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Crosshair’s going to pretend that seeing Omega and Hunter meditating together isn’t hurting his eyes. They look so stupid. Just sitting there, eyes closed, cross-legged, doing absolutely nothing? Gungi was a fun friend and all, but this is really not cool.
They’re both dumb.
“Are you going to join them?” Crosshair asks disgustedly when Echo’s gaze lands on the duo in the back.
Echo scoffs. “No. I don’t enjoy solitude. I had enough of that on Skako Minor. If it weren’t for Omega, I’d still be a prisoner there. Or worse.”
“That why you stick around?” Crosshair asks.
Echo hums thoughtfully. “This was where I fit, where I was needed.”
“I suppose Omega needs you to keep her from doing anything stupid like that for too long.”
His older brother laughs. “Yeah. You could put it like that. Though it’s something the Jedi do for a reason. Doesn’t mean it’s something that ever stuck out to me.”
“I know. It sounds so, so boring.”
He scowls at Wrecker for punching his shoulder, playful or no. “Yeah!” his brother laughs. “I’d rather be out there, blown’ stuff up. When can we get our next mission? I’m so bored!”
Ugh. Crosshair’s bored, too, and he hates being bored.
“There’s an incoming transmission,” Tech calls, “From Rex?” He sounds confused, and Crosshair is too, but they scramble for the front to hear it out.
Rex is dressed different now, and they haven’t heard from him in a while. But he looks the same, and oddly cheerful. “Hey, boys,” he greets, smiling. “Any chance I could use you for a mission?”
“Finally!” Wrecker cheers. “I’m tired of waiting for Cid!”
“Yeah, me too,” Crosshair grumbles, “She is really bad at finding missions.”
“What do you need, Rex?” Echo inquires.
“I'll explain everything when you get to Coruscant.”
“Coruscant?” Omega repeats, “You want us to go to the heart of the Empire? What for?”
“It's a covert mission. A simple data extraction, but a crucial one,” Rex replies. “I’ll send over a flight plan to bypass Imperial security and coordinates to a safe landing zone.”
Omega’s frowning a bit, but she slides into the pilot’s seat and hits the controls to close up the ship and take off.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Hunter asks.
“It’s unlikely the Empire will expect a group of children to show up for a data extraction,” Tech replies,
“I just want somethin’ to do,” Wrecker whines, and Crosshair wholeheartedly agrees.
“Yeah,” he adds in favor of his twin, “Cid’s left us sitting here for hours.”
“And we will all pretend you do not have studies to do,” Tech says flatly.
“Why do that when we can go on missions?” Crosshair asks.
“Because it helps going on missions.”
“Why are we arguing about this?” Hunter asks tiredly.
“’cuz we don’t all like staring at the walls,” Wrecker protests.
“Or our eyelids,” Crosshair adds flatly.
“Strap in,” Omega calls over her shoulder. “We’re making hyperspace now.”
They scramble.
***
Despite Hunter and mostly Omega’s worries, they make it through Coruscant’s atmosphere, past all the security, and glide happily down into some sort of garage bay in the underworld, safely hidden from sight.
“Glad you made it,” Rex tells them on greeting, gesturing to the Pantoran at his side. “This is Senator Riyo Chuchi, and these are the special clones I told you about.”
“Hello,” Omega nods, smiling a little, helmet tucked under her arm.
“Thank you for coming,” the Senator replies – wait. This is a galactic senator? Is she Imperial? Well, clearly not, but Crosshair thought all the Senators were Imperial. Still weird, though.
“What are we doing here?” Hunter inquires.
“Inside. There's something I want you to see,” Rex replies, motioning towards the bay back inside.
He leads them to a table with some sort of – wait, is that a coffin? Yikes. Did somebody die?
Hunter’s face is screwed up in just as much uncomfortable worry.
“He's an assassin,” Rex says, showing them the box, and the dead clone inside. That’s weird. Everything about this seems weird, and Crosshair’s actually never seen someone post-dying for quite a while. Echo must’ve sensed his discomfort somehow, because he pulls him away from the body. For once, he’s actually grateful. “His identifying number's been wiped.”
“I thought that was not supposed to be possible,” Tech protests.
“It isn’t,” Omega frowns, “At least not that we know of. I guess maybe if they cut out the area it was put in, but…”
“When you dragged us along, you didn’t tell us that we were dealing with mutilation,” Crosshair complains.
“No one asked you to picture it,” Hunter tells him.
Crosshair shoves him.
Hunter pushes him back.
“Who was he sent after?” Echo asks, ignoring them completely.
“A clone contact of mine named Slip. He said he was in danger. I came to Coruscant to get him out, but the assassin got to him first. Nearly got the senator, too,” Rex replies. Omega pointedly steps between them and their glares at each other.
When Crosshair looks up, he sees the tense, drawn look on the Senator’s face. She’s shaken from the murder attempt.
“Why would a clone be targeting another clone or a senator?” Echo asks, face dark.
“To silence us. Admiral Rampart has the entire Senate believing Kamino was lost to a cataclysmic storm. Slip witnessed the truth. I wanted him to testify to Rampart’s crimes.”
They’d picked AZI up in the aftermath of Kamino’s destruction. After Daro, they’d gone there to… check it out, only to realize the place was gone. The droid was the only survivor, after which they took him to Ord Mantell. His memory banks would contain some information, but the Senate is stupid, and what does Crosshair know about it?
“Our droid does have some of that in his memories,” Omega says quietly, “We watched it ourselves. I wanted to know what happened.”
“I don’t think the Senate would listen to that,” Echo tells her.
“I know another way to provide the Senate with the evidence of the Empire's crimes. The command log on Rampart’s Venator. Slip made a copy of it on the ship's backup data banks.”
Now they’re taking. Crosshair exchanges an excited look with his twin. “Where’s the Venator?” Wrecker asks with a grin.
“Being retrofitted at the Imperial shipyard right here on Coruscant. Lots of security, but I know a way in,” Rex answers them all.
“Rampart’s Defense Recruitment Bill goes to a vote tomorrow,” the Senator says. And she somehow didn’t think to tell them about it before right now? Very thoughtful. Not that Crosshair would ask for help before the end of the world, either. “We must prove his crimes before it passes. I'll return to the Senate and garner support where I can.”
“You could still be in danger,” Rex objects.
“Then I must be on the right track,” the Senator replies fearlessly.
“I think one of us should go with her and keep an eye out,” Omega offers, “I would like to, but if we have to infiltrate that ship, I need to be there. We’ll need Echo and Tech, too.”
“I’d like to go, too,” Hunter agrees, because he always gets gets-to-go rights when something fun is happening. Which is so not fair. Crosshair is going to out beat him and Tech someday. He has to. That’s not fair.
“It’s gonna be one of the twins who has to stay,” Omega says, gaze falling on the two.
Wrecker deflates.
“Why one?” Crosshair asks grumpily.
“I think two would draw more attention than it’d keep off,” Omega points out, and he does not want to admit that she’s right. But she is. And he hates that with the fire of a thousand suns.
“But I wanna go!” he protests.
“Staying with Chuchi is an important mission, too,” Omega argues, patting his shoulder. “Hey, this can be your first solo mission. How does that sound?”
He crosses his arms and pouts. “Boring.”
She laughs. “Okay. Well…”
“It’s gonna be fun,” Hunter protests, lightly elbowing his shoulder. “You’ll see.”
Crosshair glares at him on principle.
“You can't enter the Senate district without an Imperial security clearance,” Chuchi ventures.
“That will not be a problem,” Tech pipes up.
“I hate to say it, Crosshair, but I think you’re our best pick,” Echo says with a sympathetic look. Just stay alert and focused.”
Ughhhhhhhhhhh.
***
He has to wear something ridiculous over the rest of his clothes to hide them and look more Pantoran. It would help if it weren’t bright purple and blue. It would look better if it weren’t on him. and that’s right where they are, walking through the Senate halls when they run right into Admiral Rampart.
He destroyed Kamino, and he’s walking here freely.
Crosshair glares at him from behind the Senator, shifting a little closer to her, though all the words they exchange seem forced friendly.it make shim hate the admiral even more. The talk is brief, and Chuchi takes him in to show him the Senate meeting room.
It’s big.
Probably the kind of place Omega would love to see.
Apparently, the clones don’t have any representation, which doesn’t seem fair in the slightest. He tries not to be angry, but he’s still hurt. Chuchi promises she’s trying to help, and then they’re called to the underworld where Bail Organa drops word, telling them to find Halle Burtoni, the Kaminoan ex-senator.
Nice, now the planet is gone and the Kaminoans are neither meant to represent their people or the clones. They don’t even have a planet anymore.
It’s… upsetting. And it makes him really angry. He was not the great choice to deal with politicians.
Chuchi is nice, though. She’s always soft even when he’s being grumpy and snapping at everyone.
Senator Burtoni, unlike most of the Kaminoans Crosshair has ever seen, is purple. Lavender, technically, but she’s still purple. Kaminoans are usually gray. Or tan. Or light blue. It’s just freaking him out to see.
“Tell me about the missing Senate appropriation funds that were earmarked for operations on Kamino,” Chuchi requests, “Funding for the cloning facilities has been siphoned off for over the past year. You had to have known.”
“Of course, I did,” she answers flippantly.
“Where did the money go? Who diverted the funds?”
“You're a fool to bring me here. Do you know what happens when you dig around where you shouldn't?” the Kaminoan asks.
“Your people deserve to –”
“My people are gone,” Halle Burtoni replies flatly. “The few remaining Kaminoans scattered throughout the galaxy are of no importance to me, and therefore, not my concern.”
“That’s it?” Crosshair demands disbelievingly, “You don’t care what happened on Kamino? That was your home. Your world, your people, and you’re just gonna say goodbye?”
“Why do you care, child?” she asks.
“Because Kamino was my home, too!” Crosshair yells back sharply. He deflates onto the couch with a sharp exhale, glaring. “I’m a clone. We saw what happened to Kamino. That was our world.”
“I suspected an attack was imminent. Lama Su was arrogant. Too confident his clones were a necessity to the Empire. But none of us are,” she replies.
“Did Admiral Rampart divert the funds?” Chuchi asks again.
“You already know the answer. But yes.”
“You must testify to that in front of the Senate tomorrow. He cannot continue to get away with what he's done.”
“Rampart is a mere cog in the machine. And my word won't do you any good. You need concrete proof.”
“I need both,” the Pantoran amends, face pinched in concern. “And I'm running out of time.”
***
They’re lucky his brothers and Omega get back with the information, and Crosshair has to speed-run it back to the Senate, barely on time to watch the ending of the Senate meeting.
Bail Organa displays the hologram across the entire room, and Crosshair winces as he watches, sees what was left of their home being blown piece by piece into the sea. As he sees the fire and smoke. Even seeing Kamino again hurts. Which I stupid, because he’s a soldier and not supposed to hold onto anything. They don’t get anything permanent in their lives. But he, just, it hurts.
At least Rampart is arrested.
Crosshair sits in the doorway, watching as an alarm sounds and the Emperor himself rises into view. Personally, he was just rolling his eyes about the whole thing until he starts going on with a “the fact that the clones under his command so blindly followed orders, inflicting such carnage without hesitation, gives me pause. Perhaps, it is time for a change” and leans forwards, eyes narrowing.
No, this sounds like double-playing.
“Now more than ever, building a strong galaxy requires protection and security. Due to the nefarious actions of Admiral Rampart, and the immediacy of the bill on the floor today, it is my opinion that this legislation is our future. With this momentous act, we shall usher in a new era. Heralded by the Imperial stormtrooper.”
What?
No, this – they told the truth. They outed what happened on Kamin to the whole galaxy, and no one is accusing the Emperor himself? No one is looking deeper? How can the entire Senate be caught right up with this?
Chuchi comes back to dock at the area Crosshair is waiting for her, expression ashen. “I’m sorry. I thought we could stop this,” she tells him softly. Her hurt is shown clearly in her eyes.
“Yeah,” Crosshair sighs, body sagging with frustrated exhaustion. He wants to let his anger out, hit something, maybe go a bit feral and beat up the Emperor himself. But none of it will help anything. And it won’t save anyone. His anger is never-ending, but it never helps anybody, anyway. He just wants to make a difference. After seeing Gungi, he’s never been able to forget what the Empire did to the kid. He deserves so much better than that.
Now, all they can do is trudge back to the garage bay to meet with his brothers and sister again, though none of them look happy for reasons that he could swear is far more than how they failed their mission.
“The Emperor wanted us to implicate Rampart to get what he was after all along. Senate approval for his stormtrooper program,” Rex says darkly.
“The fate of all the clones is now sealed, because of us. What's gonna happen to them?” Echo inquires, eyes turning to the Senator.
“I don’t know,” Chuchi replies, “But I will keep fighting for the clones. You all deserve the same rights as every citizen. I won’t give up.”
Crosshair nods to her understandingly, mostly just hoping she’ll be able to make a difference in that roomful of irritating buffoons.
Omega sighs. She looks… sad. Like she has barely enough will to shuffle back to the Marauder. “If you or Anakin ever need anything, you can ask us,” she requests. Somehow, Crosshair feels like they won’t, but might as well throw the offer out at any rate.
She turns to Echo, gnawing on her lip in a way she does when she’s nervous and finally bolts forwards, hugging him tightly. Echo hugs her back. “We’re gonna miss you,” she tells him, blinking like she can barely hold back tears.
“What?” Crosshair asks, confused, worriedly looking at his brothers in desperate confusion. He knows he’s missing something, but – but –
Hunter looks down. Tech looks away, and Wrecker kicks aimlessly at the ground. “Echo’s leaving,” Hunter tells him quietly, “He wanted to help Rex.”
“Stay safe,” Echo is saying, giving Omega’s shoulder a final pat before they back away from each other. She nods, saying nothing, starting for the ship.
“You know, you can always come back,” Hunter requests, more of a plea than anything else, but he’s too stubborn to actually beg.
“I know, kid.” Echo squeezes his shoulder tightly, pressing a hand to his back when hunter throws his arms around his waist.
“Don’t get in trouble,” Wrecker advises, “An’ tell me if you find something to blow up!”
Echo laughs. “I will. Promise. You stay safe, too.”
“We’ll be fine!” Wrecker protests, trudging for the ship, but he looks back, shoulders slumping with dejection.
“Good luck, Echo,” Tech offers, shrugging a bit. He looks empty, and Crosshair feels empty, too, Because he didn’t know. They really didn’t tell him until last minute. And he’s hurt. And confused. And angry.
“You too, kid.” Echo pats his shoulder in turn, just leaving Crosshair.
“How can you just leave?” he asks bluntly.
“The clones will need our help now more than ever. I can't turn my back on them.”
“But…” he protests, frowning. “We’re a squad. You can’t just walk out.” The hurt swells in his heart, even if he knows Echo has always had a hole elsewhere. He was always meant for more than them. He might be a Bad Batcher, but he’s still a reg. He’s not…he’s one of them, but he’s something else, too. Crosshair had forgotten that. Somehow, he had accepted that Echo was their squad member so far that he forgot he had another life. Other people he cares about.
It hurts.
“This is something I have to do,” Echo replies, kneeling in front of him. “I'm going where I'm needed. Just like I did when we came here.”
“But you know how it is,” Crosshair argues, “We’re barely surviving as it is. If you’re gone…”
“You’ll be okay,” Echo promises, “You’ll figure it out. I know you will. And besides, I’ll be back. This isn’t forever.”
He’s going to get to see his general again, and Crosshair feels a bit spiteful about that. He tries not to. It’s just not fair. But Echo made up his mind, and he can’t make him chance it. He just has to deal with it, which also doesn’t seem fair. “I don’t want you to go,” he says instead.
“I know.” Echo hugs him, too, briefly, but it still lessens the ache in his heart. “But we’ll see each other again. I promise.”
It’s a try, and Crosshair really doesn’t take for it, but he has to accept it, because that’s all he can do. He hugs Echo tightly and backs away, hoping desperately this is the last time he ever loses one of his brothers, because he doesn’t think he can survive this a second time over.
Going to the ship hurts, but it’s what he has to do, so he does it. Just like he does so many things he really doesn’t want to. He wishes it weren’t so hard to walk back to the ship, but the others are waiting, and he sees Tech and Omega already getting the ship ready to fly.
Crosshair slumps on one of the seats in the back beside Wrecker as his brother clutches Lula to his chest. Hunter’s staring at the computer screen, subdued, and they all watch through the viewport as Coruscant disappears from sight.
Taking Echo along with it.