Chapter Text
Crosshair dragged Mayday around to the pitiful shelter that the small outcrop provided. His teeth chattered as the snow and ice seeped into his armor. Mayday’s head lolled and Crosshair fought to keep awake as well. He knew that they couldn’t keep going while the storm raged. They would quickly get lost in the haze. As thoughts of death started to creep up on him, Crosshair could have sworn he heard the screech of a bird close by. Movement at his shoulder and the relief from the bitter wind made him open his eyes.
“Crosshair! Thank goodness.” It was Serina. She looked over at… someone. “Help Mayday. He hit his head pretty good, so be careful.”
“Will do Miss.” And before Crosshair could voice any objections, Mayday was being taken away. He tried to get up but his movements were stiff.
“Woah, steady there Crosshair. They’re my friends, and they have medical training. Mayday’s in good hands."
“Wh… What are you doing here?” he managed to cough out.
“Saving you.” She got under his arm and helped him to his feet. “I promise I’ll tell you everything, but let’s get you to our camp first.” Again Crosshair heard some sort of strange chirping and he looked towards the sound. He stumbled back at the sight of the animal at Serina’s side. It was large and was covered in thick feathers. There was no mistaking that this thing was a predator though.
“Wh-”
“They’re with me,” Serina assured and helped him up again. “Friend of mine gave me the idea. Only recently realized how great they would be in the snow. I don’t exactly have a name for them yet though. Now come on, we’re not that far away.” He eyed the creature as they slowly made their way to a relatively small snow structure.
They ducked inside and it was blessedly warm inside. Mayday was laying down on a thick pile of furs, another bird thing was sprawled out next to him. There were also five humans inside, four men and one woman, sitting around a heater.
“Crosshair, I don’t believe you’ve met Trevor’s squad.” The five got to their feet as Serina made introductions. “Trevor is the leader. There’s Evan, Jack, Adam, and Elizabeth. Adam is arguably the best shot among them.”
“Honor to meet you,” Trevor held out his hand in greeting. Crosshair simply nodded his head weakly as he sunk to the ground next to the heater. Trevor let his hand fall back down as he continued. “Though it is nice to finally see at least one world that Elizabeth seems to be dragged to constantly.”
“So why are you really here?” Crosshair glared up at Serina. He hadn’t really talked to her since before leaving clone force 99. The times he had seen her, she had either been with his old squad or talking with one of his commanding officers. “Did Hunter send you or something?”
“No.” Serina sat down next to him. “I told you. I came to save you. And Mayday.” She smiled sadly. She also looked older, almost like when they had first met all those cycles ago. “If you haven’t already put together that I tend to do what I want, I don’t know if you ever will. But your old squad has no idea that I’m here.”
“Then… why?”
“Because I know what will happen if I don’t do something.” Her eyes looked haunted as she stared into the red coils of the heater. “While you would have eventually made it back to your base, Mayday would have died soon after.”
“What are you saying?”
“That garbage lieutenant that you came with has no love of clones. Do you really think he would have done anything to save ‘used equipment’?”
Crosshair grit his teeth at the words.
“After Mayday would have died, you would have shot the scumbag and been taken to a secret science facility. Though you weren’t really taken because you shot your commanding officer. They need information about your old squad.”
“So you came to take me back to them?” Serina shrugged before responding.
“Only if you want to. I really did just come to save both of you. What happens next is up to you.”
“What do you mean?” Crosshair asked as a creature curled around him without caring how stiff he was.
“After the storm, if you wish to go back to the empire, we’ll escort you most of the way back. I really shouldn't be seen on the planet. Technically," she pulled out a data pad and skimmed through a document, "I am apparently touring a science base with Empress Marie and two bodyguards right now, but that's besides the point. If you don't want to go back, you are also free to join me.” She grinned at him and he had to force himself not to stare in shock at the dark light that flicked in her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong though, that lieutenant is going to die either way, so don’t let that be the reason you go back.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“Why would she lie?” Trevor asked him. “I can’t see any benefit for her in this situation.”
“You don’t have to join me.” Serina leaned back on her hands. “I can get you a ship and you can go off on your own. You’d probably be presumed dead if you didn’t come back from this mission, so the chances of the empire coming after you immediately are slim to none.”
Crosshair looked over at where Mayday lay. The gruff clone was bandaged and comfortably asleep.
“Think on it,” Serina grunted as she stood. “I’m going to go… hunting.”
"You can't do that," Elizabeth stood as well. "What if the situation changes here? Besides, Matthew told me to contact him if you tried to contact dark Marie without his supervision."
"Fine," Serina huffed and sat down by Mayday, stroking the animal next to him fondly. As the storm raged, the mysterious squad chatted quietly while keeping an eye on both Serina and Mayday.
Come morning, things had finally settled down both outside the shelter and inside Crosshair's head. He leaned against the makeshift door frame and thought over his decision.
"Just so you know," Elizabeth interrupted his thoughts, "Serina would support you. Only reason why I stopped her from running off last night actually."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can read minds," she explained. "I try not to pry, but sometimes it's almost harder not to." Elizabeth patted his shoulder as she headed back inside. "Also, Serina wanted to know which way you were leaning. Don't worry though, we'll gladly take Mayday in and take care of him. He won't have to go back with you."
Crosshair relaxed somewhat and followed her. He needed to talk with their mutual friend about that escort.