Order 66 | The Bad Batch | Hunter

Chapter Ten- Rescue

That day's training session was the worst of all. Palpatine was there along with Vader this time, due to her call to the Batch earlier that day.

"It's a good thing that comm is untraceable," Palpatine said with a grin, which he quickly dropped into a sneer. "But that stunt still requires punishment."

So instead of their normal training session, Palpatine and Vader spent three hours digging through her mind, leaving her shaking and numb. And then once they were done, an imperial worker was ordered to punish her physically.

By the end of the day, she was limp, covered in cuts, some that were still oozing blood, and left alone in that room to starve for the night. She wasn't even brought back to her own room. Maybe that was her saving grace, however, because that night the door slid open again.

Kiv didn't even bother looking at who it was, she felt so weak and beaten.

"Oh, Kiv." It was Hunter.

Upon hearing his voice, she forced through her weakness, opening her eyes and looking at him. Echo was by his side, already removing her bonds. Hunter reached out, placing a hand lightly on her bruised cheek.

"Hunter..." her voice was rough from screaming. "You- you aren't supposed to be here. You have to leave."

Echo finished removing her bonds, and Hunter helped her sit up.

"I'm not leaving you ever again," he said. She opened her mouth to argue, but Hunter placed a finger over her mouth. "Can you stand?"

Kiv sighed, upset that he had put himself and the batch in so much danger just to come get her. But she hopped down from the table, attempting to stand but almost immediately her knees buckled. Hunter caught her easily, however.

"Nope," he answered his own question. He quickly reached down and picked her up bridal style, which would be an uncomfortable position to have to run in, if she wasn't so small. She was also so weak she curled into his arms, which made her easier to hold. "You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna get you out of here," he reassured her.

"Hallway is clear," Tech reported over the comm. He and Omega were still on the ship, waiting to be an easy getaway. How they had made it on board undetected, Kiv would never understand.

Kiv's eyes started to flutter as they ran through the ship.

"Oh no you don't," Hunter said. "Stay awake, Kiv."

But the blood loss was getting to her. She was covered in still bleeding cuts, and definitely lost a lot of blood that night.

"Kiv," Hunter was saying her name. Right? Kiv couldn't really tell anymore. She finally shut her eyes and went to sleep.