Call It Freedom

Chapter 11 - Gave You Every Piece of Me

Author's Note: The Batch need to repair the Marauder. :)

~ Amina Gila

Hunter jumps down from the gunner's mount where he's been sitting with Omega when the lights dip and flicker. "Echo, lights cut out again. I thought you fixed it," he says, suddenly and abruptly remembering what happened last time. Kriff.

"Yeah, add it to the list. The ship got hit hard when we fled Saleucami. Several systems have been glitching ever since," Echo answers, moving across the cockpit and scomping into the system, typing away with his other hand. "Repairs would go faster if I had some help."

"As soon as I finish building this scanner," Tech replies distractedly. "We need to be able to properly locate our inhibitor chips when we get to Bracca."

Okay, yes, Hunter understands the importance of that, but –

"Tech," he says warningly, "I think the hyperdrive is about to go offline."

"The ship-wide diagnostic report indicated no critical systems were compromised," Tech informs him, as if that is somehow an assurance that he doesn't need to worry.

As if on cue, the ship lurches, nearly knocking Hunter off his feet as they drop out of hyperspace. "That," he says dryly, stepping into the cockpit. "That is pretty critical, Tech."

"It's not affecting life support," his younger brother answers, chipper, as if he hadn't probably overlooked the warnings inadvertently in favor of addressing his ideas for the scanner. "We're fine."

Crosshair scoffs loudly from the main hold. "Fine until we get splattered on the nearest rock, you mean," he sneers, "Or until we run out of fuel and freeze to death in space."

"That isn't going to happen," Hunter replies, intentionally loudly for Omega's benefit. No need to terrify her too badly or anything, when she's bound to take Crosshair at his word, not catching the subtle undertone indicating that he's joking.

"The power capacitor's blown. We need to land immediately," Echo reports from the co-pilot's seat.

"Everyone strap in!" Hunter orders, checking to make sure Omega is secure before settling into the seat behind Echo and bracing himself. Crosshair and Wrecker stay in the back with her, while Tech brings them crashing to the surface of the barren moon. Hunter has even missed Tech's not-so-good piloting, no matter how aggravating it can get, and the grief hits him abruptly, stealing his breath, but thankfully, everyone is too distracted with the crash to pay attention.

"We're gonna die. We're gonna die," Wrecker chants in the passenger area.

That's followed by a thunk of something hitting his armor, undoubtedly something Crosshair threw. "Ignore him, kid," he says to Omega. "He's a big baby. We'll be fine."

"Hey!"

Hunter can imagine the look of cautious relief on her face at the words, and he feels a swell of warmth at hearing them bond, so unlike what happened before. They never got this chance in the past, and he – it makes him happy to see Crosshair protecting her, especially after –

"Aim for the kid."

And Bracca was only the beginning.

"Send her on a shuttle off-world."

"Crosshair, don't."

"It's for her own good. And yours."

"Omega belongs with us."

"Living among fugitives where she's in constant danger? You want to protect the kid, then let her go. Stop pretending to be something you're not, Hunter."