Always (Crosshair x Jedi Reader)

Part 26

Crosshair lay across the cold cot of his near empty private barracks. One of his arm lazy covering his eyes, if only to shield them from the harsh bright lights above. His alarm had gone off already, yet he'd yet to find a reason to move. Nothing about the Empire made the sniper feel hopeful. Rampart always seemed to have another pointless assignment for him, the conscripted troops had the aim to replace clones, and his clone brothers treated him as if he was an outcast. Now more than ever Crosshair felt alone. More often than not he found himself hoping for time to speed up so he could once again reunite with (Y/N) and he could end his alliance with the Empire. Especially now when it had become his own personal brand of torment.

With a sigh Crosshair turned over to finally drag himself from the hard cot. Finding the black helmet of his uniform staring back at him. The more he was greeted with the view, the more he missed his old armor and brothers. The more he missed how things used to be during the war. A soft hit of a smirk appeared on Crosshair's lips the moment his golden eyes found the photo next to it. Taken back during the war, although he had no idea whom had snapped it. To the sniper it appeared to be around the time, Echo had joined their ranks. (Y/N) was in the middle, with Hunter and Echo either side of her. Wrecker and Tech either side of them, with himself knelt in front of (Y/N) as if protecting her.

"We'll see each other soon Cyar'ike" whispered Crosshair, as if his words were a closely guarded secret, much like his motivations for returning to the Empire were. Although he hoped time would speed up so his time away from (Y/N) come to an end quicker. He also dreaded it. Either he would be able to leave the Empire and listed as another deserter, or the Imperials would finally realize he was up to something and accuse him of treason. Much like they had already done with so many others.

"CT-9904, report Vice Admiral Rampart's Office" called a feminine voice threw the com system. Once again Crosshair sighed as he rolled his eyes. The idea of standing before Rampart and holding his tongue, wasn't one Crosshair enjoyed. No clone in service of the Empire did. Despite that the sniper couldn't help but wonder what it was about this time. Another pointless mission or something else entirely. Without much thought, Crosshair mindlessly put his armor on, picking up his helmet before wondering from the room. His mind blank as he followed the endless corridors, corridors that could easily be mistaken for each other. Soon enough he was where he was demanded to be.

Once again Rampart was sat behind his desk, reading over something on a data-pad. At first he didn't seem to notice Crosshair was there. Or if he did, he was intent on pushing the sniper's buttons. Once again Crosshair rolled his golden eyes, resisting the urge to let his snarky comments pass through his lips, or just leave the office altogether. Both of which seemed like valid options and would likely annoy Rampart to no end, although doing the latter would likely blow his cover.

"There seems to be some mistakes in your report regarding Kamino's destruction" began Rampart, cutting through any politeness and skipping straight to the point. Anger soon appeared in the imperial's eyes, even more so when he'd been so easily fooled into believing he had gotten as he wanted. "There have been several sightings of your brothers in Clone Force 99, and the girl with them" commented the imperial officer, hoping for a reaction from the enhanced clone. Yet Crosshair didn't show any emotion passed his normal stoic one, no surprise, happiness, or anything else. "You told me they went down with Tipoca city. And now I'm told the Princess has also gone AWOL" finished Rampart, hoping by mentioning the former Jedi Knight he would get some sort of reaction, but yet again he got nothing.

"I told you she would escape" voiced Crosshair, failing to stop the words from passing through his lips. He didn't bother holding the smirk back. Anyone whom knew (Y/N), knew she was resourceful. It was one of the things to make her formidable foe to those whom she stood against. "She's not a damsel in distress either. When she chooses to fight you'll know" casually commented the sniper, his voice even as he spoke the words. Sure (Y/N) was now the Princess of the Empire, before that she'd held the nickname Night Princess, however she'd never acted as if she was a royal. Instead she embraced the warrior she had been trained to be, the warrior she truly was at heart.

"I assure you many higher ups are beginning to see that. Despite their best attempts they've been unable to recapture her" responded Rampart, slowly realizing how foolish many had been to underestimate the former Jedi Knight. So far she'd been several steps ahead of them. Every time a team got to the location they'd been tipped off to, (Y/N) and those with her had already left. No trace of where they'd be going next or why they'd been in that specific location in the first place. The Emperor was showing frustration, where as Vader almost seemed amused by the seemingly never ending game of cat and mouse, almost as if it brought back apart of whom he was before. Once again Crosshair smirk, this time accompanied by a chuckle. Whether (Y/N) knew it or not, she was playing games with the Empire and winning.

"What did you expect her to do?" questioned Crosshair "All of you knew she was rebellious before this. Taking everything she held dear away only turned her against the course more" added the enhanced clone, knowing (Y/N)'s actions were likely on purpose. At heart she was still a Jedi Knight. She was still fighting for the republic and what it once stood for, she was still fighting for justice. The emperor branding the Jedi as traitors and forcing the clones to turn on and execute them, had only motivated her to fight against the Empire. Just as Tarkin's call to force himself and (Y/N) apart had only given her more determination to rebel against them.

"You are to find her and bring her back" calmly ordered Rampart, as he carelessly threw the data-pad on the desk. He'd voiced concerns against the idea, when Tarkin had first thought of it. Expressing concerns over (Y/N)'s ability to null the effects of Crosshair's inhibitor chip, despite the previous power boosts. He'd been quickly over ruled, the Emperor himself giving the plan the go ahead. After all, Crosshair was their best bet at finding (Y/N) and getting her back into the ranks of the Empire. They hope was she'd be more willing to come back if they gave her something she wanted. In this case Crosshair. The alternative was sending the newly formed Inquisitors and Vader after her, knowing (Y/N) would be more likely to rebel against them if they did.