Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

2

(A few days later...)

Scorch marks were everywhere, created in the wake of pink lasers fired from a Zygerrian energy bow. Kendall watched as Echo coached the little girl, Omega, on her archery skills.

"You can do it, kid!" Bolo said enthusiastically as he, Kendall, Ketch, and the rest of Clone Force 99 were spectating. 

"Not a chance!" Ketch retorted. "Miss! C'mon, miss!"

Intently, Kendall watched Omega hit the target. "Got it!"

"Bullseye!" Bolo crowed, extending a hand to Ketch. "Pay up!"

"Good," Echo said. "Again."

"But I've already hit the target 3 times," Omega complained.

"Out of 12," Echo countered. "That's luck, Omega. Not skill. Soldiers need to be consistent."

"Funny hearing Echo say that," Noble quipped besides Kendall. "He was so bad at shooting those training droids back then."

"Yeah?" Kendall chuckled softly. "Good memories, I'll bet."

"Ok- double or nothing, she chokes," Ketch declared. Seconds later another pink bolt disabled the holotable. The Weequay let out a snigger as he snatched back the credits from Bolo.

"I was doing better until those two showed up," Omega grumbled.

"You have to learn to tune out distractions," Echo told her. "Which comes with practice. Again."

The next shot punctured the wall, but not the target. 

"Not exactly a natural, is she?" Wrecker quipped to Hunter, who just shrugged. Seconds later Cid's lime green hand slapped the large clone on the shoulder. "Hey!"

"Ok, playtime's over. We need to talk." Cid turned to Bolo and Ketch. "You two, scram or I'll have Candy chase ya out."

To bolster Cid's point, Kendall crossed her arms before giving the two a look.

"Ok, ok! We're going!" They hustled out of the parlor as fast as the younglings back at the Jedi Temple who'd been chased out of the archives by Madame Jocasta all those years ago. 

"I assume you know what a tactical droid is-?" Cid asked the squad. "They were the-"

"The operational brains of the Separatist military-" Tech began before being cut off by Cid.

"This is my briefing, Goggles," The informant said irritably before pushing Wrecker off the holotable, much to his displeasure and Flash's amusement. She activated a holoimage of a tactical droid. "Tactical droid intel has tremendous value, which is why you're gonna break into this decommissioning facility on Corellia and retrieve one before they're all destroyed."

"Oooh, new planet," Noble whispered to Omega. Kendall glanced over.

 "We haven't decided whether we're gonna work for you or not," Hunter said flatly.

"Allow me to decide for you," Cid replied, switching off the holotable. "You're in!"

Noble laughed. "There ya go, Hunter."

"I'm talking a mutually beneficial arrangement," Cid clarified. "You make money, I make money- and I watch your back."

"She's got a point, you know," Flash quipped.

"See, Bandana?" Cid said. "Speeder understands, just like Hasty over there. With the heat on you, it's the best option you've got."

Hunter thought for a moment before letting out a sigh. "I guess we're in."