HUNTER COULDN'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH TIME HAD TRULY PASSED SINCE THEY LOST EVERYTHING. And that only infuriated him more and pushed him to work harder. He was their leader—their sergeant—and he'd failed to keep them together, to keep them safe. First Tech, then Pabu, then Cid's betrayal, and finally Omega. She was within the clutches of the Empire yet again and he truly felt helpless to do anything about it.

His fists clenched and unclenched around the flightstick of the Marauder while he remained deep in thought. It was only due to his heightened senses that he noticed when Wrecker returned from the navicomputer.

"Echo said he and Rex need two rotations before they can meet us at the coordinates," Wrecker announced.

"That's not good enough." Hunter shook his head. His expression grew steely as he began entering a new set of coordinates. "We're going now."

Wrecker frowned, a rare look of mature disapproval twisting his features. "Hunter, the last time we stormed an Imperial base without backup, not all of us made it out."

"Omega's been waiting for us a long time, Wrecker," Hunter countered. His determined look hardened as he turned his eyes ahead. "I'm not making her wait another day."

It wasn't long before the Marauder emerged from Hyperspace and approached the atmosphere of Setron. According to the information they'd acquired in a seedy exchange with the Devaronians, the coordinates of the jungle world were linked to Hemlock's laboratory... and it was the best lead they'd had in months.

Wrecker groaned the second the shuttle ramp lowered and the acrid scent of the air infiltrated their helmet filters. "It smells like rancid Jotaz out here."

Hunter ignored the comment, keeping his eyes focused on the datapad in hand. He remained aware of his surroundings, but the tension in his shoulders proved he was on edge rather than alert. "There's nothing on the scanners. The Empire could be jamming our sensors."

The datapad continued to beep, only annoying the sergeant with the lack of answers it supplied; however, things became more clear as the jungle opened up and revealed the overgrown valley at the bottom of the ridge.

"Oh, no."

"Whoa," Wrecker released a quiet gasp. "That's Hemlock's lab?"

It was a warranted response as the structure below hardly resembled a building anymore. The plant life and unruly vines of the jungle had infiltrated every square inch and looked like it was strangling what once remained of Hemlock's laboratory.

"They destroyed it," Hunter noted. His mouth grew dry as the words left his lips. "Another orbital bombardment."

"But Omega," Wrecker stammered, addressing the very thing Hunter himself feared. "I-I-If she was here—"

"We don't know if she was," Hunter interjected, interrupting his brother before that thought could be completed. "The Durands' intel could be wrong. Let's get down there and check it out."

He was trying to convince himself that the intel was wrong more than Wrecker as a number of doubts and concerns were creeping through the cracks of the thin mask he wore nowadays. He couldn't remember the last time he slept well, and it certainly betrayed him as his senses worked harder to analyze the surrounding area—twisting what might have been innocent into paranoid delusions.

Shadows became adversaries. A leaf falling became an air assault. The breeze became the whispers of betrayal. He'd been battling this on his own for weeks. But from the glance of concern he received from Wrecker, he knew he was failing to keep his deterioration hidden.

"Hunter—"

A few of the nearby branches rustled. Hunter held up his hand, halting their progression forward while also silencing Wrecker. "We're not alone."

A pair of kids dropped down from the lower branches of the trees above. Each had a makeshift spear constructed of sticks and perhaps whatever sharp metal they'd found lying around.

"Freeze!" the first kid demanded.

"Drop your weapons," the second added. He was the shorter of the two, and his eyes flickered with unease as he adjusted his grip on the spear.

Wrecker laughed, gesturing to the weapon he had trained on the first kid. "Blaster beats stick, kid."

The kid wrinkled his nose, clearly displeased that he'd been underestimated so quickly. However, Hunter's eyes widened as he recognized the faces staring them down. He lowered his blaster, nudging his brother to do the same. "Wrecker, they're regs."

Wrecker seemed similarly shocked by the revelation, but he did ease up and lowered his blaster to his side. The first kid—confirmed to be a cadet—eyed the pair with distrust. "And who are you?"

Hunter was the first to remove his helmet while Wrecker simply lifted his to rest on the top of his head. The sergeant softened as he addressed the kids, ensuring them that they weren't the enemy in this situation. "We're clones. Same as you."

The shorter of the two furrowed his brow. "You don't look like clones."

"They must be 99s," the taller of the two explained, but continued to eye the older troopers with curiosity. "Defectives."

Wrecker scoffed. "Defective and effective."

"What are you two doing out here?" Hunter asked. A similar tone he'd come to use when speaking with Omega had crept into his voice.

"What's it look like?" the taller cadet scoffed. "Surviving."

"Or trying to," the shorter cadet bitterly added. He clenched his fists tighter around the spear in his hands. "No thanks to the Empire. They send you to finish us off?"

"Do we look like we're with the Empire?" Wrecker asked.

The taller cadet took a protective step toward the smaller, but he did at least ease up on how harshly he'd been pointing his spear in their direction. "What do you want?"

"We're looking for a young girl," Hunter explained. "She's a clone. We think she was sent to the lab here."

"Never saw anyone like that," the shorter cadet shook his head.

"Never saw anyone quite like us either," the taller cadet muttered, but his lips quirked as if making a joke only he and his brother understood.

The shorter cadet nudged the taller and shot him a disapproving look. His expression softened though with a gentle sigh. "But 782 might know about her."

"782?" Wrecker cast Hunter a concerned glance.

"You don't have names yet?" Hunter asked, looking between the cadets. His heart clenched seeing their young faces, understanding that they'd potentially been dropped out on a battlefield with nothing but the clothes on their back. Choosing a name was like a rite of passage, something that would belong to them and couldn't be taken away.

"Not in this lifetime," the taller cadet replied. He snickered slightly as he was yet again nudged in the ribs. "But you can call me 40, and this is 10."

"I'm Wrecker, and this is Hunter," the explosives expert didn't hesitate to introduce what remained of their small squad.

"Please," Hunter requested they get back on track. There was some desperation creeping into his voice that already filled his eyes. "This girl, we have to find her. She's part of our squad."

The cadets glanced at one another. A look of sympathy softened their scowls. 10 sighed before nodding his head with a gesture that clearly meant follow. "Stick to the trail. Follow our steps."

"And don't touch the vines," 40 quickly added. A menacing look crossed his face while something reminiscent of fear sparked in his eyes.

Wrecker tilted his head, furrowing his brow. "Why—"

"Just don't," 40 interrupted.

Hunter placed a hand on Wrecker's shoulder before nodding to imply they understood. The cadets appeared satisfied enough with the gesture then led the way deeper into the forest.

"How'd a pair of cadets end up lost out here?" Hunter asked, breaking the silence that had clung to the air during the previous fifteen minutes.

The cadets glanced at one another with unease, and there was a hesitation in 10's voice as he explained—almost as if he was omitting some of the importants facts. "We were with a... specialized batch when the Empire transferred us off Kamino. Some assumed it was a training simulation meant to make us better soldiers."

40 released a bitter laugh under his breath. "Instead, they made us prisoners. Took samples of our blood."

Hunter frowned. "Why? What was the Empire doing here?"

Another shared glance of unease.

"There were whispers of something called Project Samsara," 10 replied, keeping his answer vague with a shrug as if reliving the memories weren't as painful as they sounded. Hunter had seen plenty of good men hide the horror they'd experienced behind similar walls. It never ended well. The cadets were putting on a pair of brave faces, but there were still some cracks that were apparent to see through. "Never really found out what they wanted, but at least we escaped before they destroyed the facility."

Hunter's concern only grew. "And you survived alone out here ever since?"

"We're not alone," 40 contradicted. "We've got each other, and we've got H—"

10 nudged 40. The boy swallowed the rest of his sentence, then took a breath before correcting himself.

"And we've got 782," 40 repeated himself. His confidence faltered while his eyes drifted toward the jungle floor. "We're soldiers. Or we used to be..."

40 blinked then noticed the others staring at him. 10 placed a hand on his shoulder but he gently nudged it away, charging forward with a laugh that teetered close to hysterics. "You know what they say though: what doesn't kill you..."

Hunter's jaw tensed while his frown grew deeper. His fists clenched and unclenched just listening to the cadets speak. They coped in extremely different ways—one putting up walls while the other laughed through the pain—neither option was beneficial. He'd seen soldiers on the brink of collapsing into madness, and the hardened look shining from those cadets' eyes proved they'd seen something dangerous enough to push them toward that edge. It was only a matter of time before they'd fall from the ledge if they didn't get a better support system soon.

Even though Wrecker had his helmet pulled down over his face, Hunter could feel the look his brother was offering him. It was the same way he'd looked at Omega not long after she introduced herself. It was the same look a child might make while asking to keep a wounded creature as a pet. Hunter sighed and discreetly nodded his head. Wrecker perked up, brushing aside a couple vines to catch up with 10 at the front.

"So it's just the three of you?" Wrecker asked.

10 nodded, but froze as he turned to glance up over his shoulder. Those same vines that Wrecker had moved started to rustle and slither their way up the trees.

"Stop," 10 whispered.

Wrecker listened, but his head cocked with confusion. "What?"

Hunter felt the air shift. He bent his knees, lowering his center of gravity to enter a ready position as if preparing for the worst case scenario. "Wrecker, behind you."

The vine warbled. It curled back on itself, slowly drawing energy to strike. Hunter's eyes widened beneath his helmet and Wrecker showed little hesitation when it came to adjusting his position so they were side-by-side.

"Run!" 10 exclaimed, pulling 40 by the arm as they hid behind the nearest tree roots for cover.

The vine screeched and attacked. In sync, Hunter and Wrecker lifted their blasters and fired a round of bolts which easily hit the intended target. The vine hissed and recoiled.

"Don't fire!" 10 warned. "It gets hostile when you shoot."

"You mean it's not already hostile?" Wrecker asked incredulously.

"No!" 10 confirmed with a shout.

40 was strangely quiet. Hunter hadn't known the cadet long, but he'd picked up on the pattern that one or two quips should've been up for grabs. He glanced over his shoulder, noticing the kid had dropped beside 10 with his knees pulled up into his chest while his wide eyes stared straight ahead at the ground as if reliving some horrifying memory.

Wrecker screamed and grunted as the vine whipped forward, grasping him by the throat as it slammed him against the closest tree. "Hunter!"

Hunter jumped into action, unsheathing the vibroknife at his elbow as he hopped from the root to reach the vine. With a swift slice, the vine was severed in two. It immediately slackened and dropped Wrecker who retrieved his fallen blaster.

"Wrecker, grab the kid," Hunter gestured toward 40 who had yet to snap out of his frozen trance.

Wrecker didn't argue. He easily lifted the kid with one arm, using the other to fire off another round of ammunition as if warning the vines what would happen should they choose to follow them.

"Come on!" Hunter encouraged the other cadet to quicken the pace. 10 leapt up from his position of cover and sprinted ahead, leading the group toward safety.

Only once he felt the air still did Hunter allow them to slow and recover. Wrecker panted, setting 40 back on the ground as he caught his breath. The larger clone didn't tire easily, but it wasn't exactly easy sprinting at full speed with a kid in one arm and a large blaster in the other.

Hunter leaned up against a nearby tree, keeping his eyes trained on the cadets. 10 slid to the ground and exhaled with brief relief. However, he quickly stiffened and put back up his walls as he moved closer to 40. He might've been the smaller of the two clones, but for the time being he'd taken it upon himself to console his brother.

"It's alright," 10 whispered under his breath. It was clear he'd only intended 40 to hear, but with Hunter's heightened sense of hearing it sounded as if they were conversing at a normal volume. "You're not on that stupid rock anymore. They can't hurt you. I'm right here. I've got you brother."

"What was that stuff?" Wrecker slowly asked. His gaze drifted upward as if expecting another vine to drop down at any moment.

10 swallowed, involuntarily shuddering. "Slither vines. The Empire made them. It was some kind of experimental weapon, until they lost control of it."

"Probably why they ordered a Base Delta Zero on their own facility," 40 muttered. His chest no longer hitched with every breath and he'd slowly managed to lift his eyes from the ground to look over at Hunter. 10 looked up at 40 with concern. The taller cadet didn't look down at the younger, but he did give him a discreet tap on the shoulder as if confirming the worst of the episode had passed. "We'll be safe on the crag. The slither vines haven't spread there... yet."

10 nodded his head, helping 40 back up onto his feet. However, he shot an accusatory glare at Wrecker. "And this time, don't touch anything."

Wrecker huffed. "Yeah, yeah."

It was dark by the time they reached the crag. The only thing that alerted them to another sign of life was the crackling fire that awaited their arrival. Another cadet sat on the ground, scrubbing a Z-6 that was definitely too large for him to use. He seemed to hear them coming before anyone addressed him though as he looked up, furrowing his brow with distrust as his eyes landed on Hunter and Wrecker.

"Who are they?"

"Clones," 40 replied. The further they left the slither vines behind, the lighter his steps had become. He had that playful smug smile lighting up his face as if he couldn't help but joke around with his brothers.

782 rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I can see that much."

"Hunter and Wrecker," 10 introduced them. "A pair of 99s, 40 and I found by the overlook."

It almost sounded like they were speaking in code as the trio conversed and caught up. There was a hidden meaning in each syllable. Hunter didn't need to know what was being said to understand that there was a second, underlying conversation. He'd done the same thing enough times with his own brothers to recognize the shift in cadence and tone.

"It's quite a place you got here," Hunter said, easing his way into the conversation. There was no denying how eager he was to get whatever information he could about Omega, but he also didn't want to scare these cadets into shutting up.

782 twitched, glancing over at his brothers as if asking for their opinion before focusing back on Hunter. "What do you want?"

"We're looking for a young girl," Hunter replied. "She was taken by an Imperial named Hemlock."

"Her name's Omega," Wrecker added.

10 was the smallest of the three, while 782 and 40 looked almost identical minus the notch in 782's brow. The other two treated 782 like he was the oldest or most experienced, looking at him for guidance. 782 seemed to feel that weight, but he hid the fear of leadership well. Hunter only recognized the mask slip because he'd worn it so well himself.

"Never saw a girl around the lab." 782 sighed and shook his head. He paused though, glancing over at his brothers before offering something else which could have been useful. His expression hardened and his fists clenched. "But I know Hemlock. He was in charge until things changed. One day, the Imperials started packing up and shipped out. We found a weak point and made our move. We were the only ones who made it out before the orbital bombardment."

"Left to die..." 10 muttered.

"The scientists left us locked up. Said we fulfilled our purpose," 40 released a bitter laugh. "Even the clone troopers left us to die. Said they were following orders."

"We get it." Hurt flashed across Wrecker's face as he stared at the fire. He slowly lifted his eyes to look at each of the cadets. "We've lost people too."

Omega. Echo. Tech. Crosshair.

Hunter swallowed. It had been some time since he last allowed himself to even think about that last name. He wasn't sure why it came to mind now as he'd determined some time ago that he'd chosen the Empire over them and he wasn't coming back. Yet he was lost all the same.

"We can take you to someplace safe," Hunter cleared his throat. He didn't want to think of what he'd lost, he just wanted to know how he could get it back. How he could get her back, "but we need to find out if Omega was here or where Hemlock took her. There has to be some intel in that base."

"One of the control room panels was still intact during our last scout," 10 admitted. "I tried to use it to send a signal, but there was no power."

"Can you take us there?" Hunter asked.

"No way." 40's eyes widened and he quickly shook his head. "That area is covered in slither vines."

"It's toxic," 10 agreed. "Going near those ruins is a suicide mission... We can't help you."

"I'll take 'em," 782 volunteered, standing and dusting himself off.

"What?" 40 paled.

10 frowned. "They're not him. Just because they're 99s—"

"I'm going," 782 repeated. It wasn't up for debate. He bent down to pick up the Z-6 at his feet as if to prove a point, but the oversized blaster didn't budge. He huffed as if lightheaded, but quickly tried to play it off. "I planned to take a DC-17 anyway."

40 snickered, and muttered a snide remark under his breath. "Smooth."

"Then we're going with you." 10 crossed his arms. After taking a deep breath, 40 slowly—albeit hesitantly—nodded his head as if agreeing.

"Absolutely not," 782 shook his head. "You're too small—"

10 punched him in the arm. "I'm just as capable."

"I'm the one with the most experience," 782 countered.

40 scoffed. "By maybe a couple hours."

"It'll be safer for you here!" 782 insisted.

"I won't be left behind again!" 10 sounded as if he were on the verge of panicking.

Hunter took a step forward—prepared to intervene—but Wrecker placed a hand on his shoulder. 10 turned away, facing the ground; however, 782 didn't let him isolate himself. He stepped up to his brother's side, pulling him into a tight hug like 10 had done for 40 earlier. 782 pulled 40 into the embrace and the three remained like that for another minute before separating.

782 cleared his throat and straightened, as if trying to gain a few extra inches. "We can get you inside the ruins, but you won't be able to get anything from the console without a power source."

"We got that covered," Wrecker insisted. "Just need to grab something from our ship."

782 nodded. Hunter and Wrecker took the lead, guiding the group with their torches. The light wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. They traveled in silence for a while, but Hunter couldn't help but glance back at the cadets. They were closer than most he'd seen, clinging to one another like their lives depended on it... like they'd been through something no one else could understand and it forged a bond between them.

"What?" 782 questioned. Apparently Hunter's glance hadn't been that subtle.

"How long have you three been together?"

"Since the beginning," 782 replied. There was an odd mixture of skepticism and trust in his voice. "We're batchmates."

"I think someone took 10 out of his tube a bit early," Wrecker noted. It wasn't intended to be an insult or a joke, but 10 definitely seemed offended.

"Maybe you were left in yours too long," 10 grumbled.

782 placed a hand on 10's shoulder. "We don't know what happened. We're just a bit... different. But I'm sure you understand that."

"Better than most, kid," Hunter agreed.

782 frowned and bristled just as 10 had. 40 rolled his eyes, but was quick to change the topic to avoid a fight they had no chance of winning—of course that had never stopped 782 from jumping into the fray before, but 40 didn't feel like dealing with his brother's temper. "This clone you're looking for—"

"Omega," Hunter corrected.

40 nodded. "How long has she been gone?"

"Too long," Hunter replied. "But we're not giving up."

There was a beat of silence. The three cadets glanced at one another as if silently agreeing on something.

"You remind me of him," 782 quietly said.

Hunter glanced back over his shoulder. "Who?"

"Another clone we knew," 782 explained. "He was loyal to the cause, but to his brothers above everything else..."

"Sounds like a good guy," Wrecker said, clearing away a few plants as the Marauder came into view.

"Yeah..." 782's eyes drifted toward the ground.

"Woah!" 40 gasped and his eyes lit up as he saw the ship. "Your ship has seen some action."

"Mostly during the war," Hunter explained as Wrecker climbed up the ramp. He sighed and his shoulders slumped, exhaustion creeping up on him. "And some after."

"I always thought I might've flown one of these," 10 quietly admitted. A look of disappointment flashed across his face as he glanced down at his small frame. "Doubt I'll get the chance now."

Wrecker grunted, adjusting the way Gonky was positioned on his back. The droid was flipped upside-down. Hunter didn't question that decision, they'd been in similar situations enough to trust his brother.

"Well, I've got the gear and the power," Wrecker announced, tossing a trio of masks down to Hunter. Gonky honked and chattered.

Hunter passed out the masks, offering 782 a nod of confirmation. "Lead the way, kid."

782 still frowned at being called 'kid', but he let it go and led the group forward. The moon was overhead once they reached the ruins, beginning its descent as if permitting the dawn to arrive. The torch lights were still necessary though as the laboratory interior was pitch black.

40's breath hitched the second they stepped inside, but his brothers each placed a comforting hand on his shoulders, letting him know they'd stick beside him.

"There's slither vines everywhere," 10 said, casting a glance back at Wrecker. "Be careful where you step."

Wrecker rolled his eyes, but gasped the second he saw what 10 meant. The slither vines didn't just cover the walls, they'd invaded every nook and cranny available. The metal walls around them creaked and groaned. Hunter's senses were going haywire. He could feel every vibration and every tiny movement from the vines, but he could also feel the dull hum of the console somewhere down to the right. The plants did a decent job muddling the specifics though.

"How much further is the console?" 40 asked, but his voice cracked as if dry.

10 slowly shook his head. "Hard to tell."

"More vines have spread down here," 782 noted. "We had to stop scavenging the site because of it."

Hunter frowned, glancing up at the vines clinging to the ceiling. "What other experiments were going on in this place?"

The three cadets glanced at one another. Hunter frowned. Great... they were doing that again.

"Nothing good," 782 vaguely replied.

The vines above them slithered and warbled, receding back into the shadows. Hunter tensed, trying to hone in on where the potential attack would originate.

A large vine roared and lunged from behind, wrapping around 40's ankle before dragging the boy beneath Wrecker's legs and disappearing around the corner. His scream of terror echoed down the following corridor.

"Cut—" 10 screamed, reaching out as if he intended to chase after his brother. 782 held him back, shoving the smaller cadet into Wrecker's arms before sprinting after his brother himself.

Hunter quickly jumped into action, also sprinting around the corner with his knife unsheathed. 40 was dragged further into the shadows. No longer able to see his brother, 782 froze and wildly aimed his DC-17 pistol toward whichever shadows moved. He couldn't bring himself to shoot though, fearing he'd miss or worse hit his brother.

Hunter did not lack that confidence in his own abilities. He closed his eyes, focusing on the vibrations beneath him. He steadied his breath then opened his eyes and hurled his vibroknife, knowing that it would strike true. The vine shrieked and there was a thud as something hit the ground.

Hunter rushed forward, untangling the frantic boy from the dying plant. He choked as a pair of small arms wrapped around his neck, holding onto him for consolation. 40 shuddered in his arms. The collar of Hunter's blacks dampened as the cadet broke down in gasping sobs.

"You're alright..." Hunter's voice sounded strained as his windpipe was constricted. The cadet was probably only five—ten by nat-born standards—so he wasn't the easiest to carry and run, but Hunter understood the kid wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. He readjusted his grip, running back toward where 782 still stood frozen. A mixed look of horror and failure twisted his features. Hunter placed a hand on his shoulder just long enough to pull him along. "Come on!"

They ran back around the other corner where Wrecker and 10 were barely holding their own since the other slither vines had decided to attack. These mutations were different, and clearly carnivorous as their buds opened to reveal thorns that resembled fangs.

"Go!" Hunter called out, clearing a path with his blaster. "Keep moving!"

Wrecker took 40 from Hunter, capable of carrying more without it hindering his movement as noticeably. Hunter took a breath, discreetly massaging his throat as he moved to the front of the group to ensure the path remained clear.

The closer they got to the center of the building, the fewer creatures and slither vine mutations were prevalent. Hunter immediately noticed the difference as it was no longer the plant life that he found disorienting but the pungent smell of the liquid oozing from the floor in thick puddles.

Wrecker groaned. "I didn't think it could smell any worse, but I was wrong."

Hunter nodded, wrinkling his nose from beneath his helmet. "We're in agreement on that."

"There's the console," 10 pointed toward the center of the room. "Come on."

There was some metal obstructing their path, but other than that it was much calmer and quieter in this section of the laboratory. Wrecker only set 40 down when he was needed to move some of the scraps that Hunter couldn't handle on his own.

Together they pulled back the metal sheets covering the console, allowing it to fall down into the bubbling liquid below. It creaked and groaned as it slammed against the ground—slowly sinking into the ooze that was deceptively deep—but they were far from trying to be discreet at this point.

Wrecker lowered Gonky back onto the ground, setting him right side up in front of the console. "Alright. Do your thing, little guy."

Gonky chattered and the control began beeping as the system lit up with life.

Hunter frowned. His senses whined. Over time he'd come to accept that whenever he felt an encroaching migraine it was trouble brewing. The vibrations of something below the surface of the ooze only confirmed that thought.

"Something's coming," Hunter muttered. "We need to make this quick."

Wrecker glanced over with uncertainty. "Is it more of those things?"

Hunter shook his head. "No. Something else."

"I'm familiar with the system," 10 said, moving closer to Gonky as he began pressing a few buttons on the console. "Give me some time. I'll see what data I can pull up."

The rhythmic beeping of the console was interrupted by the low rumble of the ground beneath their feet. An ear shattering roar echoed and shook the chamber as a group of vines emerged from the ooze. Only there was a much larger and horrifying creature connecting them as if controlling a hive mind.

"Kriff," 782 said in a gasp under his breath. He took a protective step closer to 40, but the fear in his own eyes was apparent.

"Time's up," Hunter called over to 10. "Grab the datapad!"

10 hesitated for only a second, trying to get every last bit of information that he could before unplugging both the datapad and Gonky from the console.

Hunter, Wrecker, and 782 had already used a full round of ammunition each. And the spare cartridges they'd brought would do little good if they couldn't find an exit. 10 desperately looked around, but his mind remained blank. He was normally bait in these situations, he wasn't the one to come up with the strategy.

40 had dropped to the ground, pulling his knees up into his chest while covering his head as if preparing for the inevitable. 10 slid to his knees beside him, pulling him close.

"We're going to get you out of here," 10 insisted, shouting over the blaster fire and screeching vines, "But I need you to find a way out while I help our brothers. Can you do that for me?"

40's eyes were wide, but he slowly nodded his head. 10 squeezed his shoulder with another look of reassurance before hopping back up beside 782. 40 swallowed. He took a deep, shaky breath then looked around the room. But it was too hard to think when he was so overwhelmed. He was enclosed in a sealed room, but the skylight above only served as a dark reminder of his past.

The stars were the last thing he'd seen before he was dragged down into the dark recesses of that cavern. His teeth chattered as if reliving the pain of every bone in his body crunching and splintering. He coughed and gasped as if he couldn't get enough air while his vision danced dangerously close to blacking out. The ground rumbled as if prepared to drop out from beneath his feet; all it needed was the explosive charge—

"Wrecker!" 40 shouted. "Did you bring any explosives?"

Wrecker laughed. "I like the way this kid thinks!"

"What'd you come up with, kid?" Hunter asked, speaking between grit teeth as his focus was torn between the numerous distractions and liabilities around him.

"Set the charge by the console," 40 explained. "We'll climb the support beam in the center of the room and use the blast zone to crash up through the skylight."

"That sounds like a way to get ourselves blown up," 10 contradicted. 782 stiffened.

"Not if you use the right kind of explosive," Hunter explained, catching onto 40's idea. Wrecker caught on quickly as well, immediately jumping to set the charge before lifting Gonky onto his back. Hunter gestured toward the central pillar, nudging the cadets to get moving. "Let's go!"

Wrecker was in the front, leading the climb until they were high enough to reach the suspended platform located just below the skylight. He reached out an arm, catching each cadet as they jumped across before grabbing Hunter's arm to pull him over since the sergeant had taken up the rear.

"What are we waiting for?" 10 frantically asked, glancing down at the slither vines that had started to make their way up the columns.

"The charge," Wrecker growled, pressing the remote button, "It's not working!"

782 paled. He glanced between his brothers who looked equally as terrified. He took a breath then took a step forward as if he intended to climb back down; however, Hunter snatched him by the arm and yanked him back. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Someone's got to set off the charge!" 782 explained.

Hunter looked at him incredulously, as if the suggestion itself was out of the question. He shook his head. "No!"

"But—"

"Wrecker!" Hunter ignored the cadet's protest as he held out a hand to his brother.

Wrecker didn't even need to be told what he was reaching for, he simply placed the grenade in his brother's hand. Hunter flicked the switch then chucked the grenade down below. It clinked, bouncing down onto the ground in front of the console before exploding in a colorful splash of orange and gold light.

The charge immediately reacted to the chain reaction, exploding with a sound like thunder. The sound waves were so powerful that they could be seen, blowing dust and ooze at a force so powerful they became shrapnel. The vines were shredded upon impact while the central support beam collapsed. The platform that held the five clones was thrusted upward, crashing through the glass ceiling as it was thrown back toward the jungle.

A chorus of screams filled the air—albeit Wrecker sounded as if he was laughing with glee, having the time of his life. Hunter placed a protective arm over 782 and the cadet immediately buried his face against Hunter's chest plate. Meanwhile, Wrecker scooped 40 and 10 each under one arm while clinging to the platform.

The landing was rough, but they walked away in one piece, bruised yet alive. Wrecker was still laughing even as they gathered themselves up from the jungle floor. He clapped 40 on the shoulder and the cadet stumbled. "You did good, kid!"

40 winced, but there was a soft smile of pride present following the compliment. 10 sidled up beside him, nudging him with a similar smile. "I knew you could do it."

Hunter helped 782 to his feet, but the cadet was shaking. Hunter frowned. "Are you hurt?"

The boy shook his head. As he lifted his eyes from the ground, tears were running down the sides of his face... However, he was laughing. It started as a gentle giggle under his breath but grew to one of hysterical disbelief.

Hunter dropped to a knee so that he was eye level to the cadet, grounding him by holding his arms. "Kid, what's wrong?"

"W-We survived," 782 whispered as he laughed. "It was so similar, and I thought... but we survived!"

"Yeah, kid," Hunter softened. "We survived..."

He glanced over at Wrecker and they shared a few similar thoughts. First, there was obviously something more going on with these cadets than they were letting on. But that was overlooked by the pit of guilt that sat in their stomachs like bile. They survived. Not everyone in their squad had been so fortunate.

"Let's get back to the ship," Wrecker suggested.

Hunter nodded in agreement. "And get you kids off this planet."

None of them complained. Whatever hostility the three had once shown to being reminded of their young stature had completely disappeared as fatigue settled over the group. By the time they reached the Marauder, Wrecker had Gonky and all three cadets riding on his shoulders.

He was clearly exhausted as well. But when Hunter had asked if he needed a break, Wrecker had swiftly denied that thought and trudged forward while the cadets drowsily blinked in a state between awake and dreaming.

"'Minds me of her," he'd muttered under his breath.

Hunter immediately understood. He'd experienced that ache of longing himself. The presence of the cadets brought out that protective instinct which had failed to keep Omega safe. Every time he stepped out in front or prevented them from doing something rash, it was almost like they had a part of her back. If he was honest, it was like they'd gotten a part of them all back. Omega. Echo. Tech. And...

He couldn't bring himself to think about it anymore. He blinked, lowering the ramp of the Marauder before entering the cockpit and firing up the ship's engine. Hunter focused on the take off while Wrecker situated each of the cadet's in Omega's room. It wasn't long after that before he joined Hunter in the cockpit, slumping down into the co-pilot seat.

"What now?"

Hunter's lips tightened. Genuinely, he didn't know. This was their one lead, and like every lead they'd acquired before it had led to another dead end. Wrecker seemed to understand this and didn't push for an answer. He simply leaned back further in his seat and directed his gaze toward the hyperspace lanes as they streaked past the viewport.

The cadets weren't the only ones who needed to catch up on some sleep. Hunter wasn't sure when he'd drifted off, but when he woke his mouth was dry and his vision was groggy. He straightened in his seat, a panicked look flashing onto his dazed face as he reached for the controls.

Wrecker placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, bringing him to the present moment while silently telling him to calm down. "You looked tired, so I put the coordinates in for Pabu and let you rest."

Hunter slowly nodded and yawned. He'd been avoiding sleep to escape the guilt and dreams, but for the first time in a long while he hadn't woken up reliving the moment Omega had been captured. It was actually the whispers from the cargo hold that had alerted his senses. He glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of the three cadets huddled together.

"How long have they been up?" Hunter asked.

"A few minutes," Wrecker replied. "Been keeping an eye on them too."

Hunter nodded, stretching the tightened muscles in his back before approaching the cadets. 782 noticed him first, nudging the others into silence as the sergeant approached.

"What're you up to?" Hunter asked.

782 frowned. "You don't have to treat us like kids. We were doing just fine on our own before you showed up."

"That might be true," Hunter nodded, concealing his own disagreement as he looked each of the kids over, "but you're still..."

He couldn't quite find the word, but Wrecker seemed to understand what he meant. "Shiny!"

782 scowled and crossed his arms. 10 and 40 didn't exactly look pleased either, but they concealed it a bit better.

"We're not shiny," 782 protested. "This wasn't our first battle."

Wrecker chuckled and shook his head, rustling the cadet's hair despite his indignant cries. "I'm not sure that counts as a battle, kid. A fun challenge maybe."

10 sighed. 40 tried to pull 782 back, but he certainly wasn't making it easy. One of these days their brother's temper was going to create a problem they couldn't walk away from. For now, they weren't enough of a threat to be taken seriously.

It was then he noticed that Hunter had retrieved the datapad from the navicomputer desk. The sergeant's brow furrowed as he scrolled through the information. 10 looked up at him curiously. "You find something?"

"I had a little bit of time to look over the data before Wrecker let me pass out," Hunter replied, "Looks like Hemlock transferred his entire base of operations to another location. His experiments too."

The cadets glanced at one another. And that one knowing look full of secrets was slowly starting to get on Hunter's nerves.

"Did the intel say where he went?" 40 asked.

"There was a mention of a sector but nothing more." Hunter sighed. "It's a lead, but we've got a lot of space to cover."

"Well, if that's where Omega is, then that's where we're going," Wrecker said with a look of determination.

Hunter glanced down at the cadets. Each one so young. He might not have thought anything about it prior to meeting Omega, but no kid should have to face the horrors of war. He couldn't shelter these kids—it was apparent they'd already been through some osik—but he could take them somewhere they could heal and perhaps recover from the damage.

Hunter glanced at Wrecker, but it seemed like his brother was already on the same page as he nodded in agreement. Hunter allowed himself a soft smile as he said, "We'll drop you three off someplace safe."

The cadets didn't look convinced. 782 placed a protective arm around each of his brothers. "Where?"

"An island," Hunter replied, kneeling so that he was eye level. "There are good people there. They'll take care of you."

782 scoffed, but 10 was more willing to listen. "We're not quite like other... cadets."

40 snickered, yet it sounded like somber agreement more than acknowledging an inside joke.

"We're soldiers—"

"Without an army," 10 interrupted 782 with a pointed look. He softened and his eyes lowered with tired defeat. "I don't know where we fit anymore."

Hunter placed a comforting hand on the cadet's shoulder. "You have time to figure it out. Make your own path. Be something other than a soldier."

10 slowly looked up. "What about you?"

"Our mission is not over yet," Hunter replied, returning back to his feet. He paused as 10 caught his arm.

There was a vulnerable look of fear present on the kid's face, making him look even younger. "You're not just going to leave us behind, right?"

Wrecker took over, scooping all three cadets up in his lap as he took a seat. They were caught off guard by the action, but they did little to fight against the clone that was at least three times their size.

"'Course not!" he exclaimed. "We just found you, and I'm not ready to say goodbye... But we have to find Omega too."

"We need to bring her home," Hunter agreed.

"And she's gonna love all of you!" Wrecker laughed.

Hunter smiled as the embrace had turned into a wrestling match—3 against 1. Wrecker was losing too, but Hunter believed he was throwing the match. However, it was what he'd said only a moment ago that he was stuck on. He'd shocked himself at the use of the word 'home' for perhaps the first time in his life, but that didn't make it any less true. He wasn't even sure whether he meant Pabu, the Marauder, or just the idea of their little family being together again. Either way they weren't home until Omega was with them. And he had every intention of getting her back.