Star Wars: The Bad Batch - One Shots

1 - Crosshair/Omega

Set in season 3, but before the episodes have come out. There could be inaccuracies later on. Credit goes to ChopSyndulla_457 for the idea.

Crosshair stared at the blank wall in front of him, his face more of a sad frown than a serious one. He flinched when the ray-shield deactivated, and a TK trooper entered. Despite the flinch, he knew the routine. He wouldn't stand up until the trooper ordered him to, but he could glare at him out of the corner of his eye. At least most of them didn't insult him too harshly. It would have been the final straw. Then again, he had been drawing a lot of those. Maybe he was simply growing numb to the pain.

"On your feet," the TK trooper ordered.

Hemlock and his men had been especially "kind" to him after having tried to warn Hunter and the rest. Even then, he hadn't succeeded. He had held out some hope then. They could have gone into hiding, Omega would have been safe, and they could have gotten what they wanted. Whatever they wanted with Omega, Crosshair knew, would affect more than just Hunter and the others. They wouldn't have gone to such measures for an unimportant person. Compared to Omega's worth, he was practically useless. Perhaps they were only keeping him alive as leverage.

Hunter rarely listened to him. It had always been difficult to watch Hunter make close calls; his snappish nature was partly because he knew the consequences of their so-called "risky" tactics. Not that he would tell his brothers. He was a passive observer in their squad, at least until Hunter started disobeying orders, but he couldn't be one alone.

They tried to save me, Crosshair thought. The idiots.

Hadn't he told them they would regret having Omega on their team? What had convinced him to run for that console several weeks ago when he was just as annoyed with their actions now?

When Crosshair stood, the TK trooper moved to wait outside. A small line consisting of clones or others that had betrayed the Empire formed as figures emerged from their cells. Finally, the line began moving. Crosshair kept his eyes down; he had learned the hard way that TK troopers didn't like to be stared at. When a small shuffle of feet sounded behind him, Crosshair sighed.

No, he hadn't succeeded.

"Crosshair?" Omega whispered.

He didn't respond.

"What are they doing to me, Crosshair?"

Crosshair stiffened. Just how many tests were they running on the kid? Obviously, they were uncomfortable, or Omega wouldn't be seeking his help or advice. Then again, she had always given him the benefit of the doubt. She sought to understand him, and it was unnerving. He had only cared enough to withdraw information from her; he didn't want to scare her. He had a small taste of Hemlock's tests, and they were far from relaxing. They were jarring and unexpected and more painful than battle wounds, and Crosshair thought he had felt enough pain with those.

"How am I supposed to know?" Crosshair said, turning his head.

Omega's mouth opened slightly, and she dipped her head with embarrassed eyes. Crosshair caught the shadow underneath them; she hadn't been sleeping well. It was much easier to think of a reply when she was being optimistic, but less so when she showed signs of weakness or acknowledged a serious situation.

"Have they said anything about it? Anything you've overheard?" Crosshair questioned.

Omega thought a moment, starting to fall in step beside him.

"They're trying to avoid making the tests painful, and they get frustrated every time a test is complete. I don't think it's working. They say I'm different, but I don't know how."