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“No can do, fellas. I'm tied up at the moment. You'll have to figure it out yourselves,” Cid states flatly, brushing them off as though their desperate need of help means nothing.
“But you sent us here!” Omega argues, “We need your help.”
“Well, I didn't tell you to get your ship stolen, did I?” their employer sasses back.
Wrecker glares at her, as does Crosshair, hurt and confusion in his brother’s eyes the same as his own. “But we need you!” he protests miserably.
Cid looks them all over, then huffs. “All right,” she agrees begrudgingly, “Give me a few days, and I'll see what I can do.”
“But we don’t have enough food for a few days,” Hunter argues.
Cid cuts the connection anyway, leaving the five of them standing there empty-handed, watching the disappeared hologram of their employer.
Crosshair digs his fingers into the rock and flings a small movable one across the deserted village. His shoulders slump defeatedly. Wrecker doesn’t know what to do. He’s already hungry, and he only has a few rations left. He could eat that in one meal. They didn’t realize they needed to carry their entire ship with them.
“What do we do now?” Wrecker asks finally, looking helplessly at Hunter and Omega.
His sister’s jaw clenches a little, and she sighs. “We’ll figure something out.” She paces a few feet off and sinks onto a nearby rock. Hunter follows her, lightning flashing distantly in the sky again.
“Like what?” Crosshair asks, slowly rounding to her other side. Wrecker follows, and Tech slowly comes up to join them, sitting next to Hunter. Wrecker can’t help noticing the distance his brother puts between them, and it hurts. Tech was being mean earlier, but Wrecker really didn’t want him to be hurt, either.
He didn’t want him to be mad.
He was just… really mad himself.
“There is another town,” Tech offers finally, “We can search this village for remains of a speeder we can fix to take us there.”
“You have a good idea,” Omega agrees, “Hunter and Crosshair, keep an eye out, and watch the storm. Warn us if it hits again. Tech, Wrecker, and I will fan out and search for a speeder.”
***
“I’m bored, I’m hot, and I’m starving,” Wrecker rants. Slumping miserably beside the pathetic heap of junk that Tech insists will work.
“I thought I told you to preserve your rations,” Omega points out across from them, helping Tech fix two more pieces together.
“Ya did,” Wrecker grumbles, glancing over at his twin where Crosshair sits, just watching. “But… I got hungry. An’ I still have one left, but if I eat that, I’ve got nothing.” He tries to hammer another piece together, and instead, the whole side topples apart. Crosshair cackles, and Wrecker swivels a miserable glare at him. “We're wasting our time,” he complains defeatedly, “This skiff's a heap of junk.”
“Yes, but with a few repairs, it’ll be a slightly operational heap of junk,” Tech argues, “The energy cells have just enough power to get us to the town on the other half of the hemisphere.”
“That sounds good to you,” Wrecker snaps back.
“We forgot about Gonky,” Omega exclaims suddenly, strangely excited.
“Considering he is not with us at the present time, that is not useful information,” Tech tells her.
“No, I mean we can track Gonky,” she corrects excitedly.
Tech brightens. “Oh.”
She pulls out her datapad, passing it to Hunter. “Trace his binary reference code,” she requests.
He nods, sprinting to the transmitter and plugging in.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Crosshair grumbles.
Wrecker keeps working, a lot lighter than he felt earlier. Maybe they do have a chance at getting the ship back now. Maybe.
Hunter gasps excitedly. “Yes! I found it!” He plugs the cord from the terminal. “He’s a hundred kilometers east. And he’s still on-world, which means our ship is, too.”
Omega closes her eyes and exhales, visibly relieved. “Good. That means we know where we’re going.”
***
They do find the ship. Sort of. Tech tracks it to inside some underground facility, that looks like… well, awful. “This is worse than the abandoned spaceport,” Wrecker decides flatly.
“Are we sure anyone’s alive?” Crosshair snips.
“I cannot determine how many life forms are underground,” Tech argues.
“There’s Gonky,” Crosshair says, pointing.
Wrecker follows his gaze, but it’s too dark for him to see. He wishes he had his brother’s amazing sight. But Crosshair’s sight is – somewhat – what made him special on Kamino, so Wrecker’s glad he got that as his only power. But strength feels so useless sometimes.
“I think we should split in case the thief tries to run,” Hunter suggests.
“I agree,” Omega concurs, “Wrecker, Crosshair, Hunter, you circle around. Tech and I go in together.” She draws her bow.
Wrecker grabs his blaster, as do his brothers, and they head in.
The kid is easy to approach, and immediately tries to run when Omega and Tech corner him. He dives for his speeder, and Wrecker jump-tackles him off it altogether. They roll across the ground. Wrecker landing half atop him and quickly clamoring off to get his weapon. Crosshair’s rifle is aimed at his face, his little brother snarling viciously while doing so.
“Hey, Gonky, you okay?” Wrecker asks the droid, which immediately beeps affirmatively, though he seems grumpy.
Wrecker is grumpy, too.
“What do you care how that thing's doing? It's just a beat-up old battery,” the kid they’ve cornered snaps despite the weapons in his face.
“Watch your tongue or you’ll be nothing but spare parts,” Crosshair snarls.
“Not to us,” Omega agrees darkly. “So, let me ask you again. Where’s our ship?”
“Can you be more specific?” the kid has the audacity to ask.
Wrecker snarls furiously.
“That would be the one you stole form us yesterday,” Omega throws back sharply.
“Oh, right. That ship.” The boy actually laughs. “Well, Mokko has it. He gave me the droid as a gift.”
Gonky honks angrily at the blatant disrespect.
“And who is this Mokko?” Tech inquires flatly. He’s angry, too. At least he’s not still mad at Wrecker. He still feels like a complete idiot for managing to not notice this thief sneaking up and taking their home from them.
“Who’s Mokko?” the kid asks, standing. “He runs this whole town. He's the boss. Your ship's his now.”
“Yeah, we'll see about that,” Wrecker snaps.
“Take us to it,” Hunter orders with a shrug, slowly holstering his blaster again.
“No way.” He protests, “I can’t help you go against Mokko. You don't know what he's done for me.”
“Quite honestly,” Omega replies, “Right now, I don’t care. You took our ship, our home, and you are going to help us get it back. Consider that a good enough deal.”
“Yeah,” Wrecker snarls. “I’m sure Crosshair can be very encouraging.” So can he, actually.
The kid looks at their weapons again and sighs. “Alright. I can show you where your ship is. But if you get caught, you don't know me.”
“If we get caught, it will be because you sold us out,” Tech tells him flatly.
Yeah. Wrecker’s inclined to make sure he doesn’t get that option.
***
Benni does, actually, take them to the Marauder. It’s relieving to see again, except that it’s been stripped of most of its useful parts. Omega nearly got incinerated on the way in, but they did all make it even if the climb down was scary. But they did all make it in and through to the garage bay, so everything is fine.
“We still need to deal with the ray shield,” Omega sighs, scanning their wreck of a ship as they attempt to drag the hyperdrive back in place.
“You can only shut it down from the central tower,” Benni suggests.
Omega groans softly. “Alright. Volunteers? We need Tech here to help repair the ship.”
“I can go,” both the others offer at once.
“Negative,” Omega objects, “We need Crosshair here to keep an eye out.”
“We need all of us here,” Hunter replies. “The only choice we have is to let someone break away to complete the rest of our mission.”
Omega’s quiet for a moment, then looks at him. “Wrecker?”
He twitches, confused. “Me?”
“Yeah. Think you can do it?”
“Uh…” He doesn’t know. He thought so, but then the Marauder got stolen in the first place, and…
“Of course he can,” Crosshair shrugs, “He’s not just good for looking scary. He can do it.”
“Copy the data onto this,” Tech instructs, pulling a datapad from his belt – that he’s willing to part with it for Wrecker is amazing.
“You trust me for that?” Wrecker asks, staring, mind-blown. He didn’t think, especially after earlier, that Tech would trust him to do that. He’s why they’re in this mess.
“I am fully aware you are capable,” Tech replies softly. Omega smiles as she watches. Wrecker gets the feeling she talked to him like she said she would. And he’s really, really grateful. He still feels stupid.
***
Benni makes him wear some stupid loose cloth over the rest of his clothes, but it keeps the eyes off, anyway. And he hides the datapad on his belt under it, so… it works. He thinks. “Only Mokko's inner circle has access cards. We'll need to swipe one,” Benni tells him as they approach a room.
“You’re not part of it?” Wrecker queries, confused. With how he stole the ship and just gave it up, he thought…
“Not yet, but I will be. I'm working my way up. But if Mokko finds out I helped you, I'll be sent to the mines, so act natural,” he orders and they enter a dark, dingy room. Wrecker already hates it here.
“This place looked better on the outside than inside,” he grumbles under his breath, carefully sitting on a bench behind Benni, who’s conversing with some of the others.
Finally, the door opens, revealing a towering ugly creature backed by two guard droids.
“That’s Mokki,” Benni whispers.
“About time. I'm starving!” someone exclaims. There are whispers spreading all around, the hunger visible on all of them.
Benni bumps into Drake, one of the other children, discreetly swiping a card from his belt. Wrecker’s eyes narrow on it, but neither of them says anything.
“Can we go now?” Wrecker asks grumpily.
“Not yet. I wanna hear the tally,” Benni whispers back.
“All right, all right,” Mokko says over the excited chatter. Wrecker is not following what all the excitement is, but he just… watches. “I know it's been a lean season,” the man continues, “We’ve all had to make sacrifices and go without. Including me. While some of you have been working hard this quarter, others continue to fall short. But Mokko always takes care of those who earn.” The guards bring in a bowl of soup, and everyone perks up. “And, so far, this round's top earner is… Drake!”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Benni mutters, face screwing over with hurt.
“As for the rest of you, rations are low. Which means you need to work harder and longer if we're going to survive. But I won't let my crew starve.” They bring in another bowl, a single one for all the dozen kids in there.
He’s on a mission. Wrecker knows that, but he still reaches for his blaster, fury coursing through him.
You don’t do that.
Benni grabs his arm and pulls him into the hall.
He can’t sound the alarm, but he’s so, so angry.
Wrecker was so mad at him, and he’s still mad at him, but he had no idea Benni was trying to get food to survive. He had no idea he was being starved. He’s so thin. He’s seen people treated terribly, but this is awful. “You alright?” Wrecker finally asks, lightly nudging his shoulder as they walk deserted the deserted hall.
“No. I stole the ship, and it still didn't make me the top earner,” Benni scowls.
“This isn’t right,” Wrecker tells him, “Ya shouldn’t have to fight for food.”
“That’s how it works here,” Benni shrugs. “We all have to earn our share. But I'll impress Mokko. Just wait.”
“Just not at our expense,” Wrecker grumbles.
Benni gets the door open, and the duo enter the control room. He comms Omega to drop word that they’ve made it there, shrugging off the overclothes he was wearing and plugging the datapad into the control thing. Hopefully it’s the control gate, anyway.
Tech would be so much better at this. Wrecker is good at some things, but this is, uh….
Not explosives.
“They really treat you like you’re one of them,” Benni murmurs, leaning against one of the control panels. “I wish Mokko did that.”
“I wish you’d let me shoot him,” Wrecker tells him seriously.
Benni winces. “He’s taken care of all of us.”
“I know what it’s like to be hungry all the time,” he replies, “It’s awful. I’m… bigger than my brothers. Tech says my metabolism is faster. It means I’m always hungry. But Omega always helps. I don’t understand why you don’t all leave.”
Benni scoffs. “I can't leave. This is my home. It's what I know.”
“Our ship is our home,” Wrecker admits, “It’s the only one we have anymore. After we lost our old one.”
“I'm, uh, sorry I stole it,” Benni mumbles awkwardly, rubbing at the back of his neck He’s as awkward about it as Wrecker is, who shares the same gesture.
He slowly pulls out his last ration and tosses it to the other kid.
“Why would you give this to me?” he asks, confused.
“’cuz you’re hungry,” Wrecker explains, confused. That’s something for once he thought was obvious.
He looks like he expects to get jumped or hit or something, but slowly bites it, and Wrecker feels a little better about it. He’ll never forget what he saw earlier. He’s going to have a talk with Mokko before he leaves. He’s so angry. He really wants a face-to-fist meeting.
“Thanks,” Benni offers cautiously. “Any luck with the shield code?”
Wrecker looks back at the datapad, scowling. “No. I think most of this is Mokko’s profit reports.” And that’s when he sees something else that doesn’t make any sense. “Didn’t ya say the ipsium is degrading?”
“It is,” the other kid offers simply.
“But… it’s not?” Wrecker argues, shaking the datapad at him, unless he’s forgotten how to read basic charts. The income is skyrocketing. He’s so confused.
“Let me see that,” Benni demands, snatching the object.
The door opens behind them, and Benni spins around, quickly hiding the datapad behind his back. In the doorway stands Mokko himself and four more droids. Uh oh. “That’s not good,” Wrecker blurts.
“My thief caught another thief,” the man laughs, patting Benni’s shoulder. “Nicely done, Benni. I'm impressed. Where are the others?”
“Garage bay,” he answers quietly with a slight shrug.
What? Wrecker turns his betrayed look on Benni, who looks away shamefacedly.
“Sorry,” he mutters, eyes down. “I had to.”
“That's my boy. The title of top earner is definitely in your future,” Mokko crows as the droids usher Wrecker out into the hall.
***
They drag him out into the same area they were in earlier, one of the droids hauling him to the edge of a long drop, dangling him over a very long drop.
“Wrecker,” Crosshair’s voice yells from below, slightly hitched with panic. “Don’t look!”
Instinctively, he looks downwards into the vast orange glow, dropping into infinity beneath him. “Uh oh. I looked!” His heart lurches into his throat, strangling him and Wrecker thrashes to break the hold on his wrist, scrambling for the safety of the broken walkway. “Ahhhhhhh!”
“I said don’t!” Crosshair yells in protest.
“Lower your weapons, or he goes over,” Mokko snaps from below. Wrecker manages to get his footing on the ground, lifting his other hand to grip the droid’s wrist. It’s holding him by the binders, But… he’s stronger than metal. “Trespassing and attempted theft,” the madman continues, “Ten years in the mines seems like a reasonable punishment, if you survive that long. Take them below.”
The door opens behind them, Benni skidding into the hall, yelling protests. He saw the data, and in seconds, all the other miners are banding together, turning their rage on Mokko.
“I was taking my share! None of you would've survived without me! Don't forget that,” he argues, waving to the droid up above. “Throw him over.”
Wrecker grabs its hand when it tries to throw him, using it’s arm to fling himself back towards the rail. He flips himself over it, kicking it downwards and grabbing the edge of the walkway, clamoring back onto it. Shots ring out from below. Mokko is yelling, only to topple over the edge after nearly pulling Beni over.
That was anticlimactic.
***
“Wrecker!” Crosshair runs towards him, and Wrecker catches him midway, scooping him into a hug. “Not to be sappy, but I knew you could do it.” He feels cold. Wrecker hugs him tightly., flushing a little.
“I, uh –”
“You’re amazing, Wrecker,” Crosshair whispers into his shoulder, clinging to him. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah. Um. Thanks,” he fumbles awkwardly.
Crosshair steps back for Hunter and Tech to approach, only for them to hug him, too. Wrecker hugs them, too, a little taken aback by the sudden affection. Not that he’s complaining. But they’ve been doing so much fighting lately.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Hunter tells him sincerely.
Omega approaches behind, smiling softly. She crouches to hug him tightly, too. It makes him miss Echo, but… They’ll just have to figure out how to manage without him. “You did amazing,” she tells him, “Thank you.”
“I was just doing what you taught me,” Wrecker objects.
“I know,” Omega replies, “But still.”
He tries not to think too hard about Benni standing a distance off, staring.
***
“Good to have you back,” Wrecker tells their droid, hugging him, too. He’s actually big enough he can pick up Gonky, too, which is weird. He wasn’t when he came here. The droid beeps back happily.
“Here’s your… stuff,” Benni offers. Wrecker glances over his shoulder to see the boy’s brought a roller of crates and… random odds and ends.
“Everything?” Omega asks, arms crossed.
“Yeah, don’t you trust me?” Everyone blinks at him. “Okay, that's fair,” he shrugs, “But it's all there.”
“What will you all do now that Mokko’s gone?” Wrecker inquires.
“I guess we’ll keep mining ipsium. It's what we know,” Benni replies.
“You can go wherever you want,” Wrecker points out, “Ya don’t hafta stay here.”
“It’s not so bad. And with Mokko gone, we'll all be getting an equal share of the profits now,” Benni replies, shrugging. Drake calls from somewhere up above, telling him to come eat. Wrecker tries not to think about how hungry he is. “Thanks for showing me the truth. Hey, if you ever need a thief, I owe you.”
Wrecker watches the other boy run off, smiling.
He feels good. It’s nice to have friends.
He sees Lula, though, sticking out from one of the crates, and grabs her up into a hug with a gasp. Not that snuggling Lula will take away what he saw.
“Is something wrong?” Hunter asks, lingering beside him.
“I saw what Mokko did to them,” Wrecker tells him, shoulders slumping, “The Empire’s not the only thing that needs to be fought against.”
“Yeah,” Hunter agrees quietly, squeezing his shoulder. “There are. But we dealt with Mokko, and these kids get a better chance at life because of us. And we can keep doing it until we find somewhere to go. And maybe even after. We’re not the only people fighting for justice.”
“Why’s it so hard to find them?”
Hunter’s face shadows a bit. “The Empire. But we can still have faith it will be destroyed, and we can still make this galaxy a better place. Come on.” He sprints for the ship, taking up Omega’s side at co=piloting.
Wrecker sits in the back, Crosshair beside him. Gonky honks happily nearby. Wrecker passes Lula over to his twin, smiling. Crosshair accepts her with a nod, clinging to her – so much for hating Lula. He adores her.
Tech slowly surfaces in the back beside them. “I… believe I owe an apology,” he offers at last.
“No kidding,” Crosshair gripes.
“I was wrong to blame you for what happened to the marauder,” he says. “It may have been your fault, but that does not change that you were hurt as well.”
Wrecker feels an embarrassing amount of guilt at the same. “I’m sorry, too,” he mumbles, “I was bein’ stupid. And mean.”
“None of us were behaving rationally,” Tech replies, “And I regret my actions.”
“Thanks for, uh. Telling me,” Wrecker offers. “I know you miss Echo.”
“We all do,” Crosshair mutters.
Echo’s absence still hurts, but there’s really nothing they can do. He understands their brother wanted something else, but it still hurts. Echo was one of them, and he just… left. Omega’s been so sad since then. Tech has been so moody.
“We’re gonna be okay,” Wrecker offers hopefully.
“Yes,” Tech agrees with a small smile, “I believe we might be.”