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

Chapter 21 -- Finally, another mercenary mission --

You and Echo return from your short excursion to the trading post on Numidian Prime. You had found most of the supplies on Tech's list, and you had at least 'checked' the bounty hunting registry before beginning the long walk back to camp in silence.

Your mind was still buzzing with thoughts and concerns as you approached camp in the early evening. The sun had not set, but was well on its way behind the trees casting beams of light that decorated your campsite with a sunny relaxing glow. It was warmer now than in the morning from the residual heat, and you did your best to calm yourself. As Omega ran up to you in excitement "your back! How was it?" and began berraging you with questions, you were glad your helmet was still on. Seeing her, and hearing her voice immediately evoked that deep sadness from you. --You would never see any of your padawans again--.

Thankfully Echo was more than happy to start answering all of Omegas questions, and you followed behind them as they headed up to the Marauder. Hunter could sense your deep sadness, and you remained silent as Echo started unloading his backpack. You quietly handed the holopad containing the list back to Hunter, and after taking a deep breath you removed your helmet. No tears were in your eyes, a false smile that quickly became real spread across your face and you joined Echo in unpacking your purchases and then taking off your armor.

"Managed to find everything Tech wanted" Echo commented, as he took out a few ship part pieces.

"I haven't tried this one before" Omega commented, reading one of the ration packages.

"It wasn't on the list" You quietly joked.

"An unauthorized purchase?" you could hear Tech ask from the cockpit. You and Omega only giggled in response and Tech rolled his eyes.

"Here's what was left" Echo chuckled, handing over the remaining credits you had not used.

"Not bad" Hunter replied "Anything you couldn't find?"

"A sense of frugality" Tech commented counting the credits "You should have had more than this leftover".

"Some things were a bit pricey" you replied, and Echo grinned. Tech gave you both a skeptical look through his goggles and Hunter raised an eyebrow. He had a suspicion about what Echo might have purchased knowing that the trading post contained more than just shops.

"Can we try this?" Omega asked, walking up beside you waving one of the new ration packs.

"I'd like to, I'm almost as hungry as Wrecker after that walk" you joke, walking outside to have a late lunch with Omega in tow. Her giggling and excitement threatened to bring you to tears, but you shoved your emotions away to attend to later. You couldn't break down right now, it would be too disruptive.

"Did you check the system?" Tech asked Echo, heading back to his seat. He felt thankful that you had finally walked out but wished he had gotten to go with you to the trading post. Echo tried to play off Tech's question "of course, Y/N worked on it while I was gathering your ship parts".

Hunter nodded, and Tech sighed quietly. Echo picked up on Tech's demeanor and chuckled "Sorry Tech, looks like you'll have to have coffee with her again to find out".

Tech turned back to face the ship's control panel, pulling out his holopad with nothing to look at. He had originally planned to go with Echo, in order to keep him in line, but also to let him know about the routine changes he was trying out with you. From Hunter's glances Tech knew that he sensed something up with you. --it could be any number of variables- Tech thought to himself, only half listening to Echo. --I must make careful changes to my interactions with Y/n--.

* * *

"This IS DELICIOUS!" Wrecker declared after trying one of the new bars. "I'll never eat those other ones again".