The Bad Batch Aftermath{TechxOC}

Hunted

"We're running out of fuel!" Caleb yelled from the copilot's seat.

"Let's go here." Valerie pointed to her navi-system. A hot searing pain shot up her shoulder. Every time she moved it, there was pain. She had to take care of this wound soon. "There's a landing pad where we could hide the starship and we can figure out what's going on."

"Sounds good." Caleb nodded.

The two of them landed the shuttle and exited the hanger bay. With a quick trick of the force. Valerie told the mechanic to hold onto the ship and not let anyone know it was there. They complied.

"Let's hide in the woods." Valerie said. Caleb nodded and they started making their way. It was dark outside and vision was limited. Valerie started feeling dizzy.

Her feet started dragging and she brought her hand to her wound, it was still fresh with oozing blood. Her blinking started picking up rapidly. She was trying not to lose focus.

Caleb looked up at her, sensing something was wrong. "Uh-Knight Ortis." He stopped but she kept dragging on. He held a hand out towards her. "Val-" She collapsed to the ground. "Valerie!" He kneeled by her side and turned her over. She was pale and her skin felt ice cold. The padawan started to panic. "No, no, no! Don't do this please!" He shook her shoulders. "Don't leave me alone!"

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Valerie peeled open her crusted eyes. It was dark in the skies and stars were shining above her. She heard crackling and smelled burning wood. Taking a deep breath she remembered she was in pain.

Then she remembered the real pain.

Valerie turned where she heard the burning wood and saw a small fire crackling. Padawan Dume was sitting across from her. He was resting his elbows on his knees and his eyes were closed.

"Ca-Caleb?" Her voice was hoarse.

He jolted away. "Knight Ortis!" He scurried over to her and helped her up. "You had me worried there."

"What... what happened?" She asked as she sat up. He handed a canteen to her and she couldn't help but chug the contents inside. It was water.

"You collapsed." Caleb said. "You lost a lot of blood." Valerie touched her shoulder and felt the bandages. "I changed your bandages twice."

"How long was I out." Valerie asked.

"Only a day." He said. "But... I ate the last ration this morning. I figured you wouldn't want to stay long here anyways."

"You're right." Valerie nodded. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"There's something else..."

"What is it?"

"This morning we got a message... I waited to watch it with you. It's someone from the council."

"Someone from the council? Who?"

"I don't know."

"Well, let's play the message."

Caleb placed the hologram on a nearby rock and pushed a button. A moment later Master Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared. Valerie gasped.

"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi." He started. "I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen." Valerie's heart sank. "With the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place. This is a message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi. Trust in the force. Do not return to the temple. That time has passed." Valerie and Caleb looked at each other. "And our future is uncertain. We will each be challenged. Our trust, our faith, our friendships, but we must persevere and in time a new hope will emerge." It felt like Master Kenobi turned to Valerie. "May the force be with you, always."