The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

A Sick Marksman

"Cross, maybe you should sit this one out, you don't look too good" 

"I'm fine tincan, it's just some clankers" 

"If you say so" Echo muttered watching the sick marksman grab his gear. He sighed, walking back into the cockpit, "I tried, your turn" Echo murmured to Tech who rolled his eyes continuing with what he was doing. 

Hunter, Wrecker and Omega had already left having snuck into the base to get the information required for Rex but they had run into some trouble and required a distraction which is where Crosshair came in handy. The marksman now headed for the mountain ledge which would be a perfect spot to take his shots. Echo sighed watching the man stumble until he disappeared over the hill.

"Tech?" 

"Go…I've got this. Keep an eye on him" Tech muttered, waving his hand in a gesture that Echo knew was concern, having spent so long with the batch he could just read them now.

Silent shots took down the incoming waves of droids that remained in this insane war of the Empire and rebels. A skilled marksman shot without hesitation managing to take out targets that should have been impossible, his accuracy was scary, Echo made sure he remained silent as he appeared to lie beside the marksman who didn't even give him a glance focusing on saving his teammates. 

"We are good. Let's wrap up, thanks Cross. Head back to the ship" 

Hunter's words had Echo back on his feet only for him to be yanked down by blaster fire aiming for his head. Which was quickly taken out. 

"Thanks" 

"No problem, tincan. Let's head back…woah" in the process of climbing back to his feet, the world took a spin and he found himself stumbling backwards almost off the cliff when a hand latched onto his own wrist yanking him forward into a chest.

"Shit, Cross. Are you okay?" Echo exclaimed, pulling the marksman away from the edge and helping him lean against the tree before he grabbed the rifle which had been dropped. 

"I'm fine…"

"Sure you are" 

"Leave me alone" 

"Nope, I'm not leaving you until you can walk in a straight line and…Crosshair!" Echo's shout was heard nearby by a certain engineer who had been checking each of their vital monitor's, Crosshairs had dropped significantly in the past ten minutes. Tech just managed to make it over the hill to see Echo catch a collapsed Crosshair who hung limply in his arms. Without hesitation, he sprinted for his teammates. 

Hours Later…

Everything was blurry, his head hurt and so did his chest for some reason. On top of that he was freezing, why? He had no clue but then again he was always cold just never this cold. He wanted a shower but…was it possible? His eyes closed at the sounds of murmurs. 

"I can't…believe…has…pneum..why didn't..he…us…shouldn't…have got this bad…is he insane…no…I get that…Hunt…but…" 

He could make out murmurs of voices but he didn't understand what they were saying as his brain shut off and he went back into the darkness. 

Five Days Later..

"Hunter, I'm concerned. He should be awake by now" Echo muttered, the sergeant beside him nodded, remaining silent as he always did while their eyes were on the marksman who lay sound asleep on Suu's sofa. It was the safest place the batch could think of. 

"Don't worry too much, he will wake. It would seem he just has forgotten the basic necessities to live again. I'm sure Suu will have a word with him about it when he wakes" Cuts voice had both of them looking up to see the farmer who wore a smile on his face. Yep, he was still a farmer even after he had moved during this war.