#The Bad Batch + Rebels | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

leapingbadger · 24 days ago

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The Fallen

Summary - Hunter regrets not being able to save the young Jedi on Kaller. It’s through Omega joining the rebellion that he finally gets some closure.

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Hunter pulled himself up into the storage locker over the top of the Marauder’s main cabin. Crates had fallen haphazardly on their side from Tech’s latest evasive maneuvers. He set about straightening them and shifting them back into place. He came across a long storage locker at the far end, Crosshair’s armor. He hesitated to touch it, before surging forward and methodically securing it into place.

He sat down and wiped sweat off his brow. The heat of Ord Mantel of late was oppressive, just another reason Hunter was hoping they could leave soon and find a more suitable base for themselves.

“Omega,” Hunter called down, “Comm Tech, tell him to pick up more power converters. We’re out up here.”

“On it,” she said, excitedly pressing the button of her comm and relaying the request to her brother. He heard his brother’s taciturn response and lowered himself back down into the ship, his heavy boots hitting the floor with a clang.

He sighed. How had this ship become such a mess? Half eaten ration bars, medical wipes, dirt and pieces of discarded detritus littered the floor. They’d have to clean it up before their next mission.

“Hunter?” Omega asked

“Hmm,” he responded, distractedly picking up bits of rubbish from the floor and throwing them out the door to the space port.

“Why did you take me off of Kamino?” she asked.

“What do you mean? it wasn’t safe,” he said simply without taking his eyes off his current task.

“I know,” she responded twisting the hem of her tunic in her fingers, “but why did you come back for me? What’s so special about me?”

Hunter turned to meet her eyes and took in the look on her face. He couldn’t decide if it was curiosity or something else. “You’re one of us Omega. If I’d known that at the time we wouldn’t have left you behind in the first place.” His words stung in his throat as he thought of Crosshair, the last member of Clone Force 99 on Kamino.

She signed and gave him a small smile, but she didn’t seem satisfied with his answer. “There wasn’t…another reason?” she asked quietly, not meeting his gaze.

Hunter sank into the nearby chair by the communications array. “Omega, tell me what you need to know.”

Her large brown eyes looked up at him sadly, her bright, blonde, cropped hair still too short to be tucked behind her ear, fell over her forehead.

“Tech told me about Kaller.”

“Okay,” Hunter said, “is this about… Crosshair?”

Omega looked alarmed and shook her head, “No it’s not that…Tech mentioned something, the other day. About a boy you tried to save…but couldn’t.”

Hunter felt his stomach clench as he finally understood. “How did this even come up?”

Omega shrugged, “Tech was going through Imperial files. He said he was checking on something for you.”

Hunter let out a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, kid. There was a boy, a Jedi. Caleb. We were on a mission, our last mission for the Republic actually when…when things changed…” Hunter paused and felt a rush of cold over his whole body as though he were back on that ice planet, standing at the cliff edge, begging to be heard by a scared kid.

“What happened?” Omega asked in a tiny voice, as though trying not to intrude on Hunter’s memories.

He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head, “The inhibitor chips activated in the middle of the mission. The Regs executed the General…” Hunter heard the General’s cries of ‘Run, Caleb,’ and tried to shake them off. “We tried to help the kid, but we didn’t know that Crosshair was… affected…didn’t understand what was happening. Caleb escaped; but…I couldn’t protect him. He didn’t trust me. When we met you, I thought maybe I could help protect you.” He said simply. Hoping he’d explained it right. Hoping she didn’t feel like a runner up or that their choice would have been different if they had managed to save Caleb as well.

“What happened to Caleb?” Omega asked, eyes wide.

“Tech checks the imperial records periodically for any mention of him. If he was captured, they’d make it known. So far, we haven’t found anything.”

“So, he survived?” she asked optimistically.

Hunter smiled, “I hope so.”

Hunter watched as Omega paused, clearly thinking through her next question carefully. She was still ringing her tunic through her hands as though nervous.

Hunter rested his hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up at him, “Omega, even if we had succeeded in helping Caleb, we would still have wanted to take you off Kamino. You weren’t a consolation prize. You’re a member of our squad, were a member of our squad even then. We just didn’t know it yet. Do you understand?”

Omega’s shoulders relaxed as he spoke, her smile becoming broad, pink patches appearing on her cheeks, “Okay, Hunter.”

He smiled and patted her shoulder. “Can you help me clear this mess up before the others get back?”

��Of course,” she said happily, flitting around the ship, making herself useful.

Hunter and Omega moved to opposite ends of the Ship. Hunter came across Tech’s secondary datapad resting on the pilot seat and turned it on. The imperial data was still up. He stood as the sun streamed through the window of the Marauders cockpit. Scrolling through the data slowly, not wanting to miss any hints or mentions. Finally, setting it down he breathed a sigh of relief. There was no mention of Jedi Caleb Doom.

“Are we done?” Omega asked, looking around the ship.

“Yeah, I think so. Let’s go find the others,” he said leading the young clone out in to steamy Ord Mantell.

***

The sunlight streamed into the pabu cottage. Hunter was fixing himself some caf when he felt a buzzing on the edge of his senses.

“Wrecker, check the comm. Omega’s calling,”

A few seconds later the comm on the common room table trilled, signaling a call.

“How do you do that?” Wrecker grumbled as he made his way out of this bedroom. He pressed the button to connect the call and grinned as Omega’s smiling face came into the frame.

“Now, there’s a site” he said joyfully, collapsing on the sofa behind him and reaching out to touch her face.

“Where’s Hunter?” she asked breathlessly. Wrecker looked taken aback and she quickly took a breath, “Sorry Wrecker. How are you?”

“I’m good,” he said, waving her bluntness away. “Hunter’s coming, just in the Kitchen,”

“I’m here,” Hunter said, striding into the room with his cup and sitting next to his brother. “How are you? You look tired,”

Omega rolled her eyes and took a breath, “There’s something I have to tell you.” she said, hands up for emphasis as she talked. “Where’s Crosshair?”

“Still sleeping,” Hunter interjected. “Should we wake him?”

“Um…probably not just yet.”

Wrecker and Hunter traded a glance and turned back to their kid. Her hair was pulled back into a braid that trailed down her back, her bangs still draped over her right eye. She wore a bright yellow jacket over a brown jumpsuit that looked old and stained.

“Are you okay? Anything happen?” Hunter asked, leaning forward to try and read her face. He noticed a bruise under her right eye but didn’t say anything. Noting it for later.

“No… I mean, yes something did happen but nothing bad. I just…I had to tell you,”

Hunter’s brow furrowed. She was dancing around whatever she wanted to tell him, and he felt a knot grow in his stomach. If she needed something, help, he couldn’t get to her in time. Although, it didn’t seem like she was in trouble.

“I found him,” She took a deep breath again, closing her eyes as though to center herself. “I found Caleb Dume, Hunter, He’s here. On the base. With Hera.”

“Wait, Hera from Ryloth?” Hunter’s eyes flicked left and right, trying to remember the green Twi’lek girl they had helped all those years ago.

“Yes,” Omega said jubilantly. “She’s in the rebellion. I ran into her yesterday, her and her crew. We got a chance to catch up this morning and her, I dunno, boyfriend maybe, his name in Kanen but she told me it used to be Caleb. That he changed it after the war because he was a jedi. He’s here, Hunter. He survived.”

The words spilled out of Omega’s mouth as though she couldn’t contain them any longer. Hunter felt like he had been struck in the face. He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his beard, thinking back to that fateful day. He felt a cool breeze sweep down his spine. Part of his chest released, as though he had been holding something there all these years.

“Hunter? Are you okay?” Omega said, shooting Wrecker with a worried look.

“Yeah. Yeah, kid. I’m…great. That’s…that’s amazing news.” He said with a smile.

“Do you want to talk to him, I can see if I can…”

“No.” Hunter said firmly. Again, Omega and Wrecker exchanged glances. “I don’t think he’d want to see us. I’m sure that’s something he’s been trying to forget.”

“But you tried to save him…”

“I know that, and you know that. He doesn’t know that. He didn’t feel that, or he would have come with us all those years ago. I think…I think it’s best if you just let it lie. He’s alive and that’s amazing news.”

Wrecker nodded solemnly next to him and clapped Hunter on the back.

“Okay,” Omega said, slightly deflated.

“Why don’t you tell us about your adventures.” Hunter said encouragingly, hoping to change the subject.

Omega’s face lit up and she spoke about her most recent mission for the rebellion. Hunter winced at the occasional close call and knew she was keeping the really dangerous information to herself for their sake. Crosshair joined the conversation halfway through, waking up to the sound of Omega’s voice and leaping out of bed.

They talked for a while, laughing about old times, drinking up the stories of Omega’s missions when an alarm blared behind her.

“Oh, that’s me. I have to go,” she said hastily.

“Bye Omega,” Wrecker called, waving at her.

“Be Safe.” Said Crosshair.

They both walked back to their respective rooms.

“Hunter?” Omega asked, the alarm still blaring in the background.

“Yeah, Kid?”

“Should I lie if they ask where I’m from? If Hera asks about you?”

Hunter smiled and took in the worry in her eyes. “You don’t have to lie about who you are Omega. We’re proud that you’re a member of our squad and I know you are too. Maybe just let Hera know and see if she has any suggestions on how to handle things. She was pretty perceptive as a kid.”

Omega smiled and nodded. “Will do,” She have a little salute that Hunter returned with a smile.

“We miss you, Kid. Stay safe. Come home soon.”

The connection broke and the room fell silent. Hunter sat back on the couch, elbows on his knees, head resting in his hands. After all this time, finally knowing that Caleb had survived to adulthood was overwhelming. He felt his chest constrict and tears prickle in the corner of his eyes. He took a deep breath, forcing them to pass. He had survived.

***

Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair stood back as the ship’s ramp lowered onto the stone top of Pabu. Blossoms from the weeping maya tree scattered in the warm breeze. The scent of honey and salt water wafting in the air.

Hunter smiled as he saw Omega as soon as she rounded the corner. She charged down the ramp her long blond hair streaking behind her as she leapt into his arms, almost knocking him over.

“It’s so good to see you,” She cried into his neck.

“New ship?” Hunter asked, gazing up at the yellow and red stiped freighter.

“Not exactly. I just bummed a ride,” she said, hugging Wrecker and Crosshair in turn.

She looked smug as she turned back to the ship in time to see a tall, green Twi’lek exit, an orange droid trailing obediently after her.

“Is that..?” Wrecker started.

“Hera Syndulla,” Hunter said with a smile. She was almost as tall as Omega and waved as she came down the ramp.

“What brings you here?” Hunter asked.

“I thought it was about time I brought your daughter back to you before she tried to get herself blown up again.” She said with a laugh, her Lekku swaying in the breeze.

Omega rolled her eyes but smiled all the same.

“Besides, I could do with a vacation, and I hear this is quite the restful spot.”

“It is when Omega’s not around,” Crosshair said sarcastically.

“You must be Crosshair,” Hera said, extending her hand. Crosshair took it and smiled over at Omega.

“Been telling stories?” he asked her.

“Only the good ones.” she replied, putting her arm around his shoulder.

“How long ya staying, Megs” Wrecker asked hopefully.

“Only a couple of rotations. The rest of the team are still on Lothal so we can’t be gone too long.”

“Do you want to head to the house? Or are you staying on the ship?” Hunter asked

“I think Hera is staying on the ship, but I’d like my own bed, at least for a couple of nights.” Omega said, and Hunter tried to suppress his joy. The house was never quiet, but it was certainly more so when Omega was gone. “But first, there’s something I want you to see on the Ship. Hunter? Maybe just you first?”

Hunter’s brow furrowed as he looked at Omega. She and Hera traded glances but smiled.

“I promise it’s nothing bad.” She said, taking his hand and leading him up the ramp. Hunter shrugged at his brothers and followed. They walked through the cargo hold and up into the body of the ship, past some living quarters. He paused as they came to the door of the common room.

“You know my senses aren’t completely dead, right?”

Omega gave an embarrassed smile and pressed the panel for the door release.

Sitting at the console table in the middle of the room was a man. Long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, much like his own. Lightsaber hilt hanging from his belt. His Intense eyes gazed at Hunter.

Hunter’s feet took him into the room without his body being conscious of it.

“Commander,” Hunter said in greeting with a slight nod of his head.

“Sergeant,” Caleb replied in a raspy voice.

“It’s just Hunter now,” Hunter said with a shrug, moving further into the room.

“Kanan,” he replied.

Omega and Hera hovered in the hallway, eyes flicking from one to another as though wondering if they needed to supervise.

“Its fine.” Kanan said, waving his hand, closing the door.

Hunter sighed. Trying not to stare at the face that had haunted him. His eyes were darker, his face more severe but he could easily see the young padawan in the bones on the jedi in front of him.

“I’m glad you survived,” Hunter said, his voice hoarser than he was expecting.

“Thanks. It wasn’t easy.”

“I bet,” Hunter said.

A silence fell in the room. The sounds of the ship, the murmur of conversation from Omega and Hera in the hallway, the squeaks of the moon-yos on the island seem tampered in the room, as though sound couldn’t penetrate the atmosphere.

“Omega told me about your squad.” Kanan continued, getting up from his seat and crossing over to Hunter. “can’t say I was surprised that you took in a helpless kid.”

Hunter shrugged. “She was one of us.”

“Yeah, so she said. She mentioned that you tried to find me in imperial files.”

Hunter nodded but didn’t say more. He felt uneasy, like he was in two places at once. Two versions of himself were colliding.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you,” he said, after a long pause.

Kanan shrugged, “If you had I wouldn’t be here. Wouldn’t have met Hera. The force works in mysterious ways…But thank you for trying.”

Hunter smiled. “Any time.”

Kanan laughed, “don’t let Here hear you say that. She’ll have you signed up for the rebellion in no time.”

Hunter laughed too, “Sorry, we’re officially retired.”

“Yeah, that’s what Rex said too.” Kanan said with a smile.

Time in the cockpit of the ghost passed easily after the initial shock had worn off. Kanan had caught Hunter up on his teams exploits on Lothal and some of Omega’s more harrowing missions she had neglected to mention. He’d be sure to ask her about that later.

“A padawan of your own.” He said, after listening to Kanan divulge the inner workings of a life with a young force user. “I bet General Balaba would be very proud of the life you’ve made for yourself.” Hunter said, hoping he wasn’t crossing the line in invoking her name.

“Thank you” Kanan said “I hope so. Any advice on raising a kid in a war zone?”

Hunter laughed, “Well technically Omega’s older than us, so you may have to ask her. The only advice I got was that she wasn’t a soldier and that I couldn’t expect her to act like one. We just followed that track, taught her what she needed to know to stay safe, trusted her intuition and expertise and fought for her with every fiber of our being. It wasn’t easy but it ended up okay…in the end.”

Kanan smiled. “I’ll take it under advisement.”

***

Two rotations went by too quickly for Hunter’s liking. He was just getting used to Omega being home when it was time for her to leave. She smiled as she left her bedroom that morning, bed bandana pushing her hair back off her face.

“Uh, I’m not ready for you to go yet,” he said to her as she swept into the kitchen and grabbed a mug of caf.

“I know, but we’re finally making some progress, we can’t give up now.”

“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”

“Where’s everyone else?” Omega asked, peeking around the corner into the common room.

“Up top with the Ghost,” Hunter replied.

“Did Crosshair and Kanan…”

“Yeah, a little. I don’t think either of them want to think about that time. We all just need to move on.”

Omega nodded, swallowing the last of her caf and wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

“We’re you raised in a barn?” Hunter asked, exasperated.

She laughed, “no, with a bunch of fugitives though.”

Hunter chuckled and followed her out the door, up the path and to the crest of Pabu.

***

Hunter woke with a start. It was the middle of the night. The comm in the common room had sprung to life. It could only be one person. He was out of bed and had sprung over the back of the couch before the comm chimed a second time.

“Hunter?” Omega wailed into the comm. Her face was tear stained; her hair disheveled, large black bags hung under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in days. The dark room was illuminated with nothing but the blue light of the comm.

“Omega, what is it? What’s wrong?” he asked desperation in his voice. He reached out to wipe the tears from her cheek, interrupting the feed as he did so. She flickered and disappeared before coming back.

“He’s dead,” she whispered. Hunter felt as though a brick had dropped into his chest. He knew who she was talking about, without having to ask. He just knew. “Kanan’s dead.”

She was completely incoherent now. Hunter tried his best to comfort her. “It’s okay Omega. Tell me what happened. Do you need us to come to you? Where are you? Are you safe? Is Hera safe?”

Minutes passed as Omega tried to regain control. He hadn’t seen her like this in years, not since Tech. She took deep, shuddering breaths and finally regained some control.

The noise had woken his brothers. Wrecker and Crosshair were both out of bed, Hunter sandwiched between them on the couch.

“…there was an explosion. They were trying to rescue Hera. He saved her. Saved them all but he was…he died.”

Hunter hung his head. Of course he died protecting his family. Hunter would have done the same thing.

“I’m sorry, Omega. Do you need to come home?”

“No. No, I’ll be fine.” she said, sniffing heavily. “I just… wanted to tell you. I know you…he was important to…”

“I’m fine, Omega. Focus on yourself and Hera. Come home when you’re ready. We miss you.”

His brothers nodded an affirmative. The call ended and Crosshair and Wrecker padded back to their rooms, lost in their own thoughts.

The room was dark but for the moonlight streaming in the kitchen window. Hunter padded quietly over to the far cabinet and pulled a bottle of spirit down. Uncorking it he poured himself and glass, opened the front door and strode out to the wooden bench on the patio. The moonlight danced on the waves below.

He closed his eyes.

“You ready for this Kid, we move fast.”

“Good, that’s the only way I know.”

Hunter ran his hand over his hair and sighed. “May the force be with you, Caleb.” he said, holding the glass up to the midnight sky. He lowered it to his lips and took a deep drink.

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