37

Ipsidon was as sad and desolate as Saedii had anticipated.

A blast of dry heat hit her face as she followed Tech off the exit ramp. Dry earth cracked beneath her boot, spitting up a cloud of orange dust. Looming before them, a massive rockface made of the same brownish-orange dirt looked like it had been carved by a child. It ran in uneven and lopsided lines all the way down to the gorge below.

As far as the eye could see, brown and grey rock formed a brutal and unforgiving landscape. Deep canyons etched into the face of the landscape like deep wounds while towering plateaus and mesas cast long shadows. Spindly buttes rose like jagged teeth, some tall and thin and others wide and sharp.

Omega squinted as a wave of orange dust blew into her face. "This is Ipsidon?"

"Yes." Tech had his nose buried in his holopad. He kept glancing up along the rockface and back.

"It's so empty."

"Ipsidon's environment makes it difficult for civilization to thrive."

The boys all had their helmets on. Saedii found herself wishing for a helmet as the wind whipped stinging sand into her face. She held a hand up to shield her eyes.

Tech led them around the edge of the rockface, following a path that had been widened and flattened for transport trucks. A glint of silver up ahead hinted at something manmade.

Sure enough, as they drew closer, the circular door of a mine entrance came into view. Spots of rust and a fine layer of dust blanketed the main door, while the steps were sun-bleached and scuffed. It looked like it hadn't been opened in decades.

"According to Cid's coordinates, this is the mine she purchased," Tech announced as he climbed up the stairs. His footsteps pealed like a gong as he climbed up and laid a hand on the door.

Omega frowned. "Are we sure there's anything inside? It looks abandoned."

"There is only one way to find out." Tech slid his visor up, revealing his eyes, which ran over the keypad along the side of the door.

He brushed a hand along the keypad, disrupting a fine cloud of dust. There was a sharp click as he flipped a switch then pulled down on the lever.

A low bell sounded. Clasps along the seams of the door disengaged and the door gave a sharp hiss of releasing air as it began to swing open. Cold, stale air smelling heavily of earth and rock dust.

"All systems appear to be functional. That is promising." Tech slid his visor down over his eyes as he stepped inside the mine.

Crosshair snorted.

Hunter's head turned sharply behind them a moment before a low roll of thunder reached Saedii's ears. She turned, spotting a wall of grey clouds gathering along the horizon, flashing with sparks of lightning. Next to her, Hunter knelt and grabbed a handful of dirt, letting it fall in the wind.

"Everything ok?" Saedii asked.

"The storm is moving away from us." Hunter stood. "We should be fine."

"That's reassuring," Crosshair said sarcastically.

Hunter looked over the group. "Wrecker and Echo, you two join Tech and I in the mine. Saedii, Omega, and Crosshair will keep watch."

"All of us?" Omega asked.

"Yes. Cid warned us about poachers in the area. The more eyes we have out here, the better."

Crosshair swung his long rifle off his back. He stalked towards the edge of the cliff, where he looked down into the valley.

"You sure you don't want my help inside?" Saedii offered. With the Force, she would be able to sense the ipsium easily enough.

Hunter patted her shoulder. "I need you to keep an eye on the storm for me. Let us know if you feel it change direction."

She could do that. The Force was loud and frenzied with the power of the storm. Tracking it from a distance should be pretty easy.

Wrecker heaved the massive bag over his shoulder. Glass twinkled inside as the empty ipsium vials tapped against each other. Echo took the drill from Omega as he followed Hunter inside.

Omega pulled her plasmabow from her back, turning to scan the rock around them. Her brown eyes were vigilant, taking in every detail.

Saedii took a seat on the mine steps. The metal was hot from the sun. She held a hand up over her eyes, trying to block out the searing heat coming down.

From her spot by the entrance, she watched as Omega began to pace up and down along the mine path. Her attention swept from the rocks overhead to the curve of path that led to the Marauder waiting just out of sight. Crosshair stood at the edge, giving him a clear sight to their ship and the valley below.

As the minutes stretched, Saedii checked the time. They'd been gone six hours now. That meant they only had eighteen left if they wanted to keep twenty percent of the earnings.

"Five credits say you can't go more than ten minutes without checking the time," Crosshair said suddenly. When Saedii looked up, his attention was no longer on the valley below, but on her.

"Five credits say you can't go more than ten minutes without being an ass," she countered.

He gave a very cruel laugh. "That's not very becoming language of a Jedi Knight."

"Seriously, Cross. What is your problem?" Saedii shoved up to her feet. She was so sick of the passive aggressive comments.

Omega stopped pacing and looked uneasily between the two of them.

"I'm not the one with a problem." He tilted his head, as if he was observing her. Looking for a weakness.

"You've been giving me shit ever since we left Teth."

"My apologies, General." The salute he gave her was far too mocking.

Saedii glowered. "Does this have something to do with what Wolffe said?"

"Why would I care what he thinks?"

"You tell me. You're the one acting like a kid who got his feelings hurt."

Crosshair stalked away from the edge, coming close enough that Saedii could see the nicks in his armor. He crossed his arms. "Just admit it. Now that Wolffe is back, you don't want anything to do with us anymore."

"What?"

Where the hell had he gotten that from? Even with Wolffe's return, Saedii had found time for the Batch. Still stayed in the barrack with Omega across the hall from them. And she was here now.

"You don't want to be here. It's obvious," Crosshair continued. "Ever since Wolffe's return, your life has revolved around him."

"That's not fair. I thought that I'd lost him. I just want to spend time with him."

"It's more than that."

Nearby, Omega was watching with a jutted lip. Her head swiveled back and forth as the two exchanged barbed words.

Crosshair pointed an accusing finger in Saedii's direction. "We were always just a placeholder for you. A surrogate family until you could find the real thing. Now that you have, you don't need us anymore."

"How the hell did you get that idea?" Saedii demanded in outrage.

"It's obvious. Why else would you have hidden the cruiser from us? You were always planning to go off with them from the beginning."

A cool wave of air slammed into them. It smelled heavily of petrichor and ozone – the scents of a strong storm. When Saedii glanced in that direction, the dark clouds still hovered in the distance. Threatening but not an immediate danger.

Saedii drew in a calming breath through her nose. "I already apologized for that. How many more times are you going to make me say sorry?"

"I don't believe it was an accident," he accused.

"It was."

"Convenient for you."

Her eyes shot up to the sky in annoyance. "You're the only person still mad about that. When are you going to get over it already?"

"No, I'm the only person who realizes that you want out of the squad," he said.

Omega's eyes were glistening with worry as she looked at Saedii. Looking for a rebuttal. "You don't want to leave, do you?"

"No, Omega." Saedii pulled Omega in, shooting a dark look over her shoulder at Crosshair. "I'm not going anywhere."

Crosshair rested a hand on his hip. "Right. And what happens if Wolffe decides to leave the Rebellion? If he asks you to go with him? Would you go?"

"He won't abandon Rex."

"That's not an answer."

"No, Cross." Saedii's tone was as biting as the wind. "I wouldn't go with him. Clone Force 99 is my family now."

He gave a bitter laugh. "I thought lying wasn't the Jedi way."

"It's not a lie."

"You're a Jedi Knight now," he reminded harshly, as if she had forgotten. "That comes with responsibilities. What happens if you're expected to leave? Will you just ignore the order from your superiors?"

"Things are different now that the war is over. The title is more of a formality."

"Once again, that's not an answer."

This was impossible. It was like arguing with the rock face. He wasn't listening to a thing she said. And worse, he was starting to make Omega worried. She clutched her plasmabow tight to her chest as she watched the two of them arguing, brows furrowed.

Saedii snapped, "What more do I have to do to prove that I'm a part of this squad? I literally lost an arm for you."

She sensed as his attention drifted down to her arm. As his eyes ran over the scarred edge where Krell's lightsaber had sliced through bone and muscle.

Crosshair drew himself up. "I heard what Wolffe said. He blames us. Thinks that we can't protect you."

"If you heard what Wolffe said, then you heard me tell him he was wrong."

"And what happens if you change your mind?"

"Are you really that threatened of Wolffe that you're grasping –"

"I'm not threatened by anyone. If you want out, I won't stop you –"

"Please stop fighting!" Omega finally interrupted. She was looking between the two of them, lingering on Cross. "We're family."

Dirt crunched beneath Crosshair's boots as he adjusted his weight. Turning his attention in Omega's direction. "We were a family."

Saedii opened her mouth to tell him off.

The roar of a nearby engine stopped her.

The three of them froze as they felt the ground vibrate with thrusters. A mechanical whirl told of engines powering on and an exit ramp recoiling. Wings unfolding for flight.

The Marauder.

Saedii ran down the path, Crosshair close behind. Her boots skidded in the loose dirt as she came to an abrupt stop around the bend. Before her, hovering ten-feet off the ground, the Marauder readied for flight.

Immediately, Saedii reached out with the Force, trying to stop it. But she wasn't strong enough. Her boots slid across the dirt as her hold on the ship yanked her forward, nearly sending her to her knees.

Blaster fire lit along the sides as Crosshair tried to shoot it down. But whoever was flying had been smart enough to engage the exterior shields, which kept his shots from leaving any true damage. Omega fired too, aiming for the engines.

With a final roar, the Marauder shot forward, disappearing down into the valley below.

Saedii was yanked right off her feet, spilling into the dirt. She slammed a fist down in anger, hissing, "Damn it!"

Their ship was gone. The only way off world.

They were trapped.

Hurried footsteps sounded around the bend. Saedii looked up as the others arrived, each with blasters raised. At the sight of the empty landing zone, Hunter dropped his blaster.

"What happened?" he demanded. "Where's the ship?"

"Ask her," Crosshair said at once, nodding in Saedii's direction.

Saedii shot to her feet. "Me? How is this my fault? You were the one watching the ship!"

"You're the one with the magic powers. Why didn't you sense someone nearby?"

"Maybe I was distracted by your insistent arguing."

"Stop. Both of you." Echo stepped between them, holding both hands up for peace. "Placing blame won't do us any good."

Saedii leveled a glare at Crosshair. Even with his helmet, she could sense him doing the same.

In the silence that followed, Omega asked, "What do we do now? Without the Marauder, we can't leave."

"Tech, try to send out a long-range message. See if Cid can send us a relief ship," Hunter suggested.

Saedii crossed her arms. "Why Cid? We should call Rex. He'd be more likely to help."

Crosshair muttered something under his breath. Saedii had a feeling she didn't want to know what he said. That it would only piss her off more.

There was a moment of stillness as Tech tapped into his comms device. As he tried to pull up a signal. In the distance, another low growl of thunder rolled over the valleys.

Saedii closed her eyes, feeling the way the Force moved against her skin. The way it whispered in warning. "The storm's changing direction," she announced.

"The weather patterns do appear to be most irregular on this planet," Tech agreed off-handedly. "It appears the storm is interfering with comms. I cannot get a signal."

"What does that mean?" Omega asked.

Echo placed his hands on his hips, observing the shadowy press of the storm. "We should find some kind of cover. I don't think I want to get caught in that."

"Tech, where's the nearest town?" Hunter asked. He'd pulled his helmet off and was sniffing the air. Tracking it much as Saedii could with the Force.

"During our approach, my scans revealed a spaceport approximately forty clicks south of here," Tech said.

Forty clicks? That could take them days. Saedii's stomach fell as she realized they weren't going to make Cid's deadline.

"How are we supposed to walk forty clicks?" Wrecker demanded, thoughts in line with Saedii's.

Tech looked up. Resolute. "It is our only option."

Hunter heaved a sigh. "Let's move."

As they turned to head in the direction Tech pointed, Hunter stopped both Saedii and Crosshair. Stern, he commanded, "You two separate. I don't know what's going on between you, but I won't let it put us in anymore danger than it already has."

Saedii made a face. This was so not her fault.

"Fine by me." Crosshair shoved Hunter off and walked ahead, joining Tech at the front.

Saedii ignored the look Hunter turned in her direction and started walking.