#yes wrecker's and tech's are a bit longer

[the-marshals-wife]

The Bad Batch Having a Token of Their Love For You Would Include (Bad Batch x Reader)

A/N: I love these boys so much and I thought of this instead of going to sleep all week. I really hope y'all like my idea for Echo's especially. He deserves the galaxy and more.❤️ (I also had extra ideas that are definitely still in character but probably "anachronistic", so I just labeled them bonus. I mean we have finally 'caf'' aka coffee in SW canon, so maybe there's hope for hoodies 🤭)

Description: Bad Batch x Fem!Reader | Warnings: none, just lots fluff and kisses

★ Bad Batch Tag List ★ @dantes-devil-huntress @sageislostinspring (comment to be added!)

Gif credit: user mutantfactor

Hunter

He would get a tattoo of your name

Hunter did not need his heightened senses to be certain that he had fallen in love with you - if anything, they just strengthened his conviction that you were the one he was meant to find

Being the intensely devoted and thoughtful man he is, you were on his mind constantly, and he wanted a symbol of his love to be as a part of him as you had become

He didn't even tell you at first because he wanted it to be surprise

It wasn't until he changed into plainclothes for an undercover mission that you noticed the new black ink on his right bicep

You grabbed his arm and stared at the Aurebesh letters spelling your name

"You like it?" he asked, a little nervous

Speechless, you pulled him into a kiss

"I'll take that as a yes" he smiled, before getting another embrace filled with kisses

Whenever you have time alone together, you love to slowly trace the letters with your finger and listen as he dreamily talks about the future

Later in your relationship, he would want to add to it with a portrait of you, and someday, the names of your children

Bonus: he would keep anything you gave him like a pendant or a ring and wear it whenever he could (this man would totally wear one of your scrunchies and make it look hot - a product of his 'girl dad' powers that you find very attractive)

Wrecker

He would keep your shirt to cuddle with

The only thing Wrecker has ever been discreet about in his entire life is his feelings as he was falling for you

It wasn't for lack of trying. He had been officially head over heels for months, but every time he tried to tell you, his words suddenly came out wrong

You thought it was adorable, and you were sure he'd figure out how to say what he was feeling when he was ready. It just gave you more opportunity to realize you were falling for him too

What you couldn't figure out, however, was where your favorite shirt had disappeared to

That is until, after days of searching, you finally caught a glimpse of it tucked beneath the pillow in Wrecker's bunk

You were stifling a giggle when he walked up behind you, looking nothing less than mortified

"Oh, Y/N! That! I uh...I found it on the floor and I was going to give it back to you! But it smelled really nice, and pretty...like you, and um, then I forgot..." he stammered, his face bright red

You smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "Keep it."

In the weeks following, you would refresh it with a spray of your perfume every so often when he wasn't looking

He would also draw doodles of you whenever he had downtime

You were all on a mission not long after the discovery of that day, and during his watch, you rolled over to see him drawing in the sand with a stick. He'd scribbled your initials together within a heart, surrounded by a dozen tinier hearts.

Suffice to say he was not the only one feeling absolutely smitten from then on

Bonus: speaking of shirts, you would absolutely be the couple with the "If lost, return to ___ + I'm ___" tees (likely worn with your matching homemade 'friendship' bracelets)

Tech

He would keep a recording of your voice and laughter

Tech is a private person when it comes to his emotions, but he feels very deeply, even if he isn't sure how to best express his growing affection for you (he thinks it's obvious, after all)

It's this very reason why you doubted that he returned your feelings at first, until you walked by him one day and heard the sound of your own laughter, playing over and over

"What's that?" you questioned, now recognizing the moment that had caused your sides to nearly split (Wrecker had just taken the most dramatic fall into mud you'd ever seen, immediately after bragging he was 'too heavy' to slip)

Tech muted the sound and kept his stare on the datapad, "I capture auditory recordings of all of my interactions for analysis, and file away important data for later reference."

"My laughing is 'important data'?" you smirked as he hesitated for only a moment

"Well, no. Not technically. It is, however, a pleasant sound that reminds me of you, and one that I would like not to forget. By that reasoning, it is important to me," he stated, calmly meeting your awe-struck gaze

It took all your strength not throw yourself into his arms right then and there. He went back to filing his recordings, oblivious to the fact that he had just irreversibly won your heart

He'd also incorporate you into some of his private passcodes

Anything from your initials to your eye color to your favorite flower - just some of the many details that he associates with you and remind him of how much he cares for you

Bonus: if he had a lockscreen/background, it would definitely be a picture of you. He would also be the type to make you a playlist of your favorite songs all from memory because he knows you that well

Crosshair

He would engrave your name on his rifle

Crosshair is a man of conviction and loyalty, and when he was certain that he could trust you with his heart, he wanted to display his loyalty in turn

Modifying his rifle in any way at all is significant, so ingraining your name on the scope is a very personal gesture to him

He caught you completely by surprise on a mission, casually showing it to you while you had watch together

You were stunned to see your name glistening in the firelight, every letter expertly etched into the smooth metal, "Cross, I can't believe you would do that for me..."

"Your love makes my aim true," he replied, wholly sincere

This one remark sealed your fate, giving you both the courage to lean in and share your first kiss

"Then you will never miss," you whispered afterward

You spent the rest of your watch sitting close together in soothing silence under the stars

He would also carve your initials into the wall of his bunk

Wherever he would go, you would be there also. His devotion is unyielding, and you have a partner until the galaxy itself burns up

Bonus: a huge sign of his affection would be letting you wear his clothes. He may act disgruntled, but it's all in jest because would be the boyfriend that's extremely proud to see you walking around in his hoodie

Echo

He would have your handprint on his armor

It seemed like a lifetime since he'd had the handprint from Captain Rex on his chestplate that had meant so much to him through those long years of war

When Echo is sure of something, nothing can move him from it. Not much time was required for him to know that he wanted to share his life with you, and that he wanted your handprint on his armor

He confided in you quite a bit about his past in the GAR, and you knew about the original print, but you never dreamed that he would ask you to replicate it

"Are you sure?" you asked in disbelief

"I am, Y/N. There's no one else whose mark I'd rather carry with me, and no one I want by my side more. On and off the battlefield," he confessed, taking your hand in his

Tears welling in your eyes, you dipped your other hand into the red paint on the table, placed it carefully onto his chest, and pressed your lips to his

More than a symbol of love, you both knew this was a vow to keep fighting for a free galaxy where you could build a future together

He would also have a photo of you in his personal things

He's not afraid of letting his relationship with you be known around his brothers, but his horrifying experiences imprisoned by the Separatists have made him extra cautious in all things. He keeps his photo of you safely tucked away and never brings it on missions, not wanting to risk it falling into the hands of anyone who would ever want to harm you

Instead, whenever you're apart, he holds his hand to his chest before he drifts to sleep and dreams of you. The nightmares are all but gone

Bonus: you two would totally have matching caf mugs with snarky sayings. "Grumpy parents in the morning" vibes all the way

[queenariesofnarnia]

physical touch

the bad batch x f! reader

wc: 942

warnings: some fun teasing and that should be it. a light suggestive ending

You��re a physical touch person with a bright personality, you have been like that since you were young. Your friends enjoyed your hugs, or whenever you linked arms with them while walking. They also enjoyed how you always brightened their days. However, once you became a medic for the war, you dialed back on being physical touch. The clones did enjoy your soft hands helping them versus a droid, and your smile always put them in a better mood. You often helped the 212th or 104th, there were some rare occasions that Kix from the 501st requested you. That was until you were assigned to Clone Force 99 as their permanent medic. It took some time, but you ended up getting along with the squad great. Crosshair took longer to warm up to you, but it was expected after you first met them.

They weren’t aware of how much you liked physical touch until on a mission where you called to assist the 501st. The way many of the troopers greeted you with hugs, even Commander Tano and General Skywalker did. You walked next to the commander with your arms linked giggling. Your squad looked slightly confused, sure you were bubbly around them but never touchy.

“Is she acting different?” Wrecker asks, as they watch you laugh with your arm around the jedi commander.

“I believe she is behaving like herself” Tech says glancing at you before going back to his datapad.

“She’s different from when she is around us” Hunter answers observing you. The way your eyes lit up when you received any hug or form of physical affection.

“Looks like our little tooka doesn’t get enough attention from us. Look at how she’s eating up the regs attention.” Crosshair says taking off his helmet, putting a toothpick in his mouth. They sit away from everyone on their own, they keep an eye on you. They watch you as you lay your head in Ahsoka’s lap as she tells you a story of a mission she was just on. Then once her story is done you switch places animatedly telling her a story. Anakin calls a meeting to go over the plan for tomorrow. You stand next to Ahsoka arms still linked together. Once the meeting is over, Anakin makes his way over to you ruffling your hair.

“Missed having you around sunshine” he say before wrapping an arm around you pulling you in for a side hug.

“Missed you too trouble” you hip bump him. “How’s Pads doing?” you ask him quietly.

“She’s good, she says hi” he shoots you a wink before walking off with Rex. Leaving you and Ahsoka by the fire together.

“So, tell me, have you even tried hugging your own squad yet? They keep staring holes into the boys’ heads when they hug you or pay you any attention.” She says laughing.

“No way. I’m too scared to ask. This bunch was already affectionate when I got here” you say gesturing to the 501st. She nods in agreement, laying her head on your shoulder.

“I don’t think it’ll hurt to ask” she tells you looking up at your squad. You look over at them too and give a small smile. Wrecker happily waves at you. “Go over there and spend some time with them. You know where to find me if they say no” she removes her head and pushes you up. As you walk across camp saying hi to the troopers that spoke to you, Fives stops you.

“You need a cuddle buddy tonight sunshine?” He asks flirtatiously. You laugh at his antics.

“Not tonight hon. I’ll find you if I change my mind” you continue towards your squad. Sitting next to Wrecker when you make it to them. “Hi boys” you greet them with your signature smile.

“ You finally had enough of the regs?” Crosshair hissed. You were a bit confused. You knew they didn’t like regular clones, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t.

“Is there a problem?” You ask looking at each of them.

“Yes” Crosshair quickly answered. “All this affection you’re suddenly giving to regs.” he points his toothpick at you.

“All you had to do is ask for a hug mesh’la” Wrecker says wrapping his arm around you, the Mando’a term of endearment rolling off his tongue sweetly.

“Are we not sufficient enough to provide you physical affection?” Tech asked, as he finally tucks his datapad away.

“Do we not give you the attention you need?” Hunter’s husky voice sent a shiver down your spine. You were getting flustered.

“What do you mean? I am getting enough attention” you say trying not to stumble over your words.

“Is our little tooka shy all of a sudden?” Crosshair mockingly asks.

“You were just blossoming from the attention you were receiving” Hunter says scooting closer to you.

“The way her pupils are dilated now, she is enjoying our attention more than what she was previously receiving” Tech points out. You stand up quickly not wanted to keep facing the teasing.

“I’m going to sleep on the Marauder” you announce walking away. They each get up as well.

“Not without us” Wrecker says laughing. You hide your face in your hands heading in the direction of the ship. A hand was placed on your back guiding you.

“Maybe you won’t get sleep little tooka” Crosshair whispered in your ear. You groan due to embarrassment.

“Save your noises for later mesh’la” Hunter said from the other side of Crosshair.

“I’ll have to record the noises she’ll make later” Tech says excitedly from your left side. The others chuckle at you, agreeing with him.

[mooonjin]

Imagination

Notes: im not doing kinktober this year UNFORTUNATELY since im still a bit new but i do have a tech smut for ocotober however ido plan on doing it next year if ur still sticking around :3

Pairing: Tech x gn!reader

Summary: Repairing the Marauder takes time and focus. Even once Tech has free time to himself, you are his only distraction.

Warnings/Tags: 18+ work!! minors shoo flyyyyy -  kinda sub!Tech, m masturbation, explicit thoughts ⁠— tell me if I've missed anything!

Part Two >

Tech wiped the sweat on his forehead. Repairing the Marauders haul manually took longer than he anticipated. He already had to charge Gonky six times so the droid would keep up.

"You can repair the ship later, Tech," you playfully teased, leaning against Gonky while eyeing Tech's focused face. He didn't spare a single glance, the ship being his main priority.

"Leaving Saleucami with the shuttle at such a state would not be smart," he began, eyes still glued onto his handiwork, "I highly recommend I complete the repairs."

You sighed, grinning disappointedly. Tech was always a hard worker and often over worked himself. Most of the time you couldn't tell how big his eye bags has gotten under those goggles, Tech insisting he kept them on because of the work on his trinkets.

"Go, you can greet Cut and Suu for me." You could hardly hear what Tech said, his head neck deep into the shuttles hull, a few beeps on his data pad echoing.

"If you say so." You patted the dusty surface of Gonky and mumbled your goodbye to Tech as you went to fetch the others inside the ship.

Tech pulled the stool he sat on closer to the ship, most likely to get a better look inside. He overheard the booming volume of Wreckers voice and Omegas laughs. It wasn't annoying, per se, he would rather it'd be silent.

He wiped his forehead again, his eyes darting up at the sight of you leaving the shuttle with the other Batchers behind you. Omega waved at Tech, who responded with a courteous head bow.

"Comm us if you need anything." Hunter commented. He signaled the others that they were leaving to go on the walk to Cut and Suu's, leaving Tech behind to repair.

You spared a second glance back at him, making sure he was okay staying behind. Embarrassingly enough, you caught Tech looking at you before rapidly turning his head around to play it off. You chuckled at the trooper, always so observant yet he gets so flustered when someone observes him back.

Tech coughed, coming back to reality and regaining focus on the ship. He didn't expect you to look back at him so he was more than flustered and had trouble with his concentration.

-

"Change of plans, Tech, we'll be going into town on a supply run." Your modulated voice came through Tech's wrist, almost startling him and hitting his head.

"If you don't mind purchasing extra durasteel? About 25 kilograms is sufficient." You smiled at how specific Tech was when they went on the usual supply run. He wouldn't normally speak, already going on is own to hunt down any materials for his or anyone's personal use.

Your modulated voice came back, sending Tech into a blushing fit. It was a short 'yes' before you signed off, assuming you told the others that they needed extra durasteel. Your voice gave him goosebumps, but the good goosebumps. Was it his attraction to you?

No, it couldn't be. Feelings were just the minds way of manipulating itself to feel wanted and appreciated. Tech's a soldier, bred and born for war, nothing else. He harshly shoved these thoughts to the back of his mind, replacing them with the job of repairing the shuttle.

As you were walking down the dusty town of Saleucami, you eagerly pointed towards different shops and stalls that Omega had never seen before. She was particularly interested in the ones with big, glowing neon signs.

"I can see the shops, why do they need those?" She hastily asked, her voice pitching up at the end of her question.

You chuckled, "They're to catch your eyes, some people ignore shops they're not interested in and something so big and bright around the dull space can draw you in."

Omega created an 'O' shape with her mouth, understanding the usage. The both of you quickly caught up to Hunter, who was currently paying for the extra durasteel Tech needed for the ship. You showed Omega around the stall, the little toys of droids and aliens grabbing her attention.

"That's an astromech plush, you might've seen a couple on Kamino."

"It might not be a neon sign, but this definitely caught my eye," Omega's eyes brightened, excited that she found something she really liked and wanted to keep, "Can we get it?"

"Go ask Hunter before he buys the rest of the stuff, and don't forget the puppy eyes!" You laughed with her as she jogged off the the cashier's desk to convince Hunter about the toys purchase.

Tech completed suitable repairs on the Marauders hull, all he needed was the durasteel to cover the interior engines of the ship. He grabbed his tools and put the most important ones on his belt and the others inside the toolbox that sat on top of Gonky.

Guiding the droid inside first, he switched on his charging port and let him recharge, quietly thanking Gonky's assistance. Tech checked up on the Batchers' location, surprised to see that they were still deep in the town for their supply run.

Surprisingly, Tech had nothing to work on. There were no trinkets the boys had brought back for him to analyse or to dig into to uncover some interesting information. He hadn't put aside anything to work on in his spare time.

He genuinely had no clue what to do. Gonky was charging so he couldn't divert power to a storage unit on the shuttle, he couldn't clean his blasters, having already done that before even landing the ship.

His mind was empty.

Well, almost empty.

He still couldn't get your voice out of his head. Your modulated voice. Especially only yours through his wrist comm. It's like his comm channel was made for you. At this point, he was blushing profusely, swinging his arms like a little cadet boy back on Kamino.

Now, his head was far from empty. His imagination running wilder than it could've gone. He didn't know it would even reach this point.

Probably a bit too wild.

He'd wonder how you'd sound under his helmet. Your modulated voice coming from one of his prized possessions. How you'd sound if you were writhing underneath him as he watched your eyes underneath his helmet. How you'd sound if he ruthlessly pounded you—

This is inappropriate, he thought. You're a member of the Batch and really good friend of his, should he really be thinking about in such a way? As he looked down in shame, he was met with the consequences of his dirty thoughts, his codpiece protruding a bit more than it should of.

Now he can't un-think this. It's human psychology, a thought or a situation has been birthed abruptly and told to forget it, well, that's difficult. You would have to do something in order to rid of it.

Even he rambles in his own head. He would have to do something to rid of it. Rid of his erection? That's both inappropriate and almost irresistible. Tech sighed, giving into his intrusive thought before walking towards the door panel to close the shuttles ramp.

He double-checked on his datapad that nobody could open the ramp manually outside, just so no one would walk in on him unexpected. He walked to the back of the shuttle, sitting down on his partially messy bunk. In several swift movements, he discarded his armoured pieces, tossing the larger ones to the ground.

Tech was now left in his blacks, his tent more obvious without the crotch piece. He dug his gloved fingers into the hem of his blacks to pull off the trouser piece along with his boxers. He tossed those to the end of his bunk, his hard cock resting against his lower abdomen.

He tested the waters, not having done this in such a long time. Tech wrapped his hand around his cock, sliding gently up and down and around the tip. He sighed, satisfied but not satisfied enough. He desperately removed his gloves and the wrist comms, tossing them to the foot of his bunk.

What he didn't know before continuing was his comm and landed on an odd angle. 

The button pressed up against his mattress had activated your channel.

-

Post-Notes: do u want a part two? HEHHE hope ya liked this ^^

~ ~ ~

@elsastoes @nekotaetae @lokigirlszendaya @imalovernotahater @backyard-bear @namesmox

my taglist form!

[thelovelylolly]

Tech bb 1 and 9 from ur valentines prompt list

Take Care of You

Summary: After a close call on a mission, you find comfort in Tech Warnings: mentions of violence and injuries Word Count: 705 Notes: I LOVE TECH OMG HOW HAVE I NOT WRITTEN FOR HIM BEFORE????? I LOVE HIM SO MUCH LIKE ITS BAD AHHHHH

The first thing you noticed when you woke up was how little pain you felt. The last thing the remembered was a rouge bomb going off close to you, throwing you yards away and knocking you out. You tried to sit up, then the pain caught up with you, hitting you on your back.

"Ah, you are awake," Tech's voice came from beside you.

You realized you were in your bunk on the Marauder, and you turned your head to see Tech by your side with his datapad in hand.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, typing away as he spared a quick glance up at you.

"Sore," you mumbled as you slowly turned yourself to dangle your legs on the edge of your bunk.

"I suggest you stay here for a bit longer, I'll give you another dose of pain medication in an hour and then you can begin to move around," Tech quickly said when he noticed you sitting on the edge of your bed.

"How long was I out?"

"Only a few hours. We've been traveling in hyperspace, so you haven't missed anything of importance. You are lucky, any closer and that explosion could've caused more serious injuries."

You looked over at him just as he looked up at you, your gazes meeting. He adjusted his goggles and didn't look back down at his datapad like usual.

"I'm also lucky I have a great squad member to take care of me," you said with a weak smile.

You could see pink dust Tech's cheeks, but he acted like he didn't notice his face warming up.

"Yes, well, I only trust myself when it comes to taking care of injuries like the ones you sustained. I don't believe you'd want Wrecker to tend to your injuries," he replied, looking back down at his datapad.

You laughed weakly, only to be cut off by a sharp pain from your back. You inhaled sharply through your teeth before trying to breath through the pain.

"How much long did you say until I got another dose of pain meds?"

"About an hour, I'm sorry I can't give it to you any sooner. I'll leave you to get some rest until then," he answered.

"You don't need to leave so soon," you quickly said right before he turned to leave.

His gaze found yours again. "Why is that? There is nothing I can assist you with, so I should give you some quiet time in order to sleep."

You patted the space next to you on your bunk, and Tech hesitantly sat next to you. He turned his eyes to the wall across from the two of you, setting his data on the side opposite of you. Slowly, you leaned your head on his shoulder, his somewhat cold armor offering some distraction to your pain.

You felt Tech tense at your action, then start to relax. A moment or two later, his arm came up and around you, careful not to brush up against any of your injuries. He rested his hand on your shoulder and held you close, his head leaning on top of yours.

You smiled, grateful for the peace and quiet with him. You felt yourself wanting to fall asleep again, a yawn escaping you, but you didn't want to fall asleep on Tech. You didn't want to keep him from his other jobs on the ship, so you tried to move away to let him go.

"Wait," his arm wrapped tighter around you, careful not to hurt you with your injuries but strong enough to keep you where you were, "don't pull away...not yet."

"I don't wanna fall asleep on you, Tech," you reply quietly.

"If it means you are distracted enough from the pain to get some rest, then you can fall asleep on me, cyar'ika. I'll wake you up when it's time for your next dose of medication."

You smiled at his sweet words, whether he meant them as sweet or not.

He picked up his datapad with his free hand and started to scroll through some article, his other hand absentmindedly running up and down your arm gently. You closed your eyes and let Tech's breathing lull you to sleep.

[oceansssblue]

*barges into your askbox, breaking down the door*

may i request a jedi fem!reader x tech where they are on a mission together after some time, and they get separated from the rest of the group. she fights very well against some opponents but ends up getting just a bit bloody and hurt, mostly due to an aggressive fighting style, that of a warrior. tech notices all the new scars n stuff on her face and forearms and is worried. she insists she's fine and tries to brush it off, even though she doesnt like them and makes her less of a jedi and more of a warrior. he comforts her telling her things like your a great general and you don't have to follow the code perfectly to still be a good jedi. so basically first kiss fluff and comfort, a bit of angst.

sorry it was so long! have a great day/night

I love Tech soo muchhhh 🥹 This was a cute idea, so here it is! Hope you like it.

Next request will feature Commander Mayday I think!

Stay tunned,

Xx,

Sky.

"JEDI WARRIOR"

TBB REQUESTS —TECH/F READER

WARNINGS: Blood, scars. A sprinkle of angst but mostly fluff and comfort 📩💔💖

"I'll distract them!" your voice shouts loud and clear through the batch's coms frequency.

Tech frowns, dodging a shot and quickly neutralising the droid responsible for it.

"General..." he begins, clearly not happy with the offer, but you cut him of quickly.

"That's an order" you almost bark back to him.

You don't mean to be mean or harsh. But you're in the middle of a battle, there's lifes on danger, and though you know Tech's worried about you, you can't let that distract you. You need to distract your enemies so the Batch can get to their base; so they can get the information needed. Information that will save hundreds of lifes and will be valuable to the Republic. You know Tech will probably have a list of the things that could go wrong with you getting separated from them in his mind; but it's your choice, ultimately. If you die, so be it. You'd do it honorably.

Tech clenches his jaw.

"Yes, General".

You run away, jumping over dozens of droids and never slowing down, your orange lightsaber dancing through their lines, a blur of light in the almost darkness of the arriving night. While you atract the majority of their troops and pull them far away, the Batch advances. You hope you can hold them off til they get what you need.

Time passes, and your enemies seem to close around you. Droids are not the main problem; the natives of Garsa are, riding big felines with sharp teeth that painfully closes around your arms and legs more than once. One of the predators catches your ankle and pulls, dragging you through the dirt; and you can't help the furious, painful scream that leaves your mouth, twisting around quickly and stabbing your lightsaber through his own open mouth. The animal screeches and dies.

When you hear Hunter's voice through your coms again, half an hour later, you're on the verge of falling unconscious. You can barely fight much longer; energy drained even with your extensive Jedi training. You feel blood all over you, mixing with the dirt of the ground you've been rolling in. It tingles painfully, all the open wounds on your body; specially the deep scratches on your face, that tugs with every facial expression and movement.

You must be quite the sight, because when the Batch comes near you, Tech suddenly halts upon seeing you. A second later, they're all standing around you, helping you to get rid of the last enemies and giving you cover while you start your hurried way back to the Marauder.

Once you're safely flying away on the ship, you collapse down onto the floor. Wrecker grabs you before you can really slam down onto it; lowering you gently. Your mind feels dizzy with exhaustion; and you've almost fallen asleep in place when Tech kneels besides you, route already established and on automatic pilot.

His fingers carefully brush your hair away; chocolate brown eyes studying you worriedly.

"Let's get you cleaned up and fixed, General" he whispers, putting your arm over his shoulders and tugging you up to a stand with him.

You grunt in pain and lean most of your weight against him.

"Don't know if I can stay up and conscious through a shower" you mumble tiredly.

Tech starts a slow, careful walk towards the bathroom. The rest of the Batch scatters throughout the ship, tending to their own wounds and exhaustion.

"That is okay" Tech answers, unbothered. "You could stay with your underware on and I could assist you with that, if you would be comfortable with such situation".

You glance at him and inevitably smile. His cheeks are slightly flushed, though he's trying to keep his voice and posture as professional as possible. You know it's a weird situation, and he doesn't want to make you uncomfortable.

Maybe you would be with Hunter or Wrecker or Cross. But you've always felt safe and at ease with Tech specially; and it would be just one soldier helping another. Of sorts.

" 'M okay with that" you give him your permission, and Tech nods quietly.

Once in the bathroom, you hold yourself with a hand against the wall and slowly pull your clothes of. Tech intently stares down at the floor; only risking a quick glance upwards when you let out a small whimper of pain. Your pant's are abandoned on the floor; but your bloody shirt is stuck to a wound on your stomach, and just touching the material of the shirt makes your wound burn.

"Let me" Tech asks, gently, and you push your hands over your head, staying as still as possible while he carefully separates the shirt from your skin and pulls it off of your body.

You sigh in relief and thank him before wobbling into the shower. Tech's hand stabilises you; and he makes sure to catch you whenever you stumble a bit too much for his comfort. You get rid of the dirt and blood, being specially carefull with your injuries; and then gently dry your skin with a towel.

Tech takes a step back –dropplets of water running down his still in place armour–, eyes glancing down at the floor again. You smile with his consideration of your privacy; though the smile dissapears from your face when you take a look at the small mirror in front of you.

The wounds are deep, and they will scar. One crosses over your nose, another cuts vertically through your left eyebrow, and two other big ones slashes your right cheek. Smaller ones go over your lip, though you think those will heal nicely. You open your towel and glance down, analysing. There's more across your body. You...

"Don't look like a jedi" you unconsciously mumble out loud. "More like a warrior".

Tech's eyes meet yours through the reflection of the mirror. He frowns, and you fake a smile while you pull yourself out of your thoughts. You hide under the towel.

"I'm fine".

It's obviously a lie; and Tech has always been intelligent.

His hands hesitantly land on your shoulders; thumbs caressing slowly.

"You're a great general" he tells you, gentle. "This was a suicide mission, and yet we all made it out fairly well, considering the circumstances. You don't have to follow the code perfectly to be a good Jedi. Jedi's use the Force to help people, to bring peace to the galaxy. Isn't that what you do everyday?"

His words make your heart ache. Your eyes fill with tears.

Yeah, you do. Maybe he's right. Maybe you don't have to follow the code literally step by step. Maybe what you're doing is enough. You're only human, after all.

Maybe...

You turn towards Tech. He's tall, and handsome, and polite and gentle, intelligent and caring. You've always liked him. Always felt something towards him, even if you've tried to burry it inside your soul.

Maybe... Your hands tremble as they make their way up to his face; carefully cupping his cheeks. Tech blushes, but he doesn't glance or move away. He's still, breathing heavier, eyes fixed on yours, waiting expectantly. His hands slowly travel down your back to your hips; his back curves down to close the distance between your lips.

You cling to his shoulders, stand on your tiptoes, and kiss him. Your eyes close with a relieved sigh, and you can feel him first tensing, then relaxing, into the kiss too. His lips are soft and his movements meassured and gentle; kissing you like you're the most important thing in the galaxy. You feel warm and safe. Excited and in peace at the same time.

When you separate in order to breathe, he caresses your cheek in wonder and presses his forehead against yours with a happy sigh.

Yeah. Maybe it is okay.

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Yoooo I'm on fire everybody! Writing nonestop requests for yall!

Still got a few to go (another Tech, Mayday, Wolffe, Hunter, some non romantic ones...). Be patient, I will get there.

Think this one turned out well.

Stay tunned!

Sky.

Back to my general masterlist here:

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

Ep. 12 "Juggernaut" Review

This episode was certainly fast paced. I wished it was a teensy bit longer because I want more of my boys. That being said, the juggernaut sequences were absolutely fantastic. Everything from Hunter's crazy maneuvers to the TK troopers actually being competent were phenomenal. I loved seeing the crazy ride that our boys took as they raced against the Empire's forces and the lack of road. It reminded me of the tank chase in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Thankfully, both Indy and the Batch make it out (thank you Phee).

Also, shoutout to that one Steve Blum voice cameo for random imperial. He's awesome.

As usual, spoilers below

My discord friend and I both theorized that Rampart would return as a prisoner with information and boy, were we right. I'm just gonna say it, Rampart is hot with the scruffy look. Yes, I still hate his guts and he's still an ahole. But I have a thing for the scruffy look. This is because James Norrington was one of my crushes in Pirates of the Caribbean. I don't make the rules, ok?

Ngl, it was cool to see him return. Prison hasn't been kind to him, but it's clear he hasn't changed one bit. He might give up info out of spite, but his views on others he perceives as lesser haven't changed. I wasn't surprised when he had no clue what an Ugnaught was nor when he referred to Crosshair by his number. Unlike Kallus or Cross, who both learned from their mistakes (and obviously had honor), Rampart remains greedy. Although he offers information, he could sell the Batch out in exchange for freedom. We'll see how well that goes. Crosshair was right to be wary.

Side note: seeing Rampart being thrown around like luggage when he was stunned was hilarious. He deserved it though.

Speaking of Cross, his snark was golden. You tell them Cross. Snark aside, Crosshair is not ok. Even mentioning Tantiss is a trigger for him. He doesn't want to go back nor think about anything related to the place. But we all know he will because Omega needs him. She saved his life and he loves her dearly. But I'm glad Hunter and Wrecker didn't hold it against him. Although, I wished we got more dialogue on that whole situation. At least both of his brothers know that Cross didn't hand her over willingly or what not. And Cross trusts that Omega's choice wasn't without reason. Also, Cross' theme kicks in after his hand starts trembling and he needs a hug. He's been through so much.

The interaction with Phee was also really sweet. Crosshair finally got to hear the iconic "Brown Eyes." And the fact that Tech clearly talked about Crosshair in a positive light to Phee makes my heart melt. Tech doesn't know how much Crosshair has changed, but that love he had for him never went away. I am in tears. I also have no doubt that Tech would be impressed with Phee's stealthy drop off of the boys.

Something else I enjoyed was seeing the brothers work together like to good ol' days. It really reminded me of the earlier seasons and CW and just how much I missed it. Season 3 has been so heavy and dark that moments like these make me happy. Cross and Wrecker using battle plans while Hunter drives was so much fun to watch.

And then there's Hemlock. I can't wait for him to fall off Tantiss and die. He's so creepy and gross. I cringe whenever I see his stupid face. The way he showed Omega the children and was like "this is your new home" just made me want to hate him more.

And Emerie! She feels so trapped between her duties and affection for Omega. But she will choose a side in the end and I have a feeling it'll be Omega. My theory is that Omega will encourage her to help her and the children escape. Emerie will provide assistance and probably be killed by Hemlock.

someone please tell me how Echo is doing off screen. I love you sweet Echo; just stay off screen and you'll be safe. but also come back bc i miss your presence

Anyways, that's all for now. We're in the endgame now fellas. 3 more episodes. I will post some theories. Until next time, take care!

[letsquestjess]

A Nudge in the Right Direction

Summary: Crosshair is determined to recover his aim, and Batcher is right there to support him.

Word Count: 644

Warnings: None.

A/N: Took me a bit longer than I planned but here's the little fic I promised to write in this post. Slight spoilers for season 3.

-- -- -- -- --

A resounding shot shattered through the mellow evening, accompanied by a hissed curse. With persistence imprinted on his face, Crosshair flexed the fingers of his right hand, the cold metal of the sniper rifle providing a reassuring weight as he drew the lens up to his eye. The scope shuddered, but his level-headed breaths tempered the wobble. 

No matter how much he told himself not to rush, to allow his instincts time to recover along with the rest of his body, a sense of urgency bit at him. The Empire’s relentless pursuit of Omega only fuelled Hunter and Wrecker’s determination to safeguard her at any cost and he itched to join them, to once again stand shoulder to shoulder as they did in the days before the Republic’s downfall. Skills all working in tandem, as one. But they couldn’t return to that. Echo was off with Rex, and Tech… 

Lowering the weapon, he clenched his teeth, suppressing the tears that threatened to slip free since Omega had revealed the devastating news from Eriadu. He should have been there, should have noticed the signs of the Empire’s malevolence long before Barton and Mayday. All he had now was a crushing pain and brothers who refused to meet his eyes. Whether incited by deep-seated hatred or their own overwhelming grief, he wasn’t certain. But those nights in his cell when a flicker of hope dared to enter his heart, he knew that a reunion with his squad would be far from joyful. After everything that had happened between them, after the words spoken and spat, there would always be an unbridgeable gap that would require an immense effort on both sides to mend. 

Behind him, Batcher padded across the sand, tongue lolling out and pants wheezing between her teeth. The birds she had been chasing perched in the trees and glared at the lurca hound, ready to defend themselves if she resumed the hunt. 

“What do you want?” Crosshair asked as she sat down and fixed him with a strangely lovable blue-red stare. “If you’re hungry, go find Omega. She’ll get you something to eat.” 

Batcher didn’t move, tail wagging contentedly. With a sigh, Crosshair shook his head and brought the rifle back into position. The tremors in his trigger finger spread through his hand and the gun rattled. Undeterred, he took the shot, missing by a hairsbreadth.

As he was about to lower his weapon, Batcher nudged against his elbow and wriggled underneath, supporting his arm as though prompting him to try again. Deciding to humour her, he adjusted his posture and lined up the attempt, squinting through the scope. 

The tremble remained, but he found solace in the hound’s steady breathing, harmonising with the wash of the evening tide. She stayed as still as possible and huffed out a tiny, impatient yap. 

“Okay, okay,” the sniper said. A loud crack cut the air as the next bullet sent a chunk of dripping purple fruit flying. He chuckled quietly to himself and bent down to pet Batcher’s snout. As she scrunched up her nose, he quickly retracted his hand in time to avoid her gruff sneeze. Sand spluttered into her face and she shook off the grains. 

“Have you been playing in the grass?” Crosshair questioned. 

As if in reply, she sneezed again. Another burst showered her and another vigorous shake scattered the pale powder from her coat.  

“I take that as a yes.” 

The lurca plonked herself down and tilted her head, a rumble reverberating in her throat until he obliged and scratched her favourite spot behind her neck. She scooted closer and bumped her nose to his right hand, nuzzling at his shaky palm and letting out a little whine. 

Crosshair hushed her. “I’ll get there,” he promised, tracing a comforting path down her spiny back. “I won’t let my family down again.” 

[fanfoolishness]

Hello lovely! Adoring your blog!

Can I request something for your drabble post?

Was thinking (in keeping with current events lol)

Crosshair and Omega and 'Eclipse, Goggles'.

Maybe some fluffy angst about trauma bonding by watching an eclipse through Tech's spare goggles? 😭😅

Thank you! X

thank you so much for the prompt! This ended up being quite a bit longer than a drabble - nearly 1K. Enjoy!

under sun and shade

Omega and Crosshair share memories of Tech on a sunny day.

-

He finds her under the shade of a vast spreading tree, sunlight streaming through gaps in the leaves and catching in her golden hair.  Batcher frisks beside him, then lets out a happy bark, charging to Omega’s side and rolling on the ground beside her.  Omega pats her absently, then squints up at him.

”Hi, Crosshair.”

”You weren’t at lunch.  I told Hunter I’d check on you.”

She gives him a wan smile.  “You both worry too much.”

He raises his eyebrows.  This from the kid who’d been kidnapped by bounty hunters and the Empire, who still had the Empire after her.  “I’m not sure we worry enough.”

She chuckles a little, but it’s nothing like the laugh he’s gotten used to.  Crosshair frowns, leaning against the trunk of the tree.  His shadow blocks the dappled sunlight playing over her hair and face.  A guilty look crosses her face, and then he realizes what she’s holding.

Tech’s broken goggles.

He goes cold, despite the sunny day.

“I just…” She hangs her head.  “I miss him, Crosshair.  I thought maybe I’d go and think about him for a while.”

Crosshair swallows.  He’s not sure what to do here.  She left them to go off by herself.  Is he supposed to let her be?  “I can… leave you alone.”

Her face twists to one side.  She’s crying silently, trying not to show it.  For a moment he almost does leave — he’d want to be alone, if it were him (wouldn’t he?).  But that doesn’t feel right.  He sinks down to the ground beside her and reaches out, stiffly patting her on the back.

She curls up under his arm so quickly he’s taken by surprise.  He shifts his arm, brings her a little closer.  It’s strange, feeling like a shelter, like he’s… safe, for  her.  The chill in his chest fades.

”Don’t you miss him, too?” she whispers.

”Yes,” says Crosshair.  “Of course.”  A muscle works in his throat.  He closes his eyes, blinking back a sudden sting.  “Did he like it here?”

Omega laughs, though she still sounds teary.  “I think so.  I was remembering how he recorded all the birds.  Not just their calls, but everything to do with them — how their wings sounded when they flew, the sounds of the bugs they liked to eat, the noises their babies made.  He used to sit right here recording sometimes.  Then he’d play them back for me, telling me all their names.”  She lets out a long breath.  “I think talking about him helps.”

Scenes flash before him.  Tech in their quarters back on Kamino, acting out every new plan that came into his brilliant mind. The confident little smile he’d get, pulling off something insanely clever.  His voice rising with excitement when figuring out the twists and turns of a new language.  Understanding you does not mean that I agree with you.

Crosshair opens his eyes, looking out at the distant sea, the sunlight shimmering on the waves.  “Did he ever tell you about the eclipse on Ryloth?”

”No,” she says, scooting closer to him.  He squeezes her shoulder.  

“I was on watch.  Hunter and Wrecker were laying low, resting up for a night mission.  Tech was supposed to be, but he joined me.  He wouldn’t stop talking about an eclipse by the largest moon.”

“An eclipse? During your mission?” 

“It was very rare.  He knew exactly how rare, of course.”  Crosshair smiles slightly at the memory, though he’d been irritated by Tech’s chatter about the stages of the eclipse and Ryloth’s five moons and the fact that only the largest moon could initiate a total eclipse.

“Of course.”  Omega looks up at him, curious, her eyes dry.  “What was it like?”

“Strange,” Crosshair admits.  “The light went wrong.  We’d been on Ryloth for two weeks.  I thought I knew the place.  Until totality approached, and everything fell dark.  And quiet.”  

His arms prickle with goosebumps.  It’s still such a powerful memory, the shift in the light’s register, the deep unreal shadows descending upon the world before them, the noises he’d gotten used to in the distance faltering into silence.  And then Tech beside him, voice hushed: “Totality.  It will last for six point two minutes, and this planet will not see such a spectacle again for thirty years.  We will have no other chance to see this event on this world in our lifetimes -- now, Crosshair!  Look!”

Crosshair shivers.  “We’d seen a lot of the galaxy by then.  But that stays with me.  It was… beautiful.  And Tech wanted me to see it with him.”  

He tries to describe it to Omega, though his halting words are nothing like as clear as the memory he still carries.  The image flares in his mind once more, the sun a black upon black disk, a white halo of hazy corona swirling and shifting around its borders, its light not moonlight or sunlight but something else entirely.  He’d drunk it in, goosebumps rippling on his arms.  And then he turned to Tech, whose brown eyes were wide and unblinking behind his goggles, his face shining, transported.  “It is…” Tech paused, then shook his head, gazing up at the corona.  “It is beyond my ability to describe.”

Crosshair had just nodded.  “I think I know what you mean.”

They didn’t get to talk much about it after; the mission had taken precedence, and then there was the next mission, and the mission after that.  But every time it came to mind, his arms prickled, and he remembered Tech, his face glowing.

Omega shifts beside him, and he’s back on Pabu, on a bright sunny day beneath the shade of a drowsing tree.  She pulls away from his embrace, looking down at the goggles in her hands.  

“I like that story, Crosshair.”

He takes a deep breath.  Perhaps talking does help.

“I do, too.”

[staycalmandhugaclone]

Hello! If you are still taking Bingo requests, would you please consider doing "you're never going to believe this" with Hunter? All I can picture with this is that scene from Community with the guy walking in with the pizza to find utter chaos has broken out. I think it would be great with Doc but please do as you'd like. Thank you! :)

"You're not going to believe this" - CRB

Okay so maybe it was just the topic. Cranked this baby out yesterday, but was too tired to proofread, so yuh get a morning update!

If you're new, this all starts with Touch Starved!

Clone x Reader Bingo!

Warnings: Fighting, broken nose, blood, light medical procedures, mild guilt, bit of sexual tension, reference to bullying

WC: 3,797

“It’s actually been quite the subject of controversy among numerous scientific circles.” Tech didn’t bother looking up from his datapad as he rambled, food untouched on the tray before him as his leg bounced with an eager anticipation that shook the entire bench. “The planet has long been presumed to sustain intelligent life, but, despite several well-supplied scouting expeditions, not so much as a broken piece of pottery has been found to support that theory.”

“We’re not going there to search for new sentient species, Tech.” Echo reminded, words torn between a weary exasperation and the fond smirk touching his lips.

“It would be unwise to rule out the possibility of unknown lifeforms being responsible for the disappearances we are being sent to investigate.” The pilot rebuked, glancing up from the screen with a look of petulant determination that left me biting back a grin. As though only just remembering that we were in the dining hall after his meal happened to enter his line of sight, he absently reached out to take a quick bite of what I hesitated to call ‘pudding’ before returning to his research.

“Are there any other theories on what happened to the last two squads sent down there?” I asked, knowing he’d be only too happy to grant me everything known about our next assignment that was conveniently omitted from the mission report.

“The precious metals they were sent to find are notoriously difficult to detect with long-range scanners and have proven… troublesome in large quantities as their magnetic qualities can impair proximity sensors and even short-range coms.” My lips tensed into a thin line, just managing to refrain from letting my face twist into the fear that threatened to flood my veins with adrenaline, pointedly ignoring Echo’s apologetic cringe.

“So, they crashed.” I stated bluntly.

“Likely, yes.” He answered without hesitation, attention never wavering from whatever document had captured his interest. I drew a deep, slow breath before speaking again.

“Tech.” The crispness with which I called his name immediately pulled his gaze toward me. “I want you to lie to me and promise me you won’t crash the ship.” I stated with neither shame nor apology, carefully emotionless expression unchanged beneath the flash of confusion that stole through him.

“…That seems… counterintuitive…” He objected.

“Yup.” The word left in a quick chirp. I watched his jaw shift, as though testing various responses as his mind worked over what, exactly, I was asking for.

“I,” he started slowly, “am fully aware of the potential dangers, and, as such, will be far better equipped to anticipate and safely navigate any undocumented mineral deposits.” Echo turned purposefully toward his own meal in a vain attempt to hide his smile.

“Thank you, Tech.” He hesitated a moment longer, confusion almost worsened by my routine reply.

Even above the roar of countless soldiers conversing and squabbling about us, the bark of laughter rang with painful clarity. I didn’t try to keep from glancing toward it, but, the instant I saw the slump of Wrecker’s shoulders as he made his way towards us with his second tray of rations, the way his gaze seemed to carefully avoid looking anywhere he might accidentally meet someone’s eyes, sent my heart racing, blood warming beneath a quiet rage.

“Hunter and Crosshair still stuck in tha’ meeting?” He asked, vainly forcing some hint of nonchalance into his voice.

“Yeah; no word yet on when they’ll finish.” Echo answered, offering a sympathetic smile to his brother as the tall clone sat just opposite him at our table.

“It is unlikely”

“What did he say?” Despite the way those words left in a whisper, it was enough to silence Tech instantly. I felt the soft smile settle over my lips as I looked up to find Wrecker chewing nervously on his lip, searching for any excuse to dismiss my concerns. “What did he say, Wrecker?” I asked again in a gentle murmur. He finally gave a dismissive shrug.

“Nothin’, really… jus’ the usual ‘all brawns, no brains’ stuff – wasn’ even that funny.” He tried to brush it off, but he still wouldn’t quite look at me.

“Oh no.” I drawled in some pathetic mockery of remorse as I swatted the remaining half of my bowl of ‘veggie crisps’ onto the floor, “Guess I should get something to clean this up.” I was halfway across the room by the time they recovered enough to react.

“Uh… sh… should we…” Wrecker started, stammering slightly. The table with the man who’d insulted him all turned to me as I approached, each of them sporting some combination of curiosity and haughty excitement, some even blowing kisses. I said nothing as the one I was focused on turned to see what his brothers were staring at, offering no warning as my fist lashed out, driven by the full force of my body coiling behind the strike.

“Yeah – yup. Kriff.” I only vaguely heard the screech of chairs over Echo’s gasped reply as they jumped to their feet, but my focus was locked on the clone before me, on the rush of crimson flooding his lip and slipping between his fingers as he belatedly threw himself to his feet, reaction just slow enough for me to get another hit in. He nearly dodged it, but my knuckles still grazed his brow enough to split the skin.

“Not so clever now, are you?” I snarled, rushing forward in feint to punch him again. He swung his arm up to deflect it, granting me ample opening to slam my forehead into his already ruined nose. I didn’t hear the chorus of shouting around me. Someone grabbed my arms, hauling me back.

“Say it again!” I roared, thrashing in a vain effort to tear myself free, only vaguely noting that the man restraining me wasn’t one of mine. “Say it again! I’ll make sure you have to drink those damn ration bars for the a month!” A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed that Echo, Tech and Wrecker were straining to fight their way through the crowd of regs that swarmed the pathways between tables for a better view.

“Hunter, yuh might… might wanna get down here quick.” Wrecker’s voice carried easily over the deafening cacophony of shouts and jeers booming through the massive room. I couldn’t make out even the deep hum of Hunter’s reply, but nearly chuckled at what Wrecker said next, “Yeah… you’re not gonna believe this…”

The clone I’d struck finally regained his composure and stormed toward me, lips twisted into a scowl as he drew a sharp breath, but I didn’t care to allow him time for whatever attempt at a reprimand he intended. In a single, fluid motion, I careened my head back to crash into the face of the man holding me at the same time as I drove my heel down atop his foot. Caught off-guard by the assault, his hold loosened just enough to throw myself forward, tackling my target to the ground.

The violent huff of air being forced from his lungs was satisfying in a way few things are, but I allowed myself not even a moment’s pause to enjoy it before twisting to wrench his arm up, locking it between my thighs as I jerked his hand toward my chest, straining the elbow with just enough force to draw a bark of pain from him. I knew he was barely fledged, knew he likely wouldn’t even be fit to leave Kamino for several months, and I’d used that knowledge mercilessly. He was cocky and brash, and he was certain to underestimate me. Against a fully trained soldier, I’d have stood no chance, but one hindered by youth and overconfidence…

“Doc! Stand! Down!” Hunter shouted every word, forcing himself through the crowd toward me, and I almost felt some hint of remorse at the anger in his eyes. In the torrent of my own rage, however, I held the foolish soldier for just a moment longer. “Now!” He growled, stalking across those final feet between us. Only then did I notice how near the others were, hands flared, uncertain how best to help as they stared at me in shock.

Finally, I released him, making no move to stand as the clone threw himself clear of me, strained arm held tightly to his chest. Without a word, Hunter grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. I didn’t try to fight him as he turned and dragged me from the mess hall.

While our barracks was far from nearby, I was still slightly surprised when he veered away from it toward the hanger. Still, that silence lingered between us through each endless minute. His grip never left my arm, but, the instant we were out of sight of the others, his touch had softened into something I couldn’t bring myself to want to pull away from, allowing him to guide me through the maze of immaculately kept identical hallways, across the open expanse of the nearly empty hanger, and up the ramp into the relative privacy of the Marauder’s cabin.

The instant that ramp closed behind us, shrouding the room in a darkness the emergency lights did little to lessen, the instant we were hidden from wandering eyes, he wrenched me against him, arm locking around my back as his other hand tangled into my hair in a desperate embrace. I could feel the faintest shutter in the deep sigh the escaped him, felt the warmth of his breath flutter atop my scalp sending a flush of gooseflesh across my skin; felt his lips rest lightly atop the crown of my head as he curled subtly around me, and I couldn’t help but freeze.

“Are you okay?” The depth of concern in those whispered words left me staggering. His hand slipped free of my hair to gently cup my cheek, leaning back just enough to meet my gaze. “Are you okay?” he asked again.

“Y… yeah.” I was surprised to find how my voice caught, stammering slightly. “Hunter, I’m… I’m fine.” I tried to reassure him, reaching up to let my fingers trail softly over his wrist in an innate need to offer some manner of comfort in the face of his… what? Fear? Was he afraid?

He let out another deep breath, shoulders sinking as some of the tension coiling through his powerful form began to ease, but he didn’t pull away from me.

“When Wrecker said you’d gotten into a fight with a reg…” He started, trying, failing, to explain, but he didn’t need to say more. I knew what horrors plagued his memories of such things; knew why, even now, such a rift lay between his brothers and most every other clone born of Fett’s DNA.

“Didn’t think you’d find me torturing one in an arm bar?” I offered with a small smile, and he left out a reluctant scoff.

“No.” He admitted quietly, but then he fell back into that silence, jaw tensing as he thought carefully over his words before granting them voice. “You got lucky, Doc… and you know that.” An apology just lingered beneath the unmistakable accusation, and I couldn’t dismiss the way my chest tightened at the truth in his words.

“Yeah.” I whispered, refusing to turn away from him even in the admission of my foolishness because he and I both knew I didn’t regret it. I knew no clone would have killed me under those circumstances; however, one with more experience, one who’d seen the horrors of war and knew not to hesitate… His thumb swept slowly over my cheek, touch barely caressing my skin as though he were worried even that might break me.

With a final sigh, he stepped back, hands dragging against me greedily for those fleeting seconds of contact before turning his gaze toward the aft of the ship.

“Come on.” He murmured, already treading down the hallway. I paused for just a moment before following a few steps behind him. He’d already retrieved my scanner by the time we reached the medbay.

“Your hands.” He explained at my confusion. I glanced down, hands flaring out between us to find the skin atop several knuckles torn and smeared in blood that had long since darkened into a tacky coating already beginning to flake at the edges. Without waiting for me to get over that initial shock, he swept the device over them in search of fractures, and I didn’t need to read the results. The relief that stole through him confirmed little more than soft tissue had been injured.

“I can do that, Hunter.” Even as the claim left my lips, I knew it was useless as he gathered what basic supplies were needed to tend the minor wounds. He merely let out a quiet hum in response, already reaching for my left hand. Resigned, I merely watched in silence as he carefully cleaned away the blood before covering each knuckle in a fine layer of bacta and wrapped them with a precision that spoke of a lifetime of treating this exact injury.

When he let his eyes wander back to mine, he again brought his hand up to slide over my cheek, and I couldn’t dismiss the way my heart jumped, but then he drew a rag up to sweep over my forehead and I was briefly shocked to see the crimson stain the fabric, but then his brows drew together in confusion.

“Did you… You headbutt him?” He asked skeptically, and I couldn’t help the quiet laughter from escaping me. With another scoff, he dragged the cloth once more over my skin to rid the final traces of blood before releasing me.

“They changed the schedule. We’re leaving tonight.” He stated, absently cleaning up the mess of used supplies as he spoke. “Think you can finish restocking by then?” Swallowing back the lingering thrill from his touch, the chill I so wanted to pretend didn’t exist in that very moment he’d turned away from me, I had to tear my gaze away from those powerful hands before I could answer him.

“Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem.” I replied, finally drawing some motion into my limbs to help him finish up.

“Alright; I’ll go fill the others in. We’ll meet you back here.” He paused after into a single step into the main hall. “No more picking fights.” The weariness in his voice nearly managed to silence my rebuttal. As I drew breath to argue, the hint of a glare that narrowed his eyes proved enough to stifle that final trace of rebellion urging me to justify my actions. Still, I granted myself a short huff of air in an unspoken rebuttal, and the way his shoulders shook beneath a nearly suppressed chuckle left my heart soaring.

-

The crate beside me was quickly filling up as I loaded it with various goods, mindlessly checking my list every few minutes to keep track of my progress. The sound of the door hissing open didn’t warrant even a fleeting thought. This was one of the main supply stores. It wasn’t uncommon to find numerous people in here at once. Only when that deep voice I’d heard countless times from countless faces breached the stillness of the large, cluttered room did I finally grant them any notice.

“Hey, you got a minute?” The innate openness in my expression as I turned to answer the clone instantly hardened upon recognizing the split eyebrow and freshly broken nose, but he quickly raised his hands in a plea for peace. “I’m not here to fight.” He reassured me quietly. I studied him in silence for a moment longer before letting my gaze soften slightly. I loathed the twinge of guilt that twisted through my chest at the painful swelling plaguing his nose, at the dark bruises stretching up his eyes, and I couldn’t bring myself to simply leave it. With a slow breath, I reached down to close the crate.

“Sit.” It wasn’t quite an order, but neither was it an invitation.

“What?” The word fell from his lips before his mind had fully processed what I’d said, and, without my needing to repeat myself, moved to obey me. Helping myself to the supplies around us, I began with his brow. While it had clearly been granted a rushed cleaning earlier, I addressed it as I would any wound until it was neatly sutured before turning my attention to his nose.

Whatever reason he’d actually sought me out seemed to vanish as he sat frozen beneath my ministrations, eyes just a bit too wide, breath just shy of shallow, pointedly trying to look anywhere but me aside from the accidental glance the left him quickly turning away, cheeks flushing.

“Do you know what chemical you can add to a droid popper to turn it into an incendiary grenade?” I asked without preamble, delicately palpating his nose with my thumb to gauge the severity of the break. The instant his attention shifted, mind flitting between focusing on my voice and thinking over the question itself, I quickly wrenched the cartilage straight, tucking a rag against it to catch the fresh surge of blood before he’d even finished biting back the sharp grunt of pain. I cocked my brow expectantly when he looked back up at me.

“Uh… n… no.” He finally muttered, clearly fighting the urge to grind his teeth.

“Hold this.” I instructed, shifting the cloth slightly. Once his hand replaced mine, I began applying a thick layer of bacta over the inflamed skin.

“Know who does?” I continued as though nothing had happened. I saw the moment understanding swept through him, and he yielded beneath the need to tense his jaw, gaze quickly dropping to the far corner of the floor. “What’s your position in your squad?” His tongue darted out to wet his lips, mind churning in a vain attempt to anticipate why I’d asked.

“Heavy gunner.” He answered, and I was surprised to find his voice free of resentment, to hear a softness in the following silence as he waited for me to speak.

“I assume you’re the only heavy gunner in your batch?” He nodded, glancing almost timidly up at me. “Having that specialty… do you think you make your squad stronger because of it?” There. Before I’d even finished the question, his eyes nearly closed, shoulders falling slightly. He was young and impulsive, but he clearly wasn’t as foolish as I’d initially written him off to be. Even as he reached the conclusion I’d yet to voice, he maintained that quiet, granting me as much time as I wanted to breathe life into some grand meaning.

“Wrecker’s quick thinking and kindness in addition to his strength have saved my life several times during this war.” I continued, carefully applying adhesive strips across the bridge of his nose to stabilize the cartilage while it healed. “If you hurt him again, you’re going to need more than a tube of bacta to patch you up.” I spoke those final words as a simple statement of fact as I stepped away. His head tilted down slightly in a useless attempt to hide the grin he couldn’t quite fight back.

“How’s the elbow?” His gaze flicked back up me to before turning to the joint. He briefly stretched it before answering.

“A bit stiff, but it’ll be fine by morning. That’s not the first time I’ve been caught in one of those.” He explained, and I could hear the smirk still playing with his lips.

“Good.” I chirped, “then get up – I still have work to do.” He didn’t move for a fraction of a second before quickly jumping to his feet.

“Um, I can… I can help.” He offered, “Least I can do since you spent all that time fixing me up.” I nearly turned him away, but I was in a bit of a rush. Just as I began to respond, however, his com chimed with an incoming message. The rueful look that he shot me left me rolling my eyes as I nodded toward the exit dismissively.

“Oh,” He called, pausing halfway through the door. “What chemical is it?” It took a moment for me to realize what he was asking, but then I gave him a halfhearted shrug.

“You’d have to ask him.” I answered. “I have no idea.” His grin fell for barely half a beat before returning with renewed vigor.

“I will.”

Mere seconds after he left, the door slid open once more. Brow hitched, I glanced up expecting to find that same clone returning, but was surprised to see Crosshair stepping into the room just enough to lean back against the wall.

“Flirting with regs, now?” The familiar rasp of his voice held the faintest hint of resentment that almost gave me pause.

“I swear, you’ve got to be the only person I know to mistake ‘threatening’ with ‘flirting’.” I nearly groaned before resuming my task.

“No mistaking his grin…” He retorted, and I could feel the unspoken words sitting like poison in his throat, but he forced himself to remain silent, instead reaching into a pocket to grasp a toothpick.

“Did you just come here to throw accusations around, Crosshair?” I sighed wearily, unwilling to devote the energy into bashing my head against a wall in some futile effort to change his mind.

“Hunter sent me a com; said I should keep an eye on you. Clearly, there was nothing to worry about.” He added, narrowed eyes shifting back to mine as he flicked the sliver of wood over his lips. Returning his glare, I roughly dropped the box of fresh bandages into the crate.

“If you want to be jealous and pouty, go ahead.” I sighed dismissively as I turned away from him. The silence lingered heavily between us, but I refused to grant him the satisfaction of yielding beneath it. When I finally finished my list and hoisted the crate up to lean against my chest, he finally spoke.

“Were you?” I paused midstep at the quiet question, shifting to find him staring blindly at some distant point past my hip.

“Was I what?” I pressed when he offered nothing more.

“Flirting.” I nearly dropped the crate.

“Uh, n… no, Cross.” I answered, cursing the heat crawling up my neck. Without a word, he pushed himself away from the wall and, with just a few long strides, tread towards me. I barely had time to think before he was pulling the box from my grasp and found myself staring dumbly at the broad expanse of his shoulders as he began walking down the hall. Forcing myself to draw a steadying breath, I followed quickly behind him.

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[clownery-and-fuckery]

Cuties

"Is this it?" Phee asked, the car rolling to a stop in front of a house.

Tech nodded. "Great," Phee turned the engine off. "Hop on out, pretty boy."

He did just that, walking around the car as she pulled the window down.

"Thank you." He smiled slightly, leaning down to see into the car.

"Anytime," She responded easily, leaning out of the car as one hand lazily rested on the wheel. "It was fun, with just us two."

Tech smiled wider, face flushing slightly as he nodded. "Yes," He agreed. "It was surprisingly pleasant."

"Unsurprisingly." She corrected. "I am a joy to be around, don't forget that."

They shared a laugh. "Oh," She looked up.

Tech tilted his head as Phee shifted, sitting straighter to tug his shirt a bit. "One more thing,"

He startled when she tugged him down, kissing him softly.

It was quick, but sweet. Tech found himself kissing back just as she began to pull away.

He was pleasantly surprised when she pressed back against him for a moment longer once he did.

"I'll see you tomorrow," She whispered with a wink. "Oh, and remember. Our apartment, nine am on Tuesday. Diner across the roads got pancakes till eleven."

He nodded slowly. "Okay." He spluttered, near dumb as she laughed.

She let him go, sitting back and smiling gently. She waved him off, pulling up the window and pulling away.

He waited until she disappeared around the corner to grin wide.

His hand lightly grazed his lips, processing the tingle in them as his face went red.

He practically skipped inside.

Crosshair met him at the door, Wrecker standing behind him. From the way they both stared at him, they had definitely spied.

Tech felt any remaining joy from the brief kiss fade. "Not a word." He warned.

A grin broke out on Crosshair's face. "I mean it!" Tech hissed, pushing past them both to escape. "Don't say anything!"

"Techie's got a girlfr—" Wrecker started to cheer.

A well aimed projectile from the hall– Omega's shoe, Crosshair realised, landed with a solid thump right between Wrecker's eyes.

"Don't!" Tech yelled from the end of the hall. "Not one word! Stop!"

Wrecker's laughter did not help his embarrassment.

"What's her name?" Crosshair asked, raising his voice just enough to know Hunter would hear him. "I hope she's got a solid job!"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Tech covered his face with a groan. "Stop asking all these questions!"

"Girlfriend?" Echo poked his head in from the living room. "What girlfriend?"

"Techie's got a girlfriend!"

"Wrecker, she is not my girlfriend–"

"I dunno, Tech," Crosshair shrugged with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Pretty sure friends don't kiss each other goodbye after hanging out."

"You kissed a girl?!" Echo asked, head swinging to face Tech.

His face couldn't have been more red. "She kissed me! "

Cheers erupted, mixed with Echo's gasp of either horror or delight. "Hunter!" Tech yelled, ears burning. "Make them stop!"

Hunter groaned from upstairs. "Not now, kids," He called down. "I've got the biggest fucking headache."

Tech was abandoned and subjected to the others poking questions and teasing for the rest of the evening.

[zoeykallus]

Okay, First, LOVE YOUR STORIES. THEY'RE MY FAV❣️

AND SECONDLY AFTER SEEING IMPERIAL TECH SUGGESTION OF YOURS… *squeals like a fan girl*

I’m sorry for making this dumb request (and please ignore this if you must..) But female reader accidentally seduce Imperial bad batch all of them separately! IVE SEEN IMPERIAL HUNTER, CROSSHAIR, TECH BUT NEVER SEEN ECHO OR WRECKER AS IMPERIAL BEFORE!!! *fans with a red blush*

Aloha!

THANK YOU SO MUCH❣️ :))

Not sure how you accidentally seduce a person, but I'm gonna try something....

The Imperial Bad Batch x Fem!Reader - Dangerous Seduction HC's Part 1 Of 5 -

Warnings: Suggestive / Sexual Themes / Strong Language / Dirty Talk / Angst / Dub-Con / Filthy / Smut /18+

_________________

You belong to the resistance. Unfortunately, you have fallen into the clutches of a special unit of the Empire, Clone Force 99 also known as Bad Batch. The interrogation goes completely differently than you expect, between you and the soldier who is supposed to interrogate you, a strange intense tension arises.

AC: These HCs probably don't make much sense, and mainly consist of sexual tension and spicy incidents. Summed up; these HCs portray TBB like an upside down universe, they have still some of their very own traits, but they are "evil", so to speak. Yes, I do have a very dirty mind. It's never boring in here. Probably the most extensive HCs I have written to date. It's more like Five spicy One-Shots.

_________________

Following Parts:

Part 2 : Echo

Part 3 : Tech

Part 4 : Wrecker

Hunter

You've been sitting alone in an interrogation room for several minutes. The room is illuminated with bright, sterile-looking light. The handcuffs have been removed from you; there is no escape from this room anyway. There are certainly guards in front of the door, and the door itself is locked with a code.

You look up hastily as the door opens with a hiss. One of the men who caught you, enters, you recognize him by his armor. It's black like most of the Empire's special forces, but it's still not standard. At first sight, it looks to you as if it were made of different armors.

The man moves slowly, confidently. He moves with the confidence of a hunter who has cornered his prey, a predator that you can't escape.

He takes off his helmet, and you are surprised by the face you see under it. Masculine, prominent nose, a dark tattoo covers half of his face. His hair is a bit longer and tied back with a black bandana.

You flinch as he noisily puts the helmet down on the table with a swing. His dark gray eyes look at you piercingly. He reacts to your defiant look with a smirk that gives you goosebumps.

"You can act as much as you want, you can't fool me".

He stands up, comes around the table and bends over you from behind, his mouth close to your ear, his arms to your left and right at the table. His voice creeps under your skin as he says almost suggestively, "I hear your heartbeat, I sense your every movement, smell your fear"

His voice is deep and slightly smoky, the way he talks so calm and firm, intimidating as well as stimulating. You feel his hot breath on your ear and on your cheek. The tingling under your skin becomes more intense and the temperature in the room seems to rise.

Somewhere hidden deep inside you, you find the courage to tell him, "I'm not going to tell you anything".

You barely get the words past your lips, you feel paralyzed by his presence. But when he grabs you, pulls you out of the chair and pushes you against the wall, a startled cry escapes your lungs.

His body presses you against the wall, one of his thighs between your legs. His thigh touches the triangle between yours, only for a second, almost ghosting over it, but you feel the touch very clearly through the thin fabric of your pants.

Like a pulse, heat shoots between your thighs against your will. His strength, his self-assured presence that takes over the room, has befuddled your mind, otherwise you can't explain your body's reaction to him.

You feel moisture gathering in your panties and bite your tongue as he suddenly pauses and takes a deep breath.

He laughs softly, a beautiful, sexy and at the same time blood freezing sound.

"I can smell your arousal as well as your fear".

You swallow, actually you can't imagine it, but why else had he just taken such a deep breath and known exactly what you were feeling right now? Coincidence?

You are still paralyzed, you don't fight back, don't try to escape either. One part of you wants to feel him, the other hates you for it. When his hand starts to unbutton your blouse, you keep very still and look at his fingers as if hypnotized.

His hand lays flat on your bare breastbone, and he says, "It's throbbing as hard as it is fast."

A single, soft word passes your lips, "Please"

He looks up into your face, and you can barely withstand his piercing dark eyes.

"Please what?" he asks quietly, almost tenderly.

You don't know yourself what you wanted to say. If he should touch you, leave you alone or not hurt you. You didn't really know what to expect, all you felt was his closeness and the heat spreading inside you.

He moved his leg, rubbing his thigh, the armor plate, over your pubic. It instantly began to tingle in your pussy, more of your juice gathering in your panties and already seeping through the fabric, leaving a trail on his armor.

One of his hands clenches around the back of your neck, the other on your right hip as he continues to move his thigh, back and forth, back and forth. He takes another deep breath and growls softly.

Very suddenly, he lets go of you, and you almost topple forward as he squats in front of you and unzips your pants. You don't say a word, just watch him as he pulls the fabric down from your hips, slips them over your ankles and tosses them aside, just like your panties.

You can't believe that he is now looking directly at your naked pussy, the wet flower, the scent of which attracts him so magically. You have no idea how hungry this imperial soldier is for you right now.

Another deep breath, he sputters the breath out again. When he looks up at you, his eyes are so dark, almost black, from his dilated pupils.

Then his tongue shoots out, and he begins to lick you greedily. A hoarse gasp comes out of your mouth, automatically you open your thighs a little wider.

When he starts to drill his tongue into your pussy, you can't help but automatically grind against his face. He lets you, not bothered at all, on the contrary. As his prominent nose rubs over your swollen clit, he drills his tongue further into your moist heat, your juice running down his chin, dripping onto his chest plate. His hands grip your buns tightly, pressing you against his face. You hear him slurping again and again, taking in your arousal as if he needs it to survive.

Your thighs tremble, your swollen pearl pulses under the friction, and the feeling of his tongue darting into your hole again and again is overwhelming. But when you reach into his hair on impulse, he stops, jumps up and stares at you. His gaze is wild, different from before. He whirls you around, pressing your back against the tabletop.

With one hand on your sternum he pushes you down on the table, with the other, he loosens his codpiece and pulls the pants of his blacks down a bit. His hard length pops out behind it, thick, proud and pre-cum leaking.

He's still holding you down on the tabletop. You willingly open your legs for him. As he reaches for his cock with his free hand and rubs it over your damp folds, you moan softly, expectantly.

"You want my cock, don't you?"

With a nod, you say softly, your cheeks heated, "Yes."

"Louder," he demands.

"Yes!"

"Yes, what?"

"I want your cock inside me!" you outright scream at him, ashamed, aroused, heart racing wildly.

The smile on his face isn't warm or friendly, it's knowing and deceitful.

"Then tell me where your shuttle is hidden, the shuttle that has the goods you stole from the Empire".

Your hesitation angers him. He pushes against your entrance, but doesn't penetrate you.

"Tell me, and I'll fuck you senseless, that's what you want".

You tremble on the table, from arousal, anticipation and shame. He dips his tip a tiny bit and withdraws from you again.

"Come on, tell me, we both know you want this".

When you finally tell him the coordinates, he penetrates you, long, slow and deep, stretching your little hole with his thick cock, with a deep moan. It's overwhelmingly good.

"Good girl," he coos before he starts pounding into you, making good on his promise.

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[freesia-writes]

Chapter 15: Undercover

During the Clone Wars, the Bad Batch is tasked with a variety of missions across the galaxy. An unexpected addition to their team throws a wrench in the mix, particularly for Tech, who finds a particular connection with this disillusioned Padawan-turned-mechanic named Vel throughout the events in this action-adventure romance.

COVER ART BY @zaana!! And this was my first fanfic ever, y'all! :D

Master List of Chapters

Author's Note: Ahhhhh this is the start of my favorite part of the fic... this little arc is quite the adventure! :D

-=-=-=-=-=-

"You've got to be kidding me," came Hunter's smooth voice from the bridge, with enough edge to it that Vel's interest was piqued. She'd been tucked away in a corner, pretending to read but really trying to meditate. Her recent brushes with the Force had been both encouraging and inviting, and she found a bit more confidence in seeking it out. Besides, it had come in handy, and she wanted nothing more than to be useful. But Hunter's tone was enough to break her out of her thoughts for some good old eavesdropping. 

"I mean, if the Jedi can't, what about someone from the city? I'm sure you have contacts..." came his voice down the hall, followed by a garbled answer from the hologram before him. "No, I get it, it's just... not really our thing." This was met with a longer and louder bunch of fuzzy speech from the holo that Vel couldn't make out, but she got the gist from Hunter's response: "Yes, sir. No, I understand, sir. Yes, sir."

The holo beeped as it disappeared into the console, and Hunter let out a deep sigh. It was too much to resist, so Vel ambled up to the bridge. 

"What was that all about?" she asked. No use in beating around the bush.

"We're going to Cantonica," Hunter replied. "Some greasy gambler apparently is highly invested in a lab that is working on a compound that melts clone armor. Could be a huge mess if it's finished and weaponized."

"Never heard of it," Vel said, "But it sounds like quite the adventure, no? I mean, all you have to do is say 'laboratory explosion' and you know Wrecker will be on board."

"Heh," was the extent of mirth from Hunter, "Normally, yes. But they're cramping our style a bit on this one. We're going undercover. And you're coming along too."

***

The Marauder settled effortlessly onto the landing platform, and with a hiss from the suspension, the stairs folded out. The briefing wasn't quite complete, however. As Tech made the final adjustments on the landing sequence, Hunter continued his instructions to the team in the cockpit of the ship.

"Please ensure you have done everything in your power to memorize every detail of this individual," he said, motioning toward the image rotating on the holo, "He should not be too hard to find, considering his love of attention, but we do not want to make any careless mistakes, the likelihood of which are increased by the inefficient layout and overpopulation of this particular casino."

"Blue skin and a gold face tattoo?" Wrecker said impatiently, "Come on!"

"It may sound unique," Tech inserted promptly, "But they are traits common among Pantorans; therefore, our target is more easily identified by his behavior than his looks alone."

"That's what we're looking for," Hunter said. "We have to ensure he plays right into our hand; he has to make the first move."

"I still think we need a backup plan," Vel admitted. "This is a massive failure waiting to happen."

"With an attitude like that, it will be," Crosshair crooned sardonically. "Cheer up. We know you've got it in you." His words carried more weight than they should have, and Vel eyed him with suspicion. He met her gaze evenly, allowed his eyes to lazily yet pointedly roam toward Tech, then back to Hunter without a further word. 

Vel felt a bit exposed all of a sudden, but it was brushed aside with Hunter's continued briefing.

"We'll be fine," Hunter said authoritatively. "Just stick to the plan. Jouren Terrik is known for three things: money, attention, and women. If we play our parts, he'll be hooked. We'll blend in to whatever they're all doing here, make sure Vel gets his attention, and once she gets to the lab..." 

"Boom!" Wrecker hollered jovially.

"Not this time," Hunter corrected. "We have to be discreet. They can't know anything has been touched. Tech will plant his little doomsday device and that's it."

"It's actually a covert system virus that will slowly corrupt one element of the recipe at a time, diluting its potency and eventually rendering it useless, entirely without their awareness. The brilliance of the design is that--" 

"Yes, it's brilliant. We'd love to hear all about how it works, Tech, but we need to get moving," Hunter interrupted. "We need to be ready once the floor opens. You've all got your disguises; we'll get ready in our rooms and meet at the bar. Keep your comlinks nearby just in case. Any questions?"

***

Vel stared at the "disguise" laying out on the hotel bed in front of her, as if she could change it into a cloak and tunic if she glared at it long enough. She used to love playing dress-up as a kid, but this was something else, and felt entirely out of her element. 

The team had been given credits on Coruscant and instructions to procure civilian outfits that would allow them to blend in to one of the ritziest casinos known to man (and every other species). Four clones who had rarely worn anything but armor plates and one failed Jedi mechanic did not share the highest awareness of fashion between them. Worse, they had been allowed, or rather forced, to get their disguises on their own. The team had split up, Crosshair and Vel opting to go on their own, Hunter recommending that Wrecker join him, and Tech insisting he would go as soon as he finished updating the navicomputer.

Vel felt her heart beating against her chest. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves, but the queasiness in her stomach seemed to be a permanent feature. There had been no follow-up discussion after she made a fool of herself to Tech at the waterfall, but she could have sworn there was a minute shift in his behavior toward her ever since. There was a softer edge to his words, an almost imperceptible tenderness in the way he looked at her. She hoped she wasn't imagining it.

"Okay. Let's get this over with," she said, taking a swig from a small metal flask on her dresser. She tried to avoid making a face as it burned its way down her throat, but it was a futile effort. 

***

The central bar in the Canto Bight casino was a large, circular room filled with orbs of all kinds. The windows were a rich array of stained glass, lined with gold, and they emphasized the many bottles sitting neatly in a row in front of them. Sleek black-and-gold waitstaff droids cruised among the guests, offering trays of wide-mouthed and long-stemmed glasses full of various concoctions. There must have been some intentional structural engineering in regard to the sound, as the rooms were teeming with every size, shape, and species, yet the noise was not unbearable. Simple conversations were still easily heard, and many were taking place all over the room. 

Hunter stood near the bar, adjusting his jacket in discomfort. Clone Force 99 was entirely unrecognizable in their self-selected disguises and blended into the rich setting almost entirely. He sported a pair of high-waisted dress pants and a white buttoned shirt; it fell open loosely at the top and was tucked into a shiny black cummerbund around his waist. He had a black suit jacket with thick satin lapels over it all. He had insisted upon a subtle sheath for his forearm, as he wouldn't be caught dead without his vibro-knife at the very least. He had forsaken his beloved red bandana for once, instead opting to pull his shoulder-length hair into a bun on top of his head. 

Crosshair had opted for a similar ensemble, just slightly more suited to his particular frame. He stood tall in a long black coat, hanging smartly with a black scarf over black pants and shoes. Finishing the ensemble was a tight black turtleneck and a pair of black gloves. The toothpick was ever-present, however, and bounced angrily in his mouth as he refused Wrecker's attempts to put a monocle over his right eye. 

Wrecker had made it no secret that he couldn't stand these clothes; Hunter had settled for him to wear a black button-down shirt and black dress pants, which had a few not-so-subtle lumps that were most likely explosives of sorts. The only suitable shirt they could find that was remotely formal was considerably too small, however, and it gapped in the spaces between buttons. The top two buttons (or three, when Hunter wasn't looking) were left open, more out of necessity than style, and he was under strict orders to stay calm to avoid splitting his sleeves. He had taken the "disguise" part quite literally, however, and had donned an oversized pair of sunglasses as well as a fake mustache. The result would have been comical in any other setting, but this was a place where virtually anything could be written off as fashion.

"She's late," Crosshair said quietly, squinting at Hunter while leaning nonchalantly on the bar. "Think she chickened out? It wouldn't be a surprise."

He received nothing but a side-eye in response before Hunter continued scanning the room. "No sign of our guy yet, Tech?"

"Not yet," came the response from a stool on the other side of Wrecker, where Tech was consoling himself for the loss of his helmet visor with the presence of his datapad, which was hidden on top of the counter behind Wrecker's massive frame.

"Well why don't you take a look at this instead," Hunter said, reaching across to smack Tech's hand from the datapad. Tech jerked his head up indignantly but was distracted as Hunter tilted his head pointedly to the stairs. 

It had taken Vel longer than anticipated to get ready, and the reason became readily apparent. Halfway down the staircase, she had paused to glance about the room for the target, and Wrecker had to do a double-take to make sure it was her. An unabashed "whoa" escaped his lips, followed by a huge grin as he clapped Tech on the back. 

A high-neck halter top held shimmering white satin around her neck, hugging her torso tightly down to where it gathered at her waist. Cascading folds of silvery white fell to the floor in a full skirt, some of which was bunched in her hand to allow her to walk without falling. Her brown hair was twisted on top of her head in a sleek knot, and two delicately ornate earrings sparkled on either side of her face. 

Tech followed Hunter's gaze and found her there on the stairs, descending slowly now, and his heart skipped a beat. His chest felt tight all of a sudden, as if he couldn't breathe, and he opened his mouth to take a deep breath. Hunter smirked at the cacophony of reactions he sensed, then he stood up straight, regarding Tech with a stern look.

"Remember the plan," was all he said, as Vel neared the bottom of the stairs and spotted them across the room. 

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Here are my inspo pics for the boys’ outfits and Vel’s dress 😜

[dangraccoon]

Oyuba’din - Chapter 29: Return

Summary: Jaine speaks with an old friend as the squad grapples with the result of her fall.

Warnings: mild language, canon typical (ish) battle

Author’s Note: Guess who's back, back again, Jainey's back, tell a friend

2 chapters remain

« Previous Chapter Next Chapter »

“Shit,” Jaine groaned as she resurfaced in the same little pond as she had before. She stood up and walked out of the water, body and clothes drying as she did. “Stars fucking damn it.”

“Such language, Little One,” the Chromira chuckled.

“You’ve heard worse,” Jaine grimaced.

The soft light of the Chromira swirled around her, a familiar warmth flooding her chest. “And not just from you.”

“How long this time?” Jaine said, sitting down in the clover-filled clearing.

“A while longer than last time,” she hummed. “You should really be more careful, child.”

Jaine shrugged. “I guess. Seems like it doesn’t matter though.”

“How so?”

“It’s getting more frequent, isn’t it? I come back here more often.”

The Chromira grew silent, the warmth of her light fading just a touch. 

Jaine heaved a sigh, laying back onto the clovers. “Will this ever end?”

The Chromira didn’t answer, and Jaine looked at the light curiously. “Are you…okay?” she asked.

“Hm? Oh, yes. I was distracted for a moment,” The Chromira mumbled, clearly still not totally here. 

“What- what’s going on?”

The Chromira was quiet for a while longer, Jaine worried that if she interrupted the silence this time she wouldn’t know what could be happening.

After what felt like a small eternity, the Chromira hummed to herself a little. “It seems he was able to find a way to sleep.”

“He? He who?” Jaine urged, slowly getting to her feet.

“Your Starlight,” she answered simply before flying away.

“Starlight?” Jaine pondered aloud. “H-hunter?”

She looked in the direction the light of the Chromira flew off in.

“Hunter! I’m here!” she shouted as loud as she could. “Hunter!”

The Chromira reappeared as she started running.

“Child, you cannot-”

“I need to-” she panted, vaguely aware that the Chromira was slowing her movement. “No! Let me see him!”

“Jaine-”

“I need to see him!”

“Jaine! Where are you?” she heard him call and her heart felt like it would pound through her ribcage. 

“Hunter!” she screamed, her legs burning and her lungs feeling like they'd explode.

She shouted his name again, trying desperately to reach him, catching the shortest glimpse of him as he fell out of the dreamscape.

“No,” she cried, falling to her knees. “I need to get back to them.”

“I know, child,” the Chromira answered sadly.

“I need-” she sniffed. “I need to tell them-”

“I’m sure they already know.”

-

“Stay down, damn it!” Hunter barked over the comms.

“Do you want to get off this stars-forsaken planet or not?” Tech’s reply came.

“Not getting out of here if you’re dead, Tech!”

“Your concern is noted, but not necessary.”

“Echo-”

“Already on my way,” he answered, quickly catching up to his goggled squadmate.

“Crosshair, we need height,” Hunter ordered.

“I can’t leave Jaine,” Crosshair growled back, his voice straining.

“We’re not-”

A harsh, pained noise from Wrecker sounded over the comms, followed quickly by a string of curses from the sergeant.

“We need to regroup,” he hissed. “Forget about getting to the Marauder, it’s too far.”

Tech turned back, exchanging a quick glance with Echo.

Echo looked over the scene from the ridge they’d found themselves on.

“Up there!” he heard a B1 call, pointing right at him and Tech.

“Shit,” he heard Tech breathe, both of them hitting the ground as a barrage of blasterfire hit above them, grateful for the cover the rocks on the side of the ledge gave them.

“Get your asses down here, we can't get to Wrecker,” Crosshair shouted.

“We’re a bit busy at the moment,” Tech answered, peering over the rocks and firing a few quick shots.

“Jaine?” Crosshair nearly whispered.

The blasterfire seemed slow and Echo heard a few battle droids scream. He pulled himself up to peek over the rock ridge, not sure he could believe what he was seeing.

“Is that-”

“Jaine?” Tech finished.

Below them, bursts of bright red lightning were flashing, seemingly in every direction. Rows of droids fell to the ground, fried beyond use. Tanks were lifted and slammed back down on top of more clankers. At the center of the carnage, there she was. Hair flowing wildly around in the wind she created, eyes glowing red, her armor cracked and covered in mud, Jaine stood, crimson power flowing from her. 

They were gone - the whole battalion - in a few moments. Surrounded by the masses of broken battle droids, burning tanks, and scorch marks across the dirt, was Jaine. Standing, breathing heavily, but so alive. Echo thought he was hallucinating.

“Jaine!” Crosshair shouted sharply, darting out to her, catching her just before she hit the ground, unconscious once more. He was quickly joined by Hunter and Wrecker, who was rolling his shoulder back and wincing.

Echo and Tech slid down the ridge easily, rejoining the group.

They heard Crosshair, helmet discarded, pressing his forehead against Jaine.

“I knew you would come back to me.”

Thanks for reading! - River

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Ask and ye shall receive:

Ok first off, I’m gonna try to keep this somewhat short since I have WAY too many of these uh…

Literally longer than my longfic rn 🫠. And this is discounting ones just floating elsewhere (and about 99% (heh. ow.) of it is angst) so I’m just gonna pick three happier headcanons for the Batch. Which are still very, very long 😅

1. Cooking

Tech cannot cook. He reads the recipe, he will follow it to the T, but for reasons he can absolutely never understand (substituting ingredients for things that would work in theory but very much so do not), what he ends up with is dubious at best and dangerous at worst. (Never let Tech near a microwave. Ever. He will get ideas)

Hunter thinks he can cook. He knows how to make packaged meals and simple stuff like that, but he cannot cook. Omega would absolutely never ask him to cook because no one wants the space equivalent of a plain baloney sandwich for every meal of the day.

Wrecker can cook, he just doesn’t like to. You’re telling me I have to spend two hours putting these ingredients together for a meal when I could just eat them as is? He doesn’t see the point of making sides or extra stuff instead of just making the food edible as soon as possible. (Not to say that he doesn’t like all the extra stuff, he just would pretty much never spend the time to make it himself)

Crosshair could cook. If he wanted to. He does not.

And ofc Echo can cook, his very first shore leave he went out to buy cooking tools and sat with Tech to modify them into scomp attachments. He learned since he’s always been a picky eater and just liked something other than ration bars most of the time. But also since he’s a picky eater, a lot of the times he’ll cook for the batch and make something completely separate for himself. And maybe for Omega. Cause she wanted space mac n cheese too. (am i projecting here MAYBE MAYBE LISTEN— i could go on abt my autistic/picky eater echo headcanons (100% self-inserts) all day but that’s for another post lol)

2. Sleeping

Tech sleeps like a cartoon character, ass directly in the air with his pillow all fluffed under his head.

Wrecker sleeps completely starfished on his back snoring louder than one would think possible.

Crosshair sleeps like the dead, arms directly at his sides and he wakes up the exact same way, just opening his eyes and slowly levering up to sitting like a mummy or something.

Hunter sleeps like a normal person (lol), but he has big sound canceling headphones since his senses would never let him sleep with Wreckers snoring.

Echo doesn’t like sleeping, but when he does, he sleeps curled as tightly as possible with his back to the wall. Eventually the batch get him a weighted blanket and Tech makes him a heated mattress, but he still never likes sleeping :)

3. Swearing (once Omega is with them):

Tech isn’t usually one to swear anyway, so it’s not difficult for him to just not when Omega is around.

Wrecker would make up fun replacements like cheese and crackers or H E double hockey sticks-type things.

Hunter would try his best, but he would get like halfway through before he changes it like “Holy shiiiiiiiitaké” yknow?

I’m a bit undecided on Crosshair, he would either act all cold and tough but absolutely never swear around Omega and flick toothpicks at whoever accidentally does, or he just wouldn’t care. Fully like “Fuck you, dipshit,” and Hunter would just glare at him until Cross fixes himself like “Sorry, sorry, I meant asshole.”

And Echo would be the one enforcing the rule. He’s the one glaring at Hunter when he accidentally slips up and starts to swear, he would cover Omegas ears when there’s people at Cid’s, he’s just the mom.

However. He’s an arc trooper. He was in Anakin’s battalion, he’s Fives’ twin, and he straight up says “What the hell,” within the first few minutes we meet him. Omega knows more curse words than the average pirate, but she has no idea that’s what they are because every time Echo swears around her, it goes like this:

Echo: *long string of botched mando’a swears*

Omega: *repeats them*? What’s that mean?

Echo (immediately blushing and freaking out): Nothing, nothing! It’s super boring, it just means… uh…….. socks…

And Omega would never know until she repeats it to one of the others and they all just turn to glare at Echo as he desperately tries to melt into the floor.

And lastly, bonus from the dredges of my notes app:

I have SO many more but I’m gonna stop myself there 😅 And uh, while I was scrolling through my notes I found a TON of stuff I just?? Never posted?? So idk, I’m thinking of doing like a weekly headcanon/wip/notes-app-whatever post just to put them out there or something, idk. (Should I?)

Gonna tag @gentle-hero-blog @phis-writing and @jealous-sloth77 since y’all wanted this lol

[robotsandramblings]

do you think Tech could have fought off the inhibitor chip if it had activated like Wrecker's did?

as i mentioned before, this artpiece about "what if Tech's chip malfunctioned instead of Wrecker's?" gets me thinking a lot (about how terrifying it would be!!).

but it also gets me wondering, with Tech's heightened intelligence, is it possible he could fight off the inhibitor chip? as in, he convinces himself mentally to ignore/defy the order, either by direct and strong awareness "this is completely illogical", or he tricks himself into not doing it by working around it with logical "loopholes"??

feel free to add your own thoughts; i'll add a poll below too! :)

** if my distinction between options 2, 3, and 4 aren't clear, i'll try to explain lol. #2 is about him having some amount of control, and being able to fight it off himeslf in the end. #3 is where he has a much longer resistance time than even Rex had, but he can't fight it off completely, so instead he stops himself shooting/moving long enough to be stunned. #4 is basically a Rex scenario, where he has that little bit of resistance and awareness, but quickly loses it. (#5 is the common scenario of immediately following Order 66 without hesitation.) i'm sorry if i made it too confusing!!

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 17

"The Balmorra Mission"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

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

A/N: Uuuggghhhh, this took way longer than I feel it should, but it's also an original mission chapter and those always take me forever 😅😫 My apologies for the long wait!! Also sorry if things seem kind of rushed or they jump around a bit...😅

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx , @idoubleswearimawriter

《 Chapter 16

》 Chapter 18

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: The Bad Batch and Koriena Force head to Balmorra for an intel retrieval mission.

While on the way to Balmorra over the next rotation, the Bad Batch and the Koriena Force were finalizing their plan of action. Irys would hack into the security systems of the building to track everyone’s movements and keep a lookout, with Omega’s help. The Koriena Force would get into the gathering undercover as guests of the host, as there seemed to be no formal guest list, and keep him distracted while the Bad Batch would sneak inside the building through an underground tunnel system which would get them into the lab underneath the premises, where they figured the intel most likely would be hidden.

“Irys and Omega, you two are also in charge of watching Kori,” Kida declared afterwards, holding up her baby slightly in her arms.

“Obviously,” replied Irys. ‘There’s no way you’d be taking him with you.”

“Wait, I get to watch the baby? Oh yes!” Omega exclaimed, making everyone smile at her excitement.

Then Rina spoke up to the Clones, “We’ve got some smaller comm devices at the base that us girls can have hidden in our ears so you guys can communicate with us. We’ll get them set up to your frequency once we get there.”

“That’ll help,” said Hunter.

“Once the boys have the intel, the girls and I will fall back,” said Kimber. “More than likely, we’ll have to stage a diversion so we can sneak out unnoticed.”

Then Wrecker stepped forward and suggested, "We could just blow something up. That's always a good distraction."

"One that'll alert everyone to us being there," countered Echo.

"Then you can just detonate an explosive once you guys have cleared the area," Lex stated. “That way, there’s no risk to you guys being discovered and the rest of us can duck out in the hustle and bustle.”

Echo brought his hand up to his chin. “I suppose that could work,” he said.

Then Kida spoke up, looking at Echo, “Lex is just full of good ideas, isn’t she?”

Everyone else looked slightly confused at Kida while Lex rubbed the back of her neck timidly and looked away. What was Kida trying to do? This was the second time already she’d made a comment towards Lex.

“It was really Wrecker’s idea, I just expounded on it a little,” Lex protested, catching Echo grinning at her again.

“I would agree with both Wrecker and Lex,” Tech put in while looking at his datapad. “An explosive diversion would be an excellent idea. We can secure the explosive somewhere on the grounds after the intel is extracted.”

Wrecker threw a fist in the air and cheered, “Yeah! Finally! I haven’t gotten to blow anything up in forever.”

“Have at it, big guy. You deserve it,” said Rina with a smile, elbowing him gently in the arm, which made him chuckle with glee.

"Then it's settled: after we grab the intel, we'll plant a small explosive and detonate it once we've cleared the building so the Koriena Force can get out," Hunter stated.

A few seconds after he said that, there was the sound of a small whimper and all eyes turned as Kori started crying in Kida’s arms. All the Clones simultaneously looked nervous, wondering if something was wrong.

“Seems like planning’s over for now,” Echo declared.

“Oh darling, what’s wrong?” Kida asked her son in a soothing voice. “Are you hungry? Is it your feeding time?”

Irys looked at a wristpad on her arm, tapped on it a couple times and stated, “It has been a couple hours since his last feeding and, given his regular feeding habits, he should be due for another right now, so he’s right on schedule.”

“I’ll go warm the milk,” said Rina, already turning on her heel to head to another part of the ship.

Lex called after her, “We moved it all to the smaller cooling unit instead of the main one.”

“Got it,” Rina replied as she disappeared around a corner into another part of the ship.

“And don’t make it too hot this time, Rina!” Kida cried out as she held her crying baby closer to her chest.

They heard Rina’s voice shout back, ‘It was one time!”

“You ladies seem to have a good arrangement going here for the child,” Hunter observed.

Kida nodded gladly. “I may be a single mother, but I have a great support system with these girls,” she said, looking between Irys and Lex, who were still present. “We all do our fair share to help with Kori and take turns, when needed.”

“I monitor Kori’s eating and sleeping schedules as well as Kida’s to ensure she too gets as much proper rest as possible,” said Irys.

Then Lex added, motioning with her head to Irys, “She also installed a camera and audio system inside this ship so we can monitor the baby when he’s sleeping and hear him when he wakes up.”

“Ingenious,” commented Tech.

Irys turned to him and inquired, “Did you just compliment me?”

“I may not agree with all your methods, Irys, but I can still recognize a clever idea when it is presented,” he replied.

“Well…I'm impressed,” said Kida.

Confused, Omega asked, looking between Tech and Irys, “Do you two not like each other?”

For a second, neither of them were sure how to answer until Irys said, “We have a…friendly rivalry between us.”

“Meaning we don’t see eye to eye on everything, but we still hold respect for each other’s skills and character,” added Tech.

“Oh okay,” Omega said, nodding in understanding.

“Especially given the mutual link between our two squads,” said Irys, looking to Kimber, who smiled warmly at her.

Then Kida repositioned Kori in her arms to where she was cradling him in her hands and stated, “I’m going to go get him a blanket to swaddle him and hopefully, he’ll fall asleep while feeding. Kimber, will you hold him while I go fetch that?”

Moving over to her, Kimber answered pleasantly, “Of course. Come here, little one.” She took the fussy blue baby into her arms and Kida quickly left the room. Kimber rocked him gently up and down, which seemed to calm him down just a little, saying in a calming voice, “It’s all right, Kori, you’ve got food on the way. Shhh, you’re okay. You’re okay.” Then she smiled at him, despite his whimpering. “You really look so much like your father already. When he finally gets to meet you one day, I truly think he’ll love you.”

Across the room, Hunter felt his heart was near to bursting as he watched Kimber with the baby. He knew she had quite a maternal side after seeing her interactions with Omega and even sometimes Wrecker; those always made him smile, but this…this was something different somehow. Seeing her with a baby in her arms and acting almost like a true mother seemed to spark a newfound attribute of love for her within him. It seemed almost natural for her to be holding a small child, smiling down at them and rocking them to help soothe them. He began to imagine the baby with his skin color instead of blue…and dark hair…and amber eyes…a child that looked like a perfect combination of them.

This influx of emotions was all so new to him. He barely knew how to care for the young kid already in his charge, let alone a newborn baby; he didn’t even have a proper example to follow since none of the Clones actually had parents or were properly raised in such a loving way, but he couldn’t shake the longing feelings building inside him as he watched his love with their friend’s baby. Hunter adored how Kimber appeared in the moment and deep down, he knew what it was he desired: he wanted to have children with her someday and have a real family of their own. He could only imagine the bright smiles she would have on her face as she gazed down at the face of their own little son or daughter and cradled them in her loving arms. Being a father in any way was the last thing he’d ever imagined for himself…but then again, he had also never imagined being someone’s true love or potential husband and yet, here he was, deeply loved by this amazing woman before him who had already expressed her desire in marrying him one day. It just seemed that life was still throwing plenty of surprises at him.

He was broken out of his thoughts by Echo’s voice speaking quietly by his ear, “You’re staring at her, Hunter.”

“You’re surprised?” Hunter asked when he looked back at him.

Echo gave him an amused smirk. “Not really,” he said before laying a hand on his Sergeant’s shoulder and walking away.

As everyone else in the room started scattering off to different parts of the ship, Hunter gradually approached Kimber, who was starting to get Kori from crying to just releasing tiny whines and calming down. “You seem like a natural at this,” he said, laying a hand on her upper back.

She grinned at him, continuing her rocking motions. “For a few years, I used to help take care of a few children of various ages in my area on Tatooine,” she explained, “so I suppose I have a bit of experience and picked up a few tricks.”

“That explains why you’ve been good with Omega,” he said, “Though, I can’t say I’m surprised.”

Kimber chuckled. “You’re doing well with her, too, you know.”

“I’m…trying,” he said with a heavy sigh.

She carefully nudged him with her elbow while still cradling Kori. “You’re doing a lot better than you think. You’re keeping her safe and she’s growing more and more every day, thanks to you.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said.

“None of us do, love,” she replied back, shifting the baby up a little in her arms. “That’s the beauty of it, though: we’re all figuring this out as we go together.”

When she turned to look up at him, Hunter tilted his head down and touched his forehead to hers, just overwhelmed with how in love he was with her in the moment. “How do you always know just what to say to ease my mind?” he asked.

She lightly nuzzled his nose and replied, “I know you very well.”

Hunter lifted his head and tenderly kissed her forehead before stealing a look down at Kori, who was just whimpering and letting out small cries here and there. Now, he definitely could see the resemblance between him and Rex with his brown eyes and blonde hair. Kori essentially looked like a little blue Clone and it was a tiny bit strange to think about.

It made Hunter wonder where Rex was, what he was doing…and if he would ever learn of his son’s existence. If he did, how would the Captain react to knowing he was the father of a child whose mother he had only been with once? Though, Hunter had a feeling that Kida wasn’t just a random woman to Rex. He was never one to break protocol or behave unprofessionally unless he felt strongly about it and believed it to be right. He had chosen to be intimate with Kida, a civilian woman, after only knowing her for a few days and in so doing, made a choice that could’ve tarnished his reputation if the Republic still existed. That knowledge alone told Hunter that Kida was a special woman to Rex and he only hoped that she would still mean something to the Captain when he found out about the child that had been born as a consequence of that choice.

Just then, they heard footsteps coming into the room and Kida came from around the corner with a red blanket in her arms. “Wow, you managed to stop his crying,” she pointed out.

Kimber strode forward towards Kida and said back, “All I did was just rock him and talk to him. I didn’t do anything special.”

Kida laid the blanket out flat on the floor and stated as she carefully took Kori from Kimber and began wrapping him in the blanket, “You just have a natural mother’s touch, Kimber. That’ll be wonderful when you two have kids.”

Both Kimber and Hunter let out startled noises, their cheeks turning red, and exchanged timid glances upon hearing Kida’s statement, both of them unsure how to respond. Hunter, however, offered Kimber a reassuring smile, showing that he actually didn’t have much of a problem with what Kida had said, which kind of surprised Kimber. She thought he would’ve shot down that notion right away…but he didn’t. He almost seemed happy about that thought.

Did he actually want kids…with her?

If that were so…then she would be more than overjoyed.

It was then Rina walked in with a bottle of blue milk and stated, looking at Kimber and Hunter, "Though, can you two hold up on the pitter patter of tiny feet until the smol can walk at least?"

Kimber and Hunter both blushed bright red yet again.

Some hours later, the Bad Batch and the Koriena Force made it to Irys’s house on Balmorra. They all took the next two days to just spend more time together, finalize the finer details of the mission and train together. Before they knew it, the night of the gathering arrived and they were gearing up for the mission at hand. The Clones were getting their weapons and supplies they might need ready--especially Wrecker, who was going through his many explosives, trying to find just the right one to use--and the girls were being outfitted by Kida into some outfits that were a bit on the scanty side. Though, according to Kida, these were going to be the key to ensuring they get the host's attention and keep him distracted enough while the Bad Batch retrieved the intel. The girls had decided that they all would wear similar shades of baby blue to show that they were together as a group and to help ensure they could spot each other in a crowd if needed. Of course, Kida had also secretly sewn in weapons into their outfits in case of an emergency, like blasters and vibroblades.

Kimber wore a high-low dress with billowy skirts, light blue stockings, a dark blue and gold sash, a high lace collar and sleeves that ended at her elbows and fell like waves of fabric hanging from her arms. Rina wore a shorter, knee-length dress with a darker blue vest over top of it, open shoulders and puffy sleeves. Definitely not her normal style and she could tell Kida was enjoying herself putting Rina in something like that. Kida herself was in a flowy multilayered skirt and a blouse with low shoulders that ended at her midriff; a more revealing outfit, which was exactly her style. Then Lex was in a high-low dress similar to Kimber's that was a black to blue gradient in color and only had a single long sleeve--the sleeveless side being where her mechanical arm was, no less, but Kida said the arm glove would compliment the outfit--and then thigh high, black stockings and boots.

After they all were dressed, Rina, Kimber, Lex and Kida all came out, ready to go. Wrecker's face beamed brightly at seeing Rina and he told her she looked really pretty, which of course made her blush like mad from the attention. For Hunter, it had been some time since he'd seen Kimber in a fancy dress like this, he'd almost forgotten how beautiful she looked that way. Though, he wasn't fond of the fact that she was dressing like this to distract another man, but it was necessary and he had to put his insecurities aside. Echo thought Lex looked nice, too, but wasn't sure if it was something he should voice aloud, but he found it hard taking his eyes off her.

Once they were all prepared and evening was on its approach, they left Irys's place and made their way to the coordinates of their target's abode. They landed the ship a few clicks out in a cluster of trees so as to not be seen and so they were close to where the underground tunnel system started. The girls' ear comms were attuned to the Clones' comm frequency, secured and with that, the girls set off, the Clones wishing them luck as they disembarked the ship.

As they left, Lex felt someone take her gloved hand and she found herself locking eyes with Echo.

"Don't take any unnecessary risks, all right?" he said, keeping his voice low.

The Zabrak woman smirked, touched at his concern. "I'll do my best. You be careful, too, okay?"

He just gave her a nod in return.

After that, she jogged to catch up with the rest of the team out in the dark evening air. They could see the large, mansion-like structure that they had seen the schematics of and prepared themselves for what was to come. All they knew was it was a gathering of all female guests, but were unsure as to what the gathering would entail. The ladies all agreed to keep their eyes and ears open for anything else while still keeping their sights on their target, which was the host. Finding one man amongst a bunch of women would be easy.

They entered into the building behind a line of women and were directed to a larger room on the side of the house, where a vast crowd of women of numerous species in colorful wardrobes were all assembled. There were Droids rolling around with trays of different drinks in between the groups of women interspersed throughout the room. There were tables off to the left side with more drinks and small finger foods as well as a set of doors atop a small set of stairs near the back of the room.

“Well, whoever owns this place knows how to treat their guests,” stated Rina, snatching a smaller glass of a blue drink from a Droid’s tray as it rolled by.

“Don’t get hammered, Rina. We are on the job,” Lex warned her.

Rina downed the liquid in one gulp and replied after swallowing, “Relax, I know how to hold my liquor.”

“All right, fan out and see what you all can see or find out about the host or what this whole thing is about,” ordered Kimber. “The host should be arriving soon and when he does, rendezvous back by the drink table and then we’ll move in.”

As the ladies dispersed, Kimber pretended to brush a lock of hair that had fallen out of her braid behind her ear, pressed the comm in her ear and whispered, “Havoc 1, this is Havoc 6. We’re in position. Do you copy?”

“Affirmative, Havoc 6,” she heard Hunter’s voice reply back. “We’re going underground. Stand by.”

“Copy that,” she answered as she took a drink from a Droid and started carefully peering around the room, her ears training carefully on the voices around her. She could hear the gossiping of numerous things from the other ladies she passed by as she strode through the room, such as failing marriages, affairs and financial worries.

Then she heard one voice speak from a purple and white Togruta woman, “I hear the doctor is taking a needed leave from an ongoing project, hence why he’s having this gathering in the first place.”

Kimber then whispered into her comm, “It sounds like our gracious Imperial host is a doctor.”

She heard Irys reply, “Cid did specify that he was either a scientist or an engineer, so I’m guessing he’s a scientist.”

“A scientist of what, however, I’ve yet to determine,” answered Kimber quietly.

“I wouldn’t mind being studied by the good doctor,” she heard Kida speak.

“Someone else already studied you and you got a baby as a result. Stay focused, Kida,” then came Rina’s hushed yet unamused voice.

Kimber had to stifle a chuckle at that moment, especially to not arouse suspicion.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Irys had her eyes on her computer screens, watching the cameras inside the building where she could see the Koriena Force and she also had the schematics to the mansion pulled up where she could see the underground tunnel system where the Bad Batch currently were. Omega was in the back of the room playing with Kori, who was on the floor on a blanket.

"All right, boys, you're going to go left in just a few meters," she told the Clones over the comm.

"Copy that, we see the turn up ahead," answered Echo.

"Once you make the turn, continue straight until you reach a ladder," Irys went on. "Climb up and it'll take you to the next level of tunnels." Then she switched back to the building cameras and said, "Ladies, I'm picking up movement near the back of the building. Looks like the doctor is arriving."

"Noted. Koriena Force, regroup," ordered Kimber.

"On our way, boss lady," she heard Rina reply.

Kimber made her way through the crowd towards the drink table. From what she'd been able to gather eavesdropping on other women around her, no one seemed to really know who the host was, which was even more curious.

When she met up with the rest of the ladies, she asked quietly as they huddled up, "Did any of you find out anything else?"

"Nothing other than our host seems to be a complete mystery," answered Rina.

Lex added, "I heard no mention of a name or anything. Only that he seems to be known for his reputation as an exceptional scientist."

"Though, still nothing on what specific field of science he deals in," said Kida.

Kimber brought a hand up to her chin. "Hmm…I know Imperials are already shady, but this seems more suspicious than usual. How could there be this many people here and not a single one knows who this person is?”

“The man’s just really good at keeping a low profile,” Rina suggested.

“Who cares? Finding out who he isn’t our objective,” Lex then reminded them. “We’re just here to keep him distracted and make sure he doesn’t go down to the lab while the guys are retrieving the intel we’re here for.”

“Lex does make a good point,” they heard Irys say on the comm. “The doctor should be coming in any second now through those back doors. Eyes on the target.”

All the ladies turned just in time as the doors near the back swished open and their designated target came in, making all heads look in his direction. However, through the crowd, they couldn’t get as good of a look at him as they could. All they could see was a gray and black uniform and a head of dark hair.

“Welcome,” he spoke loudly in a calm voice. “I am pleased to see such a marvelous turnout. Please, keep enjoying yourselves, ladies, and I will come around to each and every one of you in time.” Then he descended down the stairs and into the crowd, where the Koriena Force lost sight of him.

“Good short and sweet speech,” said Rina.

“At least he’s one man in the midst of a crowd of women. He’ll be easy to spot eventually,” added Kida.

Kimber looked up and saw that there was a second story balcony in the room; a place where, given her experience as a sniper, she’d be able to spot the doctor easily enough. “I’m going up to the second floor. Stay together and I’ll tell you where he is.”

“Not alone, you’re not. I’m coming with you,” Rina stated.

“All right then, let’s go,” Kimber said.

The two of them carefully maneuvered to the edge of the room and peered around until they could see the stairs that led up to the second floor. As casually as possible, they made their way up the stairs. There was nothing that indicated that guests weren’t allowed on the upper floors, so they kept going like nothing was wrong. Once they were upstairs, they both ducked behind some pillars, keeping out of sight.

“You see him?” Rina asked Kimber.

Kimber peeked out from behind the pillar and looked down on the crowd, where she spotted his dark head of hair making his way through the crowd. “Yeah, I see him.” She put her finger to her ear and spoke quietly, “Kida, Lex, he’s coming your way. Keep your eyes on him.”

“Affirmative,” answered Lex.

Then Kimber asked into her comm, “Lads, have you made it to the lab yet?”

“Not yet. We’re nearly there,” came Tech’s voice in reply.

“Roger that,” she said back.

“I don’t know what it is, Kimber, but there’s something about this guy I don’t like,” Rina said in a hushed tone to Kimber as she kept her eyes on the doctor below. “He’s just walking around with a smug look on his face, but I’ve seen that kind of look before.”

Kimber snuck a look back over the railing and got a better view of the man’s face, but just slightly. He did indeed have a smug look, as Rina described it. “Well, he’s an Imperial. Of course, he looks like that. He thinks he’s better than everyone,” she responded.

“Nah, it’s more than that,” Rina refuted. “Even through the Force, I can tell this guy is bad news, more than any average Imperial.”

“How so?” Kimber asked.

“I’m not sure. I just have a bad feeling about this,” Rina answered.

Back down below, the Bad Batch were getting through the last of the tunnels until it led to just underneath the lab. Irys had informed them that she didn’t pick up any heat signatures coming from inside the lab--because conveniently, there were no cameras down there--so they should be good to just climb inside through a panel in the floor. Hunter was the first to go up the ladder that would lead straight up to the panel.

“We’re making our way up to the lab now,” he spoke into his helmet comm.

He climbed for about a minute with Echo right behind him until they reached the top. Hunter carefully pushed up on the panel and could see the ceiling of the lab. Then he gave it a shove and pushed it all the way back, giving them room to climb into the room. He climbed up onto solid ground and then turned back around to give Echo a hand up. Once they both were in and the others came in behind them, they surveyed the room...and were shocked at what they saw.

Hunter informed everyone over comms, “There’s nothing here.”

Before them was a vast, stone room that was completely empty. There was no equipment, no weapons, nothing at all.

“What?” he heard Kimber reply.

Echo then joined in, “The lab is empty. There’s not a single thing down here.”

Tech started tapping things out on his datapad as he too came into the room. “Something does seem strange about this. Why would a scientist have an underground laboratory devoid of any scientific equipment?” he asked aloud.

“Yeah…something’s not right,” Hunter commented.

“Well, if there’s nothing in the lab, then that leaves one more remaining option for where the intel is,” said Irys’s voice.

Kimber, back inside, responded in a whisper, “The doctor’s private office on the top floor.” Her mind began racing at potential possibilities of pulling this off. There wouldn’t be any good enough way for the Bad Batch to reach the top floor, not without being spotted on the grounds and getting caught. There was only one choice left.

"Boys, get out of there and get the explosive set. The girls and I will take it from here," she said.

"Negative. You'll blow your cover," Hunter said. "We'll find another way."

Kimber wasn't going to let this go and said back with determination, "Belay that. We're already inside and our cover is what's going to get us inside that office. Trust me, we'll handle this."

"Kimber, don't--"

"There's no time to argue. I'm going dark. Havoc 6 out."

"Havoc 6?" Rina repeated, confused.

Kimber replied with a shrug, "It's my codename. We have those, but we don't really use them outside of covert missions."

"Sounds weird...I like it," said Rina with a grin.

"Kimber, Rina, we have a problem," they then heard Lex say on comms. "We've lost sight of the doctor."

Both Kimber and Rina exchanged startled looks. They'd been too distracted by the news of the empty lab that they'd also taken their eyes away from their target. They both looked down and sure enough, they couldn't see him either.

"Blast it! We need to find him," Kimber declared.

Just as she turned around to go back towards the stairs, she let out a small yelp as she almost ran into someone…and found herself face to face with the doctor, who peered at her curiously with piercing blue eyes.

His mouth opened and, with a small, cunning smirk and a voice smooth as silk, he said to her, "Well…you've found him. Now…what can I do for you?"