--Building a New life --Tech x Reader Bad Batch

Chapter 16 --Into the Mines--

What had just been another morning keeping busy in the outlands of Ord Mantell quickly turned into a man-hunt for Omega. You and Tech had been repairing your ship, but abandoned the final touches as the search became more urgent. You checked every bunk, loose panel, nearby hiding spots and began to call out for Omega as you searched around.

By the time that Hunter had returned to camp you and Tech were going over the list of possible places a third time. "Did you find anything?" Hunter asks, catching his breath as he meets you and Tech at the door to the Marauder.

"Negative" Tech replies, and you shake your head.

"I doubt Omega went far" you start, but Hunter cuts you off.

"I don't mind her wandering off, but not responding means something could have happened. With the Empire in the area we can't take any chances" He said, his voice stern and serious. It was unusual compared to how you had heard him talk before but it made sense, this is what a commander would really be like.

"We're almost back to camp" Wrecker says over the comms.

"Once they get back, I want one of you to stay here and the other to come searching with me" Hunter explained, and then turned to start searching the campsite himself.

You and Tech look at each other and after a moment you say "I think you'd be better here".

"Your climbing skills would be advantageous, and there is some searching I can do from here" Tech answered, "I will remain, you go with Hunter."

You nod in agreement as Tech adds "keep him from losing it".

The others soon return, and Tech starts scanning the area for Omegas tracker from the Marauders computer. You, Echo, Wrecker, and Hunter arm yourselves, not that the guys ever go weaponless, and head off towards the mines.

Tech pinpointed one of the last known locations being near that area, so Hunter decided that you will start there. After a short run towards the first path leading to the shaft openings, you and Hunter notice footprints on the ground and lean down to inspect them. The reddish sandy dirt reveals not only Omegas shoes, but also a set of paw prints.

"Rock rat?" you ask, looking sideways at Hunter who was leaning next to you.

"Too big" Hunter said, tracing his fingers just over the edges, "Probably whatever eats rock rats, but it's not large".

--Hopefully whatever it is didn't hurt her-- you thought, and you all began to follow the tracks as they weaved their way along the miners path. They went between some rock outcroppings and eventually made their way towards a particularly steep mineshaft. This mine was further to the edge of the map provided to you, one of their newer ones and its entrance angled down to a slope just after the opening.

Hunter leaned down and examined the ground as each of you looked around near the entrance.

"She was definitely here" Hunter said, again following the prints with his fingers to guide the rest of you. "By the looks of it she was following the animal, they had a fight and then ended up going inside" he explained, pointing out the faint shoe markings, paw prints, and evidence of small feet sliding down the slope into the mines.

"Maybe she slipped" Wrecker said, peering into the shaft "Bottom seems pretty far".

"Possibly" Echo agreed "It's a good couple of yards, and if you have enough momentum you could easily lose your footing".

"But why not just climb back out?" Hunter asked, following along.

"The animal must have done something" you reply to Hunter "maybe it took something and she was chasing after it".