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The mission was simple. The usual; get into a Separatist base, get the information the Republic needed, get out. They’d done it a hundred times before and they’d do it a hundred times more. Tech and Echo had already emerged from the base with the data, Wrecker had rigged the base to blow, now they just had to get out.
Crosshair took out two more droids before they could overwhelm Hunter. He gave a small nod of thanks before lunging at another droid with his vibroblade. Crosshair scanned the battlefield, clearing a path for his brothers through the droids.
“Path out is as clear as it’s going to get.” He reported over the comm.
“Thanks Cross,” Hunter said, charging another droid as the previous one fell. “Meet you at the rendezvous.”
“Copy that.”
He took out three more flanking Echo when he heard a sound behind him. He turned quickly to see a commando droid rush out from the bushes behind him. He raised his rifle to shoot, but the droid was already moving too close. He instead swung the rifle, hitting it across the face with the butt of it. The droid’s head rocked back with the hit, Crosshair taking the moment to get to his feet and back away.
The droid lunged for his legs before he could fully rise, knocking him back to the ground. He kicked at the droid and rolled away before it could slash him with its blade.
Unable to get enough room, he quickly slung his Firepuncher over his shoulder and drew his blaster, taking a few shots. The droid recoiled as the shots hit its body, one hitting its hand to knock the blade away. A final shot hit its head, finally taking it down.
Crosshair took a breath as he got to his feet, then opened his comm, “My position is compromised. Heading to the rendezvous, unless you nee-”
He was cut off with a short cry as he fell to the ground, blaster skidding away, followed by his bucket as it was knocked loose. He rolled over with a scowl to see a second commando droid standing over him. He kicked it away and rolled back to his feet for a second time.
The droid lunged as he rose, knocking him back against a tree, knocking the wind out of him. It grabbed his head and shoulder as he struggled to breathe, and slammed him back again and again. Pain shot through his head and his vision spun as he struggled to push the droid off.
He finally managed to loosen its grip enough to slip away, hooking a foot around its legs and taking them out from under it. He stumbled slightly as his vision spun from the quick movement, before considering his options. He lost his comm when he lost his helmet, and there was no way he’d make it to the Marauder with his head spinning like it was. He’d get lost or the droid would catch him. Either way, his brothers had a better chance of finding him if they knew where he was.
He pulled out his Firepuncher once more, taking aim at the droid as it stood. He took a shot as it rushed towards him, seeing it jerk from the hit, but hardly slowing. Too soon, it was on him, trying to pull his rifle away. He held on tight as the droid pushed him back and pulled the rifle away from him. He yanked it to the left, kicking out, before his grip loosened just enough for the droid to slam it into his head.
His vision greyed as he tried to blink back into focus. The droid stood over him. When had he fallen? Crosshair blinked slowly as black spots invaded his vision and the droid raised the rifle, ready to shoot.
Suddenly, it flew out of his line of sight with a shower of sparks. Crosshair grimaced and groaned, the sudden light and noise making his head spike with pain.
He felt a hand at his shoulder, shaking him as voices echoed around him. He tried to scowl as he opened his eyes halfway, he just wanted to sleep. To pass out and let the pain go away now that the danger was gone and the adrenaline was leaving him. His eyes eventually focused on Hunter crouched over him and saw him sigh in relief. He heard someone speaking and saw Hunter look up briefly, mouth moving to speak back.
Hunter looked back down at him, brow furrowed somehow even more with concern as his mouth move to speak. Slowly, Crosshair realised he was talking to him, frowning as he tried to focus on what his older brother was saying.
“-oss. Can you move? Hey, look at me.”
Crosshair frowned even deeper as he realised he had closed his eyes, too focused on listening to keep looking. He opened them again and opened his mouth to speak.
“Wha’s? ‘m no’.”
He heard the other voice rumble to the side as Hunter’s concern grew to open worry. He turned his head to try to find the other voice, only to be met with a bush and sharp pain shooting through his head. He hissed with pain, squeezing his eyes shut as Hunter moved his head back.
Why was he in a bush? Near a bush? He was tired and sore. He should have been in bed with all the lights turned off.
He felt a hand patting his face and opened his eyes again to refocus on Hunter, who shook his head and looked up to speak to the mystery voice. Crosshair really wished he knew who that was, but if Hunter was fine with them, he supposed there wasn’t much he could do about it right now anyway. Especially since he couldn’t even see them.
He saw Hunter begin to move away, a whine rising up from his throat. Hunter looked back at him and smiled sadly.
“I’m not going anywhere Cross’ika. We’ve got to get you back to the ship.”
The ship sounded perfect.
Crosshair grimaced as new arms wrapped around him and lifted him up gently. He shifted uncomfortably for a moment, groaning with pain, before settling down into the arms. They were strong and warm, while he felt so cold and floaty. He saw Hunter walk ahead of him, and his reverie was broken by a wave of nausea as the arms holding him began to follow. He groaned and swallowed thickly.
If he thought he was tired before, he was exhausted now, his energy seeming to escape him with every step the arms took. He settled into the chest he was held against, eyes closed as the blurring images flying past only made his nausea worse and his head hurt.
It was either ten years or ten seconds before he heard the familiar sounds of the Marauder and felt himself be placed carefully onto a bunk. He tried to curl away from the sounds and lights assaulting him even through closed eyelids, but hands held him still. Another patted his face as he heard a new voice calling to him.
He squinted his eyes open, blinking to see Tech by his bunk, watching him closely. Crosshair groaned at the light that immediately assaulted his eyes.
“I know, but I need you to stay awake for just a few more minutes.”
Tech took his continued staring as an answer and began moving. Crosshair whined in protest as Tech carefully opened his eyes further, studying them for a few moments before releasing him. He shut his eyes tightly as Tech spoke again.
“Due to your enhancements, I do not believe it would be wise to use a light to test for a concussion as I normally would. I don’t believe it is entirely necessary anyway considering your current state. I would, however, like you to answer some questions for me.”
Crosshair groaned in response, slowly opening his eyes to, hopefully, glare at Tech. It either didn’t work or he simply ignored it as he asked the first question.
“Do you know here we are?”
“Sh’p.” Crosshair answered slowly.
“Do you know my name?”
“T’ch.”
Tech nodded, “Good. What planet are we on?”
Crosshair paused, he had no idea where they were.
Tech saw his hesitation and nodded again, “That’s okay. I assume this will also be a no, but do you know why we are here?”
Again, he came up blank.
“That is fine. We are on Raith to get information from the Separatist base here. Do you remember what happened?”
He thought for a moment. “Droid.”
“That’s right, it appears you were ambushed by a pair of droids as we were escaping. Hunter and Wrecker took out the second one and got you back here.”
Crosshair frowned, he never saw Wrecker there. Unless it was Wrecker who had carried him back.
He swallowed thickly as he remembered, nausea rising once again. Tech saw this and helped him sit up, placing a bucket under his chin as the nausea won this round. Tech held him steady until the heaving stopped. He took the bucket from him and helped him lie back down.
“I need to clean and wrap these wounds, but nothing looks like it needs stitches. We’ll just need to keep an eye on them. I will give you some painkillers. You do not need to stay awake for this part if you wish, I will wake you when necessary.”
Crosshair mumbled something incoherent even to himself, the exhaustion pulling at him impossible to ignore now. Through half-lidded eyes, he saw Tech move away briefly before returning. He closed his eyes as he felt him press a hypo to his neck before rummaging through the medkit.
Crosshair felt his body relax, the darkness taking over even as he felt Tech poking at his injuries.