#wrecker tool box

[towingnaperville]

Toolbox Towing Near Me: A Comprehensive Guide to Finding Tow Truck Toolboxes

Finding reliable tow truck toolbox services involve procuring equipment suitable to the task at hand and should never be underestimated. Toolboxes for tow trucks provide essential storage solutions for everything needed for effective towing operations, whether that means professional operations or just for fun.

Tools that are left exposed to weather elements or left disorganized in their toolbox are more likely to deteriorate quickly, significantly shortening their useful life.

Essential Tow Truck Tool Box Equipment

1. Tow Truck Tool Box

At the heart of any tow truck operation lies its toolbox - housing essential equipment like chains, hooks, and straps as well as safety gear that ensures efficient functioning on the job. A well-organized tool chest ensures both efficiency and safety for maximum job efficiency and productivity.

2. Rollback Tool Boxes

Rollback tow trucks have their distinct style, and their toolboxes must match. In addition, it is a highly reliable and versatile solution perfect for flatbed towing.

3. Wrecker Tool Boxes

Wrecker trucks require specially tailored toolboxes designed to meet their special requirements, like winches and boom chains to aid recovery tasks of every nature. Moreover, these tool cases will store everything needed for successful recovery jobs in one handy package.

Locating a Toolbox Near Me

Having a toolbox close by cannot be understated when needing specific equipment quickly; having it can save precious time while guaranteeing smooth towing operations.

Benefits of an Organized Tow Truck Tool Box

An organized toolbox offers many advantages:

1. Efficiency

A well-organized toolbox will allow you to locate tools or equipment quickly, cutting downtime and increasing overall efficiency - this is especially crucial during emergency towing situations.

2. Safety

Towing operations must always place safety as their top priority. A well-organized toolbox ensures that safety equipment such as reflective vests and warning triangles can easily be located when needed.

3. Professionalism

A neatly organized toolbox not only makes your job simpler but also fosters trust with clients who see that care has been put into maintaining equipment and the appearance of a towing service.

4. Extending Tool Life

Proper storage can extend the longevity of tools and equipment. Tools that are left exposed to weather elements or left disorganized in their toolbox are more likely to deteriorate quickly, significantly shortening their useful life.

Once you recognize the benefits of having an organized tow truck toolbox, it may be tempting to wonder where one might be located near you.

Here are a few possibilities:

1. Local Automotive Stores

To start your search for tow truck toolboxes suitable for various towing operations, consider visiting local automotive supply or hardware shops. Additionally, they often carry an assortment of tow truck toolboxes.

2. Shopping Online

Online retailers like Amazon, eBay, and towing equipment retailers offer access to an expansive variety of options while making price/feature comparison easier in your own home. In addition, they carry everything from tow truck toolboxes down to safety equipment like parking lot covers!

3. Towing Equipment Suppliers

Search for suppliers specializing exclusively in towing equipment and accessories. Often these providers carry toolboxes tailored specifically towards tow truck operators' requirements.

4. Consider Used Equipment Dealers or Auctions

If your budget is tight, try checking out used equipment dealers or auctions; there may be well-maintained toolboxes at more affordable prices available there.

Once you've acquired your tow truck toolbox, it must remain well-maintained to continue providing optimal performance for you and the environment. Here are a few maintenance tips:

1. Regular Inspection:

For optimal toolbox care and protection, conduct regular checks on it to identify signs of wear and tear such as loose hinges, latches, or handles as soon as they appear; this way you'll know about any problems quickly to reduce further damage to the contents of your box.

2. Clean Your Tool Box Regularly:

Keep your toolbox free from dirt, debris, and grease by regularly wiping down its surfaces with soapy water to avoid contamination or corrosion of tools before returning them to storage. A tidy toolbox makes working more pleasant as well as helping extend their lifetime and lifespan.

3. Lubrication:

Lubricate moving parts such as hinges and latches regularly in your toolbox to reduce corrosion and ensure smooth operations. Invest in high-grade lubricants designed specifically to match its materials for best results.

4. Regular Organization:

Assess your toolbox's organization regularly as your towing equipment changes; you may be required to rearrange or add storage solutions to accommodate new tools or accessories that come into the fold.

5 . Weatherproofing:

To safeguard against moisture and rust damage to tools and equipment stored inside your toolbox, weatherproof it to keep water out. Seal any gaps or cracks to keep the elements at bay.

6. Secure Your Toolbox:

For added safety and to avoid theft or accidents, ensure your toolbox is attached firmly to your tow truck to keep theft at bay or accidents occurring due to loose toolboxes becoming projectiles during collisions.

FAQ’s

1. What types of tow truck toolboxes are available?

There are various styles and varieties of tool boxes designed specifically to meet the various towing requirements, including tow truck tool boxes, rollback tool boxes, and wrecker tool boxes - these may each accommodate any necessary tools needed for different towing operations.

2. How can I select an appropriate toolbox size for my tow truck?

Choosing an appropriate toolbox size for your tow truck is of utmost importance - make sure it can store all of the essential equipment while not overloading it! Think carefully about your requirements when making this selection based on towing equipment inventory or needs.

3. Where can I purchase tow truck toolboxes near me?

Towing Truck Tool Boxes can be found near you at various automotive stores, hardware shops, towing equipment suppliers, and online retailers - but for reliable options check out Towing Recovery Rebuilding Assistance Services' selection!

4. How should I maintain my tow truck toolbox?

Regular toolbox maintenance will extend its lifespan dramatically. Inspect for wear and tear, clean out, lubricate moving parts as necessary, and organize efficiently for maximum functionality. Also, consider weatherproofing options if exposed to extreme elements.

5. What are the benefits of maintaining an organized toolbox?

A well-organized toolbox offers efficiency, safety, professionalism, and extended tool lifespan; quickly gaining access to necessary equipment while streamlining overall towing operations.

6. Can any toolbox be used for towing, or do I require something specific?

Although general-use toolboxes might work fine for general purposes, when it comes to towing operations it's wiser to invest in professional-grade tow truck toolboxes specifically tailored to meet their unique requirements and provide storage solutions that stand up under pressure.

Conclusion

Having the appropriate tow truck toolbox close by is vitally important for any towing operation, improving efficiency, safety, and professionalism. No matter your toolbox needs may include tow truck toolboxes, rollback toolboxes, or wrecker toolboxes there will likely be something suitable. Therefore, be fully prepared to make the correct selection to maintain smooth towing operations when searching "toolbox towing near me".

Visit Us: https://www.towrecoverassist.com/toolbox-towing/

[techwrecker]

𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬

Summary: The first time you hold Echo in your arms

Genre: fluff

Tags: SFW, gn!reader (but reader is slightly shorter than Echo), very fluffy, mando'a, prompt/ask

Word Count: 0.7k

Warnings: N/A, (please let me know if I missed any!)

A/N: Thank you so much for the ask! This was so lovely to write.

Other: divider by @moosgraphics & @bunnysrph (tysm!)

“Okay, hold on. Let me try adjusting this way,” Echo said from under the hull of The Marauder.

The trusty ship had blown the second capacitor in one week. After putting it off for too long, Echo begrudgingly decided it was time to lift the hood and see what had your home all hot and bothered. You volunteered to be his assistant, knowing it would put him in a better mood about the whole ordeal. Normally Tech would be his number two, but he and Wrecker were working on something else at the moment. Besides, this gave you some alone time with Echo and that alone made your heart beat a little faster.

“Did it work?” You asked from beside him. He was half buried beneath metal while you were sat criss-cross to hand him the tools he needed.

Echo grunted with exertion before replying. “Well it didn’t not work, I suppose.”

“Need anything else?”

“Yeah— a new hand me the laser caliper. I’m not sure how much life this bird has left to give.” 

“On it.” You fished the tool out of the box and handed it to Echo. “Here it is.”

Your fingers brushed one another, shooting a sizzle of pleasant nerves up your spine. Your body was desperate to feel his touch against your skin again.

He tinkered a few minutes more before rolling out on the crawler for a breather before continuing. Still on his back, you could see his chest heaving slightly from the work.

“If anybody can fix her, I know you can.” You gave him a sweet smile and reached an open hand out to him to help him sit up. He took it, grateful.

“Thanks, love,” he said with a smile.

Your cheeks warmed pink against the cool breeze and you looked away, toward the ground. Echo wasn’t your boyfriend, but there was definitely something building between you. Echo let go of your hand only to stand up and stretch. You followed suit. You were still avoiding his eyes so as to not let your face become any redder. He wasn’t an overly affectionate man, so you were surprised when used his scomp link to raise your chin up, forcing you to meet his eyes. His gaze was determined but soft.

“You know,” he started, taking your hand back up in his. “I couldn’t imagine roaming around the galaxy in this bucket of bolts without you. I’m really glad you’re here.” He took a step closer to you.

Your chest surged with love for Echo, reaching the tipping point. You flung your arms around his torso, enveloping him in a hug you had been dying for weeks now to share with him. The crook of his neck fit your face perfectly as you nuzzled into him. He obligingly hugged you back, tightly. He wanted to hold you until forever and then some. It was as if your bodies had been made for each other, molding perfectly into one another. Two pieces of a puzzle that had found their perfect match. You couldn’t believe how perfect, how right, it felt to hold and to be held by him.

Echo was the first to slightly pull away so he could see your face. You had the biggest grin in the galaxy plastered across it. His eyes were so full of love for you, he couldn’t help but smile back. His face was covered in grease so you reached up and wiped a smear off his cheek. He took it up in his own hand and brought it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on your knuckles.

“Echo, what are we going to say to the others?” You were worried they would forbid what you shared together.

“Don’t worry about it, mesh’la. I walked in on them last week placing bets on how long it would take for us to finally be together,” he chuckled. “Hunter is about to make a lot of credits.”

You laughed and finally let him go. He had to finish fixing The Marauder before the crew got back for the evening. The time Echo spent under the hull seemed excruciatingly long, but you knew it was only because you were anticipating the moment he finished. You wanted to pull him against you and fit perfectly into his arms again. And once he finished, you did exactly that. From now on, you took every opportunity you could to let Echo know you cared for him by holding him in your arms. Until forever.

taglist: @baddest-batchers @rinksu-no-joo @welcometo79s

[lets-try-some-writing]

Random question, but how good do you think the ‘Bots and ‘Cons would be at cooking? Does the Matrix happen to have any tips or knowledge of the culinary arts? Would the kids be of any assistance to the ‘Bots, or would they also fail at cooking? For some reason I think Miko would be really bad at making anything with more than 5 steps but make a really good grilled cheese sandwich. You think they would fare any better at baking?

Heck yeah this is funny.

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙

Cooking on Earth

As a general rule, cooking is not really a thing on Cybertron, at least not as it is on Earth. The process of creating energon based fuels and treats is more of a purification than any real chemical bonding or serious alteration as commonly seen in human culinary works. As such, when the team brought the children under their care and were then hit with the realization that they needed to fuel their small wards, issues arose immediately.

Arcee could hardly process normal energon, much less cook anything to save her life. The only human food she is capable of putting together is boxed macaroni and cheese. Even then, it still isn't all that good. She either adds too much butter or none at all. Her milk additions make dish look more like cereal than anything else and quite frankly she somehow manages to burn the noodles despite that fact that it should be nearly impossible. The children don't like her attempts at cooking, but if pressed, they will consume her noodle dish. She has attempted baking but has only succeeded in burning the wall in an attempt to quote "make sure the cake was fully baked".

She is not allowed in the kitchen alone. Ever.

Bulkhead has been met with limited success in all things gelatin. He can't make much else unless he is putting sauce on pre-ordered food, but gelatin he can do. On Cybertron he was known amongst the Wreckers for his banger jellied energon, even earning minor praise from Ultra Magnus. Thankfully for everyone, the same general concept applies to human jellied treats, and so Bulkhead is able to make gelatin without killing anyone. Of course his flavor profiles are rather... off. He has no clue what actually is constituted as good food for including in gelatin, but he tries his best.

Smokescreen and Bumblebee can make a mean grilled cheese, but only if they are working together. One must have their optics on the food while the other plays music in the background while grating cheese. If either of them get distracted or only one is present, the results are wild and worthy of a fire extinguisher. Bee has attempted soup before, and surprisingly, once in a blue moon he can make a really good potato soup. It is close enough to preparing energon rations that he can manage it occasionally. Smokescreen though? He has been given a lifetime ban from the stove. He somehow manages to make a really good salad despite that. It is largely just him throwing random green things in the fridge into a bowl, but it works generally.

Ratchet does not cook. Optimus has forbidden him to cook despite the Doctor wishing to figure out the strange science. The only time he tried cooking, he made actual poison and almost fed it to the kids thinking it was a nutrient dense supplement. Since then he has been confined to the realms of baking, which thankfully, is not too foreign since he can and has made spectacular energon goodies in the past. He knows how to work heat related tools well enough to make really good cupcakes. He can't do frosting though. Its always chunky or pure liquid sugar. Miko still eats them, even if they are a little burned sometimes.

Ultra Magnus can cook, on both Cybertron AND Earth. He just refuses to do so. Period.

Optimus for his part, despite his knowledge, can cook in theory. He knows how it should work, and so largely depending on the resources given to him and his level of focus, he can make a mean dish on Cybertron and Earth. His specialty on both worlds is a variant of shepherds pie, something he lived and vented back on Cybertron due to how cheap it was at the local restaurant. Of course the names of the dishes and the ingredients differ, but the concept remains the same. And so as long as the dish requires no decorum, Optimus can make it fairly well. However if asked to bake, the Prime physically cannot. The singular time he made the attempt, he came away covered in soot and with a lifetime ban from the baking items.

When it comes to the Decepticons, Megatron does not cook, period. On Cybertron he was a fantastic brewer of high grade, but that skill does not translate over well. On the Nemesis, he has a small personal brewing station where he will occasionally whip something up for himself. But that is a rare treat. He has taken the time to study human brewing methods though, largely out of a desire to mock their efforts. This of course led to some experimentation on his end, which in turn resulted in better high grade than what he was capable of producing before. He will never admit where the jump in skill came from.

Knockout and Breakdown love to make cake specifically. They can't even eat the stuff, but they like seeing how big and how grand they can make it. Hours are spent dutifully baking cakes to perfection, molding them, and then decorating them. Usually its done after Cybertronian sites, but off an on they will make human tourist locations out of cake. Breakdown also experiments with chocolate and has become relatively good at making realistic chocolate molds. These, along with Knockout's cakes, he takes to different places around the globe to donate. He may not be fond of humans, but waste is not acceptable.

Starscream is by far the best chef out of all present Cybertronians, and that is only because he fragging hates that Gordan Ramsey is better than he is at it. Starscream has devoted a ridiculous amount of time to cooking JUST so that he can curse right back at the human chef and prove himself superior. No, he does not know where it stemmed from. No, he cannot even eat what he makes. But frag it all he will get that beef wellington right or he will die trying. However against all expectation considering his considerable cooking ability on Earth, he can't cook on Cybertron to save his life. He never needed to, so he never learned.

Shockwave doesn't cook. He makes purified energon and that is all. He doesn't even bother learning anything else. Why would he? Its not like he can taste or appreciate anything complicated. Arachnid does not cook either, and that is largely because she sees it as beneath her. Soundwave is in a similar boat and does not bother... unless it comes to making cat treats. Those he will go through the pain of working with tiny human tools to manage in order to lure in the furry creatures.

Dreadwing can only make noodles. And only from the box. He has no explanation.

[levi-venn]

Accolades - Part One

Timeline: Pre-Order 66 Era Bad Batch

Summary: Hunter turns official accolades into something more meaningful for his brothers.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three Available on AO3

Clone Force 99 never accepted accolades. It wasn't their thing. After all, they were created specifically for the missions no one else could do. Being rewarded for it seemed pointless.

And Hunter didn’t disagree…

…but when accolades were assigned, he always ended up sneaking out after his brothers had settled in for the night to speak to Commander Cody. 

The conversation was always the same.

“I’m sorry your brothers couldn’t make it…again,” Cody would say, handing the medals over.

“Yeah, well, they’re tired from the mission.” One of many excuses he had given Cody during this war.

“Tell them that, on behalf of myself and the generals, 'Keep up the great work, soldiers.'"

“Will do, Commander.” Hunter always said this with a smile. 

Cody returned that smile. They both knew Hunter wouldn’t relay the message. They both knew these medals weren't for his brothers, they were for Hunter.

Hunter had a painted box full of medals and ribbons for each of his brothers.

There was a digital skull skewered by a lightning bolt on Tech's box.

A bomb with a happy face for Wrecker.

And a skull with a crosshair vector over one eye for his youngest brother.

Recently, he added a box for Echo too. He went with a blue handprint for his newest brother, to honor Echo's old armor before the Separatists took nearly everything from him. 

With the exception of Echo’s box, Hunter had been filling these boxes since they were cadets. Their earliest medals had simple accolades from simpler times:

“Fastest Swimmer” - Tech. 

“Most Bullseyes in 60 Seconds” - Crosshair. 

“Feats of Strength” - Wrecker. 

“Leadership and Valor” - Hunter

The accolades shifted after graduation. They came from dangerous missions that ended in violence. Assigned to a bad batch of clones who were somehow expendable, yet the only ones who could survive these impossible situations.

This last mission had taken their toll on the whole squad. Too many clankers, not enough intel, they won the day, but throwing medals at them felt like an insult, even if Cody's appreciation was genuine.

Hunter wanted to turn those medals into something meaningful.

And so, Hunter sat on his bunk, a small laser tool in his bandaged hand, etching over each medal with his own accolades for his brothers.

Tech was awarded “Shooting the most clankers while slicing an AAT-1 and throwing barbed insults at Echo”.

For Crosshair: “The most WIZARD precision shot through a tank’s barrel while spitting a toothpick in a clanker’s eye”.

Wrecker received: “The loudest laugh while mowing down four dozen clankers and eating a hamburger simultaneously”. Hunter still didn’t know where he got that burger.

And finally for Echo, “The most somersaults during a stealth mission while throwing barbed insults back at Tech”

Hunter hesitated over his own medal, as he always did.

Giving himself accolades never sat right.  He could never think of anything, anyway.

So he wrote what he always wrote: “This medal is awarded to Hunter for being the proudest oldest brother in this Badass Batch. I love you guys.”

He tucked the medal away in his own box, a skull with cross-vibroblades beneath it, and tucked it under his mattress with the other boxes.

One day, this war was going to be over.

And on that day, Hunter planned to give these boxes to his brothers.

He couldn’t wait to see their faces.

[in1-nutshell]

Dear PRIMUS LET ME JUST TELL YOU I WAS SCREECHING WHEN I READ THE FIC ABOUT MEGATRONS DAUGHTER WITH OPS DAUGHTER TOGETHER AS WELL AS THE NEW ULTRA MAGNUS DAUGHTER!!!!!! So I know it’s too hard to fit all the daughter buddies into one single universe but may I ask for just Ratchet’s daughter and Ultra Magnus’s daughter in the same universe just like Optimus’s daughter with Megatron’s daughter? Like Ratchet’s daughter just be babysitting Magnus’s daughter as she wreckers all around, being a stubborn patient, and stepping on tools. And Ratchet’s daughter just wanted to cry and pray to Primus.

Bonus if they both are on a mission and Magnus’s daughter just keep jumping into danger and freaking Ratchet’s daughter out.

Magnus’s daughter: “Tis but a scratch”

Ratchet’s daughter: “A SCRATCH?? HONEY YOUR ARM HAS FELL OFF!!!!”

YEEEEE! More crossovers! More official names for the Buddy's when they crossover universe or in 'what if' scenarios!

Hope you enjoy!

Ratchet's daughter and Ultra Magnus's daughter if they lived in the same universe

SFW, Platonic, slight Angst, Familial, Cybertronain reader

TFP

Set more aligned with Ultra Magnus universe.

Ratchet’s Buddy is Lithia.

Magnus Buddy is Rapidfire.

Lithia met Rapidfire during one of Ratchet and Optimus’s visits to Ultra Magnus’s office.

She doesn’t remember now why they needed to be there, but she does remember Magnus was trying to find his sparkling who was hiding in his office again.

Magnus is talking to Prime and Ratchet when Lithia notices a little pede sticking out of a box.

Lithia quietly walks over and gets on her knee.

She hears light giggles and smiles.

She slowly lifts up the box to find a small sparkling looking at her curiously.

“Hello there.”--Lithia

Lithia picks the sparkling up.

The sparkling looks at her for a bit before laughing and patting her helm.

The other bots turn to see Lithia holding the lost sparkling.

“Ultra Magnus sir, I think I found Rapidfire.”--Lithia

Magnus sighs in relief and goes to pick up his sparkling.

“No!”--Rapidfire

Rapidfire latches on to Lithia’s neck.

Lithia gives a nervous laugh as the sparkling just glares at her father refusing to go.

“Well, I think we found you a babysitter Ultra Magnus.”--Ratchet

“Really!? Can I?”--Lithia

Magnus looks at Lithia and Rapidfire’s puppy dog eyes.

“…If things go well this time, then we will consider.”--Magnus

Lithia smiles brightly as Rapidfire laughs loudly.

A few hours later…

“Do you think it was a good idea to leave them both alone?”--Magnus

“Do not worry old friend. Lithia is a great caretaker and does well with sparkling.”--Optimus

“Hmmm…”--Magnus

“She’s my sparkling, Rapidfire is in good servos.”--Ratchet

“We’ll see.”--Magnus

The three mechs enter the room.

Lithia is rocking a sleeping Rapidfire.

The room is intact in fact it’s a bit cleaner than before.

Lithia turns and smiles at the mechs, gently passing the sleeping sparkling into Magnus’s servos.

Ratchet gives Magnus a satisfied ‘I-told-you-so’.

Magnus nods at Lithia.

Lithia yawns a bit rubbing her optics a bit.

Optimus picks her up and places her on his back.

“Optimus—”--Ratchet

“It’s fine old friend. She’s tired and needs her rest.”--Optimus

After that, Lithia quickly became one of Magnus’s top go to babysitters. Mainly because Rapidfire was just as picky as her father was with bots coming near her.

It also helped that she was a soon-to-be-nurse. Rapidfire did have a habit of getting into trouble and getting random injuries.

Lithia mending a mech wound.

“What happened this time Fire?”--Lithia

Rapidfire just swishing her pedes back and forth.

“I fell.”--Rapidfire

Lithia raises an optic.

“You just fell?”--Lithia

Rapidfire nods.

“Can I ask why you fell?”--Lithia

“I tripped on a blaster.”--Rapidfire

Lithia stops for a second.

“Why did you trip on a blaster?”--Lithia

“Because I was running away from the crime scene, duh.”--Rapidfire

“… We need to talk about that another time okay.”--Lithia

Ratchet didn’t mind that Lithia spent time with Rapidfire.

Especially as the war broke out.

Protecting the youngest was a top priority.

That didn’t mean that he didn’t worry about her.

He was still her father after all.

Lithia was packing her medical supplies into her crate.

Ratchet is standing by the door with Ultra Magnus.

“Thank you again Ratchet. I guarantee Lithia will be stationed in one of the safer parts of the base with Rapidfire. She has been asking for her for the past solar cycle and this is the only way I could think of without endangering them too much.”--Magnus

Ratchet quickly looks over at Lithia who was finishing up her crate.

“It’s fine Magnus. We need all the servos we can to keep an optic out for the young ones. And now as an official nurse, she can help your Wreckers.”--Ratchet

“Done!”--Lithia

Lithia walks over to the two.

She puts the crate down and hugs her father tightly.

“Thank you… Love you.”--Lithia

Ratchet just pats her back.

“You’ll be back soon. Now remember—”--Ratchet

“Keep an optic on Lithia, remember my training, and go for the nerves if anyone gives me a hard time.”--Lithia

“That’s my sparkling.”--Ratchet

Lithia gives one last squeeze before picking up her crate and following Ultra Magnus to the ship.

Ratchet watches the ship fly into the horizon with a sad smile on his face.

Now that Lithia was stationed in the Wrecker outpost, Rapidfire rarely left her side.

That being said, there were sometimes where Lithia had to take a step back and vent seeing her tools get crushed or the lack of common sense in the Wrecker unit slowly going to Rapidfire helm.

Being the Wrecker’s only and favorite nurse had its perks all right.

Lithia already knew a good portion of the Wreckers before the war and some that eventually left the team. Lithia and Rapidfire made great friends with the Wreckers they stayed with while Magnus was away.

Especially when Rapidfire got attached to Wheeljack.

Lithia walking back into the med bay with the last supplies of copper wiring stops in the front door after hearing giggling.

Lithia peaks in.

Wheeljack is throwing Rapidfire in the arm with his only good servo.

Lithia clears her throat making both freeze.

“Wheeljack, when I said light physical therapy, this isn’t what I meant.”--Lithia

“But its working for me, watch!”--Wheeljack

Wheeljack throws Rapidfire up in the air again but slightly winces when she comes back down giggling.

“Is it working for you?”--Lithia

“… You win this round Lithia.”--Wheeljack

Lithia smiles at the Wrecker and gets her tools ready to fix him again.

The day he left it broke both of their sparks.

Lithia was quicker to accept that fact that he had left.

She had seen plenty of bots disappear or up and abandon the war because they couldn’t take it. She couldn’t blame them either.

But Rapidfire refused to move on.

One night she woke Lithia up explaining that they were going to go and rescue Wheeljack.

Lithia tried to talk her out of it, but clearly Wheeljack’s stubbornness was sticking to her.

Lithia was a bit nervous leaving the safety of the base while heading to the docks.

She wasn’t going to let Rapidfire go by herself, she was in charge of her after all.

Lithia made sure to pack the necessary equipment as Rapidfire went inside the ship.

While she was putting the equipment in one of the ships’ closets a bomb sound shook the entire ship.

Lithia had gotten locked inside the closet.

She was absolutely terrified for the other sparkling yelling and screaming trying to figure out where she was.

A heavy box fell on her helm and knocked her out.

Rapidfire heard the first scream before she got trapped in a heavy box thanks to the ships shaking.

She tried banging the box hearing the distress sounds of her friend.

For the first time ever she felt the hot, white flash of fear when the screams suddenly stopped.

She froze refusing to move another inch.

Refusing to move or speak until there was some sign of familiarity.

A couple of minutes she heard sobbing.

Rapidfire starts to bang the box again.

“HEY! SOMEONE LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!”--Rapidfire

The lid gets ripped open.

The teary optics of her father stared down at her.

“Father—”--Rapidfire

Magnus hugs Rapidfire tightly and sobs.

Rapidfire freezes before trying to calm her father down a bit.

“Primus! Lithia! Dad she was on the ship! Where is she!?”-Rapidfire

Magnus moves out of the way a bit to show Lithia laying down on one of the medical berths on the ship.

“LITHIA!”--Rapidfire

Rapidfire scrambles to her side.

“She’s just unconscious. One of the crates must have hit her on the helm when the explosion…”--Magnus

“What happened…?”--Rapidfire

Magnus had a lot of explaining to do once Lithia woke up.

Both were rightfully distraught hearing the news.

More Lithia.

All she was thinking was about her father.

The entire base had been blown sky high and there was no way of communicating with anyone. For what anyone else knew, there were no survivors from the bomb.

Magnus and Rapidfire tried their best to help Lithia through it, something that Lithia appreciated very much.

The next years in space further strengthen the bonds between the three of them.

Lithia was there with Rapidfire to help her explain the sudden growth spurts she was experiencing.

Rapidfire was there for lithia when she got sad thinking about her father.

Magnus stepped up and became a second father to Lithia.

Time skip to earth…

Lithia was still on board the ship when they touched down on Earth.

She had been reorganizing the weapons and medical supplies again, a habit she picked up during the years amongst the stars.

Magnus, Rapidfire, Arcee and Jack enter the ship.

“Hey Rapidfire, you mentioned about a medic on the ship, who is it?”--Jack

Rapidfire looks down at Jack.

“She. She’s one of the best medics we know, well besides Ratchet of course. But close second.”--Rapidfire

Arcee huffs at this.

“Who would—”--Arcee

Lithia has her back at the group picking up the crate.

Arcee’s optics go wide.

“Rapidfire who are you talking—”--Lithia

Lithia stops and sees Arcee.

“Arcee?”--Lithia

“Primus… Lithia is that you?”--Arcee

Lithia puts the crate down and hugs her.

“Oh Arcee, it’s been too long!”--Lithia

Arcee just hugs back.

“Primus kid…”--Arcee

“Umm… hi?”--Jack

Lithia looks down at Jack and kneels.

“Hello. I’m Lithia. Do you have a name?”--Lithia

“Jack, my name is Jack.”--Jack

Lithia pats his head gently.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jack.”--Lithia

“When we get in contact with the base, we need to tell everyone about this.”--Arcee

Rapidfire makes a ‘shush’ motion.

She places a servo on Lithia’s shoulder.

“Actually, we’re going to make Lithia’s entrance a secret.”--Rapidfire

Lithia looks at her.

“Why?”--Lithia

“Have I ever steered you wrong?”--Rapidfire

“Do you want the list?”--Lithia

“…You win this one, but please! Just trust me!”--Rapidfire

Lithia sighs but agrees.

Jack turns to Arcee.

“We can not let Miko and Rapidfire in the same room.”--Jack

“Agreed.”--Arcee

Finally, the reunion.

Rapidfire made it sure that Lithia stood behind her and away from anyone’s prying optics.

She even got Magnus to get in on it.

She believes it was to make the reunion even sweeter, she had a feeling that Magnus believed that he caused Ratchet enough suffering for taking away his kid.

Lithia was nervous as the pleasantries were passed between Magnus and Rapidfire.

She had to turn her audials off for a moment so as not to spoil the surprise.

Rapidfire gave the signal.

It was time.

“Hey Ratchet, there’s one more surprise.”--Rapidfire

Rapidfire winks at Arcee and Jack.

“Okay? What is it?”--Ratchet

“More like who is it. TADA!”--Rapidfire

Rapidfire sidesteps fully exposing Lithia to the group.

They freeze.

Lithia recognized several bots from her days back at the main base, before going to the Wrecker’s base.

She saw Optimus’s wide optics.

Finally, she looks over to her father.

He looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Hey Ratchet, Prime… it’s been a while.”--Lithia

Optimus is the first to move and side hugs Lithia.

She knows too well she is getting a full hug later in private.

“Welcome back Lithia.”--Optimus

“Its good to be back Optimus.”--Lithia

She looks back at Ratchet who still hasn’t moved from his spot.

“Ratchet?”--Lithia

THUD!

“RATCHET!”--Lithia

Lithia sprints over to Ratchet.

“OH PRIMUS WHAT HAPPENED?! WHAT—”--Lithia

Ratchet groans and looks at Lithia’s scared face.

“Lithia?”--Ratchet

He pulls Lithia into an armor denting hug.

Lithia just sobs into his chassis returning the hug.

“You’re here… you’re here…”--Ratchet

Lithia just nods furiously.

Miko turns to Bulkhead.

“Context please?”--Miko

“Lithia’s Ratchet’s kid.”--Bulkhead

“RATCHET HAS A KID?! WOW! Just wait till Wheeljack hears about this.”--Miko

Rapidfire and Lithia turn their helms towards Miko.

“HE’S ALIVE?!”—Lithia and Rapidfire

[toska-writes]

What about Y/N not liking their haircut because their bangs keep getting in their eyes? They want to keep their bangs long because they love the haircut, but they are highly debating cutting them off due to the annoyance. What if Hunter helps them fix it? Aka, him giving Y/N one of his spare bandanas to wear and push their bangs back, wearing it kinda like a headband.

I'm a sucker for big brother/dad!Hunter

I’m dying this is tooooo cute!

“Vision”

Summary: your hair has been getting in the way for maker knows how long, but your just not ready to let go of the style yet. I’m sure Hunter has a solution for that

Paring: Hunter x GN padawan reader (PLATONIC!!)

Warning: mentions of scissors but nothing else, WE 👏LOVE👏DAD👏HUNTER

Word count: 801 I wrote this all out and of course it got deleted and I couldn’t get it back but we pressed on anyways!

Notes: apologies to everyone else that requested the fic- I really should do first come first serve but this way I don’t burn out as fast if I want to write an idea right away

The damp noodles you called your hair fell in front of your face yet again as you tried to style them.

A groan seeped past your teeth as you pounded a hand onto the freshers counter.

The door opened with a whoosh when you stomped quickly through the havoc marauder searching for someone.

That person however was not in the cockpit as you hoped.

“Where’s Tech.” You growled at Crosshair who was the only other person in the ship.

He continued to clean as normal while you stood there before finally he acknowledged you and answered. “Dunno.”

Rolling your eyes you asked. “Well do you know where a pair of scissors are?”

“Hmm.” He though for a moment disassembling another part of his blaster. “Dunno.”

“Wow thanks Cross your so helpful.” You grumbled leaving to same way you came in with frustrated footsteps

“Anytime. Always happy to help Y/N.” He called after you. The words were drowned out as you made your way off the ship.

The light of the setting sun was bright as you squinted along the horizons in search.

The figures of Hunter and Wrecker seemed to be sparing basking in the last few hours of the day. Thankfully however your sights landed on an open tool box laying by the bottom of the ship.

Quickly grabbing them you turned and were about the make your way inside when a voice stoped you.

“You go swimming Y/N?” Wrecker asked with a laugh walking up to you. “Looking like a wet tooka don’t you think.”

An elbow to his side made his laughter quite down just a bit.

“I hope you don’t plan yo cut your hair with those.” Hunter added when his brother was finished. “Believe me it’s not gonna go well.”

Wreckers laugher started back up. “I remember that serge.” His giggles broke apart his words. “You looked so stupid with half your hair a different length and all in you face. Those long necks weren’t thrilled.”

“Thanks Wreck.” Hunter rolled his eyes before he returned them to you.

“What am I supposed to do then?” You asked with a sigh placing the scissors in Hunter’s outstretched hand. “I really like this style.”

“You know Tech would be crushed if you cut it. He worked so hard on that.” Wrecker said looking between the two of you.

“Come with me I got an idea.” You followed Hunter back into the ship like his shadow as he scanned for something.

Unsatisfied he continued to where his bunk was, pulling something from underneath he presented to you his brilliant idea.

“There you go kid. It always keeps the hair from my face.” A bandana sat in Hunters hand. The red was a little more faded then the one he currently hand on. The skull design was printed on this one as well.

You started at him for a moment before quickly pulling him into a hug. “It’s perfect Hunter! We’re gonna match and everything now!”

Hunter went stiff under your hold before adding. “Well if you’ll turn around I’ll tie it for you.”

The bangs were brushed back from your eyes and the soft material was pressed against your forehead when Hunter was making sure it was centered. Tying it securely at the back of your head you beamed up at Hunter.

“I love it!” You exclaimed running from the room to show the others. A prideful smile was painted all over Hunters features as he followed you.

“Oh ho ho would you look at that!” He heard Wrecker practically shout as he leaned against the doorframe to the cockpit.

“Now we’re gonna have to get you matching armor as well!”

You looked over at Crosshair expectantly before he glanced up and met your gaze. After a moment he said. “Now everyone’s gonna know you’re with us when you cause a problem.”

You watched him continue to cleaning while laughing “Guess that means that your gonna have to make sure I don’t get caught then.”

“It appears I have missed something.” Tech appeared behind Hunter silently when he entered the ship. He carried many bags full of all different kinds of supplies.

Turning around and taking a bag from his brother Hunter said. “Ehh nothing much.”

You shook your head smiling to your self as you also took another bag from Tech.

“I like the headband.” Tech added when you were face to face.

You smiled again looking up to Tech. “Why thank you.” You dipped your head slightly. “I also heard about when Hunter cut his hair when you were cadets and I was wonder-“

“I’ll show you plenty of pictures in a moment after this stuff his organized.” He nodded his head knowingly shuffling passed you.

That was definitely going to be something to see

____________________________________

Taglist:

@arctrooper69 @thereforepizza @padawancat97 @pb-jellybeans @floffytofu @verybadatwriting @solstraalaa @ray-rook @ct-0113

[silverwings22]

Song of the Sea: Chapter 1: Seafoam Blue

As Promised, I'm here with a Tech Fic! This is a Tech Lives Fic, and we will be continuing once Season 3 finishing airing.

(If they don't give me a satisfactory ending, I'll be fixing it.)

Chapter warning: drowning, profanity

Series warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a.

Next Chapter:

Seafoam Blue

The cadets of the experimental unit, Clone Force 99, were used to being sneered at by other clones on Kamino. “Defective”, “lab-scrappers”, and “better off decommissioned” were comments they heard frequently, which left them united and extremely defensive. It also meant they worked exceptionally well together because they tolerated no one else, and would likely be a very effective fighting force when they finally got off the planet of their creation. 

If they survived basic training, anyway. 

Today was aquatics environmental training, which meant the four boys were dropped off in the middle of the ocean with their gear packs, and tasked with getting each other back to shore. Hunter, the natural leader among them and under consideration for the sergeant position, was the first to break the surface once they’d been pushed out of the transport into the water. His long hair was plastered to his face, but he’d remembered to blow air out of his nose on the way up. As he got his bearings, three more heads popped up next to him. 

Wrecker was coughing, stinging water up his nose. Crosshair sucked in a breath just so he could start swearing like a Hutt. Tech just looked like he was having a hard time keeping his head above water. “Everyone okay?” Hunter called. 

“It burns my nose.” Wrecker complained. 

“That’s cause you tried to snort the ocean.” Crosshair groused. “Where’s the fucking inflatable?”

“Tech’s got it.” Hunter floated over to his brother, giving him an arm to pull up on so he could dump the water out of his goggles. Tech blinked the seawater out of his lashes and turned so Hunter could get his gear bag open, pulling out a small heavy box. Hunter pushed a button and held it up, the box opening and unfolding into a lifeboat. As soon as it was fully inflated, he and Crosshair climbed into it and pulled Wrecker up first. He was the weakest swimmer, his dense muscle making it harder for him to float and tread water. 

Crosshair turned around once Wrecker was laying on the bottom of the boat hacking up water. “... Where’s Tech?” 

Hunter paled, spinning around. “Tech!?”

There was nothing but ocean around them, with no sight or sound of their brother. 

Crosshair sucked in a sharp breath. “... You don’t think he kept all those goddamn tools in his pockets, do you?”

“He’s too smart for that…” Hunter said weakly, praying it was true. “Get eyes on Tipoca City, so we know where we’re going. We stay out until we find him.”

Crosshair nodded, getting out his binocs. Tech had better be okay… he wasn’t prepared to deal with anyone else. This squad was all he could tolerate, and he’d never say it out loud but he loved his brothers. Losing any of them was unacceptable. 

Down below, Tech had indeed left his pockets full of heavy durasteel tools and underestimated how heavy they would be in the water. He was sinking despite his best attempts to stay at the surface, already several meters down and descending. Bubbles streamed out of his mouth, and he cursed internally as he realized his rebreather was in his gear pack on his back. It wasn’t easily reachable, and even if he pulled it around he’d have to dig through all the other crap he had in there before he found it. The salt water coming in the edges of his goggles was blinding, he’d never find them before he ran out of oxygen and blacked out… then he’d take a reflexive breath and drown. The entire situation was unideal, but death sounded like the least pleasant part. 

The surface got further and further away, and he was debating whether or not he had time to go through the stages of grief before he actually died, when something bumped his leg. He looked down, half blinded with seawater, and found a cephalopod tentacle wrapping up from his ankle to his thigh. He tried to kick, less than enthused about being eaten before he was dead, when he was suddenly and violently snatched down and towards the direction of TIpoca City. It was hard to tell, but as a second tentacle wrapped around his face he thought he saw a pair of humanoid hands moving as well. A suction cup sealed over his nose and mouth, just as he blacked out. 

Tech heard humming when he woke. He was laying on wet sand, covered in grit and half-dried salt, on his side when he opened his eyes.He coughed and started propping himself up on his elbow. Everything was blurry, and he slowly reached up to his face and discovered his goggles were missing. The last thing he remembered was a tentacle wrapping around his face, preventing him from swallowing water when he lost consciousness…

He jumped when something touched his arm, rolling over on his back to see a… he wasn’t sure what he was looking at, actually. It appeared female, and looked concerned as she leaned closer to him. Her skin was purple with a greenish undertone, and her eyes were seafoam blue with oblong pupils in an only slightly darker shade. The sclera was barely visible, and they took up most of her soft and round face. Her nose was small and nearly flat, with a thin-lipped mouth. Her ears were delicate, nearly translucent green fins, and what might have been hair on a human was instead a series of thin tentacles she’d put in a ponytail. Two hung down the left side of her face like bangs, and they moved independently. This curious face sat atop a thin and graceful neck, tapering to narrow shoulders and a close-fitting strapless garment made of woven seaweed. The hands she raised in a gesture of peace were five-fingered with sharp black nails, and she wore what appeared to be durasteel manacles around her wrists that dragged a few feet of chain that attached to woven wire armbands around each bicep. 

The most surprising part of her, however, was from the waist down. She was splayed out atop eight powerful, sucker-studded tentacles the underside of which were the same green as her ears. In her right hand were his goggles, which she had evidently been inspecting while he was knocked out. She offered them back with a sheepish smile that showed a double set of inch-long top canines, and a soft humming sound that gave the impression of an apology.

Tech hesitantly took them and put them back on his face, squinting until she came into focus. Her torso was only slightly bigger than the half-grown cadet, but the tentacles making her at least three meters long from head to tip. A young adult of… whatever she was, he thought. At least she didn’t look like a child or elderly to him. “Um… hello? I assume you saved me… thank you.”

She cocked her head to the side curiously, humming again with a dip to indicate a question. 

“You do not speak Basic.” He blinked. Who the hell didn’t speak Basic? Wasn’t that why it was called Basic? He looked around, realizing they were inside a cave. There was a natural skylight high above them, the bottom a sandy private beach with a few sparse plants growing further up where the water didn’t touch. “... this is the inside of the inactive volcano below Tipoca City.” He realized as he sided up the composition of the cavern walls and the height of the roof. “This is well below sea level. I did not realize there was dry land under here…” 

The creature beside him cooed, wiggling over to him and checking him out. She pulled up his arm to inspect his uniform, tapped at his comm and gear bag with a sharp nail as if testing them, and started to poke into his pockets to look at his tools when he put his foot down. “Please stop that.”

She sat back again at the sound of his voice, lifting her hands and waving to get his eyes on her. After a moment of watching her fingers shift and twist, he realized it was a form of sign language not too different from the Tuskan he knew. It was at least enough to start forming a pidgin between them. 

“Pulled you from deep water. Couldn’t bring you to the surface. Can’t be seen.” She explained. “You okay?”

Tech spoke aloud as he signed, wondering if it would teach her Basic. He had no idea how long he was going to be here in this cave, he might as well make progress with his new companion. “Thank you. My name is Tech.”

She smiled, repeating his name curiously. “Tech.” She touched her chest to indicate herself. “Shiani.” 

“I am grateful for you rescuing me, Shiani. I have never seen anyone like you before.” He reached into his gear bag and pulled out his datapad, scanning her subtly to try to figure out what the hell she was. 

Her limbs undulated as she shifted to get a little closer, trying to look at his screen. “Kaminoan.”

“I am familiar with Kaminoans. I was made by Kaminoans. They have a much longer neck.” He showed her the screen, since nothing was coming up but old legends about creatures whose singing led sailors to their deaths. 

She laughed, a breathy and intriguing sound he found himself enjoying immensely. “More than one sentient species on Kamino. Sirens and longnecks. Longnecks force sirens to live in hiding under the sea, hundreds of years ago”. 

“I have never heard of your species.” Tech was delighted when she let him examine her tentacles, pulling one over his legs to poke at it. She giggled like she was ticklish. 

“They think we’re extinct. We helped them survive when the Great Flood happened. When we saved them, they enslaved us. When we fought back, they killed us. When we ran, they hunted us. So we hide.” 

Tech looked up at her, watching the sad expression across her face. “You were very close to the surface to save me.”

“Went where Shiani needed to be. Melody tells my hearts”. She explained, leaning closer when he moved to examine the gill slits on her sides. 

“Melody?”

“Sirens have three gods. Melody, Harmony, and Song. Light and Dark and Balance. None better or worse than the others.”

“And you believe a god told you to come to the surface?” 

“Yes. Shiani finds the key to saving her people here.” She reached up and lightly booped his nose with her fingertip, careful of her nail. “Apparently, Tech is the key.”

“How would I be key to saving a species of creatures living in hiding?” He blinked, leaning back at the unexpected contact. Shiani smiled, watching his reaction curiously. 

“Tech doesn’t like touching?”

“I am… less than fond of it when it is unexpected.” He adjusted his goggles nervously. “What do you intend to do with me?”

“Shiani will be your friend. But you can’t tell anyone about me, it would put sirens in danger.” She raised what passed as an eyebrow, a darker purple circle above her large eyes. “We can help each other.”

“How?” Tech scrunched his nose, and Shiani thought it was absolutely adorable. He looked like he was barely a teenager, in his little blue and red uniform. The glasses were her favorite, and she was glad he hadn’t woken up when she’d tried to put them on her own face just to see. They made her excellent vision blurry, but they were cool. 

“Metal in your pockets made you sink. Tools. You know how to fix things, and make them better?”

Tech nodded. “I enjoy inventing. I am a genius, it was genetically engineered into me during my gestation.”

“My people still use systems that are nearly a thousand years old in our cities. Shiani takes you back to the longneck city, you teach me to build things. Then Shiani can help her people.”

Tech frowned. “It would be complex to use electrical tools underwater.”

“What if we built things here first? She smiled. “Can bring you here.”

He nodded after a moment of thought. “That seems doable. I have free time between lessons and simulations, but it is predominately at night. Is that an issue?”

“Sirens see well at night.” She smiled, and he spotted a nictitating membrane move across her eyes to keep the sand out. 

He nodded again. “I can acquire a comm device for you when I get back to Tipoca City, so we can remain in contact.” 

Shiani nodded, looking at his wrist when he pointed at it. “Comm device.” She repeated, testing the measure of the unfamiliar syllables on her tongue. She was a quick learner, which Tech was grateful for. He disliked repeating himself frequently, which Wrecker often required. 

“Yes.” He smiled, sitting back beside her. She gave him her hand when he reached for it, flexing her fingers while he traced her phalanges and tendons. He was entirely fascinated by the difference between this and her boneless tentacles and this contact was acceptable, since he’d initiated it. 

When he reached for the manacles, her other hand snapped forward and caught his wrist gently. He looked up, a concerned look in his eyes. Shiani smiled and shook her head before letting him go so she could sign. “Chains are very special.”

“My apologies.” He looked sufficiently chastened, though curious. 

Her eyes lifted up towards the open mouth of the mountain, so small and high above them. “Getting dark. Tech will be missed.”

He startled with a sudden realization. “Oh… my brothers are going to think I’ve drowned.”

“Shiani take you back to Tipoca. Can let them know you’re safe. Just promise not to tell anyone about sirens. Long necks might attack again.”

He nodded immediately. He liked knowing things, especially things no one else was allowed to or unable to figure out. “It does not concern you that I was made by the Kami… Long necks?” 

She held her hand up, palm towards him, and pointed for him to place his hand against hers. Tech was hesitant at first, but slowly pressed his palm to her cool skin. He was still marveling in the texture, not slimy like an octopus or squid would be. She felt more like a dolphin, tough and smooth but thinner skinned and flexible. His hand was about the same size as hers, and she leaned forward until her mouth was almost touching the back of her hand before singing out a high, keening note that he felt inside his ribcage and between his eyes. It took him a minute to recover, realizing he’d flopped over like a landed fish and she was leaning over him curiously. 

“What… what was that?” He wheezed, hands wobbling as he signed. 

“Siren singing. How Shiani knows Tech is good.” She smiled at him. “Can feel your hearts.” 

“That is… I am not sure I understand.” He frowned, sitting upright. The siren scooted a little closer, offering him an arm to lean against while he got his bearings again. 

Shiani indicated for him to hold onto her arm. “Shiani takes you back to surface now, to find your brothers. You are little brother or older brother?”

“Both. Hunter is older than me, while Wrecker and Crosshair are younger.” He took the offered arm. 

Shiani nodded. “Hunter. Tech. Wrecker. Crosshair.” Her mouth wasn’t exactly made for the language, dragging out the sibilants a little more than he would. But she tried, and he liked the way her voice sounded when she spoke out loud. 

“I won’t tell them about you.” He reassured her. 

“Trusting you.” She nodded. “Shiani come to find you in three days, when moon is highest. Dock where ships come from the stars is always empty then.” 

He nodded, taking her arm and a deep breath when she wrapped a tentacle around his waist and pulled him into the water. She was wickedly fast below the surface, pulling him up the side of the underwater mountain until the lights of Tipoca City’s bottom were in sight. She took him right to the dock, shoving him into the air just as he was sure he was going to black out once more. When he caught his breath and looked down, she had vanished into deeper water, and he managed to grab the service ladder steps of the dock before his tools pulled him underwater again. 

He tapped his comm, which was waterlogged but still functional. “Hunter?”

“Tech!? Where the hell are you!? We’ve been looking for hours!”

“My apologies. My tools were heavier than anticipated.”

He heard Crosshair in the background, yelling at him about being a genius moron. Hunter sighed with relief. “At least you’re okay. Where are you? We’re not calling off this exercise until we have you back.”

“I am holding onto the underside of the main starship hangar dock.” 

Hunter sucked in a sharp breath. “Tech. That’s three klicks from where you went missing. How are you alive?”

Tech didn’t like lying to his brother, but he had made a promise to the strange siren who’d saved his life. And her concerns were valid, the Kaminoans were not always the most ethical in their pursuit of scientific breakthrough… “I was simply very lucky.” 

It was a long swim back to the sunken city of Acopit, Shiani’s home and the capital of Below Kamino. The dim, flickering lights of what had once been a bustling metropolis glowed like a dying sunset from the sea floor. Once, the city had been above water before the Great Flood. When the seas swoll to consume all of Kamino, and the sirens escaped slavery at the hands of the longnecks, they’d simply gone back home. 

She went straight to the center of the city, entering through a window of the towered palace that sat in the very middle of a circular courtyard. The entire city was laid out like a wheel, spokes connecting districts and everything leading here. There had been more towers when she was young, but the currents and disrepair had led them to break off and fall to sandy bottom. 

She slipped into her bedroom casually, setting the woven kelp bag she carried behind her bed made of a giant mollusk shell. It looked like she’d made it back without attracting too much attention… “Where have you been?” A voice scared her half to death, singing out in her native tongue.

Shiani squeaked and a cloud of black ink swirled around her tentacles, her face turning blue with embarrassment. “Kashae! Stop sneaking up on me!” 

Her elder brother, a large male of the same shade of purple-green as she was, was suction-cupped to the upper wall in the shadows where she hadn’t seen him immediately. His woven shirt was made of goldish-green sea silk and was paired with a cape of the same material, embroidered with heavy shells. There was a crown of coral and stone on his head, and he wore chains crossed over his chest like a body harness. “Where have you been, little sister?” 

“Hunting.” She said automatically.

“You’re a terrible liar.” Kashae dropped to the floor and reached over, flicking her nose with his claw lightly. “You always give yourself away, because you can’t look me in the eye. Where were you?”

She grumbled. “So bossy since Father gave you his crown.”

“That’s what kings do. Now tell me the truth, Shiani. You’ve been disappearing for weeks. It’s not safe outside of the city.”

“It’s not safe in the city anymore.” She huffed, gills flexing on her sides as she turned to lean on the windowsill with her elbows. “The perimeter barriers are failing. Just like the lights. How long until the sharks and sea monsters get in and start snatching children from their homes?” 

“We’ll adapt, like we always have. I’ll set up a city guard to patrol-” Kashae reached out, putting a hand on her shoulder. 

She snatched back. “And pay them with what? There’s not enough food to pay out the portions that kind of labor is worth. The hunting parties won’t go far enough out to find anything worthwhile. And I’ve been to six other Belowcities, just for them to tell me it’s just as bad there.” She shook her head. “We need new technology. We can’t keep limping this along, our people will starve in the dark because the city is failing!” 

“So what’s your plan, Shiani?” Kashae frowned, pulling on one of her head tentacles lightly. 

“There’s technology thousands of years more advanced than ours on the surface.” Shiani said quietly. “If I could just study it long enough, I could replicate it-”

“Is that where you’ve been?!” Kashae cut her off, voice raising so loudly she felt herself start to panic. He had his fangs bared, mouth splitting open from a hidden seam that went nearly to his ears and showed his entire jaw. “It’s forbidden to go to the surface! You know that!”

“The longnecks are making people now, Kashae! Not just plants and animals! They made a whole new race to enslave, like they did us!” She yelled back, fists clenched but she didn’t dare show her teeth. “We could help them, and they could help us!”

“No. If the longnecks made them, they’re going to be just as evil as they are.” Kashae grabbed her wrist. “You are not going back up there. You’ll get us all killed.”

“So you’d rather see our people starve at the edge of a crumbling city?” She snapped, limbs flashing with serious of pulsing blue rings. “What kind of king are you?!”

“That’s enough!” Kashae growled, free hand coming up and slapping her sharply across the face. One nail dragged a gouge in her cheek. Immediately, the both froze as a trickle of blue blood swirled through the water. Regret immediately colored the young king’s face and his mouth shut, his own blue rings vanishing at the sight of his sister’s blood. “Shiani…”

“Don’t touch me.” She shoved his hand off her wrist. “Just go!”

Kashae sighed. “I’m sorry, Shiani. But you can’t go back. I forbid it, as your king. Not your brother. Do you understand me? I won’t tell anyone about it this once, but if you go back I have to tell the High Council. You know what will happen if they hear.”

Shiani turned away, hand over her bleeding face. “... One day, they’re praising me as the Minister of Security. The next, they’ll have me exiled.”

“Not if you don’t do this again. No one has to know.” Kashae reached for her again, apologetic, but she just pulled away. “Shiani, please… I’m sorry.”

“Just go away.” She muttered.

Kashae sighed, backing up out of her room and rubbing his forehead. Once he was out of earshot, he waved to the nearest castle guard. “Have someone watch my sister… if she sneaks out, let me know.”

“Yes sir.” 

In her room, Shiani unfolded herself on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. It had been painted once, though centuries of water and time had worn it away. The only art that persisted since before the Great Flood were the mosaics in the Temple. Patterns of the Harmony, Melody, and Song. 

The oldest stories said the gods dwelled beyond the stars, keeping the balance of the galaxy and giving life and death in equal measure. Since Shiani had been a little girl, she’d always tried to put the needs of her people first… but all she’d ever wanted was to see those stars with her own eyes. 

The boy, Tech, was the key to saving both the sirens and her. She just knew it.

Concept art time!

[zoeykallus]

I love the headcanon that most clones are very artistic! Maybe a reaction of Reader finding or catching one of the Bad Batchers sketching them?

Hm, interesting idea. Let me try something :)) Let me tell you, I really had some fun with Crosshair's part XD

The Bad Batch Being Artistic x Fem!Reader - Love And Art

Warnings: Little cat and mouse game in Crosshair's part. “Explicit threats of violence”

Hunter

Hunter has a knack for carving. He is very skilled with a knife and pretty much any other sharp object. It all started when he picked up a piece of wood on a mission in a forest and carved away at it with his knife. He quickly found he had an aptitude for it and did this sort of thing more and more often. Eventually, he added other tools and carved in his spare time as well.

When you first see his collection, you are amazed and look at all the figures. On a shelf there is a cloth with a figure obviously hidden under it. When you ask him about it, he explains, "I actually made this for you."

"For me?" you ask, surprised.

Hunter nods, grabs the figure with the cloth, and finally pulls the cloth away. An orchid emerges from underneath. Beautiful, finely carved. He hands you the wooden flower. He smiles when he sees your eyes light up.

"An orchid, it's beautiful," you say enthusiastically, turning the figure in your hands to look at it from all sides.

"Just like you," he says softly.

Echo

He discovered his love for art after a mission when he discovered a small store on Ord Mantell that sold art and supplies for artists. Actually, he had not explicitly looked for it, but curiosity drew him to the small store. He discovered paintings that had been made with colored sand, beautiful very lifelike looking paintings.

Fascinated, he had dealt with it for quite a while, collected information and started his own first attempts. Echo was thrilled when he realized how good he actually was at creating real pictures from the different colored grains of sand. It does him good, calms him down, helps him to organize his thoughts, especially when everything went haywire again during a mission.

For a while, he withdraws more often, not really telling you what he's doing or where he's going. Until the evening of your birthday comes. Somewhat nervously, he hands you a rectangular, flat, wrapped gift.

"What's this?"

"Open it, and you'll find out," he says with a soft laugh.

You open the paper and one of his pictures emerges from underneath. He has drawn you with the sang, it is an incredibly good picture and securely sealed so that it cannot be damaged.

"Oh, Echo, so that's what you've been doing secretly for the last few days".

He nods with a shy smile.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, very much, it's a very great, very personal gift. Unbelievable how you manage to do such a thing"

Echo kisses your cheek and says softly, "Happy Birthday, Meshla"

Wrecker

Honestly, for quite a while, you don't really know that Wrecker has an artistic streak until you accidentally come across a collection of strange figurines that he collects in a box.

"What's this?" you ask in wonder as he rummages around in it.

He shrugs his broad shoulders sheepishly.

"Uh, a little hobby of mine. Wait, I made one for you too"

You see that they are figures made of very fine cable wires, silver and copper. They are incredibly well crafted figures, animals, trees, and a few other things.

He finally hands you one of the figurines. A beautiful tree, it looks like it has many fine branches, they are so perfectly arranged that it almost looks real. On the branches hang many small objects, which you think at first moment are fruits, but you look closer and recognize, very small, very finely crafted hearts.

It's incredibly sweet and beautiful.

"Is this really for me?"

Wrecker nods with a wide smile as he sees your enthusiastic expression.

"It's incredibly beautiful"

"I put in extra effort for that one," he admits with a small, shy chuckle.

You kiss his cheek and say, "I can tell, it's a really great gift, I'll always treasure it"

Tech

He actually has several artistic hobbies. However, he rarely takes time for them. He has too many other things on his mind, repairs, solving technical problems, his work on better prostheses for Echo, modifications to the ship and much more. Tech rarely gets to let go and do something artistic.

If he has time to spare, he'd rather spend it with you, which happens far too rarely anyway. When you ask him about his artistic interests, he smiles cheekily at you.

"Am I not interesting enough for you?" he asks jokingly.

You nudge him and say, "You know I find you more than interesting".

Tech says with a smile, "There are several arts that interest me. I can draw pretty well, but I also find poetry fascinating and some music. However, I don't really have the time for that sort of thing."

"Too bad. I think you would be a great artist"

He wraps an arm around your waist and gently pulls you closer to him.

"You really think so?"

"I'm sure of it actually"

A few days later, you meet outside the Marauder, sit on a bench nearby, and he hands you a folder.

"What's this?"

"Sketches"

"Oh? Of what"

"Open it"

You open the folder and see excellent, realistic sketches of the Marauder, but it doesn't really look like the Marauder, seems much bigger.

"These are pretty darn good! Wow! Is that a different model of the Marauder?"

Tech smiles with satisfaction and says, "Not quite, well, depending on how you look at it. I've been thinking about how little privacy we have, and I'd like to change that. All these sketches are plans for conversions and attachments to the Marauder, so we can have a private area just for the two of us. Hunter has already agreed, and Echo has promised to help."

That is indeed a wonderful idea. You can't wait to see the finished piece and, of course, use it with him.

You kiss him deeply and say, "My brilliant darling".

Crosshair

(Excuse me, I had a stupid idea, and yes, I think I'm funny)

Pre relationship

You've seen him sitting off and drawing before, but he won't let anyone look at his papers. Whenever someone approaches him, he closes the folder and retreats. Even if you approach him.

But you are so bold and wait for a moment when the folder is on a rock where he was just sitting and drawing before he was called and distracted by Tech.

You open the folder and are amazed to see indescribably good black and white drawings. The biggest surprise, however, is the subject, on almost every drawing you are the focus. You among trees in full bloom, you in a meadow, you sleeping in your bunk, you sitting cross-legged by the campfire, you from pretty much every perspective, every angle, and with every facial expression imaginable, but most often he captured your smile.

"Wow," you murmur softly to yourself.

Your heart beats really fast, the grumpy sniper you secretly have a crush on must have a thing for you too. Your stomach tingles and you feel warm. In his thick portfolio are really almost only pictures of you and a few of his rifle.

-----

Crosshair is annoyed when he comes into the engine room.

"What's going on? Why are you calling me?" he asks Tech.

Tech turns to him unperturbed and says dryly, "Y/N asked me to do that"

Crosshair frowns, that doesn't make sense.

"Don't kid me. Why would she do that?"

Tech shrugs and says, "I have no idea, didn't ask why. She just asked me for a simple favor."

Then it dawns on him. His eyes grow wide as he murmurs half in shock, "My portfolio."

Crosshair runs back outside, and there he sees you, portfolio in hand.

He rumbles, "You lousy little…"

You look up, startled, and see the angry Sniper stomping towards you. Hastily you put down the folder, mutter a curse and want to run away, but behind you rises a steep cliff wall, in front of you is the rock and on the other side Crosshair.

"Come here! I'll whip your ass so hard you won't be able to sit down for days!"

"Oh dear…", you mutter.

Echo asks from the background, "What did she do this time?"

"I just looked in the folder," you say indignantly.

Hunter draws in air sharply between his teeth and says, "Oooh, bad move, Ad'ika."

You blink and say, "You're not going to let him beat me up, are you?"

Echo laughs.

"Well, you can take a few swats on the butt."

"Hey! You are not funny, Echo!"

"Come here!"

You squeak in fright and just barely dodge Crosshair, who has jumped over the rock.

You can dodge him for quite a while and actually trick him a few times, but eventually he has you pinned in a corner.

"Don't hurt me," you say with narrowed eyes and raised hands, as if expecting him to lash out.

Crosshair sighs, then asks with a snort, "You looked through the drawings?"

"…yes, they're really very g-"

"Don't jump to conclusions, it doesn't mean anything," he growls at you, "You're just a good subject."

"Oh…okay" you say and even though you know he's lying right now, you feel a little twinge that he's still closing himself off to you.

He stares down at you, his gaze literally burning on you.

"I'm not going to paint you today" he grumbles, "Your hair looks stupid today".

He turns and walks away as you say, "You look stupid".

He stops and you hold your breath.

Crosshair is not even turning around as he speaks, "What was that, Kitten?"

"Nothing…"

He growls, "I thought so," and finally keeps walking.

It takes him a while to admit his feelings.

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

@arctrooper69

@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@puppetswithteeth

@palliateclaws

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@starwarsnerd111

[notgonnaedit]

Healer's Heart

Return to Kamino

Summary: When Order 66 ushers in a new era, Althea and the Batch must find their place

Pairing: Bad Batch x Teen!OFC (clones being good brothers/dads)

Chapter summary: Taken hostage by Crosshair, Althea and Hunter try to reason with him. Meanwhile, the rest of the Batch travel to Kamino to rescue them

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, TK-Troopers, prisoners, Althea worrying, sad Omega, Hunter and Crosshair fistfight, explosions, underwater facilities (If I miss a tag LMK)

Master list

Hunter and Althea sat on the floor of the Imperial shuttle, their hands cuffed in binders. The elite squad stood guard, watching them in case they tried to escape. To where? They were in hyperspace.

Althea held back from making any jokes. The storm inside her was too dense to even entertain the idea of humor.

The doors in front of the slid open, making way for Crosshair as he walked in.

"Where are we going?" Hunter asked.

Crosshair knelt down, grabbing something from the tracker's belt. Althea glared daggers at him as he activated the comm device.

"You'll find out soon enough." The sniper said as he stood. "And so will your squad."

Althea scoffed. So that was it? He had completely broken off from them. While they were all hoping there was a chance he would come home, Crosshair had been spending his time forgetting them. Harsh words rose on the medic's tongue, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Using my comm won't work." Hunter told his estranged brother. "They'll know it's a trap."

"They'll still come for you." Crosshair walked away.

Althea hated that he was right. They were all loyal to each other, Omega especially. The medic heaved a sigh and leaned her head back against the wall. 

Hunter must have noticed her actions. He looked at her, his eyes flashing grey in the dim light. "We'll find a way, kiddo. We always do."

Althea looked at him, her eyes dull. "And then what?"

Hunter didn't answer. He was at a loss for words. They were a squad, they always found a way. A way to prove themselves worthy amongst the regs, a way to provide when the Republic fell. But now, it felt as if the galaxy was working against them.

              •°•°•°•°•°•°•

"Spanner wrench." Echo requested, holding the tool he had currently to be switch. He was repairing the hull of the Marauder, Omega helping him.

The girl grunted in frustration. "This is taking too long." she said.

Echo turned to her. "Omega, focus."

"I can't." Her voice was frantic, she felt a burning sensation her her stomach and her palms were sweaty. "We have to get back to Daro and rescue Hunter and Thea."

"We will," Echo said calmly. "But we can't go anywhere until the ship's fixed. Hand me the spanner." He held out his hand.

Omega took his tool and replaced it with the spanner, reaching up to the tool box rested on Gonky.

The ARC took the tool and leaned back in the ship. Omega bounced foot to foot, unable to control her nervous energy.

Echo came back out with a light grunt, wiping his brow. "That should do it."

The duo took Gonky and went inside the ship where Tech was sitting under the controls. 

"The hull's patched." Echo announced.

"Nearly finished getting the systems online." Tech told them.

Wrecker came inside. "I left Gregor with Cid. She wasn't too happy." he added with a chuckle.

"What else is new?" Echo asked.

Tech stood as the controls whirred to life, all the buttons and switches blinking, eager to be used. "We are up and running."

"Let's go get Hunter and Althea." Omega said.

Tech looked over the controls, his eyes lighting up curiously at a single buttons signal. "Hunter's communication device has just been activated. It appears he is no longer on Daro."

Omega frowned. "What do you mean? What about Thea?"

"It is safe to assume Althea is with him."

"Where are they?"

                 •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Althea couldn't hide her scowl when she realized where they landed. Why did it always come back to Kamino?

As they walked down from the shuttle, they were met with an officer with a squad. Althea recognized him as the admiral from the chain code post. That felt like a million years ago.

Crosshair walked in front of them, Hunter's helmet tucked under his arm and the Sergeant's and medic's knives in the same hand.

"Where are the rest of them?" The Admiral asked, looking at Hunter and Althea.

"They'll be here." Crosshair assured him. "We'll intercept upon arrival."

The Admiral nodded, turning his attention to the prisoners. "So you're the one they call 'Hunter'." He said to the Sergeant before turning to Althea. "And the civilian medic, Althea was it?"

The ebony haired girl didn't give him the dignity of a response.

"The destruction your squad caused on Ryloth got my attention." The Admiral continued. He turned back to Crosshair. "I leave this to you, Commander."

A trooper pushed Hunter, ushering him forward. The trooper behind Althea shoved her harshly, causing the girl to stumble forward.

Hunter moved to her, his face twisting into a snarl. "Don't you touch her." he said.

The trooper made no sign he heard Hunter's words, he only kept his blaster raised as a threat if they tried to make a break for it.

                      •°•°•°•°•°•

Omega's hair was plastered to her face in the rain. Thunder boomed and lighting flashed as they stood on the secret platform. They were one step of the way, now they needed to get inside.

Tech voiced those concerns mere seconds ago, prompting Omega to walk ahead of them. "We'll take the tube system." she said over the rain.

"The what?" Echo asked.

The blonde walked to a seemingly normal area, but when she approached the floor opened to reveal a transport pod. Omega looked back at her brothers, a grin on her face. "Come on."

"Nice." Wrecked chuckled as they walked over and entered.

Omega tapped at the controls, closing the pod and taking them through the tube. She typed in the destination and when she finished, sat down on a seat.

"This type of underwater transport system is not documented on any schematics." Tech said.

"Kaminoans keep a lot of secrets." Echo figured.

Tech nodded. "Indeed. Omega, how did you know this existed?"

"Nala Se." The girl couldn't hide how flat her voice sounded. "This tunnel leads to her private research lab. The others run throughout Kamino."

She fought back a sigh. Coming back to Kamino brought back memories of being hooked up to machines for testing, memories she hated. Hunter had promised her she would never have to come back, but she was there. She shook away those thoughts. Hunter couldn't help it if she was there, it wasn't his fault.

Echo must've noticed the storm in her heart. He knelt down, his amber brown eyes furrowed with concern. "You, uh, alright?"

The weight on her shoulders wasn't just from her rain soaked clothes. "It doesn't matter. Saving Hunter and Thea is what matters."

Tech and Wrecker shared a look, Echo glancing at them. Hunter and Althea's absence had a bigger impact on the girl than they thought.

                  •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

As Hunter and Althea walked through the stark white halls of Kamino, they realized something was off. No clone troopers save for Crosshair and Hunter were in sight, seemingly replaced by a few scarce TK troopers pushing carts.

"Where are all the regs?" Hunter asked.

"When did you start caring about them?" Crosshair asked, his blaster pushing into Hunter's back slightly.

Althea glanced around. "No Kaminoans either." She looked up at Hunter. "This facility's being decommissioned."

The Sergeant glanced back at Crosshair. "You don't seem too concerned."

"Why should I be?"

Hunter stopped, turning around to fully face his brother. "Because the Empire will be phasing out clones next."

Crosshair's voice was as emotionless as his visor. "Not the ones that matter."

He led them into a control room where an ES trooper was working. "A ship was detected entering the system," he said. "But we lost them below scanner range."

"It's them." Crosshair confirmed.

The other ES trooper that came with them pressed her fingers to her helmet. "I'll notify the scouts."

"Don't bother." Crosshair told her. "They'll come to us. They don't leave their own behind, most of the time." He took off his helmet and sat in a chair.

Althea furrowed her brow, unsure of whether to laugh or cry at the sniper's words. 

"You tried to kill us." Hunter said. "We didn't have a choice."

Crosshair regarded him as he slipped a toothpick into his mouth. "And I did?"

                   •°•°•°•°•°•

"Looks like every other Kaminoan lab to me." Wrecker said as they reached their destination. Omega stepped away from the pod, walking to the underwater window.

"Not exactly." She said. "Most in Tipoca City don't know about it."

"Hunter's comm is still active." Tech said. "I'll pinpoint his location."

"I'll tap into the system." Echo said as he walked to a terminal.

"I don't get it." said Wrecker. "What's so special about this lab?"

"It's where I was created." Omega said, her gaze on the sea outside.

"Here?" Wrecker's voice took a gentler tone.

"You all were here too." The young blonde told them.

"What do you mean?" Tech asked.

Omega moved around the room as, her expression nostalgic. "Your mutations were enhanced in this room. Experimental Unit 99 began right here. I was there."

"Wha..." Wrecker stammered, unable to comprehend that the girl in front of him was actually older than him. "Is that true?" He asked Tech, hoping his brother had some information.

"How could I possibly know that?" Tech asked him.

Omega looked up at him. "It was only for a short time, before you were sent to be with the other clones."

"Something's not right." Echo said from the terminal. "All the central files have been wiped. There's nothing in the system."

"Anyone else think that's weird?" Wrecker asked.

The sound of metal squeaking turned their attention to the left. They drew their blasters and bow, ready to shoot the unseen enemy.

A medical droid came out from behind a shelf, holding it's hand up in surrender. "Do not shoot! I am AZI-345211–"

Omega lowered her weapon. "AZI?"

The droid looked at her. "Omega, I am relieved it is you."

"What are you doing down here?" The blonde asked.

"I am hiding. Soldiers were deactivating droids and forcing key Kaminoan medical personnel onto transports. Those who resisted were eliminated."

"Clones did that?" Echo asked, his voice thick with surprise.

"No, these were other soldiers." AZI said. "Al All clone troopers we're reassigned and transferred off-world, with the exception of CT-9904."

"Crosshair's here?" Wrecker let out a groan. "Should've known."

"It is not safe here, Omega." AZI warned. "You must leave."

The curly haired girl shook her head. "We can't. Not without Hunter and Althea."

"Found him." Tech announced as his datapad beeped. "His comm is pinging from the central cloning platform."

"Come on, AZI." Omega said as she grabbed her droid friend's hand. "You're with us."

They ran out of the lab, ready to find their family.

                    •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Hunter let out a sigh. "Crosshair," he waited for his brother to look at him. "I've seen what the Empire is doing, occupying planets and silencing anyone who stands against them."

Althea nodded. "You know it's not right." She was tired of being angry at him, she just wanted her big brother back.

Crosshair took the toothpick from his mouth, standing up from his seat. "You still don't see the bigger picture, but you will."

"Can't you see they're using you?" Althea asked, her voice betraying how desperate she felt. "It's that inhibitor chip in your head. It's making you follow–"

She was cut off by the sound of alarms. The ES trooper looked at the controls. "We have an unauthorized entry on platform 5."

"Right on schedule." Crosshair let out a sigh as he slipped his helmet on. "Time to go."

                 •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Tech lead them to a lower level room with a lift in the center. "According to the comm signal, Hunter is directly above us, and Althea as well."

"The training room?" Echo asked. "That's open ground. If Crosshair's waiting, he'll pick us off."

"Oh, he's waiting." Wrecker said.

"Precisely why we will not be going in through the main entrance, like he would expect." Tech told them. "We'll enter through the lift. That should give us a slight advantage."

"Omega, wait here." Echo ordered as they ran to the lift.

The blonde shook her head. "No, we should stick together."

"No, Echo's right." Wrecker said to her. "Crosshair's after us, not you."

"Stay out of sight." The ARC instructed. "If things go south, we'll send you a signal. Get back to the ship and contact Rex."

Without another word they took the lift up into the training room. Immediately, they were surrounded by ES troopers.

"Well, guess you were wrong about that." Wrecker remarked, earning an eye roll from Tech.

"And here we are, together again." Crosshair said, Hunter and Althea by him. "You won't be needing your weapons."

Instinctively, the squad looked to Hunter. He nodded slightly, telling them to obey Crosshair's orders for the time being. They threw their weapons down. Three blasters, one knife, and a thermal detonator.

"See?" Crosshair asked tauntingly. "Following orders isn't so difficult. Where's your little sidekick?"

"You think we'd bring her here?" Wrecker chuckled as he pushed up his helmet. "We're smarter than that."

"Lying was never your strong suit, Wrecker. Find the kid." The sniper turned to one of the troopers, who nodded and left the room.

Hunter's grip tightened around his helmet. It was difficult holding it with cuffed hands. "So was this your grand plan?" He asked. "Bring us here and kill us?" He stepped away, facing his brother. Althea stayed still, giving Hunter the chance to see how worried she looked. How scared.

"If I wanted you dead, you would be." The sniper said. "Not that it wouldn't be justified. You betrayed everything we stood for. And for what? The Republic?"

"We're loyal to each other, not some Empire." Hunter said, feeling as if he was pleading.

"You weren't loyal to me."

Hunter's eyes widened, his mouth went dry.

"I was one of you." Crosshair continued. "You may have forgotten, but I haven't. And it's why I'm going to give you what you never gave me: a chance." His hand rested on Althea's pauldron. She flinched and met Hunter's eyes, silently screaming for help.

The Sergeant couldn't put into words what he felt. Is that really what Crosshair thought? That they didn't give him a chance? He tried to kill them multiple times. He had every opportunity to come back to them, they were in no position to get him. 

Crosshair comm beeped. "Sir, I've found the girl."

"Send her on a shuttle off-world." He ordered. "Come and get the medic too."

Althea's eyes widened. "No!"

Hunter stepped forward. "Crosshair, don't."

Crosshair let go of Althea, stepping closer to Hunter. "It's for their own good. And yours."

"Althea and Omega belong with us." Hunter said. Why was he even having this argument?

"Living among fugitives where they're in constant danger?" Crosshair scoffed. "You want to protect the kids, then let them go. I tried to warn you a long time ago, but you insisted on dragging Thea into the war. Stop pretending to be something you're not, Hunter."

The Sergeant's mouth pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowing.

"We're not like the regs." The sniper continued. "We're superior. The Empire can't protect the galaxy without strength. This is what we were made for. Think of all we could do together."

A glimmer on the wall caught Tech's eye. He looked over to see the mirror puck Crosshair used so often there. He nudged Wrecker's shoulder, jerking his head towards the shiny spot.

Crosshair took Hunter's knife and broke the binders. "We were brothers once. We can be again."

Hunter took a step back, eyeing him warily. Althea was still cuffed. "Why should we trust you?"

Crosshair raised his blaster. "Stand down." He ordered his squad.

"Negative, Commander." One said. They all raised their blasters at the squad. 

Crosshair jerked his hand to the side, shooting the mirror puck. The laser bounced around the room, killing the ES troopers. "Does that answer your question?" He asked as he removed his helmet.

Hunter backed up as Crosshair approached. The sniper still had a blaster and they were unarmed. Althea was behind him, cuffed and unsure of what to do.

"You all are meant for more than drifting through the galaxy." Crosshair said. "It's time to stop running. "Join the Empire, and you will have purpose again."

Purpose. What was their purpose? To fight? To destroy? To liberate? They had done all of those things, yet none of them felt any closer to who they were truly meant to be. It wasn't until they deserted, that they learned to live a life of their own choices, that they realized the potential of who they could become.

Hunter regarded Crosshair. "You really don't get who we are, do you?"

"Don't make the same mistake twice." Crosshair said as if he was pleading. "Don't become my enemy."

Hunter's gaze softened. "Crosshair, we never were."

Suddenly, alarms blared and the training droids appeared from the floor. Everyone grabbed their weapons as Althea ducked for cover. In the frenzy Crosshair was distracted. Hunter let out a yell as he tackled the sniper to the ground.

Althea ran for Echo as the blaster fire rained down. She held out her cuffed hands. "I would help, but I'm a little tied up."

The ARC nodded, taking his scomp and drilling her binders off.

"Hey, why did you activate the droids?" Wrecker asked.

"This was not my doing." Tech responded.

Omega stood at the top of a tower, grimacing as she watched Hunter fight Crosshair. 

"I believe you may have activated a few too many droids." The droid by her side said.

"I can see that, AZI." The girl took out her bow, firing down at the droids.

Hunter pinned Crosshair to the ground, but the sniper managed to shift his momentum and rolled on top of the tracker. Hunter landed a punch on Crosshair's cheek before he lifted his legs and kicked him off. He rolled over, standing up just as Crosshair lunged again.

The sniper grabbed his left wrist and raised his arm to stab, but Hunter raised his arm to block. Crosshair shifted his attack, punching his brother in the stomach. Hunter locked his arm over Crosshair's and spun him, throwing him back onto the ground.

He then took the blaster he ripped from the sniper's hand and shot at the droids, his blade in his left hand. More droids came from the lift. Hunter's gaze shifted to where Crosshair was on the floor. He would have to wait till later to finish beating him.

A blast rang out from next to Hunter's ear. He looked over to see Crosshair with his rifle, fighting droids with the rest of them.

It all came natural to the squad. In that moment of fighting droids, they were a unit. Whole. They worked fluidly, each doing their part to bring down their attackers, fighting not just for their lives, but for family.

In no time, the training room was littered with blasted and broken droids. Hunter panted, his knife in his right hand and his blaster in the other. He saw everyone was safe, and turned to Crosshair, blaster raised.

"Crosshair," he said between breaths. "Forget the Empire. This isn't you. It's your inhibitor chip. We can help you."

"Wrong." The sniper said, his expression unreadable. "I had my chip removed a long time ago."

Hunter's grip on his blaster faltered, his expression fell. "Since when?"

"Does it matter?"

The Sergeant's gaze hardened along with his grip. "Yes."

Crosshair stared at him. "This is who I am."

Hunter tried to control his breathing. He would not accept that his brother was like this. That he would hunt them down, threaten the girls, then try and take them away from Hunter. That was not his brother, that was a monster. His brother wasn't a monster, he wouldn't accept that.

Crosshair moved, about to raise his rifle when Hunter fired. Stun, but still strong enough to drop the sniper.

In an instant Omega ran up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Hunter became aware that she was there, with them, on Kamino.

"Sorry, Omega." He said remorsefully. "I know I promised you'd never have to come back here."

Omega pulled away, a smile on her face. "You did the same for me."

Hunter smiled at her, but a frown came to his face as he remembered Crosshair. He holstered his blaster and sheathed his knife as he knelt down. He rolled Crosshair's head, examining the large gash on his head. It was right where the chip would've been.

Another pair of hands looked the sniper over. Hunter glanced up to see Althea looking down. The tracker nodded to her, taking his hand and holding the back of her head gently.

"Hunter," Tech said suddenly, looking up from his datapad. "Three Venators are descending on the city. We need to leave, now."

Hunter nodded, then looked down at Crosshair. He grabbed the rifle and put it in the pack, which he then attached to his back. "Wrecker, grab Crosshair. He's coming with us."

The demo man did as he said, lifting their brother over his shoulder. Hunter looked over to see Omega and Althea looking up at him. The younger of the two nodded in approval, but the ebony haired girl's brow was furrowed with worry.

Hunter nodded to them before they took of running down the halls. The facility shuddered and the lights flickered. The corridors of Tipoca City were empty save for them.

"Hurry! Get to the lift!" Echo shouted. They made it to the outside, but the rumbles they heard weren't just thunder.

Ships blasted down on the city, destroying their escape. "Back inside! Go!" Hunter ordered.

Omega watched in horror as the Empire destroyed her home. She never wanted to come back, but it was still the place she was raised, where most of her memories took place. It wasn't until Althea grabbed her hand that the girl ran back with her squad, running for her life.​​​​​​​

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[kaminocasey]

25 Days of Life Day: Day 25 - Life Day with the Bad Batch

Warnings: None, Flufffff! (Also, this is kind of a part two to the Day 7 Echo one!)

A/N: HAPPY LIFE DAY! MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! WHATEVER YOU CELEBRATE! Thank you so much to everyone who has participated/read/liked/reblogged/interacted with these prompts and fics. You guys are the best and I'm so grateful to all of you! I'm so glad we got to do this year! Already looking forward to next year!!! ❤️💚🎄💚❤️

25 Days of Life Day Masterlist

You’ve spent all year, saving every penny, doing odd jobs and such to make sure that The Batch would have a great Life Day. Especially Omega. Since you've joined the Batch, you’ve become a motherly, or big sisterly type to the girl. Everything you do anymore, is for her. To give her a good life. She deserves the best. 

Sometimes, that can be hard, being on the go at all times. 

“IT��S LIFE DAY EVERYONE! WAKE UP! HUNTER LOOK!” Omega’s excited voice wakes everyone up.

You sit up in your bed, rubbing your eyes, already smiling to yourself as you watch Omega run back and forth between everyone’s rooms to wake them up. You leave your room to go into the kitchen to pour yourself a cup of caf that Omega had been incredibly smart to make. You love that kid.

Walking into the living area, you sit down on the couch as Omega plops down next to you, slinging her arms around your neck as you take a sip of caf. 

“You’re the best! Thank you!” She rests her cheek on your shoulder, grinning widely at the presents underneath the tree. “Hey, now. They’re not all for you.” You chuckle.

Echo comes and sits down on your other side, resting his arm around you as you rest your head on his shoulder. 

“Don’t fall back asleep!” Omega playfully shakes you.

“Grab the rest of your brothers then, please.” You laugh.

“Hunter! Tech! Wrecker!” Omega goes back through the hallway to go wake up the guys.

You smile at Echo. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He kisses you on the head. “She has no idea does she?” 

“None.” You grin. 

You’d been working on Omega’s gift behind her back for the last couple months and you were excited to finally give it to her. In fact, you were excited to give all of them their gifts. 

“Do you want breakfast?” Hunter comes in and sits down where Omega was seated before. 

“After she opens gifts. She may combust if we don’t let her soon.” You laugh.

Omega was absolutely vibrating with excitement. Finally, Wrecker and Tech come out, still in their pajamas just like the rest of you. Tech sits in the chair by the side of the couch that Echo is sitting on and Wrecker the other. 

“Now?” Omega gives you wide, pleading eyes.

“Now.” You smile, leaning into Echo a little more. 

He squeezes your shoulder as she goes for your gift first, immediately ripping open the nicely wrapped package that you had put together. When she sees the large red crocheted blanket with a giant skull in the middle, she squeals with delight, coming and hugging you. 

“I love it, thank you!” She puts it around herself as she goes back to the tree. 

Next, she opens up Hunter and Wrecker’s gift that they’d been working on all week. It’s the rest of the batch set to go with her clone trooper doll. How sweet. 

She pulls out Echo’s next. Her own tool set to help him and Tech with repairs if she wants. He knows how much she loves tinkering. You grin at Echo, excited that she seems to love the gift, knowing it makes him happy as well. She gets up to wrap her arms around him. 

Last is Tech’s gift. You’d been curious as to what he got her or made for her. He didn’t let anyone know what it was before. She goes to open it and everyone watches curiously. 

She looks up at Tech with big eyes. “My own holopad?” 

You all look at Tech. He’s smiling, softly. 

“As long as you take care of it, yes.” He nods. 

She gets up and gives him a hug, wrapping his arms around her. 

The guys all open their gifts from you next. Tech; new tools. Wrecker; The biggest box of snacks ever. Hunter; A new knife. And Echo… you know he’s happy with anything. But, you had contacted Rex and asked for that photo of Echo, Fives, Cody, and Rex so you could make a physical copy of it. You know that Echo really misses Fives a lot, so you wanted to do something meaningful. 

Echo thanks you by kissing you, resting his forehead against yours. “How’d I get so lucky?”

“This one's for you.” Omega excitedly hands you a small box and you look around at all the guys. “From all of us.”

They’re all smiling or grinning. You weren’t expecting anything at all, so you can’t help but stare down at the box, speechless.

“Open it, cyare.” Echo murmurs, kissing your shoulder.

“You guys-” You start.

“Just open it.” Hunter laughs.

You open the box and find a new reader. And underneath it is a photo in a nice frame of you and the entire Batch. 

“Now, you can read all your books anywhere we go!” Omega rests her head on your knee. 

You run your fingers through her hair. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I love you guys so much.”

“And we love you.” Echo tells you. “But especially me.”

You laugh as Wrecker starts to eat his snacks, which Hunter tells him he’s about to make breakfast and to put the snacks away. 

“Happy Life Day!” Omega tells you, taking Hunter’s spot which was hers first. 

“Happy Life Day!” You grin, looking at your family with the most love and adoration.

This would be a Life Day to remember for sure. 

TAGS: @grievouus @brynhildrmimi @madameminor @dumfanting @rain-on-kamino @misogirl828 @rexandechosandwich @corona-one @tecker @ladykatakuri @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @twistedstitcher27 @zoeykallus @maulslittlemeowmeow @littlemousedroid @arctrooper69 @rexxdjarin @agenteliix @padawancat97 @hated-by-me @sleepingsun501 @crosshairmylove587 @idlenesses @redheadgirl

[transingthoseformers]

SCENE - Secret meeting deep within the Victory.

ONSLAUGHT: I think we can all agree on one thing despite our numerous differences-

ONSLAUGHT: Fuck that brat.

EVERYONE: Fuck Starscream.

ONSLAUGHT: Now this has clearly been a big change for all of us with the new, ah, Standards Lord First Aid has installed.

MOTORMASTER: HE'S MAKING US GO TO CLASS!

DRAG STRIP: WE HAD TO GET SOCIAL PROTOCOLS INSTALLED!

BREAKDOWN: I kind of like the first aid course though...

HOOK: Fuck you kids finally getting manners installed is not a problem. That menace has taken over my Medbay. My Medbay!

BLITZWING: Ah, come on Hooky. What did you expect given he's a real Doc.

HOOK: #@$$#$%#

ONSLAUGHT: FOCUS!

ONSLAUGHT: As I was saying. Though things have been different, but we cannot deny some improvements.

SKYWARP: He let Screamer make the solar thingy so we've got food.

ASTROTRAIN: He fixed my mass displacement issues.

SWINDLE: Let's a mech make his own business legally even.

HOOK: [begrudgingly] He did prioritize my replacement equipment requests.

VORTEX: He's better to look at than Megatron. [SILENCE] Oh fuck you we were all thinking it.

ONSLAUGHT: We are undeniably better fed, better repaired, and better cared for than ever before.

ONSLAUGHT: And our newest Lord has assets that can not be ignored.

ONSLAUGHT: Now we all know Starscream is plotting-

THUNDERCRACKER: When isn't he.

ONSLAUGHT: -and that those shameless Autobot world jumpers want to carry off our new Lord the moment he's out of our sight.

ONSLAUGHT: Lord First Aid doesn't suffer the same qualms as the one we are familiar with. I am sure we all heard his stories of these Wreckers.

BRAWL: [dreamily] Yeah.

ONSLAUGHT: He is not opposed to violence. Therefore I believe we can persuade our new leader to stay and rule us leading to a new golden age for the Decepticon Empire.

REFLECTOR: And no more eating scrap.

ONSLAUGHT: And no more eating...scrap.

EVERYONE: NO MORE EATING SCRAP!

Dhdjfjfj yesssss

Someone has to care for these idiots (affectionate), so it might as well be First Aid. I'm betting he'd grow so surprisingly protective of the g1 decepticons, and vice versa! The Lost Lighters are gonna have such a ~time~ getting him away if/when they do

This is so damn fun because yeahhhhh! He's dim damn helping! Hook might be a bit miffed but don't worry it's nothing a few more boxes of anti rust agents and actual medical tools can't fix.

I wonder what the g1 autobots would make of mtmte First Aid, actually, and how all of that scrap would go

[towingnaperville]

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[stardusthuntress]

you guys, there are WAY TOO MANY LOOSE ENDS regarding Tech there at the end....

(fair warning, this is another one of my longwinded rants)

"the only thing we were able to recover", his goggles...

which he records everything with... Hemlock knew each of the men and quickly caught on to their paternal attachment to Omega, do you really think he didn't do his homework and find out Tech records everything as a hobby? It wouldn't be hard to figure out. video files are pretty big, so why does a clone like him have petabytes of data? Oh, because they're all recordings of his experiences! gold mine of data, right there. Even if Hemlock couldn't access the files, the quantity, and regularity of how often they were uploaded to his personal data (I'm guessing after every mission or two) relative to how long each mission took would be a pretty clear indicator of what they are

so, what did they see? What did the goggles see? And what did the Empire see in his last moments? What recordings did they pull from his goggles, and what did they leave behind for the batch to find when they download his last recordings? You know Echo is gonna wanna see it. Or did Tech use those last moments as he fell to wipe all his data to protect his family?

they didn't recover ANYTHING from his datapad?

none of his tools from his belt? You're telling me the man doesn't carry duplicates of his intel?

and someone pointed out his goggles were UNDER his helmet... I'd like to add to that, that while that could explain how it survived since it was protected by his helmet, it also seems weird. The goggles mark the weak point in his helmet. His face is only partially protected. that visor doesn't really shield his eyes, and the goggles only sorta make up for that... why are the lenses shattered and everything else is completely intact? That doesn't seem weird to anyone else?

Tech is enhanced. The Empire, and that creep Hemlock, totally would steal anything they could from his remains, including his DNA - so like blood samples or stem cell samples or anything to help them figure out how to make more like him, or to make future clones even less like him (so like easier to brainwash)

And besides, Hunter brushed off a huge tumble down a mountain at the end of season 1. Yeah, he used his knife, the mountain, and the trees to slow his fall, but do you really think Tech didn't have SOMETHING ready for a scenario like this? Sure, this is still a little too high to really prepare for.... but we know jetpacks were even supplied if they wanted them! Do you really think he didn't manage to get a hold of, or build one of his own that could be hidden in that backpack of his?

the backpack, which he is wearing when he falls!

No parachute? Nothing to help break a fall? He already had a box fall on him earlier in the season, you think he wouldn't have something ready to go so that doesn't happen again. Whether it's something falling on him, or him falling on top of something else, it's basically the same thing. Nothing? The genius was not prepared to save a life in the blink of an eye? That doesn't sound like Tech to me

and the parallels to Echo's "end" at the Citadel! We only see his goggles, not his remains. When Echo "died" the first time, we only saw his helmet and Fives' reaction to it. We did not see his body. Echo survived a ship exploding in his face... a ship no doubt loaded with lots of very explosive stuff. Gregor survived the same thing, with a hell of a lot more explosive stuff. They built the clones to be tough as nails! Wrecker and Gregor take multiple stun blasts to drop! And you're gonna tell me the most brilliant mind of them all didn't see a way to survive a fall? While that is technically feasible, it seems very un-Star-Wars-like to me. This is a universe where people survive shit they shouldn't all the time.

Maybe I'm doing this because I'm in denial... maybe. Because I will not accept a Star Wars universe that does not include Tech from this point on.

But I firmly believe there are far too many loose ends here to confirm anything. But of course, they're gonna torture us with it for at least a year, until the next season comes out. They tortured us with Echo's death for far longer than that. And it's not like we didn't all start watching Clone Wars not knowing how it ends. Same goes for Andor. They're gonna use him to torture us for as long as they please. After all, the same man whose job it is to come up with Palpatine's plans is also running this show.... but anyways. Sure, it fits with the tragedy that is Star Wars, but remember how attached Dave also is to hope - it is the star wars catchphrase after all - and to loopholes? He brought Ahsoka back! Now that he knows how much Tech means to us, will he do the right thing and bring him back? I don't think he really realized the extent of Tech's importance to the fanbase, especially after the development he was given this season

What was that he told Omega in the cave, again? Something about we always find a way?

[jayjaymorgan]

Tie Me To the Mast - Chapter IV

Author’s Note : Please remember that English isn't my native language, so there might be some mistakes and stuff. I hope you all like it, have a great day/night!

TW : animal death, mentions of blood

“How’s it looking’?” Tech looked up at the woman standing next to him, squinting in the harsh sunlight as she tried to get a better look at his work. He moved to the side, allowing her to sit down on the sand next to him before answering. “Not my finest work...” he said, motioning at the wooden structure. “But it should hold. I still have to test it, see if the planks fit.” “Fit?” another voice inquired, this one belonging to a blonde girl. She cocked her head to the side, furrowing her brows. “But they do fit?” “Well, they do. For now.” Tech turned around to face his little sister, who appeared to be more confused with each passing second. “I’ll try to put it simply : wood, after being exposed to water, can expand or swell. It can crack and start leaking, if we’re not careful. We need a special kind of wood, one that is less prone to swelling.” “Oohh...” Omega nodded her head before going quiet, shifting in her spot as she did. Tech, knowing the girl all too well, let out a sigh, put down his tools and turned to face her, preparing himself for the countless questions. “Ask away.” “Is that why you got Wrecker to cut down the...” she stopped, trying to remember something. “The...” “The mahogany tree?" “Yes! That!” the girl lit up at the word she was searching for. “And how do you test, to see if it fits?” “We take the boat for a test drive.” Tech answered. “We’ll swim around the bay, see what will happen. Then, I will make necessary adjustments.” Omega kept nodding her head as he spoke, her eyes wandering around, stopping on the box of tools that laid on the sand. Her brows furrowed as she pointed at one of the tools. “What’s that?” she inquired, cocking her head to the side. “That’s an adze.” “A what now?” “Adze.” he repeated. Omega crouched down to take a better look at the weird, ax like tool : the blade was horizontal, rather than vertical. “I can use it to cut grooves in the wood, smooth beams, cut plans from a felled tree...” the man said, as he took off his glasses and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “...I need to sharpen it, once I find the damned whetstone.” “Tech!” the woman, who has been watching the interaction, chimed in to scold the carpenter, while giving him a death glare. “Don’t. Nuh uh. Not in front of the kids.” She got up and dusted off her pants, before taking Omega’s hand and leading her away. The girl scrunched up her face in annoyance, pouting, wanting to argue with her sister that she is no longer a small child, but she decided against that. Zhiva could feel her companion’s anger, as she glanced down at the girl with a sympathetic smile. “Hey, how about we go with Sinbad to the forest?” she proposed, trying to cheer the girl up. “I’m sure he would love to go on a walk, don’t you think?” Omega nodded, a smile making its way onto her face. She hasn’t had the chance to explore the bay, as everyone was busy with setting camp and repairing the ship, herself included. Their little escapade could serve as a nice and much needed break from all the chaos, so, they headed for the tree line, with their loyal, canine companion in toe. As they stepped into the woods, it was like they were transported to a different world. The sounds of axes and human chatter was drowned out by the singing of birds and the rustling of the leaves. Small twigs snapped under their shoes as they walked down a small path, one made by animals and wild game. Sin lead the way, stopping every few meters to sniff a bush or to glance back at his companions’, as if to make sure that they’re still following. The older of the two would point out different plants and animals, naming them and explaining their usefulness, while Omega nodded her head, fascinated. “You see that green one? With the yellow flowers and serrated edges?” the woman asked, as she pointed at a plant. “Can you name it?” Omega smirked at the obvious test confidently, as she knew the answer. “Aloe vera.” she said proudly. “It’s used to treat burns, cuts and other skin irritations.” Zhiva nodded her head. “Very good!” she exclaimed. “And... how about that one?”

The girl looked up, squinting as the sunlight broke through the leaves and made it hard to look at the tree her sister has pointed out. She shielded her eyes and groaned, trying to make out the details. “...neem?” she more asked than stated, looking back at her older sister. “Yep.” Zhiva nodded her head before moving along. “I’m glad that you paid attention and read the book I gave you.” They continued their walk, talking and laughing, while Sinbad ran around, chasing small animals through the bushes and barking happily. As they walked deeper into the forest, the air started to change. It felt cooler, and the sun wasn’t as harsh, bringing much needed relief to their sun kissed faces. The trees grew close together, forming a dense canopy above their heads. Suddenly, Zhiva stopped, turning her head to the side as she listened to something intently. “What is it?” Omega asked, looking up at her sister. “Shh...” the woman hushed her, holding her finger up to her lips. “I think we’re getting closer to a river, or a stream.” She was right : as they walked, the distant sound of rushing water got louder and louder. Soon enough, a small clearing revealed itself to the two, a small stream running through it. The water was crystal clear, glistening in the sun, the sound of it rushing over the rocks soothing and tranquillizing. Sin rushed to the stream and lapped up the water, before sneezing and snorting when it got into his nose. He coughed and sneezed again, which prompted the girl to laugh out loud. Zhiva joined, her laugh echoing through the forest, bouncing off of trees and scaring the nearby birds as they took flight. The two then sat down on the ground, taking off their shoes and dipping their feet in the water, slightly shuddering at how cold it was. The woman let out a sigh of relief, laying down in the lush, green grass. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and making herself comfortable, as the leaves of the tree she was sitting under shielded her from the sun. She could hear Omega splashing in the water with Sin, playing a game of catch with a stick. Soon, the sound of running water and the singing of birds lulled her into a peaceful slumber, one that would be soon interrupted by Omega sneaking up on her and splashing her with ice cold water.

…

Somewhere, in the deeper parts of the woods, Hunter came across a trail of a small group of deer. “Fish, rabbits... now deer.” He murmured to himself with a smile. “We won’t go hungry.” He got up from the ground, to take a closer look at the tree trunk, or rather, at the strand of brown fur that was embedded in the bark. The animal must have rubbed against the trunk while passing by. The man could see hoof prints in the dirt, along with broken branches in the nearby bushes. The inner bark was still fresh. The twigs have been broken very recently, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes ago. He adjusted his bow and started following the trail, keeping low, placing his feet carefully, one after the other, moving soundlessly through the dense jungle. He quickened his pace, as he ventured deeper and deeper into the woods, where the trees became thicker and taller. With the sun already setting and the shadows getting longer, he knew he had to hurry up. He didn’t want to make the trip back in complete darkness, especially through a forest he wasn’t familiar with. Who knew what creatures stalked these woods. With his hands clenched firmly around his weapon, he pressed on, his eyes scanning his surroundings. The trail was now thicker and fresher, he was getting close. From what he could see in the prints left in the dirt, the group of deer he was following consisted of at least three animals, if not four.

His heart sped up when he saw movement up ahead.

Quietly and very, very slowly, he crouched down and reached for an arrow. The familiar texture of the feathered vane under his fingers brought him a sense of calmness and confidence.

Keeping his body low and his weapon at the ready, he crawled through the bushes and hid behind a tree, a small opening revealing itself to him. Three deer, a young buck and a pair of does, grazing carelessly, unaware of the danger. Hunter’s gaze focused on the buck. It was smaller than the other two, it would be much easier to carry it back to the camp on his own, while still big enough to last the whole crew for a few days. He drew back the bowstring, squinting his eyes as he took aim. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly, ignoring the pang of guilt he felt for taking a life of a such beautiful creature, he released the arrow. With an audible whistle, it flew through the air and hit the target dead on, the bladed tip burrowing deep into the flesh, reaching the heart and stopping it within a blink of an eye. The buck’s legs kicked out from under it, a startled yell emanating from its chest as its body instinctively lunged forward, before falling to the ground limply. Its legs twitched as the muscles spasm, before going limp. The two does jolted upright, taking off and quickly disappearing into the forest. The man watched as the deer fled, before focusing on the fallen buck before him. The silence that followed the shot was eerie, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. He felt a mix of relief and sadness over him. Relief that the shot was clean and quick, ensuring minimal suffering for the animal. But sadness, because he understood the weight of taking a life, even for survival. With a sigh, Hunter approached the lifeless body of the deer, kneeling down and running his hand gently along the sleek fur, muttering a few words of apology. He then took out the arrow, wiped it clean in the grass and slid it back into the quiver. The bladed tip was slightly chipped, but the arrow itself was still useful. He then hoisted the buck up and over his shoulders, groaning under the weight as it pressed him down. He took a deep breath, adjusted his grip and began to make his way back. The journey seemed longer on the return, with the heavy carcass slung over his shoulders bearing down on his tired muscles. He was forced to take short breaks every now and then, to catch his breath and adjust his grip, the bloodied fur staining his clothes. Night has descended by the time he reached the beach, the campfire flickering and crackling in the distance. The scent of burning wood greeted him, mingling with the earthy smell of the forest on his skin. His brothers and sisters, huddled around the fire, talking and laughing quietly, all turned their heads when Sin stood up and barked at the approaching man, his tail wagging excitedly. Their tired faces lit up with relief, at seeing Hunter back, safe and sound, from his lonely voyage. With a weary smile, the hunter laid the buck down, its lifeless body juxtaposed against the crackling flames. “Good job, Hunter.” Obi-Wan said, patting the man on the shoulder. “We’ll take care of ‘im. Go wash up.” He nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. He was way too exhausted to dress the animal. He washed his mud and blood caked hands in the river, scrubbing the gunk off before sitting down next to the fire, tiredly leaning on Wrecker. His brother smiled at the gesture, before wrapping his arm around him, to keep him from falling over. As the night grew colder and the stars blinked above, the crew started retiring to their respective tents, wishing each other good night. With the fire burning low and the smell of roasting venison disappearing as the wind picked up, Hunter, too, went to lay his head down. He didn’t even bother to change into some clean clothes, which were still covered with mud and dark, dried blood. One would recoil at the thought of doing so, but to him, it was as natural as breathing. He was a hunter, after all. He took a life to give life, and would continue to do so for as long as needed.

In the depths of the woods, he knew he would continue to navigate this delicate dance of death and sacrifice, doing what was necessary to ensure their existence.

[bamianautoparts]

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[silverwings22]

Song of the Sea: Chapter 41: Arms of the Ocean

Series Warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a Chapter Warnings: suicidal ideation, disability, violence, reference to death. grief, mind control, trauma/PTSD, trauma bonding, genocide, environmental destruction, obsession/stalking

Previous chapter:

Next chapter:

“I think that’ll make it pretty much all-terrain.” Shiani was laying on the ground next to the Marauder with Wrecker as she worked on the speeder. “And now it’s lighter weight and collapsible, so I can carry it.” 

“Backpack speeder. Hell yeah.” He grinned.

“Yup. And now my tool bag is two saddlebags on the side.”

“It won’t be too heavy on your leg, is it?”

“No. I calibrated the brace for the additional weight, but it’s pretty light anyway. If I need to run, I have this now.” She giggled, getting up and pressing a button on the contraption. It folded sharply into a two by one foot rounded box that she could attach to the back of her brace. “I’m definitely riding it down the stairs the next time Crosshair goes to be mysterious and broody down by the beach.”

“This is why sirens aren’t supposed to speak Basic.” The sniper called from the ramp, where he’d been sitting with Omega watching them. “You’re all pains in the ass, aren’t you?”

“What ass?” She smirked. “You’re flatter than this outboard.”

Omega giggled, and Crosshair put his hand over her face and pushed her away from him, but with a faint sort of smile. Things had been better since he and Hunter had gotten over their differences, and Shiani had given up on the bottle. Hunter had AZI helping her better manage her pain, so she didn’t need it and she hadn’t actually liked it to begin with. 

Hunter stepped out onto the ramp. “Shiani… can you come look at the comm array in here? I’m getting a prerecord from a frequency I don’t recognize, and it can’t make out a damn word. It just sounds like screaming… sorta. Musical screaming.”

She raised an eyebrow and headed into the ship. “Screaming? What weird holo-vid did you overlay-” She froze when she heard the record playing, almost falling over. 

“Shiani?” Hunter frowned.

“That’s not screaming. That’s my native language.” She muttered, sliding into the bridge seat and pulling up the comm frequency to inspect.

“It’s a siren?” Hunter leaned over her shoulder. “How’d they contact us?”

“The frequency is coming from the Yellow Horizon.” Shiani frowned. 

“The what?”

“My ship. The one I built. It’s not finished, but it had a comm array I had programmed the Marauder’s frequency into so I could contact Tech when I escaped Kamino.” Shiani rewound the record, eyes sharp. “Hold on, let me listen.”

It had been too long since she’d heard her own people’s language, not since her fight with Kashae on Kamino. She hadn’t expected to ever hear it again, especially once she’d quit singing.

“Princess Illumai. Please come to Kamino again. Terrible things are happening here, and only you know the way of the galaxy outside the water. Please, please come to Kamino and help us. The water is sick and there are people going missing. Please, Princess Illumai, your people need you. Don’t forget us. It’s me, Irri! Don’t forget us, Shiani.”

Shiani pressed her hand to her mouth and stared at the comm, expression flat and unreadable. Hunter frowned, putting a hand on her shoulder as the others stuck their head in the door and peeked at them. “What is it?”

“Sister. Brother’s mate.” Shiani mumbled. “It’s a distress signal.” 

“Did she say what’s wrong?” Hunter frowned.

“Poisoned water and people going missing.” Shiani grumbled. “... It’s probably the Empire. If they’re doing it directly, the things they unleashed into the ocean when they toppled the longneck cities and the number of corpses probably caused the water problem.”

“And the missing sirens?” 

She leaned back in the seat and lolled her head to look at him. “It’s always the Empire.”

He sighed. “You’re right. What do you want to do about it?”

“You’re leaving it up to me?” She frowned. 

“They’re your people, Shiani.” 

She rubbed her hand across her face. “I’m going to have to deal with it. I revealed them to the galaxy when I testified against Rampart.” She muttered miserably. “It’s my responsibility… but I have no idea what Kashae’s response to me is going to be. I beat him in the Dance, so I have legal standing with Acopit again, but… personally, he’s probably going to hate me. And I can’t win if it comes to a fight again. I physically can’t do it.”

Omega led Crosshair and Wrecker to her side. “What do you think we should do, then?”

“... I’ll have to talk to Kashae. Nothing moves in Acopit without his sayso. And I’ll need to know exactly what the threat is.” She sighed. “I can’t plan around possibilities, even if I know it’s got to be the Empire behind it. I can’t underestimate them again like I did on Coruscant, either.” 

Hunter nodded. “Well, let’s go then. You’re the pilot.”

She chuckled and looked at him with a weathered expression. “You guys stay on the ship until I make sure they won’t try to drown you.” She hit the comm and recorded a response in her native, singsong language before sending it back to the Yellow Horizon. “As long as Irri’s sticking around the ship, she’ll get that.” She heaved herself up and headed for the pilot’s seat, performing the preflight checks with practiced ease. 

She hadn’t expected to ever go back to Kamino. She’d never wanted to return. But her people needed her, and no matter how far she roamed as she sailed the stars, she was a Kaminoan siren to the core. 

Shiani lowered the Havoc Marauder onto the landing platform near what had once been Tipoca City. Without power, it no longer disappeared beneath the waves as it had the last time they’d been on this planet. Crosshair shuddered involuntarily as they settled into position, sitting behind Shiani as she flew. “I really didn’t want to come back to this platform.” He muttered. “You were right, when you left. They left me here for 32 rotations.”

“Told you the Empire didn’t love you.” She muttered, turning off the engine and taking a steadying breath. “... This was the last place he saw you.” 

“I know.” Crosshair fiddled with his toothpick. 

Shiani handed him her datapad. “There’s a translation program on that, Tech and I designed it. That way you can keep track of what’s being said. Irri might understand some Basic, if she was able to send the transmission… I left a lot of recordings behind in the cave.”

“Recordings?” Hunter frowned from his seat. 

“Tech would send them to me. Clips from your missions, or himself talking mostly… to help me learn. I’d listen to them for hours, on repeat sometimes.” She stood up, gripping her cane a little tighter. 

She didn’t want to do this, still hurt and resentful of her exile and everything that had followed. Still raw from losing Tech and the future that had once upon a time seemed so boundless, she was in no hurry to return to how hopeless she’d once felt. Tech had rescued her from that before… he wasn’t here to rescue her again, if the waves pulled her under. 

She limped out the ramp and to the edge of the platform, cupping her hands over her mouth and singing out a high, haunting note. A few moments passed, Omega trotting up to her side. “Not so close to the edge.” Shiani murmured, holding a hand out. “Just in case.”

“Didn’t you win our lives in your fight with the king?” Hunter frowned, coming up behind them with his brothers. 

“I did. But I don’t want to test that they’ll honor it and risk anything.” She murmured as the water beneath the platform began to roil and ripple. The clones watched in concerned fascination while siren after siren stuck their heads out of the water, first fifteen or twenty, then fifty, then a hundred. They were in all shades of purples, blues, and greens, all with massive pale eyes and shifting tentacles under the water’s surface. Chains clanked from some as they circled the platform, led by a male with a scarred chest and coral crown who had a female by his side holding something wrapped in woven seaweed. He sang out towards Shiani, and Crosshair glanced at the datapad. 

“Sister Shiani, you didn’t forget us after all.” 

He looked at Omega. “.... the king is her brother?” 

“Yeah, she’s a princess.”

“... I feel like that should be a bigger deal.”

“Shh.” 

Shiani eyed her brother, face entirely neutral, and sang back. “Just tell me what’s happening, Kashae. I came because I was asked to help, and I don’t abandon my people. No matter how they’ve treated me.”

Kashae’s ears drooped. “I’d hoped you would want to return…”

“No. This isn’t my home anymore.” She leaned over her cane to look at him. “Irri called. How?”

Irri looked up at Shiani, hardly recognizing the serious expression on the once cheerful and bright eyed little sister she’d loved and missed in silence. “I found your home, in the cave. The place you lived after exile, filled with surface things. I found recordings of the one you called Tech.” 

“Those were mine.” Shiani narrowed her eyes. “He was mine.”

“He’s not with you.” Irri looked at the humans standing behind Shiani, frowning. “I don’t see him. Did he abandon-”

“He died, Irri.” Shiani said firmly. “Tell me what’s wrong with the water, first.” 

“It’s poisoned. The longneck cities dumped poison into the waters when they sank. Children get sick, eggs don’t hatch, our skin is covered in sore spots from the burning water.” Irri explained. “We cant defend ourselves when the black ship comes.”

“Black ship?” Shiani frowned.

“One ship, the same one every time. He lands here, where you stand, and sends down a metal bubble. It traps people and takes them away, and we never know when he will come again. One man in all black, face covered, and he feels hollow in the Song. No soul.”

Shiani’s frown deepened and she looked at the clones. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Crosshair’s hand was trembling violently and he handed Omega the datapad to shake it out. Shiani met his eyes, sensing the sudden spike of unadulterated fear that lanced through him. “They have to get off Kamino.” He said quietly. “It’s the only way. The Empire knows they’re here, they’ll keep hunting them.”

Shiani looked down at the other sirens. “That’s a tall order. Sirens have no starships. They’d have to be transported. Even if we only evacuated Acopit, that’s at least 100 thousand sirens, not counting the other Belowcities…” 

Hunter put a hand on her shoulder. “What do you want to do?” 

She looked down as Kashae took the bundle Irri was holding and started laboriously scaling the side of the platform with it in one arm. She waved the clones backwards, stiffening, as he pulled himself up next to her. “You have every reason to hate me.” He sang softly. “And I don’t doubt you would have been a better ruler. You wanted to advance us, and give us a way off this planet. Now we’re reduced to begging for help, because I kept us hidden and we were found.” 

Shiani shook her head. “I don’t hate you. And I revealed the sirens, by testifying against the man who gave this order.” She gestured towards where the platforms of Tipoca city used to be, now laying on the sea floor leeching poison into the waters. “You made it clear the sirens weren’t my people anymore. The clones were, and they needed me to try.” Even if she’d failed, she’d tried. She wouldn’t be ashamed of that, no matter how Kashae reacted. 

The king of Acopit looked down at the bundle in his arms for a moment before looking at her again. His eyes considered her, from her scarred cheek to the brace and cane. She waited to be berated for all the ways she’d managed to get herself damaged when she could have stayed at home… but he only sang softly. “Could I convince you to consider us your people again?” 

“How?” Shiani leaned her weight more comfortably on her good leg as he shuffled over, and when he waved her down she crouched as best she could. 

Kashae pulled back the woven kelp to reveal a tiny siren baby, only a few months old. His skin was a pretty teal color, though he looked a little pale and stared at her when the light touched his face. Kashae held the baby out, offering Shiani to take him. “This is my son. Prince Shion. He’s named after the first siren to sail the stars, his aunt Shiani Illumai.” 

Shiani froze, sinking down onto her ass on the platform as her brother put the baby in her arms. She looked down at the blinking, massive eyes the same color as her own, gently curling her hand under his little head. His headtresses were short and stubby right now, but he’d grow… he’d be the next king of the Belowcities if the Empire didn’t destroy everything. “You named him after me?” 

“I was wrong, Shiani. And you were right. I’d like him to be wiser than me.” 

Shiani looked back at the clones. “... I have a nephew.” She said softly. “Help me figure out how to save him.”

Omega smiled a little. “Let’s call Echo and Rex.”

The sun was setting when the clones got off the comm with Echo and Rex. Shiani was sitting on the edge of the platform now, multiple sirens up speaking to her. Kashae and Irri, her parents, and several members of the council that had once banished her were all hanging on Shiani’s ever word. Omega was sitting beside her, having been introduced to baby Shion. He was currently held in his aunt’s tentacles, held up to pat his little hands through Omega’s hair curiously. She thought he was adorable. 

Hunter walked over. “Rex and Echo said they can start an evacuation effort. They’ll set up an all-clear beacon the sirens can use to make sure the Imperials aren’t here when they come, and spread out to other cities once Acopit is evacuated. They’ll just need help with translation.”

“Queen Irri speaks Basic now, and some of the Council. They’ll help.” Shiani said softly. “It would be safe for them on Pabu. With all the water…” 

Wrecker nodded. “That’s what we figured.”

Kashae looked at his sister as she translated the plan to him, nodding. “Pabu is your home now?” 

“As much as I have a home anymore.” She watched the dying light of the sun sinking like molten gold into the sea behind his shoulder. “My home died with Tech.” 

“I never realized how important he was to you…” He put his hand on her shoulder lightly. “When we build a new city, we will recognize him as your mate, and Prince of Acopit.” 

Shiani scrubbed at her face quietly. “I wish you could have known him. I wish we could have made up before… you would have liked him. He was so smart and brave… he died to set his brother free.”

“Chainbreaker, Tech Illumai.” Kashae gently pushed one of Shaini’s headtresses out of her face. “Mate of the Star Sailor, Shiani. Queen who should have been.”

Shiani shook her head and brought Shion back to her lap, looking at him. There were raw spots from the polluted waters on his delicate little back, and she soothingly ran her fingers over his head until he made a happy burbling sound. She swallowed around the tears that wanted to pour out at the honor of hearing her beloved named Chainbreaker. “I don’t need to be queen. But… It is nice to be your sister again. Leave the crown to the little one, when his head is big enough for it.” 

“Take Irri and Shion to your home first, if you can? I’ll wait for the soldiers and man the all clear beacon. But I can’t send them back to that water.” 

Shiani nodded and looked at Hunter. “We can take Irri and Shion to Pabu first?”

He nodded. “But the queen’s gotta wear pants. I’ll get one of your spare pairs.”

Shiani chuckled and looked at Irri. “You’re going to hate pants.”

“What is pants?!” Irri looked alarmed. Shion just giggled from his aunt’s lap, playing with her suckers and cooing. 

“Humans think you’re naked if you show the bottom. Not the top.” Shiani laughed, the sound echoing across the sea and platform in the dying light of day. She still remembered the first time Tech made her wear pants, and how much she’d hated them back then. 

She wished he was here, just to see him blush again. 

Every time he took a siren, he was disappointed it wasn’t her. He knew it wouldn’t be. She wasn’t on Kamino anymore. She was running around with a group of rogue clones, foiling the Empire’s plans at every chance she could. She was a constant, annoying thorn in Dr. Hemlock’s side. An interruption of the will of the Emperor.

But every time CX-2 was activated, as he got into his ship, he replayed the holo of her from the news. Dressed in a senate-worthy gown, her coral crown settled on her brow, with a fist in the air. “You lie. I was there. I saw the Imperial ships firing on the city!” 

Princess Shiani Illumai.

How brave and foolish she’d been to testify, to reveal her people to the Empire. Isolationist, she’d claimed, but they really were pre-spaceflight and armed with nothing more than harpoon launchers. He hunted them with droid submersibles and dragged them back to the surface to take back to his creator. At first, their screaming had shattered the machines, but he was clever. He could rebuild, stronger and stronger, until their sonic blasts did nothing to the containment pods and they were helpless in his grasp. Once he delivered them to Mount Tantiss, they were fitted with muzzles and silenced. He never saw them again after than, and he didn’t care what became of them once his part of the hunt was done.

Every catch was satisfying, but they weren’t the prize he really wanted. The one he hoped he’d be sent to capture eventually, so he could see the defiant light of those blue eyes for himself. He wanted to catch that round little purple face in his hand and see, up close and personal, when she realized she had no escape from him. She was his. She would be, as soon as he was given the order. 

He replayed the holo again, the autopilot engaged so he could devote his full attention to the siren Princess’s face. Round, soft features disguised the venomous fangs hiding inside that deceptive mouth. Those big eyes looked so guileless, but he knew better. She was brilliant and full to bursting with raw power. When she spoke, the glimpse of fangs under her lips sent a thrill up his spine. The way she spoke, the way she moved made his pulse quicken. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to kill her or keep her for himself. She bridged something between her primitive, reclusive people and the galaxy at large. 

He’d catch her eventually. He’d get his hand around that violet throat and watch those enticingly blue eyes widen when she realized she was his. She was meant to be his. 

He paused the holo and zoomed it in on her expression as the Emperor had entered the senate chamber. Her fist had faltered, her eyes went wide, her lips trembled as she could focus on nothing but the Emperor. That was the look he wanted, devoted to him, when he filled her perception so much that nothing else existed for her. 

The pretty little princess would be his, entirely.