Down Bad - Chapter 2
Chapter Summary: Amina and Omega stay on Ord Mantell while The Bad Batch goes on a mission. Then, they become involved in a Imperial occupation on Ryloth.
Word Count: 6.0k+
Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character
Notes: so this chapter covers episodes 10-12 of bad batch season 1. next chapter is where i stray a little bit from canon, but in reality it doesn't change much. you'll understand once you read it. but, happy reading! <3
also, i've literally written 10 more chapters of this because i'm crazy and bored, and in need of hunter so bad. hopefully i'll remember to post more regularly...
Series Masterlist - Chapter 1 → Chapter 3
AO3 Link For Chapter
The group had landed back on Ord Mantell, walking to Cid’s Parlor as Omega sat on top of Wrecker’s shoulder.
“How’s the Mantell Mix, kid?” He asked.
Omega ate another piece, “mm-hmm. Better than ever.” She dropped a piece of the mix into Wrecker’s mouth.
“Yeah, it is.” Wrecker said, laughing.
“So, when’s our next mission?” Omega asked, holding the small box with the Mantell Mix with both hands now.
“With two bounty hunters after you, it’d be wise to keep a low profile.” Tech replied.
“Tech’s right.” Hunter said, as he grabbed Omega off of Wrecker’s shoulders and helped her back on the ground. “There’s too much heat on us right now.”
“Ha! That never stopped us before.”
Amina came over, and took a piece of the Mantell Mix, trying a piece. It was different and sweet. Echo grabbed a few pieces in his hand and smelled them.
They watched as Hunter walked into Cid’s parlor as they followed along. When they entered, Cid turned to look at them. “I’ve got a mission for you boys. A simple extraction on Raxus.”
“Raxus?” Tech said, “that is the former center of the Separatist government. It has since become an Imperial outpost- ”
“I’m not interested in a history lesson, Goggles. You’re being hired to locate and free Senator Avi Singh from his confinement.” Cid pulled up a holographic image of the Senator on her data pad, “my client will meet you at the given coordinates to brief you. Details are on this. Now get going.”
She threw the chip towards the group as Hunter caught it. “Help a Separatist? Not gonna happen.” He threw the chip back at Cid.
“Your debt’s still not paid, remember? A job’s a job.” Hunter gestured for Cid and him to walk away from the group as Amina hopped on the stool next to Omega, being careful of her ankle.
Omega glanced up at Amina, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What's going on?" she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.
Amina leaned in closer, keeping her voice low. "Looks like Hunter and Cid are butting heads," she replied, her gaze flicking back to the two figures engaged in conversation.
Omega furrowed her brow, her expression thoughtful. "Why does Hunter seem so reluctant to take the job?"
“Raxus was the home planet of the Separatists. We fought against them in the war.” Amina answered.
“Yeah, yeah, Bandana. Just get outta here, will you?” Cid exclaimed, walking away from the group.
Omega stood in front of Hunter now, with her crossbow on her back. “Ready when you are, Sergeant.”
Hunter kneeled down, “not this time, Omega. You’re staying with Cid.”
“But th-the mission. I’m part of the squad too.”
He put a hand on her shoulder, “then following orders shouldn’t be a problem. Stay close to Cid and don’t leave this parlor. Got it, soldier?”
Omega groaned and rolled her eyes, “yes, sir.”
Hunter went to Amina, who still was seated on the stool. “You okay with staying here with Omega?”
"Yeah, yeah, we’ll be fine. Plus, I don’t trust Trandoshans," Amina replied with a smirk, her tone light but tinged with a hint of mischief.
Hunter chuckled, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Fair enough," he said, nodding in agreement. "Just keep an eye on Omega for me, will you?"
Amina nodded, her gaze flicking over to where Omega was now standing. "Consider it done," she replied, her voice confident.
As Hunter turned to leave, Amina couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the prospect of being left behind with Omega. Despite the young girl's enthusiasm and resilience, Amina couldn't shake the feeling that trouble always seemed to find them, no matter where they went. Perhaps, find her wherever she went.
Omega huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't need a babysitter, you know," she muttered, her tone petulant.
Amina chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Omega's hair affectionately. "I know you don't, kiddo," she replied with a playful grin. "But it never hurts to have a backup, just in case." Amina stretched out her leg, “plus it’s not like I can go that far.”
Omega grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she conceded, her earlier annoyance slowly dissipating as she moved the sponge in a circle on the table that Cid gave her.
“Hey, think of it like this. You’re babysitting me. And let me tell you, I’m quite slippery.” Amina smirked, trying to lighten up the mood.
---
Amina looked at the shelves of alcohol Cid had. She doesn’t drink, but one of the missions she went on with her master before the war was to Morlana One, where she was undercover as a bartender for information.
She learned a few things there, she had to since she worked at that bar for almost 7 rotations. She glanced over at Omega, who was still scrubbing the table.
“You’ve got her cornered.” Bolo laughed.
“Oh, yeah, I’m real scared.” Cid replied.
“Delay all you want, you’re not getting out of this one.” Ketch taunted.
Cid hovered over a button as Omega chimed in, “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Hear that? We got an expert here.” Cid rolled her eyes.
The dejarik table made noises as one of Cid’s figures went down. “She’s done for!” Bolo laughed, again.
“I told you.” Omega said.
“Well, expert, what should I do next?” Cid asked Omega, as she hopped down from the stool and pressed 3 buttons on the board.
Bolo groaned, “you blew it!”
“Yeah, but you’re the one who said to bet it all!” Ketch retorted.
“You wanna take this outside?”
“Gladly.” Ketch got off his seat as the two walked outside.
“How’d you know to do that?” Cid asked Omega.
“It’s a strategy game. I’m good at strategy.”
“Hmm. How good? Enough to, uh, win a few matches for some money?”
“Depends.” Omega said slowly. “What’s my cut?”
“Hmm. Thirty percent.”
Omega thought it over quickly, “sixty.”
---
As Omega played, Cid’s parlor gained more and more people entering, to watch and to play against her. Amina took it upon herself to get some new clothing, and to bartend the crowd.
It wasn’t hard, since most people weren’t getting any drinks, but the few that did tipped well. Whether it was because they were kind, or because she had put her hair down, she wasn’t sure.
Her hair had grown since Order 66, and she got used to keeping it short and up, but now, she hasn’t had time to cut it. She handed another drink to someone as they went back into the small crowd.
“No one can stop this kid.” Someone in the crowd spoke, as Hunter, Tech, Echo, Wrecker, and the Senator and his droid walked in.
“Of course.” Hunter said.
Omega’s current opponent played his move, as Omega pressed two buttons and played hers, winning the game.
Cid shook Omega’s shoulders with a small smile as Omega looked into the crowd and waved at the guys. She jumped off the seat and ran towards them.
“All right, show’s over. No more bets.” Cid announced.
Wrecker picked up Omega, “Kid, where’d you learn to do that?”
“She’s a natural. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Cid said.
Omega smiled, as did Wrecker. Hunter walked in front of Cid, “I told you to keep a low profile. This is the opposite.”
Omega’s smile dropped, as she glanced down. Cid pushed Hunter’s shoulder, “ease up, Bandana. Omega made enough money to pay off the debt you boys owe me, so try showing a little gratitude to my friend.” She walked around Wrecker, patting Omega’s shoulder, “you did good.” She walked over to the Senator, “Senator, glad you made it. Let’s talk payment.” she said, guiding the Senator and his droid to her office.
Wrecker set Omega down as the group walked away. He nudged Hunter’s shoulder with his as Hunter looked down. “You really paid off our debt?”
“I wanted to be useful, even if I couldn’t go on the mission.”
Hunter hummed, before turning around to look at Omega. “How about we put those strategy skills to the test? One match. If you win, then no more sitting out on missions.” Hunter turned on the board as Omega’s eyes brightened. He gestured for her to sit down as she ran over and took the seat across from Hunter. “You ready for this?”
“Are you?”
Amina shook her head and finished cleaning up the glasses before setting down the towel underneath the bar. She counted the credits she earned, which was around 100. Not too bad.
"Come on, Omega, you got this!" Amina found herself cheering aloud, unable to contain her excitement as Omega made a bold move, catching Hunter off guard.
Hunter chuckled, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Not bad, kid. But let's see if you can handle this."
Amina watched with bated breath as Hunter made his move, his fingers flying across the board with practiced precision. Omega's brow furrowed in concentration as she assessed her options, her gaze darting from one holographic figure to the next.
Suddenly, Omega's eyes lit up with realization, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. With a swift motion, she made her move, her fingers dancing across the board as she executed a series of calculated maneuvers.
"I did it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked over at Amina.
Amina couldn't help but grin, her heart swelling with pride at Omega's accomplishment. "You were amazing," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
Omega beamed, her chest puffed out with pride. "Thanks, Amina!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement.
Meanwhile, Hunter leaned back in his chair, a look of disbelief on his face. "I can't believe I lost," he muttered, shaking his head in mock defeat.
Amina chuckled, crossing the room to join Omega and Hunter at the table. "Well, looks like you owe someone a mission," she said, nudging Hunter playfully with her elbow.
Hunter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, yeah, I know," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You earned it, Omega."
Omega's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flicking between Hunter and Amina. "Wait, really?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
Hunter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, really. You proved yourself out there, kid."
Omega's grin widened, her excitement bubbling over as she practically vibrated with energy. "Yes! I won't let you down, Hunter," she said, her voice filled with determination.
Amina reached into her pocket and pulled out the credits, placing them in Hunter’s hand.
“Where’d this come from?”
She shrugged, “I bartended. I learned a bit on a mission with my master years ago. But I don’t trust myself holding them, I’d probably lose it.”
Omega glanced over at the credits, “how much is there?”
"I think 102 credits," Amina replied, her gaze flicking between Omega and Hunter.
Omega's eyes widened with excitement. "That's amazing!”
The rest of the group walked out as Wrecker looked at the credits in Hunter’s hand. “Whoa, that’s a lot of credits! How’d you get them?”
“Womanly wiles.” Amina said, crossing her arms, as Echo let out a chuckle.
“What’s that?” Omega asked.
“Uh… I’ll teach you when you’re older.” Amina pondered, “surprisingly, it was actually Padme who taught me that. She made a whole deal out of it, even pretending she was teaching a class to me and Ahsoka. Anakin found out when he visited her office and saw me and Ahsoka taking notes.”
Amina chuckled at the memory, her lips curling into a fond smile. "Yeah, it was quite the sight," she said, her voice tinged with amusement. "Anakin was absolutely baffled. I don’t even want to think about what happened after he dragged her out of her office.” She shuddered at the thought.
Omega's eyes widened with curiosity, her gaze fixed on Amina. "What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
Amina chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's just say Anakin was not pleased," she replied cryptically, her lips quirking into a smirk. "But enough about that. How about a game of dejarik? I'm sure you're itching for a rematch after beating Hunter."
Omega's eyes lit up with excitement, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "You're on!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
Amina chuckled, her own grin mirroring Omega's infectious excitement. "Prepare to be defeated, young one," she teased, gesturing towards the dejarik table with a playful wink.
As they settled into their seats, the holographic figures flickered to life on the board, casting a soft blue glow across the dimly lit room. Amina watched Omega carefully, her gaze sharp and focused as the young girl deliberated her next move.
Omega's brow furrowed in concentration as she surveyed the board, her fingers hovering over the holographic controls. With a sudden burst of determination, she made her move, her fingers dancing across the controls with practiced precision.
Amina's lips curled into a smirk as she studied Omega's move, her mind already calculating her own counterattack. With a swift motion, she executed her move, her holographic figures springing to life as they clashed with Omega's.
The game unfolded with a rapid flurry of moves, each player vying for dominance on the holographic battlefield. Amina's heart raced with excitement as she anticipated Omega's next move, her competitive spirit fueling her determination to emerge victorious.
But Omega was proving to be a formidable opponent, her strategic prowess matched only by her youthful enthusiasm. With each move, she pushed Amina to the limit, testing her skills and cunning at every turn.
As the game neared its climax, Amina felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Victory was within her grasp, but she knew she couldn't afford to underestimate Omega's tenacity.
With a final, decisive move, Amina unleashed her masterstroke, her holographic figures converging on Omega's position with deadly precision. The room erupted into cheers and applause as Omega's last line of defense crumbled beneath the onslaught.
Omega stared at the board in disbelief, her expression a mixture of shock and admiration. "I can't believe you beat me," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe.
Amina grinned triumphantly, her chest swelling with pride. "Never underestimate the power of experience, young one," she teased, reaching out to ruffle Omega's hair affectionately.
The two laughed and exchanged playful banter as they reset the board for another round.
Meanwhile, Hunter watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and pride. He had never seen Omega so animated, so full of life and energy.
As he observed Omega and Amina's playful interaction, a sense of warmth and contentment washed over him. Omega ended up winning the second game as Amina leaned over the table, “want to get something to eat?”
Omega nodded, “yeah, sure! Do you have any credits?”
Amina shook her head and stood up, “I have many ways of convincing people. One of them being,” she waved her hand, “the force. Want to see a Jedi mind trick?”
Omega's eyes widened with excitement, her curiosity piqued by Amina's suggestion. "Really? You can do that?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation. “But wait, won’t people find out?”
Amina grinned, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "I won’t tell if you won’t. Come on, let’s go find a stand outside and get something.”
As Amina and Omega made their way through the bustling streets of Ord Mantell, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration coursing through her veins. She hadn’t used the force in a long while, so she was excited to use it, even in a small, insignificant way.
As they approached a nearby food stand, Amina cast a subtle glance around, ensuring that no one was paying too much attention to their actions. Satisfied that they were in the clear, she turned to Omega with a mischievous grin.
"Watch closely, Omega," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "This is how a Jedi mind trick works."
With a flick of her wrist and a subtle wave of her hand, Amina reached out through the Force, gently influencing the thoughts of the vendor behind the stand. She implanted a suggestion in his mind, a subtle nudge to offer them a discount on their meal.
The vendor blinked in confusion for a moment, his brow furrowing as if trying to recall something. Then, with a shrug, he smiled at Amina and Omega, his demeanor suddenly warm and friendly.
"Hey there, ladies! What can I get for you today?" he asked, his voice cheerful as he gestured towards the array of food on display.
Amina returned the smile, her confidence bolstered by the success of her Jedi mind trick. "We'll take two of your specialty sandwiches, please," she said, her tone casual as she leaned against the counter.
The vendor nodded eagerly, quickly assembling their order with practiced efficiency. As he handed the sandwiches over to Amina and Omega, he flashed them a wink.
"On the house," he said with a grin. "Consider it a gift from your friendly neighborhood food vendor."
Amina accepted the sandwiches with a gracious smile, her heart fluttering with a sense of satisfaction at her successful use of the Jedi mind trick. She turned to Omega, who was practically buzzing with excitement at their unexpected windfall.
"Thank you so much," she said, her voice sincere as she turned to Omega. "Shall we?"
Omega nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Definitely!" she exclaimed, falling into step beside Amina as they made their way through the bustling streets of Ord Mantell.
As they walked, Omega couldn't contain her excitement, chattering animatedly about everything they passed – from the colorful storefronts to the eclectic mix of alien species milling about the marketplace.
Amina listened with amusement, her lips quirking into a fond smile as she watched Omega's boundless enthusiasm.
Eventually, they found a quiet spot to sit and enjoy their sandwiches, nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare. Amina took a bite of her sandwich, savoring the delicious combination of flavors as she glanced over at Omega.
Omega looked over at Amina, “can I use the force?”
Amina set down the sandwich and wiped off her hands with a napkin, “well, not really. The force is what gives a Jedi their power. But it’s also an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us, binding the galaxy together. Jedi have a higher level of the force, which makes us Jedi, but everyone else still has the force, but it’s impossible for regular people to use.”
Omega listened intently, her curiosity piqued by Amina's explanation. She nodded thoughtfully, processing the information as she took another bite of her sandwich. "So, does that mean you can't teach me how to use it?" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Amina smiled sympathetically, reaching out to pat Omega's hand reassuringly. "I'm afraid not, kiddo," she replied, her tone gentle. "The force is something that's innate within certain individuals. It's not something that can be taught or learned, no matter how hard you try."
Omega's shoulders slumped slightly, her expression crestfallen. "Oh," she said, her disappointment evident in her voice. "I guess I'll just have to stick to strategy games then."
Amina chuckled softly, her smile warm and reassuring. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a master strategist," she said, her tone playful. "In fact, I'd say it's a pretty valuable skill to have, especially in our line of work."
Omega perked up at the praise, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, you're right," she said, her enthusiasm returning. "I may not have the Force, but I've got plenty of other tricks up my sleeve."
Amina grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's the spirit," she said, her tone approving. "Never underestimate the power of a sharp mind and a quick wit."
As they finished their sandwiches, Amina glanced around the bustling marketplace, her gaze scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble. Despite the relative peace and quiet of their current surroundings, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered at the back of her mind.
"Come on," Amina said, rising to her feet and dusting off her pants. "We should probably head back to Cid's parlor before Hunter sends out a search party."
As Amina and Omega returned to Cid's parlor, they found the Bad Batch still sitting at the bar, their conversation paused as they glanced up to greet the newcomers.
"Hey, you two," Wrecker called out, a friendly grin spreading across his face. "Where've you been?"
Amina chuckled, slipping onto a stool beside Omega. "Just grabbing a bite to eat," she replied casually, her gaze flicking over to Hunter. "Did you miss us?"
Wrecker spoke up, “oh, no food for us?”
Amina chuckled, shaking her head at Wrecker's comment. "Sorry, big guy," she said, her tone lighthearted. "Next time, I'll be sure to bring you back a little something."
Wrecker pouted playfully, earning a round of chuckles from the rest of the Bad Batch. Hunter glanced over at Amina and Omega, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Did you two have a good time?" he asked, his voice gentle as he turned his attention to Omega.
Omega nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement. "Yeah, we had a blast!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. "Amina even showed me how to use a Jedi mind trick!"
Amina grinned as Omega continued to talk about the mind trick she had used as the rest of the group listened along.
---
They landed on Ryloth’s nearest moon with a crate of weapons and explosives, which was their current mission for Cid.
Everyone got out of the ship, except for Omega who sat on the stairs of the Marauder. “Are you Gobi? Cid sent us.” Hunter asked.
“Along with three dozen blasters and a case of thermal detonators.” Tech added.
“Let’s see them.” Gobi said.
Wrecker placed the two crates on the ground as Echo opened up the crates. The young Twi’lek walked closer to the ship, admiring it. “What type of ship is this?”
“A modified Omicron-class attack shuttle.” Omega said.
“Can I have a look inside?”
“Hunter, can she come aboard?” Omega called out, as Hunter nodded. “Okay. You can come up. But no funny business.”
“Funny business?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll be watching you.”
“Uh…” The girl chuckled, “okay, then. Show me around.”
The Bad Batch, and Amina, stood as Gobi and Serin looked over the weapons. “It’s a start.” Gobi said. “Have Cid contact me when she has more to sell.”
He handed the container of credits to Hunter. “Building an arsenal attracts attention. You better know what you’re getting into.”
“We don’t have a choice.” Serin started to drag one of the cases as did Gobi, “Hera, we’re leaving.”
Hera and Omega walked out of the ship, as Hera followed Gobi to their ship. “Good luck.” Omega said, waving at Hera.
The guys looked down at Omega, “make a new friend?” Hunter asked.
“She’s kind of strange. I like her. Did you know flying’s about a feeling?” she asked, holding one finger up as she made her way back onto the Marauder.
“What feeling?” Tech slowly asked, as Amina snorted as bumped his shoulder, following Omega back onto the ship.
---
“Uh-oh.” Omega said, as she tried to fix Gonky.
“What’s going on here?” Hunter asked.
“Gonky’s prime power source won’t fully charge. I’m fixing it.”
“You can’t. He’s a defective unit.”
“Hunter.” Tech called from the cockpit.
Gonky beeped, tilting downwards. “Don’t worry, we’re defective too.” Omega said, trying to cheer up the droid.
Amina stood up from the floor and walked into the cockpit, along with Hunter.
“We are receiving a recorded transmission, but I do not recognize this frequency.” Tech told Hunter.
“Patch it through.”
A hologram of the young Twi’lek, Hera, popped up. “Omega, it’s Hera. You have to come back to Ryloth.”
“Isn’t she the kid from the weapons drop?” Wrecker asked.
Omega ran into the cockpit, “Hera?”
“The Empire’s taken my parents, and they’re after me now too. I’m sending coordinates. Please hurry. I need your help.”
Hunter tapped a few buttons, pausing the transmission and turning to Omega, “you have her our comm channel?”
“For emergencies, and that sounded pretty urgent. We have to go.”
“Perhaps the situation is not as dire as described. Children often overreact.” Tech added.
“No, we don’t. You heard her. She needs us.”
Hunter placed a hand on Omega’s shoulder, “Omega, it’s a big galaxy. We can’t put ourselves on the line every time someone’s in trouble.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what soldiers do?” Omega asked, as Hunter’s eyes widened and gave a slight nod.
They landed on Ryloth, in a small opening in the mountains. Omega exited first with Amina at the back. A droid with an orange top rolled out beeping.
“What’s his problem?” Wrecker said, as the droid rolled close to Omega.
“Thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.” Hera said as she walked towards the group.
“You said you were in trouble.” Omega responded.
Hunter stepped forward in front of Omega, “care to tell us why the Empire is after you?”
“Because my father is Cham Syndulla.”
Tech looked up from his data pad, “the freedom fighter?”
“Yes. This was his old command outpost. It’s where I’ve been hiding. The Empire’s begun targeting anyone loyal to him.”
Echo spoke up, “what do you want us to do?”
“Free my parents from the Capitol. That’s where they’re being held.” Hunter crossed his arms and glanced at Omega, “they can pay you if you get them out.” Hera added on. “Please. I don’t have anyone else to ask.”
Omega looked up at Hunter before walking over to Hera’s side as she gave a small nod to the girl.
“Let’s see what we’re up against first. But no guarantees.” Hunter said.
---
They lay on a hill overlooking the Capitol from a distance as Chopper brought out a small satellite on his head, letting them hear what Rampart was speaking about.
“But… the perpetrators of this heinous assassination attempt have been captured.”
“Assassination attempt?” Hunter quietly asked, sparing a glance at Hera.
“Rest assured, Cham Syndulla and his insurgents…”
“That’s not what happened.” Hera said.
“…will answer for their betrayal.”
Omega leaned up, “Hunter… Crosshair’s here.”
“Great. Just what we need.” Wrecker said.
Hunter made a gesture as the Batch stood up and moved away from Amina, Omega and Hera. The kids kept looking at the Capitol with their binoculars as Amina sensed something. Turning her head she saw a probe droid, lurking behind the mountain’s curve.
She stood up and walked past the guys and force jumped onto the side of the mountain. Hunter glanced over, also sensing the probe droid as Amina jumped onto the droid, turned on her lightsaber and stabbed it through the probe’s eye as the droid and Amina fell onto the ground.
Amina turned off her lightsaber and hooked it back on her waistband as the guys and Hera and Omega walked over.
“Oh, good. A probe droid,” Tech said dryly as he examined the broken remnants of the droid.
“The Empire will know we’re here.” Echo spoke, looking down at the smoking droid.
“And so will Crosshair. Come on. Let’s move.” Hunter said, as they ran off the hill and back to the hideout.
“All my father wanted was peace on Ryloth. Why is this happening?” Hera said sadly.
“He’s a voice the people stand behind. That makes him a threat to the Empire.” Echo replied.
“I don’t care about any of that. I just want my parents back.”
Chopper chattered as he flew down the ramp of the Marauder with Tech following. “We’re all over the Imperial comm channels. They’ve increased patrols within the city.”
“Crosshair will expect an attack. The element of surprise is gone. There’s nothing we can do.” Hunter said, looking over at Hera.
“Wait, you can’t leave. I told you no guarantees. We’ll get you off world and take you some place safe.”
Hera grabbed Hunter’s arm, “stop!” She let go quickly, “I’ll pay you double.”
“All the money in the galaxy won’t matter if we’re dead. What you’re asking us to do, it’s not worth the risk.”
“Not to you.” Hera said, turning away.
Omega took a few steps in Hera’s direction before stopping and looking at Hunter, “you shouldn’t have said that.”
“Being strategic means knowing your limitations, Omega.” Hunter said, as Echo, Wrecker, and Tech got back on the Marauder.
“She’s trying to save her family, Hunter. I’d do the same for you.” Omega said, before turning around and slowly walking to Hera.
Hunter sighed, before turning around towards the Marauder when Amina stepped in front of Hunter, her hand resting gently on his chest plate as she looked up at him with unwavering determination. "We have to help them," she said, her voice firm and resolute.
Hunter regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable as he met her gaze. "Amina, you know the risks," he replied, his tone tinged with concern. "If we go back now, we could all end up captured or worse."
Amina nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "I know, Hunter. But Hera's parents are in danger, and she has nowhere else to turn," she said, her voice pleading. "We can't just abandon her." She took her hand off his chest plate, “at least… just think about it. Maybe Hera and Omega will come up with something.”
She turned around and went up the Marauder’s stairs as Hunter slowly followed.
---
Hera and Omega came inside the Marauder, telling the group that they had come up with a plan.
“Attack the Capitol? Wh- that was my plan.” Wrecker said.
“Not the Capitol, the Imperial refinery on the outskirts.” Omega replied.
Chopper projected a holo-map of the refinery, “I’ve been spying on their activity. I know their routine. If we attack there, reinforcements will be diverted from the Capitol.” Hera explained.
“We can use that distraction to rescue Hera’s parents.” Omega added on, as the two girls smiled at each other.
“Any heavy defenses at the refinery?” Echo asked Hera.
“Five perimeter cannons, but they are unmanned.”
“Auto cannons are extremely vulnerable. Where is the control console?” Tech asked Hera.
“Right inside the main gate.” She pointed at on the holo-map, “it is heavily guarded, but Chopper can slip inside with the other droids and disable the cannons.” Hera looked up at Hunter.
“All right. You two go with Chopper as backup, but at a distance.”
“Really?” Hera and Omega asked at the same time. Chopper chattered in response.
“By themselves?” Tech slowly asked.
Hunter continued on, “Tech, Wrecker, Amina. Wait until those cannons are down and move in. Echo and I will scale the Capitol wall and free Hera’s parents.” He looked down at Hera, “I guess we’ll follow your lead.”
---
Tech, Wrecker, and Amina were waiting on the Marauder for Omega to signal about the perimeter cannons.
Tech commed Omega, “Omega, has Chopper deactivated the perimeter cannons?”
“No, but Hera and I are working on it. Just don’t shoot down our shuttle.”
“Wait. What shuttle?” Tech said. A few moments later, Tech looked at the console on the ship, “Omega, I am registering multiple explosions near the refinery.”
“That was us. Cannons are down. Do some damage, Wrecker.”
Wrecker laughed, as he went to the gunman mount on the ship, “that, I can do!”
“Hang on.” Tech said from the pilot’s seat, as Amina sat in the co-pilot seat. He flew forward fast, before cutting the speed and turning around as Wrecker started to shoot at the cannons.
“We’re getting the hang of this.” Hera said through comms.
“Yes, your dangerous and uncontrolled maneuvering is as confusing to them as it is to us.” Tech replied.
A few moments later, Hunter cut through the comms, “Tech, Omega, we have alternate transport. Meet at the rendezvous.”
“Gladly. Because there are multiple Imperial vessels inbound.” Tech said, as Amina looked at the scanner.
She stood up and went to the door opening it, “I’ll meet you at the rendezvous!” She yelled.
With a determined expression, Amina leaped out of the ship and landed gracefully on the ground below. She glanced around, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The sound of blaster fire echoed in the distance, and she knew they had to move quickly.
All she had to do was quickly find an Imperial shuttle, fly it, and get the shuttles off of Tech and Omega.
Amina scanned the area, her senses attuned to the slightest disturbance in the Force. She spotted an Imperial shuttle parked nearby, its engines idling, ready to take off at a moment's notice. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards it, her heart pounding with adrenaline as she drew upon her Jedi training.
As she reached the shuttle, blaster fire erupted from behind her, and she ducked behind a nearby crate for cover. Peeking out cautiously, she spotted a squad of troopers closing in, their white armor gleaming in the dim light.
Amina knew she had to act fast. Pulling out her blaster, she began to shoot at the troopers. The troopers were caught off guard by her sudden attack, and she quickly dispatched them with a series of well-aimed strikes.
With the immediate threat eliminated, Amina sprinted towards the shuttle, her heart racing with anticipation. She could hear the sounds of battle echoing in the distance, signaling that her friends were still engaged in combat.
Reaching the shuttle, she quickly accessed the controls, her fingers flying across the console as she initiated the startup sequence. The engines roared to life, and Amina felt a surge of triumph as she prepared to take off.
She flew the ship up and to where multiple Imperial vessels where following the Marauder and the other Imperial shuttle Hera and Omega were flying.
Amina shot down 3 shuttles in rapid succession, as the rest of them turned towards her, leaving Tech and Hera alone.
---
Hunter walked up the ramp where Cham and Eleni stood, “here’s the payment Hera promised.” Eleni said, holding a case in front of Hunter.
“Keep it. You’ll need it. These occupations are happening on other planets besides Ryloth.”
“I hoped to have fought my last war, but our people need us now more than ever. We must organize.” Cham said.
“Well, that’s not something we can help with, General.” Hunter turned around to look at Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Omega, and Hera, “I have my own people to look out for.”
“If a war is coming, it will be their fight as much as ours. Come along, Hera.” Eleni called out.
Omega and Hera ran up the ramp, “Tech showed me how to scramble a ship’s signature.” Hera said.
“We will soon see how well it works.” Eleni replied. “It is time for us to go.”
Hera and Omega shared a glanced as Hera kneeled down in front of Omega and Hunter walked off the ramp.
“Where’s Amina?” Hunter asked Tech, as he looked up from his data pad.
“She jumped off the ship while we were flying away from the refinery to give us cover.” He replied, adjusting his goggles.
“What?” Hunter yelled, as a whirring sound became louder and a speeder blew in.
Amina turned off the speeder and got off of it. Omega now stood with the group as she ran over to Amina. “Woah, where’d you get that?”
“I ditched the Imperial shuttle and found it.” She patted the speeder.
As Amina patted the speeder, Hunter's expression shifted from surprise to concern. "You jumped off an Imperial shuttle?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with worry.
Amina nodded, “technically I jumped off the Marauder and landed in the refinery, grabbed an Imperial shuttle and handled the ships that were tailing Tech and Hera. Then I ditched it in a remote location that we used during the war and hopped on the speeder.”
Tech adjusted his goggles again, “she had a 28.3% of survival when jumping out of the ship.” He looked up at her, “you’re lucky to be alive.”
She grinned, “lucky is my middle name, Tech.”
Hunter couldn't help but shake his head at Amina's daring stunt. Her recklessness both impressed and worried him, a mix of emotions he wasn't entirely comfortable with. "You're lucky, all right," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of exasperation. "But luck can only get you so far."
Amina flashed him a grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, it got me here, didn't it?" she quipped, her tone light despite the gravity of their situation.
The group, excluding Amina and Hunter got onto the Marauder.
Hunter couldn't help but admire her spirit, even as he felt a twinge of concern for her safety. "Just be careful, Amina," he said, his voice softer now, laced with genuine concern. "We can't afford to lose you."
Amina's grin softened into a smile as she met his gaze. "Don't worry, Hunter," she reassured him, her voice calm and steady. "I can handle myself. I’ve got the force on my side.” She patted his chest plate as she made her way onto the ship.
tags: @callsign-denmark
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Incorrect Order Chapter 3 (Nesssian AU)
A/N: I'm very(read: kinda) sorry for cliffhanger last chapter. Do inform me if you wanna be added/removed from the taglist! If you happen to find my storyline similar to another fic or one of yours, I'm extremely sorry, I might've just not known. All characters belong to the author Sarah J. Mass. Enjoy!
Summary: Don't first impressions always affect the way you see someone? Well, what more with the Nesta Archeron? Nesta meets Cassian at few unexpected places and to say it didn't go well was a major understatement. Certain circumstances make them become enemies to tolerable company to friends to lovers.
Trigger Warnings: Language
2094 words | Incorrect Order Masterlist | Read on AO3
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Cassian never knew such panic. He knew he was being an ass for acting as if he had the right to be protective of her. Of the person he didn’t even know the name of. Of the person he felt drawn to and yet wanted to forget. Of the person who got under his skin so easily. Of the person whose beauty can bring the best of men to their knees and make even queens try everything possible to best her. He didn’t know her at all other than a few conversations that weren’t his best moments, but he still felt as if they had been together since they were just kids.
All of those were reasons good enough to get him to forget other females. But this woman, gods, this woman wasn’t like the others, was she? No, she wasn’t. He found her on her knees with a man standing before her in an alley on the way back home from the library. At first glance, his heart broke for different reasons. He started walking away, before he realised it wasn’t what he thought it was. When he caught the telltale whiff of blood and saw the glint of a blade from the corner of his eyes.
Undiluted panic and rage —both feelings he didn’t have the right to feel— spurred him forward, knocking the man unconscious and breaking a bone or two for good measure, only to find the woman laying on the floor, her heart beating too fast for her good. Cassian debated entrusting the man and woman over to the authorities. Somehow, Cassian felt that the man and woman were well acquainted before today. He felt all of this was planned from the man’s side. So he brought both of them to his house. The guy was shoved into the basement with a strong sedative. The woman was left in the guest room one of his brothers or friends slept in whenever they stayed over. He didn’t take her to his room. No, he won’t. That would rip open a wound he still struggled to keep closed. A wound that wasn’t even closed properly. That would remind him of images he didn’t want to admit was stored in his mind. One of those images rose, of the woman laying on his bed, golden-brown hair fanned around her flushed face, her eyes screwed shut in—
Cassian shoved that image away and sighed. He should probably have a little chat with the woman once she wakes up.
Today, when the woman didn’t wake up after one week of unconsciousness, when her face was ghastly pale, he felt the optimism that incentivised him slowly seeping out. He started regretting his decision of not handing things over to the police. What if Cassian’s first aid hadn’t been enough? Worse, what if he did something wrong? What if, because of his actions —done knowingly, or unknowingly— would be the reason why the earth loses a certain gray-eyed beauty?
Cassian was close to giving up. It pained him to see her like this. If not for the slight rise and fall of her chest he would think she was dead already. He slowly walked to her bed, crouched and tucked stray strands of hair behind the shell of her ear. He tamped down the emotion cresting in him. Her pulse was getting steadier day by day. He should be happy— his one week of taking leave from both of his jobs and tending to her was paying off. But his mind shot to the moment that day when they first met. When he was stunned by her beauty. Her side-profile, not even her full face, at that. That day, when he realised something deadly was brewing between them. It had been growing from that day, he realised. It was barely five weeks since he had known her— he didn’t even know her. They were just acquaintances. Still, Cassian knew he was falling hard for her. This time, he couldn’t contain the swell of emotion in him. He couldn't hold back the tear rolling down his cheek. He slowly slipped out of the room and sighed. To say he was screwed was a major understatement.
***
Everywhere hurt. Death was supposed to be one's liberation. No one mentioned that there was physical pain in death. There shouldn't be, right? One didn't even have a body to feel physical pain after death. Mental pain? Probably. Physical pain? A big no.
Nesta blinked open her eyes — which again, no one mentioned ghosts would be able to do.
Huh. She expected Hell —for the mistakes she'd atoned, she assumed Hell would be her place— to be all dark and gloomy. What she didn't expect was for Hell to have separate rooms— with furniture and bright blue walls, no less.
She wanted to sit up and get a sense of her surroundings and clear her still groggy head. That's when she heard muffled footsteps. She jerked upright —and immediately regretted it for her head hurt even worse than before — and her pulse raced. She paused. Pulse raced?
She cautiously placed her hand on her wrist, then her neck and on her chest to be sure. Pulse. She had a pulse. She wasn’t dead?
The door flew open revealing a hulking, heaving figure she knew all too well. What was he doing here?
Ohh. She closed her eyes against the onslaught of memories from the alley. Of Tomas. She opened her eyes to find the man sitting on a chair near the bed. Immediately she was keenly aware of the limited space between them. He silently passed her a glass of water she gladly downed, refilled and let her drink her as much as she wanted.
She set her glass on the bedside table and looked up at him, at the concern etched deep on his face.
“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?” he asked.
Why is he being kind? Why is he making it difficult for me to hate him?
“Why am I here?” she asked instead.
“I asked you first,” he deadpanned. Typical.
“Mhm, nice way to deflect. Too kiddish, though,” she said.
“As if you aren’t deflecting,” he retorted.
“How about this? Your answers for mine.”
He huffed. “Whatever. So, are you okay?”
She smiled, “Me first.” At his glare she said, “I’m sick, aren’t I?”
“How nice of you to pull that card,” he murmured.
“Why am I here?”
“I found you on your knees, your nose slightly broken, bleeding here and there with a man holding a knife to your throat in an alley.” He shrugged. “I brought you and healed you as well as I could without gaining attention from the authorities. This is my home.”
She opened her mouth to ask her next question.
He cut her off with a smile and said, “My turn, sweetheart.”
She clenched her jaw. His audacity.
He leaned forward on his elbows. “Does anything hurt?”
“Yeah,” she allowed herself a small smile, “My head feels like it's being hit with a hammer by a particularly unkind person. My nose feels like it’s stuffed with cotton. My scalp feels like it’s being used as a cotton reel. I’m in dire need of a bath. Other than that, I’m fine I guess.”
He nodded, “Well, I’m glad you’re fine.” There he is, being all kind and caring to me again. He chuckled. “No need to give me that look. I’m just glad my one week off didn’t go down the drain.”
That was what she wanted to hear. But it still stung. Her head snapped up as realisation struck. “Wait— has it been one week already?”
He smirked, “Yes. Now, my question—”
She frowned, “It’s my turn.”
His smirk only grew larger. That bastard. “ ‘Has it been one week already’ is a question, my love.”
Shit. She should’ve thought about that. He was correct but still, “How dare—”
“Calm down, darling, calm down. If you want—”
She sighed and said, “Bring it on, then.”
His jaw ticked. He’s angry, she realised. “Who was he?” he asked quietly.
She drew in a breath. “That was Tomas. Tomas Mandray. My ex-boyfriend. He probably wanted revenge for putting him in jail.” She didn’t explain. She didn’t want to and he seemed to understand that. She slightly dreaded the next question. She put on her no-emotion face and asked, “Where is he?”
His face said he saw right through her facade. He pursed his lips, “In the basement. I figured the both of you had some sort of personal history so I wanted to wait for you to wake up before I did anything. He’s not awake; I’ve taken care of that but I don’t think he’ll be unconscious much longer. Do you need anything?”
She nodded, she was still in the same clothes as that day. There were blood stains throughout her black shirt. The mere thought that she hadn't cleaned herself for one week made her shudder. He didn’t change her clothes and she appreciated that though it seemed her face, neck and hands were wiped with a cloth. “I’d like a bath.”
He seemed to consider this before saying, “Sure. You can use my friend's clothes from the closet. The bathroom is there. Take a bath, use whatever you want. I'll get breakfast ready.”
He turned to leave. “Wait,” she called.
He arched his brows, waiting. “Thank you. For everything.”
He gave her his signature half-smile, “Anytime, darling.”
***
Making breakfast was normally very easy. Today, however, it was proving to be a very, very difficult task. Apparently, your brain turns to mush when the woman you've been drooling behind is bathing under the same roof. Also when you're talking to her. He found it a miracle that he didn't make a fool of himself earlier.
But he was sober enough to see the vulnerability behind her guarded expressions when they were talking about her ex-boyfriend. Gods, her ex-boyfriend. The anger he felt when he saw him in the alley was less than a tenth of what he felt now. He didn't know why he was angry. He just… was. He knew she was smart and brave and strong. But that didn't wipe off the fact that somewhere, beneath the tigress exterior, there was a scared little rabbit. He knew what he was going to do might be stupid. He knew it might not work out. Still, Cassian was going to arm the scared rabbit, consequences be damned.
***
Turns out, he makes delicious breakfast. There was steak, salad, boiled potatoes and a number of other foods. Nesta didn't know when she last had such mouth-watering steak. Not that she'll admit it though.
“Did he see you?” she asked after a hearty meal. “Tomas,” she clarified.
“No,” he replied, “I came from the back. His guard was down so he wasn't ready. I don't think he's trained in this kinda stuff. He probably knows a little but not good enough. Why?”
She shook her head. “I don't think I want anything to do with him. Would you mind sending him to the police? Maybe you could just attach a note saying you found him abandoned somewhere or something like that. I really don't want to get you into trouble either.”
She didn't dare look at him, afraid he'll say no.
“Fine,” he said. “You can call a cab whenever you're ready to leave. Take my first-aid kit if you want. Anything else?”
“No, no, nothing.” She cleared her throat. “Thanks. Again
For, uh, everything.”
Gods, why was she getting so flustered?
She packed her old clothes and some medicines he recommended for her headache, ignoring the pang of disappointment. Before she left, he passed her a scrap of paper with an address scrawled on it.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It's a centre I run with my brothers. In three weeks from now, after that Sunday, do you want to come? It's a self-defense arts centre. We could teach you a bit here and there. If you want. Totally no pressure.”
Nesta was stunned. That was exactly what she was thinking about in the shower earlier. Learn how to fight. Learn what to do. Then, payback time. She really didn't understand how he managed to read her mind. She smiled. “I'd love that.”
He grinned. She felt happy. Soon, she was going to give back suffering for all she got. Tomas was so going to pay. She's going to learn how to fight. Never again, she vowed. Never again would she be vulnerable.
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