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The shuttle came in for a landing in the city of Theed. Crosshair’s squad was all ready to go. Including his fiancée. The sounds of blaster fire and screams could be heard even inside the shuttle. Cries from innocent civilians, the mongrel dogs were torturing the very people they were trying to “liberate” which even the Queen endorsed. It didn’t matter, this rebellion will fall just like the rest.
The squad stepped out of the shuttle. All helmets on. They had landed in a quieter part of the city so they could sneak up on their enemy. The clone was the first to move off the shuttle with his blaster rifle already out before signalling to his squad to follow. As they made their way deeper into the city, the screams and blasts became louder and louder. Everything will go okay as long as they keep their head.
Then Crosshair’s com went off “what is it?” He growled and a man on the other end replied.
“Sir, a group of clones have been sighted and they are thought to be clone force ninety nine although this is not yet confirmed. Caution is advised” Crosshair stopped in his tracks. Clone force 99. He hadn’t seen them in over a year. The last time he saw them he told them that he would stay with the empire and they flew off in their shuttle leaving Crosshair to be picked up by scouts when the clouds came back and the rain hit him hard.
ES-02 noticed his pause and walked up beside her Commander. No one knew they were a thing and surprisingly no one even knew they were engaged but eventually someone would. “It will be okay” she comforted him and his visor glanced at her for a moment until he ordered the squad to keep moving.
They kept moving until they were in the Main Street where all the battle was really kicking off. Stormtroopers battled to keep the city in order but the rebels had destroyed vehicles and buildings, causing utter chaos. “ES-07 and ES-08 you take the left and try and make sure they can hold position, ES-02 and ES-09 take the right and make them push up” his squad followed his orders immediately but ES-02 stayed motionless for a moment looking at her Commander.
“What will you do?” She asked her voice sounded slightly fragile.
“I’m heading to the roofs, ensure they they can’t advance any further down Main Street” he told her not looking back. The rebels had taken up shelter inside the palace and dug their heels in deep. Inside the Queen was ordering this attack in her own people.
Suddenly he felt a hand around his arm, he looked down and ES-02 stood.
“I love you” she told him. Crosshair wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. He hadn’t said I love you because what did it really mean. It was just words. To him showing her was much more then telling her.
“Go, quickly” he told her and reluctantly he let go of her. She stayed staring up at him for a moment until finally she rushed off in the direction of ES-09. Immediately the clone commando sprang into action and rushed into a building. Racing up the stairs and opening the hatch onto the roof. The roofs of Theed weren’t really meant for running around on but it will have to do.
The clone jumped from one roof to another until finally he was close enough to be able fire upon the rebels who tried to advance down the street. He saw a stormtrooper commander desperately trying to keep his men to hold position but they were forced back. CT-9904 decided to help him out. He fired a shot a rebel in his face and then another and another. The stormtrooper commander finally saw where the shots were coming from and gave Crosshair a salute before swiftly telling his men to push forward.
Unfortunately it seemed the rebels also noticed as just a few minutes after the imperials advanced. Loud thudding filled Crosshair’s ears. Before he could react a large brute picked up Crosshair from behind and threw him letting out a familiar battle cry. Wrecker.
The clone threw Crosshair off the building but lucky he didn’t break his neck on the way down. As Crosshair rose to his feet another figure came at him, this one was shorter and somehow even slimmer then he was. He threw a punch at Crosshair which he quickly blocked and followed up with a counter hitting the man in the ribs.
Crosshair then noticed the man’s missing hand. It was Echo. At that moment it seemed Echo realised who he was fighting too. Crosshair quickly head butted and landed a punch in the gut and through him against a wall. He groaned in pain but the sniper did not finish him. Despite not being as close to Echo, he still felt a connection with him. They were both left for dead by their brothers.
Instead the commander went and picked up his sniper rifle and prepared to dive back into the battle. But a loud bang stopped Crosshair, he looked and saw Wrecker towering over him with his blaster in hand.
As he aimed the blaster though he paused. “Crosshair?” A voice said behind him and the clone commander turned and saw Echo getting back to his feet.
Crosshair didn’t say a word instead he looked back at Wrecker who had lowered his weapon and he took a step back. “Crosshair? Is it really you?” Wrecker asked.
“Yes, Wrecker it’s me. It’s been a while” he told them. Crosshair’s weapon hanged loosely in his hand as he he heard more footsteps from his left.
He looked and around the corner came Tech, a blaster pointed at Crosshair. And just behind him was Omega. She looked older now and she even looked taller. He never cared much for the kid but he was glad to see she was still safe.
“Oh my gods, Crosshair?” Omega tried to rush forward to him but an arm from Tech stopped her in her tracks. Tech knew better then the others that Crosshair was a changed man, unlike the others he didn’t allow emotions get in the way of his actions. Which is likely why he still had a blaster raised to him.
A finally pair of feet but this time from his right. Crosshair looked and saw his old sergeant. Same armour. He was stood on the rubble of a partially destroyed building.
“Crosshair” he sighed while happy to see him, he was disappointed with the circumstances.
“Good to see you again, Hunter” said the sniper but Hunter didn’t seem to have any response he just stood there. Looking down at his brother. Like he made the wrong choice when really they had done that.
“Why are you doing this?” Was all his former sergeant asked him.
“Restoring order” replied Crosshair.
“Restoring order? Crosshair look around you, look at this chaos. You are enforcing an evil regime. Why can’t you see that?” He sounded desperate to get his brother to believe him but Crosshair was no fool, he knew the truth.
“Really? Because the only reason this place is in chaos is because you made it won. I’ve passed dead civilians some burnt because of the their homes being destroyed by these rebels. I won’t loose anymore lives needlessly. The empire has already won Hunter. Just admit it” Hunter shook his head and Crosshair but he was denying it. People at died to these terrorists, before they rebelled there were 0 casualties and now they are in the hundreds.
“Crosshair I’m sorry but we’re here to save these people. So move a side and let us” the clone commando shook his head slowly at Hunter. It became clear that asking would no longer work. Tech prepared to stun their brother.
From a distance ES-02 didn’t know they would stun Crosshair. She thought they would actually shoot their own brother. Immediately she rushed toward the group of clones, raising her blaster toward Tech. But Hunter felt her presence and he spun round and fired a blaster straight into the chest of the elite trooper.
Immediately she stopped in her tracks and dropped her weapon holding her chest as she felt and hit the ground. Crosshair took immediate notice and rushed to her side “no!” He screamed pushing past Hunter and running to her side.
The clone squad looked at him all very confused. He kneeled by the side of her. Her breathing was deep and quick. He took one arm and placed it underneath her and raised her up and his other hand took her hand. ES-09 rushed toward the commander and his second in command “get a medic” he snarled at him and he nodded then turned on his toes and raced off back in the direction of other stormtroopers.
“Stay with me, stay with me” he kept muttering over and over again to her as she she slowly began to slip away in his arms. The clone became stress and screamed again at the top of his lungs “get a medic!” He was afraid of loosing her, his heart felt as if he kept skipping beats and his breathing quickened as her’s slowed.
Clone force 99 stood and watched not entirely sure of what to do. As Omega edged closer to the she squinted and noticed something after Crosshair and removed his gauntlets and her gauntlets. A ring in both their fingers.
She tugged at Hunter’s arm which quickly attracted the clone’s attention and she pointed at their fingers. His eyes widened and his stomach dropped.
ES-02 brought her other hand to touch the Crosshair’s face after he removed his helmet. Blood now stained his face. “I..love…y-you” she told him as he looked desperately into her dying eyes trying to find some sort of hope.
“Elina” he said once he eyes shut. “Elina!” He shook her and still nothing “Elina!” He screamed with tears now rushing down his cheeks. His mood went from cold sadness to boiling anger. His eyes turned to the bad batch all stood behind him unsure of what to do or say.
A group of stormtroopers showed up with ES-09 leading them. Crosshair rose to his feet and aimed his rifle at his former brothers. “Kill them!” he growled and opened fire on the bad batch. Immediately the clones went into a hasty retreat with Wrecker picking up Omega and carrying her in his arms.
The stormtroopers rained fire upon them but we’re unable to stop the batch escaping Naboo in the Havoc Marauder. Crosshair fired longer then the others but he was unable to stop the ship. Then his com bleeped again “the battle is won. The Queen has been neutralised and the palace has been secured” but at what cost? Was the only thing running through the clone commando’s mind.
—————
The clone commando sat in his office crying his eyes out over his fiancée. He refused to see anyone and no one could get in because he locked the door. Until the door opened which meant a higher ranking officer was entering with something urgent.
Crosshair stood to his feet and saluted whoever was entering. In walked a purge trooper with orange markings instead of the red ones commonly seen on them. He had a blaster rifle and a electrostaff on his back. He was a clone with a scar travelling down his face and his helmet under his arm.
“Commander Cody” Crosshair saluted to the older clone and once he entered he then sat down in the chair opposite to Crosshair.
“At ease” the commander said and immediately the sniper took a seat behind his desk.
“What do I owe the pleasure, sir?” He asked with his voice a hint sour. Cody was one of the few regs he actually liked let alone tolerated and he would usually show more respect to him but for obvious reasons he wasn’t.
“I’m sorry for your loss” was all he said which caused Crosshair to raise an eyebrow.
“My loss” it was impossible for him to know as him and Elina told no one. Not even her family.
“Don’t toy with me Crosshair. I mean ES-02. Elina Eprotina. Everyone saw how you acted and the ring on her finger when they took her body away. It didn’t take long for people to put the pieces together” Crosshair didn’t say anything, instead he looked away from the purge trooper tears once again swelling in his eyes.
“I have a mission for you. To get back at the rebels” at first Crosshair wasn’t too interested in the offer until Cody followed it up with something that did peak his interest “and clone force 99”.
Cody now had Crosshair’s full attention. He didn’t have any questions he just wanted to know what and how.
“I’ve received new information that clone force 99 helped Gerrera’s fighters capture Bo Katan Kryze a few months ago. You help me track them down and they will be able to lead us to your brothers and I can persuade lady Bo Katan to get the mandalorians on the good side of the empire.what do you say?” Crosshair looked at the purge trooper. He thought back to Elina when Hunter fired that shot into her chest. Rage began to build again like he was back in the moment. He didn’t need to know anything about this job. Anything to get back at his brothers for what they had done.
“Let’s do this” Crosshair told Cody “let’s kill those traitors”.