Chapter Text
Hunter wasn't happy with how cagey Rex was being. Sure, they had their chips in still, but they hadn't gone off during Order 66- except for Crosshair's- and he didn't like the Captain telling them 'meet me here' without giving much information at all about what he'd been doing since Order 66. When Tech had inquired into how Rex had gotten brain surgery- because Hunter's little sibling was right and there was no way Rex had done that on his own- Rex's response to them had been, simply, 'I had help.' Which Hunter had figured out on his own.
He didn't want to be cynical. But the Captain had always been clever, and there was no telling if an inhibitor chip would change that. If Rex was leading them into a trap... Hunter didn't want to think about it, honestly. Because he didn't like having anything in his head that could control him, working or not. But he had to protect Omega.
Although Rex had implied that they could be a danger to the kid just by having the chips still in. Hunter didn't know whether or not to trust that- Rex could have been lying to make this seem more urgent, putting the kid at risk, or he could have been telling the truth, and not doing this would put the kid at risk... Hunter sighed. This was all running around in circles in his mind, and none of it was what was really bothering him, either.
When Rex had told them they'd meet up on Bracca, he'd slipped up. "We'll see you there," he'd said.
Hunter had immediately jumped on the slip. "We?"
Rex had frozen. "I'll... tell you once the chips are out, alright?" Which could be Rex being cautious, or it could mean never, and Hunter didn't like going to meet anyone when he didn't know who all parties were.
"There's no reason to think Rex meant the Empire," Tech jumped in, clearly picking up on Hunter's thoughts.
Hunter turned to them. "There's no reason not to, either."
Tech frowned. The two of them were alone, the others getting some rest before whatever would come on Bracca, but Hunter knew he'd never be able to sleep with his mind unable to forget that this could easily be a trap that they would walk right into. "No, there isn't. But I see no reason to take us to Bracca. There are plenty of abandoned Republic medical facilities- and none on Bracca, I might add- that would be easy places to set up an ambush. But he isn't taking us there."
Hunter raised an eyebrow, ready to point out a hole that he couldn't see filled, though his younger sibling might. "And there's no medical facilities on Bracca."
Tech rolled their eyes. "Yes. It's a scavenger world. One that is, I might add, full of... well, things to scavenge. For example, perhaps a Republic cruiser with a medbay. Or a medical station from the war. It's doubtful they'll be sterile, but they're also less likely to attract notice. Which I assume both the Captain and ourselves would like to avoid."
Hunter sighed. "I guess. But I don't like it."
"You never do."
Rex was waiting for them. Only Rex was waiting for them, which put Hunter even more on edge. "I thought you weren't coming alone."
"I'm with a friend. They'll keep an eye out for the Scrapper Guild, and anyone else who might be watching. We just need to get your chips out as soon as possible."
Everything about this felt like a trap. But Hunter followed Rex anyway. He didn't know what else to do. If they tried to leave now and it was a trap, they'd just get shot out of the sky. And if they tried to leave and it wasn't... they'd still have the chips in their heads, and Hunter was feeling more and more uneasy with that the longer he thought about it.
After all, why had Crosshair's activated when theirs didn't? And why had Crosshair gone from obeying Hunter's orders, even against the Empire's wishes, to trying to kill them? If the same thing could happen to any of them... maybe the risk was worth it.
A Republic cruiser loomed ahead of them, where Rex said they would get their chips out. Tech studied it, and turned to Rex. "This is a scavenger world," they commented dryly. "How do you know the medical bay hasn't been... scavenged?"
Rex looked like he was smirking under the helmet. "I guess we'll find out."
Hunter didn't trust that response at all. Not in the same way he wasn't sure whether or not to trust Rex, but just because he'd worked with the 501st before and knew Rex, in fact, had probably come to this planet preparing to wing it when it came to find somewhere to take out the chips.
If that was what Rex was doing. But if he wasn't, he was certainly taking his time springing his trap.
The cruiser was quite clearly on a scavenger planet. By which Hunter meant that it was falling apart and there were definitely some missing pieces. He didn't know if what they were crossing had used to have this drop on either side of it, but it certainly did now, and with very little down the middle.
Maybe Hunter didn't blame Wrecker for his fear of heights so much in situations like this. Especially since the larger clone was the one who ended up falling.
Omega cried out for Wrecker, but he suddenly stopped. Then, carefully, he floated back up toward them, on the other side of the gap.
Standing in the opening where they'd come from was Anakin Skywalker.
Well, that would be why Rex hadn't wanted to tell them before the chips were out. Hunter's mind suddenly flashed with images of General Billaba falling to her own men, of Commander Dume running from them, not trusting that they were trying to help.
Which Crosshair hadn't been.
Then he was focusing again, because Wrecker growled Jedi in a voice that sounded nothing like him, his hand reaching for his blaster. Hunter froze, because no he couldn't lose another brother Wrecker don't but a stun bolt hit Wrecker in the back, and he collapsed.
"And that," Rex commented dryly, "is why you need your chips out."
Skywalker chuckled from the other side, and Hunter turned.
And. Kriff.
Why hadn't he remembered Skywalker being so attractive?