Summer of Bad Batch 2024

we'll be carrying each other (until we say goodbye on our dying day)

Week 12 Main Prompt: Nightmares

Week 12 Alt Prompt: Radio Silence

I apologize for the angst in this one!

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Radio silence was something Wrecker hated. He wanted to hear his brothers, hear the unique cadence and natural accent in their voices. Even if it was a sharp order like Hunter would give, or a random fact from Tech, or a snarky remark from Crosshair. Just something.

"The fourth sun is setting. Plan 00."

He knew why they couldn't break it. It was risky. Tech had heavily encrypted their comms but sometimes it fizzled and showed up on enemy scanners. It was rare but it happened. The others didn't seem to mind Plan 00. 

Wrecker would rather not have access to explosive than never be able to hear his brother's voices again. 

His first serious injury had damaged half of his hearing. Deaf in one ear, partial damage to the other. It had sucked but at least he could still hear. Tech had started insisting that he learn field signs and Galactic Basic Sign Language just in case but it was all so confusing to Wrecker. The signs looking to similar to others, signs that looked nothing like what you were trying to say, the order of sentences. (Tech didn't care much for that last one, just that he made an attempt.)

Now the comms fizzled, not with the encryption breaking, but with a loss of signal from the other side. Tech's eyes shutting momentarily, the blaster aimed towards the only thing helping Wrecker hold the rail car, the ringing as the energy bolt met metal, the weight as Wrecker tried his hardest to keep a hold of the car - of his brother. 

But he'd failed.

And now the comms fizzled, a sound that would make him wake up in cold sweats, gasping for air and feeling the phantom soreness in his muscles, the tension in his neck bleeding down to his shoulders and locking them up. The nightmare replaying itself over and over again in his mind. 

Hunter would hear his distress every time, stepping into that big brother role and trying to console Wrecker. He'd once uttered the words 'It wasn't real'. That only made Wrecker's shaky breaths turn to body trembling sobs. 

Because it was real. It had really happened. It wasn't those improbable nightmares where a mission went wrong and he'd wake up and everything was normal. 

He was living his worst nightmare every day.

"When have we ever followed orders?"

That was the last thing Tech said. So many little things that Tech said would stay with Wrecker for the rest of his life.

"Make sure to cut the blue wire first."

"That's a good plan!"

"That's not her ugly side?"

"I've got you, brother."

"Really, Wrecker?"

"There is no time, Wrecker. Plan 99."

And yet, Wrecker chose to not dwell on those ones. Sure, most were happy times, moments that he cherished and often thought of. But there was one moment that Wrecker loved the most and wouldn't ever be tainted by grief.

"It'll be okay. I am not going anywhere."

Said so sincerely when they were cadets, Wrecker clutching Lula close to his chest and tears streaming down his eyes. Tech was the only one awake at that time and Wrecker clung to him like his life depended on it. He had no memory of what Tech was doing up so late, just the relief that came with knowing the brother who almost died in his dream was perfectly safe and sound. 

The feeling of Tech's warm embrace, the whispered words in the silence of the night, and the feeling of safety wrapped into eight words. 

One's he replayed each time Tech's last words threatened to resurface and drown him in grief and failure. 

It'll be okay. One day. It won't hurt as bad, won't feel like getting stabbed in the heart each time.

One day. It'll be okay.