Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Consciousness eased into Hunter with practiced ease. He really needed to stop picking fights with groups of regs alone. Slowly, rolling out his tense muscles, he eased up onto his elbows. The lighting was low in this medical bay and bitterly cold. Taking in the room, it was definitely not the standard medical bay he was used to waking up in after a fight. 

“CT-9901,” Nala Se slowly padded up to his side, “I am disappointed in your extracurricular activities.” 

Hunter just slumped back down, arguing with the long neck was pointless. He ignored her lecture of his fight to continue taking in the room. A large bay window showed water instead of a rainy sky, that is probably why it was so cold in here, they were in the submerged research labs. There were three other beds in the room, but only one was occupied. Hunter could not see the clone in the other bed, the data panel divided the space and hid the form from view, but their fluttering heart echoed in his ears all the same. 

“Your actions have affected the rest of your squad.” Nala Se’s words snapped back into focus. 

“They have nothing to do with it,” Hunter was sitting back up, no matter how much his stomach protested. “I was the one that was fighting, not them.” 

“A sergeant must lead by example. A week of maintenance duties will suffice.” Her large hand pressed Hunter back down onto the bed, “You shall not return to them until I have medically cleared you.”

“When will that be?” Hunter tried to keep an even tone, Nala Se never just healed Clone Force 99. Scars of experiments littered all of their bodies and whispers of procedures haunted dreams. 

“When my work is done,” her tone was cold and unnerving. “Please rest, lest I make you.” 

Hunter just turned away on his side, listening to the Kaminonian glide out of the room and the door hiss behind her. As the room grew quiet again, he relaxed back to laying flat. It wasn’t fair, he had deliberately shooed the others off before initiating the fight. He had ensured they were safe and out of the way before the first punch fell on that stupid reg’s face. He had been a good sergeant by protecting his squad in this way. Standing up to bullies, taking punches for them, ensuring that they were not caught in a fight that would result in disciplinary action. 

The heartbeat beyond the divider faltered in its march. Hunter paused their guilt spiral to take it in. It was a small little heart, seemed too small to be decanted but there it was, beating away, less than two meters away. 

What poor clone is Nala Se working on now? Hunter was already sliding down to the floor. Clone Force 99 had spent much of their eight and a half years of life in research labs such as this one, subjected to painful tests and drills. At least they had each other and their wits. This clone was alone.

Peaking around the divider, Hunter sucked in a breath at the sight. It was a tubie, way too little to be decanted. She fussed silently on the expansive bed. Hunter knew why the young clone was silent, he too had learned the painful lessons to stay quiet at all costs. It hurt to see one so young had also endured the same lesson.

Checking over his shoulder, he moved to the child’s side. He took in the information on the diver panels. He hadn’t fully finished his field medicine course but he knew that the vitals were in unacceptable ranges. How to fix it, he wasn’t sure. Tech would know, he had already completed the course and was speeding through the medic training courses at record time just for fun. He continued to read the medical notes, maybe there was something in it that he could do now. His heart dropped to his stomach and he had to steady himself on the console on the latest entry.

EX-CT-OMEGA showing failure to thrive following genetic modifications. Subject will be decommissioned and the process started anew.

“Absolutely not.” Hunter breathed out the words as he turned back to the child. He could smell sickness on her form, feel the heat that radiated off her lithe body. Carefully he picked up the child, Omega , he remembered her designated name. She showed no resistance or sound of protest at his hold. He didn’t exactly know how to hold the toddler, but he settled on pressing her against his chest like Tech held the thinner datapads. 

The weight on his chest stabilized his racing thoughts. He was a sergeant and he protected his squad of modified clones. This ad’ika , was genetically modified too, she was one of them . He had escaped this lab countless times before, he would do it again. 

Yeah, but you had both arms those times. He pushed back the traitorous thought and darted to the door. He would make it back to his brothers, like he always did. 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

“Tech!” Hunter barreled into their barracks. His brother snapped to attention at his workstation. “Med kit, now.” Hunter rushed to his bunk, the child had grown warmer during their journey through the sterile white corridors. Softly he laid Omega down, still pliant and silent in the process. 

“Where did you get a prematurely decanted tubie?” Tech set the kit down and pulled out the scanner. 

“Nala Se’s lab. She was set to be decommissioned after being modified.” 

“Her vitals are not ideal,” Tech read the scanner results. “I see signs that her vitals may have been declining for some time.” 

“Can you fix her?” Hunter’s golden eyes pleaded with Tech’s. 

A sigh, an adjustment of his goggles, and then a nod. “I can, but it will not be immediate.” He quickly began digging through the kit. 

Hunter paced behind Tech, periodically stopping to watch his work with creating and administering doses of medicine and setting an IV line. He couldn’t handle the idea that Nala Se had made another modified clone. She had praised them through all the tests and pain she delivered. Had all that been a lie? She was cold and methodical but he didn’t think she would outright lie to them. Especially when she told him that Clone Force 99 was designed to replace full battalions of clones, that she had designed them to be perfectly balanced within each other. 

Why did she have the need for another modified clone if not that she planned to replace them? 

“I have finished,” Tech repacked the box and moved for Hunter to take a position over the child. “Her vitals have been stabilized with fluids, anti-inflammatories, and a mild sedative to allow her to rest and allow for whatever modification had been placed upon them to fully take hold.” 

“Oh goody,” Crosshair slinked into the room like a cat, “Hunter has returned just in time to miss out on duties.” 

Right, I got them in trouble. They deserve answers. Hunter turned to stare up at their youngest brother. His glare was intense and challenging. “I didn’t mean for you to get in trouble for my actions.”

“Well, you did.” 

“I missed all ‘he action an’ still got all the punishment.” Wrecker shoulder checked Hunter on his way to his bunk.

“Nala Se says that I can’t be fighting, that I have to be a good role model.” His eyes dropped to the floor, unable to face his upset brothers. 

“Se is a pile of osik .” A toothpick danced between Crosshair’s teeth, “We were made to fight.” 

“Technically, we were made to serve the Republic,” Tech turned the scanner on Hunter. “We specifically were made to fight as our mode of service but others were not. There are several different branches of-”

“Who cares!” Wrecker interrupted loudly. 

A soft startled cry emerged from Hunter’s bunk as Omega fussed at the sudden noise and four sets of eyes turned on the child. Hunter was first back at her side, hovering and unsure what to do, but Omega just hiccupped a sob twice before quieting again. Her face relaxing back into a deep medicated sleep. 

“What’s that?” Wrecker asked over Hunter’s shoulder and both Tech and Hunter quickly shushed him. 

“Hunter brought her from Mistress Se’s lab.” Tech pondered Hunter’s scan results before reopening the med kit again. 

“Why?” Cross stayed firmly planted on his own bunk across the room, away from the other three. 

“She was going to be decommissioned.” 

Hunter couldn’t pull his eyes from Omega, she was so small and deserving of life like all of them were but Nala Se was ready to toss her aside instead of giving the bare minimum of care. Hunter could already feel her temperature beginning to drop and her heartbeat even out. Tech had spent not even a half hour administering care, yet that was too much for the kriffing long neck. 

“If you thought getting in a fight was trouble, just wait ‘til Se finds out she’s missing!” Wrecker’s playful shove left Hunter staggering. 

“Goody, more punishments for your choices.” Cross leaned back, glaring daggers at Hunter. 

“Nala Se can’t find out she is gone.”

“Yeah, I don’t wanna clean hallways for a month.” 

“I believe Hunter is referring to the idea that if she is found then she will be decommissioned,” Tech handed Hunter two capsules to take. “If she is set to be decommissioned, then the obvious choice is to mark her file as such. Mistress Se will not look for a clone she believes is dead.”

“You could change Nala Se’s reports?” Hunter spoke but all three brothers looked at Tech with slack jaws.

“Of course, how else did I ensure Wrecker was never listed for decommissioning following the accident during field training?” 

“You did ‘hat for me?” Wrecker gathered their lithe brother in his arms. “I never knew you were so worried!”

“I was worried they were not providing adequate care to you,” Tech straightened his tunic upon being set back down. “A fear that is clearly warranted given her treatment.”

“So what,” Crosshair’s heart was racing in Hunter’s ears betraying his even tone.

“All clones deserve adequate medical care.” 

“Why make her our problem? We have final assessments in six months and then we will be deployed out there.” Crosshair crossed the room in six strides to get in Hunter’s face. “What’s going to happen when tomorrow comes and we all have individuals? What happens in a month when we are on field training again?”

Hunter stood straighter, refusing to crack to his taller brother. He hadn’t thought of it to be honest, but he couldn’t leave her there to die either. 

“You expect us to throw away all our training, all we were designed to be, for a tubie that couldn’t even make it to the kindergarten.”

“I expect us to rally behind our own.” It was his sergeant voice and Crosshair gave a sneer in retaliation. “Clone Force 99 is made of genetically modified clones from Nala Se’s research. Omega fits that criteria, she is one of us, and we don’t leave our own behind.”

All eyes drifted back to the child for a long moment, only to have it ended by the chimes signaling the 19th hour. 

“Time to make a call Hunter,” Crosshair looked too smug, “we are all expected to be at late meal.”

“I will stay with her,” Tech sat down at the table, already engrossed in their datapad. “I have a track record of missing meals to work on projects so it will not be unusual to be absent. It will also give me time to alter Nala Se’s records and copy them for my own work.” 

“It is decided then,” Hunter took satisfaction in Crosshair's eye roll and huff. At least one of his brothers backed him up. “We will bring you and Omega back food.” 

Tech did not respond, just waved them off. 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

An hour later the trio returned, and Hunter immediately went to Omega’s side again. 

“She did not disappear in your absence.” Tech accepted the packaged meal Wrecker sat down. 

“I got her soup.” Wrecker pointed to the sealed container, “Figured it would be easy on her stomach.”

“Did you manage to hack Se’s files?” Crosshair was back in his own bunk, glaring at his brothers. “Or should I start preparing for more chores?”

“Of course I did.” Tech returned the glare for half a moment before turning to Hunter, “It does appear that ‘Omega’ is used as her name repeatedly through her files. I altered the files. Nala Se should not come looking for her.”

Hunter and Wrecker visibly relaxed at the words. Using the back of two fingers, Wrecker slowly stroked her forehead. “Why ‘s she so small, Tech?”

“She is 3 years 5 months and 21 days old. She is smaller than standard but there appears to be no reason specified for such a cause.”

“If she is nearly 3 and a half, why isn’t she already in the kindergarten?” Hunter watched Wrecker’s motions carefully, memorizing them to repeat them himself later. 

“She isn’t accelerated, di’kut .” Crosshair quipped. 

“Precisely,” Tech took a bite of the stuffed roll, “Omega was left unaltered until the modifications that occurred recently.”

“What kind of modifications?” Now Hunter turned his attention to his younger brother. As far as Hunter understood it, modifications could only be made when they were still balls of cells in dishes. 

Tech could only shrug, “That is the fascinating thing about her. It doesn’t say.” 

“Finally found something you can’t hack into?” 

“No, I can’t find it because it simply doesn’t exist . Not in the Kaminoan databanks, not in the hidden research databanks, not even in the Republic databanks.” Tech had a smirk in his thin lips, “I couldn’t even find it in the Jedi databanks.”

“You broke into the Jedi files?” Hunter could not keep the sharpness from his tone. “If they find out-”

“I am offended at your lack of faith.” 

“If it ain’t in those places, then where is it?” 

“I would say it would be with the ordering client for her, however due to the fact that it isn’t on the Republic databanks, I am not sure. She is a Fett clone though, so she has to be ordered by the Republic.” 

“What kind of secret is she?” Hunter pondered aloud to himself, taking a moment to copy Wrecker’s previous actions. Her skin was soft, a touch lighter than his own warm tone, and her blonde hair was just long enough to start curling. 

“An annoying secret. If she keeps me up and makes me lose focus I am moving in with the regs.” 

“Lighten up vod’ika !” Wrecker chided Crosshair, “Don’t be mad just ‘cause you’re not the youngest anymore.”

Crosshair did not dignify Wrecker’s statement with a remark, only turned over in his bunk to put his back to them all. 

Hopefully, he will come around , Hunter thought to himself as he continued to smooth Omega’s hair. Hopefully, you will make a full recovery too . 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

Thank Force for Tech. For his ability to hack the systems and reorganize the individual training times. For his ability to continue administering medical care. For his wealth of information pulled from the holonet providing an answer to every question Hunter had. For reprogramming and rebuilding the trashed medical droid Wrecker found. Where would he be without his second in command? He didn’t want to think about that, instead he just continued to move forward. 

A week passed and Omega continued to be either asleep or out of it. Tech said she was making improvements in her vitals and she no longer seemed sick to Hunter’s senses; yet, she couldn’t keep her eyes open for longer than it took to spoon feed her some soup or drink water. The whole time her eyes were glazed over with a thousand click stare. It made his silent vigil over her ever longer, the silence a heavy weight that pulled his focus from his studies. 

He had helped Tech repurpose a weapons kit crate into a bed for her, complete with soft padding around the edges and a tiny mattress. Tech even scored the table to better fit the crate and stabilize it in case Omega fussed too much. Again, what would he do without him to provide the sensibility to each thing. 

It made the watches easier as Hunter could sit at the table to complete his tasks while softly holding Omega’s hand. A hand so small that he worried it would be crushed by the slightest squeeze. He used the lightest touch to stroke her knuckles, a silent hope that maybe the pressure would coax her awake.

Just because Tech had done so much didn’t mean Wrecker wasn’t there to support their newest addition. His distractions in the cafeteria let Hunter sneak into the kindergarten to get the supplies Tech said Omega needed three days ago. He had also immediately offered to watch her and handed over his Lula without a second thought. Finding and repurposing the medical droid was his idea, to provide the missing coverage they desperately needed. 

‘I’m just lookin’ out for my kih’kih’vod. ’  Wrecker’s words played in his memories and warmed his worried heart. Wrecker was excited for Omega to be better, he had heard his brother whisper to the sleeping child about all the adventures they would get up to once she was awake and better. 

Hunter sighed into their datapad, their strategic assessment would not go over well if they couldn’t focus on the briefing intel for it. He turned to it again, to start at the top of the report for the fifth time and hope he didn’t get distracted. 

Yet, he was. His mind swirled towards his youngest brother. If only Crosshair would come around, maybe he would see that Omega wasn’t all bad. He had been distinctly absent, finding every excuse to be out of the bunk room for as long as possible. Coming in to sleep right before curfew and leaving the moment it lifted in the morning. Hunter missed him, the steady pressure of his gaze eased his senses. With Cross around, Hunter didn’t have to consume every bit of information his senses gave him, he knew Cross was taking in the room too and it lightened his load. 

That isn’t the only reason why you miss him. The traitorous voice in his head echoed mischievously. Hunter pushed it aside to continue his watch over Omega. He missed his brother because he was his vod and he was his ori’vod . His absence was a hole in his heart. 

The exhaustion of the week of worry melded with the sound of Omega’s soft breaths and the rain on the transparisteel. Against his better judgement, he slumped forward on the table next to the crate and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

A whine pulled him awake, reaching for a pistol he didn’t yet carry. Luckily there was no attacker, just a fussy toddler. It was a soft whine, a whisper of a sound that expressed the desire to cry out that was withheld by the fear of being struck. Hunter knew it well, such a whine had escaped his own throat a thousand times over. 

“Easy kih’vod .” Hunter whispered and took hold of a failing hand. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”

Omega blinked awake at his words, golden brown eyes clear and focused on his face. His heart stuttered and breath caught in his throat. How desperately hurt and scared those eyes looked staring back up at him. He could feel how every muscle tensed as she took him in, her heart racing and breathing shallow. She was terrified, of him.  

Has she ever seen another being besides Nala Se? Does she even know what another human looks like? His mind raced out of control and he worked hard to soften his face and voice. “I am not going to hurt you.” Her eyes darted around the room and back to him, tracking his hands especially. “You are in our bunk room, you don’t have to worry about Nala Se and her research labs.” 

Omega didn’t show any sign of relief, but he was pretty sure this was due to a lack of understanding rather than disbelief. Instead she stopped fussing and whining, remaining perfectly still while tracking him and the room. Her hand stayed in his, limp and compliant to his grasp. How much had she struggled and been punished until that level of obedience had become a self defense? Hunter didn’t want to know as his anger towards the Kaminonian was already bubbling to a boil.  

Instead he forced every muscle to relax, “You’re safe, I am here and I will make sure nothing bad happens.” Softly he stroked her knuckles with his thumb. “That is what I do. I am your ori’vod and you are my kih’vod .” 

Omega didn’t respond but there was a slight ease in her tense muscles that had Hunter giving the faintest of a smile. It was something. This was not going to be an easy process to break down the fears that she had, but the Bad Batch was nothing if not persistent. 

Hunter slowly pulled away, grabbed the nearby water canister. “Here,” he offered the water to her, but she shied away instead. He swallowed the sigh and set it down at the foot of her crate bed. “It will be here if you want it.” He pointed to Lula who was propped up in the corner, “That’s Lula, she is also there for when you want her.” 

He sighed with relief as she finally took her eyes off him to turn and look at the stuffed tooka doll. She considered it for a long moment before turning back to look at him. A gaze still full of unease and distrust, but she was relaxing her muscles more by the minute. 

Collecting his discarded datapad, he settled back down to his elbows, “I am just going to be here reading my briefing intel, if you need something, just let me know.” He didn’t need to have his eyes on her after all. His senses could keep track of her while he finally finished his studies. 

He got through the first page before she pulled herself to a sitting position. He allowed himself a periphery glance, trying not to startle her with his full gaze. He stifled a laugh and just how much her blonde curls stuck out in haphazard directions. It was nearly as bad as Tech when he finally crashed after a 30 hour focus session. 

He pulled himself back to the report, finding it easier when he noticed how her breathing had evened out and heart returned to its normal marching beat. Of course the intel was dry and dull but he did already have a plan forming for a method of attack. He loved strategy the most out of his non-physical coursework. Softly he mused about the idea of a little Omega trailing behind them through this theoretical planet. The scenario said there was heavy underbrush that Hunter was planning to use as cover to get close to the enemy. Would Omega be completely covered by the large leaves? Would she find it amusing or terrifying to be surrounded by all the flora of another planet?

She is not coming out to the field this small. Focus! He got through another page before Omega moved, shifting to reach towards Lula behind her. When Hunter turned slightly to look at her, she froze with wide eyes. Hunter just smiled, trying to keep the sadness from his eyes, and turned back to his datapad. He made an effort to put his cheek to his fist and relax his shoulders through a long sigh. 

He heard Omega copy him, a long sigh and relaxed shoulders. Carefully she grasped at Lula, he could hear how her hands disturbed the plush fabric. Her soft musing and tentative touches and exploratory pulls made the dull briefing text even more drab. Yet, every time he even lightly twisted to look her way she froze like a cadet found in the Commanders’ Cafeteria. 

He willed himself to focus and returned to the last page of his study text. This time he found it easy to read, as long as he was focused on his studies, Omega was focused on Lula. She pulled at the long ears and limbs to move it about, making soft huffs of amusement when she got a satisfactory motion from it. She started to truly ease and forget the world beyond just her and the doll. 

The last page was read and the questionnaire completed, but not wanting to disturb her peace, Hunter continued to finish his field medicine study work. The rest of the hour passed like that, Omega softly playing with Lula and taking in the room around her and Hunter finishing more course work in one sitting than ever before. 

A soft chime sounded and Omega’s distressed squeak brought Hunter to attention. “Easy, it’s okay.” He brought both hands up to placate the child, “That’s the hour chime, it’s the 15th hour, Tech and Wrecker should be back from individuals soon.” 

That only made Omega pull Lula further to her chest, the fearful wide eyes returning. 

“They are also ori’vod . They won’t hurt you and will do everything to protect you too.” Hunter sighed, “I have to go to my own individuals when they get here. I have to stand up to get ready, but you can just stay there with Lula.” 

Omega watched with distrust as he slowly turned off the bench and stood up. She wasn’t nearly as tense as when she first woke up but she also was not relaxed as she had been a minute ago. She watched him swap into his sparing tunic and fix his hair with a bandana. 

Hunter was purposely not looking her way through the whole process, she seemed at ease when not watched or monitored directly. Nala Se’s cold gaze during invasive procedures would do that, and again he was swallowing down rage. As he pulled on boots, Wrecker and Tech came into the room. 

“I am aware what he called you, but tossing regs is not acceptable behavior for anyone, especially us.” Tech was lecturing Wrecker, Hunter would have to inquire what had happened later. 

“Look who’s awake!” Wrecker paid the lecture no mind as he bounded over to Omega. 

Hunter immediately cut him off, putting himself between his largest and youngest vode . “Omega is,” he struggled to find a good word, “fragile, right now. Soft voices, no sudden movements.” 

Tech raised an eyebrow, ‘Hand speak only?’ He signed and Wrecker groaned at the idea of it. 

“That’s not needed, just be gentle with actions and tone.” Hunter eased his own stance, he could feel Omega’s eyes on them. Not fully sure if she could understand his words, he signed, ‘Don’t stare, scares her.’ 

Tech nodded an acknowledgment and shooed Wrecker off to the refresher first. “I will take over, Hunter, you may go.” 

“Yeah,” sighing he turned back to Omega, “I am going to go now, but I will be back in three chimes.” Omega’s brow creased into a distressed expression, he let himself believe that maybe she wanted him to stay. “Tech and Wrecker will stay here with you. They are safe, you are safe .” 

“If you need anything, I will provide it.” Tech was back to work on modifications to the medical droid. 

Slowly, Hunter brought his hand up, he wanted to stroke her hair again but she shied away. Instead he patted Lula’s head, pretending that was always the plan. A light smile and then he pulled himself away and out into the hallway. 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

Crosshair slipped in the room right as the 22nd hour chime sounded. The room was already dark and all bunks had someone in them besides his own. Neatly he picked his way through the littered debris, his enhanced sight giving him near perfect vision despite the darkness. A shower, fresh tunics, and he was tucking himself into his bunk. 

The sound of Wrecker’s snores and Tech’s light fidgeting was a relaxing weight in his mind. He missed his brothers but did not agree with their choices. He had found places to hide away the last two weeks, especially so now that the kid was actually awake and wandering about sometimes. Each spot was faulty in some way though. The catwalks in the hanger were technically off limits and he had already been scolded twice. The archive corners had become easy spots to be bullied by the bigger regs. He may tower over them, but they had mass on their side, and the fact that Crosshair didn’t excel at close quarters combat. 

99 had let him stay in his quarters, but he didn’t want to impose too much on his ori’vod like that. He also didn’t like how right 99 was, he was running away from his brothers because he was scared. He didn’t want to be replaced with the newest edition and he already saw how they all fawn over the tiny thing. 

Turning over he spotted the crate made bed on the table as it always was. Squinting he tried to make out the form inside of it. Normally he could at least something but it appeared like the crate was empty. 

His breath stilled as his eyes darted about the room. He didn’t move, a sniper stays still even when danger is standing on top of them. He let his gaze rake the room over with a fine tooth comb. It was only his training that kept him silent and still when his target suddenly pulled herself up to the edge of his bunk. 

“What do you want?” he whisper hissed. 

Her brown eyes pleaded with him, “Elp.” she whispered back, pointing at the water canisters. 

“You want water?” Omega nodded at his questioning. He pondered getting Hunter but then turned it down with smug satisfaction. Slowly he rose and fetched the water for her, Omega had sought out him out of all his brothers that doted on her. Clearly she had taste. 

He kneeled down, supporting the water for her as she drank. When she pulled back to take a breath, she leaned too far, past her tipping point. Without a second thought he lunged forward to catch her, pulling her closer to him, but not fully into him. 

Silence spanned between them, Omega breathing hard as she stood carefully protected in the circle of Crosshair’s arms that he leaned on his knee. Neither touched one another, just existed in the same space. 

Finally Crosshair couldn’t take the silence and pressure anymore and backed away, retreating to his bunk. “Shoo,” he whispered as he turned over and pulled his pillow over his head. He was decidedly not his brothers in the way they carefully watched her climb up the ramp Tech had made for her. He was not the ones who whispered in the mornings about when Omega would not shy away when they reached out to her. 

She didn’t shy away from you , his mind quipped. You touched her to keep her from falling and she didn’t shy away, make a noise, or run away. She likes you. Crosshair pulled the blanket over his head for good measure, he was not his brothers, there was no reason why she would show him preferential treatment. 

Yet she did. 

The next two nights she appeared begging for water again just as he climbed into his bunk. Each time he complied, if nothing else but to remain smug in the fact that, as far as he knew, she did not seek out any others for any reason. 

You would know if you were around more . Yeah but he didn’t want to watch his ori’vod change for this child. It terrified him how fast they switched to care for her. They may switch just as fast to replace you. It had been echoing in his mind on repeat and it was hard to push away. 

As he made his way out of the refresher, he noticed Omega already waiting by his bunk for him. Her brown eyes snapping to his glinting golden ones. She didn’t even have to ask, Crosshair just picked up a canister on his way back to his bunk. 

A mischievous thought had been toying in his mind all day sprouted back up. Hunter had complained that morning that yesterday Tech carried the sleeping child back to her crate bed after the midday meal. He wanted to do that, to hold her like he had when he carried her back from Se’s lab. Why he wanted to handle the child like that, Crosshair wasn’t sure, but if he could do it before Hunter did then it was another thing to hold over his sergeant’s head. 

“Come ‘ere,” whispering to not wake the others, he didn’t kneel down like the last three nights. Instead he sat down on the bunk and reached to pick her up under her arms and into his lap. 

Omega took a deep breath in but didn’t make a noise otherwise. She let herself be settled in his lap, tensing by the sudden handling. 

He let her settle, returning to just circle his arms around her without actually touching her. He too settled, leaning back against the wall. He had gotten better with the silent moments that passed like this. Her gaze didn’t feel as heavy anymore but when it lingered it was still uncomfortable. 

He brought the water to her lips to try and convince her to look elsewhere but she didn’t. Even after he recapped the canister and set it aside she continued to stare. 

“What are you looking at, womp rat?” 

“Shiny eyes” she reached up, grabbing at his jaw. 

Stunned he let her hands roam across his face and jaw. Suddenly it made sense why she was always at his bunk and looking at his face. She was seeing the double reflective glint of his enhanced eyes in the darkness. 

“Yeah, it’s my enhancement.” 

“Y’re gone lot.” 

Heat burned in his cheeks under her weight, her hands, her statement. 99 had scolded him again this afternoon as well. ‘You belong with your vod , do not drive a wedge between yourself because you are scared of what they may do. Trust in your ori’vod to be true to themselves and loyal to you.’ 

“I guess I am.” His tone was missing its characteristic edge. “You want me around more?” 

“Mhmm,” she let her hands drop and suddenly also dropped into his chest. “Y’not sci’tst.” 

The sudden weight felt more like a training bolt to the chest rather than an underweight premature tubie. Her words also struck the same spot, digging the wound deeper. She had experienced the same pain of experimentation he had and she was so much younger and smaller than he was. He had heard the hushed conversations about not overtly staring at Omega as she grew tense under observation. Likewise, touching was out of the question as she shied away if you approached with an outstretched hand. 

His absence and desire to not engage or look at her to try and not connect himself with the ad’ika had inadvertently shown the child that he was distinctly different than the watchful Kaminonian scientists. This had made him a safe person for her. All his work to push her away had only drawn her in more. 

“Yeah, I’m not a scientist.” He didn’t move his hands, lest she be scared away. 

“Ri’vd?” it was a mumbled question as she shifted into a more comfortable position against his chest. 

Crosshair swallowed hard, “Yeah, I’m ori’vod . I got you, kid.” 

Against his better judgement he carefully laid a hand against her back, ready for her to bolt or jump at the touch; instead she sighed and eased into it. Letting out a sigh of his own he pulled his pillow over to place behind his head. Sleeping upright would not be the most comfortable, but moving her was out of the question. It would be good practice to be able to sleep in any position anyway. 

The 5th hour chimed and for the first time in nearly three weeks, Crosshair was not waiting at the door ready to leave. At some point in the night he had laid down, but Omega was still pressed up to his chest, soundly asleep. He shifted his position, fixed the blanket, and closed his eyes again. He did not have individuals until the 9th hour, he could wait until Omega woke up to get up and get ready.

Chapter Text

The 6th hour chimed and Hunter groaned. Slowly he righted himself and rubbed sleep from his eyes. He let the morning noises filter through his senses. Wrecker was still asleep, deeply asleep from the tone of his snores. Tech was also waking up, untangling himself from his bedding and projects given the rustling of fabric and soft clinks of metal parts falling into one another. Four heartbeats marched steadily on and eased his mind. 

The realization snapped his focus across the room. Crosshair was in his bunk still asleep by the even rate of his breathing and heart. He couldn’t hold back the sigh of relief that came bubbling up. His brother had returned and hopefully will not run off again. 

A stretch, then a yawn, finally he pulled himself out of his bunk. He had his strategic assessment today and wanted a few more hours to study before then. Hunter softly approached the table, ready to sit and study next to a softly sleeping child. 

All the warmth of having his brother back turned to ice that punctured his lungs, ripping away the ability to breathe. Omega was not in her bed. 

Breathe, focus, you heard her heartbeat. She is here. Finally his mind wasn’t tearing him down for once. He scanned the room, trying to find oxygen again. Ultimately he just closed his eyes and used his ears to find her. He slowly picked his way through Tech’s scattered projects and made his way across the room, right to Crosshair’s bunk. 

His brother’s back was to the main part of the room, but peaking over his sleeping form he could just barely make out the bright blonde tufts of Omega’s unruly hair beneath the blanket. She was sheltered in his arms, tucked neatly into his chest and both of them were sleeping peacefully. 

“Jealous?” Crosshair whispered, eyes still closed and heartbeat still even. Curse his sniper training that always tricked Hunter’s senses. 

“No.” His quick response and tense body betrayed the casualness of his tone. “I am happy that Omega is finally at ease with us.” 

Crosshair huffed a laugh, “Sure, whatever you say.” 

Hunter only turned and dashed to the refresher, determined to put a wall between him and his smug sibling. Once the door latched shut he collapsed onto the sink, clutching it like it held the answers to the universe. He was jealous but he was also so relieved. He was happy that Omega was finally not shying away from at least one of them, he was just unhappy it wasn’t him. 

He had read all the articles Tech had found on natborn child development to figure out how to best care for their newest edition. He had spent hours carefully trying to straighten her hair and spread batca gel into old wounds while she slept. It was Hunter who had spent the last two weeks at Omega’s side, ready to provide any need, continually hurt by her flinches and tensing whenever he approached her. 

Crosshair had abandoned him, abandoned her . Why should he get Omega’s trust?

Groaning, he started to prepare for the day. It didn’t take nearly as long as he wanted it to, brushing his hair twice as long as he normally did. Slowly he turned the brush over in his hands, if Crosshair had gained her trust, then he could open her up to the rest of them. Until then, Crosshair just earned himself primary care duties whether he liked it or not.

He exited the refresher ready to face down a fake-sleeping brother but instead found him awake and sitting up in his bunk. In his lap, leaning against his raised knee and protectively encircled by long arms, was Omega. 

Jealousy stirred in his chest again, but he tamped it down. Slowly he approached, letting himself fall into the mask of his rank. Crosshair met his gaze but didn’t say anything, daring his older brother to try and take the toddler who rubbed sleep from her eyes. 

“Here,” Hunter extended the brush to him, trying not to be hurt when Omega immediately snapped to attention at his voice and flinched away from his outstretched hand. “Be gentle and don’t pull too hard on her.” 

Crosshair’s smugness dissolved at the implied orders. Now Hunter was amused. If Crosshair had somehow gotten Omega to trust him just to spite Hunter, his plan was now royally backfiring. Omega was leaning closer to his chest, carefully looking between the two brothers with worried glances. A sigh of resignation escaped Crosshair’s mouth as he took the brush. Yet he brought the other hand to Omega’s head, smoothing her tangled web of hair while continuing to hold Hunter’s gaze with dancing eyes. 

Hunter had to break the stare as he watched Omega basically melt under his brother’s touch. Leaning into his hand and falling fully into his chest as all the tension faded from her small form. He turned to walk to the table and his datapad, he had an assessment to cram for, he had no time to handle the jealousy. 

“Time to brush your hair, womp rat.” Crosshair’s voice interrupted his reading. 

“N’t ‘omp at.” Omega’s voice was light and musing. She was actually conversing with Crosshair instead of just asking for something. 

“Oh, you’re here.” Tech was out of the refresher now, and by the sound of it, striding to Crosshair’s bunk. 

“This is my room, of course I am here.” 

“And it seems Omega has found your presence comforting. Interesting.” 

“She has good taste.” 

“What actions have you taken to elicit such trust? I must replicate them.”

Hunter felt Omega tense with his senses and he turned to rise and intervene. 

“She isn’t an experiment to be studied.” Crosshair’s tone was cold and sharp. He actually pulled her into him, allowing her to hide in his neck. 

“I never said she was. I only want-” 

“I don’t care what you want.” He had that dangerous look that was the precursor of a fight. “Until you stop being a scientist and start being an ori’vod , keep your distance.” 

Tech adjusted his goggles and huffed before turning to his workstation and the medical droid. It was nearing completion. Somehow Wrecker slept through that whole fight and Crosshair was pulling Omega down off his shoulder to resume his careful work. Hunter watched out of the corner of his eye as Crosshair slowly brushed her hair, a softness to his face he hadn’t seen in years. 

“Ri’vd?” Omega looked up at him. 

“Yes ad’ika ?” Crosshair untangled an extra troublesome knot with his fingers.

“Leavin’?” 

“Later, not right now.” 

“Com’ back?”

Crosshair sighed with a soft smile, “Yeah kid, I will come back earlier this time.” 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

Hunter was relieved that Crosshair did return after his individuals that day, and the next. His youngest brother was back and his whole squad was together again. Omega’s ease with Crosshair quickly grew to include Wrecker as he played with her and Lula. She still found herself attached to Crosshair’s long legs whenever Wrecker got too loud though. Hunter noticed she wasn’t nearly as tense around him during their hours together but she still kept him at arms length. Tech however she still shied from. 

“Omega,” Tech called to her as Wrecker helped her eat soup for her late meal. “I have a gift for you.” 

Hunter was relieved when she didn’t immediately shy as he approached, it was a significant improvement. 

“In order to provide you companionship and care for instances when we are all away, I have reprogrammed and repaired a medical droid Wrecker found for you.” Omega just blinked at him, and Tech sighed with a slight smile. He powered on the droid who instantly sputtered to life. 

“Hello, I am medical droid AZI-345211896246498721347, at your service.” 

Omega’s eyes were wide as a plate and she instantly cowered into Wrecker. 

“Hey, it’s okay.” He rubbed circles into her back with his big hands. “Tech made him, he is a friend.” 

“Correct, CT-9902 has programmed me with your care as my prime directive.”

She wiggled in Wrecker’s grasp but when released she didn’t turn towards the droid and Tech. She rushed to Crosshair’s bunk and he pulled her up into his waiting arms. 

“Let me guess, Se had droids like him in her lab?” He smoothed her hair in a way that now felt as easy as adjusting his scope. 

“Mis’tris has droids.” She kept glancing at the floating droid that Tech inspected with his datapad. 

“Yeah, there are droids everywhere, but that doesn’t mean every droid is bad.” 

“Some droids make really good food!” Wrecker offered, “Your soup is made by the kitchen droids and you like the soup.” 

“Good droid?” 

“I made him for you , Omega.” Tech pushed up his goggles, “I assure you that he is safe and you will be safe in his care.” 

Omega looked between Tech and Crosshair with uneasy glances. Searching their faces for reassurance. Tech’s face was his standard neutrality but Hunter could see from the slight furrowing of his brows and pressed lips that Tech was really trying. Trying to show their kih’vod that he was safe and trustworthy because he too wanted to have her feel safe in his presence. 

Ultimately it was Crosshair that made the move, setting her back down and approaching the new droid. Predictably, Omega was his shadow, hanging onto his pant leg and thus also approaching Tech and the droid. 

“Why is your name so long?” Crosshair studied the droid’s yellow glowing eyes. 

“It is my serial number.” 

“Most droid numbers are only one or two digits.” 

“The names possessed by droids are given to us to make interactions easier. If my name is too long, then I can be simply renamed.” 

“That is unnecessary, your name shall remain so you are identifiable compared to other droids.” Tech looked down to his youngest sibling. “We will call him ‘AZI’ for ease, but he will always have his full name. No other droid will have his number, that way you will always know you are safe with him.” 

“AZI?” Golden brown eyes met Tech’s. 

“That’s right, my sweet.” He kneeled down to her side, “He may not be ori’vod like us, but he will protect you all the same.” 

“ Ori’vod .” Omega set her hand on Tech’s knee and Crosshair smoothed her hair encouragingly. 

“Well done, vod’ika . Your pronunciation has improved.” He set his hand over hers. “Let me tell you more about him.” 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

It had only been two hours, but it was still two hours too long. The battle simulation had to be run and that meant all four of them had to be away from their room. Omega had been left in AZI’s care but she still whined when Crosshair had to leave with his brothers. He had taken too many risks in that simulation to try and get it over with. His accuracy had not failed but he could feel Hunter’s glare in the back of his head all the same from the disobeyed orders. Normally Hunter led them through the halls as well, but this time he was leading them back. Completely unwilling to be contained by Hunter’s shortened stride. Several regs made comments as they passed but he ignored them all, he could not delay their return any more with a fight. 

Punching in the door code, he entered as soon as it hissed open. There was no girl child waiting for him in the doorway though. He turned his enhancement to finding her, only easing when she was found asleep in her crate bed. 

“You have returned!” AZI hovered over and spun in greeting. 

“How perceptive.” He couldn’t help the sneer, he was still not happy to leave her with a droid. He did not trust the droid to not immediately hand her over if someone came into their room while they were out. 

“Omega went to sleep 43 minutes ago, she ate the provided ration bar and drank water prior to this.” 

“Good work,” Tech praised his creation. “How was her vitals during our absence?” 

“She displayed heightened stress levels and did cry at the door until she exhausted herself.” 

“You found those vitals acceptable and not warranting the alert protocols?” Tech’s voice had real anger to it. Crosshair shared a look of surprise with Hunter and Wrecker. 

“At no point was her life in danger nor was she discovered.”

“If she is crying, you alert us. It is unacceptable to let her cry alone.” 

“Understood.” AZI hovered away to his charging station, understanding a dismissal. 

All four settled at the table, around the sleeping child. Crosshair took a spot furthest from her, knowing that once she wakes up she will find him. He let Hunter have these moments when she slept to be close, she still didn’t fully trust him even though he had talked to her about it when she came to him in the night hours. 

“She cried, ‘til she couldn’t anymore.” Wrecker looked pained. “It was only a few hours, what happens next week for field assessment?” 

“Maybe we can explain it to her.” Hunter held her small hand. 

“She is too young to fully understand the concept of a field assessment. It is clear that AZI is not enough to provide for her for long absences.” 

“We can’t just skip the field assessment.”

“I do not want to skip it either. The sooner we pass the field assessments the sooner we will be assigned a ship that I can start modifying to my liking.” 

Wrecker slumped on his arms, “She needs someone more than a droid for it.”

“We don’t have anyone we can trust with her.” Hunter snapped, Crosshair could see the weight of the decisions pressing on him. 

“That’s not true.” He found his oldest brother’s eyes, “There is someone who can help her in our absence, someone who would care for her.” 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

“What new secret do you have?” 99 followed Hunter through the bright white hallways. 

“A secret that has to be kept just that, a secret.” 

“Of course,” 99 chided and waited for Hunter to open the door. Hunter could see his brows raise at the complex entry code that he entered. 

“99! How’ve you been?” Wrecker instantly had the older clone in a large hug as the pair shared a bright laugh. 

“I am good, it is nice to see you again. You have grown bigger and stronger since last time.” He regarded Tech with a small nod that Tech returned. Finally he turned to Crosshair, “I was beginning to think I would never see you again. Still, I am glad you found your place with your brothers again.” 

“Thank you for helping me find my way back.” Crosshair offered his forearm to shake and 99 accepted it. “I have a favor to ask of you.” 

“All of us do, really.” Hunter moved to Crosshair’s side. 

99’s face lit up, “I am happy to help my brothers!” 

“We have field assessments next week, and we need help…” Hunter’s words died on his tongue, they hadn’t breathed a word of Omega to anyone else and he struggled now to open up.

Crosshair sighed and turned towards his bunk. Slowly he kneeled behind a stack of crates and from behind it, he lifted Omega up to his shoulder. She was tense and full of unease at the presence of a new person. Hunter could hear him muttering soft words into her ear as he strode over with careful steps. 

“Who is this little one?” 99’s tone was soft and warm. He did not reach out towards her or Crosshair, and if understanding that she did not like to be looked at, instead held Crosshair’s gaze. 

“This is Omega.” He tried to turn her so she could see 99 but she just twisted in his hold to hide more. 

“She is a Fett clone, and came from Mistress Nala Se’s lab, like we did.” Tech explained. 

“I stole her from the lab, she was going to be decommissioned.” He admitted looking at the floor. “She can’t be found out.” 

“We trust you,” Wrecker patted the older clone’s shoulder, “but we also understand if you can’t help.”

99 looked between the four enhanced clones and the smallest one clinging to dear life to her brother. Each one had ended up in his private quarters at one point or another, quarreling between them to nearly shattering. 99 had dusted them off, talked them off the ledges, and set them back on their way to their room. This was new, a big ask for sure, but to have all four of them asking as a united front, he couldn’t deny a request from his brothers. 

“What can I do to help?” 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

“When?” Omega couldn’t stop looking at the door as 99 tried to get her to eat the soup. 

“Six days vod’ika .” He waited for her to turn slightly and accept the spoon of soup. “It will pass and they will have lots of stories for you.”

“Stories?”

“Have they not told you stories before?” 99 chuckled as Omega shook her head and looked up with him with stardust filled eyes. “Want me to tell you one?”

“Peas!” She begged, the door and her longing forgotten for the moment. 

“Let me tell you about the Domino Twins, they get into nearly as much trouble as your vod …” 

✰ . ✰ . ✰

99 had to leave for his chores and AZI was there to keep her company. She didn’t feel the sadness of the last several days though. 99 told her this morning that her brothers would be back today. Slowly the hours passed, bored of playing with Lula and the sorting toy Tech had built. She crawled up the ramp to sleep in her bed again. Lula pressed to her chest, happy it smelt like her brothers and the safety they brought her. 

She dreamed of her brothers smiling and playing with her again. 

The hiss of the door pulled her awake immediately and she tumbled out of bed. Shaky legs still full of sleep made getting down the ramp to the floor difficult and she nearly tumbled head over feet but Hunter caught her. 

“H’nter” She squeaked and latched onto him. 

“What, forget I exist?” Crosshair appeared in her view and she instantly twisted to be transferred to his hold. “There is my womp rat.” 

“Have fun with 99 without us?” Wrecker messed up her hair which elicited a collection of giggles. 

“Stories!” She beamed up at Crosshair

“Filled your head with nonsense, did he now?” 

“Good stories!” 

“If you like stories, I have access to several archives of stories I can share with you. I would thoroughly enjoy sharing knowledge with you.”

“Tell ‘Ech” she wiggled from Crosshair’s grasp to be transferred to Tech’s 

He faltered slightly as Omega found a comfortable place in his arms. Crosshair studied his brother, realizing that this was the first time Omega had truly sought him out as well as held her. She was hanging onto every word as he explained the field assessment and what they did with only the detail he could provide. 

Hunter had the same soft gaze towards her and Wrecker was settling down at the table to listen and watch Tech hold their little sister. Crosshair was lightly pained as he saw Omega fully at ease with all the attention and passing touches. Some part of him wanted her to only be attached to him but a greater part was happy she was at ease with them now. 

He sat down at the table too, easing into the comfort of Tech’s data dump and Hunter’s presence on his left. The field assessment had been passed with flying colors. They would receive their ship assignment soon and afterwards, it was just a matter of keeping up training until the day they were deployed. He didn’t think too hard about what deployment would bring, 99 could keep Omega safe here while they were out, or she could be kept safe in whatever ship they got to call their own. 

All that mattered in the end was that they were together, they were safe, and she was at ease.