The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

A Protective Boyfriend (Fives x Crosshair)

"Oh, I don't blame you. I would have left him for dead too. After all, he's just another reg" 

Rex couldn't get that snide comment out of his mind as he sat around the medical bay watching Echo get treated by some rebels. Earlier on, the batch had got in contact with Rex claiming they needed major help. It turned out the batch had found themselves face to face with the Elite Squad and Crosshair had taken aim straight at Echo under the chip's influence and shot straight for him. A direct hit squarely in the chest. Even though the batch still believed the pure lie of the chip being taken out. 

In reality, Echo should be dead but thanks to the efforts of a little force sensitive clone who lost it when Echo was shot now the batch had more problems on their hands. They had a non-compliant marksman who was in a rebel cell in handcuffs being watched by the best of the best while Echo was in an induced coma fighting for his life. 

A sigh from the doorway turned the captain's attention towards Hunter who walked through the door with an exhausted emotional Omega on his hip. The young girl had tried to talk to Crosshair only for some nasty comments to be sent back her way. Part of the batch didn't think Crosshair was even able to come back anymore. The only one to not have lost faith was Wrecker who was trying to reason with his best-friend who avoided even looking at them all. 

The truth is the Empire liked to destroy those from within before letting them go like caged beasts in the wild without any backup or a reason for living. There was several times Rex had went to rescue fellow brothers only to find them on the verge of insanity or dead already due to suicide. The pressure just got too much. 

"What did he say this time?" Rex asked, Hunter could only sigh, "Something along the lines of her being a burden and that if it was his choice he would have just left her to the Empire and…" 

Rex visibly showed anger as he stormed from the room. He was done with the marksman, for once he would deal with the elite commander. Hunter's eyes widened when Tech informed him of a particular line Rex had been mumbling about in the past hour or two. Passing over Omega, Hunter raced after the captain only to flinch at what he saw. 

Racing around the corner he saw Rex visibly punching Crosshair well CT-9904 who didn't say anything instead tried to defend himself but wasn't the best at hand to hand. Hunter found himself stuck on the spot as he watched Rex physically punch his former brother with no remorse. The captain's anger was getting the better of him so when Wrecker reappeared he roared out in anger snapping Hunter from his thoughts as he pulled Rex out of the cage just on time as CT-9904s body slumped against the wall with blood running down his nose. 

"HUNTER! What the HELL?! Why didn't you help!" Wrecker roared at the sergeant who was frozen on the spot as the demolition expert kneeled down in front of the half-conscious marksman. Crosshair was inwardly battling the voice and trying to communicate to the outside world that he needed help but CT-9904 had given him full view to his so-called older brother not coming to help. It made him feel more anger but hearing his oldest brother come to rescue gave him more hope. 

"Crosshair, can you hear me?" Wrecker whispered, hoping for a response. 

Hunter didn't even stick around as he guided Rex back to Echo's room where they shortly found Tech and Omega asleep beside Echo's bed. Together the two settled to keep a vigilant watch over the one they called brother. Unaware that they had made someone into something they wished they hadn't. Wrecker had a brilliant idea in putting both captured members of the Elite Squad, what could go wrong, he thought.

Two weeks passed…

Omega sighed helping Tech refix the ship, or upgrade it as he liked to call it. Hunter had banned her from going to where the Elite Squad were held prisoner. Only CT-9904 and ES-02 were alive, the two were oddly close from Wreckers perspective. CT-9904 remained silent while ES-02 protected his back and answered questions while standing in front of her commander. Wrecker was conflicted on what to do, he had heard rumours going around the rebel base that the two elite squad members would be killed or given to a so called force user to see what they knew about the growing empire. Wrecker wasn't onboard with either of them so he decided to ask a few of his own questions.