Chapter Text
The Zillo beast was raising all kinds of havoc in the lower levels of the Tantiss base.
It was as per instructed by the Jedi kids and Omega who had been in connection with the Zillo through the Force as part of Omega’s revised plan ever since having realised her family had come for her.
These actions certainly surprising the base leader, Doctor Hemlock.
Even with most of the hired help, the TK troopers having been ordered to secure the beast, they were failing fast in their task. But the Zillo certainly did not complain. Getting its fair share of snacks in the process.
Echo and Emerie had reached the vault finding the four kids all alone there with Omega.
With their keepers nowhere to be seen, something which shouldn’t have been much of a surprise for either of the two as loyalties certainly having become fleeting for the Empire and its leaders especially during crisis situations like this one had turned out to be. Then again, these were Hemlock’s top specimens, so leaving them unattended had been a pretty poor judgment call to make.
Well, all the better for the kids and their would be rescuers.
“Echo! Emerie!” Omega rushed to the Arc immediately, hugging him with all she had.
“They’re all gone.”
Emerie managed to utter after glancing around the vault, the topside monitoring space empty as well. Not even Doctor Scalder present there. Yet another surprise.
Emerie having been pretty sure Doctor Scalder had coveted Emerie’s job since get go and only waiting for the opportunity to stab the proverbial vibroknife in Emerie’s back. Things were certainly nothing like the usual around the base, something new for the solemn Doctor.
And yet, she was all in now with the rescue and leaving the base behind. Her loyalties having become quite clear to her. Which was residing with the clones and their plight.
“Abandoned their posts, like rats fleeing a sinking ship.” Echo spat out in disgust. “Are you alright Omega?”
“I am fine as are the others.” Omega turned to the children, still sitting there staring at the two arrivals.
“We better get you out of here.” Emerie pressed on not wanting to get caught while saving the children.
“Yes, there is quite the ruckus going on below deck. Apparently some large specimen having gotten lose there.” Echo chuckled.
Echo having once again scomped into the base’s systems while keeping tabs on the status there just to be on par of things not wanting any surprises while running a rescue op.
“Well, we kinda released the beast.” Omega gave the other kids a sideways glance, the others smirking back. “And told her what to do.”
“Her?” Emerie sounded surprised again.
“Yes, the beastie is a she. We talked to her too.” Eva revealed to the Doctor.
“You really did do that?” Echo sounded surprised as well, then again after everything he knew of Omega and her abilities, he really should not have been that surprised.
“Yes. We all connected with her.” Omega explained further.
“Well, good for it… her. But we’d better get moving. Even if there is a distraction going on for now, it could very well end at any moment.” Echo warned the kids.
“What of the other clones?” Omega asked sounding worried again. After all, it was the reason they were there, right?
“We’re going to free the prisoners. All of them.” Echo stated flat on sounding adamant too.
It had always been the mission after all. Freeing the clones.
“What of the commandos? The shadow clones?”
Omega knew they weren’t themselves, none of them serving willingly. Something she had felt already early on, much like with Crosshair when the chip first activated.
Echo wasn’t really sure as to what to tell Omega, but then Emerie chimed in.
“Omega is right. The troopers are conditioned as are the CXs. They do not operate out of free will.”
Emerie then turned to Echo, knowing his abilities from what Omega had told her and seeing Echo in action during their brief time together, the Arc having easy access around the base and tapping into the base computers without too much trouble.
”Echo I need your help to plug them out and release them from the hold of Hemlock’s orders.”
Emerie knew now what Omega had wanted to do all along. Her wanting to save the clones. All of them. And Emerie was damned if she could not help.
“Is it safe though?”
Echo wasn’t sure how much of the conditioning remained and whether the two of them could actually control these clones after their release. Worrying about the others and whether the assassins would attack them.
“It is. There is part of the programming we can hack into. With your help of course. The more extensive reprogramming will have to be done elsewhere.” Emerie explained further.
Echo contemplated this fact for only a brief moment before nodding in agreement.
“Let’s get to work then.”
Turning to Omega and the rest of the kids, having a serious expression on his face as he was worried about the wee ones. But… he gave them the order just the same.
“Omega, it’s up to you and your friends here to free the clone prisoners. You think you’re all up to the task?”
Echo was sure Omega could do it. As with the rest of the Batch already on their way as were Rex’s clone force arriving too. Echo having managed to send the coordinates of the base during the flight over.
“We are on it! Sir!”
A soft smile emerged on Echo’s face. Putting his trust in the little soldiers the kids suddenly had become. Only this time, fighting for their own freedom.
They each took to their tasks.
Emerie and Echo heading to the computer lab where the CX clones were kept while Omega and the kids took themselves to the prison levels.
It was time to release them all. Even Nala Se if she was willing to leave. Something Omega hoped she would. After all, Omega owed her as much, the scientists having helped her escape the first time around not to mention hiding Omega’s abilities from the Empire for so long.