navigate through the shadows, dodging Imperial patrols, a ship speeds off in the distance, triggering a surge of fear within you. Leaping over a wall, you spot a solitary figure gazing into the distance.
"Crosshair?" you call out, breathless and fighting back nausea. "Where's Omega?"
No response.
You seize his arm, shaking him desperately. "Crosshair? Answer me!"
He bows his head in silence.
"Crosshair, please," you plead, frustration and despair bubbling within you. "Where is she?"
But, like before, he remains mute.
Rage flares within you, mingling with the despair threatening to overwhelm you. "Don't you dare shut me out again, Crosshair! Answer me, damn it!"
"She's gone," he finally murmurs.
Your breath catches in your throat, tears stinging your eyes. "Gone where?" You knew. But you needed to hear it.
He finally turns his head towards you, his visor concealing his emotions. "I missed my shot."
Your eyes widen in horror as the gut-wrenching realisation hits you like a blow to the stomach. You shake your head, tears streaming down your face. "No... no, no, no, you didn't miss. You can't have..."
"I did," he interrupts, the weight of failure evident in his tone. "I... I failed her."
A choked sob escapes your lips as your hand flies to your mouth, your knees giving way beneath you. Just as you had her back, she slipped through your grasp once again. "Why? Why would she do this?" you cry aloud, your breath coming in ragged gasps.
"It was her choice. We had a plan," Crosshair explains, his voice heavy with remorse. "But I fucking missed."
You sniffle, trying to steady your breathing as you rise to your feet. "It's not your fault," you assure him, mustering all the strength you can. "She trusts you."
He sighs heavily, standing stiff as you wrap your arms around him, offering comfort even if he doesn't reciprocate. You just need him to know that you don't blame him.
In silence, you both stand together, the occasional sniffle emanating from his modulator and from you, until a voice shatters the stillness.
Turning, you see Hunter, his armor and hair soaked, with Batcher by his side, breathing heavily. "Where is she?"
Words fail you, and Crosshair, as you both meet Hunter's gaze. His quivering lip betrays the grief he senses from you both.
"I'm sorry, Hunter," Crosshair finally manages, and Hunter's anguish is palpable. He turns away from both of you, hands gripping his hair as he hunches over. His shoulders shake with silent sobs, his own grief laid bare. Omega, a sister and daughter to him, is gone once more.
You watch helplessly as Hunter's grief consumes him, the weight of loss palpable in the air. His entire being seems to collapse under the weight of the news, his shoulders slumping as he struggles to process the enormity of the situation. Batcher nudges her face into his side, but it does little to ease the anguish etched on Hunter's face.
It's a raw, visceral display of heartbreak, one that cuts through you like a knife. You can only stand there, a silent witness to his pain, knowing that no words can soothe him.
As if summoned by the collective grief, Wrecker appears, his usually happy demeanor replaced by heartbreak etched across his face. You can only guess that Lyana had told him what Omega’s plan was and judging by the grief upon his family, it didn’t work.
His sobs echo through the air, the weight of sadness manifesting in every tear and quiver. With a roar of anguish, he lashes out, his powerful fists pounding against the wall before him, shattering it into pieces. Then, defeated, he slumps to the ground, his head buried in his knees.
"We need to do something. Anything," he utters, his voice thick with emotion.
In the midst of the storm of pain, you all stand together. Not a word is spoken, but the message is clear: you will do whatever it takes to bring her back, no matter the cost.