We Couldn't Even Save Her
Things had been quiet since Tipoca City had been destroyed. Since the Empire had declared all members of Clone Force 99 with the exception of Crosshair as dead. Hunter, Tech, Echo and Wrecker were still running jobs for Cid, ensuring to keep a low profile. Omega was still as curious as ever, although she was now adjusting to life in the world of a bounty hunter, just scraping by and the inevitable danger that come with such a life. Her recent lesson with Tech, she had discovered an old file on her holopad, a republic file of a Jedi Knight, a picture of her attached, along with a short clip of her in a training video, clearly meant for a future Padawan.
At first Tech hadn’t noticed her reading through the file of (Y/F/N) (Y/L/N), he’d been fiddling with something on the dashboard, trying to make some repairs and fix what was sparking. He’d quickly turned around upon hearing the audio of the video clip, it was as if her voice had triggered something in the intelligent clone. His body language changed, as his expression turned to resemble sadness, yet at the same time a hint of happiness to be able to see the Jedi Knight again. Even if it wasn’t in person as he so often wished. As Hunter, Echo and Wrecker also wished and likely Crosshair did as well. Even if the sniper and now Empire loyalist wouldn’t admit it.
“Who was she?” questioned Omega, knowing well the members of the Batch hadn’t hidden anything from her before. Although this time was different, for the first time Tech was hurting, more so then he normally showed. The Jedi Knight had meant something, been someone important to all of them. For a few seconds Tech debated on what to do, whether to tell Omega about the Jedi General they had served during the war, the woman to become their friend and encouraged them to be who they were. She always did what best for them even in the face of danger.
“General (Y/F/N) (Y/L/N), she was a Jedi Knight of the republic, a capable warrior and a good friend” responded Tech, recalling all the memories he had of her. The memories he had buried following her untimely death at the end of the war. “She was a hero of the republic, often time she had chosen to put herself in harms way to save others. Even ignored direct orders if she seen a better way to do something” continued the goggled clone, a fond grin coming to his lips, the jokes she’d played on each of them during the quiet moments of traveling through hyperspace, even how she’d taken the time to help them better their skills in certain areas. “You remind me of her” finally admitted Tech. Admitting a truth he’d all but hidden since first meeting Omega in the hall back on Tipoca City, those many moons ago.
If he hadn’t known any better, he’d have said Omega was a slightly altered clone of (Y/N). Both had the same large eyes, curious mind and often spoke with that same undeniable truth. She had that unexplained bound with each of them too. Omega even had (Y/N)’s compassion and talent of ignoring orders.
“What happened to her?” asked Omega, finding herself curious about the Jedi Knight turned General. She had heard of (Y/N), the clones often spoke of her when they returned to Kamino, as they did with Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu and Yoda, even a few Padawan’s had been the center of such conversations. Omega had always been excited to hear the stories they told, to hear of the adventures across the galaxy, she even imagined going with them one day, to see the vast galaxy for herself, to go on the adventures and tell stories, just like they did.
“She was killed alongside Master Depa Billaba on Kaller” spoke Echo, recalling when Order 66 had been repeated over and over again on the com systems. How his seemingly ordinary brothers, had taken aim and fired at the two Jedi. Depa Billaba calling for her Padawan to run, in the hopes he would survive. (Y/N) had been his first and only defense in the chaos, putting herself, between the troops and the young Padawan, armed with her duel bladed blue lightsaber, and a single bladed one of the same color.
“We tried to help, by the time we got to her it was already too late. We saw her go down” admitted Hunter, watching the video clip of (Y/N), how confident she was. Still he struggled with a cruel truth, despite his denial, he knew the day they lost (Y/N) to that order, they’d lost Crosshair too. The inhibitor chip had only gained control following her death. Hunter had picked up her lightsabers that day, while Wrecker had taken (Y/N)’s body. The five of them promising to bury her somewhere peaceful, at least giving her a proper burial and farewell rather than allowing the imperials do whatever they wanted with her.
“She was our friend, and we couldn’t even save her” quietly spoke Wrecker, retrieving one of her lightsabers from its hiding place. Tech had the duel bladed one, the saber had been busted during chaos on Kaller. So Tech had been determined to fix it, if only so they had something left of the Jedi Knight they’d all come to love in their own way. “We buried her on Naboo, in the river country. The Queen and a few senators as the only ones outside of us who know her location” revealed the human wrecking ball, sadness glimmering in his eyes. He’d always thought it would be all five of them burying (Y/N) together, saying one last goodbye to her. Instead it had only been four. Crosshair hadn’t been with them, but had become apart of the regime that had killed her and so many others across the galaxy.
“Isn’t she still recognized as a hero?” spoke Omega, recalling almost all Jedi had been branded as traitors, despite the protest of the senators and civilians. Anakin Skywalker and (Y/F/N) (Y/L/N) appeared to be the only two the Emperor himself, willingly recognized as heroes of the fallen republic, the only Jedi not to be branded as traitors. “I think I heard a theory, people believe she’s alive and hiding somewhere” added the young clone, feeling sadness to learn she wasn’t out there somewhere living freely after the war had come to an end. But had found peace in a different way.
“She always said she would live forever. But now she only live on with us” quietly replied Echo, recalling (Y/N) had mastered something, although it was anyone’s guess on what that was. Only it was something few Jedi ever could, and something the Sith Warriors would never know. Although they had something similar. “Wherever we’ll go, she always be with us, just like she promised” added Echo, suspecting that now applied to Omega too. Many times had he be so sure he felt (Y/N)’s presence with them, stood with them during their hardest moments. But when he looked to where he was sure she was, nothing was there.
“Always and Forever” repeat Tech, recalling the small promise (Y/N) had made to them before they entered their first battle together. A promise she had kept to, until being forced to break it, that day on Kaller.
“That promise applies to you too Omega. (Y/N) would be proud of you. She’ll be by your side when you need her most. Just like she is with us” spoke Hunter, recalling feeling (Y/N) there at Tipoca City, as if she was guiding them. Pushing Crosshair back towards them, although he appeared to be resisting. Almost as if he knew she was there, but resisted out of fear of losing her again. Or he some how felt her there with him more, when apart of the Empire.
“We’ll see her again one day” spoke Tech, choosing to belief when the finally fell to the inevitable end, they would be reunited with their Jedi General again, with their friend and the one whom had shown them what love was in its many forms. They’d be able to watch as Omega carried on and went on to live a full life. Whether that be fighting against the Empire as they did or making a life for herself as a skilled and renounced bounty hunter.
*~* End *~*
