The Storms of Kamino: Crosshair

A Choice

Hunter and Tech dropped down into the tunnel first to make sure it was secure. After the all clear, Wrecker, Echo, Omega and AZ-3 went in after and Crosshair and myself were in last. I could see the remnants of Kamino still sinking, darkness overtaking them before they reached the bottom. We were gentle in our movements, trying not to displace our weight so the tube remained intact.

Crosshair and I were trailing from behind the others, and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to talk to him. "So, are you going to tell me why they stunned you?"

He grimaced. "We had a difference of opinion."

I nodded. "I see." I halted in my path and he did the same. "They still love you, Crosshair. You may not see it, but I do. Just because you don't agree with them doesn't mean they ever stopped."

He bowed his head in shame and muttered, "Things will never be the same."

I lifted his chin so his eyes met mine. "That doesn't change anything. Just, think about it." I continued on and after a few seconds, he caught up with me.

"Nala Se's lab is just up ahead." Omega pointed to the door that was becoming closer.

"How come I've never heard about this place before?" I asked her.

"She kept it very private. It was only known to a few select people. I spent most of my life in that lab with her. It's where I was created, where all of them where created." She motioned to the rest of the Bad Batch. "I never liked being there most of the time. I always felt so alone. But, after they were created, I didn't feel that way so much anymore." She had just finished talking when a low growl resonated from beneath us. A huge, looming sea creature came from below and rammed into the glass, causing all of us to stumble.

"AZ-3, these tunnels are protected right?" Hunter said.

"Only when the power is on, which currently, it is not." The creature smashed into the tunnel again, this time much harder and I could hear the glass beginning to crack.

"Run. Run!" Hunter yelled. I certainly wasn't going to argue with that. We ran away as fast as we could and managed to get through the door just in time.

"That was close," Wrecker said. "I can't wait to get back to the Marauder."

"Small problem with that." Tech waved us over and pointed to the connecting tunnel, or where the tunnel was suppose to be. It was gone, likely taken out by the rubble.

"Well, this was a spectacular idea," Crosshair said, sarcastically.

"I didn't hear you give any better ones," Hunter snapped back. "We could have left you, but we didn't, though part of me wished we had."

"Hunter, you don't mean that," I said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Crosshair scowled. "You did leave me, remember."

"We didn't have a choice, Crosshair."

"And, I did?"

"Gentlemen, please." I stood in-between them, my hands on both their chests, trying to push them away from each other before one of them took a swing at the other. "Arguing isn't going to help any of us. You're brothers, for Maker's sake. You're family. Now, get your heads out of your asses and start acting like one."

Hunter sighed. "You're right, Doctor. I apologize."

"Me too," Crosshair said softly.

"Thank you. Now, I think I have an idea." I made my way over to the growth pods. "We can use these to get out of here. If the seal is precise and our weight is spread out enough, we can blow a hole through the wall and AZ-3 can guide us to the surface."

"That could work," Tech said.

Omega asked the droid, "Are you sure you're up for this, AZ?"

"My primary function is your well being and safety. I am honored to be entrusted with such an important task."

I grabbed a wrench and started pushing the tubes. "Then, let's get to it."

It took some time to get everything ready, but we managed. Hunter and Crosshair were in one, Tech and Echo in another, and Wrecker was by himself. I was with Omega and she looked nervous as AZ sealed us in. I put a hand on her small shoulder. "We're going to be alright." She nodded, but didn't look as reassured as I hoped.

Wrecker pressed the button to trigger the blast and we all fell on our sides as more water rushed in. AZ pushed us out and we started to rise, the droid maneuvering large fragments around us. I saw the others reach the surface, but we had been out last and still hadn't gotten as far yet.

Suddenly, AZ was caught on something and was plummeting into the depths of the ocean.

"AZ!" Omega screamed. "We have to help him!"

"Omega, no!" I started, but was too late. She had already opened the tube and I took a deep breath as I followed her down. We reached AZ, but were struggling to swim upwards.

Without warning, a cable attached to his body and we were pulled towards the surface. I let the oxygen fill my lungs as Crosshair tugged me into the pod along with Omega. He was the one who had saved us. Everyone else thought he was going to shoot us because they all had their weapons trained on him, ready to fire. But, he hadn't. He had saved us.

-

We all stared at the horizon, the ruins of Tipoca City smoldering in the distance. The sun was out, making the waves glisten with light. Even in the wake of such destruction, I had never seen the sea look so beautiful.

After a few moments, everyone turned back to the ship, except for Crosshair.

"Are you coming with us?" Wrecker asked him, but he said nothing in return. No one was going to push, so they all climbed aboard the ramp. Omega was the only one who lingered.

"You're still their brother, Crosshair," she said. "You're my brother, too." She wandered away to go join them. When they didn't leave right away, I realized they were waiting for me.

"You should go with them," Crosshair said to me.

"I'm not leaving without you. Please, Crosshair. Come with us. Come with me." I grabbed his hand and squeezed, trying to pull him away. He resisted as first, but eventually gave in and followed me onto the ship.