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Crosshair could feel that his eye was bruised and swollen as he groggily opened them.
“You are awake,” the gruff voice of the clone assassin noted. “Perhaps you are more willing to answer my questions now, CT-9904.”
Crosshair glared at the CX-2. He spat at his feet.
“How disappointing.”
Crosshair’s ribs pinched, his breathing heavy and ragged. He knew he was going to die here, but he would do so willingly if it meant Omega would be safe.
“It is quite interesting,” CX-2 said, igniting a shock stick. “You have formed such a strong attachment to a being for whom you could not care less only a year prior.”
The assassin turned sharply on his heel, the shock stick mere inches away from Crosshair’s chest. He didn’t flinch or struggle, choosing to stare into his enemy’s dark visor.
The stick was pressed to his stomach, yet he didn’t scream as the waves of electricity rolled through him. His body shook and strained against the restraints.
“Though what I find more interesting is the loyalty you show to your old squad,” CX-2 continued after he removed the shock stick.
Crosshair fought to catch his breath as the restraints were all that held him upright. His waning weight pulled down against his wrists, lifted and restricted on either side of his head. Between the fatigue and his broken ankle, his legs were doing practically nothing to support him.
“Even after they knew of the inhibitor chips’ ability to alter a clone’s mind, they still abandoned you on Kamino. CT-9904, you must be aware that during Omega’s time on Tantiss, she was never harmed. It is well known that she came to visit you quite often. You could easily tell me her location as revenge on your former sergeant.”
Crosshair glared, straining against the binders.
“No one fought for you,” the assassin continued. “Except for… one.”
Crosshair failed at hiding his confusion.
“One of them fought with the others to bring you back, to force you back onto the ship. The one person who had always been by your side, Crosshair.”
Crosshair’s eyes widened. Not once in the… three? Maybe four days he’d been imprisoned had the other man called him by anything but his number. CX-2 was setting the shock stick down, and had begun to remove his helmet.
“Your twin ,” he muttered. “The one brother who was always in your corner. The one who would give his own life for the chance of finding you. You have forgotten him, but I will ensure you remember.”
The helmet was set on the table and Crosshair realized he was face to face with a twisted reflection.
The clone before him stood at his height. His face and build were so similar. His light hair had been buzzed down to the skin like Crosshair’s own had when he was with the Empire. Instead of seeing his own reticle tattoo, gnarly circles of scars ringed his eyes where his goggles should have been.
“Tech?” was the first thing out of Crosshair’s mouth in the last few days, his voice hoarse and coming as barely a whisper.
“No, I am CX-2,” he answered. His voice was almost the same as Crosshair remembered, but it was missing its melodic quality. “‘Tech’ died on Eriadu.”
“Y-you’re—”
“‘Tech’ died looking for you .”
“You’re still my brother,” Crosshair rasped, pleading with his twin. “I won’t leave you behind. Tech, I still remember you.”
“‘ Tech ’ is dead ,” CX-2 asserted. “You will soon join him.”
The shock stick thrust into his chest.