#S2E12 The Outpost

[cringecommandermayday]

Welcome to my TBB Mayday centric blog!

-> This is a The Bad Batch roleplay sideblog.

-> Blog STATUS

-> Some important things before we start:

This rp blog is SFW ONLY

I'm good at writing romance, angst, mystery, comedy/crack and more!

When writing romance suggestive is fine (i.e. scenes that end in a fade-to-black)

I'm okay with medical gore and other violence!

OC's, other fandoms, and non-fans of The Bad Batch or Star Wars who are interested ARE SO VERY WELCOME

This blog has lots of headcanons and AUs

I ship Maycross lmao

I reserve my right to not answer asks if i deem the topic too intense to stay in the SFW rating

Helpful tags:

#OOC: alice speaks -> blog updates and PSAs etc.

#Mayday's ramblings -> slight OOC; head canons and stuff #in the ice -> things that are TBB and/or related to Mayday but not necessarily role-play applicable #aesthetics -> for when i find stimboards/images/quotes that remind me of Mayday

#in character -> answering regular-old (doesn't have to be about TBB!) asks as Mayday :3 #rp game -> universal role play memes #verse: canon -> all writings and roleplays in continuity with the TBB canon

#verse: [SELKIE] -> Mayday is a selkie. kinda a Maycross Earth AU #verse: [CRYPTID] -> In TBB universe but Mayday doesn't die because he turns into a vulture

I will be creating AU/other verse tags as I go on :)

Once again ->

OC's, other fandoms, and non-fans of TBB who are interested ARE SO VERY WELCOME!!!

Of course, feel free to ask me (Alice) questions anytime!

Excited to go some missions with you all, -- Alice

[isurrendertoclones]

can’t find anything in the Mayday tags. welp!

gotta do it myself lol

[voodoo-writer]

Commander Mayday and his past.

After The Outpost I’ve been thinking a lot about Mayday and his squad. We probably won’t get a lot of lore about him in S3 (probably won’t get any lore tbh) so I just wanted to post my thoughts here and maybe discuss it with my fellow clone fans. Do reach out if you have any thought about this!

Mayday was a clone commander. GAR structure is kind of hard to understand but the general consensus is that clone commander is a high-ranking role. Who always has a commander by their side? Right, the Jedi, commanders usually act as their right hand, helping with managing all of squads, platoons, system armies etc. Mayday and his squad were to Baron IV somewhere at the beginning of the Empire.

In S1 Rampart gave Crosshair a commander role so new non-clone special troops could learn from him, like they wanted Gregor and other commandos to teach 1st generation of stormtroopers on Daro – for their tremendous experience.  

So, my question is – why would anyone send a clone commander, who definitely had lots of war experience during the clone wars to God who knows where? They showed us that Mayday even knows how to disarm mines, though it is definitely was not his specialization. Like, he was all «good soldiers follow orders» guy, he was protecting the cargo without knowing what was in it for a year or so, he 100% would have taught tk-troopers.

But he was not sent to teach, they sent him to Baron IV.

Hear me out.

In TCW we did get a lot of Jedi Generals and their Commanders but we know that there were definitely more Jedi and more clone commanders out there, fighting the war.

I think that Mayday probably did not kill his Jedi. Could not, would not, was not there to do so, that we don’t know but the outcome is the same. The Jedi lived and Mayday was sent as a reprimand to Baron IV along with his squad.

Like this headcanon/theory is kind of useless if we were to discuss future of tbb because we will maybe hear about Mayday again in like 2 sentences (like with Fives in s1) and that will be all but what I know that SW writing community is amazing. There is so much fanon that everyone agrees on that I read in lots of fanfictions, I feel there is so much in Mayday’s history that can be made, so much more we can learn or speculate and I feel like Mayday does not get enough attention he deserves (yet).  Thank you for reading! :)

[writing-positivelyexisting]

Return

The Bad Batch. Drabble. | writing-positivelyexisting🫧

⚠️ content warning: referring to season 2 episode 12: Outpost. hurt/comfort.

Eventually. Somehow. He escaped. Traveling alone. A renegade.

Stolen ship after stolen ship. Sometimes being a stowaway. His fingertips often go numb. An after effect from almost being frozen to death. Touching the scar on his head sends cringing shivers down his spine. He hates it.

Crosshair sinks down the wall of a transport ship that he snuck onto. In the cramped undercarriage of the ship, he can feel every tremor of turbulence. He hates it.

Tired amber eyes hide behind heavy eyelids. His breathing is deep. Full of restrained sorrow. He can feel it. He hates it.

Cracked, dry lips are haphazardly remedied with his tongue. It stings. He hates it.

Opening his eyes again and staring up at the creaking metal, it burns. Everywhere. Stomach, chest, throat, eyes. Everywhere.

The memories that weren’t supposed to be made play slowly in his mind. He killed the wrong people. He fought for the wrong side. He hunted and fired at the wrong team.

His fear. Being wrong. It sank its teeth into him. It left his skin torn, ripped apart, a mess. Unrecognizable. A silhouette of bones, frayed muscle, and ripped at veins. He is covered in his own blood, washing away the blood of others.

He hates himself.

Crosshair’s tears meet at his chin, dripping down and decorating his armor in wet splotches. Upturned eyebrows and trembling lips. He searches for a miracle. Either by the grace of his Maker or by the Force in the universe.

A thick swallow leaves him in a coughing fit. His hands hold his head as he heaves, barely trying to regain his strength. It hurts. He hates it. His heart is panicking behind his ribs. He fears it.

How does he begin to be himself again? Who was he before all this? He fears it.

In the midst of his haunting mind, the cargo ship lands at a docking port of an unknown planet. He never cared about the destination. He never stays long enough to, anyway.

Once the cargo was carried off and no one was left at the ramp of the ship, Crosshair snuck away. Roaming this city’s streets, searching for cheap food and a place to stay.

This downtown area was similar to that of the lower levels of Coruscant. Vibrant neon lights. Street vendors and booths. Sketchy characters slinking about in alleyways. It almost felt safe in an ironic funny way.

He turned a corner and found a food vendor that smelt the most appealing out of all the other junk that was being sold. It was meat that wasn’t drowned in grease. Something he could stomach longer.

Using almost the last of his credits, which were either pickpocketed or found, he walked away with his meal.

“Crosshair?”

The sniper looked at her and then behind her. He hates it. He fears it. Crosshair is stuck in place. Staring. Has his miracle been given? Could the universe grant it so soon?

His mouth opens to speak but he doesn’t get a chance to use his voice. Like a magnet, Hunter is embracing him. Strong arms are wrapped around Crosshair’s torso, one hand on the back of his head, keeping him still. The same hug when they were young. The hug that was meant to keep the hurt away.

There’s a hiccup in Crosshair’s breathing, his eyes looking at Tech and Wrecker. Wrecker is crying. So is Omega. Tech is staring back, his eyes almost as large as his goggles.

His meal is dropped, forgotten. Crosshair brings his arms to hug Hunter back. Amber eyes closing, letting his body rest in the arms of his brother.

“I’m sorry.”

“Shut up.”

Hate bound by fear will unwind.

word count: 617.

beta read: @beating-a-dead-plot I’m sorry for hitting you with a lot of sad recently! Forgive me 🥺

tag list: @dangraccoon @i-am-the-geek-overlord

[derpymidnight]

Mom this empire is shit im rebelling

[the-navistar-carol]

IGNORING THAT LAST FUCKING SCENE

IGNORING IT WITH ALL MY LIFE

CROSSHAIR IS COMING HOME

[hedgieobsessor]

I honestly didn’t think it was possible to do a meaningful character arc in two episodes spread out across 12. I can admit, I was wrong. That was beautiful, painful, and incredibly believable. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.

[ghostymarni]

S2E12: the outpost

[triptuckers]

just you and me - crosshair

Request: nope Pairing: crosshair x reader Summary: after crosshair flees the empire, he goes to the one place he thinks would be somewhat safe Warnings: spoilers for the bad batch s2e12!! language, angst, sadness, mentions of death Word count: 2.2KA/N: this weeks episode??? god damn that was good !! anyways someone needs to hug crosshair and I needed to write this, enjoy!

everything seems to be blurred together in a haze. for some reason, crosshair can't remember how he got away. he remembers bits and pieces of that night, but he feels like there's some details missing.

he remembers mayday. he remembers going into the caves with him, finding the raiders and fighting them. he remembers how he caused an explosion with a well aimed shot, getting rid of the raiders but also causing an avalanche.

crosshair remembers being buried in snow and then managing to pull himself out of it. he remembers struggling through the snow and pulling mayday out as well.

he fought to take mayday back to the outpost, so he could get help.

but upon arriving there, and telling the lieutenant that mayday needed a medic, the lieutenant turned him down. said they were both expendable. that crosshair needed to get back to work.

and something in crosshair snapped. the empire would always see them like that: expendable. merely tools in their big galaxy. nothing more than a number. no matter how many missions he completed, or how good he was at following orders.

in less than two seconds, crosshair had raised his blaster and shot the lieutenant in the chest. he hadn't thought much about the consequences. sure, he knew they probably wouldn't let him live after that.

but when he woke up in what seemed to be a medical facility, he realised they must have found some use for him. but he didn't intent to wait to find out exactly what that would be. he bolted.

but it's hard to navigate the galaxy when you don't have any resources. no food, clothes, money, ship. luckily crosshair has some skills when it comes to sneaking around.

he managed to sneak aboard a shuttle that took him as far away as ord mantell. that was all he really needed. the thought of going back to ord mantell was enough to keep him going.

even though he was exhausted, he managed to get to the planet without much trouble, and continued his journey on foot from the docks where the shuttle landed.

when a familiar building appears in the distance, crosshair feels such gratitude he'd be willing to drop to his knees right there in the middle of the street.

but he forces himself to keep going. he has no idea if he's even welcome, but it's all he's got right now. he has to give it a shot.

he stops in front of the door. all the lights are off. then again, it was late. he raises his hand to buzz the door.

no answer.

he buzzes again.

still no answer.

crosshair considers leaving and coming back tomorrow, at a decent time. but then he hears a voice.

'we're closed!'

he never thought he'd hear that voice again. apparently, you stuck around on ord mantell. even though you'd complained about it many times. he knew deep down you wouldn't leave this planet. you'd been here for so many years. you couldn't bear the thought of leaving and starting a shop from scratch, of settling down somewhere else.

crosshair buzzes again, to let you know he's still here.

'I said we're closed!' comes your voice from inside the building. 'shop opens again tomorrow at 8!'

just as crosshair wants to buzz the door again, it opens slightly.

'look, I said we're- crosshair?'

crosshair smiles slightly at the sight of you, and the sound of you saying his name. then he all but collapses into your arms. he faintly hears you calling his name before blacking out.

you stumble beneath his weight. you look outside, checking to see if no one noticed. the street is empty, so you awkwardly haul crosshair inside and lock the door.

it takes you a while to get crosshair to your bedroom, and you struggle even more with getting him on the bed. when you've finally succeeded in laying him down, you take in the sight of him.

he's still in his armour, but he seems to have lost his helmet. his rifle that was slung over his back is still in the hallway. you reach out and lay your hand on his cheek, which feels cold.

he must have been in quite the shape, but he still managed to get to your shop. you wonder why he's here. and how he got away from the empire. the last time you saw him, he was still with his brothers. you're still in contact with the rest of the bad batch, but you know they don't speak to crosshair anymore.

you have so many questions you want to ask him. but right now, you can tell he needs sleep. and possibly a decent meal as well.

you move closer to the bed and start to take off his armour, piece by piece. it's easy to remember how to do it. you used to do it a lot when he was still with his brothers. he would seek you out and you'd comfort him. crosshair would put up this defensive shield, but the more time he spent with you, the faster he would drop that shield whenever he was around you.

and you had enjoyed taking off his armour and just sitting with him, sharing a meal, watching a holo movie or just talking. most of the times, just being in each other's presence was enough to comfort the both of you.

when you finish taking off his armour and placing it on the small desk in your bedroom, you pull the blankets out from underneath him and tuck him in.

you hesitate briefly. then you lean in and press a kiss to his forehead.

'goodnight, crosshair.' you say.

it's hours later when crosshair wakes, and his head feels heavy. the light coming from the window is too bright, it hurts his eyes. he rolls over to his other side, and notices he isn't wearing any of his armour, just his blacks. he doesn't remember taking it off.

as he lays there, he thinks back to last night, trying to figure out how he got wherever he is right now.

he remembers being on a shuttle, getting to a planet. a familiar planet, where he thought he'd be safe. crosshair tries to remember what planet he'd feel safe. he can't think of any.

his head is throbbing. probably from his lack of sleep and food.

suddenly, he frowns. whose bed is he in? it's way nicer than any bed he's had in months. he opens his eyes despite the bright light, and sees his armour placed neatly on a desk. crosshair blinks a few times. he remembers that desk. and the sheets that cover his body.

so that's where he is. ord mantell. specifically, your place. why on earth would you let him in?

he slowly pushes himself up to a sitting position, rubbing his eyes. he needed to find something to get rid of that headache. he looks around the room, but you're not there.

crosshair gets up and walks to the doorway. he pokes his head around the corner and his eyes fall upon the familiar living room and kitchen of your small apartment.

'look who's finally up.' comes your voice from somewhere in the kitchen.

crosshair hesitantly walks towards the kitchen. you're rummaging around in there, getting out two cups. you pour caf in them and slide one of them over to crosshair.

you see him hesitate again.

'don't worry, it's not poisoned.' you say, chuckling.

you take your cup and walk over to sit at the table. crosshair takes his cup and sits down as well.

'you let me in.' he observes.

'I did.' you say.

'what if it was an ambush?'

'it wasn't an ambush.'

'but if it was?'

'if it was an ambush, you were pretty fucking convincing on the whole "passing out" thing.'

crosshair looks at you. he's so confused. 'why did you let me in?' he says.

'why wouldn't I?' you say.

'if it wasn't an ambush, I could have used you to find my brothers. or the girl, omega. I could have taken you with me to the empire. I could have just shot you right there. I could have done all of those things.' says crosshair. 'why did you let me in?'

'because it's you, cross.' you say.

there's something about you calling him cross that awakens something in crosshair. he remembers all those months spent together, before order 66 happened and he and his brothers went their separate ways.

the two of you are silent as you drink your caf. you've got thousands of questions you want to ask him. but you can tell he's been through a lot, so you let him finish his caf in silence.

after a while, you speak up.

'are you okay?'

it's such a simple question. yet no one has asked crosshair if he was okay for so long. he looks up at you, and sees the genuine worry in your eyes.

slowly, he shakes his head. you see his hand trembles as he grips his cup tighter. you reach out to him and gently take the cup out of his hand. you hold his hand in yours and look at him again.

'it's alright, crosshair. it's just you and me, no one else.' you say.

within the walls of your small apartment, crosshair lets his shield down and buries his head in your shoulder.

you hold him tighter and whisper soft words to him. crosshair squeezes his eyes shut, fighting the tears. but eventually they fall. his body shakes as you rub circles on his back.

'let it out, crosshair.' you say. 'there's no one here who will judge you.'

and so he does. he lets it all out. his grief over losing his brothers, his fear that he might have made the wrong choice and caused so many people harm, the regret that he continued to work for the empire for so long, and that it had taken him way too long to find his way back to you.

after a while, crosshair's body has stopped shaking. you pull away slightly to cup his face. he closes his eyes, and you know he doesn't want you to see his tears.

'crosshair.' you say softy. 'look at me.'

he does as you say. you smile at him.

'you don't ever have to go back to the empire again.' you say. 'I've learned how to stay off the empire's radar. I can help you. will you let me help you?'

crosshair nods, then lets his head fall to your shoulder again.

for a while, the two of you just sit there like that. you know crosshair needs this. you still have so many questions you want to ask him, but it can wait.

then crosshair mumbles something into your shoulder.

'what was that?' you say.

'he didn't even save mayday.' says crosshair.

'who's mayday?' you say.

'a clone commander. he was stationed at the outpost. I got him out of the snow and back to the outpost. I said the lieutenant needed to get a medic but he wouldn't. he wouldn't even get a fucking medic. said we were expandable.'

'shit, cross, I'm so sorry. none of you are expandable.'

'yeah, well, the empire doesn't give a shit about that.'

crosshair pulls away from you and wipes away his tears. 'are you still in contact with the others?'

'your brothers?' you say. 'occasionally. mostly when they need parts for the marauder. sometimes omega swings by when they're at cid's.'

'don't tell them I'm here.' say crosshair.

'you don't want them to know you're here?' you say.

crosshair shakes his head.

'alright. then I won't tell them. it'll just be you and me.' you say.

'I don't deserve you.' mumbles crosshair. 'I don't deserve any of this.'

you lean in and press a kiss to his forehead. 'yes, crosshair, you do.' you say. 'we all make mistakes. but in the end, you made the right decision. and you did that all by yourself. I'm proud of you for that.'

you pull him in for a hug, holding him close. 'I'm sorry you couldn't save mayday.' you say.

'I don't know what to do.' says crosshair softly.

you heart breaks at the sound of his voice. ever since you'd met crosshair. he was always the quiet one out of the brothers. never saying a lot, keeping his distance. it took a while for him to warm up to you. you know he's convinces he can do everything on his own. he doesn't really ask for help. the least you can do now, is help him in any way you can.

'we'll figure it out, crosshair.' you say. 'you can stay here as long as you'd like. we'll find a solution together. I'm just glad to have you back. I won't tell your brothers, or any of the others here on ord mantell. it'll just be the two of us. we'll figure this out, I promise.'

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rulesHere’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Max/Marit

[kimbureh]

TBB S2E12 The Outpost, Crosshair & Agency In Suicide

I haven't seen anybody talk about this specific aspect yet, but in truth I avoid reading TBB meta because I haven't finished watching season 2 and don't want to read spoilers.

"The Outpost" is an episode about being trapped in your position, even if you're ready to move on from your role. I've seen it pointed out by others, and indeed it was my first thought also: Mayday talks like Rex. Behaves like Rex. Is capable to adapt to adversary circumstances like Rex. But unlike Rex, Mayday is not given the chance to reform his life. He dies on Barton-4 without fulfilling his true potential. (But Rex has been gifted this chance, while he is acutely aware most clones haven't, and chooses to rectify that as much as he can.) The Outpost of Barton-4 is the epitome of being abandoned and trapped by circumstances. This will be important again in a minute.

Regs symbolize everything Crosshair feels ashamed for. I have talked about this before, but I don't want to pull a Tech and assume that's obvious. So. Crosshair is as grating towards regs as he is (especially in TCW) because of his projected self-hatred. He's a clone too, but at least he is enhanced. "Superior", as he says to Hunter. Showing kindness to Mayday, a reg, is the first step for Crosshair to come to terms with his Clone identity. I interpret Crosshair's arc as one of developing self-acceptance, and treating a reg with kindness is the first step to treating himself with kindness. And it speaks to Crosshair's developing sense of self-acceptance when he pleads (!) with Nolan to please help Mayday (the name here is telling!).

In another meta post of mine I outlined the two possible paths of Crosshair's arc: he either manages to develop self-acceptance and leaves the Empire, or he stays and self-destructs.

In his interactions with Mayday, Crosshair clearly veers into the direction of self-acceptance via Mayday as proxy. But the circumstances don't allow for the second step: leaving the Empire. Think of that tiny backroom in which we meet Mayday and his skeleton crew for the first time. Barton-4 is not a place you leave alive. This place is a frosty tomb, the rows of trooper helmets and the raider left behind in the tunnel are grim witness to that truth. And Crosshair knows this, knows he is trapped in a very real sense on this planet, at the mercy of a cruel superior who sees him as a piece of "used equipment". And so Crosshair picks the other option left to him: self-destruction. He knows he cannot get away with shooting a superior, not when he's weak, without his helmet, trapped on an icy planet with dozens of TK troopers to hold him accountable.

Crosshair's decision is not naive, not entirely hopeless either, it's coming from a place of self-empowerment despite the dreadful desperation. There are a few excruciating moments before Crosshair draws his blaster, moments in which he does the calculations in his mind and realizes there is no way for him to survive this. But he has the freedom to make one last decision: and that is bringing down Nolan with him.

This is Crosshair's tipping point. Through the interactions with Mayday he allowed himself to care for someone again, only for the Empire to immediately take that from him. They took his agency, but in what Crosshair must believe to be his last action, he regains some of his agency and avenges Mayday. In the face of death, Crosshair defends his decision to choose self-acceptance.

A more tragic story could end here; but Crosshair has more homework to do, and it still hasn't been revealed if he really doesn't have his inhibitor chip anymore, or whether he was implanted something else in its stead, and where those searing head pains are really coming from if not from the effects of the (a?) chip. I have a few theories, but we'll see (or maybe we won't).

(pls no season 2 spoilers, I haven't fully watched it yet)

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

TBB Rewatch Day 15: S2E11 “Metamorphosis” and S2E12 “The Outpost”

*prepares another long essay about “The Outpost”* jk, I won’t do that to you guys. (But I could 👀👀👀)

The love I have for “The Outpost” can’t be put into words. Everything about it is perfect in my eyes. We all know how amazing it is, but every rewatch, I always see something new that catches my eye. I’m very attached to this episode for emotional reasons, personal reasons, and as someone who loves the technical side of Cinema. Ok, moving on before I start ranting about symbolism or something.

Hemlock’s theme is such a banger in “Metamorphosis.” Btw, this is also an amazing Tech episode. Only he would stare the zillo beast in the face and say “fascinating.” I love him ☺️

[isurrendertoclones]

Ok so with all the Crosshair bird/wing symbolism after The Outpost, I immediately knew what my brain was trying to tell me when I got this song stuck in my head on the way to work:

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free

[ellie-the-oracle]

The Bad Batch s2e12 Review and Discussion - The Breaking Point of Crosshair

Massive Spoilers Ahead!

That was by far one of the greatest episodes I think i've ever watched. I don't even know where to begin and I do not say this lightly - I have been thoroughly broken by this show. I am genuinely heartbroken at this point.

First and foremost, the music was on point. It hit every single emotion it wanted to convey and it complimented the themes of this episode perfectly. Kevin Kiner remains to be one of the best composers, in my opinion.

Secondly, the symbolism that was the lone ice vulture flying above Crosshair's head throughout the episode was just poetic. It really got the message across to the viewers that Crosshair is utterly and brutally alone. He is nothing more than something that is “expendable” in the eyes of the Empire. This episode made that evermore clearer to Cross.

Thirdly, the new clone introduced in this episode, Commander Mayday, was a perfect way to SHOW (and not just tell) Crosshair the tragedies, the mistreatment and the injustices that the clones are facing. Throughout the entire episode, both Cross and the viewers were reminded of just how poorly the clones are being treated. Mayday's inevitable death was the final moment for Crosshair; It genuinely broke him (and me, frankly). The lieutenant (I forgot his name because idfc) really rubbed it into Crosshair’s face about what the clones mean to the Empire.

The emotions that we get to see Crosshair experience throughout this episode really show just how broken his spirit is; he has reached his breaking point. He was left both physically and emotionally devastated by the end of his mission; losing yet another companion, another brother. Someone whom he was just beginning to confide in, especially to feel less alone. I also found it quite fascinating to see him express distress when the ship blew up and caused him a sort-of sensory overload. A bit of an ode to the Batches enhanced features.

 I appreciated the little details of him shivering in the cold as he and Mayday made their way back to the outpost; huddling together to survive. on top of that, his facial expressions really showed just how lost, distraught, devastated and broken he has become. Truly, what a masterful episode. Crosshair shooting the lieutenant by the end of the episode was his moment of “going awol,” albeit, in the most devastating and heart wrenching way. 

The ending of this episode was rather concerning. I literally have no idea what that lady poked his neck with nor do I have the faintest idea as to why he's on Tantiss but I'm very nervous about it. I hope he isn't being brainwashed again or [arguably] even worse, becoming the prototype of a dark trooper. Istfg If this happens, You’ll be hearing from my therapist and my lawyer, Filoni. For the love of all things decent in this world, please let him go home to his family. 

This episode, once again, cements exactly why I love Crosshair's character so much. Truly a terribly tragic character and I ate that shit up. I'm shellshocked.

 20/10. Feelings have been hurt.

[leavingkamino]

Crosshair in The Bad Batch | S2E12 "The Outpost"

[burningfieldof-clover]

i couldn't do anything -

S2E12 SPOILERS

crosshair x gn!reader (reader is slightly jedi)

warnings: this is sad. kind of not happy ending, but it is an open ending that is going to lead to a part 2 as i figure out what is happening with the canon plot (then alter to my liking mwahahaha)

indented italic font is memory. bold faced text is present.

When that damned Lieutenant Asshole sent Mayday and Crosshair off, you weren’t too worried. Mayday has held this outpost together for over a year, and Crosshair was a previous member of Clone Force 99. It will be a walk in the park. 

Or so you thought.

The next day when a commotion started on the edge of the base, it caught your attention instantly. Are we under attack again? Assuming the worst, you grabbed your first aide kit and followed the rush of soldiers. 

After assessing the situation and finding that there was no attack, but instead it was the return of the two clones who were sent out, your run picked up pace. 

So many memories attacked your mind. 

The Republic had fallen, and the Empire has risen. You had finally spent your last credit getting to Coruscant. You worked hard while living hand to mouth on the streets of some backwater planet you can’t wait to forget the name of. You came to Coruscant to speak with the Jedi. You had powers that sounded like what the Jedi called the Force, so you wanted a mentor. 

The riots in the streets (being excitement or resentment) were starting just a few steps out of the spaceport. An Imperial-dressed clone trooper stopped you before you could walk through the turnstile. 

“What’s your business on Coruscant?” His tone startled you. 

“I uh–” panicking to find an answer, you mimicked a quiet voice you quickly overheard. “I’m here to enlist in the army.” Inwardly you were already punching yourself.

The clone raised an eyebrow. “You? Enlist?” he asked sarcastically. He gave you a glance up and down. “Okay, then. Not my place to judge, but be prepared,” he said with a condescending tone. He fumbled with a holopad in his hands. “Do you have a chain code yet?”

After going through the process of getting a chain code with your actual identity and instructions on where to go, you fell in line. You’d find a Jedi somehow, right?

Mayday looked like he was in rough shape. You’d have to tend to him first.

“Send a medic! We need help!”

You started to sprint to the call for help in the field, but the Imperial officer leading the mission held his arm out to prevent you from going to the cry. 

“Don’t bother. They’re just clones. Worry about the actual soldiers, not the cannon fodder.”

Heartbroken, tears forming in your eyes behind your helmet, you stayed put. After learning about the terrible fate of the Jedi, any kind of heroics were frightening to you. You hadn’t tried to use any Force abilities. You had no idea what any true Force abilities were. Despite the Empire knowing your real name, no one really knew who you were. 

Crosshair pushed past you, his shoulder shoving into yours. “They’re the ones that don’t matter. Then there are the ones who do.”

Even though he was wearing his own helmet, you could feel his piercing stare dive right through his visor, judging you for even caring about the regs. 

Mayday had fallen to his knees, Crosshair with him. You could barely hear Crosshair ask for help with Mayday. 

“Yeah, I guess the Jedi were good people. We served alongside them for the whole war. I don’t know what happened to make them turn on the chancellor.”

You listened to the clones in your medical wing just chatting away. 

“I'm not sure, some part of me finds it impossible to believe it, you know?” This clone rubbed his head sheepishly. “I mean, my general, he was a good man. I watched my brother shoot him down when we got the order.”

Crosshair was in the company of these clones as well. You were checking his shoulder for injury after a way too powerful kickback of his rifle. He grumbled.

“At least one of them knew how to follow orders.”

“Chill out, Cross,” you chided. You were lifting his arm up and pushing it in different directions and judging his reactions. “What’s your opinion? Why is his opinion any less valid than yours?”

With a glare and pursed lips, he pulled his signature toothpick out of his mouth. “Good soldiers follow orders.”

You scoffed. “That’s all I ever hear you say. ‘Good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders.’ It’s like you were programmed to say that.”

Crosshair turned his head away. He was not in the mood to justify his actions. 

You rotated his arm one last way and earned a hiss from him. 

“Theeeerrre it is. There’s the pain. You need to rest this. I don’t trust you to take some muscle relaxers on your own, so,” you reached to the tray nearby and grabbed a little cup, “I need you to take them now and then you can go. 

He looked at the small pills in the container, then to you. He grabbed them and downed them without a drink. 

“Let me know if it doesn’t get any better in a few days.”

Crosshair grunted. His eyes traveled to the divider that split this area from the other rooms and clones. He was still listening to the men talk.

“You weren’t there,” he said quietly. 

“Hm? Was that aimed at me?”

“You weren’t there,” he repeated. “So even if you heard my opinion, you couldn’t believe me.”

You crossed your arms and almost felt sorry for him. “I’m still interested. I know how you look when the empire tries to deem you expendable.” You shrugged and put your hands on your hips. “You’re all human to me. Each of you matter.”

He seemed interested in your words, but the curiosity ended abruptly. He left without a word. 

“They don’t need medical attention!” the Lieutenant barked. 

Everything you learned about Jedi and what they used to be was all from bits and pieces you’d catch in conversations. Some clones had a fond memory or two. 

After learning about meditation, you gave it a try. Since you actually didn’t know how that worked, you probably tried a little too hard. It wasn’t working. After a couple weeks, you were able to sense feelings in people. Sometimes the emotions were colors or they simply bled onto you and engulfed you with the feeling. It could be overwhelming.

A loud pounding was heard from the frame of your office door. “CT-9904 has been recovered. Clear him for service or decommission him.”

Blinking in awe and watching the officer walk away, you couldn’t believe how many times that a clone was recommended for “decommissioning,” it always hurt more than the last time.

CT-9904… that was… Crosshair! Excitedly you jumped up and ran to the clinic. You could see him again! He’d been missing for over a month! You prayed that he was okay. 

The Force was reaching for him. You wanted to know how he was doing before you saw him. The anticipation was too much. That jerk of a clone was refreshing. 

In return, the Force gave you signals of a life in despair, mentally and physically. Crosshair was in so much pain. 

Skidding to a halt before the door leading to him, you couldn’t hide the shock and surprise. He was weak and frail. His Force signature was faded from it's usual vibrance.  

“You…?”

You rushed to his side and instantly started checking vitals and fluids. A laugh escaped your lips. “What the hell, Cross? I thought you were invincible!”

Crosshair turned his head away to keep you out of his line of sight. “Put me back into service. I don’t need to be here.”

“Shut up, Crosshair.”

You got to work. You were ordering tests and scans, medications and nutritions. At one point you passed a cabinet which held something very important. It was something you placed in there for special occasions. Which didn’t seem all that special when you count the numerous times Crosshair had been in the clinic. He came by even when he was not injured. He told you it was because you were ‘the least irritating person but not immune to causing irritation.’

You opened the cabinet and retrieved the item. 

“Hey, Cross.”

He glanced your way without moving his body. 

You flicked a toothpick his way. He caught it with a single hand. He stared at it briefly before pinching it between his teeth harshly. 

You eventually cleared him to return to service.

You grit your teeth together in frustration. The Force in Mayday was flickering, fading. 

“Lieutenant, he’s dying!” you cried.

Lieutenant Nolan turned his angry snarl towards you. “I gave you an order! Stand down. Let these expendables expire!”

Crosshair spoke your name as he entered your office. 

Your sleepy figure looked at the tall twig of a man. “What’s going on? Are you injured?”

He didn’t acknowledge your questions. “You’re assigned to my mission. I’m here to tell you we’re leaving for Barton-4 in the morning.”

Crosshair’s Force signature was different. His smug aura was instead calm. He held some hesitation in the background. Since you didn’t say anything, he turned around to leave.

“What are you not telling me?” you asked him.

He froze in his movement. He grinded the toothpick in his mouth and pushed it to the other side. “You’re the only medic I trust. I requested you for this mission.”

You nodded, accepting this confession. He was telling the truth. “Okay. I’ll meet you in the hangar tomorrow.”

He nodded and faced the doorway. He was quiet for a while. “Do you… remember when you asked for my opinion?”

Blanking for a minute, you weren’t sure what he was referring to. 

“I worked with a few Jedi. They were alright, I guess.”

You hesitated. Does he know what you are? 

He grimaced and turned to fully face you. “I finally give you what you wanted, and you ignore me?!”

Not meaning to, you laughed. It was a hearty, full belly laugh. 

Crosshair didn’t know what you were doing. Were you mocking him? What the hell was so funny?

“I’m so sorry!” you exclaimed while out of breath. A few chuckles were coming out. “It’s just, I never expected you to–to be open with me. That felt really special.”

Crosshair threw his toothpick at you and left.

Mayday faded away. His life Force had gone. You felt it flow through you and away like it had used you as a doorway or passage to return to the living Force itself. 

So many emotions were reeling on Crosshair’s face, and his aura was violent. The emotions he was projecting through the Force were suffocating you. 

In the shuttle on the way to Barton-4, you sat next to Crosshair since he was the only thing you were familiar with. It had been a long time since you were sent away from Coruscant. The empire made you discard your old armor. It may not have been that old, but they also stripped you of your field clearance so you didn't need it anymore. The new armor was foreign and didn't feel right at all. How did Crosshair get this approved?

Crosshair had his helmet on and was strapped into a harness, so you couldn’t read his expressions you’ve gotten to know. His hands were resting at his sides. He tapped on the side of his helmet. 

“Everything is going to be fine.” He was speaking directly to your private comm channel in your helmet. 

You turned your head his way slightly, just enough to catch him in your peripherals. You pressed the same button on your helmet to return the connection. 

“I don’t believe you.” You meant to sound snarky but it came out afraid. 

Crosshair glanced down at you suddenly. Your helmet turned fully his way now. You knew he was asking for clarification. You couldn’t give him one, though. How do you explain to him that you have a bad feeling about this?

“You… you could have saved him,” Crosshair forced out.

The Force never felt so strong in you as it did now. Failing to move away from the situation you had fallen to your knees. You lifted your helmet off your head and dropped it on the ground as you watched Crosshair like a hawk.

Still stuck in this staring contest. The sound of the engines was significantly noisy. The Lieutenant was scrolling on his holopad, the tapping of his fingers sounding like a metronome. Are the minutes being counted down? Is this it? Did someone catch on to your connection to the force? Does Crosshair know? Wait--no, it isn't about you--

“I’m scared,” you whispered. 

Crosshair’s gloved hand brushed against your leg briefly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Quit being so cryptic.”

“Cross, I’m not the one in danger.”

“Crosshair!!” you screamed out. 

“How could you possibly know that?”

The Lieutenant called for your silence again.

“I…”

Your fists clench against the cold ground.

Crosshair grumbled. “Do you have something to say?”

The Force began rumbling beneath your hands. The very scattered and small total of pebbles rattled against the concrete. You were begging the Force to prevent anything terrible from happening to Crosshair.

You could tell him… right? He’d protect you, right? 

“Spit it out!”

Crosshair witnessed the anomaly happening around you with wide eyes. After hearing what the Lieutenant had to say about his feelings on clones… Crosshair couldn’t let the Lieutenant see you. The monster of a man would treat you the same. 

“Lieutenant!”

“I can’t lose you, too.”

An echoing blaster shot went straight into Lieutenant Nolan’s chest. The shock of the event cut your tie to the Force. Crosshair saw the air around you settle, but he didn’t know what to do about the action he just committed. 

“Drop your weapon! Don’t move!”

Troopers rushed Crosshair with blasters raised. You wanted to run to his aid. Crosshair was injured as well. You went to stand, but a trooper’s hand pushed you back down to your knees. The whole time you have been with the Imperial army, you told yourself–no heroics. You can’t stand out. You’d be in danger.

“Crosshair!!!”

You fought the hold on you and rushed toward Crosshair. You needed to protect him. You had to heal him. You needed to fight for him!

Your hand was outstretched and reaching for him. The expression on his face flickered through many expressions. He reached for you, too. He looked hopeful, but the last thing you saw on his face was horror.

You suddenly collapsed to the ground, feeling paralyzed. They hit you with a stun?

Crosshair reached for your body. He almost grabbed your hand, but the troopers wrestled him away. You lost consciousness before you could see the outcome of Crosshair’s fate.

–part 2 maybe after finding out what happens to crosshair idk ily bye 

taglist: @ilovestarwarsmen725 @l-lend @arctrooper69 @nekotaetae @roguethe0tter @the-clone-zone

[questforgalas]

We'll be waiting for you

Summary: Crosshair didn't face the trudge back to the outpost alone

Notes: Welp this popped into my head after today. Enjoy some major brotherly support and major Crosshair feels

WC: 900

Tags: Crosshair, Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker

Warnings: Talks of an avalanche, talks of being buried alive, TBB S2E12 spoilers

Tay's Masterlist

On AO3

Weight. Crushing weight. That’s all he felt. Wrecker was going to pay for falling asleep on top of him again. Crosshair moved his arm to shove his giant of a brother off of him. Or he tried to. His arm felt trapped, wouldn’t move without extreme effort that Crosshair delved deep within himself to find. His limb felt buried. Buried? Oh right. He wasn’t being crushed under Wrecker’s weight. That was snow.

Tech’s voice rattled in Crosshair’s head. “Move your digits. If you can move your toes and fingers, your spinal chord is still intact. At this depth, you will not be crushed, but temperatures are still dropping, so you must move quickly. Punch through the snow.”

Crosshair tested his elbow, seeing how far the snow would let it bend. Giving just enough, he burrowed back to give him momentum. Then he punched. He wasn’t far down, only about a foot based on how far out his hand went. Punch. Both arms were free.

“Ok, Crosshair. Now heave. You’re not far down, you’ll be free shortly,” he heard Echo encouraging him.

He tried. He really did. But the snow was heavy and his energy was on reserves. This was it. All the missions, all the hair-brained ways he and his brothers go out of them, and this is how he’ll go. Buried under snow.

“Heave, Crosshair!” Echo shouted.

He dug deep, clenched his stomach and thighs, gritted his teeth, and lifted. Inch by inch, his back left its snowy bed, and his head broke the surface. Wind whipped at his face, snow pelting his eyes, but his lungs were finally full.

Crosshair looked around, gathered his bearings. It was cold. So cold. But he was alive, and he wasn’t alone.

“Check for the reg. There’s a chance Mayday made it,” Hunter’s gruff voice filled his head.

“Now you’re an avalanche expert?” He was already trudging through the snow to the rock Mayday pushed him away from, but it was instinct to jab at Hunter. “Just get over there,” was the gruff response.

His hands were going numb, the standard gloves doing nothing to protect in this weather. Still, he dug. Only a few inches were gone before he saw the top of Mayday’s head. He was breathing. Faster. Dig faster. Seconds went by before Mayday’s head fully surfaced. A weak cough jolted his body. “Go. I won’t make it”.

“I’m detecting multiple bone fractures, and his body temperature is critically low. He has a 13% chance of making it through the night. Even less so making it back to base,” Tech rattled off.

“You have to try. You can’t leave him out here,” Echo argued back.

“I was not suggesting we leave him. I was simply stating…”

“Both of you shut it. I can’t think with you prattling about,” Crosshair shushed them. But he was with Echo. He wasn’t going to leave Mayday.

Bending low, he placed Mayday’s arm around his shoulder, stabilizing them both. Balanced and upright, Crosshair started trudging. The avalanche settle wasn’t wide, but Crosshair lost the feeling in his toes 10 minutes ago, and it was creeping up his legs. Waist deep in snow, deadweight commander leaning, every step was a mile.

“It’s all in the legs. Just like back on Kamino when I’d carry you on my back between trainins! Come on, Crosshair. This ain’t nothin,” Wrecker’s booming voice cheered him on. A memory flashed through his mind. Young cadets, brothers, in the halls of Kamino. Lithe, gangly body dangling from his brother’s shoulders. It was enough. Another step. And another. Memories kept flashing. He kept trudging. All through the night. All through the day. 4 enhanced brothers with him every step.

The next night approached. “If you do not find shelter, you will perish,” Tech stated.

“You don’t say?” Crosshair sneered. He paused. Looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere. A rock formation to the left offered the best option. Tucking into the nook, Crosshair propped Mayday into his side. Body heat was their chance. However small it was.

“Stay awake,” a gruff voice entered his thoughts. “You’re almost there, Crosshair. Just get through the night.”

“You’d be miserable to deal with right now.”

Hunter sighed. “Not my fault my mutation makes me hate the cold. And I only stole your blanket once. Let it go.”

“One day, I’ll prove the Marauder instance.”

Hunter smirked. “You gotta get back to us first.”

They never left him. His brothers stayed through the night. Keeping him awake. Keeping him alive. The sun started appearing on the horizon. Crosshair found whatever energy remained, and readied himself. “Alright commander. One last push.”

Midday passed, and imperial shuttles flew overhead. The outpost was on just on the ridge. They made it.

His body was numb. His knees were buckling. Every breath was shards of glass.

“We did it,” Crosshair said. But not to Mayday. In his mind, he felt the pat on his shoulder. Saw the knowing smirk on Hunter’s face, never losing faith in his brother.

“Get up there, Crosshair. We’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.”

He hoped they were. He really hoped they were.