Chapter Text
„Bah. What a shithole.“
„Patience Wrecker. Only a few clicks through this moor and the Marauder will be right behind those trees.“
Hunter ignored Wrecker's lamenting, highlighted by Tech's occasional smartass answers. He also tried to drown out the ice-cold water in his boots, how it crept up through his blacks, making him shiver and his teeth clatter. Or the smell of the moor attacking his olfactory; spicy mixed with stale water and mould. He concentrated on pulling his foot out of the sticky morass with great effort; the loud squelching sound made stalking impossible. Lucky for Omega: without any armor or heavy weapons, she didn't sunk in. On the contrary: she seemed fascinated with the gloomy landscape, admiring every amphibian or strange bird they came across.
„This is the last time i join a mission on a planet like this. Didn't even get to blow something up. 'Sneak on a old shuttle and download a datacore' Cid told us. Could've mentioned that it crashed in a bloody swamp... “
„Come on Wrecker, it's not that bad!“ Omega laughed and jumped from one thick patch of floating tang and driftwood to another. „I have never seen a place like this!“ It was a miracle to Hunter how she ignored the icy water. Must be a child-thing. Even Echo didn't like the cold, making his cybernetics stiff and slow in response.
„Well, at least Cid has no excuse not to pay us this time, she better not-“ Echo swallowed his sentence as he crashed into Hunter's back. He had gone stiff as a board, staring afar.
There it was.
A slight shift in the electromagnetic field, like a pebble thrown into a stream, disturbing it.
Then he heard it. The telltale humming of a ships engine, getting closer and closer.
„Down!“ All of them complied without another word, diving under the surface of the murky water, covering themselfes with dirt, tang and vegetation. Just in time, because a few moments later all of them first heard the shuttle, then saw it: covered with strange patterns and symbols. Clearly a pirate vessel.
„It seems they head in the direction of the Marauder.“ Tech whispered, his helmet barely above the water surface. „Dank Ferrick. Okay, we need to get into those woods over there“ Hunter pointed towards the edge of a small forrest at the end of the moor. „If they find the Marauder, they will start searching for us. We need cover.“
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Duckig under a thorny bush, Hunter scanned his surroundings. No Pirates near them, but he had heard their ship landing near the forest's edge a while ago. They seemed to have found the Marauder and now were looking for it's crew. He didn't know if they were hostile, but had no intention to test lady luck. „Wrecker, Tech: you and I scout the area. We need to find a safe path to the ship. Omega, Echo: stay put. Wait till i order otherwise.“
„But Hunter, why can't we..“ Omega tried to protest, but Hunter had no time for discussions. He could literally feel their pursuers closing in. „Stay with Echo. Wait till his cybernetics are back on track. Keep the data save. We'll comm if we need reinforcement.“
He sent Wrecker and Tech in their designated directions with a point of his fingers, then took off himself.
It was all military training and programming. Duck, cover, sneak, repeat. And there they were: three pirates, heavily armored, scanned their surroundings. They seemed to be oblivious to his presence, but he could get snippets of their conversation:
„..and the boss wants us to find that little thief, dead or alive. Preferrably alive.“
„Uhu. Wants to have some fun taking that asshole out?“
„Probably. Don't care. Just find them“
A loud crack startled Hunter in his hiding place, along with the pirates, who raised their weapons and tried to make out the cause of the noise.
„Who's there? Come out with your hands up!“ The pirate sounded boyish, very young. Barely an adult. The angsty expression on his face froze as a wide, crimson smile bloomed on his neck, followed by a gush of blood. „Oh shit!“ His comrades lifted their weapons, ready to shoot the invisible attacker. Hunter remained in his hiding place with bated breath. The two pirates stalked closer, luckily changing directions before reaching him. He dared to exhale softly, when he felt something heavy on his arm. As he glanced to his side, he noticed a fat, grey rat sitting on his upper arm and sniffing at his temple. Without any warning, it bit deep in his cheek. Unable to refrain his reflexes, Hunter slapped off the nasty rodent, wich let out a squeak in return.
The two pirates whipped around, now rushing to his directions.
Kriff... no use in hiding anymore!
Hunter jumped on his feet, opening fire and was able to take out one of them with a shot to the chest. The other pirate quickly took cover, then forced him to do the same as he delivered a barrage of laser bolts. And as he peeked around his cover, he saw it: a silver lightning cutting through the air and into the pirates' helmet and he collapsed without another word. Hunter scanned his surroundings. There it was: a small flicker in the air, like on a hot summer day, only a few centimeters away from his face. He tried to jump away, but a hard blow was delivered to his diaphragm and a moment later, he found himself laying on the soft moss on the forest ground. Getting up or comming the others was impossible: It was as if he was glued to the ground, a heavy weight settled on his chest and stomach.
„My, my, what have we here? A lone hunter who fails to pay attention to his surroundings?“
A whisper reached his ears, soft like a warm spring breeze. The feeling settling in his stomach was familiar, like a warm puddle; bubbling up and tickling in his ribcage. It had been so long since he felt it. Smiling softly, he let his head fall back in relief and stared up past the treetops and into the darkening sky with a slight smile on his face.
„Nice to see you too, Akima.“
Like a flame eating away a piece of paper, a glowing blue streak appeared, running over nothingness and revealed his attacker: black armour, shining like obsidian, highly advanced and made for stealth missions. The source of the blue streak was a small generator-like mechanism in the center of it's chestplate, allowing it's wearer to cloak themselfes at will. In one hand she held a nasty looking hunting knife and a large sniper rifle in the other.
„Seems like i caused you guys a bit of trouble. My bad.“
„So you are the thief the pirates are looking for.“
„Guilty as charged.“ He could basically hear the smugness dripping from her voice, even under her helmet.
With one fluent motion, she jumped off and pulled Hunter to his feet. „Lets just say those pirates had a... personal item i am rather fond of and wanted back.“
Stilling for a moment, she took in her enviorement and Hunter followed her example. „Six pirates in the near vicinity, none of them heading towards our direction. I will lure them away, you take your squat out of here.“
She was right: he could sense them approaching, they would catch up to them in a few minutes. Still...
„That's it?“ Hunter frowned. He tried to keep the hurt from his voice, but he knew he failed miserably. „I think we should...“
„That's it.“ She interrupted him nonchalantly. „Now, let's get moving. I am on a rather tight schedule.“
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„What if something happened to him?“ Omega whispered. They all crouched behind a large log, surrounded by ferns. The Marauder was just a sprint away, two pirates standing guard on the entrance ramp. Wrecker was antsy to take them out, but Tech and Echo told him to stay put. They had commed Echo and Omega after they returned from scouting, and Tech found a perfect trail to get to the ship unnoticed. The only one missing now was Hunter.
„Nothing happened, Omega. Keep calm. Hunter knows what he's doing.“ Echo reasurred her, but he knew that the memories of the events on Daro and Kamino where still fresh in her mind.
„But-“
Shrieks and blasterfire errupted in the distance. The two pirates raised their weapons, but before they could asset the situation, one of them started to gag. He grabbed his throat, blood gushing out between his fingers and out of his mouth and nose. His partner tried to comprehent what happened, when suddenly, his head exploded in a mist of blood and bones.
„Karking hell!“ Wrecker yelled and Echo was quick to cover Omega's eyes with his hand. „What in the Maker's name was that?!“ he asked, shocked by the brutality of the kills.
„I think i have an idea-“ Tech answered, but was interrupted by his commlink.
„Tech, are the others with you? You need to get the Marauder ready for take off as fast as you can. I have a few pirates on my heels.“
„Yes, we heard. Should be no problem. Someone just took care of the guards. Where are you?“
„About two clicks from your position. I'll catch up with you.“
„Well, you heard the Sarge.“ Wrecker readied his blaster and made way to the ship, followed by Tech and Echo, Omega ducked behind them. There was still some commotion in the distance, slowly drawing closer. But as Omega climbed up the ramp, she noticed something in the corner of her eye: like the blurr of air on hot concrete. Or like a ghost. A strange, barely noticable flirr. She tried to take a look at it, but as hard as she stared into the forest, she couldn't find the bizarre thing again.
A loud crack cut through her bewilderment as Hunter stumbled out of the underwood, racing towards the Marauder. He sprinted up the ramp, shoving Omega inside with him. And not a second late: at least fifteen pirates came after him, shooting at the closing ramp.
„Tech, we need to go! NOW!“
„Already on our way.“
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„Well, well, would you look at that. The space slugs actually did it.“ Cid had sneered as she examined the datastick before shoving a nice amount of credits over the table.
Now Hunter was seated at the bar, treating himself to a drink. Wrecker and Omega followed their tradition of sharing a box of Mantell Mix and Tech wanted to have a look at Echo's cybernetics back at the Marauder. The nasty cold mixed with muddy water had taken a toll on them, and they where still acting up whenever Echo tried to walk. It was nearly closing time, the parlour empty, and Hunter enjoyed a few moments for himself before he had to return to their ship.
Deep in thought, he took a sip from his drink, grimacing slightly at the faint burn as the alcohol ran down his throat. He traced the brim of his glass with a finger, when he heard the dull clacking of boots.
„Excuse me, is this seat already taken?“ There it was. The same silken voice. Hunter closed his eyes, then took a deep breath.
„Are you really here?“ A light chuckle, smooth as velvet, made his skin break out in goosebumps.
„If i am not, you are haunted.“
Gathering his courage, he spied at her through the corner of his eye: a young woman with pale skin and dark eyes, her brunette hair tumbled down her back in elegant curls. She was still clad in armor, her helmet clipped to her belt.
„So i wasn't hallucinating back on that rock.“ He took another swig from his drink.
„Apparently not.“
„What do you want?“ His question came out sharper than he wanted.
„Maybe i just want to catch up.“
„Catch up?!“ Hunter sprung up from his seat, finally looking at her. „You go AWOL for two years, disappear without a trace, show up out of nothing, follow us to Ord Mantell and now tell me you want to 'catch up'. JUST LIKE THAT?!“
Old feelings he had tried to bury deep inside him welled up, and in a fit of frustration and anger, Hunter threw his glas at the shelf behind the bar; shattering it along with some bottles. He glared at the mess with gritted teeth, chest heaving, but Akima didn't even flinch.
She just sat there, looking at him with her deep, brown eyes.
Hunter remembered how he used to almost drown in her gaze. How the sparse light of his bunk had glittered in them like starlight. As if she had the whole galaxy in her eyes.
„Hunter, i know i hurt you. And i'm sorry. I really am.“
„You have no idea.“
Akima let out a small sigh. „But trust me if i say that i had my reasons to disappear so suddenly.“
„Do you have any idea how hard i tried to forget you? All the things we did. All the things you said to me...“ Feeling tears well up in his eyes, he quickly awerted his gaze, trying to blink them away.
„Hunter, i-“
„ARE YOU INSANE?!“ The loud scream from a clearly enraged Cid interrupted them. „If you want to trash my bar, you better pay for it! Take your little doll with you and settle this somewhere else!“
Grimacing, Hunter grabbed his helmet from the counter and stormed out the gambling parlour. Akima went to grab his arm, but he jerked it away.
„And here i was hoping i would never see you again....“
Some part of him wanted her to follow. But the other wanted to be as far away from her as possible. Away from this bubbling hot sensation in his gut, away from the infuriating smell of her silken hair. Away from her beautiful eyes...
„So, wich one of you blasterheads is going to pay for that?“ he heard Cid growl as he marched up the stairs and onto the streets.
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The Marauder was drowned in darkness as he returned, all of the others already in their bunks. Safe for Tech. He was sitting on a crate outside, enjoying the warm summer night as he tinkered with his latest project.
„I have a slight suspicion that you have met Akima.“ Hunter frowned at him. „The handiwork during our last mission seemed to have her signature on it.“ Tech clearified. His Seargent growled a bit as he stomped towards the ramp. „And judging from your mood, it didn't go well.“ Another growl. „Maybe you should meet her again and try to sort things out.“
Hunter whipped around as if Tech just slapped him.
„Sort things out? Have you forgotten what she did?“ Tech shrugged, but didn't look up from his tinkering. „No. I remember very well that she went AWOL shortly after our mission on Felucia.“
Hunter glared at his brother. „And you still want me to talk with her?“
„Well, considering the fact that Akima doesn't seem to harbor any resentment towards us, she could at least be a valuable ally.“ Tech finally looked at him. „And i also think it would bring you some closure if you knew the reasons behind her behavior.“
„It's not that i don't want to know.“ Hunter answered with a heavy voice. „Maybe you are just afraid you won't like her answer.“ Tech finished for him. Nodding, Hunter climbed up the ramp, indicating that he was done with the conversation.
„If she shows up again, please send her my kind regarts.“