Chapter Text
“Well, that could’ve been a lot worse.” Phee chuckled, her words making Hunter roll his eyes even though the corner of his lips curved into a small smile. She had already given Tech the coordinates to where they were dropping the artifact off, a planet called Pabu. Hunter had never heard of the planet, but Phee had assured them it was safe and they wouldn’t get into any trouble. Hunter believed her without question, in their time with Phee, Hunter greatly preferred her to Cid, Phee actually cared about them whereas Cid was happy enough to rip them off and not give them any benefit from working with her.
He was glad they cut ties with her.
“Now that was a fun mission!” Omega giggled, placing her bow onto a chair while she grinned up towards Wrecker, the large clone chuckling before loudly agreeing with her, both of them breaking off into a set of giggles. Hunter pushed them from his mind, making his way into the cockpit where Phee stood not far behind Tech, both talking quietly among themselves as they traveled through hyperspace.
“How long until we reach Pabu?” Hunter asked his brother, Tech glancing towards him before pushing his goggles further onto his face, his cheeks flushed while he glanced to Phee who was giving him a flirty smile. But there was rarely a time when she wasn’t giving Tech a flirty smile. Hunter had asked him multiple times if he was interested in Phee, but Tech had just pushed his questions off and changed the subject.
But Hunter knew his brother, he liked the pirate as much as she liked him.
“I estimate our arrival within the next three hours,” Tech stated, glancing at Phee in the corner of his eye before resettling his gaze onto Hunter. Hunter opened his mouth, about to tell Tech that he just wanted him to be happy and if Phee made Tech happy, who was Hunter to come between that? But before he could get his words out, the comm channel pinged loudly, the little light blinking before Tech glanced towards the channel, his lips twisting into a grimace.
“It’s Cid.” Hunter held back a sigh with Tech’s words, the Trandoshan had been continuously trying to contact them ever since they cut ties with her. But Cid just wasn’t allowing them to leave in peace, she kept blackmailing them, using their clone DNA against them and threatening to spread their secret…they hadn’t told Phee that they cut their ties with Cid either.
They were friends and Hunter didn’t want to upset Phee.
“Patch her through,” Hunter grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest as he heard Omega and Wrecker make their way into the cockpit, matching frowns on their faces as Tech patched Cid’s message through. It was clear that Cid was annoyed, her reptilian yellow eyes narrowed into slits as her arms crossed over her chest.
“So, it’s been 20 rotations and no word. You better be dead because your absence has cost me a few scores. Remember our mutually beneficial arrangements, and how well we know one another, if you know what I mean. You’d do well to not assume I am just threatening you boys.”
Tech quickly cut the message off, Omega’s eyes widening as she glanced up towards Hunter with a worried expression. He inhaled a deep breath, feeling a headache brewing behind his eyes as he reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You didn’t tell me you cut ties with Cid.” Phee was the first to speak up, her eyes fixed on where Cid’s hologram once stood, her expression neutral…almost unphased by Cid’s threats.
“Our mutually beneficial arrangement wasn’t so beneficial, mutually,” Hunter admitted, shaking his head slightly as he met eyes with Tech, his brother jerking his head into a quick nod before Hunter focused his gaze back onto Phee.
“Figured that out did you?” She asked before taking a seat in one of the spare chairs, crossing one leg over the other as she looked up towards Hunter. “I’ve known Cid a long time. She’s a useful ally, but not someone you want to cross. Do you have a plan?” She asked, folding her arms behind her head as she relaxed into the seat. Hunter released a sigh, leaning against one of the control panels as he looked toward Tech, Wrecker, and Omega.
“Not really.” He admitted, Phee smiling at his words before closing her eyes. “In that case, you can stick with me for a while.” She told him softly, Hunter jerking his head in a nod before making his way from the cockpit, the headache that was brewing a few minutes ago, now pulsing painfully behind his eyes.
“Where are you going?” Omega called from behind him, Hunter glancing back towards her before making his way to his bunk. “I need a lie-down, I got a headache.” He told her, making his way into the small barracks and sitting on the edge of his bunk, pushing his face into his hands.
Why did it feel like nothing ever went their way?