Chapter Text
I never miss a thing!
The mission having gone as planned.
They mostly did and with a high success rate as well, nothing new there for Clone Force 99. Wrecker even having gotten to blow up something and everyone in general being in a good mood because of the operation having gone as planned.
But as they had gotten back to the Marauder, Tech taking his position at the helm with Echo by his side as the co-pilot, Crosshair being no where in sight.
They had all made it to the ship without a doubt, even in their haste. Hunter having checked they were all present and counted for before take-off. So none of them worried about Crosshair not being in sight at the moment.
As per his usual, Crosshair took the seat right behind Tech on their way back to Kamino.
Alas not today.
No, today something rather odd was going on with the surly sniper without a doubt.
Tech and Echo guided the ship up and into space in no time. None of them wanting any of the possibly remaining clankers to get them in their crosshairs. Although they had pretty much made sure the Seppie base had been obliterated after downloading the data they had gone after and letting Wrecker go all ‘boom’ with it afterwards.
“Taking her into hyperspace, now.” Echo reported before switching the levers.
The bright white swirling lights in the viewport flashing by as they entered the familiar corridor of faster than light speed.
Just then Tech turned and glanced seeing the seat right behind him empty.
Something of a cold shiver running through his body as he saw the sniper not there. Trying to glance around, but Crosshair was not in view anywhere in the immediate area.
“Have you seen Crosshair?”
“I um…” Echo took a look-see as well, the usual spot void of the sniper. “He was right behind me when we got inside of the Marauder.”
Tech simply stared at Echo, not really sure what to say to the comment.
“Hunter made sure we were all in.” Echo assured Tech seeing the horrid expression, but the Arc was getting rather worried too as this was, unusual.
“I will go and check the aft.”
Tech got up without further comment. Making his way towards the back of the ship, checking each and every nook and cranny possible as Tech moved past Hunter and Wrecker sitting by the galley table.
“Have you… where is Crosshair?” Tech asked the duo, getting agitated for not spotting the sniper in any of his usual haunts. Those precious and shadowy corners the sniper liked to retreat to when he wanted to be by himself.
“Yeah. Cross is in the gunner’s mount.” Hunter told Tech then, not sure what was going on and why Tech was so worried. “Something wrong?”
“No… no I don’t think so.”
They all knew Crosshair liked to hover close to Tech after a mission, any mission. Alas today, Crosshair had clearly wanted some space. Again, nothing really unusual there at all.
But to Tech there was something wrong, something unusual about Crosshair’s behaviour. Having never been too far away from Crosshair after any mission, their tradition of sorts. Being there for the other, if only in the comforting presence.
Tech left the other two in a hurry, heading to the gunner’s mount.
Seeing the chair occupied, Tech climbed the few steps into the space. As despite it becoming cramped even with the two slim clones in there, Tech needed to know why Crosshair had chosen to forgo their post mission tradition.
“Crosshair?”
Crosshair let out a heavy sigh, not even turning to look at Tech.
“Cross… I…” Tech’s hand hovered over Crosshair’s back, not daring to touch him though.
“Leave Tech.” It sounded rather harsh and was immediately followed by a softer. “Just, please go.”
Tech swallowed, audibly. Not sure what had gone wrong. What he, Tech possibly had done wrong. Or was Crosshair simply having one of his mood swings?
But honouring Crosshair’s request, Tech left the gunner’s mount.
Heading to the cockpit without a single word in edgewise. As what was there to say? Crosshair was clearly needing his space.