The Bad Batch Aftermath{TechxOC}

Starting Over

Hunter stared at the mysterious figure as they dropped their hood. His jaw dropped. The woman in front of him and Wrecker just stared at them, her hair was just past her shoulder now. It had been cut. No one moved, afraid of what might happen. To Hunter and Wrecker they were seeing a ghost, but Hunter couldn't look away, even when he heard the quiet tears from Wrecker. No one cared at this moment that they were still in danger.

"V-Val?" Wrecker said in disbelief. Valerie smiled, her eyes started to water. "Is it really you?" She nodded.

Wrecker ran forward and held his arms out but before he could envelop her into his hug, she took a step back and held her hand out. "Easy, Wrecker."

"What?" Wrecker questioned as Hunter caught up to them. They saw that her other hand was rubbing the bump in her stomach. "Are you..."

Valerie nodded. "But I would still love a hug from you." Wrecker carefully wrapped his arms around her and Valerie happily hugged him back. "I missed you so much!"

Wrecker pulled back. "We missed you too."

Valerie looked at Hunter, he put a hand on her neck and studied her. To make sure she was really there, and she was. "You're pregnant." He stated. "Tech's?"

"Yes." Valerie confirmed. Hunter hugged her next. Valerie buried her face into his shoulder. That's when she started crying, in Hunter's arms. Hunter couldn't hide his tears either. A couple of them spilled over his cheeks and he just hugged her tighter.

"I have so many questions." Hunter whispered in her ear.

"I know you do." Valerie whispered back before pulling away from him. "But not safe here, we still are very much in danger. Those troopers will be coming back with reinforcements."

"Phee's not back yet." Wrecker pointed out.

"How do you think I got here?" Valerie teased. "My ships not far from here. I can have R3 get the ship ready before we arrive."

"R3?" Hunter asked.

Valerie chuckled. "Looks like we have a lot of catching up to do."

"About five month's worth." Hunter pointed out.

"I'll explain more on my ship. We should be going." Valerie said.

"Lead the way." Hunter said. Valerie nodded and pulled her hood back up.

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"Where did you get a ship like this one?" Hunter asked as he walked around the Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 Starfighter, his sights settled on Tech's helmet that was resting on one of the beds. There was a pang in his chest. Wrecker was sitting on the other bed on the ship, eating some of the rations that Valerie brought.

"R3, keep her on autopilot." Valerie spun in her chair in the bridge, she watched Hunter as he stared at the helmet. They had just entered hyperspace. "I traded it with an Imperial shuttle I stole from Eriadu. It's not exactly discreet I know but she gets around fast, maybe even as fast as the Marauder."

Hunter chuckled. "Don't let Tech hear that." Everyone paused as the air felt tense from Hunter's comment. He sighed and moved to the bridge to sit in the chair next to Valerie. "How are you still alive?"

Valerie looked at the hands in her lap, they were fidgeting with the lightsaber that was in her palms. "I-uh-I don't know... I mean I can't remember."

Hunter thought about the recording. "You don't remember?" Wrecker walked up to the two of them and stood behind them.

Valerie shook her head. "No. All I remember was being on top of the railcar and severing the connection hinge and then... just waking up in some house. A family had found me. I was unconscious for a few days."