Tbb Whump - Tumblr Posts

Febuwhump Day 9: Voice loss.

Fandom: Star Wars

Timeline: The Bad Batch

Screaming. Hunter had been doing a lot of that. His voice had become hoarse and his throat throbbed. Some imperial soldiers had brought him in. Since then the torture had been endless. They wanted information on the rebels. No matter how many times Hunter said he didn't know they just kept harming him. The interrogator also wanted the location of the rest of the batch. Hunter knew that; Echo was with Rex and the rest of them were on Ord Mantell, But that he would never tell.

    Soon the hoarse yelling became no noise at all. Hunter continued attempting to tell the clone that he didn't know. Nothing came out. "What, cat got your tongue or something?" Crank antagonized.

    Hunter had asked for the soldier's name when he had entered, hoping the gesture would help him out a little and because asking a clone for their name was meaningful; well to most of them. Though Crank had seemed pleasantly surprised it was no use.

    The mercenary opened him mouth to argue but just closed it again.

    The door slid open to reveal Crosshair. "Hello Hunter" he hissed. Then the clone actually looked at his brother. Hunter saw the surprise and worry in his eyes for a brief second.

    'hello Crosshair' Hunter mouthed. The sniper was able to read lips, his mutation helped him immensely with this.

    "Use your voice Hunter."

    'I can't.'

    "Why?" Crosshair whispered low enough for only his brother to hear.

    'Maybe Cross still cares after all' Hunter though. "Screaming took it."

    Crosshair turned to the reg, "You do know we can't use him if he can't speak right? Idiot. I'll take care of him."

    Crank shrugged and left the room.

    It hurt Crosshair to see Hunter like this. The man was bloody and bruised. He'd seen him like this before but that was when he was on his side. Now he was on the side hurting him.

    "I'll find you something for your throat." Crosshair softened.

    Crosshair was never really outwardly kind. It meant a lot to Hunter knowing despite everything; despite every time they left him, the fact that in his eyes they betrayed him, for not trusting him; that Crosshair still cared.

    The door closed and Hunter was alone. For the first time he assessed his injuries. They consisted of deep cuts, colorful bruises, burn marks from electricity, broken bones, and his raw throat. His throat burned. He needed to be able to speak, how else could he lead his family? How could he comfort them or protect them? He couldn't warn them of harm if he couldn't speak. The rest of the injuries didn't really concern him, just the voice loss.

    Crosshair would come back later with a cup of tea. How he managed to obtain the tea confused Hunter but he was thankful. His wrists were freed and he shakingly grabbed the cup. Giving his brother a nod to thank him he took a sip. It was somehow his favorite. This made the man smile. The gesture helped his heart more than it helped his throat.

    Footsteps. Familiar footsteps. The door opened and the batch spilled into the room. Surprisingly blaster fire did not follow. "We're here too... Ummm what?" Wrecker stood bewildered.

    The scene unraveling in front of him was certainly far from expected. Crosshair was helping Hunter. He sat beside Hunter with his hand slightly under the cup, ready to grab it if it fell.

    Echo still held his gun to the soldier. The others had lowered theirs. "Are you sure that's not poisoned." Echo was suspicious and for good reason. Crosshair was an imperial soldier after all. Crosshair gave Echo a death glare.

    Hunter looked past Crosshair and nodded, signaling Echo to lower his weapon. He complied.

    "We need to get out of here. It won't be long before the empire notices we are here." Tech said.

    Hunter tried to stand. His legs gave out on him and he started to fell. Crosshair caught him and lowered him back to the ground. "Wrecker come here" but of course no sound came out.

    "Hunter I think you forgot something there" Omega joked.

    Crosshair had sat beside Hunter once more. "He can't talk."

    "Why not?" Wrecker respond.

    "Likely the torture. Your vocal cords can only handle so much stress before you cannot talk. He should be fine." Tech answered.

    Omega looked worried. Hunter gave her a soft smile which calmed he fears slightly. Wrecker walked over to his injured brother and picked him up. Hunter winced.

    "Sorry." Wrecker had nothing to apologize for and he knew it. However it made him feel a little bit better about any necessary pain he caused.

    "Do you hear anyone?" Echo asked. Hunter shook his head and turned to face Crosshair. He pulled his arm out and offered his hand to Crosshair. He looked tempted. "No. My place is here, your place should be here."

    "We don't see eye to eye on that." Wrecker sighed, "we miss you though."

    "We can't fight for something we don't believe in." Echo spoke. Crosshair nodded.

    "If you ever need us try to let us know okay?" Omega hugged her brother, and then they left.

    Crosshair grabbed the tea cup from the floor and softly smiled. He made the right choice letting them leave over and over. Maybe he'd let them take him one day.

Whumpril Day 15: Isolation

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: Echo is captured.

  Isolation scared Echo. Yet he found himself alone in a cell. He had told the batch to leave him and now he had no idea if they would come back for him. The batch didn't leave there own behind. Part of him hoped they would come and most of him hoped they would leave him.

    The room was cold. That was scary on it own but the silence; the deathing silence was terrifying. It was far too quiet and far too much.

    There was no one to talk to, no one to distract him for his problems. Every terrible memory hit him at ones. Blowing up, all his brothers deaths, the experiments, everything.

    Hoping to be tortured was something Echo never thought would cross his mind. The physical pain that would come would be much better than everything that plagued his mind.

    The stillness of it all almost made it feel surreal; like he'd wake up safe on the Marauder. Echo knew that wouldn't happen.

    The clone tried to find something to occupy himself with. "Hello?" he asked. No answer. He sighed. The man was alone again. It drove him crazy, as mad as Fives.

    Echo tried to escape. He walked up to the door and hit it. The electric shock made him take a few steps back. He sighed and sat back down.

    Talking to himself was the only thing Echo could think to do to keep himself sane. He talked as if there were more people with him. Slowly the words formed into something else.

    "Fives, you would love the batch." Now Echo talked to his dead brothers. If they could hear him, Echo didn't know. Then again he didn't really care. Slowly his stories came to an end and he looked around. He was alone. There were no brothers to talk to. He was alone again. 

    Time moved slowly. Echo didn't really know what was going on, where he was, or if anyone would come to save him. There was only one thing he knew, he was alone. He didn't want to be but you don't always get what you want, do you.

Whumpril Day 16: Guilt/"I'm So Sorry."

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Warnings: Mentions of death and alcohol, and spoilers for the last episode of TBB

Summary: Wrecker and his thoughts after Tech's death and Omega's capture. Oh and a short conversation with the others.

  Wrecker's mind was plagued with guilt. It wasn't something he could just slide down his throat with alcohol or something he could sleep off. It stayed there. It found the piece of your heart that was missing and used it place as it's home. It used the heart's veins and traveled to the brain to taint every memory it could.

     He couldn't reach Tech. He should have. Tech was gone. He slept at the bottom of the damn cavern on Eriadu and it was Wrecker's fault. He saw him fall. He didn't want to imagine the pain he might have felt. Tech was his brother and now he was a memory.

    Omega was also gone. Her capture could have been prevented. Maybe if he hadn't been so easy to capture, or maybe if Hunter hadn't come back for him, she would be safe.

    It was Wrecker's fault. No matter how hard he thought, he always come to the same conclusion, it was his fault.

    The remaining members of the batch had gone to Padu to plan. Hunter was against it but Echo knew they needed the rest. They would kill themselves if not and that was the last thing they needed.

    They sat around a table with Phee. Hunter held Tech's googles gently. The pirate had already been informed of Tech's death. She tried to help them, she really did, but nothing got though to them.

    "I'm so sorry." Wrecker talked softly.

    The other three looked at each other confused.

    "What are you apologizing for?" Echo asked hesitantly.

    "I should have saved him. You should have left. I'm just, I'm sorry."

    "Wrecker, it's not your fault. I wasn't just going to leave you behind, that's not how things work." 'Most of the time' ran through Hunter's head but he figured that would be better left unsaid.

    "We'll get her back." Phee spoke.

    "That doesn't change the fact that Tech's gone." Wrecker rested his arms on the table.

    "Tech made his decision" Hunter sighed, "he did it for us and we have to live with it. We'll be okay." He held his hand out and rolled all but the pinky into a fist, "I promise."

    Wrecker looked up at the hand and Hunter could have sworn he saw a small smile, "okay." The man took his brother's pinky and they promised.

    Dinner would be quiet. Everything would be kinda quiet with the two main talkers gone.

    Back on the Marauder the guilt slammed into Wrecker yet again. Seeing Tech's bunk empty pulled at his heart. He walked up to Omega's 'room' and grabbed Lula. After that he walked back to Tech's bunk and laid down. He felt safe and under attack all at the same time. Slowly he would drift off to sleep.

Whumpril Day 25: On The Run/"We're being Watched."

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: The batch gets into a stick situation after taking a mission for Cid. Tech does something and almost gets taken out by some clones. Luckily a friend helps out.

    Cid loved sending the batch on strange pickup missions. The terrain was rocky but a pleasant temperature. The trees stood tall and the grass a little taller than Omega's ankles.

     Hunter led the group with Wrecker following them close behind. Tech, Omega, and Echo walked between them. The leader put his arm out to stop them. "We're being watched." An erie feeling fell over them as they all realized it too.

    Tech and Echo moved closer to Omega and the group continued. Not long later they would run into imperial clones. They ran and fought.

    Then they entered the forest. It was dence and thorny. Echo kept Omega close while they tried to slip away. They all thought it had worked until the turned back at Wrecker. "Where is Tech?" Hunter hissed.

    "He said he'd get them off our trail and that he'd meat us on the Marauder."

    "Alright."

    Tech moved swiftly through the trees. He skidded to a stop. A river, to big to jump over was in the way. As he got ready to move to the left side he stopped. The three remaining soldiers moved to corner him.

   The mercenary grabbed his guns but looked past the clones and closed his eyes. The odds weren't in his favor and he decided the last thing he was going to see wasn't his killers. Three shots were fired and three imperial soldiers fell to the ground. Tech looked to the nearby ledge that the guns sound had come from. There was Crosshair.

    Tech smiled and nodded. Of course Crosshair would be there when he was needed most and of course he would wait tell last second. Tech reached his arm out to him, the gesture meaning for him to come with them.

    Crosshair smirked but started to leave. Then another shot went off. After that one more. He turned around quickly to see Tech on the ground. He needed to get down there.

    A million thoughts ran through Crosshair's mind as he ran to the river. Had he missed and one of the shots not been fatle? How could he have missed when it was that important? Was Tech okay? Was he alive? He would just have to find out when he got down there.

    Tech sat up and looked at his leg. He had been shot in his left thigh. Even though he had already taken care of the soldier who shot him he still held the gun towards him.

    Crosshair sighed with relief when he saw Tech sitting up. He was glad he was okay. "Let's get you to the Marauder."

    Tech stood slowly and took one step forward. He stumbled and Crosshair moved next to him to support him. Some voices could be heard nearby. "Tech, are you alright?"

    Tech nodded, "I'm fine."

    The two headed into the woods. Tech informed Crosshair which way they needed to be heading. They snuck around, trying not to be caught.

    "Down." Tech forced Crosshair into a nearby bush. Then he tumbled into the bush himself. The two watched as the soldiers walked by them. One of them stopped right before the bush and Crosshair looked over at his brother. Tech, painfully sitting on both legs had his guns ready to fire.

    Then Crosshair looked at Tech's hands. He was shaking. More than likely it was the pain from his injury. It still hurt Cross to his brother that way.

    "Check that bush" one of the clones commanded. A shot rushed out of Tech's gun. Crosshair grabbed Tech and pulled him out of the bush and somewhat dragged him away from the others.

     And they were running again. To Tech it felt like that was all he and the batch did; run. They ran from the empire, from enemies they had made, from their past and their problems. They couldn't afford to stop or slow down.

    Avoiding the clones was difficult. Avoiding the trees and briers proved to be hard as well. The adrenaline running though Tech's veins somewhat cancelled out the pain.

    "Where are you?" Hunter asked over the comm.

    "We ran into some difficulties." Tech answered.

    "We?" Echo asked, very concerned for the answer.

    "Crosshair and I."

    "Crosshair?" Wrecker asked hopeful.

    "Correct. We are almost there."

    "Alright, just hurt." Hunter turned the comm off and sighed into the pilot's chair.

     Crosshair and Tech made their way back to the Marauder. Once there, they took care of Tech's leg. They left the planet and headed back to Ord Mentell with a new, old member. Other than Tech's leg the mission was refreshing success.

Whumpril Day 26: Explosion/Short On Time/"I Won't Leave You!"

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Warning: Major Character Death

Summary: Wrecker makes a mistake with one of his explosions and it might just cost a life.

    Boom. Wrecker blew up the tank he'd set the charges on. He watched the fire in all its glory. Then he looked past the tank. Hunter laid on the ground not too far from it. Then he realized what had happened. Wrecker had not made sure that no one was close to the tank; he didn't think about it.

    The demolitionist ran over to his brother. Blood spilled from the man's skin. Hunter looked over at Wrecker. He had known what happened. He wasn't mad, it was a mistake. He also knew he didn't have much time. The injuries would kill him if not treated quickly. There was one more truth he had to face. The droids were still advancing.

    "Hold on Hunter." Wrecker gently took off Hunter's helmet and laid it beside him. "Medic!"

    Hunter couldn't hear him. "Go."

    "What?"

    The confusion in Wrecker's body language explained that he hadn't heard him. "You have to go" Hunter strained.

    "I won't leave you!"

    The ringing in Hunter's ears started to disappear and he began to understand what Wrecker was saying. "You don't" he hissed at the small movements from talking, "have the time."

    Wrecker looked at Hunter. He couldn't move him. The injuries need to be taken care of there, they were far too advanced. "If I leave you here you're going to die. I can't let that happen."

    "Please. Go."

    Wrecker grabbed him comm. "Hunter's down. He needs immediate medical attention. The clankers are advancing too fast and I can't move him."

    "Where are you?" Asked Echo.

    Wrecker gave the soldier his location. Then he put his arm down and held Hunter's hand. He looked around and realized he really didn't have the time. The droids were far too close. He had to go. Tears gathered in his eyes.

    "Go." Hunter manipulated his face to form a small smile.

    "I'm sorry." Wrecker stood and ran. He had to. He commed the others to inform them of what had happened.

    The Republic would regain control over most of the field. Crosshair found Hunter and looked to see if he was still alive. He kneeled down and checked for a pulse. Nothing.

    The clone grabbed his brother's cold body and held him close for just a moment. If only they had time.

Whumpril Day 28: "Let Me Know if You Need Anything." (Alt prompt 13)

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Warnings: mentioned character death

Summary: After Tech's death Echo is trying to help the others how he can.

    Death is hard to handle, especially when it's the first time you've lost someone. Echo knew it was going to be difficult getting the batch through Tech's death. They had grown up together. He remembers the pain he felt when he lost Cutup, Droidbait, and Hevy so he knows how they feel. Not only that but he's grieving as well.

    Wrecker sat alone in his bunk and Hunter sat in the cockpit of the Marauder. Echo walked to talk to Hunter then to Wrecker to check on them.

    "Hey Wreck" Echo started.

    "Hey Echo" Wrecker spoke softly.

    "How are you doing?"

    "Fine." Wrecker made it hard to find a way to comfort him. He wouldn't talk about it. He wouldn't really do anything.

    Unsure of what to do Echo slightly turned around, getting ready to leave the room. "Let me know if you need anything."

    "I need Tech back."

    Echo stopped. "I know. But we can't get him back Wrecker, that's not how death works unfortunately." He walked back inside the room and took a set next to his brother.

    "I know that Echo."

    "I know you know.".

    "I need Omega and Cross back to; I need Hunter to calm down and breathe; I need to be able to help you all; I need to not feel this way."

    'Well that's a lot to unpack' Echo thought. "We can get Omega and Crosshair back-"

    "What if they're dead?" Wrecker interrupted.

    "We wouldn't know until we find them."

    "Hunter isn't going to calm down until we find them. What if they're gone? He'll never be okay."

    "Well Omega's Hunter kid. I know she's our sister but that's his little girl. He'll be okay. If they are gone he'll learn to cope. It'll be okay. And Wrecker, you're helping in small ways but still helping. You need to take care of yourself too."

    "Am I always gonna feel like this?"

    'he went down the whole list.' Echo was glad it went that way, easier to sort out. "No, not always."

    "Will I ever go back to normal?"

    "No. There will always be something missing Wrecker. But you will learn to keep growing. You'll be okay."

    "Okay."

    "Do you need anything?" Echo looked over at Wrecker.

    "Maybe a glass of water."

Merry Whumpmas Day 1: Hospital

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: Echo has to go to the hospital after cutting his hand open. Tech goes with him to help his stay calm as he tries not to think about Skako Minor.

    Echo hated hospitals. They scared him. They seemed to quite and to loud for his liking. He hated being around them but even more he hated being in them.

    Pabu was a beautiful place. Even that wouldn't ease Echo's mind as Tech and him walked towards their hospital.

    "Are you sure we have to go?" Echo asked.

    "The laseration in your palm is deep. It will need stitches. Maybe be more careful around knives next time." Tech kept walking forwards. "It should be a simple procedure. They will numb your hand and stitch it. You will have to come back to get the stitches out."

    "Why can't we wrap it?"

    "Bacta is not something overly easy to come by so they need to preserve it. So do we."

    "Alright."

    Hospitals were to clean, to blank, and to bright. Even though Echo didn't remember much from when he was with the Techno Union, he did remember some things.

    It was cold and white. It smelled too clean. Echo shook his head. He tried to clear his mind. As they arrived the clone paused. "I don't think I can go in."

    "I understand this may be difficult for you. Trauma is not easy to overcome. We will take it slowly. Or at least we will try. Can I provide some form of comfort to you?" Tech walked up to be right beside him. Despite his slightly robotic tone, Echo knew he was genuine.

    Nothing came to mind. The domino tried to find anything that might help. even in the slightest. But there was nothing. "Just stay close?" He shook.

    "I intend to." Tech started to walk forward.

Echo had been right. Exam rooms always looked the same. He sat in his, trying not to cry as a droid came in to look at his hand. Tech intervened quickly and asked if there was a living doctor there. The droid seemed offended but Tech didn't seem to notice. Still he went to grab a doctor.

Just as Echo had feared, all he could think about was the Techno Union. He thought about how the only memories he had were before he was put in the tube he was found in. Memories filled with pain and suffering.

Memories of droids that had stood over him, putting him back together. The few thoughts he had had been wondering if he should have survived or about what happened to the others; what would happen to him. The pain, though only a memory, had been the worst thing he had ever physically felt.

That pain could never compare to the pain that would come with healing from what had happened to him. That pain could never compare to the pain of losing your brothers.

Even now he wasn't completely healed. It felt like those droid's scalpels just kept cutting. Maybe he would never heal? Maybe those wounds would never scar.

Those droids had stood in a clean, white room. When thinking about it, it only ever reminded him of hospital rooms. Sometimes the people nearby cities or towns would let the clones use their hospitals. Other than that, Echo had never been in a hospital.

But now he knew why he feared them so much. They looked just like that room he had been put back together in. Even if his time on Skako Minor was a blur, he knew that this was what the room looked like.

A chill went down Echo's metal spine. He looked over at Tech who stood near the door. He wanted to call for him but his voice hung in his throat. The tears he had been trying so hard to hold back started to slide down his face.

Tech turned around and walked to his side. Unsure of what to say, he just sat with him. He had learned that he wasn't very good at handling current emotional reactions and crying was one of them. Echo reached for his brother and cried into his shoulder.

The doctor opened the door but stopped. She stood in the doorway, confused and slightly concerned. "Is everything alright?" She asked kindly.

"My brother suffers with trauma related to rooms that look similar to this one. Let him calm down." Tech never even looked at her. He just, somewhat awkwardly, held Echo.

Soon he was able to think a little better. He moved from his place in Techs arms to look at the doctor. She had gone to get him some ice chips and had just gotten back. "ice chips?" She asked.

"Sure." Echo didn't question why she had brought him ice chips of all things. He reached for one but hissed as he remembered why he was there. Tech took the cup and ate one of the pieces of ice.

"Let's get that taken care of." The doctor talked to Echo through the whole thing. It helped being able to focus on something else. When she was done, they were sent to the front to check out and then they could leave.

As they left the building Tech spoke. "That could have been worse" he said.

"Yeah. It could have been."

Winter Whumperland Day 1: Santa Claus (Claustrophobe/Panic Attack)

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: Echo falls into a hole in a cave while on a mission. Memories of Skako Minor flood his mind.

    Echo had liked small spaces before being captured by the Techno Union. Fives thought he was crazy for it. There was something comforting about small, dark places. Echo never could explain it.

    One wrong step sent him into a panic. 'Watch your step' Tech had said. 'Caves are unpredictable' he said. The cave was dark and cold. Echo would have loved it. He should have.

    Instead he looked around at the small space he found himself in. "Echo!" he heard Wrecker tell out. "You okay!?"

    The clone couldn't find his voice. It caught in the back of his throat and became a sharp breath instead. He looked at the walls of the hole but couldn't find them. He started to slam his hand and scomp into rock. His breathing speed and he wanted to cry.

    It was just a cave. It was just a dark hole in a cave. It was just a memory. It was just cold. It was just him, in a hole, in a cave, his family above him, ready to get him out of there.

    Or was it a pod? Was it just a memory? Was it just a pod he had been trapped in for over a year? Was it just the cold? Was it just him, in a pod, captured by the enemy, his family below him, waiting for him, ready to welcome him home?

    "Echo!" Omega yelled out. But he didn't answer. He just stood there, hyperventilating, terrified of the past. He felt so small and the rock wall felt like it was closing in. He didn't even notice when a set of hands pulled him up from his place in the cave.

    "Echo, breath." Hunter spoke. He looked at Tech for answers.

    "Claustrophobe, likely attributed to his time on Skako Minor. Move." Tech practically kicked Hunter out of the way before kneeling down in front of Echo. "He is having a panic attack. I will deal with it."

    Tech looked at the man in front of him. He felt uneasy but felt the others would be incapable of helping Echo breath calmly. Still, he wondered if he was the best person to take care of him.

    The clone stood in front of his brother. "What you are feeling is scary, but not dangerous. Focus on your breathing not the memory." Echo looked up at him. "You need to breathe slowly." Tech started to slowly to encourage him to do the same.

    Slowly Echo started to breathe earlier. "Can you tell me five things you can see?" Tech asked patiently. Echo looked around.

    "Tech I don't think that's going to he-"

    "Hush" Tech cut off Hunter. "Now tell me five things you see."

    Echo looked around. "There's some, Stalactites, some standing water, bats, yo-you, and the others."

    "Good job. How about four things you hear? Can you do that."

    "Well I hear you" Echo slightly chuckled. He was still so tense. His breathing was slower but still irregular. "There's water dripping into that puddle, the bats, and the humming of the, the light."

    "Good. You are doing good. Now can you tell me three things you can smell?"

    Hunter and Wrecker watched the two. They didn't know that Tech could be so, gentle? Omega stayed near Hunter.

    "It's musky, the cave water, and the cologne Phee gave you." He sort of smiled, "it sort of smells like Kamino."

    Tech smiled softly. "Two things you can feel."

    "The rocks are kind of smooth." Echo reached out to Tech, "and you."

    "One thing you can taste?"

    "The smell of the cave." Echo sighed. He felt safe again. He was just a man, in a cave, with his family.

    "Can I do anything for you?" Tech asked calmly.

    "You already have." Tech helped Echo up. "Thank you Tech."

    "It is no problem. We need to finish the mission now. Do you think you will be alright?"

    "Yeah, I think I will."

June of Doom Day 1: "Help Me."

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Warning: Major character death

Summary: Hunter and Omega make their way back to the Marauder after finding themselves cornered by imperials.

    Grabbing Omega, Hunter ducked behind some rocks. Ciddarin Scaleback seemed to love leaving out important details when she gave the batch missions. Like always, the clones learned the left out details the hard way.

    Imperials where like a plague, they were everywhere. Maybe Cid hadn't know, she seemed found of them. If she had known, she had some explaining to do.

    "Stay down" Hunter told Omega. She listened. Listening to his surroundings, the man tried to find the best escape route.

    "They went this way!" An imperial Stromtrooper yelled to his troops.

    "Hunter, what are we gonna do?" Omega whispered.

    Pointing to a nearby tree, Hunter directed the girl to hide behind it. She nodded and ran over to the pine tree. Hunter followed her, trying to keep her safe.

    After a while of making their way though the think forest, everything seemed quiet. "Are we clear?"

    "We should be. Come on, let's get back to the ship." Hunter placed a hand on Omega's back to help guide and comfort her. The forest started to thin as they walked closer to their family.

    "Are you close?" Echo asked over the comm.

    "We should be." Hunter answered. "We are nearing the end of the forest."

    "Okay."

    The two continued walking along the edge of the forest until the Marauder was in their sight.

    "There!" Bullets flew passed the two clones as the ran for cover.

    Hunter wasn't sure what had happened. Anytime they were under fire, Omega was in his sight. The night was cold and the dark had a way of hiding the important part of life. She was almost right in front of him. Then she screamed. Soldiers had cornered them, a move the batch used often.

    "Omega!" Hunter grabbed her from the ground and pulled them behind the sharp rock they had been running for. Looking at her, it wasn't hard to tell she had been shot. Blood flower from her right below the center of her chest.

    Putting pressure on her wound with one hand, Hunter grabbed his blaster and peared around the rock to locate the imperials. Taking a shot at one of them, the soldier fell to the ground. "It's okay. You're going to be okay, kid."

    Omega didn't answer. Her sobs would have drowned out her words if she had tried to speak.

   Hunter sat with Omega in his lap. He held her wound, trying to stop the bleeding. The girl cried out in pain. "I know, I know. Just hold on." Kneeling to try to shot the imperials, the man tried to keep one hand on Omega's chest, keeping pressure on the wound.

    On the Marauder, Tech had been waiting in the cockpit for Omega and Hunter. Deciding to stand, he walked down the the ramp. Echo joined him after a few moments. The two said nothing.

    Then they heard the gun shots. Without any words, Echo and Tech took off, running down the rest of the ramp with their weapons drawn. They heard the screaming and crying and the gunshots. They needed to hurry.

    "Omega." Hunter tossed his gun off to the side, ingnoring the still approaching imperials. "Come on, stay with me."

    A few more gunshots went off and Hunter covered Omega with his body. When all but Omega's screaming was silent he sat back up and kept trying to hold her wound.

    "Hunter" Echo started, he watched the woods, carful of enemies. Tech ran over from behind their brother.

    "Help me! Tech, help me! Omega's been shot!" Tears fell down Hunter's face. He was shaking. Blood covered his hands and his chest from here he had covered her. Omega's previously white shirt was stained red. The girl cried.

    "Help me!"

    "Hunter" Tech said quietly. Omega's crying had become silence and the fast paced fall and rise of her chest had stopped completely.

    "No no no! Help me! She's hurt Tech! Help her!" Hunter begged.

    "Hunter" Tech kneeled down to him. "With what we have available, we cannot help her."

    "No you have to help her" he almost whispered. The sound of her cries was still ringing in his ears. "She's in pain" he muttered, "you have to help her. You have-" Hunter broke out into sobs. "Help-"

    Echo kneeled down to Hunter. "We have to go."

    Hunter stood, still shaking. Blood stained the grass where she had laid. Adjusting his googles, Tech followed close behind Echo and Hunter. It was going to be a long night.