The Path of a Jedi Book 2 (The Bad Batch x Reader)

Chapter 37

The inquisitor smiled wickedly at you, knowing the pain you now felt. He laughed at you, as you looked at Tech's lifeless body, before slowly rising to your feet.

"Funny, the Republic never cared for the clones," he spat, "yet you seem to care too much."

You could say nothing, as the anger and pain rose in your heart. The Inquisitor didn't seem to care, instead he turned his attention to the Marauder, which was now beginning its ascent out of the hangar. He reached for it, using the force to stall the engines and keep the ship from climbing higher.

Hunter's frantic voice came over your com, "something is happening to the ship, I can't take off."

You reach inside yourself, letting your anger and your pain rise and make you powerful. But your happy memories rose to meet it, centering you and bringing you focus. You pushed into the force, pushing against the strength of the Inquisitor, trying to advance the ship upwards. The Marauder was suspended in the air, unable to be pulled back down, but unable to rise out of the hangar.

Hunter's voice sounded again, "I still can't take off," his voice straining with the effort of pulling the controls.

You reached farther into yourself, before you never used your complete feelings. Life was black and white, and you always had leaned towards the light. But the light and the dark were now mixing, in the chaos, the world grew sharper. You rose in strength, the world no longer cut and dry. You pushed harder against the ship, finally getting some leverage as it rose a little higher. You pushed again, suddenly finding the strength in the grayness.

You shouted in effort, the Marauder continued to rise. "We're climbing," Hunter said into the com, "we're almost out of the hangar!" With one final push the ship rose out of the hangar and took off, leaving the moon behind them.

You took deep breaths, catching your strength as the ship was now out of sight. "We're about to make the jump to hyperspace," Hunter's voice came again, "promise me you'll find us."

You took another deep breath before answering, "keep her safe, I'll see you soon."

"I love you," Hunter whispered before the ship took off into hyperspace. You felt their presence leave the system, you knew they had made it out safely.

You reached into the force, focusing on your thoughts and love for Hunter, until you found him, deep in a hyperspace lane. "I love you," you whispered through the force, "I always will."

You were not sure if he heard you, but you had no time to think about it. The Inquisitor howled in frustration and defeat, shouting a few commands into his communicator. You turned to him and smiled, "not used to losing?" Just then, an imperial craft hovered over the hangar and the bay door dropped down.

"I'll find her, no matter where she goes," the inquisitor threatened. You ran towards him, but he flipped up and out of the hangar and onto the door of the ship, before it immediately took off out of the system.

You sighed as you watched the ship leave, but then you quickly turned around and knelt over the body of Tech. By now, your friends arrived in the hangar, they stood somber faced as you grabbed Tech's dying hand.

"Did... they... get ...away?" he coughed out.

You nodded, "yes, they are both safe," you responded sadly, "thanks to you."

Tech smiled, his pain was gone, but he breathed in one last breath, "goodbye, general."

A tear rolled down your face as his eyes closed. You had lost too many friends today, you tried to find comfort in his peace, but the pain in your heart was almost too much to bear.

It was Obi-Wan who walked up to you, placing a hand on your shoulder and pulling you out of your kneeling position. He wiped the tears from your eyes, "the Inquisitor recalled all the forces left on the moon, they have retreated. The battle is won."

You nodded, "but at what cost?"