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photogirl894 · 3 years ago

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"Sun and Rain"

Chapter 51

"Eradication"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: I LIIIIIIIIIIVE!!

Gosh, so sorry for the incredibly long wait! My inspiration has been sorely lacking and would come in small spurts here and there, which was maddening! Here is a nice long chapter to make up for it that I think you all will like 😊 I apologize if the action seems rushed, I was just trying my best to get through it and just get the chapter done lol

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @tmnt-leo-simp , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettroseog , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49

《 Chapter 50

》 Chapter 52

All chapters

Explanation: Now inside the Eradicators hideout, the Koriena Force's plan to rescue the Bad Batch and all the Clones is underway. Will it be successful or will they too end up as prisoners themselves?

The Koriena Force was led through a series of corridors to a large lift that they all got in and went downwards towards the Eradicators’ detention level. Jax kept looking at Kimber and trying to make small talk with her. She was hating every moment, but knew it was imperative to the plan that she go along with it. Mostly, she just wanted to tell him to throw himself in a Sarlacc pit and end his miserable existence. Sadly, she couldn’t say that…yet.

He kept going on, “As you may have seen, our establishment here and our entire enterprise is well-hidden from the eyes of the Republic. Their precious Clones disappear and they have no idea where they go.”

“And yet Irys was able to find out everything about this place in a matter of minutes on the holonet,” Kimber thought to herself. “Shows how arrogant you are.”

“Do not be so sure of that sir,” Kimber spoke aloud, using her deep Alpha voice. “The moment you let arrogance rule your words and actions is when your enemy will rise up and strike against you. The Republic is resourceful. While yes, you have the upper hand, it would be unwise to underestimate them.”

He chuckled. “Already so concerned for me and my work, I see. You flatter me, Lady Alpha,” he replied.

“You wish,” she thought, annoyed.

Very soon, the doors to the lift opened and they proceeded down another hallway to a door that Jax put in a code for on a keypad. Kimber kept a close eye on his hand movements so she could memorize the code, but even if she didn’t, she knew Irys would be able to override the code anyway. The door swished open and they came into the detention level, which was an open area at first with a main computer console and then had a long corridor with several doors on either side.

Jax then said, “This is where we keep the assortment of Clones we’ve captured thus far. I think you will find our selection most satisfactory.”

Then behind her, Rina spoke up, elbowing Rex in the side, “Though, first, we need somewhere to put this nuisance.”

Rex glared at her, keeping up the act.

“Oh yes,” said Jax. “I will find a place for him…but we will get to that momentarily. I want him to see all of the so-called brothers of his that we’ve captured.” Then he turned and began walking ahead of them.

Kimber’s hand curled up into a fist at her side, but Kida subtly reached over and placed her hand over hers. She gave Kimber a very light shake of the head, signaling her to keep her calm as they followed after him.

He went up to the first door on the left, pressed a button off to the side and the door slid open. Inside was a group of about six Clones that Kimber had yet to meet, but her heart still wrenched at seeing them in the cell, each bound at the wrists and looking either angry or hopeless. They were dressed in simple white armor with no color to them.

Now that he was presenting the Clones to her, Kimber gave a tiny nod to Irys, giving her the signal to begin hacking into the main console while Jax was occupied with showing off the Clones. Rina, Lex and Kida also casually assembled themselves behind Kimber so as to block Jax’s view of the computers and he couldn’t see Irys.

“What do you think of these ones?” Jax asked Kimber, making her remember that she had to act interested in buying them, which was making her sick to her stomach.

She took a moment, pretending to be analyzing the Clones in the cell before her. “A very good collection of specimens here…but I wish to look further.”

They walked down to the next cell and he opened up the door. Inside, there was another group of Clones, this time four of them. Their reactions were the same, glancing up at them with hate in their faces. She just acted uninterested and moved on to the next one.

However, it took every ounce of strength she possessed to not react to the next group of Clones she was shown; a group she was not expecting to see.

In the third cell, she saw the Wolf Pack.

Comet and Sinker were on the floor to the left, Boost was close to the door and then Commander Wolffe was standing towards the back, leaning up against the wall, looking more stoic than usual.

Kimber was surprised to see them. It was no wonder neither Rex nor Cody had heard anything from the Wolf Pack recently. Who knew how long they’d been imprisoned? She had to somehow let them know that they were going to be rescued. She’d already thought of a way to get a message to her squad, but this, she hadn’t anticipated.

To try and get in and get a message to them that she was there, she spoke up, feigning interest, “Oh…what do we have here?” She stepped down into the cell and the Clones all watched her come in. “These ones certainly might fit the part.” Her eyes found Wolffe and she walked forward, leaving everyone else behind her. “You look like a strong, able-bodied specimen.”

Wolffe just glared at her.

“Though, your eye is curious,” she commented. Then she said, hoping to get the signal across, “You remind me of someone I came across on a job on Falleen. We ended up in a scuffle with some Droids in the middle of it and the Vulture Droids gave us the most trouble.” She then asked over her shoulder, hoping to further sell the bit, “Do you remember that, ladies?”

With a scoff of disgust, Kida played along and responded, “Don’t remind me. Those Droids cost us a lot of credits on that job.”

Kimber grinned under her mask, grateful that Kida was going along with her.

Keeping her eyes trained on Wolffe, Kimber then said, “I recall that day having to attach a cable to a Vulture Droid in order to reach an outpost on the side of a mountain. That was quite the ride.”

His eyes narrowed at her curiously. It seemed that her bringing up what she did during her outing with the Wolf Pack on Falleen was jogging his memory. Just as she could tell the realization was hitting him, she then asked, “Would you say that is an impressive feat, Clone?” Then she gave him an affirming wink.

There was definitely some confusion in his expression, but there was the smallest hint of understanding in it, as well, as if realizing who she was, but wondering what in the world she was doing. However, he simply stated in answer, “Impressive indeed, ma’am.”

She gave an amused hum before looking back to Jax and declaring, “I like this one. I definitely have my eyes on him.”

“Do you wish to trade the Captain for this one?” Jax inquired.

“Possibly,” she answered contentedly as she made her way back to the open doorway. “That Clone with the cybernetic eye and maybe the rest of his crew, I’m highly considering, but I wish to view the other Clones you have on hand first before making a final decision.”

Jax bowed his head. “But of course,” he said, stepping aside so she could walk through, hitting the button to the cell door behind him as they moved away.

Once they were gone, Wolffe spoke to his squad, “Well, boys…I get the feeling we’re not going to be in this cell much longer.”

Confused, Comet asked, “What makes you say that?”

“And what was that whole thing about?” then asked Sinker, gesturing to the door.

“Remember that woman we picked up on Mon Gazza?” questioned Wolffe.

Boost answered, asking, “You mean the one that was in a Clone squad?”

“The one you said was a pain in your neck?” added Comet.

Wolffe reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah…I don’t know how, but she’s here…and somehow, she’s going to get us out.”

Back out in the hallway, Kimber, the Koriena Force and Rex continued along with Jax, observing other Clone prisoners in their cells. So far, there was no sign of the Bad Batch and luckily, Kimber didn’t see any other Clones that she recognized, which was a good sign at least. That didn’t stop the pain and the hate she was feeling with every cell they went to and every squad or group of Clones she pretended to survey. She wished she could just shoot Jax and free all the Clones right then and there, but she knew they’d never make it out with all the other Eradicators and bounty hunters waiting elsewhere in the fortress. She had to bide her time and keep her act up as much as possible.

After about six more cells--and what felt like an eternity--Jax opened up a cell near the end of the hall and Kimber’s breath hitched.

There they were: her boys, all spread throughout the cell. Hunter and Crosshair were standing near a back corner, Wrecker was sitting on the floor to the left while Tech and Echo were on the floor near the right side of the room. Their eyes drifted up to them and they gave them looks of indifference.

“Finally!” she thought. “Now’s the time to really sell all this.”

“Rex!” cried Echo upon seeing the Captain in their possession.

“Oh my…!” Kimber exclaimed, acting immensely intrigued upon seeing the Bad Batch as she walked into the cell. “Now, these Clones are incredibly unique. I have never seen ones like them before.”

They were watching her suspiciously and with caution and she didn’t like it. How she wanted desperately to rip her mask off and tell them she was there!

Then Jax said behind her, coming into the cell himself, “This is Clone Force 99. They are enhanced Clones, which makes them different from the rest.”

“Different, indeed,” she said back, eyeing the Clones closely and pretending to be fascinated by them, hoping in the back of her mind that they would forgive her later for how she was looking at them.

Her gaze went from Tech to Echo over to Wrecker and then lastly to Crosshair and Hunter. From what she could tell, they seemed okay and still in good health, surprisingly. She had been afraid she would find them beaten and bruised, showing possible signs of torture, given the Eradicators’ hatred of Clones. She felt fortunate that this was not the case and overwhelmed with relief.

Then she locked eyes with Hunter. He was faintly scowling at her and she couldn’t blame him. There was no way he would recognize her, not with the tattoos, the mask and the eye color changing discs she wore. There was no way he would know…but she had an idea of how to get a subtle signal to him that she was there, just like she had done with Wolffe, only this one she had actually prepared for.

“Are these not the Clones that are due to be eradicated?” inquired Kida.

“They are, indeed,” replied Jax, a tone of distaste in his voice,

Seemingly ignoring their conversation, Kimber stepped up to Hunter and could see Crosshair tense up out of the corner of her eye at her approach and she stole a look at him, as well. “These two have certainly piqued my interest. Though, in truth, all of them are just what I’m looking for. Strong physiques, built for endurance, special abilities…wouldn’t you agree, ladies?” she asked, turning over her shoulder.

“Oh yeah, I completely agree,” answered Rina and it was then Kimber noticed that she was making eyes at Wrecker as she voiced her agreement, who looked a bit put off by it. Kimber never would’ve imagined Rina would have a thing for bigger guys, but then again…she was a smaller woman, so she guessed that sort of thing made sense.

Then Lex said in addition, “I think these Clones would serve us well, my lady.”

Kimber put her hands behind her back underneath her cape, directed her attention to Jax and raised the question, hoping she would be able to convince him, “Why send these Clones to their death as punishment for what they have done? Would it not be more satisfying to see them as servants at someone else’s beck and call, performing hard labors as recompense for their crimes? I would be willing to pay an exceptionally handsome price for these Clones and take them off of your hands where they will certainly be punished for the wrongs they inflicted upon you.”

“We’ve done nothing wrong,” Hunter spat behind her.

This was her chance to send the signal.

“Forgive me, Hunter,” she prayed in her mind.

She pulled something out of a pouch on the back of her belt where Jax couldn’t see and hid it in her clenched fist as she then whirled around and struck a hard blow straight to Hunter’s side. As he cried out in pain and moved to clutch at the side of his abdomen with his bound hands, she ever so carefully put her fist into one of his open hands and slipped the item into it before forcing his hand closed with her own, pretending as though she were grabbing him defensively. She saw the other Clones all flinch and look like they wanted to move to Hunter’s aide, but knew they couldn’t, so their expressions were full of rage.

“I will not be spoken to in such a way, Clone!” she bellowed in his face. As his eyes, filled with disdain, lifted to meet hers, she then added in a more stern tone, “As the twin suns of Tatooine blaze in the desert, you will learn to be obedient like the massiff mutts you are.”

At any time, Kimber would’ve never believed that would ever say such words to Hunter and it killed her to speak to him this way, but as usual, it was necessary to preserve her cover in order for their plan to work. If her subtle hint about the twin suns wasn’t enough to let Hunter know it was her, then the object she’d slipped into his hand would be.

As she turned back around, Jax came up to her, an impressed smirk on his face at her display. “While your offer is indeed tempting, my lady,” he said, “I am afraid myself and the masses demand an example be made of these Clones. There are too many who have come here for the Eradication for it to be withdrawn. I am sorry, but I’m afraid these Clones will still be terminated.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t budging and Kimber didn’t like that. She tried again, this time batting her eyelashes a bit at him and saying in a smooth, sultry tone, “Surely, sir, we can come to some sort of…arrangement about this.”

“Forgive me, but these Clones are not for sale,” he said in conclusion.

Just as she was going to try and argue some more, she saw Irys casually step up behind Rina, which gave Kimber the indication that she had successfully finished hacking into the computer system and the override was in place. The next big step of their plan was now in motion.

With that in mind, Kimber decided to reluctantly relent and replied with a heavy sigh, “Oh well, what a pity. I had so thought these Clones would serve us well.”

“Shall we finish surveying the rest of my collection and find a new place for our newest addition?” asked Jax, motioning to Rex.

Keeping up appearances, Rex cast an apologetic glance to the members of the Bad Batch.

“I say we shall,” replied Kimber, once again looping her arm through his and resisting the strong urge she had to break it as she exited the cell. She wished that she could look one last time at her boys, but Jax was quick to whisk her out of the room that she didn’t get the chance to.

“Who the heck was that?” questioned Wrecker, annoyed.

Hunter, still on one knee and doubled over from the hit he took to the abdomen, brought out his hand and looked at the object that he had felt get slipped into it. His fingers unfurled and his eyes went wide with shock.

It was his credit necklace!

How was that possible? He had thought it had been lost or the Eradicators had taken it when he realized it wasn’t with him upon waking up in the cell they were in. Yet that woman had it…who was she and how did she have it? Something wasn’t right.

Then the last thing she had said to him came to mind:

“As the twin suns of Tatooine blaze in the desert….”

Tatooine…the necklace…

“Kimber!” he gasped.

“What?” asked Crosshair, looking down at him.

“What are you talking about, Hunter?” then questioned Echo.

Hunter held out his hand so his brothers could see the necklace he now held as he said, “I don't know how, but I think that woman was Kimber.”

“That’s your necklace,” Crosshair pointed out.

With a nod, Hunter explained, “She snuck it into my hand after she punched me.”

“Which, wow, she hits pretty hard!” he then thought to himself as he acknowledged the twinging in his side.

Then Tech seemed to catch on as he pointed out, “She also mentioned the twin suns of Tatooine.”

“That’s got to be her, then!” cried Wrecker.

Unable to hold back the pleased grin on his face, Hunter stated, “I knew she would find us. I knew it.”

“Though, I’m curious as to how she managed to locate us,” commented Tech.

“Does that really matter?” Echo asked in return. “Kimber still found us and she also got inside this hideout.”

“Do you think the squad she brought is on her side?” inquired Crosshair.

“Given the way she spoke to those ladies, it would appear she holds a form of leadership over them,” Tech stated in answer, “so my theory is yes, she is in league with those women and they are all undercover as bounty hunters in order to infiltrate the Eradicators’ secret base.”

Wrecker got kind of a cheeky grin on his face as he added with a tiny shrug, “That tiny girl with the gray hair was kind of cute.”

“Duly noted, but now’s not the time for that,” said Hunter. “Kimber’s here and she’s brought help. Looks like we’re going to survive this after all, boys.”

A wave of relief crashed over him. For the past couple days, he had been secretly wallowing in doubt and misery, fearing that Kimber would never find them…and he’d never see her again, but just as he had hoped deep down, she had proven to be as capable and innovative as he always believed and found them against all odds. Even then, she still managed to surprise him.

Now that she was there at the hideout, he knew without a doubt that Kimber was going to make Jax Orocco pay dearly for everything he had done.

The moment Jax left the Koriena Force in their guest room for the night, Kimber ran straight for the refresher and vomited violently, now that the adrenaline of being undercover was wearing off and she could drop the bounty hunter act. The pressure of it all and having to act as the exact opposite kind of person that she was had built up so much within her that she finally couldn’t hold it back and the contents of her stomach unleashed themselves rather quickly.

Rina had gone in with her and was rubbing her back soothingly. “There you go, boss lady. Just let it all out. You did great,” she said.

With a gasp, Kimber replied, "The sooner we get this all over with, the better. I don't think I can take doing much more of this. I hate acting and speaking so abhorrently to the Clones! It sickens me!"

"Yeah, I can see that," replied Rina.

"Well, hopefully you won't have to do it much longer," Kida piped in outside the open door as the two ladies came out of the refresher. "We'll enact our plan tonight, free the Clones and put an end to the Eradicators, Jax Orroco along with them."

After taking a few deep breaths, Kimber stood back up and asked, "Irys, you got that override ready?"

"I assume that's a rhetorical question," Irys stated back.

"Good," Kimber replied.

Lex then posed the question, "Now that we've gotten a look at your Bad Batch boys...which one was your Sergeant?"

Kimber snickered timidly and told them, "The one I punched."

Right then, Rina let out a laugh and declared. "I knew it! That's five credits, Lex."

To Kimber's slight astonishment, she watched Lex pull out some credits from a pouch on her belt and begrudgingly put them into Rina's hands, who accepted them with a triumphant grin.

"Excuse me?" Kimber questioned.

Pocketing the credits, Rina explained, "While you were throwing punches and schmoozing up to the enemy, Lex and I took bets on who we thought your Sergeant Hunter was. I totally had you pegged going for the tall, dark, handsome and broody type."

It was amazing how easily Rina seemed to figure her out. Kimber then turned to Lex and asked, "Who did you think it was?"

"I thought it was the silver-haired one. He seemed to have an air of authority about him," Lex answered.

"That was Crosshair. He's the one who saved Kimber on Kuat and killed the Rodian, remember?" clarified Irys.

"Oh right," said Lex.

"Yes, I love him very much like a brother and nothing more," explained Kimber.

With a small shrug, Irys added, "Though, he was pretty handsome."

"So was the big lug in the corner. I definitely like a guy that can lift me...out of my depression," said Rina, quickly changing her tune once she realized where her mind was going.

"They were all handsome," put in Kida, smirking.

With a small roll of the eyes, Kimber said back, "You would say that."

"Yes, though I still have eyes for the blonde Clone Captain," said Kida.

“Anyway…,” said Irys, trying to move the conversation along. “I’ve got access to the security cameras, so once night comes, I can guide all of you as you make your way back to the detention level, make sure no one gets in your way.”

Kimber’s expression then turned somber as she asked, “Where is Jax Orocco’s room?”

“Naturally where you would suspect it might be: on the top level of the base above everyone else,” Irys informed her. “Most of the uppermost level is his living quarters.”

“Good. Once the Clones are freed, I’m going up there,” Kimber stated.

“Alone?” questioned Rina.

Without hesitating, Kimber told her, “Yes. Jax, I need to deal with alone. I’m the reason all of this is happening and I’m going to make sure that, before all of this is over, that I cut the head off the snake. I need you ladies to ensure that all of the Clones get away safely while I take care of that. Can I count on you?”

“Oh please, would we have come with you on this mission if you couldn’t?” Kida asked in return.

With a grin, Kimber responded, “Fair point.”

Nightfall came quickly, much to Kimber’s relief. Once they were certain all parties within the fortress were in their respective rooms and should be asleep, the Koriena Force put their plan into motion.

Once Irys scanned the corridors on the cameras and gave the all-clear, the rest of the ladies stealthily snuck through the halls, being sure to stop at each corner until Irys told them to go over their comm units. As they went along, Lex placed several explosive charges along the walls for when it was time to blow the base. They moved as quickly and quietly as they could and so far, everything was going well.

Kimber couldn’t help but feel a bubble of nervousness growing in her stomach. What if all of this went wrong? What if they got caught and she would almost certainly ensure the extermination of all the Clones? What if she was leading these ladies under her command to their deaths? They didn’t deserve to die, not there on Nar Shadaa and not for something that was her fault to begin with. Even though they were willing to follow her, she still felt that if something were to happen to them as a result of this mission, she would be directly responsible. Would she even be able to live with that guilt?

Was this how Hunter felt all the time leading his squad; his brothers and her on missions every day? Did he feel this kind of guilt constantly? Was he always worrying like this wherever they went? This sort of pressure was almost unbearable…and most likely, the man she loved experienced this every moment of every day of his life. Being in this leadership position herself now made her realize that Hunter was truly stronger than she ever imagined. To deal with this sort of pressure and expectations all the time and still come across as calm, collected and level-headed as he was, was exceptional. She only hoped she was even a fraction of the leader he was.

Soon, they made it back to the detention level and crowded outside the door. Kimber keyed in the code she'd seen Jax put in on the keypad and the console flashed green. With that, the doors swished open.

"We're in. Irys, start looping the security feed. Also, what cell is Rex in?" Kimber inquired over her comm as they quietly walked in.

"Got it. He's in the closest cell to you on the right," said Irys. "Unlocking the door now."

There was a beep and the closest cell door to the right came open. Kimber stepped into the doorway and found Rex standing near the back.

"Ready to get your brothers?" she asked him, pulling her mask down.

"I've been ready since we got here," he said back, moving to the door.

Once he was out of the cell, Kimber ordered, "Lex, get your final charges set."

Lex nodded and got her explosives set on the main computer console.

Then Kimber said over the comm, "We've got Rex and the charges are in place. Activate the override."

"On it," Irys responded.

They then saw all the locks activating on all the cells and the doors opening up as well as the weapons closet off to the side. Rina and Lex went over and started getting some of the weapons out and ready for the Clones. A few seconds later, some of the Clones started peeking warily out of their cells.

Kimber spoke up, "Everyone, listen up. This is a rescue operation. We're here to free all of you. The Eradicators and bounty hunters are currently asleep, so we need to do this as quietly and stealthily as possible. Move quickly and my team will supply you with weapons. They'll lead you to safety along with Captain Rex here. We're stealing some ships or boarding gunships nearby which will take us to a Republic cruiser that's on standby. You're all getting out of here."

"Our freedom is just within reach, soldiers. Let's move!" then commanded Rex to rally the troops.

Right after that, the hallway was suddenly crowded with Clone soldiers and Kimber was scanning as hard as she could through the mass of people, looking for Wolffe as well as her boys. She spotted Wolffe first and called out his name as he came by.

His eyes found her and he couldn't hold back a small smirk. "Well, well...it is you," he commented.

"Surprised?" she asked.

"Quite, actually. I didn't think we'd run into you here, of all places," he told her.

She snickered and replied, "Trust me, I didn't either. I'm glad you guys are okay. Hurry and get moving. I'll see you on the other side."

Wolffe simply nodded and sped off with the rest of the Clones.

Kimber kept watching for her boys in the midst of the fray and before long, she could spot their armor towards the back. She started making her way through the Clones to get to them.

"Bad Batch!" she called out to get their attention.

Sure enough, they all looked her direction and their eyes all lit up at seeing her.

"Kimber!" cried Echo.

The person closest to the front of the group was Crosshair and Kimber jumped up and hugged him, not even caring that he wasn't a fan of hugs. However, she still felt him gently embrace her back.

"We knew it was you! We knew you'd come for us!" exclaimed Wrecker, clapping her on the arm.

"Was there ever any doubt?" she asked back, grinning.

Hunter then stepped up from the back and answered with a pleased grin of his own, "Never."

She smiled at him, overwhelmed with joy at seeing him and seeing all of her boys were okay. "I'm so happy I found you all. I'm glad to see you," she told them.

"The feeling is mutual," replied Tech with an adjustment of his goggles.

"Now, let's hurry and get out of here before the Eradicators figure out we're escaping," Crosshair stated.

The others all ran off, but Hunter lingered behind for a brief moment with Kimber. He was searching her face, as if trying to understand how it was really her standing in front of him. The disguise she had probably wasn't helping matters much, but his mouth also wavered up and down as if he was wanting to say something, but didn't know quite what to say.

She took the initiative and told him, "I'll explain everything once we're off world, I promise."

His hand came up to her shoulder. "I'm just glad you're safe," he finally said.

"Same to you," she said. "Let's go."

Just as they got up to the weapons room, Crosshair came out with his helmet donned and rifle on his back, said Hunter's name and tossed him his helmet and vibroblade. Hunter caught them both, put the helmet on and sheathed the blade just as the rest of the boys came out with their weapons. Echo then handed Hunter his blasters.

"First group has made it out of the base and I've directed them to the junkyard to get to the gunships. I'm on my way to your position, Kimber," reported Rex over the commlink.

Then Lex chimed in, "Second group has reached the hangar and they're boarding a couple ships. I'm heading back now. It probably won't be long before the Eradicators hear the hangar doors opening or the ships powering up."

"Don't worry, I've got the doors to all the bedrooms on lockdown," replied Irys. "It won't hold them back permanently, but it'll at least buy you all some time."

Rina came out of the weapons room with Kida and, upon seeing them, Kimber replied over the comm, "Looks like the rest of the Clones are out of the detention level. We're headed to the hangar."

"Lead the way, boss lady," invited Rina with a sweep of her hand.

With a nod, Kimber gestured with her head to the two ladies as well as the Bad Batch to follow her and they moved quickly into the lift, which took them back up to the main level. However, just as the doors opened, they heard a blaster shot not too far away. Everyone pulled out their weapons and ran off towards the sound. They rounded a corner to see Lex in a fistfight with a bounty hunter, his blaster on the ground.

"Karabast!" Lex cried out as she fought off the man.

Before anyone could react, Rina suddenly leapt forward, withdrew a rope dart with a rounded object at the end from around her waist and flung it towards the bounty hunter, hitting him square in the side of the head and knocking him out. She might’ve been shorter than everyone, but she showed the Clones that she was certainly not to be underestimated.

"How'd he get out?" questioned Kimber.

"He somehow disabled the door," answered Lex.

Then Tech spoke up, "We'd better get moving. There's a high probability that the blaster shot woke some of the other Eradicators or bounty hunters and we'll soon be overrun."

Just then, one of the doors behind them exploded and the door itself crashed to the ground.

"You spoke too soon, Tech," said Echo.

A group of three people came out of the room, spotted them and one of them cried, "The Clones are escaping!" Then all three of them pulled out blasters and darted towards them.

Lex pulled an orb from her belt, activated it and threw it towards their attackers. Two seconds later, the detonator went off and a big cloud of smoke erupted from it. While they were distracted, Kimber and Rina jumped in and started throwing punches, trying to incapacitate them.

Hunter watched in awe as Kimber fought the people who tried to come at them. She was fighting in a way he hadn't seen from her before. Her combat form had improved and she seemed stronger now. He could definitely tell she was holding her own better than normal and he almost felt he could watch her do that all day. This was a new and improved Kimber...and he liked what he saw.

Once she took down the last one, she caught his eyes and flashed him a sly, almost cocky grin.

Just then, Irys's voice came over the comms, "Guys, we've got a problem: that blaster shot caused a ruckus and there's a lot of Eradicators and bounty hunters getting out of their rooms in the corridors ahead."

"Which means our only exit is blocked off," Kida concluded.

Right then, Rex came running around the corner in front of them, calling out, "She's right. I could hear shouts and shots behind me as I was running. They'll soon be headed this way. Looks like we're gonna have to fight our way out of this one."

"Not necessarily," spoke Irys. "There's a ventilation shaft above you that leads throughout the lower level and can get you closer to the front entrance of the base. If you can get up in there and crawl through, you should be able to bypass the incoming mob, get outside and make your way to the junkyard where our ship is waiting. Get in the shaft and once you're clear, I'll lock down all the corridors and seal everyone in."

Kimber looked up and could see a panel high up in the ceiling that most likely led to the ventilation shaft. She said, "Well, everyone pretty much knows we're here already so...." Then she withdrew a small explosive and threw it up at the panel. It stuck to the ceiling and in seconds blew the panel of its hinges.

"Let's go. There's not a moment to lose," she said.

Tech stepped up and said, "Wrecker, give me a boost."

Wrecker got down on one knee and braced his hands up as Tech stepped onto them. Then with a small throw, Wrecker pushed Tech up into the air where he grabbed the edge of the hole and pulled himself into the shaft.

"All right, Wrecker will help everyone up and I'll pull them in," Tech stated loudly for them to hear.

Suddenly, a blaster shot whizzed right by the group and they saw more Eradicators and bounty hunters coming their way with blasters at the ready. They all began to fire back at them, causing the attackers to duck behind the corners ahead.

"Wrecker, get the boys to safety! We'll cover you!" Kimber cried out. Not giving any of her boys a chance to refute, she then cried, "Koriena Force, with me!"

All the ladies let out a yell of conviction and charged towards the Eradicators, shooting their blasters at them or using other weapons to fight them.

Once again, Hunter found himself stunned at what he witnessed before him from Kimber. There she was, fearlessly leading a team of women he didn't know into combat and they were fighting together as one unit, as if they'd been together for years. Whoever these ladies were, they were skilled fighters. Not only that, but it was clear to him that the entire rescue operation had been led and probably orchestrated by her. He was impressed and deep down, he was proud to see the incredible leader she had become in their time apart.

"That's my girl," he thought, a smirk creeping up on his lips before Wrecker interrupted his thoughts by telling him it was his turn to go up into the vents.

At the front, the Koriena Force was holding the Eradicators back as best they could. They managed to wound a few of them, but they weren't aiming to kill; mainly just incapacitate. One Eradicator managed to get a shot on Kida, wounding her in the shoulder and sending her to the ground.

"Kida!" Rex cried out in alarm. He whipped his blaster in front of him and shot the one who shot her square in the chest before rushing over to her side.

While taking cover behind a corner, Kimber called to him, "Rex, get Kida out of here!"

Without a word, Rex swept Kida into his arms to get her out of harm's way.

"My hero," said Kida through a groan as they ran off.

After knocking another Eradicator off their feet with her rope dart, Rina looked to Kimber and stated, "Well, this is certainly going well."

"Rina, it's your turn. Get to the shaft. Lex and I will follow," called Kimber.

"Got it!" Rina replied. She ran back to Wrecker, craned her neck to look at him as he towered over her and said, "Hey, big guy! Mind giving a small girl a lift?"

With a hearty chuckle, he responded, "Oh, you bet!" He then proceeded to grab her underneath her arms and launched her up into the hole in the ceiling like she literally weighed nothing.

There was a cheer up in the shaft followed by Rina calling down, "Okay, that was amazing!"

"Lex, go!" called Kimber.

Lex obeyed and, after taking a couple more shots, ran to Wrecker, who threw her up in turn.

Right then, Kimber got on her comm and said, "Rina, get Wrecker into the shaft and get out of here."

"Wait, what about you?" Rina questioned.

"I've got to end this. I'm going after Jax. Now go!" Then she resumed blasting back at the Eradicators.

Up in the shaft, Rina knew what she had to do, even though she wasn't necessarily pleased about having to do it. She reached out a hand and, calling to the Force around her, used it to pull Wrecker upwards to the hole.

"Whoa, what's happening? Oh, not again!" shouted Wrecker as he was suddenly floating in the air up into the vent.

As he came up and landed in the shaft, Lex turned to Rina and asked, her eyes wide, "Did you just--?"

"Yeah, we're not talking about it. Let's go," Rina stated abruptly.

"What about Kimber?" asked Wrecker.

Rina informed him as they began crawling through the shaft, "She'll catch up and meet us at the junkyard. The boss lady has got one more thing to take care of."

The doors to the lift opened on the top floor of the Eradicator base and Kimber released a heavy sigh before pulling her mask back over the lower half of her face. The time had come to face her demon and to bring about the end of the Eradicators beginning with the one at the head of it all.

She walked down the single empty corridor that led to a large door. Her heart was beating rapidly with every step she took towards Orocco’s office. Her hands were trembling at her sides. She knew what she was going to do and she prayed that she would have the strength to do it. This had to happen. This had to end and this was the only way it would.

Before long, she reached the door and spoke quietly over her comm, “Irys, I need you to override the lock on Jax’s door.”

A few seconds later, the locking mechanism beeped, flashed green and Kimber heard Irys’s voice say, “Override complete.”

“Good. Now get yourself out and meet up with the others at the junkyard. I'll meet you all there back at our ship when I can,” Kimber ordered.

“Understood. Good luck, Kimber.”

With that, Kimber put her comm back in her pocket and steeled herself. This was it. She pressed the button to open the door and it opened right up for her. She stepped into a vast office room lit up by lights on the walls and where the back wall furthest from her was one big viewport where she could see out into the city below. There was a huge holotable in the middle of the room and then a desk near the viewport, where Jax Orocco was looking at holographic security footage.

“How is this possible? I hear blasterfire and yet nothing is on the security feed!” he complained aloud.

Going back into her Alpha voice, Kimber spoke up as she sauntered into the room, “What seems to be the trouble, sir?”

Jax flinched at hearing her voice in the shadows, but then relaxed slightly when he saw it was her. “Lady Alpha,” he greeted her. “I don’t know what is going on. I hear blasters being fired, but I’m seeing nothing on my security cameras. It would seem someone has hacked into the system.”

“That certainly won’t do,” she replied, feigning concern.

“Certainly not,” he agreed, turning the hologram off. “Have you any idea what might be going on?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” she replied. Then she took out her blaster and pointed it straight at him.

His expression changed from apprehension to displeasure. “You disappoint me, Lady Alpha.”

She then decided to switch back to her normal voice and responded to him, her tone now cold and determined, “You see, I’m not here to buy or trade Clones. I’m here to free them. Also, it’s not Lady Alpha. It’s Kimber Sallaros.” Then she reached up and tapped the button in her bandana to deactivate the color discs in her eyes, revealing her normal amber eyes and then she pulled down her mask, showing him her face.

There was a brief moment of confusion on his face before it suddenly dawned on him and he exclaimed, “You’re the Clone lover woman I fought at 79’s on Coruscant!”

“And incidentally, the same woman who had a run-in with Carson D’gall on Kuat,” she added.

“That was you?” he growled.

With a defiant smirk, she said back, “Yes...and I have no regrets over anything I’ve done.” She walked a couple steps closer. “It’s over for you, Jax. You and your Eradicators will be put to an end tonight. Before I leave this office, you will be dead on the floor.”

He eyed her both with anger and slight curiosity, his eyes darting between her and the blaster in her hand. “How did you find my base? We are well-hidden from the eyes of the Republic,” he stated.

Now, she could react the way she wanted to and she let out a laugh of disbelief. “Oh please! You think you’re so clever? One of my ladies found out everything about you, your location and your endeavors on the holonet in just minutes. You’re not as covert as you think.”

He just simply glared at her, unamused at her comments.

Holding her blaster just a little higher, she declared, “I am a friend to the Clones and I will protect all of them from the likes of you or anyone like you. You will never capture or harm any of the Clones ever again, including my squad, Clone Force 99.”

Hearing that, Jax’s eyes narrowed at her. “Now it all makes sense…,” he mused.

She gestured to the floor with her blaster and commanded, “Down on the ground. Now.”

Jax continued to just stare at her with a frigid look in his eyes. “You won’t succeed, Clone lover,” he said with a sneer. “Your precious lab experiments will be recaptured and all the rest of them throughout the galaxy will be permanently silenced. I’ll see to that myself.”

Growing frustrated, Kimber took her free hand and struck Jax across the face with a yell. He didn’t seem too bothered by her actions.

“On the ground…now!” she cried out, returning her blaster to pointing at him.

With a begrudging scowl, he slowly got down onto his knees in front of her. Her hands started trembling again, now that the moment was finally upon her. This was the time to finally put an end to Jax Orocco, but now she was having doubts. Echo had once told her that she was no killer and had stopped her from taking out Wat Tambor, who was just as bad as Jax. Even though she believed that, too, about herself, if she didn’t take out Jax now, she ran the risk of him escaping and their problems wouldn’t be solved. She had to do this!

“Your hands are trembling…you can’t kill me, can you?” Jax taunted her.

“Shut up!” she yelled at him.

All of a sudden, while she was distracted, Jax threw his arm up and knocked her blaster out of her hands, climbed back to his feet and tackled her back into the edge of the holotable. In response, she brought her arms up and drove her elbows down straight into his spine. When he cried out in pain and his hold on her slackened, she threw a couple punches into his stomach and then shoved him away, going back for her blaster on the ground. However, he reached back and grabbed a hold of her cape to stop her. The cape caught against her throat and he pulled her back towards him. He whipped her around and closed a hand around her throat tightly.

Bringing her close, he growled in her face, “Tomorrow, your Clone Force 99 will be executed at the Eradication…and so will your lady friends. I’ll kill all of them and I’ll make you watch as they die!”

“Never!” she choked out.

Kimber brought up her leg, reached down and pulled one of the vibroblades hidden in her boot. Once it was in her hand, she brought it up and sliced the arm of the hand that held her by the throat. Jax let out a pained yell, released her and clutched at his injured arm. Unfortunately, he was quicker as he then grasped her wrist, pulled the vibroblade from her with his other hand and then thrust the blade into her side. She screamed in agony from the pain of both the knife and the electricity from the blade running through her. As he withdrew the blade, she felt her strength beginning to fail and she collapsed to the ground. He now towered over her and she tried to inch away from him while holding her wound and her blaster was still just out of her reach. Now like this, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to defeat him. He now held the advantage over her.

There was only one thing left to do.

She pressed a button on her commlink and hoped her friends would follow through.

Back in the ship they came in, the Koriena Force, Captain Rex and the Bad Batch were waiting for Kimber's return when a green light started flashing and beeping on the main console.

"That's Kimber's signal!" cried Lex, looking to Irys beside her.

"Signal for what?" inquired Crosshair.

The sad look on Lex's face, however, did not inspire much confidence. She then answered, "To blow up the base."

The Bad Batch's eyes all went wide in shock.

"But we can't! She's still inside!" Echo refuted.

"She'll blow up, too!" cried Wrecker.

"I think she's aware of that," Rex, who was bandaging Kida's wound, said solemnly.

Kida straightened up and declared, "No! Kimber didn't come this far to die on this Forceforsaken planet with those barbaric people!"

"We have to go back for her!" urged Hunter.

Rina waved a dismissive hand and replied, "Relax, lover boy. Do you really think we'd leave your girl and our leader behind? Not a chance. Of course, we're going back for her."

Hunter seemed unsure how to react at hearing the small woman call him "lover boy" and saying "your girl".

"Tech, get us up to the top of the base!" ordered Rex.

With a nod, Tech replied, "On it, Cap!" Then he jumped into the pilot's seat and got the ship ready to take off.

Inside Jax's office, Jax was walking towards Kimber, who was trying to crawl backwards away from him, but was having difficulty due to her wound.

"Poor Kimber," he taunted, tossing the vibroblade to the floor. "Such a disappointment. Your feeble attempt at bringing down my establishment has failed."

Through a grunt, Kimber spat back, "That's what you think."

"Why would you risk so much for a race of beings who aren't even real people?" he inquired.

Angrily gritting her teeth through the pain in her side, she said back loudly, "If they're not real people, then why are you wasting your time trying to get rid of them?"

"When one suffers a plague of pests, you exterminate them," he said back.

"Which is exactly what my team and I are going to do with you and your Eradicators," she told him, glaring up at him.

He chuckled menacingly before withdrawing a blaster of his own and pointing it down at her.

"I won't kill you, but I will make good work of you before I make you watch the Eradication that will take place tomorrow," he said.

"I'd like to see you try and make me, sleemo," she antagonized him.

His eyes flashed with anger and he raised his blaster higher, getting ready to shoot, and Kimber prepared herself for more pain.

Boom!

The viewport wall by them was suddenly blown into pieces by big laser shots and, after ducking away from the debris, Kimber looked and realized it was the ship she had come in. Her friends had still come for her, despite what she wanted them to do. Taking the opportunity while Jax was distracted by the explosion, she mustered up what strength she had to get to her feet, stagger over to her blaster and pick it up. Then she swiftly turned around, caught his eye and pulled the trigger.

The blaster fired...and there was a smoking hole in Jax's chest.

His eyes wide and his mouth agape, Jax Orroco dropped his own blaster and slumped to the floor, dead.

Kimber gasped in astonishment. She'd actually done it.

Right then, she heard a whirring sound and saw the docking bay of the ship opening up just outside the blown wall. Hunter stood at the edge of the platform, waving to her.

"Kimber! Come on!" he called to her.

She stole one last look at the lifeless form of Jax on the ground. It took a moment for it to hit her that he was actually dead and she had killed him...and the Clones were now truly free.

With that, she clutched at her side and started running as best she could towards the broken viewport.

"Jump!" cried Hunter, holding out a hand to her.

Placing her full trust in him, she got to the edge and leapt through the viewport, reaching out to him as she jumped. Hunter caught Kimber by the hand and pulled her up against him as she landed on the docking platform.

"Thank you, Hunter," she gasped out.

He gave her a sincere nod.

Then she shouted into the ship as it started flying away, "Lex...blow it to hell!"

"With pleasure!" Lex cried back.

Kimber looked back at the Eradicators hideout below and a few seconds later, watched as several small explosives going off at once created one big explosion and absolutely destroying the fortress. With a sigh of relief, Kimber let herself fall into Hunter as he led her back into the ship.

All of the Clones, including hers, had been rescued and the Eradicators had been, as they would say, eradicated.

Kimber and the Koriena Force had succeeded.

#star wars the bad batch #the bad batch #bad batch hunter #bad batch fanfic #hunter x oc fic #sun and rain fanfic

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