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They’d been gone on a mission, an easy one, three days. Hunter, Tech, Echo, leaving Crosshair and Wrecker behind with Omega. It wasn't ideal but it kept her safe, for now, while they continued to train her and maybe could get their hands on some armor and really, Hunter wasn't worried because both Wrecker and Crosshair were capable adults and knew how to take care of themselves and Omega. He didn’t need to worry. They had proven that time and time again.
Then again, it was Crosshair and Wrecker and Omega, and Hunter still remembered what happened last week on the market.
But they’d assured him they would be fine. And he didn’t worry a single bit. He definitely wasn’t lying to himself.
So when they got back to the Marauder, because they’d taken a speeder around, and really, it had only been a job on Ord Mantell, quick, easy, they would be fine, he was surprised (not really) to find Omega sitting outside in her pyjamas, eating Mantell mix and cotton candy. For lunch.
Once she noticed them, she started waving happily. “Hello!”
“What are you doing?” Hunter took in the scene, already regretting having left her alone. He knew it had been a bad idea. Why was she eating that stuff? And dressed like that?
“Eating lunch?”
“Why are you in your pyjamas?” And when he took a closer look they looked kinda … dirty. Like she’d been wearing them for the last few days.
“Ummm.” Omega blinked at him, obviously trying to think of a response.
“And where are Wrecker and Cross?”
Omega opened her mouth then closed it again. Then said “I'm eating lunch.” again.
Alarm bells rang in Hunter’s head and one look at Echo’s tight expression confirmed it was the same for him.
Before any of them could press her with further questions though, Tech piped up: “This is not nutritionally complete.”
“It's something edible.” Omega gave back and that only made the alarm bells ring louder. Wrecker had sworn he’d make sure they ate well. He knew Crosshair couldn’t be bothered to cook most of the time, but even ration bars or instant noodles would be better than … this.
“Have you only been eating Mantell Mix this whole time?” Tech stared at her. His voice had a slight judging tone to it. Hunter knew what he was thinking. He had taught her better. But, she was just a kid.
“Of course not.” Omega scrunched up her nose and her tone was slightly insulted. They all let out a sigh of relief. “Yesterday I ate cereal.”
“Omega!” Hunter groaned. Instead of answering to him, she shrugged and got up. They watched her get up and hop up the ramp, vanishing into the ship
“We shouldn't have left them alone,” Echo groaned. “Five credits Wrecker and Crosshair took her to do something we specifically told them not to do.”
Hunter just sighed, because Echo was, probably, likely, right, and then followed Omega into the ship.
Inside, the ship didn’t look half as bad as they had expected but there was a certain lack of … things, that Hunter couldn’t quite place. Something was missing.
They watched Omega wash her bowl in the sink - at least that - and then proceeded to climb on the counter to put it on the highest shelf. Hunter blinked, once, twice, but the picture stayed the same.
“... what are you doing?”
Her puzzled expression made no sense to him. “It’s what Cross taught me?”
“He only does that to annoy me!” Hunter complained.
“Of course he did,” Echo groaned at the same time and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We really ought to tell you not to listen to him.”
Omega rolled her eyes at him and then clambered up even further towards the vents.
“Wait, where are you going?” He did not screech, thank you very much.
“I’m living in the vents now.”
“Why?!” “It’s cozy.” That was the last thing Omega said before vanishing into the vents.
At least that solved the mystery of why things seemed to be missing, Hunter guessed. Omega’s things were missing. She had moved them up there. Why? He didn’t know. Cozy was not a reason in his opinion. Stars, she was getting too much like Crosshair.
“You are not living up there, get back down here!” Tech complained, interrupting Hunter’s thoughts.
“But all my stuff is up there!” Her voice sounded tinny through the vents and Hunter could see Tech’s displeasure in his posture, before he scoffed and climbed after her. “You are getting down there, or stars help me!” he grumbled. “You are not clogging my vents!”
“You mean our vents!” Echo called after him, to no avail.
It took two hours to move Omega, and all her things - or, well, things she thought she’d need - out of the vents. Hunter and Echo had watched Tech struggle with her, not offering their help. She’d slipped out of his grip seven times and escaped back in the vents, until he managed to push her out - it was kinda fun to watch. Echo had even recorded the exact moment Tech had gotten bitten by Omega. They’d both snorted, and Hunter eventually freed Tech from trying to contain Omega, pulling her in his lap and holding her there, preventing her from going back in the vents, while Tech got her things out. He almost got bitten too, but she got sufficiently distracted by Tech pulling out her giant loth cat plushie.
“How did that even fit in there?” he complained while dismantling a panel to get it out.
“It took me half an hour,” she complained back and pouted. “You guys are no fun.”
“The vents are dangerous, and we need them for, well, ventilation,” Hunter explained. The pout didn’t vanish, but she looked a little less grumpy and stopped fighting so much against his grip.
“Cross said I could do what I wanted.”
“Where are they anyway?” Echo pressed again. Their absence wasn’t worrisome per se but it was … odd. And they were still due for a scolding for leaving Omega alone.
She only shrugged though.
“They took me to play some sabbacc after you left, and it was fun and we won a lot of money but they had some colorful drinks I wasn’t allowed and I got bored and Cross told me I could do what I wanted but not spend all my money.”
“They took you gambling?!” Echo screeched.
Omega furrowed her brows. “I’m supposed to say no.”
They watched Echo facepalm.
“Did I say the wrong thing? Cross told me to say no to that or you might be upset.”
Echo looked even more grumpy, if that was possible, but Hunter spotted a small grin on Tech’s face. “I suppose it makes sense. Crosshair wouldn’t want us to worry. When did they take you out?” Tech asked, watching Omega press more into Hunter, trying to escape Echo’s glare.
“Uuh, right after you left?”
“Typical,” Echo grumbled. “You owe me five credits.”
“So, you don’t know where the others are?” Hunter chimed in, ignoring Echo.
“Nope, haven’t seen him since then.” She snuggled against him, obviously happy they were back, even though she was questioned.
Hunter sighed and hugged her back. That would explain a lot. He was just relieved Omega was okay. More than okay, probably. Yeah, they should make her eat some food that wasn’t all sugar, but she had obviously been busy with simply being a kid. And moving into the vents was, at least, not too dangerous. If it kept her from doing something stupid, Hunter would take it.
He watched Tech pull up his comlink, attempting to contact Crosshair, then Wrecker. They didn’t pick up, which was predictable. It did nothing to settle his nerves about not knowing their location. Yes, they were capable, but Crosshair and Wrecker and alcohol sometimes got out of hand.
“Omega, do you remember where they took you?” Tech asked, but before she could answer, the comm rang.
Tech answered and a small holopicture appeared over his communicator, showing Wrecker. “Yes?”
“Hi, Tech!” Wrecker’s voice sounded strained.
“Wrecker. We are back at the Marauder. Where are you?”
“Uuhm.”
Crosshair came into view. “We are… out. At the market. With Omega. She is fine. Totally fine, here with us. We will be back eventually.”
Tech blinked and opened his mouth to answer, but Echo was faster. Hunter quickly pressed his hand over Omega’s mouth to prevent her from speaking up, too.
“Why are you out?” Echo was still wearing his scowl and it made Wrecker squirm. Crosshair on the other hand only scowled back.
“Because it’s boring on the ship?”
“Uh-hu. And where exactly is Omega?” Echo asked.
“Why?”
“I want to say hi.”
“Why?”
“I missed her. So?”
A bead of sweat was running down Wrecker’s cheek and they didn’t miss the glare Crosshair gave him to scare him into being silent.
“Around here. Uh, have to go. Don’t wait for us with dinner-”
“Crosshair,” Echo growled , but Crosshair reached to end the holocall.
Omega finally squirmed out of Hunter’s grip. “But I'm still here!” she protested. “What are they doing?”
Hunter chuckled. “They think they lost you.”
“But I’ve been here the whole time!”
“Since you were in the vents they might have missed your presence,” Tech explained, starting to fuss around with something.
“Let them suffer a bit more,” Echo sighed. “They deserve it after taking you gambling.”
“Well, I have checked our reserves and they made quite the amount of money,” Tech piped up.
“Not you too!” Echo groaned. “We are not doing this! We are not letting Omega gamble!”
“But it’s fun.” Omega pouted at them.
“I agree. And between Crosshair’s sharp eye, and my analytical mind, and Omega’s strategic knowledge, we would make quite the team. We could make a lot more money than running missions for Cid.”
“No,” Hunter and Echo said at the same time.
Tech and Omega sighed.