The Bad Batch Aftermath{TechxOC}

Juggernaut

Hunter made it to the top of Pabu from the ocean with Batcher by his side. Hunter looked up through his binoculars and saw the ships leaving into the Venator. Hunter pushed his comms but was still getting static.

Somehow, he knew the Empire got what they came from. He felt sick to his stomach.

But something else felt different and he didn't know what it was just yet. Hunter ran to the Archium with Batcher still running next to him. They snuck inside but once the door was closed he paused. Everyone was there. Ginkgo was cleaning up towels and Wrecker was sitting against a wall.

But Hunter's attention turned to Valerie and Crosshair. Crosshair was sitting next to her, rubbing his hand and Valerie was holding a bundled blanket in her arms. She was fully clothed but she looked tired and on the paler side.

"Val..." Hunter whispered. His helmet came off and was quickly on the ground next to her, peeking into the blankets in her arms. Nestled in the middle was a sleeping newborn baby. A thick small patch of brown hair sat right on top of their head.

"She's a girl." Valerie looked at him and smiled. "Crazy set of lungs too. I'm shocked the Empire didn't hear her."

Hunter put a hand on her shoulder. "What's her name?"

Valerie looked back at her newborn daughter. "Hope."

Hunter looked at Crosshair, his attention was also on the newborn. "Val, I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you."

"It's alright." Valerie reassured him. "Crosshair and Wrecker were here with me. I wasn't alone."

Wrecker groaned but got to his feet. "What's the status out there?" He asked

"The troopers have pulled out, but the cruiser's still jamming our comms." Hunter informed them. He watched Batcher walk up to Valerie and sniffed the top of the newborn's head.

"No Echo?" Valerie asked. Hunter shook his head.

"I still can't believe you let Omega turn herself in." Wrecker turned to Crosshair.

"The Empire would've destroyed this whole town." Crosshair defended himself and stood up. "She stopped them."

"Yea, and they've got her again." Wrecker said. "And we're stuck here without a ship."

"Boys please." Valerie tried to get up but struggled. Ginkgo was quickly by her side and helped her up.

"Valerie, I must insist you stay sitting." Ginkgo pleaded.

"I'm fine Ginkgo." Valerie turned back to the others. She still held on tight to her daughter. "This isn't the time for arguing."

"Besides, even if we get our hands on a ship, we still have no way of finding Tantiss base." Hunter added.

Crosshair clutched his violently shaking hand. "That's not exactly true."

"Wait" Wrecker gasped. "You've known where Tantiss is this whole time?"

"I didn't say I know." Crosshair stated. "There's someone who might have the coordinates."

"Who?" Hunter asked.

"Admiral Rampart." Crosshair said. "He sent Nala Se there when we decommissioned Tipoca City."

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Hunter demanded.

Crosshair clutched his hand harder. "Because Tantiss isn't a place I ever wanted to go back to, and Rampart's not particularly trustworthy." He lowered his hand. "He's a last resort but he's also our only option."

"Where's Rampart now?" Hunter questioned.

"I was still with the Empire when they arrested him." Crosshair said. "He was sent to-" Crosshair stopped talking when Hunter turned and the five of them saw Batcher growling. The shelf where the skull sat started to descend into the ground. The four boys jumped in front of Valerie and they grabbed their blasters.