Something to Prove (A Bad Batch Fanfic)

The Mystery

     After you've had your day to relax with the others, it's time to get back to your missions. You don't mind having to go back- you find that you get restless when you don't have anything to do for a while. You follow the others back to the Marauder since it's fully refueled. You look over at Omega. She's still beaming with happiness. 

"Did you have fun?" Hunter asks her.

     Omega nods, stepping on to the ship. You follow her. Tech walks over to the cockpit, sitting down in his usual spot. He prepares the ship to leave the planet that you're currently on. Echo sits next to Tech. Wrecker immediately finds Gonky and begins lifting him. Hunter stands with his arms crossed in the common area. You notice Tech's datapad lying on a table.

"Tech?" You say.

"Hmm?"

"Can I borrow your datapad?"

Tech hesitates, then responds, "Sure."

You pick up the datapad and walk back to your room, closing the door. 

~

     You aren't sure why you want to look at your father's file and Captain Kaldor's file so badly. With your very limited hacking skills, you'll barely be able to access anything. You can tell that Tech has been hesitant about teaching you more hacking skills ever since your first attempt at running away. You can't exactly blame him. You would've done the same thing. You try (and fail) a few times to access the Imperial Database, but eventually get it. 

You type CT-9904 in your code, hoping that you'll be able to find anything related to your father. 

The datapad beeps. A few files pop up on the screen. The first file is your father's standard Imperial information that you read on one of your missions (before you were knocked out by a guard). The next two files, however, are mission reports. You open the first mission report. 

It reads:

Mission Report

KBi0t TP7iMM, W3yOa6P
CT-9904, Commander

     After Lieutenant NBOa6 was pronounced deceased on P3Mk3, former Commander CT-9904 was sedated and transported to the Imperial base on W3yOa6P. The aP5a6Q3P MQk3NQ3 hk2kskBN brought the clone to the facility where he was questioned by scientist Emerie Karr concerning the location of

The file ends. 

I've never seen encryption like this, not on only a few words... You think.

     You download the file onto Tech's datapad. You wouldn't normally download something like this on to his datapad, but you have a feeling. You have a lead. You try to open the next mission report, but an error message keeps showing up when you try. 

I'm not going to crack that code anytime soon. Maybe Tech can. I'll search for Kaldor. You think.

When you run your code to search for information on Captain Kaldor, files just keep showing up. 

You sigh. "Well, at least I have more information." 

~

     You read through Captain Kaldor's files. Most of them are simple mission reports that aren't encrypted. You can see why. His mission reports are vague, sparing anybody who looks at them of any details. 

"Lazy..." You mutter, flipping through the files. 

One of them piques your interest. It's a file from your most recent mission where Captain Kaldor saved you. You open the file. 

It reads:

Mission Report

LOCATION CLASSIFIED
Captain Silas Kaldor

     Encountered Y/N L/N, daughter of CLASSIFIED, traveling with the group of fugitive genetically enhanced clones known as Clone Force 99 or "The Bad Batch". The group of fugitives attempted to capture some of the clones that were stationed on the base. An estimated number of three clones were captured by the fugitives. 

Y/N L/N is no longer a threat to the Empire. The location of the fugitives has not been determined as of this moment. 

No longer a threat... You think. Is he... protecting me?

Nothing adds up when you look at your father's files and Captain Kaldor's files. Your father being... sedated? And what about Captain Kaldor? 

~

     Tech walks into your room and asks for his datapad back. You close out of the files you were looking at, hoping he doesn't find them. 

"Tech?" You say as he's leaving your room.

"Hm?"

"Where are we going next?" 

"A small planet in the Outer Rim. It's somewhat off the grid, which is good for us. We need to lay low for a while after what happened on our last mission." 

"Yeah, especially because Ka-"

You stop yourself before you reveal that you were looking at Imperial files. 

Tech looks at you, puzzled. 

"It's nothing."

Tech shrugs and walks out of your room.

~

     You're bored. The Outer Rim is far away from your current location. You'll most likely get there around dinner time. Since you've already written about your last mission and looked at the Imperial files, you aren't sure what to do. You decide to get a cup of caf, even though it's the afternoon. 

Maybe I could write down all of the information I know so far in my notebook. You think. 

"Tired?" Hunter asks as you make your caf. 

You pour in some sugar and stir it. "No. My brain isn't working."

Wrecker groans. "Not again..." 

"Relax, Wrecker." Hunter tells him. "She doesn't have a chip."

"I just meant that I'm trying to make sense of some information, and I'm not understanding it."

Hunter raises an eyebrow. "So you're drinking caffeine which is supposed to help how?"

"Caffeine can actually increase an individual's alertness and concentration." Tech chimes in.

"Let her do what she wants. She's an adult." Echo says.

Finally. At least someone on this ship understands. You think.

~

       You go back to your room but leave the door open so the lighting is better. None of the rooms on the ship have good lighting. You open your notebook and make a few bullet points. 

What We Know: 

    - My father is being held on an Imperial base (location undetermined).

    - Kaldor is protecting me?

    - My father is being interrogated by Emerie Karr and Doctor Hemlock.

I barely know anything. You think. I'll need to do some investigating on my own.

You hear footsteps approaching your bedroom. Looking up, you see Omega standing in the doorway.

"Oh, hey, Omega." 

"Hunter wanted me to let you know that we'll be landing soon." 

You smile at her. "Thanks."

She walks over to you. "What are you working on?"

You quickly close your notebook. You don't want her to be scared for Crosshair. You'll tell the squad what you know when it's the right time. 

"I've been working on a sort of puzzle." 

"I love puzzles! Can I help?" 

"Maybe another time."

~

     Your predictions for your time of arrival at your destination were correct. You see that the sun on this planet is starting to set as Tech lands the ship. Tech was right; this planet really is off the grid. As you exit the Marauder, your surprised by how technologically advanced your ship looks compared to the others in the docking bay. There are a few people around, but not many. It's so... eerie. 

"Well, who's hungry?" Hunter says. 

"I am!" Wrecker exclaims.

     All of you walk to a nearby restaurant. The letters on the sign are supposed to light up in neon colors, but the lights flicker on and off. You aren't bothered by it. It would be too dangerous for all of you to go to a fancy restaurant where you would risk having the Empire find you. You all keep your heads down as you enter the restaurant. You and the squad are a big group of people, so you find a large table to sit at. A waiter eventually comes over and takes everyone's order. You try to order something that isn't too expensive; you know that money has been a bit of an issue for the squad. 

"Why'd you have us 'lay low' on this planet?" Wrecker sighs. "There's nothing to do here!"

He's speaking a little louder than he should. Some customers glance in your direction. Echo rolls his eyes at him. 

Echo lowers his voice. "The whole point of laying low, Wrecker, is that you're on a planet that..." He glances around him to make sure nobody is listening in on the conversation. "A planet that doesn't attract a lot of visitors." 

"Well, that's boring."

The rest of you sigh in unison.

~

     Everyone is asleep currently. Well, everyone except you. Over dinner, you thought of a plan to find out what's really going on with your father and Captain Kaldor.

"A planet that doesn't attract a lot of visitors." Echo's voice, well, echoes in your mind.

You tiptoe from your room to the ship's entrance, hoping nobody will notice you. Tech is the only one who's in the main area of the ship sleeping, but you aren't worried about him noticing. He's a deep sleeper, mostly because he doesn't get much sleep, so when he does, he's out cold. Hunter, however, is a light sleeper. You'll have to be quick in your exit. Just as you're about to press the button to open the ship's entrance door, something comes over you. 

I should leave something here to let them know I'm alright. A letter or something. 

You quietly make your way back to your room and tear out a blank page from your notebook. You grab your pen and start writing. It's an old pen, so you have to shake it a few times to get the ink to work. 

You write:

     I'll be back soon. I promise. Crosshair is in danger, and Captain Kaldor has been suspicious lately. I need to find the truth. I'm going to send a message to him. Don't come looking for me. Not right now, at least. Like I said, I'll be back, and you'll only put yourselves in more danger. If you don't believe me about Crosshair being in danger, check Tech's datapad. I downloaded some files that will explain it. 

You pause for a moment, then write:

I love you all. 

Y/N