The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

After the War

It was a question wondered by many who fought in the brutal war between the republic and the separatists. Only for there to be a twist and soon it was everyone Vs the Empire. Some survived, others didn't. While many lived with the regrets of the past. The generations of the children would look back at those who fought for them and smile specifically about certain individuals. For instance like the clones who some were still around because they had survived, nothing special just that they had, even if some didn't want to, they had. 

However some never expected to survive and be celebrating with those who had passed on as their own lives were taken from them and they joined others in the afterlife. Which basically meant after the war because as soon as the rebels conquered the Empire, all surviving clones started to almost ‘shut down’. Some managed to get help while others didn't as it was written in their DNA how long they would live but a certain squad managed to spread the word of the cure. Many survived the war with themselves while others gave in. 

One squad known as Clone Force 99 were the most reckless squad and yet they somehow survived the war including one clone who had fallen from incredible height and should be dead. But he was able to be saved by another who told him to keep fighting. 

“Hey, I hope I ain't disturbing your brooding but…” 

Chocolate eyes blinked open from where they had been watching those below celebrating the fifth anniversary of the war. A sigh escaped him as he heard the odd whispers of the war heroes who had died under the chips influence something he had almost fallen too. Even if his twin had tested him and he had been put under, he was told by a jedi that he would more than likely never get rid of the screams and voices in his head as he was an unusual case. But that didn't stop those he had wronged in the past from watching him like a hawk.

“Cross? Come on, talk to me…” Tech's soft voice had him snapping out of his many thoughts. His slightly older brother who wore a metal brace permanently around his waist after a mission gone wrong, to get information to save the marksman himself. Even if he had warned them to stay away. The batch hadn't listened, leaving Tech to suffer with the consequences at the hands of a mad scientist known as Hemlock. Someone who was killed personally by the marksman, he had took great pleasure in torturing the man the way he did to many clones. 

“What's there to talk about?” 

Those five words were the most he had said in the two years he had been living with the batch on the same planet. He tended to drift away, staying away from all clones as he saw himself as a constant danger. 

“So much, the festivals…the clouds…the weather…us….the others are worried…even Rex is and he doesn't normally worry about us not after we somehow returned Fives to him. Plus there's something you aren't telling us and we are getting curious…I am, Phee told me to leave it but….Cross, did you lose someone in the war? Is that why you took a vow of silence?” Tech whispered, he stood beside his slightly shorter twin. Crosshair barely lifted his head to acknowledge him but the shift in his trembling hand had Tech reaching out. 

As soon as their hands connected, Tech could feel the trembling emotions that had been kept tightly behind a barrier. Tech could only rub his thumb over the hand that trembled in his grip. It felt nice at first until he felt memories trying to come out, Crosshair snatched his hand away from Tech who never said a word but did show a bit of hurt at the force. 

“Cross?” 

“Don't you have your family to get back to?” Crosshair shrugged as he spoke, he kneeled down to grab his gloves that he had left on the ground beside his famous rifle which he slung over his shoulder.