#our di'kut

[cora-vizsla]

Yes, it was all just a bad dream. This is cannon now.

Dush nuhoy'sure - Bad Dreams

Pairing: Paz Viszla x You, Paz Vizsla x Reader

Wordcount: ~1100

Tags: Light Angst, Fluff, Sorta Fix-It? (my little fic world is not canon-compliant anyway), "Mando'a for Beginners" 'verse,

A/N: A while ago I wrote a little thing where Paz needed some comfort after a bad dream, and then S3E7 happened, and Reader from my little Mando'a for Beginners fic suddenly had the worst dream of her life and Paz had to run and comfort her.

You're gonna have to rip Paz from my cold dead hands before I let this di'kut (affectionate) go.

Translations at the end. Also available on AO3 (link in the replies).

---

Ch. 1: Paz

"Can I hold you?"

The familiar deep voice sounds sleepy and choked up. Sitting in the space ship's small common room, you look up from the square you're crocheting and see Paz standing in the corridor. He just woke up, it seems, wearing only his PJs and his helmet. His shoulders are slumped, arms hanging on his sides, but his hands are opening and closing nervously.

"Always." You nod and put your yarny project on the table. A few strides take you over to him. He seems glued to his place but his hands reach out and pull you close as soon as you're within his reach.

You wrap your arms around his waist, squeezing lightly. He sighs and holds you tight, fingers digging into your shirt, bunching the fabric.

You start running slow, calming circles on his back with your hands, and after a while he starts to relax a bit.

Minutes pass.

Eventually you retreat just enough to look up to him. The visor is dark, but you can make out a hint of visor-tinted eyes. You always find them.

"What's up?" you whisper.

He sighs, then grumbles "Bad dream."

You hum acknowledgingly. "You wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Later?"

"... Mm-hm."

"'Kay."

You stay put where you are, wrapped up in his arms, worried, but also basking in his warmth and closeness.

The helmet hisses and you feel a kiss pressed on to the top of your head.

"Thank you." It's short, quick and unmodulated, and if it weren't for the helmet-closing hiss you would have thought you dreamt it.

You look up again, once you're sure the helmet is in its proper place again, and with tippy-toes reach to the front of his helmet with your own forehead. He returns the keldabe, lowering his head so you're more comfortable.

"Always," you whisper and he groans and holds you tighter, wishing the pictures from the dream to disappear, but they keep playing again and again in his head:

You, falling into endless blackness and he, skydiving behind you, never reaching you, jetpack fuel running out....

---

Ch. 2: You

"Paz!"

The thick door closes shut with a loud clang and then there is silence. No sound, even as you desparately bang your fists at the ungiving metal. No sound, even as you scream, and claw at it, willing it open.

Willing Paz to get out of there. Willing the assaillants to just fall dead and leave him be. 

But the door is unyielding and you watch in horror as Paz is slowly overwhelmed and you can't do anything and you scream and scream and scream.

And then he falls. Hits the ground. You can feel the thud. It ripples through the door like an earthquake from its epicenter right through to you and your heart stops.

Shatters into a thousand pieces sifting through your bruised bloodied hands.

---

You jerk awake with a gasp, cold sweat clinging to you like the nightmare's claws.

"Laarika!"

The door of the sleeping compartment that you and Paz share, whirrs open and Paz all but falls in, highly alarmed, blaster drawn.

Your throat is dry and sore, you're desoriented, the light from the corridor burning in your tear-filled eyes. You can't even sit up and so you just lie there, breathing heavily, heart racing.

"What's wrong?" Paz looks around with practiced but somewhat frantic precision for whoever hurt you, knowing all well that there should be only you and him on this ship.

"Paz...", you choke and he sits down and pulls you gently to his chest. You wrap all fours around him and cling to him, digging into his flightsuit, and he holds you, holds you, holds you tight, as you bury your face into his flak vest and cry.

You cry out the feeling of utter helplessness, of loss and anger, and he sits there solid like a rock amidst the waves of your tears, worried about you and whatever may have caused this sudden onslaught.

It's the last moment of the dream you can't shake off, when he just clonks to the ground like a ragdoll and doesn't move anymore - it plays in your head again and again and again and again.

"But he's here!" you scream at yourself inside through the brainfog, "he's here he's here he's here", and you cling even more and your muscles start to hurt and twitch but he's here, and he's warm and alive and he rubs gentle circles on your back and..

"Laarika. Breathe."

You try to breathe in - and eventually fresh air does reach your lungs, even tough it's through hitched sobs.

He's here, and you can feel him, and smell him and hear him and..

You look up, find his eyes in the visor, locked on to you and worried. He cups your cheeks and gently wipes away some tears with his thumbs.

"I've never heard you scream like this. It rang through all the way to the cockpit!"

"I saw you die," tears refill your eyes as your lips start to tremble again. "I saw you die, and i couldn't get through to you. Through the thick door. I couldn't get through, I couldn't .. there was just this thick door and silence and shadows coming for you from everywhere and I couldn't do anything... "

He remembers his own bad dream he had a while ago.

"That's the worst thing about nightmares," he mumbles quietly. "Being helpless. Not able to do anything..."

You nod weakly.

Silence falls around you, as you both hang in your own thoughts, the background hum and beeping of the ship wrapping around you like a safe blanket.

Then Paz's arms tighten around you.

"Couldn't reach you, too," he grumbles. You look up and see his eyebrows knitted together through the tinted visor. "The other night, I mean. You plunged and plunged, always out of reach. And I was too slow. Just.. too slow... " You can hear his grinding teeth even through the helmet.

You sneak a hand under his buy'ce and cup his scruffy cheek. "You got to me now..."

He nods and leans into your hand, calming down himself now.

"Thank the stars this door opened voluntarily." He chuckles and you can only imagine what he'd have done to the door had it been less willing to open.

He bows his head and connects his forehead to yours, and, breathing in, you find that you've calmed down, too.

"You okay now?"

"Yeah," you whisper. "You?"

"Hm," he confirms.

"Can we snuggle a bit?"

He doesn't answer, but switches off the light and climbs into the bed, placing the helmet under it.

You curl up, and he curls around you, and soon you fall asleep again, feeling safe and secure between the cool shipwall and the warm wall that is Paz.

---

Translations and pronunciations (if available) from www.mandoa.org, and The Total Guide to Mandalorian Language by Tal'jair Rusk:

dush --- [doosh] --- bad, wrong nuhoy'sure --- dreams (I made this up xD) from: nuhoy -- [noo-HOY] -- sleep (n.) sur -- [soor] -- sight, picture before the eyes, something the eyes see at the given moment -e -- plural suffix after consonants

keldabe -- headbutt (in this case, softly bringing each other's foreheads together xD)

Laar'ika -- Little Song, Paz's nickname for Reader, from: laar -- [lar] -- song and -'ika -- diminutive suffix

[cc1010fox]

Hound, watching Fox tear off a spaulder and toss it aside: Uh...? Fox: Someone get me another spaulder! Some di'kut shot at me and ruined it. Hound, when someone runs over with their own spaulder to offer Fox: Does this happen often? Thire: When he's lucky. When Fox has the chance to get some action, he takes it, no matter how dangerous it is. Hound: And then he just...changes out his armor? Thorn: Look, we all wish we could wear our battle scars on our armor, but we have to look presentable on Coruscant. Hound: Huh...Makes sense. Hey, Fox! Need some help painting it? Fox: No. I have this design down like a signature. Thorn, whispering: It's a stamp. Fox: It is not a stamp. Thorn, whispering: It's a stamp. Hound, nodding: Ohhh...

[the-mandawhor1an]

Din and Maia's first anniversary! 🥳🥳

TLDR: Roleplay anniversary; Wolke being sappy; One shot/drabble in the end

Today marks the actual anniversary of @zaddymandalorian and I's Mando roleplay. I know I made a post 6 months ago but I feel like I should celebrate this actual milestone even more than the 6 months!

Also, yesterday was the 2,5 year anniversary of the 'Maia Prime' fanfic 👀

A whole year, it feels unreal, especially considering what our mousies have been through in this year 🥹 Family reunions, so many tears, both of joy and pain. Maia cries a lot anyway, we all know that. So many revelations (that are spoilers to the current state of the fic so I'm holding my breath)

What I can do however, because it's spoiler free, is give you a few statistics about the roleplay. For the number sluts.

Story-wise we're just now reaching the plot of BOBF, which means a lot of reunions are happening right now.

Sounds like we're slow, right?

WRONG

We're just yappers and live for filler content that sheds more light on their relationship and Maia's past rather than strictly following the canon plot.

We're now over THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND WORDS in, which, to put it into perspective, means, we've now written more than The Two Towers and The Return of the King COMBINED.

We're 1210 posts in, on average about 300 words per post

This means we average on 3.3 posts per day

(In the beginning we were at 9 per day)

but then again, back then we only had this one rp which isn't the case any more

Zaddy, I love you so much you have no idea 😭 As much as Maia loves her Di'kut, as much as Peachy kind of loves Grumpy (even if she refuses to acknowledge it right now) and as much as Aurelia will love Acacius. It feels kind of unreal that we've been friends for over 8 years now.

Another commission by @kenobiwanx is in the works, I can't wait to see what magic Gio will work this time around. It's Maia and Din but with a little twist.

What a year it has been in general. My Tumblr-versary is also coming up in a few weeks, and I have to say I'm so glad I ended up on here. There's so many people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. People I consider friends 🥹

@rivnedell @evolnoomym @guiltyasdave @djarins-cyare @djarins-wife

@immarocketman @roughdaysandart @penvisions @clawdee @notjustjavierpena

@jksprincess10 @toomanystoriessolittletime

(and probably a lot of people I'm forgetting right now)

And now, because I can't not sprinkle another fic in here, we're making Maia Prime have her little moment. I talked about her on Maia Monday, she is the first version of the character. The RP and also the Fic version of her (and Din, if we're being very particular) differ character-wise. You'll see what I mean.

Also, the narration is a little different, I was young and dumb okay.

So now, we're looking into how Maia Prime and Din Prime met.... (MDNI, blood and injury mentioned)

Anyone else would have left the planet by now. The bounty hunters became more thorough in their searches … and me? I was simply too stubborn to leave for a safer hiding spot. He would return, I was certain of it. If he didn't do it on his own volition, they would bait him, lead him back here. Ever since he escaped with the child, the Imperials had doubled their head count. This forced me to avoid the city center, stay in the outskirts where I was alone. Safe. 

Only rarely, as today was such an occasion, I went further inside the city. Information about the fight and the Mandalorian was sparse, but not enough to evade my curious ears. 

The presence of the Empire made me uneasy, but my task was greater than a little discomfort. 

Or great discomfort, as it would turn out. 

At this point my purpose was not clear, but I assumed it had to do with that little green thing. There was an undeniable connection I felt with this child, perhaps that also explained why I had found this Mandalorian all these years ago. He would lead me to my purpose.

The fight that had broken out last time the bounty hunter visited must've been because of the child. That had to mean it was somewhat valuable to the Empire. Perhaps it was a child of the force, like me. Of course the Empire would be interested in that. They could train and shape us according to their wishes, given they found us early enough. 

My fate mustn’t repeat. I knew I had to help them.

At the break of day Karga had left the city with two of his men, according to my slightly uncooperative source of information. Nothing a little convincing couldn't fix. 

Something was about to happen today. Maybe tomorrow. More and more Imps assembled in the city, positioning themselves in every nook they could conquer. Everything smelled of a trap and this meant danger for me as well. I should have left Nevarro behind a while ago; my stubbornness and curiosity getting the better of me, I stayed. And stayed. And hoped my persistence meant I would finally find the courage to cross paths with him properly. 

Troopers were scattered all across, causing me to transverse the city via the rooftops, sneaking past their watchful eyes. 

This setup meant trouble, but not for me if I played my cards right. I hid on a roof near the square in the city center, ducking behind a wall to get a more secure look at the scenery beneath me. The tension in the air was palpable, my heart pounded similarly to when the Mandalorians had ambushed the guild and I had stupidly made my presence known. But right now, no one cared to look for me. The guild knew someone was in the city. Who I was didn’t matter to them. 

Karga returned around mid-day. I watched his every move as he led the shackled Mandalorian into the bar that functioned as the guild’s headquarter. An unfamiliar woman followed them inside, as did a hovering capsule. At first I assumed the child to be in there, but I didn’t sense it in there. Maybe the capsule was insulated in some way. 

What was going on here? 

I could not see nor hear what happened in the building, but I had a perfect view of what was happening on the square in the front. Troopers gathered and took position, waiting for an order, perhaps. I just assumed inside they were making some kind of deal, perhaps the Mandalorian was dropped off for a bounty. He probably had quite the amount of credits on his head. Judging by his skills I had observed last time, however, I expected him to have a few tricks up his sleeve. A man like him wouldn’t not put up a fight. 

Not knowing what was going on inside caused a little ache to blossom in my head. I couldn’t just barge in there without knowing what I would run into. Ultimately, I could ruin a perfectly curated plan with my presence, or my interruption. As fate would decide, I didn’t have to think about this any further. The Troopers outside covered the building with blaster fire, destroying the windows, the transparisteel shattering into a million pieces. From every alley more approached, an ambush, just as I had suspected. 

The impact of this trap would soon reveal itself as a TIE-Fighter drew closer and landed on the small square. Dust kicked up as the fighter touched ground, a small cloud forming. Someone exited the vehicle. Someone I would never have expected. 

Moff Gideon appeared, his black high-gloss armor reflected as it had just been polished before this very appearance. I never understood what the Empire found in black high-reflective surfaces. It was so impractical and quite frankly, looked odd in most settings. 

This surprise guest made me wonder.

What interest could Gideon have in a Mandalorian, more specifically in this Mandalorian? 

My educated guess was the child. My intuition must’ve been right about it. »You have something I want.« His voice was so loud, I could hear him perfectly fine even from my somewhat elevated hideout. »In a few moments it will be mine.« It? Did he actually talk about the child?

Silence fell over the square, a deafening, choking silence that reminded me a lot of my room in the facility. The only sound that was heard at this moment were some noises that echoed from inside the bar. A handful of Troopers began setting up an E-Web turret. This could only end badly. The commotion inside got louder, blaster shots hitting metal. »Your astute panic suggests that you understand your situation. I would prefer to avoid any further violence, and encourage a moment of consideration,« Gideon calmly explained, eyeing his men setting up the turret. When it was finished and loading, he continued. »Members of my escort have completed assembly of an E-Web heavy repeating blaster. If you are unfamiliar with this weapon, I am sure that Republican Shock Trooper Carasynthia Dune of Alderaan will advise you that she has witnessed many of her ranks vaporize mid-descent facing the predecessor of this particular model.« A Republican soldier? »Or perhaps the decommissioned Mandalorian hunter, Din Djarin, has heard the songs of the Siege of Mandalore, when gunships outfitted with similar ordnance laid waste to fields of Mandalorian recruits in The Night of a Thousand Tears.« My heart stopped for a beat. Din Djarin. That was his name. »I advise disgraced Magistrate Greef Karga to search the wisdom of his years and urge you to lay down your arms and come outside. The structure you are trapped in will be razed in short order and your storied lives will come to an unceremonious end.« 

The voices from inside the hideout were too far away and pointed in the wrong direction for me to understand anything, but judging by Gideon’s responses, I could probably reconstruct what they were asking. »Reasonable negotiation.« Okay, so they wanted to make a deal. »If you're asking if you can trust me, you cannot. Just as you betrayed our business arrangement, I would gladly break any promise and watch you die at my hand. I will act in my own self-interest, which at this time involves your cooperation and benefit.« Gideon waited for a moment, until he turned in one swift motion. »I will give you until nightfall, and then I will have the E-Web cannon open fire.« He retreated from the E-Web, but didn’t leave the scene entirely. 

Someone of his caliber might know who I was and that meant trouble. If he recognized me, maybe his plan would change to instead capture me. 

I should have left while I still could. But I didn't, I never did.

From the outskirts of the city the roar of a speeder moved towards us, the sound of blaster fire following suit shortly thereafter. A droid approached the city from the desert. Slowly I felt the presence of the child, growing stronger with every meter the droid got nearer. Did it have the child? The troops on the square were distracted by the commotion and turned to face the stranger. 

Suddenly, Karga and Mando ambushed the Stormtroopers, spilling out of the bar door and opening fire instantly. I found myself watching the Mandalorian for a moment, taking down a Trooper in close combat, completely hypnotized by the sight. He made it look so easy. My eyes only moved from him when I heard the droid drop to its knees. 

The Mandalorian noticed at the same time and ripped the E-Web from its mount and sprayed blaster fire into the Imperials. The Rebel Shock Trooper joined the shootout. Finally I regained control over my body and moved across more rooftops to avoid getting hit in the crossfire. I wasn’t sure a saber could block that kind of projectile and I was not trying to find out the hard way. 

Gideon drew in closer to the commotion again, shooting at the Beskar helmet to grab the Mandalorian’s attention. Mando was about to whip around with the E-Web still in his hands, when Gideon fired a round into the transformer and the whole turret blew up. 

»No!« escaped my lips before I could stop it when I watched the Beskar armor fly through the air, only to make hard contact with a wall. Djarin slumped over, clearly unconscious, likely concussed, possibly dead. My scream didn’t go unnoticed, as Gideon turned my way while I watched Karga and the woman pull the completely limp body back into the bar. It was terrible to see. 

»Well, well, who do we have here?« he greeted me with a sly grin. I jumped down the roof, saber in my hand, ready to use it. »Leave the Mandalorian and child alone, Gideon,« I said rather than answering his question. As it would turn out, I didn’t have to introduce myself anyway. »Looks like I’ve found a runaway experiment. Are you ready to come home, sweetheart?« He was distracted from the three in the bar, which was enough for me at the moment. I could deal with him, they could deal with the Troopers. 

»If you’re so concerned about the child, I’ll make sure you get to witness me taking it from Djarin’s cold, dead hands. Have you heard the noise his helmet made when it hit the wall? I doubt he’s taking more than his last breaths right now. How about we capture both you and the child, I will find some use for you.« He turned his head towards the Troopers, ordering them to burn them out. 

A Trooper equipped with a flame thrower approached the bar. The blaster fire stopped and I used this little moment of silence to feel for life in there. The child was there, but beside it was a weak presence which I assumed would be Mando. He was in pain and barely there, like a flickering candle running out of oxygen. The doorway was opened with a few explosives, through which the Flame Trooper could now enter. Then, something happened that Gideon had not expected and neither had I: The Trooper was suddenly engulfed in his own flames, reaching all the way back to his fuel tank, resulting in the detonation and death of said Trooper. 

I took the chance to retreat in the chaos to not end up being caught. I force-threw Gideon to the ground just in case. The Troopers were distracted. I felt the child and companions had made it out of the bar, somehow. Not knowing where the underground system would otherwise lead, I ventured out to the lava fields, assuming they’d go there to get out of the city. Part of the troops was sent into the underground system while the rest re-grouped at the lava fields. I circled around the city in a different route to meet with them. I kept my head low, not interested in actually being captured and put ‘to use’, as Gideon had called it. 

I hid behind some rocks to wait at the end of the tunnel leading out into the open. I felt the child close, sure they would surface soon. 

About a dozen of Troopers waited out here. I would be able to take down about 3, maybe 4, if I played my cards right. I snuck closer when the IG-unit emerged from the tunnel and before I could register that its self-destruct timer was running out, it blew up, the detonation throwing me to the ground, shrapnel shooting through the air. Something hit my head, I didn’t know whether it was metal, rocks, or parts of a Trooper. I might have fainted for just a second, I was disoriented and dizzy. 

Slowly I rose to my feet and walked forwards, only to be incapacitated by a stabbing pain when my leg lost footing on a loose rock. I looked down to my disobeying leg to find a piece of metal lodged in my groin on the left side. Damn. While the pain was manageable if I didn’t lose balance, this was likely just adrenaline dulling the pain to hit me with the mass of a star destroyer later. 

I barely registered the TIE-Fighter that Mando had taken down, nor did I register him being awake and more specifically able to take down a star ship with just a few detonators. The group of people stood off to the side of the TIE’s wreckage, talking. I couldn’t make out the words at first, but when I came closer I heard the Mandalorian speak for the first time. »– do you know who the woman was back in the city?« I held the wound with my hand, trying to stop the bleeding, with my cape pulled over it to cover it up. »That would be me,« I quietly announced, unfortunately not really graceful in my introduction. Mando turned and eyed me up and down. »Are you a Jedi?« he asked. If only I could think straight. Everything was spinning around me. »Something similar,« I replied, Karga also joining the conversation. »She has to be, I saw her light saber.« »Listen,« I pressed forwards, touched my forehead with my free hand, feeling blood on my finger tips. How many wounds were on me that I wasn’t aware of? 

It was bad. »I’ll tell you everything you need to know, but I need your help first. I got injured.« He exchanged a look with his allies, then looked back to me. Judging by the position of his helmet, he eyed the gash on my hairline. 

Mando checked his vambrace and sighed with his whole body, shoulders drooping and back arching. »Are you afraid of heights?« »Not that I would know.« »I can fly us to my ship if you can’t walk. But I have to be sure you don’t pass out.« »I think I can manage.« 

I had expected more resistance, more hesitation to just help me, a complete stranger. 

He handed the child over, forcing me to remove my hand from my wound, inwardly apologizing to the small green thing for having to hold it in my dirty hands. all it did was look at me with its gigantic dark brown eyes. It seemed weaker now that I could sense it so clearly, what had happened? 

What also didn’t register was when Mando had picked me up onto his arms. I was hypnotized by the large dark orbs staring into my soul. »Are you ready?« his modulated voice tore me back to reality. I nodded carefully. »Are you sure you have enough fuel?« »Yes. Hold onto the child.« 

And we were off. 

_______________________________

Some time later we landed next to the Razor Crest, one of the side ramps lowering for us to enter. I could barely walk at this point but held it together to not let lt show. »The child has to sleep, put it in here,« the Mandalorian ordered while pointing into a little cot, a makeshift bed made out of a small med-bay, it seemed. I sat the child down onto the bed, he subsequently closed the bay door with a click on his vambrace. His helmet nodded in the direction of a small ladder. »I have a medkit up in the cockpit. Careful, you might have a concussion.« I had to use both hands to climb up, tried to distract myself from the pain by asking him »what about your head?« He waited for me to reach the top of the ladder until he replied. 

»IG-11 had bacta and used it on me.« He followed me up the ladder. »I’ve never heard of an IG unit that wasn’t a bounty hunter,« I said while I stumbled towards the cockpit, leaning against every wall I could reach. My vision was blurring as I slumped into the passenger chair, the impact sending sharp pain through my spine. My senses were blocked for a second, but his helmet shot into my direction, I must’ve moaned in pain just now. 

»He was a nannybot for the child. I am its protector, so I had to be saved,« his voice was low and a little softer now we were in such close proximity. He kneeled next to the seat and wiped over my forehead with a cloth. It felt nice to have something cold on my head. »Where’s your injury?« He was so close, I could hear his voice underneath the helmet. »It… should be under the cloth?« His scoff made me flinch despite not being able to feel the air he had expelled. »I mean the one that’s causing you to stumble around and smear blood everywhere on my ship.« I felt his gaze burning into me despite the helmet hiding his eyes from my view. My heart was pounding into my ears at this point, either due to the blood loss or his intense stare. My head rolled a little to the back when I pulled my cape back to reveal the metal that was stuck in my groin. His helmet dipped down and it felt like eternity passed before he had assessed the situation. »I’m… not sure I can fix this. But the child can,« he said and shot up, going to the ladder before I could even react. »Mando…« I called after him, my head rolling to the side along the head rest. I saw his shoulders tense for just a second when he halted and turned to me. »I can do that too. Give me some rest, we have to get away from here first. There’s too many Imps out there.« He looked at me, took two shallow breaths, then walked over to his seat and growled. »Don’t fall unconscious.« 

Despite wanting to stay awake, the forces on my body when the Razor Crest took off took me right out. When I awoke, we were somewhere in space, engulfed in darkness apart from the small lights on the cockpit. Mando had turned to me, two fingers on my neck to check for my pulse. »I told you not to do that,« he growled in frustration. All I could focus on, however, was the sensation of his naked fingers on my skin. They were scarily warm compared to my body. How much blood had I lost? 

»I have to pull the metal out, it poisons your blood. I doubt you or the child have any strength left to heal you. I don’t have any bacta. I don’t know if it even works on such deep wounds.« I might have been imagining this, but it felt like I could hear genuine desperation in his voice. I laughed softly. »Isn’t it ironic? The droid that saved your life is my downfall, injuring me lethally by self-destructing. If I had known I could’ve hid behind some rocks. Or a Trooper, at least.« He listened, despite me not saying anything helpful in this situation. 

I took a deeper breath. »There is another way, but you have to trust me.« »Tell me,« he replied instantly, leaning more towards me. »I’m not strong enough, you’ve said that, and we both know it. But you –« He interrupted me before I could even finish my sentence. »I’m not a Jedi, I don’t have your magic.« »The force connects every living being, even you. I can heal myself through you, it’s probably not comfortable for either of us and we’ll most likely pass out. There is no other way unfortunately, or I don’t see any other way. I know you don’t know me.« »You’re right, I don’t. Not even your name.« He leaned back, bringing more distance between us again. He laid his glove down on his thigh and sighed. Realistically, why should he trust me? I looked into the visor and spoke, »I won’t blame you if it’s too much of a risk, it’s okay. Perhaps I can deal with this until we reach the next space port and we leave the shrapnel in there for now.« 

Silence fell onto the cockpit. It was like I could hear his thoughts race, debating what to do next, until he fully turned towards me. »Tell me what to do.« I reached out both hands for him to help me up. My legs were numb at this point so I needed his support. I walked over to the wall and slowly slid down until I sat on the ground. »Sit with me. Fall’s shorter if we’re on the ground already.« Mando knelt beside me, taking his other glove off. »Don’t break my trust, Jedi,« he warned me, spitting out the last word like venom. As much as I despised needing his help, I had no other choice. This, or death. »Believe me, this is just as uncomfortable for me, Mandalorian. Pull the shrapnel out and then press your hands onto the wound. Hard. Trap as much blood in there as you can.« I closed my eyes and waited until I felt him hold onto the metal. I inhaled sharply, it felt like the metal was stuck inside my bone and every little vibration made my nerves go insane. »On the count of three,« Mando breathed. »One–« »Bastard!« As soon as the word had left his lips, he ripped the metal out with one strong pull. His hands were warm and pushed into my body hard, blood pooling in between his fingers and running down my skin. Tears ran down my cheeks, the pain was unbearable. I placed my hands on his and focused on my wound, feeling the energy that was flowing through his body. 

Why? Why did I have to put my nose in other people’s business? Why did I interfere and get myself almost killed? 

They were safe. They were unharmed for the most part. I felt the warmth of his body slowly transfer over to my cut, a sign it was working. »Maia,« I softly said. »What?« »You said you didn’t know my name. It’s Maia.« It wasn’t much, but I felt like it was a small gesture to suggest I had some trust in him. I was thankful for his help, that much was certain. The pain slowly subsided, dissolved into fatigue. Breathing became easier, my head didn’t feel as heavy, but my eyes refused to open. The last thing I heard was a »what the –« and the sound of metal crashing against metal. I lost consciousness not long thereafter to no one’s surprise. 

I awoke some time later, not sure how much had passed, but it couldn’t have been too long. My body felt a little better. Not entirely normal or well-rested, but I was alive. My vision was back to normal and I felt somewhat fine, not dizzy. Sleep would still be good, but I didn’t feel safe in here. As I slowly straightened my back, I felt a shoulder dig into my side and weight on my thigh. Looking down, I saw Mando slumped over, his head practically on my lap, inverted, his helmet dragged down just a bit by gravity. I knew he didn’t show his face, so the fact I could see the dark curls in the back of his neck meant I had to be careful, otherwise the helmet would just fall off entirely. 

Despite my sheer endless curiosity telling me to just take a peek, I grabbed the rim of the metal to pull it back up. He had to be a human, or a hybrid at least. My fingers grazed his skin for a split second. I lifted the helmet and his head inside it carefully until I could scoot away under him and place him down so he would not lose his bucket when waking up. 

The rag he had used to wipe over my forehead laid on the headrest of the passenger seat. I grabbed it and started wiping down all the blood-smears I had left on the ship on my ascent. 

A noise startled me when I had reached the bottom of the ladder, the child was awake and still locked away in the cot. It was fussing, understandably so, far away from the adults and probably in the dark. It took a moment for me to find the switch to open the door and then two gigantic brown eyes looked up at me. I sat down in front of the bay to be on its eye-level. It reached out its small hand and I offered one of my fingers for it to grab onto. 

Thankfully it could communicate non-verbally and could tell me a bit more. About him. He wondered where his protector was, who I was. I could feel a lot of pain, a repressed trauma, similar to how my past felt to me. He was a child, much younger than me, I assumed. I told him I wanted to protect him and the Mandalorian. Despite being a stranger, the little one could feel my intentions and seemed very relaxed with my presence. I owed the Mandalorian my life, why would I want to harm him or this precious child? »Maia?« I heard a voice behind me. »Step away from the child,« his voice had dropped an octave and sounded tense. I turned my head towards him and saw him brandish a blaster, pointed at me. 

The child let go of my finger, allowing me to get up slowly, my hands raised. Mando shut the cot again, locking the child in yet again. I kept my hands up, even when his blaster went back into its holster. »How long was I out?« he asked. »I can only guess, about an hour, maybe. I myself woke up maybe fifteen minutes ago. I just wiped away the blood and then I heard the child fussing in there.« 

Did my explanation matter? Did he care? 

»Up,« he ordered and nodded towards the ladder. I did as he told me, reluctantly so, and waited for him to do … something. I could hear his breathing underneath the helmet, he was furious. I heard him wash his hands before he followed me up into the cockpit. I just stood in the open space behind the seats, waiting for him to come up. It’s not like I could run anywhere, we were out in space. 

When he came to me, he closed the door behind him, leaving me and him locked into this small confined space, that now felt even smaller. He approached me, his body tense and broad, and all I could do was take a step back. And another, and another, until I felt the hull press into my back. What was his plan now? 

»Did you touch my helmet?« »No, – Yes, but not in the way you think.« I shook my head and looked into that black visor. Why? Why did I ask him for help and got myself trapped with him now? His hand leaned against the wall behind me above my shoulder when he asked »are you sure? I remember you pulling on it.« »I am. I pulled it back onto your head. You were slumped over, on my leg, and it was about to fall off. Neither did it look comfortable nor did I want to wait until you moved back and it would just fall off.« »And the first thing you do when I’m unconscious is go for the child, when I can’t stop you.« He came closer, his chest plate now slowly pushing against my chest. I could no longer walk backwards to avoid him. 

»Mando, please, just listen to me. Neither do I want to anger you, nor give you the feeling I would abuse your trust. I touched your helmet to keep it from just dropping. I did not see your face if that’s your concern. You just saved my life, do you think I would betray you right after that? Especially when I’m confined to a small space with you and no escape?« »I’ve seen you fight, don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure your sword and the magic can do a lot of harm.« »The force. Not magic.« »Whatever,« he growled and pressed me into the wall, pushing air out of my lungs, but not yet suffocating me. I saw my breath fog up his helmet for a second. I felt his breathing, I heard the air move underneath the helmet. I think I could even smell him, I was so close. 

»Promise you didn’t see my face?« »I promise.« »Good. Otherwise I would’ve killed you.« »Would that change anything?« »No. But it would grant me a bit of satisfaction.« He didn’t move, nor could I. I watched his helmet fog up a few times until I could muster up the courage to ask him »Mando?« »Yes?« »Why are you pinning me against the wall?«

Silence fell upon the Razor Crest, the only noise audible was the low hum of the engine and our shallow breaths. He was so close I could feel his heart beat against my chest. That or my own heart was pounding.»Do you trust me, Maia?« More silence. What was I supposed to say? I trusted him enough to ask for help and I hadn't been disappointed. But now, pinned against a wall, I was unsure what to make of it. He didn't move. »It doesn't feel like I have a choice but to say yes.«»You always have a choice.« I swallowed. »Will you give me some space to breathe if I do?« »Find out.«

I sighed. »Fine. I do trust you.«

»Close your eyes.«

That confused me. It took a moment for me to register what he said, another to process how he had said it. Reluctant but too curious for my own good, I closed my eyes, unsure what to expect. As soon as my vision turned black, my other senses heightened and I had a mental image form. His hand, still as warm as I had remembered, came to rest atop of my eyes, making sure I was completely blind. I heard a hiss and then some rustling until his chest pressed further into me.

»Call me Din,« he practically purred into my ear, his breath suddenly sensible on my skin, warm and close. His voice was unfiltered, deep and gravelly, the rumble in his chest sending shivers done my spine.

He had taken the helmet off.

What was he doing? Had he not threatened to kill me a few moments ago? To be fair, his hand covered my eyes completely, there was no way I would see his face unless he took his hand off. Still, what was he trying? I didn’t have to wait long for an answer. His weight shifted and I felt his beard scratching my face shortly before soft lips touched mine. 

Out of all the possibilities I had thought about – him killing me or even worse – I never expected him to kiss me so gently. To be honest, it was probably the only thing I was certain of not happening. 

And even more confusing was the fact that I liked it. 

My hand searched for something to hold onto in the darkness, finding his waist and gently squeezing him. I heard him gasp quietly. 

What was he doing? What was I doing? What were we doing? 

It couldn’t have been more than 5 seconds before he leaned back and our lips detached. He didn’t retreat much, I could still feel his heavy breathing on my skin. »Now we’re even,« he whispered as he leaned back further. I heard more rustling and a hiss before my eyes were uncovered. He moved away, finally giving me space to catch my breath. When I opened my eyes, he was back on his seat, looking into the vastness of space. 

[the-five-oh-first]

i love to assume that the 501st has and will continue to get into fights about their jedi or on their behalf.

Echo: Fives! Vod, he ain't worth it!

Fives: Lemme go, di'kut! Did you hear what he said about the Commander--

Kix: No need to hold him back, Echo.

*Screaming in the background*

Kix: Our darling captain is already solving it.

[coffeeandbatboys]

Riye

(Mando'a; favor after a run of bad luck)

K'oyacyi: a literal order to stay alive

Warnings: mentions of death, Fives Lives!AU fix it. There is a lot of Mando'a in this. Set when Echo and Rex are split from the bad batch. Echo makes some bad jokes about his death. No clonecest here just really close brothers. Cloneshippers DNI I will block you.

The nightmares plagued Rex's mind every night. War had not been kind to his mental health, and the things he'd seen haunted him to the day.

The death of his Vod'ika at the hands of the Coruscant Guard was a regular occurrence in his dreams. Replaying the horrifying image of the blaster bolt burning into Fives' chest.

But he'd get up every morning and face another day of walking on eggshells so as to not catch the eye of the empire.

Which was kriffing hard seeing as he was in the middle of a very large firefight involving athere'sn entire company of Imperial Stormtroopers. He really wished that he hadn't asked Echo to stay with the computer equipment back at the inn, but it wouldn't do any good to wish at this point.

But another voice joined the fray. A clone, no doubt, but underneath a layer of tiredness, a familiar lilt of humor shone through. It made Rex's heart ache to hear it. But he caught sight of the newcomer's armor and nearly cried out. ARC armor. With little flecks of blue paint stubbornly refusing to be scrubbed off, and shoddy patchwork over a hole in the left breastplate. It couldn't be.

"Fives?!" Rex cried, taking his helmet off once they were in the clear.

The hand that held a blaster faltered and fell to his side.

"Rex..."

"How the hell are you still alive, di'kut?"

"Its good to see you too Captain. Not really sure, to answer your question." He said, taking his bucket off and flashing a sad smile.

Rex pulled the ARC Trooper close.

"I've got someone who's been waiting a long time to see you."

Fives cocked his head to the side, but Rex didn't offer an explanation right away, just turned and led his little brother by the hand.

"Long story short, Echo never died."

Fives shook his head. "What the kark did you just say?"

"He was given over to the techno union so they could use his brain to mine our battle plans. He's got a whole cybernetic getup but he looks very, very different."

When they reached the inn, Rex ordered Fives (who was still trying to process the earlier information) to put his bucket on and stay quiet in the main room. A minute later, he returned with an odd looking clone who bore gray and red armor, and had a scomp attachment on one arm.

"I'm not sure how to tell you boys this but everything you thought you knew is wrong."

"What are you talking about, Rex?" Echo deadpanned, Causing Fives to still.

"Echo, it seems we've found—"

Before the captain could finish his introduction, Fives had taken his helmet off again, earning a groan from the former.

It was Echo's turn to go rigid. He slowly removed his own helmet, revealing his teary eyes.

"It can't be. You're supposed to be-" Echo was cut off by Fives lunging forward to wrap his twin in the biggest hug of their lives. It took Echo a second to get his bearings and return the gesture, but he was still in shock.

"Stars, Echo, what did they do to you?" He asked, pulling away to hold his brother's pale face in his hands. Tears were gathering in his eyes as they frantically searched Echo's.

Echo gave a lopsided grin. "Turns out you get new a cool new set of limbs when you get blown up."

This caused a pained cry to rise from Fives' throat at the terrible joke.

"I thought you were dead."

"I could say the same about you!"

Echo leaned his forehead against Fives'. They hadn't noticed that Rex left to force knew where until that moment.

After hours of talking, the twins were exhausted. They'd hardly left each other's side since they'd been reunited. And neither one was planning on doing so any time soon. But they needed rest, so they had moved to one of the two beds, still opting to be close.

"Do you remember what we told each other the morning before..." Echo didn't really want to finish the sentence.

"Yeah." Fives scoffed. "K'oyacyi."

Echo giggled. "Yeah that went up in flames. Kinda like I did."

Fives groaned "You need to stop joking about that di'kut. You 'dying' really messed me up."

Echo's stomach dropped. He remembered crying his heart out after Rex told him what had happened to Fives. Or what they'd thought happened.

"Hey," Echo spoke in the same reassuring voice he used when one of the dominoes woke up from a nightmare when they were cadets. "I'm right here, Fives. You're here. What more could we ask for? We kept our promise. K'oyacyi."

Fives' grip on his brother tightened a little bit.

"Ner Vod, I don't ever want to watch you die again. You're my brother; I love you. I just...I can't do that again."

"I love you too, Fives'ika. I promise you won't. I'm here."

When Rex came back, he was met with Fives sleeping soundly on one of the beds, and Echo sprawled out over half of his twin brother's torso. Both had a death grip like beskar on each other. His domino vod'ikas, back together again.

[sofasoap]

NOTE: this is my OLD MASTERLIST, please check my description for new updated masterlist LINK

Update:

9/Apr/23 - Touch - Johnny Soap MacTavish x F!Reader. Explicit theme.

7/Apr/23 - Life of captains - task 141 boys

7/Apr/23 - Miss Sunflower - Kyle " Gaz " Garrick x F!reader Gaz and you started long distance… friendship?

5/Apr/23 - Sweet - Din Djarin x F!reader + Grogu Happy Early birthday to my friend, hoping this little drabble piece will bring you happiness :)

WARNING: R18 ONLY. UNDERAGE DNI. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN INTERNET CONSUMPTION.

MORE BELOW THE LINE.

-The Mandalorian -

Story time. -- Din Djarin x GN! Reader + Grogu

Din loves to read, but it’s been a difficult life for him to keep up with his hobbies. Until you and the baby came along.

Nightmare -- Din Djarin x GN! Reader + Grogu Din’s biggest nightmare is losing his family, his clan, losing you.

Heartbreak -- Din Djarin x F!Reader The only time Din says no to you. Din sucks at communication. 

Wrenching heart  --Din Djarin x F!reader Part 2 to heart break. Going into bit of reader's backstory.

Mending Heart - Din Djarin x F!reader Part 3 to heartbreak. Din the di'kut is trying to make amend.

- Interlude : Fracturing heart  - Din Djarin x F!reader Interlude after Mending heart. Reader's past catching up to her.

Scarring heart  -- Din Djarin x F!reader Din explains himself. And offers you a solution.  Part 4 to Heartbreak.

Healing heart - Din Djarin x F!reader The Di’kut proposed a solution. Would you accept it? Part 5 to Heartbreak.

Ner Kar’ta - Din Djarin x F!reader Din claiming back what is rightfully his. His place by you. Finale to Heartbreak series.

Little Heart - Din Djarin x F!reader Little drabble post- heartbreak series. Both of you surprised each other.

Comfort - Din Djarin x F!reader Short drabble, before all the major event in the heartbreak series, Din and you just started travelling together, and he shows his care through action. -- Comfort - Extra -- extra scene where Din goes to the market.

A quiet moment - Din Djarin - Din Djarin x F!reader. Short drabble, after Little heart. Domestic fluff for our Clan Mudhorn.

Sweet - Din Djarin x F!reader Short drabble piece, Pre-relationship, when clan of three still travelling around in search of Jedi.

- Call of Duty -

This is where my fic which i dubbed " The Mini MacTavish Universe" goes. Inspired by @saltofmercury fic which she graciously let me borrow and write bit more expanded universe from me ( my MUSE )

Just to guide ppl the order which they can read the story in chronological order, I added in numbering system. also which " route " you take. Choosing König or Simon. Or both. We love the big boys.

PLEASE NOTE: some people might think this is not a true "reader" fic, I apologise, as it is too specific so I am tagging on warning that this is bit of reader and OC fic. Be warned. ONLY proceed down if you don't mind.

1. “The Favorite MacTavish” - BY @saltofmercury. (König x  f!Reader )

To understand any of the background of my Ghost and König story in this universe, better to read her wonderful story first. And while you are there, check out her König fics too. It's a wonderful series exploring the difficult relationship between a soldier and a civilian.

König

2a. "You are very huggable" - (König x  f!Reader )

Continuation of " The favorite MacTavish " from König's perspective if you like König. Poor König totally out of his element in this new social situation.

3a . " First step" - (König x  f!Reader)

An unexpected coffee date. Right after " You are very huggable."

4. Interlude: Here comes the insertion specialist - (König x  f!Reader )

König and alcohol doesn't mix well.

5a. Fate, brought us together again. - (König x  f!Reader)

Reunite with König, again, under very undesirable circumstances.

6a.Thank you for everything. (König x  f!Reader )

Time for Mini to introduce her new boyfriend to the family. Breaking Ghost’s heart a little bit. and new found family for him.

7a. Interlude two : Everyone deserves happiness. - (König x  f!Reader )

Bit of family moment. Family love all round.

8a. Forget me not. - (König x  f!Reader )  

The bad news you never want to hear, and more.

9a. Remember me?- (König x  f!Reader)  

He couldn't remember you. Your heart is broken into pieces. Is there a chance?

Epilogue A. Come what may. - (König x  f!Reader) Family life afterwards. And the boys learn very fast about never piss off your wives.

Epilogue Valentines Drabble - Warmth - (König x  f!Reader )  Valentines piece for our lovely König. Domestic moments. Because our big teddy bear deserves it.

- Drabble - Feral -- König x  f!Reader Meeting Horangi officially for the first time, him dobbing König's recklessness on the battlefield.

Drabble - Quiet Moment - König - König x  f!Reader Family moment with König and his son.

Simon " Ghost " Riley

2b. "Up for a challenge" - ( Ghost x f!Reader)

Same with above, Continuation of " The favorite MacTavish " but Ghost is the main interest here..

3b. "Love, do not pass me by" - (Ghost x f!reader)

This story sets quite a while after " Up for a challenge". Life turns upside down for the better, and the worse, and rock bottom.

4b. "Am I full of sorrow, or filled with love" - (Ghost x f!reader)

Sequel to "Love, do not pass me by". Self reflecting moments by Ghost. And shocking news.

4b. "Happy ever after, please stay for a while" -- (Ghost x f!reader)

Mini and Emma moving into the new place. Johnny is the best big brother you can have.

5b. "Why the strife and flow of tears". - (Ghost x f!Reader)

Sequel to ““Happy ever after, please stay for a while” .Babies, and finally opening up to each other.

Epilogue B : Eternal happiness among us - (Ghost x f!Reader)

Ending to the Simon's Series. Confession time

Epilogue B1 : "Death, Comes easily" -( Ghost x f!reader)

set after the epilogue. Threat never cease.

Epilogue Drabble : And life goes on. -( Ghost x f!Reader + 141 members + OCs ( the children )

life and snippets or mainly how Ghost is overprotective of his daughter. Family moments.

Drabble : Injury - Ghost x f!reader Simon Comes home with multiple injuries.

Monologue + Pre-4B " You are my light. " ( Ghost x f!reader)

how Simon found his light. Can be read as a standalone or can be part of the Mini MacTavish universe. Little insert of what happened the night leading to “Love, do not pass me by”“

Epilogue Valentines Drabble - "Home." ( Ghost x f!reader)

Happy Valentines people!! bit of soft domestic fluff. Because our dear Simon deserves it.

Epilogue drabble - Still healing ( Ghost x f!reader. ) Coming home after long deployment, old wound opens up again.

Drabble - Quiet moment – Simon  ( Ghost x f!reader. ) Short drabble about Simon and children.

Alternative ending: "Thistle and Thorn" - ( Ghost x f!Reader + Johnny " Soap" MacTavish)

Kind of in same universe as Mini MacTavish, where every active soldiers and service people's families worse nightmare comes true....PURE ANGST YOU BEEN WARNED.

Captain John Price

Little secret. - John Price x f!Reader

When Soap and Gaz found out something their captain been keeping a secret for a long time. and Ghost is a shit stirrer . This is part of the “Mini” MacTavish universe, but the reader isn’t “ Mini”.

Learning to let go - John Price x f!Reader Price doesn’t want you to go on a mission, you two had a disagreement, and result? make or break.

A quiet moment  – John Price  - John Price x F!Reader Life, marriage and baby.

Thinking of you - John Price x F!Reader After a hard mission, Price has some time alone. Thinking about you, and his son.

John " Soap " MacTavish

Hello There. - John Soap MacTavish x f!reader

How you met Soap. had a crush on him. Does he like you as well? This is following the Ghost timeline of the Mini Verse.

A quiet moment – John “Soap” MacTavish.  - John Soap MacTavish x f!reader  Little short drabble about our Soap boy and domestic fluff. This is following the Ghost timeline of the Mini Verse.

Surprise - (John Soap MacTavish x f!reader) Summary: Little short drabble about our Soap boy and domestic fluff. Continuation of A quiet moment – John “Soap” MacTavish. 

Soap’s Sleepy time story - (F!reader+ OC children) Very short drabble Crack fic stemming from Neil Elice’s Soap’s sleepy storytime. I absolutely love that guy. 

Touch - (F!reader) Soap desperate for your touch after coming home from mission.

Squirrel - (F!reader) You are not the usual type Soap goes for. But he is interested in you. Or How Soap put his own foot in his mouth.

NOT part of Mini MacTavish verse.

Kyle " Gaz " Garrick

Miss Sunshine - Kyle " Gaz " Garrick x F!reader How Mr Sunshine meets Miss Sunshine.

Miss Sunflower - Kyle " Gaz " Garrick x F!reader Gaz and you started long distance… friendship?

[saggitary]

Back with a lil TTTBU meta, here is all the mando'a words and phrases I've either found or I've made up for this fic! Let me know if you want a Togruti one as well for what I've found/made up!

(FYI some of this might be made up I honestly can't remember but like 99% is found from dictionaries online)

Words

aliit - family

ade - children

alor'ad - captain

al'verde - commander

dema'golka - monster

dini'la - insane

jetii - Jedi

naak - peace

ori'vod - older sibling

tebec - ammunition

vod - sibling (gender neutral)

vode - siblings (plural)

vod'ika - younger sibling

vor'e - thanks

Now onto the swears!

bantha-osik - bantha-shit

di'kut - idiot

haar'chack - damnit

haran - hell (literal, cosmic destruction)

jagyc - dick

kriff - general swear similar to fuck (I don't think this is actually mando'a however it pops up a lot so I am putting it hear)

mir'osik - smart shit

mir'sheb - smart ass

osik - shit

osik'la - shitty

osik'ika - little shit

osik'tengaara - shitshow

shab - fuck

shaba - fucking

shaba shebs - fucking ass

shaba'osik - fucking shit

shabbed - fucked

shabuir - motherfucker

sheb/shebs - ass

shebs'palon - asshole

Now with the sayings/sentences

This is where some things get a bit odd with me trying to sort out what words we have in the mando'a dictionary as well as congregations and configuration so they might not be 100% accurate!

ni'pel - I yield

osik’serim - shit aim

Sooran bic - suck it

Ni su’cuyi, gar kyr’adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum - I’m still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal (Daily remembrance of those passed on)

ori’buyce, kih’kovid - all helmet, no head

Copaani mirshmure’cye, mir’shebs - are you looking for a smack in the face smartasses

Aalar’gar jate - you feeling good?

Kriffing jetti bal'val jaro - Kriffing Jedi and their death wish

Ja'hailir gar'joha vod - Watch your language brother

Aliit ori’shya tal’din - family is more than blood

nutenni te shab’laam - shut the fuck up

Rangi an’be vala - To hell with all of them

Vore entye - Thank you

Ba’gedet’ye - you're welcome

shab'rud bal mar'eyir dayn - fuck around and find out

Ni ori'haat bah've Maker al'verde ni'mav kyr'amur gar nearest meh'gar vurel nari'ibac tug'yc - I swear to the Maker commander I will kill you myself if you ever do that again

Ash nas'nuhoy'laam ba'te dush'eso be'te haav - Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed

-

There will def be more to come and I will likely need to make an updated one in a while but here we go for now!

tags! @snarkyfina @jarchvast-likearchvistbutthevast @bees-flowers

[electrikworm]

5 times Wrecker protected his siblings and 5 times they protected him: Chapter 6

When Wrecker discovers his fear of heights mid-mission, Crosshair makes sure his brother makes it out of the ordeal in one piece.

--

Content warning: Nothing I can think of

Read on Ao3

“Good work Bad Batch.” Hunter says through their shared comm channel. Crosshair rolls his eyes at the nickname. “All we've got to do is get out of here undetected.”

“Why do you say that like you're talking to me alone?” Wrecker responds in a bad attempt of a hushed tone. Crosshair sighs. He's still annoyed he got paired up with Wrecker for the stealth mission. All because they got in an argument recently and working in a team is supposed to get them to make up and cooperate.

Hunter doesn't humor Wrecker's question.

“If you take the next left, you will be on the shortest route out of the base. It leads through their backup generator, which should have minimal guards.” Tech reminds them, like he hasn't already explained the plan a hundred times. They both give affirmative answers, Wrecker still failing to talk quietly. They take the turn left they were told to.

“Could you walk any louder, di'kut?” Crosshair whispers after having to endure his brother's heavy footsteps for another extended period of time.

“Not all of us are built like a light breeze could blow us away, Crosshair.” Wrecker grumbles. To his credit, it does sound like Wrecker tries being quiet a little harder, but Crosshair won't mention that.

The backup generator's are in a tall room filled with the sound of mechanical hissing. All three of the generators are suspended over a deep pit, connected by a narrow railing-less, walkway. Crossing that walkway is the only way through the room. Crosshair sighs. Of course there's no safety measures to keep you from falling off the edge.

Tech could surely tell him why the generators are built above a pit, some osik about airflow most likely, but Crosshair knows better than to ask his brother now. The rant that would follow a question like that would definitively risk blowing their cover, even more than handing Wrecker an explosive and telling him to “have fun” would.

There are two droids stationed near the generators. Crosshair takes them out with ease, their lifeless husks plummeting into the depths below. It takes a worrying amount of time for the sound of their impact with the ground to resonate around the room.

“If you fall in there, I'm not scraping what's left of you off the floor.” Crosshair sneers, turning around to look at his brother.

“Stow it.” Wrecker snaps back.

Just as they're about to step out onto the walkway, Hunter comms them again. “They know we're here, be prepared for a fight.”

“I didn't do anything!” Wrecker throws his hands in the air, making Crosshair roll his eyes.

“Correct, you are not at fault. It seems we alerted them of our presence.” Tech responds.

“Great.” Crosshair keeps walking, hears Wrecker following him closely.

“It was getting boring round here anyway.” Wrecker laughs.

As Crosshair steps on the walk way, he worries for a split second about Wrecker being able to safely traverse them with his size. He quickly pushes the thought aside as he takes the next few steps. It's not quite as narrow as Crosshair expected.

Just as Crosshair aproaches the second generator, a couple droids appear on the other side of the pit. He opens fire as they do the same. None of the B1's aim is even close to as good as Crosshair's. It's not a hard fight, Crosshair picking them off one by one, dodging behind the second generator ever so often. But as the droids numbers thin, it is with annoyance that Crosshair notices that Wrecker hasn't fired a single shot.

“What ever the kriff you think you're doing, you better stop right now! This isn't the time!” Crosshair hisses into their private comm channel as he ducks behind cover. Wrecker gets the message.

By the time the last droid collapses into a sparking heap, Wreckers barely hit one. What game is he playing?

“Wrecker!” Crosshair snaps, turning around to face his brother. Wrecker is still standing at the first generator. “What is your problem? You could get us killed doing osik like that!”

Wrecker says nothing. At least he has the decency to look somewhat sheepish, going off of how he's standing.

“This better not still be about those shots I fired at you. I told you before, there was no chance I'd hit you. If I wanted to hit you, I wouldn't have missed!” He's closed the gap between him and his brother. Wrecker's already got his back against the generator, so Crosshair shoves him against it for emphasis.

To Crosshair's surprise, Wrecker actually sway backwards, back hitting the generator with a dull thud. A big difference to his usual unwavering stance when faced with Crosshair trying to move him. He must feel sorry, if only a little. Crosshair shakes his head. “You're unbelievable. Acting like a kriffing tubie.”

With a huff, Crosshair turns around and starts walking again. He isn't going to wait around for Wrecker to try and justify his actions.

When Crosshair's halfway back to the second generator, Wrecker finally speaks.

“Cross...” That's all Wrecker says. Crosshair's heart almost stops. He sounds weak, unsteady, almost pained. Fearful. Crosshair turns and hurries back to his brother. The thought that Wrecker may have been shot without Crosshair realizing it haunts him.

Crosshair really looks at Wrecker this time, the way he's pressing his back against the generator, the way his hands shake as he clutches his blaster to his chest. How hadn't Crosshair noticed that something's off?

“What's wrong, ori'vod?” Crosshair asks as he checks his brother over. He doesn't look to be injured, but Crosshair knows that doesn't mean anything.

“I can't walk.”Wrecker mutters, barely audible.

Can't walk?

“Is it your knee?” He'd recently dislocated it during training. Could it be bothering him again? “Or your back?” Wrecker's had constant issues since they were cadets. But Wrecker just shakes his head.

“I- I can't.” Wrecker's breathing too fast, Crosshair wishes he knew why.

“Can't what Wrecker?” He hisses a bit too harshly. “You have to talk to me.” They can't linger here forever, have already wasted too much time.

“Walk.” It sounds almost like a gasp.

“I know, but why?”

Wrecker shakes his head, removes an unsteady hand from his blaster and gestures vaguely downwards. Crosshair's watches him, not sure what to make of it, not sure how to help his vod.

Then it clicks. “Wrecker, are you... scared of heights?”

The anxious little noise Wrecker makes tells him everything he needs to know. Wrecker can disarm a live explosive seconds before it detonates without breaking a sweat but heights is where he draws the line? Crosshair sighs. It's always something with his brothers.

Crosshair pats his brother's arm. “You aren't going to fall Wrecker. Just don't look down and follow me.”

Wrecker grabs Crosshair's hand, starts shaking his head vigorously. “No. No, no, no. I can't.” The hand holding Crosshair's is trembling, Wrecker's chest heaving. Crosshair isn't sure Wrecker's getting any air into his lungs with how frantically he's gasping for it. It's disturbing.

“Breath!” Crosshair hisses. “Don't you dare pass out on me.” Wrecker doesn't listen to Crosshair's advice, instead letting out a string of garbled, panicked nonsense, some of which sounds suspiciously close to tears. His breathing's just getting worse. “Wrecker!” Crosshair snaps. Not like their cover can be blown any more than it already is.

Wrecker makes a questioning noise, surprisingly actually trying to be quiet enough to listen to Crosshair, though he still sounds like he's choking. Crosshair pulls Wrecker into a hug, made awkward by both of their blasters getting in the way. Putting his hand on the back of his brother's head, Crosshair makes Wrecker rest his head against his shoulder.

“Close your eyes, shut up and breath.” They haven't got time for this. Crosshair should just start dragging Wrecker in the right direction. If forced, he'd eventually start walking, he'd eventually have to start breathing right again. Crosshair isn't sure he could take doing that to his brother.

When he hears Wrecker's breathing start to even, Crosshair pulls away. “Now, we're going to cross this room, and you won't look down, got it?” Wrecker nods hesitantly.

Crosshair turns to walk furtherer but is held back. “Wrecker, let go of my hand.” Wrecker looks away, but doesn't do as he's told. “Wrecker.” Crosshair repeats, tone warning. His vod doesn't even react. Crosshair groans and rolls his eyes. “You can hold onto my shoulder if you have to, but I can't shoot with you clutching my hand like some lost child.”

That Wrecker immediately obeys, moving his hand to clutch Crosshair's shoulder. He rolls his eyes again for good measure, readjusting the grip he has on his Firepuncher. They move a lot slower this way, Wrecker's steps shaky, his grip on Crosshair tightening ever so often.

They only get a few meters before more clankers show up. Wrecker's shooting again, but his aim is off. Crosshair has to carry the fight. It doesn't help that he has to keep pulling Wrecker behind cover. When a shot clips Crosshair's leg, he inhales sharply, but doesn't mention it. Neither does he mention it when the last droid of the group falls, tipping forwards into the pit with a mechanical scream. It barely slows them any more than Wrecker's fear does.

Thankfully no more droids show up for the last stretch of the walkway. Wrecker does however let out a yelp at one point, followed by his pressing his helmet forward against Crosshair's own. He mutters something about falling and going to be sick. Crosshair shakes his head, patting the hand on his shoulder.

“We're almost across, ori'vod.”

As soon as they're off the walkway and Wrecker's made sure they're no longer above the pit, the large clone falls to his knees among the broken droids. He at least has the decency not to pull Crosshair down with him.

“I'm never doing that again!” Wrecker exclaims, still visibly trembling. Crosshair sighs, taking a moment to carefully prod his injured leg. The shot caught his right thigh. It's not bleeding, the gash cauterized by the shot, but depending on how much they'll have to fight, it might yet get torn open. He can't tell how deep it is, but it kriffing burns every time he moves.

“Are you quite done being dramatic?” Crosshair says.

Wrecker gets up unsteadily, nodding. They only get two steps before he clocks Crosshair's limp and starts offering to carry him. Crosshair will absolutely not suffer that humiliation just because of a minor leg injury. He does however let Wrecker steady him, holding on to his vod as they walk. Crosshair has a feeling Wrecker could do with the closeness right now anyway. There's still an unsteadiness to his every movement.

“You won't tell them, right?” Wrecker asks after a while, uncharacteristic quiet.

“What, about your fear of heights?” Crossahair scoffs. “Sure. Lets let Hunter and Tech find out when you next have to go up somewhere high, keel over like an anxious Tooka and break every bone in your body. That'd be a fun surprise.”

“Alright, alright!” Wrecker groans. “I'll- I'll tell them.” He clenches and unclenches his free hand, knuckles cracking loud enough to hear. “But you won't tell any of the Kaminoans, right?” Wrecker continues after a pause.

“Oh no, I thought I'd tell anyone that would listen to me as soon as we got back to Kamino.” Crosshair snarks, rolling his eyes. “Of course I won't tell them. None of the staff or regs will know unless you tell them. You have my word.”

“Thanks Cross!” Wrecker says, clearly grinning, knocking their helmets together lightly by leaning over. “For not leaving me out there over the pit too.”

Crosshair huffs. “Don't mention it again, or next time I will.”

Tech was right, the route they're on really is a short one. It doesn't take much longer for them get out, though they do come across more droids on the way. As Crosshair had predicted, his leg is bleeding by the time they get out.

Back on the Marauder, Wrecker explains his fear of heights in the most indirect and confusing way possible, but Crosshair keeps himself out of it. By the time their older brothers understand what he's trying to say, Tech's already treated Crosshair's leg.

The whole time, Wrecker's glued to Crosshair's side, showing no sign of stopping any time soon. In fact, when he lays down, so does Wrecker, hugging Crosshair tightly as he does.

“Do you have to hold me like one of your stuffed toys?” Crosshair complains.

“Yes.” Wrecker responds with a grin.

“Fine.”Crosshair groans, trying very hard not to let on to how comfortable he is.

[clone-anon]

Coming Home for Life Day (Hevy x GN!Reader)

Word Count: 1049

Warnings: None, just fluff and a bit of making out

A/N: This is a little continuation of the fic I wrote for @sinfulsalutations for the @rare-clone-fic-exchange because I saw a comment from @anxiouspineapple99 and thought "I need to do something with that." This is a Hevy lives AU.

Happy holidays to all my readers! It's been such a great pleasure to write for you all and read as many fics around here as I can. I hope you know that even if you are alone or struggling this holiday season, your favorite clone will always hold you in their heart.

Your heart dropped when Hevy sent you a message to say the 501st wasn't going anywhere for Life Day and he wasn't yet sure how he could see you. You'd been looking forward to your first Life Day together, but were happy to hear he was still going strong with the physical effects of the explosion on Rishi seemingly behind him. A lot had happened since you saw him last. Kamino had been attacked and he'd been made an ARC trooper along with Fives and Echo. It was something he always wanted and you were so proud of him, but not being able to be with him made it bittersweet.

You decided to plan a trip for yourself and the next morning and headed to Naboo. It was few days before Life Day. Things could get hectic on Coruscant and you wanted some quiet time. A few rotations away from it all seemed like just what you needed. That night, you sent him a message and told him where you were, still hopeful you might be able to meet up on a nearby planet. You stayed at a little hotel in the foothills of the mountains. You'd been with some friends before and had always loved it. You described it in detail, pointing out the scenic spots that brought you peace, and describing the excellent food from the local bakery and cafe.

"I wish you were here," you added at the end.

"So do I," he replied to himself out loud as he read your message. He was already thinking about how he might get there. He wrote back, "I wish I was there too. I'm looking at our star."

Two troopers looked over his shoulder, read what he'd wrote, and started chuckling. Hevy turned around to look at them and pointedly replied, "Something that this di'kut and the one giggling next to him wouldn't know about."

Hevy wasn't afraid for his brothers to know he was in love. Even when they gave him a bit of a ribbing, he had good humor about it, but also knew when to set them straight. You messaged each other a quick good night. Hevy said he had a lot to do and you wanted to make sure he could do his job. What you didn't realize was that the work he was about to do was finding a way to get to Naboo in time for Life Day. The 501st had two rotations off. The GAR didn't see the point in sending them anywhere, so they were told to stay put, and they'd be shipped out to the next battle in two rotations' time.

Without telling you, he found a way to spend a night with you and get back in time to leave with the rest of the 501st. Rex had given him leave to take a civilian transport to Naboo from the nearest city. Once there, he got directions to the location you described. Apparently it was a favorite getaway for locals. He paid for transport and found himself standing in front of the hotel he was pretty sure you were staying at. He was really hoping he hadn't misunderstood what you'd told him.

You had been to the bakery and were just returning to the hotel. As you walked inside, you stopped and there he was.

"Hevy! It's you!"

You hurried up to him and practically threw yourself at him. He pulled you into his arms and kissed you, relief and joy washing over him.

"What are you doing here," you asked him. You didn't know what to do. It was the first time seeing him in his new kit. It had been too long since you'd seen him, since you'd been able to touch him, to kiss him. He looked so handsome.

"I came to see you." He hugged you and kissed your forehead. "I have about a day before I have to go, but let's make the most of it."

You brought him up to your room and invited him in. You watched him take off his armor before shuffling into bed next to you in his blacks. It had been too long since you saw him last. All he wanted to do right now was hold you.

"I wasn't expecting this," you said. "If I'd have known I would have planned something. Brought more. Made reservations for dinner..."

"Don't worry about all that," he replied. He kissed your hand and held you. "You're all I want. Wherever we are, I'm always home when I'm with you."

You kissed him sweetly. He pulled you into his lap and took his time kissing your cheeks, massaging your back and hips, and pulling you as close as he could get. Your tongues gently danced together and you hummed at his familiar taste. You ran your hands through his hair, feeling the dryness brought on by the use of GAR issue shampoo and made a mental note to get him some conditioner while he was here. You pulled away just enough to search each other's eyes as you left little kisses on his face. He let out a deep breath, his body relaxing under your touch.

"So what else do you want for Life Day," he asked with a grin.

You gave him a look, but beamed back and replied, "I've always watched a holo in the afternoon while snacking on some treats. Actually that's why I was at the bakery earlier."

You set out the food and both got cozy in bed. You turned on a holo and watched together while munching on the variety of baked goods and dried fruit. It was perfect.

That evening, after getting some dinner together at the cafe across the way from the hotel, you laid in bed together, watching your star from the window. You put your head in his lap and Hevy carded his fingers through your hair. Moments like these were why he did all he could to see you with even the shortest amount of shore leave. Whether it was just for a few hours, a few nights, or a few weeks, he loved the feeling of you laying on him, resting, breathing slowly, as he ran his hand through your hair and soothed you to gentle sleep.

[roseaesynstylae]

Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact, Chapter 7

"It was the fields. There was too much open ground between areas of cover. Niner had been sitting in the fork of a tree for so long that one buttock was numb and the other was catching up."

Any time there's a funny (or mildly funny) moment in these books, I feel obliged to record it. It's less because I feel bad about criticizing them (I don't, at all) and more due to the fact that I like to note anything I actually enjoy in these books.

"Yes, she could use the Force. When she felt confident and controlled, she could master everything Fulier had taught her; but those days were few and far between She wrestled with a temper unbefitting a Jedi. She watched those with serene acceptance of the Force and envied their certainty. She wondered why Jedi blood had bothered to manifest in someone who was so fallible."

I get Etain's low self-esteem. In fact, most of that paragraph is pretty relatable. BUT. "Jedi blood?" It has never been called that. Yes, Force-sensitivity tends to run in families (see, the Skywalkers, the Horns, etc), but, and considering how much certain characters rant about it, I'd think Traviss would pay attention to this, the Jedi Order is not about bloodlines. It's the furthest thing from. What exactly prompted--

OH. Oh, I have a sneaking suspicion as to why it's referred to as "Jedi blood" here.

What's the connotation most people have when they hear the word blood in the context of abilities or families or whatnot? For me, it carries this hint of elitism. There's just a sense of "Me and the rest of my family are so superior to you that even our bodily fluids are Better Than You." Why do I have this feeling that KT is trying to make the Jedi Order look elitist?

THE JEDI ARE NOT ELITIST. They are, again, the furthest thing from. They help everyone, especially people who are at the bottom of the pecking order, and they don't care where their members come from. Nothing about the Jedi Order is elitist.

But Karen Traviss is ignoring that "little" fact. She wants to make the Jedi look bad and unsympathetic and "Why would anyone stay a member," and she is ignoring facts in order to do that. It's one thing to have an interpretation that uses canon facts. It's another thing entirely to ignore facts.

To sum up:

Jedi-Bashing: 14 (one for the elitist subtext, one for the blatant ignorance of the facts)

"Then she became aware of something she wasn't expecting to encounter in the Imbraani woods.

A child.

[...]

'Sorry, ma'am,' a man's voice said. 'I didn't recognize you.'

And still she detected only a child, so close it had to be next to the man. For some reason she couldn't sense him in the Force at all."

This is how I want two people who are going to fall in love to meet! By one thinking the other is a child! That isn't creepy at all!

Also, why is Etain sensing Darman as a child? In all Star Wars media involving the clones, including this very series, portray all clone troopers as adults. I don't get why she senses Darman's chronological age in this scene.

Oh, wait. Yes, I do. Traviss wants to reinforce how bad the Jedi Order is. "Oh, look! They're using child soldiers! Aren't they just awful?!" In response, I say "Hey, remember how Kal Skirata wanted to start training his sons to kill people when they were eight? And remember how his wife was treated as a bitch for not being comfortable with that?" Am I deliberately misinterpreting canon facts? Maybe. Is someone else definitely doing the exact same? Yes. Shut up.

Jedi-Bashing: 15

"Sergeant Kal was especially eager for his Wet Droids to read stuff about a culture called Mandalorian. He admired Jango Fett."

These facts about Kal Skirata aren't bad in this book, but they're going to make him very punchable in future material. God, this fucking guy...

Jedi-Bashing: 15

Di'kut Count: 6

Main Post

[corrie-bite]

:Incoming Transmission from: Coruscant Guard Holding ward:

We need any available medic to head down to the Holding Wards and tend to our local vent cryptid. Di'kut got into a brawl with someone from Bacara's lot and our on-hand medics are tending to the the Marines who jumped in.

- @corrie-guard-tumbler

"Medic Bite, on route, Over"

Bite stands quickly from where he'd been sat talking with one of the other medics in the mess.

"I've got this one. Flag it to the medbay in case things got extra rough, and I'll comm you when I have the facts."

Bite turns on his heel and starts running full pelt towards the holding wards. He'd only met Tumbler once, but after memorising his file, he was already trying to sort out a plan in his head.

As Bite skid around the final corner, he was greeted with the sight of injured brothers and very tired medics trying to stop someone from continuing the fight.

Turning to the trooper on duty at the entrance, he asked where to find Tumbler and was pointed to a dazed and injured looking vod in the back corner of the room.

Weaving around the clones still scattered around the space, Bite finally reached the corner Tumbler was pressed into.

"Hey vod, it's Bite. What happened? What do you need?"

[ashes-2-ashes57cba]

The Bad Batch: Specter

Episode 1: Aftermath

Here begins the first season of the Bad Batch with my OC Specter! Hope you stick around! Edited by @ryleeeeeenn *osi'kyr: strong exclamation of surprise or dismay *kark: strong expletive (Star Wars version of fuck, I guess) *adla’vod: roughly translates to “twin”, directly translates to “same brother/sister” *di'kut: idiot warnings: canonical Star Wars violence

The conflict had left the Republic’s forces on Kaller severely depleted. The troopers desperately attempted to hold their position, awaiting the arrival of promised reinforcements. Right now, it looked like they’d never arrive, and if they did, there might just be nothing to reinforce.

“Not to be a pessimist, but if the commander isn’t back soon with those reinforcements…” Captain Grey trailed off.

“My Padawan will be here,” Jedi General Depa Billaba insisted before Grey could finish his thought. She continued to dodge the barrage of blaster fire as she searched for her apprentice.

“Master! Here,” he shouted, appearing as if just on cue, sliding down the snowy hill. “I’m here!” 

“Caleb, where are the reinforcements?” The boy seemed too distracted to answer his Master, watching the battlefield in what could only be described as anticipation.  

“Don’t worry. They’re right behind me,” the boy insisted. The captain and general glanced at each other, confused, then back in the direction Caleb had come from. 

“Uh, where are they?” Captain Grey asked.

“Caleb,” Billaba pressed. 

“Trust me,” he affirmed.

“Well, how many are there?” said the clone.

“Six of them.”

“Six?” he repeated incredulously. “We’re done,” he shook his head. 

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, but you gotta see these clones. They’re… different,” the boy said just as a rumbling from the overlooking mountain caught the attention of the droids. The army came to a halt. A giant boulder rolled out and smashed a large number of battle droids in its path. Tech, Echo, Specter, Hunter, and Wrecker charged out of the woods, blasting at the droids in their path. Crosshair sat high above, using his vantage point to snipe away. Wrecker practically barrelled through the droids while Hunter skillfully used his blaster and knife to destroy them. Tech wove through the platoon and planted EMPs, activating them once he was out of harm’s way; Echo used his blaster, and Crosshair provided Specter with cover fire while she took a knee and blasted droids with her shotgun. A few droids got close, so she simply used her blaster to swing and dismantle them before reconfiguring her weapon into its rifle form.

“Crosshair, let’s get these tanks moving,” Hunter ordered. 

“Sir, yes, sir,” Crosshair hissed before shooting canisters containing grappling lines to connect the tanks. Once they were connected, Wrecker went to the farthest one and started pushing it off the cliff; Tech went up to the tank in the middle and called out to the command droid.

“Hey, clanker! Catch,” he said before tossing it an EMP. The droids inside the tank sparked out, losing control of the vehicle and falling over the cliff with the rest of the tanks. With the odds evened out, they were able to easily pick off the rest of the droids. 

“Hey, Cross, what’s your count?” Specter asked the sniper as he joined the group, heading towards the Jedi General and Commander.

“More than you, adla’vod,” he sneered, elbowing her side. She shoved him back before straightening up before the regs. Hunter sheathed his knife and took off his helmet

“If you’re done hiding down there, I suggest you launch a counterattack. Another droid battalion’s approaching,” he said.

“The General is the one who gives the orders around here,” the clone captain spoke up. Depa Billaba gestured with a gentle, calming hand.

“He’s right, Captain. This is our chance. Launch the counterattack,” she ordered.

“Yes, General,” he saluted. “All right, men. Let’s go!” Captain Grey and his men ran out of the trench and went to advance. 

“There you are, little Jedi,” Wrecker said with a smile, “you missed all the fun.” Caleb smiled and stepped forward.

“Watching your team in action was the fun.”

“Care to introduce your new friends, Caleb?” Billaba asked. 

“Yes, Master. This is Wrecker, Hunter, Specter, Echo, Tech, and Crosshair.” Billaba smiled and nodded at each of them.

“While I’m not sure ‘fun’ is the sentiment I would express, I agree with my Padawan. Your exploits were quite impressive.”

“Exploits?” Wrecker muttered, confused.

“Don’t overthink it, Wrecker,” Crosshair said, passing by and sticking a toothpick in between his teeth. 

“Thank you, General,” Echo said, circling back to the point. 

“Now, would one of you please explain where my actual reinforcements are?” the General said. 

“Rerouted to the capital. We’re all you’re getting,” Hunter reported. 

“Ha! We’re all you need,” Wrecker exclaimed, hoisting up his blaster. 

“Actually, if my intel is correct, the general will not need any of us. The Clone War may soon be over,” Tech chimed in. 

“You hear that, clankers?” Specter shouted over her shoulder to the distant droids, “the war is almost over!” Crosshair snickered.

“I am referring to the encrypted comm chatter,” Tech said, unamused. “Clone intelligence is reporting Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi has found and engaged General Grievous on Utapau.”

“If he captures or kills Grievous, the Separatist command structure will collapse; and most likely the droid armies along with them,” Echo theorized.

“A fascinating theory, yet unfortunately not something we can control from here. I suggest we focus on the task at hand,” the Jedi Master continued. 

“Any orders? Or shall we do what we do?” Hunter asked with a smirk before replacing his helmet; the rest of the group followed suit.

“Let’s blow something up! Yeah!” Wrecker cheered. The General looked at the Commander.

“Well, Caleb, shall we let them do what they do?” she asked, coyly.

“Only if I can go with them.”

“Very well,” she nodded.

“You ready for this?” Hunter asked. 

“We move fast,” Specter chimed in. 

“Good. That’s the only way I know,” the kid said with a mischievous smile before dashing off past the Batch.

“I like him,” Wrecker said with a laugh, chasing after him. 

The group hardly noticed the sudden increase in blaster fire until Caleb slowed to a stop and turned to watch his master deflecting blasts from the same clones she’d commanded only moments ago. 

“Master!” he shouted, running back to his master with his lightsaber ignited. The Bad Batch stopped and turned at the commotion. The regs had surrounded General Billaba and opened fire on her, she did her best to redirect the shots while shouting for her Padawan to run. 

One lucky shot brought her down, the ones that followed only sealed her fate.

What the hell? Specter thought to herself as they retraced their steps to meet the Padawan as he ran away from the danger of the other clones. Hunter held up his pistol, signaling the group to halt. “Stay away from me!” Caleb shouted, holding up his saber in a defensive position against them. Specter watched in confusion as he ran off toward the woods, a bitter taste filled her mouth.

“Kid, wait!” Hunter shouted after him. Caleb had already disappeared when she caught up with the team. “What… what just happened?” 

“The comm channel is repeating one directive, ‘Execute Order 66’,” Tech reported.

“Yeah, I heard that too. What’s Order 66?” Wrecker asked. 

“I am not certain,” Tech admitted. Specter was surprised; her heart was racing for reasons she couldn’t explain, but something in the air had changed. Hunter began to give commands.

“Echo. Tech. Talk to the reg Captain. Find out what you can.” The two nodded and went off to find Captain Grey. “Crosshair, you and I will track down the kid and make sure nothing happens to him. Wrecker, Specter, stall anyone who tries to follow us.” Wrecker nodded but Specter went to grab Hunter’s wrist.

“Wait, Sergeant. I should come with you,” she said, “I can catch up with him if need be.”

“No, I need you to stay with Wrecker,” he denied her request. 

“We’ll be fine. Quit fussing,” Crosshair sneered, already marching off after the Jedi.

When he was out of earshot, Hunter leaned in and murmured “something is very wrong here, and I’d rather none of us be singled out.” Specter huffed but stepped back, allowing him to catch up with Crosshair. 

“You okay?” Wrecker carefully asked.

“Yeah, just a little uneasy,” she replied simply. Though she could have verily easily dumped all her inner thoughts and troubles out onto him, she refrained, knowing it would do little good for either of them.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said, rolling his shoulders, though he didn’t sound so convinced.

Time seemed to drag on as the pair kept watch in tense silence. Mere moments had passed when a group of regs, shiny ones at that, crested over the hill towards them. 

“Where’s the Padawan?” the leader asked.

“Being taken care of. We have a team working on it,” Specter answered, instinctively deepening her voice and adding distortion to her modulator.

“Yeah, don’t worry. Hunter’s handling it,” Wrecker chimed in.

“We have orders from the Supreme Chancellor himself,” the reg pushed, almost robotically. 

“That’s great, but like I said, Hunter’s handling it,” Wrecker insisted.

“Step aside, Trooper,” the reg ordered, getting in Wrecker’s face before running off with his group.

“Sure thing, boss,” Wrecker mocked them. Specter sighed.

“Hunter, you’ve got regs inbound,” she reported.

“Copy that,” Hunter replied.

“We have a situation,” Tech chimed in on the comm. Specter and Wrecker looked and nodded at each other, confirming they could hear him. “It appears the regs have been ordered to execute the Jedi.”

“What? Which Jedi?” Hunter asked incredulously. 

“All of them.” A chill made its way down Specter’s spine. “They’re saying the Jedi have committed treason.”

“Against who? The Chancellor?” she asked. She wracked her brain to formulate some sort of logical explanation. Even if the Jedi had committed treason, their mass execution without a fair trial made no sense. At the very least, General Billaba made no direct offense to the Chancellor. 

“I’m not sure. I suggest you all get back here.” Wrecker and Specter shrugged at each other before starting the trek back toward the Marauder.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reuniting with her team did little to ease her anxious spirit. Whatever had happened between Hunter and Crosshair had them in a tense and peculiar mood. Neither of them spoke, and they seemed to be avoiding each other for the entire journey. Specter stood behind Wrecker in his seat, watching as their home planet slowly grew closer.

“We’re coming up on Kamino,” Tech reported.

“It’s good to be home. How long has it been?” Wrecker said.

“One hundred and eighty rotations in a standard cycle, but galactic zone changes but the adjusted figure at around two hundred and five,” Tech, of course answered. A moment of silence passed, Specter tried to hide her smile, knowing that Wrecker was still trying to calculate.

“What?” he finally asked. Echo sighed and shook his head.

“A long time.”

“You got that right!” Wrecker laughed. Hunter came up behind them as they flew through the stormy clouds. Out of the corner of her eye, Specter watched her twin turn away from the Sergeant, helmet still on, shoulders stiff. Curious. 

[What’s wrong?] she signed.

[Nothing.] 

[Don’t give me that. I’m your twin and I can tell something else is bothering you.] He didn’t reply, crossing his arms and hiding his hands. She sighed in annoyance and turned back to the viewport.

“Unidentified transport, transmit your clearance code,” a voice over the intercom said. Specter looked up in confusion.

“Clearance code? Did they suddenly forget who we are?” she scoffed.

“Must be a protocol drill,” Tech said, shaking his head. “Transmitting clearance code.”

“Authorization confirmed. Proceed to landing bay one-tac-one.” Tech directed the ship towards Tipoca City, guiding it to land. It was then Specter pulled Hunter and Crosshair aside; the two knew they were in trouble or least in for a scolding.

“Look,” she said, “whatever happened between you two on Kaller, whatever that animosity is, I want it to stop.” The boys looked at each other, scowling. “See? That! Leave whatever that is on the ship because I do not want to have to deal with that on top of whatever else we’re going to have to deal with once we step off this ship. Got it?” she pointed at both of them.

“Yes, ma’am,” they both grumbled. She nodded and exited the ship, cautiously looking around the hangar and waiting to follow Hunter. Troopers with red painted armor walked by, Specter bit her tongue to keep her expression neutral.

“Shock troopers? What’s the Coruscant guard doing here?” Hunter questioned. 

“As cool as it is to see them, I’m not liking the circumstances,” Specter commented.

“Level five lockdown remains in effect. Security teams, rapport to the command center,” the voice of the PA announced. 

“This isn’t a drill,” Tech said, surprised.

“Oh, man! What did we miss now?” Wrecker cried.

“The end of the war,” a passing shock trooper answered. Hunter turned toward him.

“Say again, Trooper?”

“General Grievous was defeated on Utapau. The Separatist leadership has collapsed. The war is over.”

“Just like I said,” Tech mumbled. 

“It is just like you said,” Wrecker gasped, nudging him. Heading their way, a few troopers were carrying a body, covered by a sheet; a lightsaber fell out from under it, but the shock trooper picked it up casually. Specter felt the chill in her spine again. 

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No problem,” Hunter slowly answered. “We’ll just head to our barracks then.” He nodded for the Batch to start following him to their room.

“Best hurry. There’s a mandatory general assembly at 1500,” the clone called after them. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specter’s unease only increased as the group walked through the corridors, passing units of clones marching in mechanical formation. Everything down to the air they were breathing seemed different, and Specter was itching to know why. Clone Force 99 rarely went unnoticed in the halls, though it was hardly ever positive chatter. Specter certainly didn’t miss the stares and comments from other troops, but the silence made the knot in her stomach twist tighter. 

“It’s not just the clones on Kaller. All the regs are acting strange,” Hunter noted aloud. 

“Yeah… something’s really wrong, I don't like this” Specter mused. 

“Let’s test that theory,” Tech said, stepping out of line towards an oncoming soldier. “Excuse me, Trooper. What division are you from?” 

“Step aside,” the reg elbowed him out of the way.

“Oh. Well they seem the same to me.” Tech shrugged and walked with the rest of the group.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When they finally made it to their room, Wrecker stood a few feet from the doorway and stretched.

“Ah! Good to be back,” he said.

“The smell’s getting worse,” Echo commented as he entered the room, wrinkling his nose. 

“You’re still new. You’ll get used to it,” Hunter patted his shoulder as he passed by into the room. Specter was right behind him, already undoing her hair while Crosshair held her helmet.

“Yeah, because if you don’t, you will die,” she jeered. 

“Speak for yourself,” Crosshair mumbled, pushing them out of the way. Specter rolled her eyes, finally letting her hair down and massaging her scalp, combing through any tangles with her fingers. She flopped onto Hunter’s bunk rather than her own.

“Eleven more successful missions,” Wrecker cheered, adding eleven more tallies to their board. “Like there was any doubt.”

“Kaller wasn’t a win,” Echo shook his head. 

“Says who? We completed our objective,” Wrecker argued, grabbing his stuffed Tooka when he finished. 

“Not every objective,” Crosshair hissed. They all turned to look at him. Specter felt her stomach drop, sensing where her twin was going with this, “Hunter let that Jedi kid escape. Or do you want to keep lying to us?” 

Hunter abruptly got up from the table and went to the window; Specter huffed, knowing her request from earlier was going to be ignored. 

“I don’t like to think of executing our commanders as a mission objective,” he replied, gruffly. 

“An order is an order,” Crosshair insisted, taking a few steps.

“Crosshair, when have we ever–”

“Since when?” Hunter narrowed his eyes, interrupting Specter as the sniper shifted his toothpick.

“None of this makes sense!” Echo interjected. “Those clones served alongside General Billaba for years. How could they turn on her like that?” he asked incredulously. 

“Even if the Jedi did commit treason it still doesn’t make sense!” Specter added to his point. 

“Easy, its because of the regs programming,” Tech answered nonchalantly. 

“What programming?” Hunter growled.

“It’s been well documented that the Kaminoans inhibited the cognitive functions of clones to engineer them to follow orders without question.”

“Ha! We sure don’t.” Wrecker came around and punched the back of Crosshair’s shoulder before bringing him close, Lula still in hand. 

“Obviously, we are different,” Tech tilted his head in self agreement. “They manipulated preexisting aberrations in our DNA, resulting in your brute strength, Crosshair’s sharp shooting skills,” the sniper pushed Wrecker off of him, but not before he caught a few hits from the brute’s stuffed tooka, “Hunter’s enhanced senses, my exceptional mind, and Specter.”

“Wow, really feeling the love, Tech,” Specter deadpanned.

“Fine then, I’ll rephrase. My exceptional mind and your accelerated mental and physical capabilities,” Tech rolled his eyes as Specter smiled smugly to herself. “My guess is we are immune to the effects of the programming. Though I can’t be 100% certain of it.” “What about Echo? He was a reg before he joined us,” Hunter brought up. 

“Yeah, if all regs were programmed, why didn’t I react like the others?” Echo asked.

“The damage you sustained on Skako Minor most likely wiped out all of your preset behavioral modifications. You are more machine than man… percentage wise at least,” Tech explained.

“Either that or you’ve hung around us for too long,” Specter chuckled, bringing a leg up to her chest and resting her head on her knee. 

“Lucky me,” Echo sighed. A voice over the PA system spoke again. 

“All personnel report to the staging area for a briefing on the state of the Republic.”

“This is one meeting I don’t want to miss,” Hunter said, heading for the door.

“First time for everything,” Tech shrugged. Specter threw her head back and groaned.

“I just undid my hair,” she complained, already gathering it once again into a tight ponytail as she followed her squad. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specter knew that what the Supreme Chancellor— Emperor— had said was important, but it all just made her tired and unfocussed, and the discontentment in her team did not help.

“Galactic Empire?” Echo questioned once more, “We’re soldiers of the Republic.”

“Republic, Empire… what’s the difference?” Crosshair drawled. Specter noticed Hunter tilt his head and slow his pace: he was sensing something.

“The systematic termination of the Jedi is a big one for me,” Tech said. Hunter suddenly held up his hand, stopping the group.

“Lads, we’ve got company.” They turned around and found a young, blond-haired girl behind them, smiling and waving.

“Hello,” she said sweetly. Wrecker peered at her.

“What’s that?” he asked aloud. Specter flicked the back of his head.

“Di'kut, you don’t just call someone a ‘that’,” she scolded.

“Adolescent human female,” Tech analyzed. Specter put a hand to her face. “Origins… uncertain.”

“My name’s Omega,” the girl introduced. “I was wondering when you guys would come back.”

“You know who we are?” Hunter asked, stepping forward. She looked at each of them.

“Hunter, Specter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair. You’re Clone Force 99,” she said with a smile.

“What are you doing on Kamino, hun?” Specter gently asked, bending down a little.

“Her job, of course,” a voice answered before the girl could do so herself. Specter stood back up in the presence of Nala Se, the primary clone engineer. “She is my medical assistant, one with a curious mind that causes her to wander,” the Kaminoan chided. She gave a curious glance at Specter—who squirmed under the uncanny gaze—before putting her long hand on Omega’s shoulder. “Come, Omega. There is work to do.” The girl slowly followed her away, giving one last wave to the Bad Batch before she disappeared.

“This day keeps getting weirder and weirder,” Hunter muttered, shaking his head.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specter quietly ate her food, listening to the chatter around her and to the conversation at the Batch’s lonely table. She sat across from Crosshair, her feet under her on the bench as she mindlessly balanced a spoon on her finger. Wrecker once again brought up Tech’s programming theory. 

“Clones being programmed. Nothing controls me,” he insisted, standing up from his seat with his hands on the table, jutting a thumb at himself. 

“Wrecker, it is a logical conclusion that your affinity for destruction stems from your conditioning,” Tech argued.

“You take that back,” Wrecker growled, pointing.

“I am merely stating a scientific hypothesis based on factual data.”

“Well, I got a fact for you. I like to blow things up because I like to blow things up!” Wrecker yelled, slamming his fists on the table and silencing the room for a moment. Specter shot him a glare as the spoon fell off her finger. “Got it?”

“Well, I’m convinced,” Crosshair teased as the chatter continued. Specter snickered. Hunter sat down with his food tray next to Tech. 

“An Imperial’s been sent to evaluate the clones. Everybody’s talking about it,” he reported.

“What kind of evaluation?” Echo asked.

“Hopefully not mental. Clearly we’d never pass that,” Tech commented. Specter gave him a glare as well, until a familiar face, for some reason, appeared next to Hunter with their food tray.

“Hello again,” she waved; the girl was met with silent, curious looks. “Omega. From earlier?” They all glanced at each other, Specter’s mouth pressed into a line. “In the corridor?” Omega tried again.

“Uh, yeah, kid. We remember. Don’t you have someplace to be?” Hunter asked.

“No. I’ll stay.” She had already started picking at the food on her tray.

“You want to sit with us?” Tech asked. Omega nodded. “That’s never happened before.”

“Wow,” Wrecker gasped. Specter was just as surprised as he was.

“I like you. You don’t fit in around here either,” Omega said. 

“We don’t fit in? Cross, why didn’t you tell me?” Specter teased, feigning surprise and poking at Crosshair who couldn’t hide a smirk. 

“What are you really doing here on Kamino, kid?” Hunter questioned, “Don’t you have a family somewhere? Parents?” 

“Parents?” the girl repeated.

“Check it out,” a passing reg said from his group, “the defect squad’s got themselves a new recruit.” He chuckled with his friends.

“Another member added to the Sad Batch,” another teased. Specter ignored the comment; any encounter with regs led to more trouble than it was worth. 

The regs’ laughter was immediately stopped when a piece of their rations hit the closest one in the back of the head. Specter swiveled her head to see which of her squad had been foolish enough to instigate the fight.

“What the… who threw that?” he shouted.

“I did.” Omega was standing on the table, tossing another piece in her hand. Specter smiled, admiring her adorable tenacity. “Now apologize to my friends,” she insisted, pointing to the others at the table.

“I like this kid!” Wrecker cheered, elbowing Echo next to him. 

“What did you say to me?” The clone angrily approached Omega, but Hunter stopped him. 

“Woah, woah, woah. Back off. I suggest you keep moving,” he warned. Wrecker stood up behind Omega, ready for a fight. The clone scoffed.

“Know your place, lab scrapper,” he said before walking away. Specter and Crosshair shared a look, knowing a fight was coming, especially when Wrecker threw a whole tray at the reg.

“Oops,” he said with a grin and more trays in hand.

“That’s it!” the reg shouted.

“Oh, yeah!” Wrecker cheered, throwing the other trays. Chaos erupted as Hunter punched a nearby reg and dodged another.

“Oh, not again,” Echo groaned, a hand running down his face. Crosshair and Specter tried to ignore them all and continue eating. Wrecker landed atop a group, Echo kicked, Omega threw, Echo punched but got kicked back onto the table, knocking over Crosshair’s tray; the sniper angrily joined the fight too, throwing his tray and hitting multiple regs. A few made their way over to Specter, looking for a fight.

“Really, boys?” she glared at them, daring one of them to make the first move. Instead they scurried off like a tooka with its tail between its legs. She smirked to herself. 

“Echo, watch out!” she heard Tech call out. Specter turned just in time to see Echo get knocked out. 

“Told you he’s alive!” Wrecker cheered as they entered the room, where Echo was indeed sitting up.

“No, I told you he was alive because I really doubt that you can kill someone with a lunch tray,” Specter recalled as they came around to his bed. 

“You owe me two credits,” Wrecker pointed at Crosshair, who only shook his head. 

“CT-1409’s condition is stable,” the little medical droid reported. “But I have some distressing news for the rest of you. According to your test results, you all appear to be genetically defective clones,” it whispered, as though it were some secret. Specter merely raised her eyebrow. “I will leave you to process the shock of this revelation.” The little droid hovered out of the room.

“We’ve got a problem,” Echo said once the droid left.

“We all have problems; take Cross for example,” Specter teased, jutting into the sniper with her elbow, who nudged her back.

“Not that,” Echo said, “a different problem.”

“We’re more deviant than we are defective,” Tech chimed in.

“Admiral Tarkin’s here,” Echo cut to the point. “He’s the one evaluating the clones.”

“The same Tarkin from the Citadel rescue when you, uh,” Tech searched for the right words, “how shall I put this?”

“Blew up?” Wrecker finished for him.

“And turned into that?” Crosshair added with a smile. 

“See, now there was an appropriate setting of calling someone a ‘that’,” Specter said. Echo rolled his eyes.

“Yes. And he’s not a big supporter of clones.”

“We’ll soon find out,” Hunter said. “We’ve been summoned by the prime minister.”

“Guess he didn’t find that mess hall fight amusing. But I sure did,” Wrecker laughed. 

“Come on. Let’s get this over with,” Hunter nodded his head toward the door. Echo hopped off the bed and followed the rest of his grip towards the exit. However, Omega ran out in front to stop them.

“Wait. The fight was my fault. I’m going too,” she insisted.

“Not happening,” Hunter said, brushing past her.

“We’ll handle this,” Specter assured, walking by as well.

“But I…” Omega tried, but Hunter turned around to face her. 

“Listen, kid. Our squad’s nothing but trouble. For your sake, keep your distance,” the Sergeant warned. “Got it?” He left the room with the rest of his group before she could even answer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It turned out to be that the Bad Batch was not about to be reprimanded, but rather tested on their skills. Admiral Tarkin was apparently impressed with their “performance” in the mess hall and wanted to see more of the squad in action.

The team rose up for the floor into the training room, fully geared up and ready to go; Specter had resorted to keeping her ponytail under her helmet. Tarkin and Prime Minister Lama Su were in the observation deck.

“The value of all clone troopers is being challenged by the Empire. To demonstrate your effectiveness, a combat-proficiency test is in order. Take your positions,” the Admiral announced. 

“We’ve done these a thousand times, boys,” Hunter said to his team. “You know what to do.”

“A battle simulation? Give us a real challenge,” Wrecker said, banging his fists together before moving to take cover with the team. The training droids and towers activated and began to fire. 

“Crosshair, take the towers,” Hunter ordered. The sniper nodded and snuck around the side, climbing up to the tower and disabling all of them. “Move in,” he said next. Wrecker and Tech advanced first.

“I’ll cover you,” Echo assured Hunter. 

“And I’ll cover you,” Specter replied. They each made their way towards cover, trying to shoot down more droids as they went. 

“This is taking way too long,” Wrecker groaned.

“Hey, if you’re gonna go barrelling out there, at least give me a boost,” Specter called out. Wrecker laughed and nodded before they both leapt out from their cover; she ran at him, stepping into his intertwined hands and letting him launch her across the training area, shooting at the droids as she flew over them. When Specter landed, she disabled the rest of the droids in her proximity while Wrecker fired relentlessly at the ones near him, finishing the battle. 

“What else ya got? Give me more!” he yelled excitedly, shaking his fist up at Tarkin and the Prime Minister. Specter shook her head at his antics and went back to regroup, crouching by Tech. However, Wrecker got his wish when two large droids were brought into the facility. “New toys. Now we’re talking,” he cheered, running and firing at them; yet when he attempted to punch one of them, the droid didn’t budge. Instead, it pushed him off and shot at him, and Wrecker fell to the floor.

“Live rounds,” Specter shouted into the arena to Crosshair, firing at the droids even though her stun bolts would be ineffective. 

“Get Wrecker,” Hunter said to Tech, “we’ll cover you.” He and Echo joined Specter in shooting the droids while Tech made his way over to where Wrecker had crawled out of the way. 

“I’m starting to think Tarkin just wanted to give us a glorious death,” Specter said, taking cover next to Hunter. She glanced over at Crosshair, who had made a shot at the droids but was now climbing down from the tower to avoid their fire, as well as dodging the other droids that appeared. He took cover with her, Hunter, and Echo.

“This is going well,” he drawled.

“Shut up, will you?” Specter hissed, firing again.

“These training blasters are useless on them,” Echo complained.

“Then we improvise,” Hunter said, “If Tarkin wants to test us, let’s not disappoint him.” He lifted his helmet and whistled, getting Tech and Wrecker’s attention, before signaling with his hands. Wrecker eventually gave a thumbs up before moving to execute the plan. Specter, Hunter, and Crosshair acted as a diversion and provided cover for Echo as he ran to support Tech and Wrecker. The brute wrestled down one of the droids while Echo used his scomp to disable another, allowing for Tech to reprogram and control the downed droid. Up on its shoulders, Tech used the droid to fire at the others, distracting them enough for the batch to deliver finishing blows. 

“Spec, heads up!” Hunter shouted; his knife cut through the arms of a droid, flying by her head and landing on the ground near her. She attached it to the end of her rifle and used it to stab and swing.

“I cannot sustain the connection,” Tech announced before the droid threw him off. He lay on the ground, groaning and unmoving. 

“Tech!” Specter shouted after him before throwing the knife at the wayward droid. The blade stuck into its arm, but was ineffective. “Kark,” she hissed, ducking for cover as the droid turned to fire at her. 

“Crosshair, we need more coverfire,” Hunter shouted. 

“Tech, hang in there, buddy!” Wrecker called out.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he grunted in reply. Crosshair continued to assess the situation, looking for a solution, until he caught sight of Wrecker in the droid’s firing line. 

“Wrecker, knife!” he shouted. Wrecker threw his knife at the sniper, who shot it mid-air, sending it into the droid’s head and shutting it down. Specter couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Nice work, adla’vod,” she said as they all emerged from their cover, clapping her hand tightly with his. Wrecker and Echo went to check on Tech and helped him to his feet. Specter sighed, the test had been simple enough, but she was more than glad it was over. She only hoped the Admiral had seen what he needed to. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tarkin peered at the embryo floating in the tube, still mulling over what he had seen in the training room.

“Extraordinary, aren’t they?” Nala Se’s soothing, yet monotone, voice spoke a few steps behind the governor. 

“That remains to be seen,” he replied curtly. “Tell me about Clone Force 99.”

“They are medically defective clones whose cellular mutations enhanced traits desirable in a soldier,” the Kaminoan answered. Tarkin gazed at the young girl by her side, analyzing her.

“How many of these clones do you possess?”

“Six are all that remain.”

“This includes the female, yes?” Tarkin inquired. Nala Se hesitated, but nodded nonetheless. “Tell me about her.”

“CT-9905, as she has been redesignated, is the only clone that was produced from Project Valkyrie before it was terminated due to a corruption of the DNA sample,” Lama Su answered this time. “She possesses increased reactivity in both her physical and mental attributes, and charts higher in endurance and speed tests than the average specimen.”

“It’s unfortunate the project was scrapped. She would have been a lucrative asset to the Empire,” Tarkin mused.

“And she still can be, with Clone Force 99,” Lama Su said. 

“Yet reports indicate they exhibit a concerning level of disobedience and disregard for orders,” added Tarkin. 

“A side effect of their mutation. Yet one that has never hindered the completion of their missions,” Nala Se gently reminded.

“Then they executed Order 66?”

“Since both the Jedi General and Padawan on Kaller were eliminated, one would assume,” Lama Su argued.

“Assume nothing,” Tarkin snapped, “Only the general’s death is confirmed. A counter-report, filed by one of their own, says the Padawan escaped.” The Kaminoans glanced at each other, surprised. “Let us see where the loyalty of these clones truly lies.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Live rounds? They used live rounds on us?” Wrecker said, incredulously, throwing his helmet off as they entered their room. 

“We were there, Wrecker. We know,” Tech replied.

“I tried to warn you about Tarkin,” Echo reminded. 

“Who’s that Imperial snake think he is?” Wrecker pounded his fist on the table. 

“Stow it, already. You got shot. It happens all the time,” Crosshair hissed.

“There’s a fundamental difference between taking fire in battle and being used for target practice,” Tech added. 

“Exactly! We’re not dummy droids,” Wrecker said. 

Specter walked in after them all, holding herself and looking deflated and disappointed. Hunter wordlessly pulled her aside.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, quietly. 

“If I’d just thrown that knife straight, I would’ve hit that droid. I’m better than that,” she said, not meeting his eyes and tightening her arms, “Someone could’ve gotten hurt. Well… even more so.” 

“Hey, you did fine. We did what we could given the circumstances. I’m sure we can work on your knife skills some more,” he assured, putting his hand on her shoulder. A shadow eclipsed the light in the doorway. It was Tarkin, with two guards standing behind him. The man stood, observing each of them. Specter shifted under his scrutinous gaze but stood at attention next to Crosshair.

“That was quite an impressive display,” he said, walking into the group. 

“Didn’t have much choice,” Hunter replied. 

“Our new empire may have methods which seem a bit unorthodox, but so does this squadron. Both certainly have their merits.” The Governor eyed Wrecker, who towered over him. “Nala Se speaks quite highly of her six enhanced clones. She claims you’re more capable than an army.”

“You have a mission for us, sir?” Hunter asked, side-eyeing him but quickly sharing a look with Specter. 

“Indeed,” he affirmed, turning back toward the Sergeant. “We have tracked a group of insurgents to the Onderon sector. They must be dealt with.”

“What sort of insurgents?” Echo went to clarify.

“Separatist forces intent on keeping the galaxy at war. If you neutralize this grave threat, you will be looked upon most favorably as I assess the needs of the Imperial Army,” Tarkin explained before leaving the room. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I’ll say this for the Empire,” Wrecker announced to Tech as he, Crosshair, and Specter returned from the armory, “they know their firepower. You should see the new armory!” Specter sat on the crate of weapons Wrecker pushed toward the ship, her hair once again weaved back into a braided coronet. 

“He actually cried,” Crosshair remarked.

“Hey, we both did,” Wrecker reminded. “And Specter is still crying.” 

“Tech… I’m in love,” Specter sighed dreamily as she hopped off the crate, seemingly dazed in a weapon-fueled fantasy. 

“There’s no room on board for that,” Tech warned. 

“For love or the crate?”

“Both.”

“Yeah? Well I’ll make room.” Wrecker grunted as he lifted up the crate and headed towards the ship. “A new mission and unlimited explosives. Things are back to normal.”

“That is not going near my rack. I refuse to sleep by a projectile again,” Tech rambled, following the brute inside. Specter went to follow Crosshair up the stairs, but he suddenly stopped in front of her, causing her to bump into him and slip on the step.

“Hey! What-”

“It’s the kid again,” Crosshair interrupted, nodding toward Hunter kneeling by Omega. Specter couldn’t hear what she was saying, but the little girl looked very concerned as she talked to their leader.

“How is it looking?” she asked, knowing her brother’s sight would benefit.

“I don’t know,” he drawled, shifting his toothpick. Specter thought back to the food fight. Sure, Omega looked innocent and sweet, and of course she was a child. But in times like this, even a child could be untrustworthy. Working so close to Nala Se, Specter couldn’t help but wonder what types of secrets the girl had to hide. She shook her head—the anxiety would do no good for this new mission.

“Well, I’d rather get this mission over with. Hunt! Let’s go!” she shouted. The Sergeant turned to acknowledge her, standing up to leave. Crosshair shoved past Specter to the bottom of the steps, waiting for their leader to come return. 

“Problem?” Crosshair asked as he came close, putting a hand on his hip.

“Uh, something about her I can’t figure out,” Hunter explained.

“Well, I guess kids aren’t your area of expertise,” Crosshair said, patting his shoulder.

“Or maybe it’s just that girls aren’t,” Specter teased, already stepping into the Marauder.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She held her blaster tightly as the group exited the ship to the dark night of Onderon.  Ambience of the forest filled her ears, she flinched at the sound of a roar in the distance.

“What was that?” Echo wondered apprehensively.

“You don’t want to know,” Tech answered.

“Well, at least it’s not a swamp,” Wrecker replied. 

“Close enough,” Crosshair said.

“I think I would have preferred mud in my boots than critters in my face,” Specter shivered at the thought.

“The Separatist encampment’s two klicks south. We’ll continue on foot and do a full perimeter scan,” Hunter said, kneeling towards a path before stopping an eager Wrecker, “covertly.”

“Oh, come on! It’s been days since I’ve blown something up,” he whined while the team passed by him.

“Easy, Wrecker. Your programming’s kicking in,” Tech teased. Specter couldn’t help but laugh aloud as they made their way into the jungle. 

While Tech led the group with his scanner, Specter kept an eye on the rear, walking backward and letting Crosshair guide her.

“How many droids are we talking about, Tech?” Hunter asked.

“I can’t tell from this distance. Something’s blocking my scan,” Tech reported, smacking his device a few times and stopping the group. “Anything back there?” he shouted towards Specter. She flipped down the antennae on her helmet, switching to a thermal readout and finding-

“Nothing.”

“Clankers always travel in packs. Let’s get a closer look at what we’re walking into,” Hunter advised leading them forward. They kept walking until they made it to a rocky outcropping that overlooked the dimly lit encampment. Crosshair and Tech lay on their stomachs while Echo and Specter kneeled beside them; Crosshair and Specter peered through their rifle sights while Tech and Echo looked through their binocs. “Tell me what you see, Tech,” Hunter said. 

“I’m clocking heat signatures ahead but zero droids,” he replied.

“Tarkin said insurgents, not droids,” Crosshair recalled.

“I’m not sure they’re either,” Echo said. Specter swept through the area again, just to make sure she was seeing clearly.

“Sarge, there are children down there,” she reported, quickly and urgently. 

“Children? Out here?” he wondered, taking Echo’s binocs. 

“Children. Elderly. Medical supplies, personal items… they look more like refugees.”

“Something’s not right,” the Sergeant mumbled.

“What are you waiting for? Give the order,” Crosshair said, keeping his weapon ready, and although she was apprehensive, so did Specter. 

“Negative. Stand down” Hunter ordered instead. 

“What?” Crosshair and Specter cried at the same time, pulling away from their scopes.

“You mean, we’re not blasting any droids?” asked Wrecker disappointedly.

“There aren’t any droids, Wrecker,” Tech reminded him.

“Well, so what do we do?”

“We finish the mission,” Crosshair answered Wrecker’s question. “Make the call, Hunter.”

“Cross,” Specter said slowly in warning, having already lowered her rifle.  

“We’re not alone. Now stand down,” Hunter ordered again. A rustling was heard seconds before the “insurgents” appeared, surrounding them with their blasters ready. The Batch reflexively raised their weapons too.

“You heard him. Stand down,” one of them said. Hunter slowly stood up and put a hand on Wrecker’s gun.

“Let’s hear them out,” he advised, putting his hands up in surrender, “trust me.” One by one the squad holstered their weapons and did the same, including Crosshair who groaned in frustration. 

Echo observed as the soldiers led them down to the camp.

“These aren’t Separatists. They’re Republic fighters,” he said.

“Why would Tarkin send us to attack our own forces?” Tech wondered. Specter caught the gaze of a few of the children. She tried to give them a reassuring smile but they only hid themselves away. 

“Because we refuse to fight for an Empire,” a voice answered. A man stepped forward, Specter recognized him.

“You’re Saw Gerrera. Trained by Captain Rex and General Skywalker to fight for the Republic,” Tech said, also recognizing him. 

“I based some of my combat tactics off of you,” Specter rambled excitedly. The man only scoffed, looking over the group.

“So, the newly declared empire sent you to wipe us out?” he accused, taking one of Hunter’s pistols and examining it. 

“Well, we’re here to neutralize a group of insurgents,” Hunter explained. Gerrera chuckled grimly.

“Well… here we are.” He held his arms out, indicating the group of people around him. “What are you gonna do? Strike us down like you did the Jedi?”

“Is that a request?” Crosshair hissed. 

“Quit it,” Specter scolded, kicking his leg a little. 

“We expected to find battle droids, not…” Hunter tried to find the words.

“Civilians?” Gerrera finished for him. “Times change, targets change. Why don’t you take a look at the insurgents you were sent to destroy. Makes you wonder what else they’re lying about.” The Batch looked guiltily at the gathered group of refugees. “Let’s mobilize. Pack up the camp,” he ordered, walking toward the children to check on them while the other fighters prepared to move out. Hunter and Echo stepped forward.

“What’s going on here? Who are these people?” Hunter asked, almost desperately.

“Villagers, croppers, former Republic fighters, all now displaced refugees since Palpatine unjustly appointed himself Emperor.”

“According to reports, the Jedi made an attempt on the Supreme Chancellor’s life. His actions were a defensive measure,” Tech spoke up. Gerrera scoffed again, smiling woefully. 

“And I figured you for the smart one.” Tech flinched at the remark. “With the Jedi decimated and the clone army under his command, Palpatine will have control over the entire galaxy. Unless we stop him,” he said, determined.

“The war is over,” Crosshair said. Specter didn’t stop him this time. 

“If we give up now, everything we fought for… everyone we lost, will have been for nothing. I won’t let that happen. The Clone War may have ended, but a civil war is about to begin.”

“With a handful of fighters and limited firepower? You may have lost a lot but there’s still so much to lose. You don’t stand a chance,” Specter spoke up against their tenacity.

“Not alone we don’t,” argued Gerrera. 

“We should leave if we’re gonna make the rendezvous,” one of the fighters came up to him. “What do we do with them?” he nodded towards the clones. Saw Gerrera thought for a moment, eyeing them.

“The clones once helped us free Onderon, so we’ll give them a choice. The old ways are done. You can either adapt and survive, or die with the past. The choice is yours.” He handed Hunter his pistol back and powered down the camp’s light source, following the refugees and fighters into the forest, leaving the Bad Batch among themselves. Wrecker handed everyone’s helmets back before they went to leave. Hunter went to follow but turned back once again, scanning their surroundings. 

“At least with the Republic we knew where we stood,” Tech mentioned. The hike back to the Marauder was tense enough. “Tarkin and this Empire are a whole different story.” Crosshair suddenly shove Tech.

“Why are we debating this? We need to complete the mission,” he argued.

“Wake up, Crosshair,” Echo intervened, “they sent us to eliminate innocent civilians.”

“Who said they’re innocent?” Crosshair sneered. Hunter responded before Specter could.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Me? I’m following orders,” the sniper defended.

“Exactly!”

“Those insurgents are plotting against the Emperor. If you don’t have the stomach to do what needs to be done, then you’re not fit to lead this squad.” The silence rang loud as their eyes bore into each other’s. A branch snapped and in a split second, Hunter’s gaze shifted to a probe droid over Crosshair’s shoulder. He shot it down easily. 

“We’re being followed,” was all Hunter said. Specter shot the sniper a glare before following the Sergeant to investigate.

“It’s a probe droid,” Tech identified, surprised.

“Tarkin’s spying on us now?” Wrecker asked. “The Jedi never did that.”

“Not that you know of,” Crosshair mumbled, walking up to the group. They all glared at him, Hunter seemed to be thinking as he looked over the droid once more. 

“Omega,” he suddenly remembered, turning back towards the ship.

“What about her?” Specter wondered. 

“She warned me about the mission. And Tarkin. She said not to return to Kamino, that it’s not safe for us anymore,” he explained.

“Maybe she’s right,” Wrecker grunted.

“We’re taking the word of a child now?” Crosshair grumbled.

“We take your words, don’t we?” Specter teased, passing him by and stepping up into the ship’s entryway next to Tech.

“I would not discount Omega’s insight,” Tech interjected, “a state of heightened awareness is not unusual for an enhanced clone such as herself.” Wrecker laughed and pointed.

“Good one, Tech. You almost had me.” He sat himself down on the steps of the ship.

“When Nala Se spoke of six clones, Tarkin assumed that meant us, but Echo’s a reg. The sixth is Omega. I confirmed my suspicions after analyzing her DNA while we were in the infirmary,” he explained, casually adjusting his goggles. 

“I like how you just decided to analyze her DNA without prompt,” Specter couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the tension. 

“You waited until now to mention it?” chided Echo.

“Well, I thought it was obvious,” Tech shrugged.

“How is it obvious?” yelled Wrecker, standing up and turning around. 

“We’re going back for her,” Hunter decided. Crosshair scowled and stood in front of him, blocking him from stepping into the ship. 

“Disobeying orders again over a kid? Bad play, Hunter,” he warned, poking the Sergeant’s chest. Hunter shoved his hand away. 

“She’s one of us.” He started to walk up the ramp before turning around to face the sniper again. “We’re not leaving her there.” They boarded the ship; Specter gave one last pained look at Crosshair before she boarded, and as much as she loved her brother, she couldn’t force herself to be on his side this time. He reluctantly followed behind her. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I’m getting no response from com-scan. This is unusual,” Tech cautiously reported as they flew through the clouds of Kamino. 

“Bring us in. We’ll find out what’s going on,” Hunter assured. Specter still hadn’t released the tension she held from Onderon; she was aware it would do her teeth no good to keep her jaw so tight, but she couldn’t help but feel that everything was wrong… and that things were about to get worse. She was itching to ask Crosshair what he truly thought, what he felt, what he had planned. She’d finally caved and approached her brother just as Tech touched down on the landing dock. The squad exited the ship and led themselves through the empty dock to the closed bay doors. 

“Stick to the plan. Split up, find Omega, meet back here at the ship,” Hunter said before allowing Tech to open the door. They cautiously walked through the dark hangar, only making it several meters before Hunter sensed something and held up his hand, stopping them. A second later, the Coruscant Guard appeared and had them surrounded, blasters raised. Specter crouched in a defensive position but didn’t bother reaching for her gun.

“As expected,” Crosshair hissed. Governor Tarkin came forward.

“The Empire does not tolerate failure, Sergeant.”

“There were complications,” tried Hunter, completely sheathing his blade.

“Yes, the probe droid’s report was quite detailed. Conspiring with Saw Gerrera.” The Bad Batch stood up straight, shocked at the accusation. “I assume you know the punishment for treason,” the Governor drawled, almost gloating.

“Treason?” Hunter scoffed, shocked. 

“Throw them in the brig,” Tarkin ordered. The Batch complied, not wanting to worsen their situation. They were shoved towards the brig with the ends of blasters and unsympathetic clones surrounding them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stripped of their armor down to their blacks, the squad was roughly shoved into the cell. Specter grunted and stumbled inside, nearly falling before her twin helped her to right herself. 

“Smells weird,” Wrecker commented, snoozing the air.

“Because it’s clean,” Echo said. 

“Well, the plan wasn’t a total failure,” Tech observed, finding Omega sitting in the corner of the cell, waving sheepishly.

“Convenient,” Specter deadpanned.

“Goody,” Crosshair rolled his eyes, earning a light smack from Specter. Hunter made his way through, kneeling in front of the girl.

“I warned you not to come back,” scolded Omega.

“Had to. We were looking for you,” Hunter explained with a smile.

“Me?” she asked, almost in disbelief.

“What do you say, kid? You wanna come with us, or did we get captured for nothing?”

“You came back for me?” she asked again, even more excited.

“That’s right,” Hunter nodded. Specter stepped forward to chime in.

“Or you can stay on Kamino if-”

“No, it’s like I said before. I want to go with you,” Omega stood up, interrupting Specter’s sarcastic remark.

“How touching,” Crosshair sneered from the other side of the cell. Hunter clenched his jaw, but Wrecker cleared his throat, stopping anything else from happening. 

“Uh Hunter, how are we breaking outta here?” he asked.

“I’m working on it,” Hunter practically growled, maintaining eye contact with Crosshair. 

“You know what you should work on? Explaining when you went soft,” Crosshair accused, pointing at Hunter. 

“Here we go,” Specter grumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Stow it, Crosshair,” Echo held back the sniper.

“Don’t you see we’re locked up in here because of him? He had us disobey orders,” he argued. 

“Since when has disobeying orders become such a problem for you? We do it all the time, Cross! “ Specter fought back, getting into his face. 

“Good soldiers follow orders. Every choice he’s made since Kaller has been wrong. First the Padawan, then Gerrera. He’s becoming a liability.” The eyes burned into each other as he pointed at Hunter over her shoulder.

“Since when have you ever cared about being a ‘good soldier’?” Specter scoffed, “You know what they call ‘good soldiers’? Regs. You’ve never been worried about going off the book before! But, oh no, sparing children and innocent civilians is where we draw the line? C’mon, adla’vod.”  The rest of the Batch watched as Specter went off on her brother. “What if that Jedi was General Skywalker? What if it was Cody or Rex, instead of Gerrera? What happened to your humanity?” she pushed. Crosshair’s nostrils flared and teeth bared.

“Don’t you dare question me.”

“What, like how you question Hunter? I’ll dare if I want to!”

“We can debate this later,” Hunter pushed them apart. “For now, let’s focus on getting out of here.” The two separated and went to opposite sides of the room. Specter crossed her arms and turned away from Crosshair, watching as Tech examined the walls.

“CT-9904, you’re coming with us,” she heard a voice say. The shield was open and one of the guards walked toward Crosshair. Hunter stood in between.

“Oh, no, no, no. We stay together,” he protested. The guard rammed his blaster into Hunter’s stomach; Specter gasped and rushed to his side as he keeled over. Without any other fuss, Crosshair stood up and followed the guard out of the cell while the rest of the Batch watched him go. 

Time passed excruciatingly slowly; the Bad Batch sat, waiting for something to happen or for a plan to formulate. Specter eyed Omega from her corner of the cell until the girl eventually decided to sit beside her. The two sat in silence as the young one rested her head against Specter’s arm. Though unexpected, the comforting gesture was not unwelcome.

“I’ve got it. Why didn’t I think of it before?” Tech startled Specter out of her thoughts. He went to sit more in the center of the group. “This is not a prison.” 

“Yeah, well, I beg to differ,” Echo grumbled.

“This is a Kaminoan facility,” Tech continued. “It was built prior to the Clone Wars. there were no barracks or prisons when it was constructed.”

“Well, how does that help us?” Hunter asked, leaning in.

“Because while these cells were retrofitted to hold normal individuals, they could not possibly account for someone like Wrecker,” he explained. 

“Oh! You mean I could punch our way out?” Wrecker exclaimed, standing up. Hunter and Omega simultaneously shushed him. He winced and whispered instead. “You mean I could punch our way out?”

“If you punch the correct spot,” Tech nodded.

“Right. Show me where,” Wrecker said, cracking his knuckles. 

“If this is gonna work, we’ll need some cover. Form a wall,” Hunter instructed. He, Omega, Echo, and Specter stood up, forming a barrier to hide Tech. 

“Hit this. Here,” Tech whispered to Wrecker, indicating towards a spot in the wall.

“Right. Tell me when,” he said to the others. Hunter waited a moment, watching for when all the guards would be distracted, engrossed in their conversation.

“Now.” Wrecker punched the wall and quickly sat on the bench. They hadn’t been spotted. Wrecker inspected the spot on the wall; it had sustained no damage.

“Nothing happened,” he reported.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Hunter questioned.

“Try it again. A little harder,” Tech said, determined. 

“You’re all clear. Make it count,” Specter said over her shoulder. Wrecker nodded and drew his fist back, striking the wall with more force. Specter flinched at the noise, noticing Wrecker once again take a seat on the bench. They waited until the guards turned their gazes away before glancing at the wall. 

“Oh, it still didn’t work,” Wrecker grumbled. Tech went to look. 

“Oh, yes it did. Look,” he said, pulling away the now damaged sheet of metal to reveal a hole in the wall. 

“I’ll never fit through that,” Wrecker complained. Specter glanced too.

“I could try but the guards would notice my absence.”

“I’ll do it,” volunteered Omega.

“Are you sure, kid?” Hunter asked.

“I’m sure,” she nodded, looking up at him.

“Okay. Get to the console and hit the lever to lower the ray shield,” he instructed. Omega squeezed into the crevice, Wrecker and Tech replaced the sheet of metal behind her.

“Incoming,” Echo announced as the guards made their way over.

“Wait, where’s the girl?” the leader asked.

“Hey, fellas,” Specter said, resting a hand on her hip and winking.

“Not you. The child.”

“You tell us,” Hunter shrugged.

“Harm her and you’re a dead man,” Echo threatened. 

“Operations, we need a status report on prisoner 0219,” one of the guards relayed into his comm. A creak sounded above them. “What was that?”

“Sorry,” Wrecker spoke up, covering for Omega, and leaning up against the wall, “these floors don’t hold me so well on account of them not being designed for abnormal individuals such as myself.” Hunter and Tech shook their heads at the absurdity. 

“What’s behind you?” the guard asked, peering closer, causing the other guards to ready their blasters.

“Nothing,” Wrecker said, bringing up his hands behind his head in defiance.

“Move away from the wall. Now.”

“Why don’t you come here and make me?” the brute challenged. One of the guard’s comm beeped.

“Copy that. The girl’s still registered in lockdown,” he reported before aiming his blaster at Wrecker. “Tell us where she is,” he ordered. 

As if on cue, Omega fell down from the ceiling on top of the ventilation panel.

“Hit the switch, Omega!” Hunter said. She scrambled to pull the switch before one of the guards went to grab her. She struggled in his grasp.

“Get off!” she cried, swinging her legs and arms.

“Hey, Red,” a voice said behind him. He turned, just as Wrecker punched him across the room. Another guard tried to get up, but Tech simply stunned him with his own blaster, grabbing it for himself. 

“Not bad,” Wrecker complimented the girl.

“We need to find out where they took Cross,” Specter said, stepping over the downed troopers. A pang of worry shot through her. With the entirety of Kamino against them, there was a chance they wouldn’t find him, or if they did, they wouldn’t escape unscathed. Hunter tossed her a blaster, bringing her back to herself. 

“Let’s go,” he said, leading the group out of the room. The squad carefully made their way through the facility.

“We’re not going to get very far without our gear,” Tech said once they had moved to a quiet area in the pristine halls.

“They started moving all your things to the hangar. Your gear might be there too,” Omega said. Hunter nodded.

“This way.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They had made it to the hangar without being detected; Omega was right, the Marauder and their gear were there. 

“Alright, boys, suit up. Let’s make this quick,” Hunter said. Specter found her things and quickly dressed in her armor before gathering her weapons and other belongings she deemed important: which, given their lifestyle, wasn’t much. She wasn’t as attached to items as some of the others were. She overheard Wrecker rustling through his things, no doubt looking for Lula. 

“Tech, power up the ship. The rest of us will go after Crosshair,” Hunter instructed. Specter readied her interchangeable rifle, uneasy about retrieving Crosshair. So much was going wrong already, and she couldn’t predict if he would come willingly.

“I don’t think we’ll have to go far,” Omega said, however. The bay doors opened and the Batch ducked down, peeking over the crates at the troops that entered, blasters raised. Specter gasped.

“Is that Crosshair?” asked Wrecker. Hunter looked over at Specter, who watched with a broken heart as her brother appeared from the squad, dawning new Imperial armor. Her grip on her rifle faltered and her hands trembled. Hunter took a breath and went to stand in the center of the room, facing him. 

“Best stand down, Sergeant. Make it easy on yourself,” Crosshair said.

“Have you lost your mind?” Hunter asked angrily.

“We should’ve killed that Jedi. You disobeyed orders.”

“I did what I thought was right.” 

“You never could see the bigger picture. Now surrender.” Hunter glanced at the others; Wrecker had put his helmet on and Echo took aim with his pistols, although Specter was still in shock. 

“Is that an order?” asked Hunter. Crosshair smirked a little.

“Heh. I guess it is.”

“Well. I guess I’m disobeying that one too.” Thunder clapped and rumbled as the two stared each other down, Crosshair spat out his toothpick. 

His gaze flickered to Specter, who flinched; she was screaming in her head to get a grip and take aim, only to be contradicted by pleas to surrender and stay with her brother. Tears pricked in the corners of her eyes. Too much was happening and too fast. She watched her brother’s finger itch over the trigger of his rifle, and knew there would be no easy way out. Even if she gave herself up, what was the likelihood Hunter or even Omega would get caught in the crossfire that would certainly follow? Specter steadied her breathing and regained the strength in her hands to grip her blaster. 

The first shot was fired by Crosshair, who let his rifle fall onto his arm as a mount. Hunter ducked in time and took cover next to Omega as the other troops began to fire. The Batch fired back, Specter opting for her sniper-rifle configuration to try and disable the soldiers. One of Crosshair’s soldiers threw a smoke bomb, filling the room and disrupting everyone’s line of fire; Specter switched to thermals, knowing her brother would too. She unleashed rapid fire through her rifle but knew it would have little to no effect.

“Hunt, they outnumber us. Even if we fired blindly into the smoke, it’s no guarantee,” she reported into a private channel, one without Crosshair. She heard him growl and swear under his breath. 

“Tech, we gotta move. Now,” Hunter said into the comm. 

“I’m working on it,” he replied.

“Wrecker, clear the smoke on three,” Hunter ordered. 

“You got it, boss.” Wrecker lowered his blaster and grabbed two crate lids, ready to clear the smoke.

“Omega, stay low,” Hunter instructed the girl before slowly counting down. When he got to three, Wrecker emerged from his cover and slammed the crate lids together, blowing the smoke away; he even threw one of the lids, knocking down most of the troops. He threw the other at Crosshair, who rolled out of the way and shot Wrecker in the shoulder, knocking him out.

“Osi’kyr!” Specter swore, angrily firing.

“Echo, we go for Wrecker,” she heard Hunter instruct. “Spec, Plan 4: Star Shower.” Specter nodded, shoving her helmet on and quietly reconfiguring her blaster to its shotgun form in the silence of the ceasefire.

“Only one way out, Hunter. Your move,” Crosshair drawled. 

“Go!” Hunter shouted. Specter emerged and fired her rounds at the other clones and the ceiling. Miniature explosions peppered them and fell with debris from above, no doubt confusing Crosshair’s thermals. Echo and Hunter struggled to get Wrecker towards the Marauder by the time her cover had dissipated.

“I’m out,” she announced, grabbing for her pistol as Crosshair took aim again. But another shot rang out, knocking the rifle out of his hand. It was Omega, doing her best to hold a blaster that was most likely too heavy for her. A beat of surprised stillness passed before Crosshair made a move for his pistol— this time, Specter was ready. The two fired furiously at each other, some of their shots even collided and ricocheted off each other. Even when Wrecker and Omega had made it on the ship, Specter didn’t stop firing; she was angry—beyond angry— at Crosshair and everything that tore them apart. 

“Specter, recall!” Hunter shouted from the ship’s entryway over the noise. She growled, running to hop on board just as they took off. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ouch!” Wrecker cried as Specter injected the needle into his arm. She had put herself to work on taking care of him, distracting herself.

“Quit whining,” she teased, ruffling through the med-pack until she found the syringe she was looking for. 

“What’s that gonna do?” he cried as she held it up.

“You’ll be okay. Just hold still.”

“Is this what you were looking for?” Omega said, holding up the stuffed Tooka. Wrecker gasped and grabbed it.

“You found my Lula! Ow!” he cried again. Specter had injected him while he was distracted. Omega giggled as Tech came in with his scanner.

“Let’s see here,” he said before kneeling in front of him, “hold still.

“Don’t examine me. I’m not a computer,” Wrecker shied away, holding onto Lula. 

“Would you rather get shot again?” Specter mused. Wrecker whimpered in response.

“This will take just a second.” Tech held the scanner closer to Wrecker's arm, who grunted at the contact. Specter laughed but watched as Hunter slowly followed Omega, who had wandered into the cockpit. 

Specter stepped back from Wrecker, glancing toward the cockpit where Omega stood, awestruck at the view before her. Her mind wandered back to her own first time in space. She’d refused to admit her fear as the old ship took off. Crosshair had known better, and hadn’t let go of her hand the whole ascension. 

She missed her brother now, as reality struck her with a sickening pang. Had he chosen to stay with them, she could imagine his sarcastic hiss teasing Wrecker for being clumsy and her for becoming a ‘nurse.’ Never in a thousand star-systems had she even imagined her brother, her twin, would betray them like this. It hurt far too much to think about.

“Spec, you alright?” asked Echo, bringing her back. She nodded and stepped back as he helped Wrecker into the cockpit, following them. 

“It’ll take more than a blaster shot to take me down,” Wrecker announced as he entered.

“You were down,” Echo argued.

“Yeah, well, not for long,” he cheered, squeezing Echo, but groaning in pain again. Specter squeezed in between them, pushing Wrecker to sit down.

“You are out of commission until further notice, big guy,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder before going to sit in the co-pilot’s seat next to Tech.

“What’s the plan, Hunter?” he asked. 

“I thought we could go off on our own. Lay low. But with Crosshair gunning for us, I’m not so sure,” Hunter explained.

“What about your friends? Could any of them help us?” Omega asked. 

“That would be a short list,” said Tech.

“Yeah, we could count them on one hand,” Specter followed. 

“I can think of one. Plot a course for J-19,” Hunter said. Specter smiled and plotted the course while Tech brought the system online.

“J-19?” Echo questioned.

“We know a guy,” was all Hunter explained.

“Hold tight, hun. You’re not gonna wanna miss this view,” Specter said to Omega. She could see the stars glimmering in the girl’s wide eyes; she looked up at Hunter and smirked, who winked in response. Omega held tightly onto the arm rest but smiled wide as they shot into hyperspace to their new destination, and hopefully, a safe one.

[cc1010fox]

Thire: What are you doing? Fox, sneaking out of his bunk: Nothing? Thire: Now I know you're up to no good... Fox: I just...need to talk to Seventeen. Thire: He's sleeping, like you should be. Fox: I just need to wake him up for a second. Thire: You're going to get in trouble. Fox: I'll risk it. Thire, peeking into Fox's bunk ten minutes later: ...Fox? Wolffe: Thire? What's going on? Thire: Fox went to talk to Alpha-17, but he's not back yet... Cody: What? Do you think he went somewhere else? Bly: He better not have! He'll get in trouble! Thire, worried: I hope he didn't do anything stupid... Wolffe: Well, let's find the di'kut. Cody: And hope he's not already in trouble. Wolffe, peeking into Alpha-17's room: I don't see h-- Thire: Wolffe? What is it? Wolffe, pouting: I knew he was the favorite... Cody, practically climbing over Wolffe: Aw man, it's true... Bly, pushing through them: What are you two talking abou--Wh--That's not fair... Thire, finally making enough room to see for himself: Aw...I'm glad he's not in trouble. Let's go. We have our answer. Wolffe, sulking: Why not us? Thire: Because we didn't think to ask Alpha-17 for cuddles. Alpha-17, cuddling with a sleepy cadet who's snuggled up to his side: You know they're going to start sneaking in here too. I can't fit all of you in my bunk... Fox, pouting: Does that mean there will be nights I can't sleep in here? Alpha-17: Afraid so, ad'ika... Fox, whining: Buiiir...At least kick Wolffe out to make room for me if he's in here... Alpha-17, chuckling: Just get some sleep. We'll talk about it in the morning.

[dystopicjumpsuit]

I would like to know your ideas and thoughts on Cerra and Wolffe 👀

For the shipping and the thotting👀

Did somebody say... thots?

Wolffe x Cerra is GOOOO! Mature content below the cut; MDNI as always.

It was hate at first sight for our intrepid heroes. Cerra thought Wolffe was an uptight prick; Wolffe thought Cerra was an interfering menace. Strong opinions escalated into strong words, which subsequently escalated into a one-sided prank war. Wolffe knew exactly who was responsible for putting edible glitter in his caf, but he was determined not to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she was getting to him. Unfortunately for the good commander, Cerra's habit of adopting troopers as her little brothers extended to Boost and Sinker, which meant that they covered for her every single time.

Things finally came to a head when he caught her in his quarters at GAR HQ on Coruscant, replacing all of his gloves with child-sized versions. He called her a relentless harpy; she called him a raging scughole; he retorted that she'd made his life a living hell; she asked if he was going to cry like a whiny little bitch. They slung insults back and forth, each more ridiculous than the last, until Cerra started laughing uncontrollably. At which point, Wolffe realized they were both being di'kute and asked if she wanted to go out for drinks.

Boost and Sinker were horrified when they realized Wolffe was getting it on with their adoptive sister. Wolffe may have flaunted it a bit as revenge for their betrayal during the Great Prank War.

After they'd been seeing each other for several weeks, Wolffe finally admitted that he'd gotten turned on when they were screaming insults at each other. This led to a very entertaining night, during the course of which, Cerra discovered that calling Wolffe a "gorgeous little useless slut" was a one-way ticket to pound town. She deployed this knowledge strategically.

Cerra was secretly terrified of Plo Koon. Wolffe could never figure out why she was so respectful and quiet whenever the Jedi was around, until she confessed that she was afraid General Plo would think she wasn't good enough for Wolffe. She never got over it, despite Wolffe's reassurances.

Thanks for the ask @moonlightwarriorqueen!

[jessicas-pi]

medieval au incorrect quotes: the threequel

Barriss, tending to Ahsoka's wounds: How would you rate your pain? Ahsoka: Zero stars. Would NOT recommend.

---

Sabine (age 7): I wish I had more enemies. Ursa: I’m sure you will someday, honey.

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Makheta: My lady, why are you on the floor?! Ahsoka: I'm depressed. Ahsoka: Also I was stabbed, can you get Rex, please.

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Caleb: Where's Ezra, Sabine, and Jacen? Hera: They're playing hide and seek. Caleb: Where? Hera: I don't think you get how this game works, love.

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Ahsoka: I’m sick and tired of being called 'mortal' like, you don’t know that. Neither do I. I have never died even ONCE. Nothing has been proven yet. Stop making assumptions. It’s rude.

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Sabine: There there, Ezra. Ezra, upset: Thanks, but how did you get into my room? Sabine: Great question—

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Barriss: Ahsoka, remember when you said you weren’t going to interfere with my love life? Ahsoka: No, that doesn’t sound like me at all.

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Caleb: *pretending to joke* So when are you going to go out with me? Hera: I don't know. When are you going to ask me to? *later* Zeb: And you just ran away?! Caleb: I didn't expect her to flirt back!

---

Ai-kel: If I'm extra sarcastic with you it probably means I'm flirting with you or you really annoy me and I can't handle your crap... have fun figuring out which one.

---

Sabine: WE'RE GETTING MARRIED, DI'KUTS! Ezra: AND WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE IT EVERYBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM!

---

Ahsoka: You know, it's at times like this that I really wish I had listened to what Rex told me. Korkie: Why? What did he tell you? Ahsoka: I don't know. I didn't listen.

---

Ahsoka: What's it like, having a kid? Caleb: He's the reason Hera and I wake up every morning. Ahsoka: Aww. You're gonna be great parents. Ezra, earlier that morning, barging into Caleb and Hera′s room and jumping up and down on the bed: WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!

---

Sabine: Remember when you didn't try to solve all your problems with attempted murder? Ketsu: Stop romanticizing the past.

---

Merrin: This is bothering me. Cal: Well, we are digging up a corpse. Merrin: No, not that. That is... fairly par for the course, actually.

---

Rex: I'm going to remind you to be respectful. Ahsoka: I will politely decline.

---

Ursa: What do you have there, Sabine? Sabine: THE DARKSABER! Ursa: the wHAT—

---

Ai-kel: People are always asking me if I'm a morning person or a night person. Ai-kel: And I'm just like, 'Buddy! I'm barely even a PERSON!'

---

Cal, lifting up an ancient tome written in Old Sith: Oh, gods. Do you know what this is? Omega: It’s a book. There’s a lot of those in here, this is the archives.

---

Adenn: Look, I know you think my judgement's clouded because I like Lady Offee a little bit. Skira, holding Adenn's sketchbook: You doodled your wedding invitation, vod. Adenn: No, that's our joint tombstone. Skira: My mistake.

---

Sabine, age 7: I'm only civil because I don't know any swear words.

---

Caleb: We might have gotten into a bar room brawl back in the city. Depa: Well, that was entirely predictable. Caleb: One of us punched a gang member. Depa: Garazeb? Caleb: Hera, actually. Depa: Oh, that was going to be my second guess.

---

Makheta: Do you guys ever have a civilized conversation that doesn't require insulting each other every time you get a chance? Ahsoka: No. Ai-Kel: No. Makheta: Didn't think so.

[archeo-starwars]

I convinced Luth to come with me. I showed him we could no longer follow Vizla. We are warriors, we should be taking our fight to Zakuul, not the worthless machines on Darvannis. Vizla may be Mandalore, but Zakuul left no other challengers. Maybe this is her way of thanking them. I know there are others who feel the same, who will come with me too. There is a king who will let us hunt on his world. It is swarming with beasts the mightiest of us could only imagine. We can finally meet worthy prey again. The fool king wants tribute from our quarry, to slay offworld creatures and bring them to him from time to time. In return, he will leave us to hunt in peace. The di'kut doesn't understand that acquiring his 'payment' will bring us the honor we crave. When we leave, Vizla will say we are not Mando'ade, and those sheb'urcyin who have forgotten what that word means will agree with her. But if what she has made us is 'Mando'ade,' then I want no part of it. I will be ash'ad. I will be someone else.' --From the journal of Mirli Lok, leader of the Ash'ad