#I love Echo and Tech so much.

[jedi-lothwolf]

Merry Whumpmas Day 1: Hospital

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Summary: Echo has to go to the hospital after cutting his hand open. Tech goes with him to help his stay calm as he tries not to think about Skako Minor.

    Echo hated hospitals. They scared him. They seemed to quite and to loud for his liking. He hated being around them but even more he hated being in them.

    Pabu was a beautiful place. Even that wouldn't ease Echo's mind as Tech and him walked towards their hospital.

    "Are you sure we have to go?" Echo asked.

    "The laseration in your palm is deep. It will need stitches. Maybe be more careful around knives next time." Tech kept walking forwards. "It should be a simple procedure. They will numb your hand and stitch it. You will have to come back to get the stitches out."

    "Why can't we wrap it?"

    "Bacta is not something overly easy to come by so they need to preserve it. So do we."

    "Alright."

    Hospitals were to clean, to blank, and to bright. Even though Echo didn't remember much from when he was with the Techno Union, he did remember some things.

    It was cold and white. It smelled too clean. Echo shook his head. He tried to clear his mind. As they arrived the clone paused. "I don't think I can go in."

    "I understand this may be difficult for you. Trauma is not easy to overcome. We will take it slowly. Or at least we will try. Can I provide some form of comfort to you?" Tech walked up to be right beside him. Despite his slightly robotic tone, Echo knew he was genuine.

    Nothing came to mind. The domino tried to find anything that might help. even in the slightest. But there was nothing. "Just stay close?" He shook.

    "I intend to." Tech started to walk forward.

Echo had been right. Exam rooms always looked the same. He sat in his, trying not to cry as a droid came in to look at his hand. Tech intervened quickly and asked if there was a living doctor there. The droid seemed offended but Tech didn't seem to notice. Still he went to grab a doctor.

Just as Echo had feared, all he could think about was the Techno Union. He thought about how the only memories he had were before he was put in the tube he was found in. Memories filled with pain and suffering.

Memories of droids that had stood over him, putting him back together. The few thoughts he had had been wondering if he should have survived or about what happened to the others; what would happen to him. The pain, though only a memory, had been the worst thing he had ever physically felt.

That pain could never compare to the pain that would come with healing from what had happened to him. That pain could never compare to the pain of losing your brothers.

Even now he wasn't completely healed. It felt like those droid's scalpels just kept cutting. Maybe he would never heal? Maybe those wounds would never scar.

Those droids had stood in a clean, white room. When thinking about it, it only ever reminded him of hospital rooms. Sometimes the people nearby cities or towns would let the clones use their hospitals. Other than that, Echo had never been in a hospital.

But now he knew why he feared them so much. They looked just like that room he had been put back together in. Even if his time on Skako Minor was a blur, he knew that this was what the room looked like.

A chill went down Echo's metal spine. He looked over at Tech who stood near the door. He wanted to call for him but his voice hung in his throat. The tears he had been trying so hard to hold back started to slide down his face.

Tech turned around and walked to his side. Unsure of what to say, he just sat with him. He had learned that he wasn't very good at handling current emotional reactions and crying was one of them. Echo reached for his brother and cried into his shoulder.

The doctor opened the door but stopped. She stood in the doorway, confused and slightly concerned. "Is everything alright?" She asked kindly.

"My brother suffers with trauma related to rooms that look similar to this one. Let him calm down." Tech never even looked at her. He just, somewhat awkwardly, held Echo.

Soon he was able to think a little better. He moved from his place in Techs arms to look at the doctor. She had gone to get him some ice chips and had just gotten back. "ice chips?" She asked.

"Sure." Echo didn't question why she had brought him ice chips of all things. He reached for one but hissed as he remembered why he was there. Tech took the cup and ate one of the pieces of ice.

"Let's get that taken care of." The doctor talked to Echo through the whole thing. It helped being able to focus on something else. When she was done, they were sent to the front to check out and then they could leave.

As they left the building Tech spoke. "That could have been worse" he said.

"Yeah. It could have been."

[toastyrobos]

So I heard it’s Valentine’s Day…thought I’d drop a treat for ya😘💕

[echojedis]

My favourite sibling duo

[cyarinka]

Kevin Kiner you goddamned genius.

I’ve always enjoyed the music of the Bad Batch, but holy shit. This is such a subtle thing that almost nobody would recognize consciously, but it adds SO much subtext to the scene at the end of the latest episode:

Crosshair’s theme changes. Since the very first episode of the Bad Batch when he confronts them in the hangar after being brainwashed, his music has been defined by synth. But in the last few moments of The Outpost, Crosshair’s theme evolves. The notes are the same, but they’re not synth anymore.

They’re BRASS.

“Why is brass important?” you may ask.

Because clones, and ESPECIALLY their valor/honor/duty as soldiers, are defined by brass. Listen to the first 30 seconds or so of this song, the clone theme from TCW:

Now close your eyes and listen to the music of the last few minutes of “The Outpost.” Listen to Crosshair’s theme as he watches the vulture’s shadow on the ground. Then again, as he stands up and makes his choice to avenge Mayday. There’s less and less synth, replaced instead by organic string instruments.

And then, after he avenges Mayday, the honorable choice, he collapses. It changes to BRASS.

The music acknowledges Crosshair’s growth from a good soldier following orders to a man choosing to do the right thing. Holy shit.

[laughhardrunfastbekindsblog]

Evolution of Echo and Omega's Hugs

*I posted similar thoughts on Reddit before but wanted to write a bit more about it since I can't stop thinking about it

I get the impression Echo isn't much of a hugger - never has been, and not just because "he's a soldier" but because it's just not really his thing. Like, he doesn't mind hugs, but he rarely offers them so he also never gets hugs, and since he never expects them anyway, that's fine with him. (It's also possible the experimentation on Skako Minor and the prosthetics/cybernetics he now lives with make him more awkward with physical affection, but I don't think he really did hugs before then, either.)

So seeing how Echo's reaction to Omega's hugs has changed over time makes my heart melt 🫠

Hug #1

Echo has announced his departure from the squad, and even though he's not planning on being gone forever - he just feels called to do more to help the other clones - this is still a goodbye. Omega, holding back tears, hugs him - and Echo definitely wasn't expecting this, so it takes him some time to figure out how to respond.

Hug #2

Echo has been gone for a bit, and this is the first time he's meeting back up with the squad since his departure. He can see a hug is imminent, and so he kinda shyly/awkwardly opens his arms in readiness... Nope, he was not prepared for Omega's level of sheer enthusiasm, but hey, this is nice.

Hug #3

This is the first time Echo and Omega have seen each other in months, since Omega was captured and subsequently escaped. There is absolutely no hesitation on Echo's part now: as he and Omega approach each other, he is already getting down to his sister's level, arms wide open, and they simultaneously hug each other.

Echo's face is slightly obscured by the hug, but he looks SO RELIEVED and happy that Omega is back!

Echo still might not be much of a hugger in general (he and Hunter still do their standard brother/soldier handshake to greet each other, for example), but when it comes to his little sister, he is all in on the hugs now❤️🥹🥰

[hey-its-puddlesock]

Family portrait

[beefy-the-stronk]

I binged the boys locker room Star Wars cartoon for fun and it now has me in an absolute emotional chokehold.

I love them all, but Tech and Wrecker are my personal favs.

Also b/c I'm extra af, there's significance/easter eggs behind some of the paint patterns each Batch has, wonder if anyone can find some or come up with their own thoughts theories.

[stars-n-spice]

no you don't understand. I need the Bad Batch to have a happy ending. I need them all to make it out alive. I need them to all be together. I need them to be a family once again. I need them all alive, happy, healthy, thriving. I need them safe and healing and growing.

I need Hunter to be able to be at peace. To become what he so clearly wanted to be at the start of the series; a father. For him to have what he fought so hard for. To know that he's more than a soldier. I need him to be able to relax knowing his brothers, that Omega is safe and will forever be safe. I need need need him to have that peace. To have that kind of life. The life he didn't think he'd get, that no clone ever thought that they would get, but yet...And I need him to grow and learn from these mistakes and be that older brother for all of them I know he can be. Seeing him want a life different than what he was essentially made for that badly for him not to get it is going to absolutely destroy me.

I want Tech to come back. I want it so bad. I know Star Wars can't keep getting away with "killing a character and bringing them back" but what's doing it one more time? Am I biased because Tech is my second favorite Batcher? Yes. But listen, I just need him to return and be reunited with his family. I need him to see Crosshair again. I need him to see and be with Phee again. Yes the build up to his death was great and the send off with his goggles was, in my opinion beautiful, but I just really want him back. I miss him so much. He means so much to so many people and I just want to see him alive and well again.

I need Echo to come back and I need him to stay. Wrecker and Tech might be my favorites, but when it really comes down to it? Echo is my comfort character. When I'm upset and really struggling, what usually brings me back is thinking about what would Echo do? What would Echo say to me to get me through this? Echo means so so much to me and it hurts so much to see him reduced to a background character. It makes me think what even was the point of bring him back just to reduce him to what he is now? And I'm so so scared they're going to kill him off for shock value or to "explain" why he isn't with Rex in Rebels, but that's just so fucking stupid to me after having done nothing with his character since like the middle of season 2 of the Bad Batch. Bring him back, please. And let him be at peace for once too!! Goddammit, all this shit he's had to go through; getting fucking exploded, being a prisoner of war, losing Fives, losing his brothers because his chip malfunctioned, having to see what becomes of clones after everything they sacrificed for the galaxy-Like you already "killed". him off once, there's no need to do it again. Just bring him back and reunite him with the others, please.

I need Wrecker to get to have his family all together. On top of that, I need him to get the recognition he deserves for all that he does and has done. Omega might be the heart and soul of the team but Wrecker's the glue and arguably just as much as the heart and soul too. He's the protector, I'm sure he feels it's his responsibility to keep them together, to keep them safe. I want him to continue living his life knowing that he succeeded in doing so and now doesn't have to worry about something like that because they are safe. They're all together again and they're happy and they're safe. He can relax and enjoy what they used to have before it all went to shit. It's so obvious that he cares so much about his brothers and Omega in his own unique ways. Each of the members of the Batch have their own unique dynamics within each other, but it really seems like Wrecker is the one who has one with each of them. And yeah, he's my favorite so I'm going to be biased and I want him to make it out alive and I want him to be happy goddammit.

I need Crosshair to stay the fuck alive. I need him to continue to heal and grow and be back with his family again. I need him to be reassured and to feel safe and loved again. I cannot take another instance of a character who used to be so lost and broken finally getting healing and some peace only to sacrifice themselves again. To have someone go through so much only start to heal and then rip that away from them? I need him to be at peace. I need him to enjoy all that he's missed out on. I need to see him okay and content and healing and living. I don't think I can deal with seeing all of that being ripped away from him. Please just let the man be at peace for once in his fucking life. I am begging. You don't understand, he's healing; mentally, physically, he's getting better and to just,, take all of that away? Can't just ONE character please get a happy ending?? Like if any one of them deserve to see it through the end, it's him.

I need Omega to get the childhood she was cheated out of. I don't know how many times I've sat and thought about Omega only for me to burst out into tears. She's been isolated for nearly all of her life. At the most, she was free for two years out of her FOURTEEN years of existence. She went through ALL of that before the age Ashoka and Padmé were when they were just STARTING to go through the horrors. Yet she's remained so brave and so strong and so determined. She's endured and survived and I want her to thrive. I want her to have all her brothers together once again. I want her to grow up alongside them. I want her to be able to be a child for once. To experience life through those lenses. I don't want her to have to endure another loss.

I need to see this group of individuals who never really fit in have their place in the galaxy. I need to see them, all created with clear intents and purposes to fight in a war as cannon fodder find new purposes. I need to see these burnt-out kids catch a damn break for once. This family of neurodivergents who spent their entire lives either isolated or distant from everyone else because they were "different" and "special" get that well-deserved ending where they're all safe and happy and have a purpose and a place in the galaxy because fucking hell. I wanna know there's hope for me too.

just AAGUUHHH. I've never wanted a happy ending for anyone more than I want it for the Bad Batch.

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

More Omega Appreciation

It's no surprise that I love Omega, I make that pretty apparent. After all, she's my sweet bean, my little sunshine. I adore everything about her. In fact, I'd put her in my top 10 fave characters because of the impact she's had on me. But what makes her so endearing?

To me, it's her hope and compassion for others. Omega is full of life and wonder. Every situation she's thrown into, Omega takes with full stride. I remember falling in love with her in the first few episodes of season 1 when she goes to Saleucami. I think most of us want to go back and relive childhood where everything new was exciting and magical. And while she's certainly matured over the course of this series, there's still so much wonder in her. We can call it filler, but don't deny how adorable Omega is when Phee tells her stories. The way Omega lights up around others and new situations is adorable and makes her incredibly likable.

I'll go back to my point about her hope and compassion. Omega truly sees the beauty and strength in others, no matter who they are. Where Hunter is always distrustful of Cid (and rightly so), Omega still tries to help her. Yes, Omega is child and she is naive, but I still find her traits endearing. With Batcher, she believes in the hound's strengths to survive even with Hemlock trying to tell her otherwise.

But the most important character that Omega's kindness touches in my opinion is Crosshair. She never gives up on him even though she could. All throughout her imprisonment on Tantiss, Omega keeps her hope alive. Not a day goes by that she doesn't look for a way out. Crosshair, however, has given up. Everything that's happened to him has broke his spirit. But then Omega shows up and the fight is put back into him. Throughout the entire show, Omega continues to believe in the goodness that Crosshair has within him. She's always the one to reach out to him. I love that about her. I feel that we need more people like her in the world. It's so easy to not care about something or dismiss someone who might have differing opinion. But Omega teaches us that a little kindness and persistence can go a long way. I honestly do see so much of myself in her as a result.

I don't get personal on here, but I'll just say that there are times in my life where I've been put in Crosshair's position. I've felt trapped in my own Tantiss. Yet, there was always an Omega in my life trying to help. Omega, to me, represents the pure love and hope that people, especially family, can have for each other. No matter how dark things get, she keeps fighting and hoping. She never gives up on her family.

She is the emotional core of "The Bad Batch." It's through Omega that the Batch begin to see life in a different lens. They realize that they don't have to be soldiers. They begin to grow in different ways. Tech and Crosshair become more emotionally vulnerable around her. Hunter and Echo become more paternal. And Wrecker gets to let out his inner child more around her. She shows them new ways to love and care for one another.

I hope sweet bean never loses her endearing traits by the end of show. Sure, she will have gained more life experience, but that light she carries better stay alive. It's so important. It's one of her best features and it leaves an impact on those around her. The Batch are lucky to have Omega in their lives. Guys, if you have an Omega figure, someone who's filled with love and joy and always supports you, give them an extra tight hug.

I'll get off my soap box now, but she is truly one of the best Star Wars characters to come out in recent years.

[eclec-tech]

Cosplay! Sort of.

What do you do when you can't get together with one of your favorite people and geek out in costume like the pair of dorks you are because you live a four-digit number of miles apart?

You get @amalthiaph to bring the dream to life for you!

I'm on the left (hi), and @apocalyp-tech-a (who is just as adorable irl) is on the right! Amalthia did the most incredible job with my request to put us in the armor of our favorite Batchers! Don't worry. My arm is still in there somewhere!

If you would like to get a commission of your own, click here!

[cuddles-with-dragons]

More Fives + Bad Batch Shenanigans

Fives: Do crabs think people walk sideways? Echo: ...Fives, what the hell.

Fives: Everyone, calm down! We're grown-ups, let's deal with this like adults! Crosshair: So, we're just going to wing it and hope for the best? Fives: Obviously. Now, Tech, pass the shovel.

*Everyone is playing Scrabble together* Fives: I will put 'A' down to make 'A'. Hunter: I will add onto your 'A' to make 'AT'. Crosshair: I will add onto your 'AT' to make 'RAT'. Tech: I will add onto your 'RAT' to make 'BIOSTRATAGRAPHIC'. Fives: *flips the board*

Crosshair: Are you laughing at that video of Fives and Echo fighting? Tech: No. Tech: I'm laughing at the comments.

Fives: When will Ted himself...finally show up to the talk? Wrecker: The final boss. Tech: You guys know TED talks stands for technology, entertainment, and design talks, right? Fives: I will not let Ted hide behind these lies any longer!

Fives: Tech noticed only today that he can label his email inboxes, but he took apart his entire bloody laptop two weeks ago. Crosshair: This reminds me of the Tech who couldn’t turn on the coffee maker, but remembers about 500 digits of pi. Fives: I’ll be delighted to inform you that this is the very same Tech.

Crosshair, to Echo: If Fives doesn't say "I'm King of the world" within an hour on that boat, I will let you use my rifle. Fives, within 5 minutes of getting on the boat: I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!

Fives: I want you back... Crosshair: 3 words, 8 letters. Say it, and I'm yours. Fives: I got food? Crosshair: ...you know me so well.

Hunter: I hate you with every inch of my body! Crosshair: That’s not a lot of inches.

[omaano]

The Bad Batch, unsuccessful staging of a photograph for the Family Codex in @sidhebeingbrand and @toughbreaks's Changeling AU

I have So Much love for this AU and all its details, so I had the best of time sketching them out, thank you so much for commissioning me for them!

[toastyrobos]

Happy holidays from the Bad Batch family to yours

[echojedis]

Model sheets that might be useful as reference!

[the-bi-space-ace]

A part of me thinks that a big way Echo shows his love and care for people is doing things for them. Taking the risk when no one else will, repairing things on the ship, teaching them skills, customizing weapons. He loves them enough to try to make their lives bigger, happier, better. Even at his own expense.

[abigfanofstarwars]

jesus fucking christ

tech got me way too nervous for a while there

“Your concern is not warranted. I will be fine.”

bitch huH??? what kind of stupid horror movie type shit is that 🙃