Something to Prove (A Bad Batch Fanfic)

The Truth

Summary: You, Captain Kaldor, and Crosshair attempt to locate the rest of the Bad Batch. 

Warnings: None

~

     You didn't sleep well last night. Your mind kept racing with thoughts of what had happened; your powers, finding your father... it all felt like too much. Looking at the expressions of Crosshair and Captain Kaldor, you can tell that they didn't sleep well either. Captain Kaldor sits in the cockpit of his ship, and Crosshair is in the spot he was yesterday. Captain Kaldor doesn't acknowledge you except for a quick glance in your direction as you sit down next to him in the cockpit. 

You look at the star-map on the console. "Where are we going?"

Captain Kaldor sighs. "Don't know. It's not like any of you gave me any ideas."

You two sit there awkwardly in silence for a moment. 

"Do you... have any ideas?" He inquires.

"I would say they're looking for me on Tantiss, but nobody knows where it is, and we also can't go back there."

Both you and Kaldor are startled by Crosshair's voice from across the ship. "Searching around aimlessly for them won't do you any good. You need to find somewhere we can lay low for a while. Possibly forever."

"Always the optimist..." You mutter, searching for a planet on the Outer Rim on the star-map.

"I heard that."

~

     "How about Maldo Kreis?" You ask.

"The desolate, frigid, entirely uninhabited planet? Yeah, great idea, L/N." Captain Kaldor says sarcastically.

"They have hot springs..." 

"You aren't selling it very well.

"Not to mention, they have knobby white ice spiders, too..." Crosshair grumbles.

"One of you decide, then." You say with asperity.

"You talked about Ord Mantell quite a bit. Let's go there."

"But the Empire will-"

"We can't escape the Empire completely, L/N!" Kaldor says, raising his voice. "Besides, I'm sure your friends might be there."

Before you can protest, Captain Kaldor puts in the coordinates and launches the ship into hyperspace. 

~

     Once Captain Kaldor sets the ship's course, he turns his chair towards you, then looks over at Crosshair. 

"Can we all talk about what happened yesterday?" 

Crosshair stands up and walks to the cockpit, sitting in one of the chairs next to you and Captain Kaldor. 

"That's not very specific." Crosshair says.

You can see the confusion and fear as Kaldor thinks about the events of yesterday. "Oh, I'm sorry, Commander. Maybe we can talk about the part where we... I don't know... declared ourselves fugitives? Or when I found out that your daughter is a Jedi?"

"I'm not a Jedi." You jump in.

"Explain what happened, then. Explain how you pushed me against a wall without touching me. How you knocked down all of those guards by holding out your hand." 

"I don't know, okay? It just... happened!"

"Things like that don't just 'happen', Y/N. You could've at least told me."

"I didn't know until it happened! Besides, after all that you've said to me, why would you be the person I would tell?"

"Settle down. Both of you." Crosshair interrupts. "I owe it to both of you to explain what Hemlock has been doing."

~

     "Hemlock has been experimenting. It started out with clones, but then he started testing on other people. Civilians. He was looking for someone with blood that could replicate a positive midi-chlorian count. Unfortunately..." Crosshair says, looking over at you. "You have a high m-count. Hemlock needs your blood."

"Me? But... you're a clone. Was my mother a..." You begin, afraid to ask.

Crosshair sighs. "She wasn't a Jedi. Not to my knowledge, at least."

"But... I am?"

Crosshair shrugs. "I'm not sure. All we know is that you're a valuable asset for Hemlock. It might be wise to train with your... powers... to be able to fight back."

You bury your face in your hands. "I can't be a Jedi. I don't have what it takes. I mean, you said it yourself, Dad-"

"And I was wrong." Crosshair interrupts you. "You have the potential."

"But... doesn't the Jedi Code say that I couldn't form attachments? I'd have to leave you two, the squad, and..."

"We'll figure that out later. We just need to think about what we need to do right now." Kaldor says.

You nod. "Alright. What's our plan for Ord Mantell?"

~

     Captain Kaldor's eyes light up. "I've got it."

"What?" You ask.

"I'll pretend you two are prisoners that I have to take on Ord Mantell for a mission. I still have my badge, and I doubt that people on Ord Mantell know we're fugitives. It's only been a day."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Crosshair warns.

"It'll work." Kaldor says confidently. "If not, we'll go to Plan B."

"Which is?"

"We improvise."

Crosshair chuckles. "Improvise? Are you feeling alright, Captain? This isn't the insufferable, rule-following soldier I know."

Captain Kaldor rolls his eyes. "Do you a better Plan B, genius?"

Kaldor focuses his attention back on the ship so he can land in the docking bay.

~

     You and Crosshair walk in handcuffs, Kaldor guiding you, off of the ship. You leave the docking bay without any issues, aside from a few odd looks. 

"Go to Cid's Cantina." You whisper to Kaldor.

Kaldor nods and looks for it. Crosshair looks around him, taking in all there is to see in the bustling heart of the city. You forgot that he's never been here before. Kaldor leads you and Crosshair into the cantina. 

"Everybody out! Imperial business." Captain Kaldor commands.

The regulars at the cantina that you recognize scurry out of the building, leaving the three of you alone for a moment. Cid walks out of her office and into the bar area.

"What's all of this fuss about?" She gasps, seeing the three of you. "Y/N?"

Captain Kaldor lets go of you and Crosshair. 

"We had to run away from the Empire. It's a long story. By the way, this is my father." You explain, gesturing to Crosshair. "Where's the rest of the squad?"

Cid stares at you, her jaw dropped for a moment. "They're on a mission. I don't know if I can get a hold of them, but they should be back tomorrow."

"That's fine. Can we at least lay low here for the night?"

Cid nods. "Just don't cause any trouble."

~

     You, your father, and Captain Kaldor sit at the bar together as Cid makes you all drinks. 

"What can I do for you?" She asks Captain Kaldor.

"The strongest drink you have."

"Geez. Must've been a really bad day. What about you, Y/N?"

"What he's having." You sigh.

Crosshair tells Cid the same. Cid quickly prepares a drink for each of you and sets the glasses in front of you. While you take a small sip of yours to start, you glance over at Kaldor who is continuously drinking until he finishes it. Even Crosshair looks at him with surprise. 

"Either you're trying to impress someone, or you have a high alcohol tolerance." Crosshair says.

"Impress someone? Please." Kaldor scoffs.

~

     After the three of you finish your drinks, Crosshair sits in a corner of the cantina, you and Captain Kaldor still at the bar. Cid has retired to her office for the night. 

Kaldor breaks the silence after a while. "I'm sorry."

"What?"

He turns to look in your eyes. "I'm sorry. For everything I've said and done. I don't hate you. I thought I did, but... I don't. I forced myself to. I was supposed to kill you, so saying all of those things to you made it easier to get closer to completing my mission."

You laugh quietly. "You're drunk, Kaldor."

"No. I'm not. I have a high tolerance. Trust me, I'm telling the truth."

You look into his eyes and can see that he's right. He's been telling the truth.

"I appreciate you saying all of that." You look down at your empty glass with its melting ice cubes, then up at him. "Where will you go? Will you go back to the Empire?"

"I haven't figured that out yet." He states. 

"You could join our squad."

He shakes his head. "You have your father, and soon you'll have the rest of your family. You don't need me."

"I don't need you, sure..." You take a deep breath in. "But I want you to stay."

Captain Kaldor laughs, revealing his emotions that are masked by his intimidating, icy demeanor normally for a split second. "I think you're drunk, L/N."

"No. I'm telling the truth."

His gaze lingers on you, and you feel as though he's inspecting you. "I don't know if I fully believe you."

"Would this prove it to you?" You say, taking a risk and leaning in closer to him.

"I suppose it would." Captain Kaldor says, leaning in to kiss you.