Chapter Text
Hunter woke slowly with the sun as dawn crested through their apartment window. In his bunk, he was comfortably warm under the covers while the tip of his nose itched from the fresh morning chill. Never before had the batch been somewhere that had seasons long enough to experience them changing. The concept was foreign, but sure enough, the weather was becoming cooler by the day just as the mayor promised. He allowed himself three deep breaths before sitting up and starting his day.
Tech stood at attention next to his bunk: face impassive, feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped behind him. His sheets were made as though Hunter hadn't tucked him in the night before and sat by his side for an hour, ensuring that he would get to sleep. Hunter made his bed with the lazy precision of a former soldier. The third bunk in the room remained untouched.
“Good morning,” Hunter greeted. Tech didn’t lift his eyes or give any indication of hearing him. Hunter’s chest tightened. Tech had been like this for the last three days: docile and lost in his head, running on autopilot. He walked to the wall by Tech’s bed and pulled the first tablet off of the wall. It was durable metal engraved with the steps to Tech’s morning routine. On the back, Omega had glued scraps of fabric and wires and bobbles of all sorts for Tech to fidget with.
The steel tablets had been a suggestion from the mind healer. Tech had always been a creature of habit and sure enough, having the routine written and familiar seemed to calm Tech significantly. Initially, they had the routines documented on Tech’s beloved datapad. About a month ago, Tech attempted to use it to contact the Empire for extraction. The datapad was now hidden behind a loose stone in the second bedroom and the routines were made into physical copies.
Hunter held the tablet out to Tech and waited. His brother blinked before reverently taking the routine and holding it close to his chest, stroking a remnant scrap of their blacks glued to the top corner.
Step One: Make the bed. Check.
Step Two: Go to the Refresher.
Hunter read the note and opened the bedroom door. Their domicile consisted of a large round room with three smaller rooms attached: two bedrooms and a ‘fresher. Tech followed a respectful two steps behind Hunter for the short trip and followed Hunter's instructions as they continued to follow the list.
Step Two A: Use the refresher
Pissing wasn’t something that was even on Hunter’s radar to implement into their routine, but now they had designated times to remind Tech to at least try. The empire had taken so much from his brother, that even the irreverent actions became ways to exert control and Tech still suffered the fallout. Hunter averted his eyes as his brother did his business and wondered how long it would be before they could trust him to be alone.
Step Two B: Wash Face
The batch was used to splashing water and calling it a day. But when Omega began cropping up adolescent acne, Phee had brought them all sorts of soft-smelling soaps and moisturizers. It was one of the first things that Tech really showed a preference for. He would sneak off and wash his hands, his face, his body, again and again before spending hours smelling himself, the clothes, the tin bottle with the closest semblance of peace they observed since his return.
The batch initially had no problem indulging this habit; they were relieved that their brother seemed happy. But soon his skin began to flake and crack from being washed so frequently and the peace brought by being clean became an obsession, no longer comforting but distressing. The healer had helped with this issue too. She enlisted Phee to find perfumes that Tech liked the scent of for the aromatic effect he craved and helped the others set hard boundaries for Tech about when he could wash.
The first few weeks of weening were difficult for everyone. Tech retreated into himself, threatening, crying, running, pulling at his hair, rubbing his skin raw. Those were some of the hardest weeks of their lives. But Hunter thought that maybe that was preferable to the zombie masquerading as his brother. At least then, he had a semblance of fight left in him.
Hunter fought then with the healer. After all he had been through, Tech deserved to do whatever he wanted. He hated putting Tech in even more pain. But Omega trusted the healer and argued the merits of her case. It would be better in the long term, she said. Stopping harmful behaviors early was essential.
Hunter still wasn’t convinced, but they agreed on a one-month trial. For one agonizing month, they would redirect Tech from bathing more than once a day. In the end, the healer was right and he hated it. In her words, Tech successfully found other ways to soothe himself that didn't cause him harm and was ultimately cultivating a healthier relationship with his body and cleanliness. The healer's continued overall success made him feel like a failure of a brother. How could he not know what was best for his own brother? Hunter wished that he could just do something right for his brother without the healer having to instruct them.
Step Two C: Take medication and refresh bandages
It was a miracle that there was a healer on Pabu who was not only able but willing to help Tech. She was qualified in many aspects of mind healing and professed that, while she had never worked on a case as extreme as Tech’s, she used to treat former slaves and helped them gain autonomy and a sense of purpose back in their lives.
Her most recent endeavor to help Tech involved medication. She said there was no magic pill that would cure Tech, but that there were substances that would make his battle easier. Hunter believed the source of Tech’s new demure disposition was likely the result of the drugs he started a few days ago.
Initially, drugs were out of the question simply by Pabu’s secluded nature. But Echo and Phee aided the healer as she requested various chemical compounds. When they found them, they sent them over, and only in the last month had they been experimenting with the limited medication they could find.
Hunter unlocked the cabinet with the key he kept on his person and sorted out four pills for Tech to take. He obediently swallowed them while knocking back a little glass of water filled from the sink. Tech then held out his bandaged bio hand for Hunter to deal with.
Rarely was Tech completely unharmed, but relative to the damage done to him, he was looking pretty good today with only wounds to his left appendage in places he had bitten himself too hard while distressed.
The first time Tech hurt himself after his return, they were horrified to learn that he had developed an immunity to bacta patches. Somewhere in those six months he lost, Tech was hurt so frequently and treated so often, that bacta was no longer effective. What they anticipated was a quick patch job, sticking on the patch where he had superficially sliced into his stomach before Crosshair tackled the knife out of his hand, which became a process of Wrecker holding Tech down while Crosshair and Hunter worked on butterfly bandages and wrapping protective coverings over his torso.
Hunter finished putting on ointment to Tech’s arms and wrapped them up. With his mech hand, Tech pet the rough section on his tablet. They weren’t sure if Tech had sensation in his mech hand, or if the attraction to touching things with it was psychological.
Step Two D: Brush Teeth
The old Tech had been fastidious about his oral health, encouraging and sometimes forcing the others to floss, use mouthwash, and regularly replace their toothbrushes when they had the opportunity. Paradoxically, the new Tech hated having anything in his mouth and despite his compulsion to bathe, he frequently refused to brush his teeth.
The healer encouraged desensitization to the triggering process of teeth brushing. It was well known that human teeth in particular were extra sensitive to decay and would not renew like many other sentients. So every morning, Tech stuck the toothbrush in his mouth, holding it there, sucking on the paste, and watching the timer before spitting. They didn't make him do more than that. The healer said they could work on that later. For now, voluntarily putting the brush into his mouth was a win.
Step Three: Sit at the table
Hunter left the room and into their kitchen area. Tech followed a respectful two steps behind, and sat at the chair which faced the door outside, the chair he preferred before everything had gone wrong. From the second bedroom, he could hear the grumblings of his other siblings. Hunter started preparing their first meal. He grabbed two fruits: an apple and an orange from the bowl generously donated by the fisherman's wife as a housewarming gift.
Step Three A: Choose first meal
“Tech,” He called warmly before approaching. “Which fruit do you want with first meal?” He held one in each hand and waited.
The first time they had tried this, it took Tech a full half-click to raise his trembling bio-hand and point. Wrecker had wanted to call the whole thing off, but Hunter held his ground.
“Come on, Hunter,” Wrecker pleaded. “He doesn't want to! We shouldn’t make him do what he doesn't want to do. Not anymore.” Hunter refused to turn away from Tech, who was tensed and coiled with anxiety.
“The healer said it would be good for him to make choices,” Hunter reminded. “He needs to learn that it is okay.” He kept his tone soft and soothing like he was talking to Batcher. “There is no wrong answer, Tech.”
They built this choice into his routine. Every day, Tech had to choose a fruit to eat with his first meal. About a week in, Crosshair noted, “He’s just picking the first one you listed.” In his trademark sardonic tone. Tech ducked his head, and refused to move or respond for the next six hours.
But now Hunter’s chest swelled with a sort of pathetic pride as Tech nodded to the pear. Hunter returned the gesture and went back to the counter to slice and prepare it.
“Good morning,” Omega greeted groggily. Long gone was that early riser—replaced with a teenager who wanted nothing more than to sleep until noon. That kid grumbled to the kitchen and poured herself a mug of caf and stirred in a generous amount of honey. Wrecker was in a similar mood but cheered quickly when he saw that Hunter was already preparing first meal.
“He picked already?” The tall man was impressed but mocked injury as Omega punched him lightly.
“Wrecker!” She hissed. “We’re not supposed to make a big deal out of it.” Wrecker winced. The healer observed and informed them drawing attention to Tech’s behaviors made him more self-conscious and thus less likely to act how he wanted, rather than his warped perception of how others wanted him to be.
“Right. Sorry, Tech,” He said. Tech made no indication of having heard any part of the conversation. Wrecker sat next to Omega at their table and Hunter dished out their meal of rice, fish, and fruit.
Step Three B: Eat first meal
“Grub time,” Wrecker spoke to Tech, who hadn't moved even as the others began to dig in. Robotically, Tech grabbed his fork and picked at his bowl.
The healer had emphasized so much about Tech’s choices but was very clear that “Eating is non-negotiable. Order him if you have to. Hopefully, the choice will eventually help, but he is at a dangerous weight. We cannot heal his mind while his body suffers.” Her voice was always so soft, her accent rolling and pleasing to the ear.
These new drugs made him so compliant. Too compliant. Isn’t the point to help Tech break the conditioning? Still, Hunter was relieved that these last few days, meals were easier as Tech behaved at the table, slowly chewing and swallowing his food.
Step Three C: Review plan for the day
“I’m going to fish with Kobu today,” Hunter began. “Wrecker, you still good to be with Tech during the day?”
“You know it!” Wrecker grinned. Hunter had no clue how Wrecker kept such an upbeat disposition. He was exhausted. “I was thinking we would go and work in the garden.” Hunter nodded.
“I’m going to hang out with Crosshair,” Omega announced. She shoved the last bit of food into her mouth and stood to put her bowl in the sink.
“Hang on a minute. Isn’t today a school day?” Hunter raised his eyebrows. The island put together a little curriculum for the kids on the island held every other day. It was nothing like the training clones went through. Each time they met, they would go through various skills and lessons, sometimes covering practical knowledge of cooking, cleaning, and technology, and, when the academic sorts were available, theoretical concepts like physics, mathematics, language, and history.
“Yeah, but I really want to spend time with him. We’ve been going through all sorts of weapons and their mechanics!” She chirped while putting on her boots. “And Teacher Srein is in charge today and I already know the physics stuff they are going to go through so it’d just be a waste of time.” Hunter nodded his permission.
“Have fun, tell Crosshair we’re having pupusas for dinner so he better get his scrawny butt up back here by sunset.”
“Rodger that,” Omega smiled and left the other three to continue eating.
“So I’ll finish the morning routine with Tech,” Hunter continued. “Then Wrecker will take you to the community garden.”
Wrecker picked up, “Yeah. Zara says its about time for the Jichku roots to be pulled. We’ll stay there until lunch and come back here for mid-meal and a nap.” Wrecker looked to the sky, trying to remember all the things that were happening. “After, we’re going to visit Healer Sendoc. Next, we’ll have a bit of free time, so you can read or rest or whatever. Then we’ll have dinner, and then Hunter will do the bedtime routine with you, but it’s my turn to sleep in that room with you.”
The healer helped them come up with a rotation to stop them all from running themselves ragged trying to be there for Tech. Wrecker and Hunter took most of the shifts. Crosshair was another story, the stubborn ass.
Step Four: Put on Day Clothes
When Tech finished three-fourths of his bowl, he put down the fork and pushed the bowl away. Over half every meal stood the requirement, so Hunter beckoned for Tech to follow back to the dresser in his room. And it really was his room. The others rotated when it was their turn to be with him for the night, but Tech always slept in the same cot.
Step Four A: Undress
About eighty percent of the time, Tech could handle clothing by himself. But sometimes, he got stuck in his pants and lost his balance. Sometimes, he got stuck in his shirt and got claustrophobic, spiraling into a panic attack. So Hunter was there to help if need be.
Step Four B: Put on Underclothes (socks, underwear, undershirt)
Step Four C: Put on Overclothes (pants, shoes, shirt)
The last two days, Tech had needed help with balance and staying on task, becoming listless and staring at the wall for a touch too long. Today, Tech managed with no gentle reminders and no steadying hands, even though his movements were sluggish. Hunter was proud.
End of Morning Routine