Hello! Sorry for the inactivity, I should hopefully post more frequently now! Enjoy!

  Not spell checked and word count 1,651

(TW: Not really any. Minor cursing?)

I sit next to Wrecker, rubbing my good hand up and down Omega's back.  Tech has put my arm in a sling, and it is tucked in closely to my body.  Wrecker moves, twisting slightly.  Omega stands, grabbing his hand.  When he doesn't move again, she sighs, plopping back down and resting her head on the bed.  I sigh, looking up at Hunter.  He stands next to Rex, his arms crossed across his chest.

"How long until he wakes up?"  He asks, his eyes moving to the clone Captain.  Rex shakes his head.

"I-I don't know."  He says.  I close my eyes, leaning back in my seat.  The medicine is making me dizzy, and nauseous. I hear the quiet sounds of Rex walking away, and the hushed sound of him speaking to Echo and Tech, their voices barely reaching my ears over the whir of the machines.

"I don't like this, Hunter."  Omega says, speaking to her brother.  I hear him shift next to me, his hand just barely brushing against my shoulder.

"I know, kid.  I don't like it either."

The world slowly fades as I loose consciousness, the sounds of their voices slowly blending together, before disappearing entirely.

(Time skip because Delta is becoming a Tired Momtm and needs her sleep.)

I sit up, gasping for air.  The sound of the machines reminds me where I am, and I let out a breath, collapsing in my seat.

I glance around, the giant form of Wrecker visible as he crouches down, speaking to Omega.  She is frowning, shaking her head at something he said.  He looks down at the ground, ashamed.  She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug.  I sigh, standing and making my way over to them.  Omega pulls away from him, giving me a grim smile.

"Hiya, Del!"  She says, gesturing towards Wrecker.  "He woke up!"

Wrecker turns to look at me, his brown eyes filling with dread at the sight of my wrapped arm.  I give him a smile.

"Hey, big guy."  I say, giving him a half hug.  He lets out a shaky breath, wrapping a protective arm around me.

"I'm so sorry Delta,"  He stutters as we break apart.  "I tried to fight it... I-I just wasn't strong enough."

I frown, anger flaring in me at his ashamed eyes.  If the Prime Ministor of Kamino was standing in front of me right now, I would not hesitate to put a knife through his heart.  How dare he rob these men of free will.  How dare he hurt Wrecker.

"It's not your fault, Wrecker."  I assure him, placing my good hand on his shoulder.  He shudders, plopping down on the floor.  Omega clambers down next to him, holding out her dainty hand, revealing a small pile of mantell mix.

"It's a tradition."  She says quietly, making Wrecker smile.

I leave them alone, making my way towards Tech and Echo.  A patch sits on the left side of Tech's head show the result of removing his inhibitor chip.  Echo smirks at me as I plop down next to him, and I raise a single eyebrow.

"What?" I ask.

"How was your nap?"  He asks.  I roll my eyes, crossing my one arm across my chest.

"Absolutely wonderful.  I love being drugged on medication."

He laughs cheekily, his eyes crinkling at the corners.  I can't help but laugh myself: laughing at the absolute craziness of our situation.  My laugh fades at the sight of dark boots sticking out of the surgery machine.  I feel sick, glancing away.  It could only be Hunter.

"Let me look at your shoulder."  Tech says, stepping away from the computer in which he was monitoring the surgery.  I shake my head, but he has already tugged my arm out of the sling.  He gently runs his hand over my shoulder, pulling on my arm.  I winch when he pulls on my arm, and he frowns.

"You shouldn't be able to feel anything with the medications you are on."  He says, his frown deepening.

A loud beeping sounds from the computer, and Echo stands, moving towards the machine. Hunter is slowly being rolled out, and I peer over Tech's shoulder, trying to get a better look.  He pulls at my elbow, and I yelp, pulling out of his grip.

   "Cut it out, man!"  I exclaim.  He looks indifferent, tucking my arm back in the sling.  Rex slides open the door, stepping inside the room.

  I stand, glaring at Tech while I move towards Hunter.  Rex comes to a stop next to me.  He gives me a charming smile, before looking past me at Wrecker and Omega.

  "He looks better."  He says, referring to Wrecker.  I nod, my anger at the Kamoans boiling again.

  Omega trots past us, giving Rex a smile.  He returns it, watching as she trots back past us, handing Wrecker his helmet.

  I glance at the Captain.
  "Thank you."  I say.  "For everything."

  He nods grimly.
  "These boys are some of the last people I have... the last of my family.  I have to take care of them."

  I nod as well.
  "You are doing a good job of it, then."  I say, my eyes remaining on Hunter's face.  The Captain pats my shoulder gently, before moving towards Tech and Echo.  I pull up a seat, sitting down next to Hunter.  He is waking up, his face twisted in a grimace.

When his eyes finally flutter open, I smile at him.
"Hey. How are you feeling?"  I ask, helping him sit up.  He groans, raising a hand to his head.

"This whole inhibitor chip thing is bullshit."  He says.  Tech rolls his eyes as he nears us.

"Give me your arm.  I have to check your vital signs."  He says.  I take a step back, giving him space.

Omega trots up to me, holding a large black marker.

"Can I draw on your sling?" She asks.  I laugh, holding out my arm.

"Go ahead."

I slip through the cruiser, Hunter and Rex's voices slowly becoming louder as I near the exit of the ship.  I come to a stop at a large docking door, seeing the men's silhouettes in the moonlight. I pause, not wanting to intrude, leaning against the doorframe.

"Things are different now, Captain."  Hunter says.  "Our priorities have changed."

"I've noticed."

"I have to do what's best for Omega... what's best for my squad."  Hunter says.

"And what is that?"  Rex asks.  They are both quiet for a moment, the quiet noise of water moving filling the silence.

"I'm still trying to figure that out."  Hunter says finally.

"I.. guess we all are."  Rex says, turning to his brother.  "When you sort things out, let me know where you land."  He reaches out, and they shake hands.

"Tell the boys I'll see them around."  Rex says, his teeth glinting as he smiles.

"Stay out of trouble."  Hunter says cheekily.  Rex laughs.

"That's funny.  I was going to say the same to you."

I slip out of the shadows, coming to a stop next to Hunter.

"Travel safe, Captain."  I say, reaching out to shake his hand.  Rex smiles at me.

"Take care of these idiots for me."  He says jokingly.

He slips on his helmet, starting down the trail.

"Take care."  He says, his voice scratchy from the helmet.

We are silent, standing next to each other.  The fog has rolled in, and soon we are no longer able to see him.


(Note: I am so so sorry for the inactivity ya'll! I have been working on my Top Gun story, which almost feels like it is writing itself.)

The sun is above us, warming me from the inside out. It is so wonderful to be outside of the cruiser, out of the dark and dreary space.  I sit, watching the comical interaction of Wrecker and Omega. He is trying to teach her how to dismantle a bomb, and he is not doing a very good job of it.

Echo plops down on the ground next to me, sighing.

"How's your shoulder?" He asks, looking at me.

"A bit better," I say, leaning back against a ship. I have found a spot in the shade to supervise, and it happens to be in the shadow of a bit of broken cruiser.

I hear Wrecker yell "Wrong wire!" and a look of utter terror crossing Omega's face. They run, hiding behind a large piece of broken ship.

Omega crouches down, covering her head with her hands.

Wrecker laughs when the bomb doesn't go off, instead spraying silver and grey smoke, and I smile.

"I would never have you train with a real bomb!" Wrecker exclaims.

Echo is quiet next to me, and I glance at him.

"A credit for your thoughts," I say, smiling.

He looks at me seriously. I pause, wondering what he is going to say.
"Don't hurt him, okay?" He says. It takes me a moment to realize he is speaking of Hunter.

"Echo," I say, twisting and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I would never intentionally hurt him, okay? I promise you that."

He is quiet, his brown eyes looking me over.
"He's been through a lot, and when he looks at you, I feel like he sees a better version of himself. When he looks at you, he only sees love and compassion." He shakes his head, tearing away from my gaze. "Don't hurt him, is all. If you ever left him, I don't think he would ever be the same."

I open my mouth, but no words come out. My mouth feels dry, and I swallow.

"I love him, Echo." I speak, drawing his attention.

He seriousness scares me, and he nods.
"I trust you."