Chapter Text
“I… I thought you said we…” Nokt was hyperventilating, they were going to Coruscant!
They were going back to the horrible place that…
“Easy Nokt, easy.” Hunter said gently, “Don’t worry, we won’t let anything happen to you and if needs be, we can go to the base and you can stay with the Corries, maybe Stitches will be there.”
Nokt looked to Mouse as he appeared beside him, his hand slipping into Nokt’s, looking up to him with a soft determination, “So… who… is this contact Commander Fox… is sending us to meet with?” Clicker asked from the co-pilot’s seat.
“Someone called Kraken.” Hunter sighed through his nose, “They don’t know a lot about them, never even seen them but they’ve been feeding them information on the goings on of the deep Underworld.”
“Deep Underworld?” Nokt asked carefully.
“Below 1313.” Crosshair said, his voice carrying his frown, “I don’t like this, this stinks of a trap.”
“Could be… but every mission could be a trap.” Hunter sighed again, “We just need to be extra vigilant.”
“So how are we going to meet this Kraken… if… if the Corries haven’t?” Clicker looked to Hunter.
“Kraken is allowing us to meet with them and has given us a level to meet on.” Tech said, “Though for what reason they are breaking cover… I am unsure.”
Nokt wasn’t happy with this, he was terrified, it hurt all over again, “Don’t worry Nokt.” Wrecker said gently, his huge hand a comforting weight on his back, “If you come with us, we’ll keep you safe, no one is going to get you.”
“Th… thanks Wrecker.” He smiled weakly.
“The level we are descending to has little in the way of “civilization”, there are trading posts and a few small watering holes, but no large gathering places for people.” Tech looked to them, “I doubt the locals will attempt anything against us, given the sparseness of people, if someone picks a fight with us, then they will be on their own.”
“Which means it will be dark…” Nokt swallowed thickly, “I’ll go with you… you’ll need me.”
“Are you absolutely sure Nokt’ika.” Hunter asked gently, “You can sit this one out…”
“N… no… I’ll be okay.” Nokt nodded, he had to face Coruscant at some point, he couldn’t be scared of everything forever… but it hurt again.
“Come here for a minute.” Hunter said and guided him to the workshop, “It’s hurting again… isn’t it?” The older clones asked softly.
“Y… yeah.” Nokt replied as he fidgeted with his fingers, “But… that man is dead and can’t get me, he can’t make my body betray me again.”
“No one can every hurt you like that again, we will protect you and you will protect yourself, you are a warrior Nokt, just like Stitches says.” Hunter smiled as he cupped Nokt’s cheek, “Be brave, stand proud.”
“Y… yes Hunter.” Nokt smiled, he couldn’t be afraid of Hunter’s gentle side, he wouldn’t hurt him… he said he wouldn’t and Mouse could smell the sincerity of it.
“Come on, I think we’ve began the decent.” Hunter motioned with his head and walked back to the cockpit, Nokt following him closely.
“We’ve begun our… decent and it will take us a few minutes to arrive… at the level.” Clicker looked to them as they arrived, “It’s… I don’t know what we will find down there.”
“Not much I would imagine.” Tech said.
Nokt swallowed thickly as he watched the levels pass the viewfinder, he felt panic in his chest as they passed it… 1313… it hurt again, he jumped a little when he felt Mouse’s hand take his, and Mouse’s big grey eyes looked up at him, “I’m… I’m okay.” He said, “Scared… but okay.”
“Here we are, Level 1333.” Tech as they touched down on an exposed platform.
“I… don’t have a good feeling about this…” Nokt said, looking out the viewfinder, there were buildings, not in the best state of repair, and there were sentients… who looked at the ship with caution.
“Me neither.” Wrecker said, “Why is Kraken this far down? I wouldn’t imagine there’s a whole lotta conspiring going on down here.”
“Commander… Fox… says Kraken moves between levels.” Clicker looked to them.
“Moves between levels?” Crosshair asked, “If nothing else they’ve got guts.”
“I… wonder when the last time they… were on the surface was?” Clicker said as they finished the landing sequence and the ship shuddered.
“Don’t know. We’ll ask if they’re really are an ally.” Hunter frowned, “Okay, gear up. Tech set the ship defences on high, can’t afford to have her stolen, not down here.”
“Affirmative.” Tech replied.
Nokt wasn’t happy about this but he knew he could do it, he smiled down to Mouse when his brother gave his hand a squeeze, “Let’s go get geared up.” Mouse nodded happily, bouncing along beside his brother as they walked to get their equipment. He wasn’t sure about this Kraken person, no one knew anything about them, gender, appearance, they just… existed down here, they moved through the deep like their name’s sake, maybe that was why they were referred to as Kraken? Maybe he’d ask them, he really hoped that this person was an ally, he couldn’t go through that again… he squeezed his eyes closed and gripped his helmet tight, “I can do this.” He whispered to himself as he put on his helmet, “I’m… strong… I’m a warrior.”
He walked to the group as they converged at the exit, which opened up, “Easy Mouse.” Wrecker said, as Mouse gagged at the smell wafting into the ship, it was bad for them and he didn’t even want to know how bad it was for his brother.
“Everyone stick together, we can’t afford to get separated and lost down here.” Hunter said and after they all nodded, they descended the steps and Nokt could see the locals watching them closely, then they saw they were packing heat.
He was absolutely terrified.