Work Text:
Whispers in Her Ears
Lady JaRuc
No matter what happened to Omega, she always came out of any mess alive. Which wasn’t to say she was never hurt. Oh, no. Starship crashes. Hand-to-hand fighting when on a ground mission. Even tripping over a piece of equipment lying in a dark part of the hanger when the piece should have been stowed properly.
But a guiding voice always stayed with her, assuring her that things would be all right.
As her brothers had aged and passed on to that far away march with their clone brothers, Omega carried on. Alone. She did her part in the Rebellion and celebrated when the Empire finally collapsed.
And that left her with things to think about. So, she did what she’d done for years. She discussed this new situation with her brothers, mere wishful voices in her mind. Would-be whispers in her ears.
Only Hera Syndulla knew about Omega’s peculiar habit. But then Omega was the only one who knew Hera still talked to Kanan Jarrus, the man she’d loved. The father of her son Jacen Syndulla. The Jedi who’d given his life to save those he loved.
* * * *
Years earlier, Omega thought she heard Tech’s voice as she sat in her cell on Tantiss. She’d been captured and forced to work once again as Nala Se’s assistant. Though Tech had no advice on escaping, he listened well and assured her she was loved. He offered her hope.
Hope that she passed on to her brother Crosshair, himself locked in a cell. Subjected to experiments, he suffered more than her. Omega sneaked to his cell every chance she had, offering gentle words and soothing hope. Not that this particular brother wanted either. He was prickly and somber. But she didn’t leave him behind when Tech whispered in her ear that it was time to escape. Was it a coincident that Nala Se told Omega the same thing the very next day?
Tech’s voice led her through halls on the base. He reminded her of the Lurca hound chutes. And he sighed contentedly when she embraced Hunter on that red moon. He whispered that Crosshair was scared to meet Hunter and Wrecker again and urged her to share her confidence with him by holding his hand.
* * * *
Wrecker could never whisper, even in the afterlife. He assured Omega that his chest didn’t hurt like it did that last time. He was good about listening when she had a problem, especially when she and Hunter disagreed on a topic as she grew into adulthood.
Omega often sat, thinking in solitude, only to hiss at Tech and Wrecker when they disagreed. “Who knew ghosts could argue?” she’d say quietly. The men filled her ears, heart, and mind with a variety of thoughts, often going in opposite directions.
But when Omega wanted advice about dealing with someone, she turned to her biggest brother Wrecker. His heart was huge, and he knew just how to help others.
* * * *
Echo always whispered softly in her ear. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” His voice was mellow and easy to listen to. He gave good advice about missions and safety. He often pointed her in the direction of fellow clones who lacked a path in the aftermath of the war they once fought.
As more and more clones passed on to join the far away march with their deceased brothers, his advice turned more to how she could help those in need on the various planets she dealt with during the Rebellion. He offered her encouraging words that reminded her that her brothers still loved her and were still with her.
* * * *
Crosshair and Hunter grew old together on Pabu though they lived far longer than any other clones the family knew of. Tech and Wrecker were gone. Cody, Rex, and Echo were a generation older than the Batch and gone as well.
Omega returned to Pabu as often as she could, her heart breaking more and more. With time and distance, she easily saw how her brothers declined. Those voices in her ear—those long-gone brothers—whispered that these two old men loved her.
As fast as she could fly—and copying Tech’s ways of flying meant going faster than a ship should go—she wasn’t there when Crosshair passed on. She heard his voice though telling her that it was all right with him. That he was still there with her. His voice wasn’t enough for her aching heart though.
“But I can’t hug you ever again. Or sit on our rock and meditate with you,” she bawled as she sat in her ship, in the cave under the cliff on Pabu.
“Snap out of it, kid,” he grumbled. “I’m still here. Now get up to the house.” His typical snarky voice softened. “Hunter needs you now. When you hug him, you hug us all.”
Using her jacket sleeve to wipe away her tears, “Sir, yes, sir.” But she added as she went down the ramp, “But I miss all of you so much tonight.” Tucking her head down, she sniffled a few seconds more then squared her shoulders, knowing her brother, the man who was for all intents and purposes her father, waited for her.
* * * *
“Hurry, Omega,” Wrecker said.
“Step out lively, Miss Omega,” Tech encouraged.
“He’s waiting for you, sweetheart,” Echo reminded her.
“He needs you, Megs,” urged Crosshair.
* * * *
She sat with Hunter as his spirit left his body. Time moved on slowly, with no brother to return to.
“What’s wrong, kid,” a familiar voice finally whispered to Omega as she sat in the hanger one dark night. Hunter’s smokey voice soothed her aching heart.
When this is over…what should I do? Where should I go? she wondered. The question had buzzed in her head for a while. But none of those beloved voices had offered advice.
Tech might say find a job and be helpful. Wrecker might say find a place and something to do that would make her happy. Echo might say help those who are lost, displaced, confused…do more to help others. Crosshair might say find peace within herself first then open her eyes to opportunities. Hunter might say listen to others, make a plan, and work that plan.
She finally figured it out. She had to ask for their advice. “What should I do, guys?” she asked again.
“You know what we’d say. You’re the best of each of us. You know our hearts and minds,” Hunter said.
“Be happy,” Wrecker shouted though softly.
“Be useful,” Echo offered.
“Learn and share,” Tech urged in his crisp accent.
“Know yourself,” Crosshair said quietly.
“Be kind to yourself and others,” Hunter followed up.
Omega sighed. That didn’t exactly point her in a direction. A next step. But their words were excellent guidelines for her to follow no matter what she did next. But she couldn’t make that next step without knowing one crucial thing.
And so, she raised her eyes to the countless stars glowing in the endless black ink of space and asked, “Will you go with me?”
In one collection of distinctive voices, she heard their affirming Mando’a answer, “Ratiin.” Always.