Bad Batch: Healer's Heart

War-Mantle

Hunter sat in one of the console chairs, flipping his blade between his fingers. It took him years to get as good as he was now. He was almost envious when Althea learned the ways of a blade in a matter of months. She had shrugged it off, saying in was probably because she used her hands for drawing and other delicate procedures.

Omega sat in the floor, helping Gonky with a repair. Hunter watched her out of the corner of his eye, taking note of the way she tried to twist her tool in her fingers like he did with his knife.

It was a different approach than Althea had taken. The ebony haired girl had point blank asked Hunter to teach her, not that he minded, instead of observing as the young clone in front of him did.

Speaking of Althea, her voice carried through the ship, calling them to the cockpit. "We're being hailed. It's....Rex." Her tone held surprise.

Hunter flipped his knife into it's sheath on his forearm before standing and heading into the cockpit, Omega by his side.

Everyone in the cockpit turned to the center where a hologram of the cloaked Captain. "Hello, boys. Sorry to cut right to it, but I could use your help."

"What do you need, Captain?" Hunter asked.

"I received a distress signal from a clone trooper, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment to retrieve him."

"You want us to recover a reg?" The Sergeant asked, his voice carrying light skepticism.

Rex nodded. "He's an old friend, and he's in trouble. I need you to get him out."

Hunter paused, considering Rex's request. There was one piece of information that he wanted. "Out of what exactly?"

A rapid beeping sounded on Rex's side of the transmission. He looked panicked. "Can't talk right now. Sending you his signal. I'll be in touch." He ended the transmission, leaving almost everyone on board a different shade of confused.

"What was that about?" asked Wrecker.

Tech spun in his chair, tapping at the controls of one of the screens. "The distress signal sent by CC-5576 is originating from Daro, a terrestrial planet in the Outer Rim with no known settlements or installations."

"What's he doing all the way out there?" Althea asked, an Outer Rim native who knew how remote it was.

"Well, does it matter?" Echo asked.

"We've gone on missions before without much intel." said Hunter. "But this would be stretching it."

"Yeah, and from the sound of it, there's probably gonna be Imperials there." Althea pointed out.

Wrecker nodded. "Hmm. Thea's got a point."

"Rex wouldn't ask for help if it wasn't urgent." Echo countered.

"Echo's got a point." Wrecker agreed.

Tech adjusted his goggles. "May I remind you that we are in the middle of a job for Cid. If we deviate, we will not be compensated. No money means no food."

Wrecker nodding in realization. "Oh, yeah. Tech's got a point."

"But Rex's friend is in trouble." Omega said, her soft brown eyes shining with concern. "That's more important than getting paid."

"Well, the kid's got a point." The demo man said.

"Who's side are you even on?" Althea asked him, reading Hunter's exact thoughts. The Sergeant looked at Echo, who leaned forward, daring him to say "no".