Two commandos slowed down as they came up the slope which their brother and Ryki fell over during the earlier skirmish. Hunter and Wrecker slid down the slippery side coming up on barely noticeable imprints of footsteps in the ground to a normal person's eye, but not an experienced tracker. 

Hunter's mind worked silently as he studies the footprints, one pair heavier with a wider gap and the other more lightfoot and unsteady. Wrecker followed his brother deeper into the Felucian jungle. The footsteps continued deeper into the jungle until where Crosshair's deeper footprints came to a halt, just before a small clearing. Somewhere in the middle was a body print stressed out onto soft grass that fit Ryki's body weight judging by how deep the impression went. Besides the body print, Crosshair's footsteps appeared with Ryki's just beside. Wrecker flashed his torchlight towards the new trail of footsteps leading away from the clearing. They followed the tracks a little more till something new caught their attention.

Wrecker was about to follow the prints until one unique print caught his eye. "Hunter, you better take a look at this" Hunter sensed the worried tone in Wrecker's voice. The Sargeant's eyes shot open when he recognize the tracks belonging to a feline-like creature. "Wide gaps from other prints, four..." Hunter mentally sifted through his brain for any predatory creature that would match the tracks. "Nexu..." he decided as he ran his fingertips over four holes in the ground, "Claw marks, this cat was ready to pounce." 

Wrecker hummed in approval, "Yeah, and the kitty didn't get too far." Hunter looked to where Wrecker was now pointing his torchlight. A few paces in front of them laid a dead nexu, body have covered in mud and displaying a clean hole through its skull that still leaked blood. "This is Crosshair's doing. That explains the first shot."

"Which means there were more since we heard more than one shot," Wrecker quickly pieced it together remembering the multiple blaster shots earlier. A faint smell of metal made Hunter choke involuntarily. "Yeah, that means they were chased and possibly outnumbered. Come one, we need to hurry," 

More paw prints started to appear on the ground and Crosshair's and Ryki's footprints were beginning to blend together. "Kark!" Hunter cursed under his breath. He spotted the lifeless bodies of two nexu, one with a clean head-shot, and the other with a gory wound in its neck. Leaning closer to the ground, Hunter analyzed some pieces of plastoid that belonged to none other than his brother. Blood coated a few of the pieces, having already coagulated together. 

"Crosshair's armor. He must have gotten hurt," said Hunter as he showed Wrecker one of the crack pieces. "One nexu was killed by Cross, the other too messy so it must have been Ryki."

"Wh-why would she be using a blaster? She didn't have weapons with her." Wrecker pointed out. "unless..." 

"Crosshair was attacked and Ryki had to defend him!" Hunter quickly finished Wrecker's sentence. The scene of the cat-killing was already too frightening to explain. It was clear that Crosshair had been attacked because of the clear evidence, but there was no evidence to suggest that Ryki was hurt. The sargeant's blood pressure spiked, combined with the enhanced senses the smell of blood and rotting flesh was overwhelming. He needed to get to them fast.

---

Gasping, a mirialan suddenly woke from dozing off. She looked around frantically having accidentally falling asleep in the company of her supposed captor. Her racing heart finally calmed when she noticed that the sniper had also fallen asleep. Ryki relaxed into her makeshift seat once again. 

With the help of a little moonlight, Ryki could see the bleeding on Crosshair's torso had stopped. He must have passed out from exhaustion caused by blood loss. Said sniper had little noticeable tremours of shivers passing through his body. Ryki picked herself up to inspect him, placing her hand gently on his forehead. He felt too warm for the cold weather. 

Cross shifted slightly as the skin of his forehead met Ryki's cold hands. "What are you doing?" he groaned in an unhappy manner. 

"You're catching a fever. The nexu bite must have contained very aggressive bacteria. That and the possibility you might have contracted a Felucian viral infection when taking into consideration at our unsanitary location." The sniper looked at her confused after her statement.

"It means, your wound is infected and your falling sick" She rephrased quickly. All the time spent with Tech seemed to have his little quirks growing on herself. 

The sniper nodded silently. Ryki really hoped that someone would find them soon, even if it was the Empire. Crosshair seemed to be thinking the same thing. "You know, if you surrender willingly I can ensure that the Clone Force 99 doesn't come to any harm. The Empire will treat you fairly." 

She flinched at the formal mention of the Bad Batch's name, "Somehow I highly doubt that. Once the Empire has me, they will go back to track the Bad Batch anyways. If not by you then by someone much more ruthless." 

"Come with us." The sniper stared at the mirialan in surprise. 

"Assuming the Bad Batch finds us first, come with us. I can help you with your wound" Ryki tried to persuade him. Crosshair scoffed with amusement, "I'd go ten lifetimes siding with the Empire, where I matter."

"You matter to your brothers!"

"My brothers are living a life they don't deserve." Crosshair hissed, "We were created to be so much more but Hunter and the rest threw that away for some brat and because he didn't agree with the Empire." 

Ryki felt the urge to shake more sense into the injured sniper when some shouting came from up ahead, followed by streaks of light filtering slowly through the thick mushroom forest. 

"RYKI!" 

The mirialan physically jumped on the spot, hearing a voice she knew all too well. "HEY RY! CROSS! YOU THERE?!" a gruffer voice boomed. 

"Hunter! Wrecker!" 

From the distance, Hunter could see Ryki waving her hands to draw their attention. Wrecker cheered and raced ahead of the sargeant, eager to meet his lost friend. 

Wrecker's footsteps thundered towards Ryki and when he reached her, she was swept into his arms. "We found you, Ry. You're safe now" Ryki laughed as she returned his hug. Hunter approached from behind just as Ryki was set on her feet. 

"Ryki..." Hunter panted, slowly approaching her. Inside he was overjoyed to have finally found her, but deeper within him Hunter wanted to reach out, hold her and never let go. Ryki was caught under his longing gaze. Without realizing it, they were pulled together by an invisible string till they were standing all more chest to chest. Hunter slowly took in her form. She was nothing much to see then with mud-caked hair, her green skin covered in the brown earth. Some patches of her skin had red rash-like marks. 

"Oh, cy-Ryki" the mirialan chuckled when Hunter caught his term of endearment. His gloved hands reached up to cup her face, thumbs rubbing off some dirt. "I'm so sorry for getting you hurt and-" 

Ryki cut off his ramble by holding his hands in her own, "It's not your fault, Hunter. You came to save me and I'm safe, right. That's what is important now." Sighing with small relief, Hunter nodded and squeezed her hands, bringing them close to his lips.

"Well, this is touching." 

Ryki huffed and backed away from the two brothers as they confronted the sniper. "What happened?" Wrecker asked.

"We were attacked by some nexu. Crosshair brought us to safety but one nexu managed to knock him down on his feet and well, he got hurt." Ryki explained.

The sargeant and sniper locked eyes, one pair holding sadness and longing, the other cold and angry. Hunter could see the cloth covering Crosshair's wounds. Pushing aside their ideals, Hunter leaned down and tried to take a better look at his brother. Crosshair however shifted away almost instantly, hissing at Hunter to back off like a wounded animal. "How bad are his injuries?" 

"The wound is infected. Crosshair's contracted a fever from it" Ryki informed Wrecker and Hunter. 

"Can you help him?" The larger clone asked with worry.

Ryki nodded, "I can but he needs to get to the marauder. Not sure if he's going to agree with it." All three looked at Crosshair pitifully. They had no idea when the Empire would arrive or even if they'd come back for Cross. 

"Well, that settles it. Cross, your coming with us" Before Hunter and Ryki could stop him, Wrecker decided to try to lift Crosshair. The sniper, enraged, delivered a punch to Wrecker's exposed shoulder between the gaps of his armor, "I'm not going anywhere! I'm not coming back with you!"

"Crosshair, let's just put our differences aside and let us help you" Hunter tried to debate.

Clicking his tongue, Crosshair demanded that he be left there. Hunter felt his anger rise, "Don't you see we're just trying to help you. Your my family and I care!"

"I have the Empire. It's all I care about." the sniper spat with coated venom. Hunter and Wrecker were taken back, the latter almost going weak in the knees from the confession. It hurt and tore and Hunter's heart to see how far Crosshair had fallen. 

"The Empire will come. I'm taking your woman with me" 

Hunter's face turned into a cold glare while Wrecker stood protectively beside Ryki, "She's not going anywhere. She's staying with us" Wrecker announced. 

Crosshair found it amusing that his brothers would go to such lengths to protect the mirialan. "The Empire always gets what they want. You can't keep her safe forever. She and the kid."

Hunter buried himself in his thoughts then gestured for the other two to join him, "How critical is his condition?" 

"He's fine now but if he goes untreated within the next rotation, his condition will get worse"

Wrecker turned back to look at Crosshair, "He's not going to let us help him now. What's the plan sarge?" 

---

Ryki lifted a transponder in her hands to inspect it. Hunter kneeled beside her, "It's working?". The mirialan nodded, handing him the device. "Alright. Let's go"

"Hunter," a tug on his hand brought his attention around. "I think you should try to talk to Crosshair before he leaves,"

She could already see the hurt in his eyes, "I tried. He won't listen to me, he never does." 

"There's more to his story than meets the eye. I tried to talk to him and he believes that you left him and are not going back to him. Hunter, he still cares. You do too." 

Closing his eyes, Hunter reached for Ryki's hands "He's going down a path we cannot follow. I tried, I'll always keep trying but for today I'm done, cyare." Ryki looked at him with sad eyes, there was hope but he didn't reach far enough to grab it. So close, yet so far. Hunter rested his forehead on Ryki's then pulled away and helped her stand. 

Due to the bitterness between the brothers, Crosshair only allowed Ryki to help him up and even tend to his wounds a little catching the others by surprise. They tracked up north until the four reached a clearing. Ryki released Crosshair from her hold and handed him the transponder and slung the rifle around his good arm so he could use it as a crutch. 

"The transponder is matched to ping to any Imperial communication channels. Going to drag me with you?" 

Crosshair avoided her eyes and passed them over the forms of his brothers behind them. "We will meet soon, lady" Ryki took that as a sign of goodbye from the sniper and nodded. She tracked away until something made her stop. "Crosshair?" 

The sniper meets her emerald eyes, "If you ever need to run from the Empire, we're here alright." 

"Whatever." 

Ryki smiled for him, catching Cross off guard, "Thanks for letting me go. I'm sure we'll meet again soon." She fell into place with Wrecker and Hunter. "Alright. Let's head back" Wrecker took one last glance at his brother before marching back to the jungle. Hunter remained there for a while, finding himself locking in a longing stare with Crosshair. 

The two brothers were back where they began, just like on Kamino. Hunter remembered how Crosshair was left to watch them run, quite similar to this situation. Dark brown eyes glazed and tears threatened to spill. He shoved his helmet back to hide unshed tears and gestured for Ryki to follow. 

A few minutes later, an Imperial shuttle came down and picked Crosshair. The last thing Hunter and Wrecker saw was Crosshair boarding the shuttle and then he was going back to the Empire. The clearing was empty once again. Wrecker decided to be the first to get up, "Let's head back. I'm starving and Omega missed you" 

Ryki sensed the forced laughter in his voice but chose not to say anything. Ryki picked herself up and followed a little ways behind Wrecker, only to notice Hunter's absent presence. The clearing reflected back into his eyes. 

So empty, he thought. 

A soft grip on his hand brought him out of the haze. Hunter looked at his side to see a mirialan sadly smiling his way, "He'll be alright." The sargeant choked back a few tears straight away leaning his body closer to Ryki's. Their bodies pressed and unsaid words of gratitude passed them. Neither needed to say it, having each other by their side was more than enough. This new feeling is a surprise but a welcomed one. 

"I want, need him back. He's my brother" Tears dropped on Ryki's shoulder as Hunter began to bury his head in her shoulder. His arms circled the mirialan's waist and brought their bodies closer together. Ryki let Hunter cry silently while running her fingers through his wet hair, "I know"

"Right now, I'm just glad you're alive." He pulled away but their bodies remained close, sharing warmth. Hunter played with the ends of her black hair and ran his hand over her head, bringing their foreheads to a touch. Ryki didn't know the significance of the gesture initially, but the intimacy it brought to them was soothing. She recognized it as a sign of affection. 

"I thought Cr-you were already taken by the Empire and I was too late." Hands dropped to her waist and he gripped her there sturdy. "I lost Crosshair, I can't lose you too"

Hunter was full-on crying, "Months, Ryki. So many months since Cross left and I can't do anything about it. He left, I left." Ryki felt drops of salty waterfall from her eyes. She sighed Hunter's name and wiped his tears away. She just wanted to take all his pain away.

"Don't leave me too. Please, ner karta." They cried silently, hands gripping at each other for support. "My heart, don't leave me"

Ryki gasped lightly at his confession of the unknown term. His heart, he called her his heart. Through sniffles, she nodded into his chest, mumbling promises that she won't leave him. "I'll stay. For you, with you, if you'll have me?" 

Hunter gazed into her eyes dreamily and chuckled, both out of relief and awe "Yeah, yeah. I would love to if you'd have me too?" Ryki bit her lip as a smile slipped through, "I'd love that".  Hunter smiled widely. He raised his hands to stroke her face gently. Even through the gloves, he felt the softness of her skin. Ryki leaned in closer to the man before her wearing a smile of her own, that outshone his like all the stars combined in the galaxy, to Hunter's opinion at least. 

The pair calmed down and just stood together, holding each other. Leaning back a little, Hunter's eyes ran over Ryki's face. He took in every little detail, from the tiniest scar on her cheek to the neon green specks in her captivating eyes. He was falling deeply for her and didn't know it was possible. Ryki watched his dark brown eyes pass, till they finally ended on her lips for a brief second. Her cheeks lit up with pink, remained hidden under the layer of mud. Her heart however thumped violently against her chest. 

Hunter realized she caught on with his sudden infatuation to feel her lips on his. His cheeks blazed red when he sensed the rushing of Ryki's heart. The sargeant gulped, eyes turned back to meet Ryki's green ones. She seemed to be in much of a daze as he was, subtly leaning closer to him. Hunter sucked in a breath and found himself being drawn closer to her by an invisible force. 

Ryki glanced up to meet his eyes. They were so close now, the distance between them was enough for both starstruck individuals to feel their warms breaths mingling with each other. Half-lidded eyes stared at dark green lips, Ryki watched Hunter's every movement. So cautious and so careful. He gave her a moment to pull away if she decided to. When she didn't, Hunter almost rushed in to close the gap-

"HEY! Let's get going already!"

Ryki jumped from surprise and her fingers dug into Hunter's neck. The latter jolted from Wrecker's booming voice. Thankfully, the demolition was not there to witness their almost perfect moment. Hunter grumbled under his breath and shook his head disappointedly. Ryki simply sighed and rested her head close to his neck. Bad move, cause the moment she inhaled his scent she nearly went weak in the knees. 

Hunter released his hold on her, still keeping her close and going lost in her eyes. Ryki smiled at him, "I guess we better head back before Wrecker decides to find us" 

"Hmm. I guess so." Reluctantly they both released themselves from each other. Hunter, however, kept one hand interlocked with one of hers. Ryki blushed furiously as they reached Wrecker's position. Hunter nodded to Wrecker and signaled him to walk on, they let go of each other's hold. "You're with me, karta?" Hunter asked hopefully. 

"I'm with you, karta."