Archive of Our Own ^beta

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.

Chapter Text

Life on Pabu was the best thing the bad batch had experienced in a while. [Situation update: omega has her friend and has been practicing flying, tech and pirate lady have gotten closer, wrecker and hunter have really been helping around the island too]. Hunter smiled as he looked over the thriving city. All of a sudden, his com buzzed to life. 

"Hunter, you're never going to believe who we just ran into!" Omega squealed over the hum of the ship's engine.

"Serina just landed and we are escorting her to the island," Tech informed him.

"Serina's here?" Wrecker asked giddily. "We haven't seen her in ages!"

"It'll be nice to see you too buddy," Serina interjected on the coms. "I have a big surprise for all of you. So I’ll meet you down at the docks."

“What sort of surprise?” Hunter asked cautiously. In the past, Serina’s surprises hadn't always been the best.

“Don’t worry, this one you’ll like.”

“I feel comforted already,” Hunter grumbled to himself as he went to meet up with Wrecker near the docks.

Soon enough they were able to see the huge solar sails of her ship as it sped towards the island. Many of the locals had gathered to investigate as well. As the ship got closer, Hunter could finally spot Serina on deck with three other people. Two wore hoods and Hunter couldn’t quite see their faces. Serina’s giant red bird mount also lounged on deck.

“Serina!” Omega shouted, waving her arms in excitement as the ship stopped a bit off shore.

“Hey Omega! Long time no see!” she yelled, waving back. She turned and motioned for the others to follow her as she mounted the bird. One of the cloaked men joined her while the other two mounted a similar bird that had been waiting behind. In a few moments all four were settled on the pier.

“Go back and wait on the ship,” Serina told the birds with a pat on their beaks. They did as asked, though seemed somewhat reluctant.

“Serina!” Wrecker greeted, pulling her into a bone crushing hug.

“Ribs Wrecker,” she coughed out and Wrecker set her back down with a sheepish apology.

“Matthew,” Hunter greeted the one other person he recognised. “How have things been?”

“Hectic,” Matthew smiled and shook his head. “Serina is trying to distract herself by getting into all kinds of trouble that you wouldn’t approve of.”

“I hope you didn’t bring any trouble here,” Hunter glanced at Serina and Omega laughing at something.

“Depends on how you define it.” Matthew looked back at the two hooded and armored men behind them. “She went and picked up some local guards, but I think she just likes them and wanted a reason for them to stick around.”

“What would someone like Serina need guards for?” Tech asked. “She has always been quite capable on her own during our past missions.”

“Did you hear that? The general doesn’t need us,” one of the guards nudged his friend with a laugh. “Though I get where they’re coming from.” He flipped back his hood to reveal a familiar face.

“You’re a clone,” Tech mused.

“That obvious? Name’s Mayday, by the way.” He extended his hand to Hunter and the others. “Serina found me and my partner near death trying to complete a mission for the Empire. Gave us the choice to come with her instead. Also got rid of my inhibitor chip.”

“Serina saved you?” Hunter asked, addressing the clone’s partner.

“Of course I did,” Serina butted in, Omega glued to her hip. “You know what I get like when I find people I like. Gotta make sure they’re taken care of, at least if I can help it. Sometimes it’s better to let things run their course, but I was able to finagle things in my favor this time 'round."

"Care to introduce us then?" Hunter asked. After a moment of awkward silence, Serina spoke up.

"That's up for him to decide." There was steel in her gaze. "I'm not about to force him to do anything that he doesn't want to do. I am not the empire."

"What do we call him then?" Omega asked, eyeing the still masked clone.

"How about 'friend'," Serina offered, turning towards the city, "or 'brother'. I mean he is a fellow clone. Enough about names though, I came here to celebrate a job well done. What do you guys have to eat around here? I hope nothing spicy."

And that is how they found themselves over at Shep’s, enjoying another banquet. Serina, despite Omega's pleas, sandwiched herself between Matthew and Mayday. The mysterious clone declined sitting with them and instead leaned on the balcony wall, dividing his attention between the landscape and the group.

"So who's your other friend?" Hunter asked Mayday quietly, nodding his head at the guard who stood back and was simply quietly surveying the scene.

"If he won't tell you, what makes you think I will?" Mayday dished herself up some more food.

"If he’s a fellow clone, what happened to him? Does he not trust us?" Hunter studied the man out of the corner of his eye. "He almost reminds me of…" Hunter shook his head to dismiss the thought. It couldn't be Crosshair, he had never agreed with Serina let alone got along with her. That and he didn't think his old squad mate would ever betray the empire to this extent. If being left on Camino for who knows how long wasn't enough to change his mind, Hunter didn't know what would.

"He reminds you of… who?" Serina prompted curiously, swirling the water in her cup. "Or are you just missing our quiet sniper?" Hunter shook his head again with a forced chuckle.

"Crosshair… would never betray the empire to join up with you. He's never liked you much."

"Oh, I am very well aware of how exasperating he finds me." She grinned and took a long drink. "I visited him recently though. Wanted to check in and see how things were doing." Both Mayday and the other guard visibly tensed.

"How was he?" Omega asked, interjecting herself into the conversation.

"Well enough. Shot his commanding officer." She tilted her head to the side. "Which is good, because if he hadn’t, I probably would have."

"He did?" Mayday asked. "Why would he do something stupid like that?"

"I’m assuming that he wanted to confirm something I told him, but," she shrugged casually, "he was able to escape so he should be fine."

Conversation moved on from their old squadmate and onto their own latest news. Hunter watched quietly as Omega slipped from the table. She made her way to the other guard and stared up at him. The unknown clone crossed his arms and stared back.

"Omega, why don't you come back to the table?" Serina called out. "Don't worry too much about him, I've already set aside some food that he can have later while not on duty. He can be such a stickler for rules sometimes. It's hilarious."

"Why doesn't he just eat with us?" Wrecker asked.

"Because he's seen how much trouble she can get into if not supervised properly," Mathew answered for them.

"One time Mathew, I roped dark Marie into helping out on one mission one time while you weren't there."

"One time is all it took," the other guard drawled out instinctively and all eyes shot to him. Chairs screeched as the rest of the bad batch got to their feet, hands dropping to weapons.

"Crosshair?" Omega asked, breaking the silence.

"Calm down already," Serina pushed herself to her feet, "it's not like violence will get you anywhere while I'm around anyway. Besides, he's with me. Doesn't matter who he is, he's under my protection. Though Cross, I told you that if you really wanted to keep it a secret you shouldn't talk. You have a very distinctive voice."

"You brought Crosshair here?!" Hunter seethed. "Why?! He's with the empire!"

"Nice to see you too Hunter," Crosshair muttered as he slid back his hood and mask.

"Because he wanted to check in on you guys." Serina told him as if it should be obvious. "That and I wanted to visit too, so I was in full support."

"But he is with the empire," Tech looked around the table, "isn't he?"

"Not anymore," Crosshair growled. Mayday stood and walked over to his partner.

"Serina told us what would happen if we returned. I was unconscious and in no position to turn down her offer, but I'm just happy to be alive and free," Mayday explained. "Crosshair was doing better than I was and went back to see if Serina was telling the truth."

"Things played out a bit differently, but that's to be expected since I did meddle," Serina added, swirling the water in her glass.

"So… what did happen?" Hunter pressed, trying to understand why Crosshair was here. "What made you finally change your mind?"