Inevitable {Tech}

Chapter Twenty Eight: Shuldene

"It's located in the Lutrillian Cross of the Yarith sector. It's not far from Hoth, and not long of a jump if we take the trade spine," Tech briefed the sergeant and glanced up from his pad.

"It's a neutral system, similar to Hoth but far more temperate. One or two bigger cities and markets but mostly smaller towns and villages scattered around," Cass added on afterwards.

"And the Empire won't find us there?" Wrecker searched Tech and Cass for an answer.

"The Empire seems to be focusing on the larger and more important planets for now. Lower populated planets like Shuldene and Hoth are not at the top of their list," Tech affirmed.

"So...can we go?" Omega grabbed Cass by her hands and squeezed hopefully.

"I'm not the one you have to ask," Cass shook her head and gestured with her nose towards Hunter.

Omega hurried over to Hunter, then clasped her hands together and held them at her chest with her eyes as big as the planets themselves.

"Can we go to Shuldene, Hunter?" Omega pleaded politely. "Pleeeeease?"

For as hardened and tough as he was supposed to be as a soldier, the man couldn't help but soften under her gaze. He knelt on one knee and nodded.

"We can go. But if at any moment we find trouble, we're leaving, alright-"

Before he could finish, Omega had her arms wrapped tightly around him, whispering thanks and happy cheers into his neck.

It took Hunter a moment to yield to the sensory shock and startling surge of emotions from her hug. But eventually he patted her back and leaned his cheek against her head.

The kid pulled away happily and hurried beside Tech.

"Come on! What are we waiting for?" she squealed and tugged on Tech's hand, lurching him forward and dragging him out of the room towards the cockpit.

Echo chuckled and followed the two of them, while Wrecker cheered and ruffled Cass' hair again on the way out. She scrunched her nose and smoothed her scalp, then stood in comfortable silence with the only clone left in the room.

Hunter exhaled and crossed his arms once more, then shifted his weight on his hip.

"You're really good with the kid," he admitted with a perk of his lips.

"Says the galaxy's father of the year," Cass teased and chuckled airily.

Hunter laughed lowly and lolled his head, displaying somewhat of a bashful expression.

"I just mean...you're great with all of 'em," Hunter explained further, stumbling over the emotional sentiments like foreign words on his tongue. "They all...we all really like having you on the team."

Cass felt her face heat up and she averted her eyes. "Wow, I really thought Echo would be the one to get all sappy-"

"Don't push it," Hunter warned jokingly and prodded a finger towards her.

Cass raised her hands with a smirk that quickly turned into a wide grin. When she settled her arms back down, she closed in on Hunter, almost standing toe-to-toe with the sergeant.