"They're avoiding the light! Use your torches!"
(Y/N) shone the light from her torch at the bug that was currently wrestling with Hunter. The bug screeched painfully, before recoiling and leaving the sergeant alone. The relief was short lived, however. Cid's voice cried in frustration.
"Not the spice!"
The bugs had started grabbing the spice crates and flying away with them. The squad had tried to swat away the bugs coming for the spice, but there were just too many. The cart (Y/N), Hunter, Echo, and Wrecker began to rock dangerously back and forth. So they did the best thing they could think of. Which was abandoning the mine cart. Each of them jumped off the cart and landed on the platform beneath the mine carts. Just in time too, the cart they had just jumped out of, was tipped over by the swarm of bugs.
"Forget the spice! Wrecker, seal them in!" (Y/N) cried, blasting the bugs.
Wrecker nodded, and the squad headed to the other side of the metal yellow door, clearing the way for the cart Cid, Tech, and Omega were in. Wrecker began pushing the door, attempting to seal off the cavern with the bugs. (Y/N) had her blaster raised in case the giant couldn't close the door in time. The swarm got closer and closer, then Wrecker was finally able to get the door closed, but not without squishing a couple of bugs between the door in the process. The green guts splattered and (Y/N) backed up.
"Whew!" Wrecker sighs.
The squad was panting and processing what had just happened. (Y/N) could feel blood trickling down her neck from her ears. The constant loud screeches had done a number on them.
"Well, at least we got rid of the spice, right?" Omega says, brightly.
The entire group turned their heads at her, as if questioning her positivity. (Y/N) cocked her head to the side while folding her arms. There was a long pause. An awkward pause, before the squad resumed their tasks.
XXXXX
The rest of the squad had left the Marauder to debrief and discuss their next steps, but Tech had stayed behind with (Y/N). Her sensitive elf ears had taken a beating from the screeching, and the damage left behind by their sound was evident—dried blood lined the outer edge of her ears.
Tech sat beside her, his expression filled with focused concern as he worked gently to clean her wounds. He dipped a soft cloth into a bowl of bacta solution and wrung it out, then delicately dabbed at the dried blood, careful not to aggravate the tender skin.
His touch was gentle and soothing, each careful stroke of the cloth easing the sting from (Y/N)'s ears. Despite the pain, (Y/N) found comfort in Tech's presence, the usual quiet chatter between them replaced by a serene silence that was both comforting and intimate.
Every now and then, (Y/N) glanced at Tech, noting how meticulous he was in his work, the way his brows furrowed in concentration, his gentle demeanor that proved the fact that he was a soldier. It was in these moments of silence that she felt a deeper connection, a thread of unspoken understanding between them that didn't require words.
When Tech finished cleaning her ears, he set the cloth aside and turned his attention fully to (Y/N). As he cupped the side of her face, his gloved thumb brushed lightly against her cheek to examine her ears, but then back, tracing along her jawline. The touch was tender, a reassuring warmth spreading from where his fingers made contact with her skin.
Their eyes met, and (Y/N) saw something in Tech's gaze—a vulnerability and a longing that mirrored her own. His usually analytical eyes were softened, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a bubble of shared stillness.
There was an undeniable pull between them, a magnetic force drawing them closer. Tech's thumb continued its gentle caress as he leaned in slightly, his breath mingling with hers. (Y/N) felt her heart skip a beat, her own breath hitching in anticipation as she mirrored his movement, her eyes fluttering closed.
Their lips were a mere inch apart when a loud knock echoed through the Marauder, jolting them both from the moment.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Cid's voice called out, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Quit your dilly-dallying and get your asses moving. No romancing on the job!"
Tech and (Y/N) sprang apart, both startled and slightly flustered by the interruption. (Y/N) quickly glanced down, a sheepish smile playing on her lips as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Tech cleared his throat, straightening his goggles, clearly caught off guard.
With a soft sigh, Tech offered her a small smile, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he rose to his feet. "Duty calls," he murmured, extending a hand to help (Y/N) up.
(Y/N) took his hand, their fingers briefly intertwining as she stood. But just as quickly she took his hand, she let go. Was this really what she should be doing? Falling for a clone? Much less a clone on her squad. But he was so much more than that.
The pair quickly made their way to the squad. And the group started walking back towards Cid's parlor.
"Are you sure your parlor's safe?" Omega asked.
"Bolo and Ketch said the Pykes already came for Roland. I told you they don't take kindly to unpaid debts." Cid told the young girl.
XXXXX
The door to Cid's parlor opened for the group and they stepped inside. (Y/N) wasn't sure what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn't what they saw.
Omega gasped and put her hand over her mouth in shock.
The parlor was an absolute mess, garbage was everywhere. But that wasn't what concerned them. The concerning part was that Roland's guards were all dead and their bodies were sprawled all about the parlor. Cid continues to walk through the maze of bodies, Echo and Omega follow her while the rest of the squad stays put by the door.
"See? My plan worked like a charm...Even better than expected." Cid shrugged.
(Y/N) swallowed, unsettled by Cid's wording.
The group's attention snapped to the doorway from Cid's office. Roland was shoved forward while in cuffs by none other than the Pykes.
"That's her. She's the one you want." Roland pointed to Cid, struggling a bit due to the cuffs.
One of the Pykes, most likely their commanding officer, stepped forward as Roland stepped back, clearly hoping for something to happen.
"It has come to my attention that you have stolen our shipment of spice. Return it to us, and we will consider this issue resolved." The Pyke suggested, his voice threatening.
"Not sure what he's been telling you, but we don't have any spice." Cid feigned confusion.
The Pyke seemed to consider this for a moment.
"Kill them all." He said.
The two Pyke guards raised their blasters towards them.
(Y/N) tensed and brought her hand towards her weapon holster, her hand hovering over the handle.
"Wait. We don't have the spice on us, but we know where it is." Hunter spoke, pulling Omega behind him as he stepped forward.
"My patience is wearing very thin. If you know where the spice is, then you should have no problem retrieving it." The Pyke warned.
(Y/N) was trying to think of a way to get the spice back before the Pyke spoke again.
"Until you do, the child stays here."
(Y/N) whipped out both her blasters and pointed them at the Pykes. Hunter, Echo, Tech, and Wrecker had also drawn their blasters and pointed them towards the Pykes. Cid was even blocking Omega from the Pykes with her staff.
"Not happening." (Y/N) said menacingly, her gaze turning protective and dangerous.
"You misunderstand. This is not a negotiation." The Pyke sneered.
Cid turned back at the squad, then back at the Pykes.
"If I may..." Cid suggested and turned her full attention to the squad.
"You all don't realize who you're dealing with. If you don't lower your blasters, we're all gonna wish we were dead." Cid tries to plead.
"I think I might take my chances. I've survived worse." (Y/N) whispered.
Cid puts a hand on one of (Y/N)'s arms, prompting her to lower her blasters slightly.
"Let me handle this."
XXXXX
"We are not just gonna let Omega stay with those Laserbrains are we?" (Y/N) grit her teeth as the group walks towards the Marauder.
"We don't have a choice, but we know where the spice is. We'll return it, and the kid will be fine." Cid told them.
"The ptero-creatures we encountered in the cavern are Irlings. They are nocturnal insects with visual sensitivity to thermal registers." Tech reads from his datapad glancing up at (Y/N).
"Our best chance is to strike before nightfall. Muscles and I will grappel down into the cavern and locate the crates...I got the kid into this mess, and I'll get her out." Cid says, determined.
(Y/N) raised her brows in surprise. Guess Cid might have a soft spot for Omega after all.
It doesn't take the squad very long to fly to the cavern. The cavern was just beyond the outskirts of the town, surrounded by mountains. Echo stabilized the ship above the hole into the cavern. Cid and Wrecker slipped their harnesses on and grabbed their flashlights. They were lowered into the cavern slowly. It wasn't long before crates of spice were being sent up the wire to Hunter and (Y/N). The two unfastened the crates from the wire and moved them into the ship as quickly as possible.
"Crates three and four are aboard." Hunter told Echo and Tech, who were in the cockpit.
"It's almost night. Those things are gonna wake up." Echo replied.
"I am preparing for that possibility." Tech said.
The engineer had been tinkering with something since they took off, most likely something to be used in case of emergencies.
"Final crate secure. Bring us up." Says Cid over the comms.
(Y/N) pushes a button, causing the tow cable to start retracting back up to the Marauder. (Y/N) heard the hushed voices of Cid and Wrecker arguing before a loud crash.
"Karabast. That'll surely wake 'em up." (Y/N) turned to Hunter.
The pair had stopped moving completely, trying to decipher whether the bugs had woken up. It didn't take long to get their answer. The Marauder started shaking, (Y/N) braced herself against the armored wall of the Marauder, trying to steady herself. A huge swarm of bugs were making their way to the ship.
"Get us out of here!!!" Wrecker screamed on the comms.
"Wrecker. What's going on?" Hunter asked urgently.
"Irlings. Lots of 'em!" Cid answered.
"Help! Help me! Help me!" Wrecker yelled, his voice echoing off the cave walls.
"Tech! Now would be a good time for whatever you're working on!" (Y/N) yelled at the engineer.
"This should distract them." Tech said as he made his way to the Marauder's door platform.
"Incoming!" Tech yelled as he threw some sort of device down the hole.
There was a small pause before the device presumably hit the ground. And a huge bright light exploded, blinding (Y/N) for a second. She covered her eyes with her arm, and when she removed her arm, the light was fading away, and the Irlings were flying away from the cavern.
"Huh. Good thinking, Goggles." (Y/N) tapped Tech's arm encouragingly.
Tech turned to (Y/N), his cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"Goggles?" He asked.
(Y/N) was about to respond, but Cid and Wrecker had finally gotten to the platform.
"See, Muscles? That wasn't so bad." Cid told the giant.
Wrecker was covered in green Irling guts.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm okay. Phew!" Wrecker panted.
XXXXX
Wrecker placed down the last of the spice crates in front of the Pykes. The Pyke opened up the crate and took a pack out examining it.
"Since the spice has been returned, the matter between us is resolved."
But then the Pyke turned towards Roland, who was on his knees still in the cuffs. Omega was holding Ruby standing next to him.
"But not with you." The Pyke points a machete at Roland.
The Pyke behind them pushed Omega towards the squad and (Y/N) immediately knelt down to Omega's level, checking her over for injuries. Once (Y/N) knew for sure the young girl wasn't hurt, she turned her attention back to the Pykes.
One of the Pykes shoved Roland's head down on the crate of spice, holding him in place. The Pyke leader got in position to land the blow with the machete and raised it in the air.
"Don't!" Omega gasped, stepping forward.
"He made a mistake. That's all." She pleaded.
"She's right. Kill him and you'll be starting a war with Isa Durand. Do you want that heat right now?" Cid stepped forward, much to (Y/N)'s surprise,
"Call this a bad deal and walk away." Cid says.
"We do not accept bad deals." The Pyke stated.
He raised his machete in the air. Omega gasped and looked away, while (Y/N) cringed and grabbed onto Tech's forearm.
And the machete came down. But the only thing it cut was Roland's right horn. The Devaronian screamed as he was thrown to the side, clutching his head in pain.
The Pyke picks up the horn and hands it to one of the Pyke guards.
"Our business is finished. It would not be wise for our paths to cross again."
The Pykes walk away with the spice, and Omega makes her way over to Roland, still holding Ruby.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"It's a small price to pay." Roland says as he stood back up.
Hunter and (Y/N) walked up behind Omega, in case Roland tried anything. Omega wordlessly handed Ruby to Roland.
"I'll be going now. If you're looking for any work, beautiful, you'll know where to find me." Roland looks at (Y/N) before turning and walking away.
"Come on gang, first round's on me." Cid motioned for them to follow her.
"You owe us way more than that." Wrecker scoffs.
"Don't push your luck. Pretty Face over here might get an extra for putting up with Roland's awful flirting." Cid says as the squad walks off.
"You did the right thing, Omega. I'm very proud of you." (Y/N) places a hand on Omega's shoulder.
"He was just trying to survive. No one should be killed because of their mistakes." She says.
"Spoken like a true Jedi."
Omega's eyes sparkled in excitement at the compliment.
"Do you think I could be a Jedi?" The young girl asks.
(Y/N) was a bit taken aback, and her heart stung a little at the question.
"Perhaps."
Word Count : 5954
Author's Note: hey everyone! Glad to have gotten back to writing and I'm so excited to start wrapping up season one of TBB. And I have decided to open my Instagram account to you in case you wanna interact!
My insta: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_creations_arts/
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