The Bad Batch

Artifacts and Objectives

After the absolute PAIN of the season 2 finale, I wrote this to cope with the anxiety, because... wow.

Caldessa Prime was rather pleasant looking planet, one covered with warm forests and cool, flowing creeks. Vast mountains reached forthe sky in the distance, their peaks just barely scraping against the cotton clouds dotting the sky.

In a small clearing, the Havoc Marauder sat peacefully in a soft bed of grass, waiting for its crew to return. Said crew were off on a mission, exploring a nearby cave located about a mile's walk away.

"Watch it!" Crosshair hissed as Wrecker nearly knocked a loose rock from the ceiling onto the sniper's head.

Wrecker grinned sheepishly. "Oh, uh, sorry!" Next to Hunter, Omega giggled at her brothers' banter. Crosshair, however, could not be more annoyed. Removing his helmet, he rolled his eyes, glaring at Tech, who had had his nose buried in his datapad. "This is pointless. Remind me why we are here again?"

Tech blinked, readjusting his goggles. "The buyer offered us a total of one thousand credits for this so called "artifact." Considering that is enough to pay for fuel and food for quite some time, I believe that it is a worthwhile investment." Crosshair grumbled to himself, snarling as he turned and wandered further into the cave, alone. Omega frowned. Ever since he had returned from the Empire's clutches, Crosshair had been constantly irritable and angry. That is... more than usual. He refused to talk to hardly anyone, refused to ask for help, and even refused food. The results of these habits were beginning to show in the dark stains beneath the clone's eyes and the slight bagginess of his armor.

Crosshair was depleting, and Omega was concerned. As the last bit of the sniper's armor faded in the darkness ahead, Omega tapped Hunter, who was bickering about something with Tech and Wrecker. He glanced down at her, and she quickly pointed further down the tunnel, silently asking if she could go. Hunter considered for a moment, then gave her a nod. She grinned, then raced after Crosshair.

Surprisingly, the next part of the cave was slightly difficult to navigate, and Omega struggled to step over all the roots and mounds blocking her path. She paused for a moment, glancing ahead into the darkness. How far had Crosshair gone? Surely he hadn't walked through this in only a matter of minutes? Sighing, Omega jumped from root to root, determined to find out where he had gone. The tunnel had now changed from being made out of grey rock to solid brown roots. The cave itself had become made of only wood, and Omega briefly acknowledged its beauty.

Up ahead, Omega spotted a bright golden glow. She squinted. What was that? Rushing forward, she cleared the last of the roots and burst into a wood-walled room. She gasped. The tree enclosed walls were covered in green leaves and long branches. Moss hung from almost every available space, and bright golden specks, like fireflies, flew through the air, their light filling the space around her.

Eyes widening, Omega took in the scene, oblivious to the other presence in the room beside her.

"What are you doing?"

With a yelp, Omega snapped out of her dazed state. Looking to her left, she immediately met Crosshair's annoyed gaze. His arms were crossed, and a scowl was plastered on his face. If he was at all impressed by the scene around them, the sniper didn't show it. Omega shrunk back, slightly uncomfortable. "Uhhh... I came to find you?"

Crosshair rolled his eyes. "Congratulations." He stepped away, turning towards the center of the room. It was then that Omega noticed the strange object seated on a cropped stump.

She gasped again. "The artifact!"

A pulsing aura surrounded the artifact, also appearing to be the source of the lights
floating about the room. It was shaped like a sort of diamond, only the middle was missing, and was instead filled with an impossibly bright center. "Wow..."