Learning to Love

[S3E] Prologue

THIS EDITION CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE FINALE AND OTHER EPISODES OF SEASON THREE OF THE BAD BATCH.

Hunter's screams echoed through the Training Room. The Operative stood guard, watching over the three clones that were restrained in the Reeducation Pods. Only one of them was active. The one that held Hunter. The Sergeant's fists were clenched and shook repeatedly. His body arched as much as the restraints allowed it to. His head moved from side to side, sometimes lifting up before being thrown back against the hard pillow as electricity was channeled into his head. His eyes were squeezed shut, screams being ripped from his throat uncontrollably.

When the machine finally turned off, his screams didn't stop for another few minutes. Soon, they turned into pained whimpers and gasps. His body still shook like a leaf, white hot pain still radiating throughout his skull. Every breath felt like fire. He struggled to pull in breaths.

He passed out.

💘💀💘

He didn't remember passing out, but when he awoke again, he could move freely. He slowly sat up, noticing how much effort it took. He felt tired, sore and...hungry?

He barely registered Wrecker tackling the Operative and Hemlock running off with Omega cuffed to him.

Hs climbed out of the machine, pressing his hand to his sore ribs...probably cracked from his dilemma with the debris in the hanger. Crosshair, who was in the pod opposite to him, climbed out of his pod. Seemingly getting his footing okay.

Him on the other hand, tried to stand and it seemed his legs were on holiday. They would not work. He fell flat on his face. He laid there groaning, his hands trying to push him up. It didn't really occur to him that he didn't have proper feeling in his lower body.

Crosshair ran over and used his left hand and right arm to help Hunter up.

"We have to go after Omega," Hunter said.

💘💀💘

The walk to the catwalk was a blur. He didn't remember it. He barely registered his soaked hair dangling in his eyes. He pulled out his blaster, willing his eyes to focus as Hemlock put a blaster to Omega's head and screamed "DROP THE BLASTER!"

The two exchanged words that were inaudible to Crosshair and Hunter. This was a surprise to Hunter as he has excellent hearing due to his enhancements...ugh...his senses must be all screwed up. This thunder and rain wasn't helping in the slightest.

He doesn't remember much of what happens next, only taking solace in the fact that Omega was hugging him and Crosshair and Hemlock was nowhere to be seen.

Heck, he doesn't even remember the walk across the catwalk to the ship. Something was truly wrong with him.

Just as he felt like he was truly going to pass out, he saw a sight that made his heart stop.

Echo was talking to CX-2. He was giving CX-2 food. No, that wasn't even the thing that made him react the way he was. CX-2's helmet was off and staring at him with those brown eyes he knew so well was his presumed dead brother.

Tech.

He passed out.

💘💀💘

Echo dove and caught Hunter as he fell. He checked Hunter over with a datapad as well as his eyes. Hunter had cracked ribs, and as Echo took the Sergeant's shirt off, he saw dark bruises blossoming around his sides. On each side of Hunter's head, his hair was singed, mild electrical burns present on his skull.

He noticed how Hunter was struggling to pull in air and he began to get worried when he saw dark marks forming on Hunter's chest.

His suspicions were confirmed when a message popped up on the datapad.

INTERNAL BLEEDING PRESENT
PARTIAL PNEUMOTHORAX
PATIENT CONDITION: CRITICAL
MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

Then it showed Hunter's vitals. His heart rate was at 30 BPM. Not good. His resting heart rate was around 45 BPM, so it's dropped a lot.

"Guys! Get in here!" Echo called.

Omega's worried face was the first to appear. Then Crosshair limped in, followed by Wrecker, who was feeling a bit better after the med patches were given to him.

"Hunter needs immediate medical attention. He's got internal bleeding and a partially collapsed lung," Echo said. "How long to Pabu?"

"Another hour, minimum," Crosshair said.

"We'll have to keep him alive then. Get life support. We'll need it," Echo ordered.

They got to work.

GUYS! I AM SO SORRY FOR PUBLISHING THE UNFINISHED CHAPTER 2 OF THE SEASON 2 EDITION. I WASN'T THINKING.

SORRY AGAIN, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS MAKES UP FOR IT.

Also...this is me...on some days, including today:

What I Write: He didn't remember passing out, but when he awoke again, he could move freely. He slowly sat up, noticing how much effort it took. He felt tired, sore and...hungry?

What I Want to Write: He wakes up and feels hungry sore and sleepy. It took so much freaking effort to freaking sit up and it shouldn't. Ugh why does he feel like this? What the hellllllllllllll?

Notice the lack of punctuation...lol.