Chapter Text
A peaceful island stood alone in the bright blue sea. The beach rounded out in a gentle curve, the sand fading into the water at the edge of the ring. A dense jungle was on the other side of the shore, beckoning adventurers to come with it's calls of wildlife. A flock of birds flew out into the salty air, and out from the jungle came three clones, all dressed in the same blue, orange, and tan colors.
Echo tripped and fell face first into the shallow water by the shore. Hunter helped him up as Wrecker ran out of the jungle with a large crate in his arms.
"Go, go, go, go, go, go!" The demo man shouted as they ran down the beach. Behind them, giant crabs scuttled out from the jungle, screeching in anger and chasing them.
"We went over the plan five times!" Echo said, opening his hand in a gesture.
"I got the package, didn't I?!" Wrecker retorted.
"Just keep moving." Hunter ordered as they ran, the crabs on their heels.
•°•°•°•
Not far away, the Havoc Marauder was docked on a rock overlooking the sea. On the lowered ramp sat a girl of 14, with thick blonde curls that rolled down her neck and forehead. Her brown eyes scanned numbly over a datapad that showed Imperial ships of all types. She let out a breath and put the screen down, laying back and staring up at the open sky.
Footsteps sounded from the inside of the ship and out walked a tall young woman of 17. Her thick black hair hung past her shoulders and over her forehead in bangs. Square goggles that often protected her bright yellow eyes sat atop her head. She wore blue armor with orange and white highlights, though her pauldrons were green and brown. She wore no leg armor, save for the bits of metal strapped to her thighs, tan pants, and her boots. A blaster was in a holster on her hip and a vibro blade sheathed by her thigh.
"How's it going?" She asked the girl.
Omega shrugged from where she lay on the ramp. "It's all just starting to blur together. I don't think I'm learning anything."
Althea sat next to her, crossing her legs. "Yeah. Tech has me memorizing everything too."
A soft splash sounded in the water. The two girl leaned over the edge of the ramp to see fish swimming by beneath them.
The familiar pace of their brother gained their attention as he stood in the doorway. "Does this unscheduled break mean you two are fully versed in every ship in the Imperial fleet?" He asked as he pushed up his goggles.
"Do we have to?" Omega asked. "We're on a mission."
"That does not give you a pass on your studies." Tech told her as he picked up the datapad.
Omega let out a groan as Althea rolled her eyes. But before either of them could protest, the comm in the ship beeped.
"Tech, we've got the cargo, but we could use some firepower." Hunter sounded out of breath.
"Wrecker woke the pod, didn't he?" Althea guessed as she stood.
"Yeah, and they're not happy. We need a pickup."
"Copy that." Omega said as they ran inside. "We're on our way." She grabbed her bow and hat from a console chair and slipped them on. Althea pulled up her grey mask that covered her nose and mouth as Tech powered up the ship.
The sound of the winch reached their ears and the two girls ran back out to the ramp to see something tugging on their line.
"Tech," Omega said with a smile. "we caught something. And I think it's big."
"Release the line." The pilot told her. "We do not have time to–"
Suddenly, two crabs jumped into the Marauder as Tech was trying to fly away. Althea moved to release the line when a third crab jumped up from below. Tech moved the ship away, causing Althea and Omega to stumble. They grabbed onto the line and slid down, trying not to fall prey to the crab below.
"Omega! Thea!" Tech said.
"We're okay!" Althea called up. She looked up to see the crabs on the ship digging into it. "They're wrecking the ship!"
Tech tried his best. "I cannot shake them."
Althea and Omega started to climb up the cable, but there wasn't much for them to grip. Althea looked down at the crabs, then back at the ship. She nodded to Omega. "You ready for this?"
The blonde nodded before sliding down the cable, Althea on her tail. The two girls landed on the crabs' shells and rolled onto the ground. They pulled out their weapons and blasted the crabs off the ship. But that left them with more crabs to fight and no way to back on the Marauder.
"Uh-oh." Omega said. She shot at the crabs in front of them, but they lowered their shells in defense. Althea saw the familiar glint in the young girl's eyes.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" The medic asked.
"You bet."
The sisters blasted at the crabs, and when the lowered their shells, they ran up them and jumped off onto the ground, running away. They ran as fast as they could to escape the crabs. Tech flew over, two cables dangling from the ship.
"Grab the lines." He said.
Althea shot at a crab in that popped up in front of her and ran over it's shell. She caught the line and clipped it to her belt as Omega did the same. The girls blasted at the crabs as Tech flew them to pick up the others.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•
"Tech, where are you?" Wrecker asked as they ran. He was answered by the Marauder flying over, shooting at the crabs while two figures dangled from the cables. Wrecker set the crate down as they swooped in.
"Why are the girls hanging off the ship?" Hunter asked, surprise and frustration filling his words.
"It is an unscheduled study break." Tech said, as if trying to find the right words.
Omega and Althea retraced the cables and stood on the ramp, firing all the while. They unclipped themselves and lowered one of them, allowing Wrecker to attach it to the crate. Hunter, Echo, and Wrecker stood on the crate, firing at the crabs as they went up. Once they were up, everyone ran inside.
Wrecker grunted as he set the crate down in the cabin. "I thought the beach was gonna be relaxing."
Hunter and Echo sat down in the console chairs, taking off their helmets. The tracker turned to the girls, who had holstered their weapons.
"Appreciate the backup," he said. "but try staying in the ship next time."
Omega grinned. "We'll try. But it was still pretty fun."
Althea smirked. "We got a taste of adrenaline now, Hunter. You can't hide it from us forever."
Hunter stared at her before shaking his head, a small smile on his face. "Sure, kiddo."
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
As the squad entered Cid's parlor, they were met with AZI, who was serving drinks to customers. "Greetings." He said. "It is I, AZI-1345211–"
"Yeah, yeah, we know." Wrecker said as he carried the crate through the parlor to Cid's office.
"You are all quite late." The little droid informed them. "Mistress Cid has been extremely vocal about her displeasure."
"Well, there's a surprise." Echo said.
Once they were in the office, Wrecker set the crate down.
"Well, well, well." Cid said, her voice full of it's usual frustration. "The space lugs decided to finally show up."
"Better late than dead, I always say." Said a new voice. Behind Cid's desk sat a woman with her feet up and a drink in her hand. She had warm brown skin a shade lighter than her eyes. Gold rings were woven through her thick brown hair, tied back with a blue headband. She wore a brown jacket, with a blue shirt underneath and thick pants.
"And who are you?" Hunter asked the new woman.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The mystery woman replied.
"That's why he asked." Althea said from where she stood by Wrecker.
"So," the woman stood, taking her drink with her. "this is the top team you've been talking about? The rogue clones on the run from the Empire, huh? How juicy."
Hunter's smokey brown eyes glanced to Cid. "You told her?"
"Don't get twitchy." The Trandoshan told him. "Phee's a friend. She's the most trustworthy pirate I know."
"Is that supposed to be comforting?" Echo asked.
Phee walked closer, a small frown on her face. "Aren't clones supposed to look alike?" She asked. "So much for quality control." She looked at Althea. "Are you even a clone?"
"No, I'm their pet." Althea replied with slightly evil grin, bearing her teeth.
Phee's expression changeed to something of a slight concern before she moved on. "This ones too big. This one's too small. This ones got a face tattoo. Yeah, real subtle." Her demeanor changed, however, when she came to Tech. "Oh. Hey now. Got a name, Brown Eyes?"
Althea thought she fell and hit her head, that this was all some crazy lucid dream. But from they way Wrecker's eyes snapped to her, wide and full of questions, she knew it wasn't. The medic resisted the urge to scream at the top of her lungs. Their team had been on many adventures and seen many strange things, but this took the cake.
Tech looked up from his datapad. A flash of confusion crossed his face before he adjusted his goggles. "Tech." He answered. "However, the phenotypic eye color of for all clones is brown. Iris pigmentation was not affected by our mutat–"
Phee and Cid shared a look before the former spoke up. "Well, as fascinating as this has been, I have places to be." She took a sip of her drink before dropping the cup into Cid's hands.
Phee stopped in the door and patted Wrecker's shoulder. "You, let's see those muscles in action. Grab that and follow me."
The demo man looked to Hunter, who nodded, before picking up the crate and following her out. "Uh, y-yes, ma'am."
"And, Cid, that intel is not free." The pirate said. "I expect a cut if your 'top team' comes through." Her and Wrecker left, leaving everyone else confused.
"What is she talking about?" Hunter asked in a low voice as he turned back to Cid.
"Your next mission." She said. "You lot are heading to the Outer Rim." She pressed a button on her table, activating a hologram of a castle.
"That is Castle Serenno," said Tech. "the former home of Count Dooku."
"Who's that?" Asked Omega.
"A Jedi who betrayed the Republic and led the Separatists in the war." Echo told the girl.
Cid nodded. "With him being dead, Dooku's entire war chest is up for grabs. The Empire has already started pillaging his palace, but there is still time to strike before it's all gone."
Althea looked up at Hunter, knowing he had the final word.
The tracker's eyes narrowed in thought. "Too much of a risk." He said before walking out. "You want the war chest? You go after it."
Althea furrowed her brow. It wasn't like him to shut Cid down so fast.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Hunter sat at the bar, Omega held a datapad in the seat next to him, and Althea looked over her shoulder.
"What class of shuttle?" Hunter asked. "Lambda or Delta?"
"Lambda--class." Both girls replied at once.
Hunter smiled. "Very good." He was about to quiz them again when Wrecker's whispers came to his ear.
"I'm in too." He said.
Hunter glanced over and saw everyone was in some sort of huddle.
"Good." Said Cid. "Now, all we gotta do is convince Dark and Broody."
"Convince me about what?" Hunter asked as he walked over.
Wrecker scratched the back of his head. "Uh, well, we took a vote, and we wanna go after the war chest."
"It's unanimous." Cid told him. "Even Killjoy over here agreed." She pointed her thumb at Echo, who's mouth fell open slightly at the name.
"Serenno is Imperial occupied." Hunter told them sternly. "We've stayed off the Empire's radar since Kamino. Why chance it now?"
"Because the contents of just one of those containers would be worth more than all the jobs you pulled for me combined." Cid told him. "You can buy your freedom."
"We're already free." The tracker declared, arms folded.
"It's cute you think that." Cid snarked. "Clearly, you're not paying attention to what's happening out there, but I am. It's only a matter of time before the Empire comes here. And then my little operation is over, which means no more jobs for you."
"She does have a valid point." Tech admitted as he fiddled with his goggles.
"You really wanna be free?" The Trandoshan asked. "Then pull off this heist, and you'll have the means to disappear. No more risky missions. No more living hand to mouth. You can have a future. Isn't that what you're after?"
The last few words struck a chord in Hunter. His gaze shifted back to the bar where the girls were studying the ships on the datapad intently. A small smile graced his face at the sight. He just wanted what was best for them and to keep them safe. And, maybe that meant pulling off one last job, risking it all for a chance at a better life. Was that not what they did when they defected, taking Omega with them?
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Hunter worked at one of the consoles in the cabin when Echo came in from the cockpit.
"I know why you agreed to this mission." He said.
Hunter kept his eyes on the screen.
"But we can do better things with Dooku's fortune than hide, Hunter." The ARC said. "With what we're up against, we have to be prepared to fight. That means numbers and weapons."
Hunter turned in his seat to look up at him. "That's not the kind of life these kids deserve." Omega was already more soldier like than Hunter wanted her to be, and Althea had been fighting as a child for two years. It didn't sit right with him.
Echo frowned. "Our lives are like this because of Omega."
Hunter stood, pushing Echo back away from the gunner's nest. The curtain was closed, but Omega still might have heard it if she wasn't sleeping.
"Taking her off Kamino was the right thing to do." Echo said quietly. "But there are others out there who need our help. We've seen what the Empire is doing throughout the galaxy. We should be doing more."
The ARC walked back into the cockpit, leaving Hunter to his thoughts. Echo wasn't wrong. They had been living on the run since they took in Omega, but they weren't worse off because of it. Sure, they barely had any money, but there was something that she brought that brightened the tiny ship.
But when her light had faded a little. She didn't laugh as often as she used to, and that worried Hunter. She and Althea deserved a normal life, no matter the circumstances.
The tracker walked into the cockpit just as Tech announced they were entering the atmosphere of Serenno. His gaze turned to Althea, who was asleep in the chair behind Wrecker's, one hand holding a datapad.
Hunter smiled softly at her. He reached his hand down and tapped her cheek lightly. "Wake up, kiddo. We're here." He said.
The medic scrunched her face before her golden eyes fluttered open. Her drowsiness was quickly replaced by the alertness of a soldier, eyes snapping into "awake mode"
Hunter glanced down at the datapad. The screen portrayed a picture of a planet with large leaves. Notes were written by it, no doubt telling of it's medicinal properties. Althea would often read up on a planets herbs before they landed, versing herself in medical knowledge.
"I'll get Omega." Wrecker said, standing and exiting the cockpit. He returned a few moments later with the girl in tow. Hunter glanced down at her, searching for any signs that she heard Echo earlier, but there were none he could find.
Tech landed the ship and they all exited. Serenno was a beautiful planet, with large trees that thinned before a mountain.
"So, where is the palace?" Wrecker asked as they left the ship.
"The city is on the opposite side of this mountain range." Tech said, pointing towards a tall mountain.
With their directions, they made their way towards the city. Hunter hung back for a second, seeing Omega hesitate in the doorway of the Marauder. "Are you coming?" He asked.
The girl nodded, slipping her hat and backpack on and running behind Hunter.
They came to a cliff, the mountain to their backs as they looked out. Where the city should have been were large craters and ruins. The only thing in one piece was the palace.
"That's the city?" Omega asked. "What happened to it?"
"Imperial orbital bombardment." Echo said. "Same as on Kamino."
They moved to a more open area, not as dangerous as a cliff, and looked out on the city. Large freighter ships were being loaded up by the palace.
"It appears that they are beginning to transport the war chest off-world." Said Tech. "Our window of opportunity is quickly closing."
Echo took the binocs and scanned the area below. "There's over 40 troopers down there."
"That's nothing." Wrecker grunted.
"Stealth, Wrecker. Remember?" Althea reminded him.
V-wing ships flew up next to a cargo ship that was leaving. "Imperial escort ships." Said Tech. "The standard protocol for when high-level cargo is being transported."
Hunter looked down at the scene before turning back to his team. "Get to the nearest container and grab what you can. I'll be the eyes on the ground. If things go sideways, I'll divert their forces and buy you some time."
Everyone nodded and split off, the main group going around, and Hunter heading down to the loading area.
Althea and the others stopped at the edge of the forest. "In position." She said into her comm. "And the second transport's launching."
"We've got roving patrols." Hunter told them. Stay alert."
"Let's go." Echo said when the coast was clear.
They ran to the nearest cargo transport and climbed inside. A trooper walked past them, but stopped and looked directly at them. Wrecker stunned him and pulled him inside, hiding his limo form. When he noticed everyone's disapproving stares, he asked, "What? I did it quietly."
"They will definitely notice when he does not report in." Tech told him.
"We'll, let's be gone by them." Echo said.
"We'll keep watch." Althea said, gesturing to herself and Wrecker. "Start loading up."
"Whoa." Omega breathed as she looked at all the cargo. "So this is what a war chest looks like."
"This is only a fraction of it," said Tech. "but that is all we need."
Echo nodded. "The priority is items of high value."
"Like what?" Omega asked.
"Anything shiny or heavy is a start."
Althea watched attentively when the unconscious trooper's comm beeped. "CT-8801, report. CT-8801, come in."
Althea bit her lip under her mask. "Hunter, I think we're about to have some company."
"Are you clear?" The tracker asked.
"Negative. We could use that diversion about now."
"On it."
Not a minute later and a few of the V-wings were blown up, sending every available trooper there.
"I'm heading your way. Be ready." Hunter instructed.
"Let's speed this up." Echo said. "Wrecker, Thea, those go first."
Wrecker stepped back to grab a large crate and heft it over his shoulder. Althea grabbed a case that was heavier than it looked. The two of them exited the ship, sneaking away. They ran to the forest's edge and set down their loads.
Hunter ran up to them. "Where are the others?"
"Still in the container." Wrecker said.
Suddenly, the transport ship started to prep for lift off.
"Tech," Hunter said into his comm. "the ship's taking off. Get out of there."
A moment later, Omega's panicked voice crackled through. "Hunter, we're trapped in the container. We can't get out!"
Hunter's heart hammered in his chest. "On our way." He ran forward, but Wrecker stopped him.
"Uh, Boss? I think they know something's up." He gestured to the increased amount of troopers in the area.
Hunter looked at Althea, who nodded. He let out a sigh. "We're done hiding anyway."
They ran out to the transport, firing stun blasts at the troopers. They jumped on to the ladder as the ship took off. Wrecker laughed with glee, but Hunter was trying to keep his grip. He slipped, and fell past Wrecker.
"Hunter!" Althea cried.
The tracker managed to grab onto one of the last rungs, catching himself.
As they got further away from the ground, Wrecker's joy grew to unease. "Oh, I'm starting to regret this."
Hunter looked down. He realized they had no chance of saving the others like this. "We gotta go."
"Go where?" Althea asked.
Hunter looked and saw they were flying over the palace roof. That could break their fall. "Jump!"
They bounced off the roof, sliding down roughly. Hunter grabbed onto Althea, holding her close as they fell. He cradled her head, protecting her only unarmored place.
"This isn't any better!" Wrecker groaned as they fell. They landed on the only flat surface.
Hunter looked up to Althea, who clung tightly to him. "You alright, kiddo?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." She said as she stood.
"Hunter, where are you?" Omega asked.
"Sorry, kid." Hunter said as he watched the ship leave. "We got a little side tracked. You need to get off that ship before it jumps to hyperspace."
"If we gain access to the ship's main hold," came Tech's voice. "we could commandeer an escape pod."
"Do it." Hunter said. "We'll get to the Marauder and recover you."
"It's gonna take awhile." Wrecker said. As soon as the words left his mouth, the troopers below began blasting at them.
"Quick! Inside." Hunter ordered as they slipped in through a window.
They ran through the halls until they came to a large open room. There was a desk/control panel, and large throne like chair, and a green tinted window.
"This place gives me the creeps." Althea muttered.
Suddenly, the door opened behind them. "Freeze!" Troopers started blasting, prompting them to hide behind the desk as they stunned back. The floor beneath them shifted under their weight.
"Any idea on how we're getting out of here?" Wrecker asked.
Hunter felt a small draft. It was coming from beneath him. He knelt down, his hand brushing against the floor. "We're not going out. We're going down. There's a lift below us. Cover me." He started to tap at the controls as Wrecker and Althea blasted at the troopers.
"What is taking you so long?" Wrecker grumbled.
"I'm trying." Hunter said. "Tech usually does this. Thea," he turned to the girl. "can you–"
"On it." Althea moved over and worked away at a speed much faster than Hunter ever could. The lift shifted beneath them, but did little more. "It's jammed." The medic informed them.
"Well, I can fix that." Wrecker announced. He threw a smoke grenade over, providing cover as he stood. He jumped once, the other two caught onto his plan immediately.
"Wait!" Hunter cried.
Althea's eyes widened. "Don't!
"No!" The synced as the floor fell beneath them. A scream escaped all of them as they fell.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
"Initiating the cargo release." Tech announced as he worked at his datapad. The container they were in shifted as it detatched from the ship, entering a free fall.
"When are the reentry boosters supposed to fire?" Echo asked as him and Omega crawled behind a cargo net to secure themselves.
"I think they should have by now." Omega said.
Tech gripped the net tightly as everything was flung around. "That is going to be a problem!"
A scream flew past Omega's lips as they plummeted to the surface below.