Order 66 | The Bad Batch | Hunter

Chapter Nineteen- Sharing

Not long after landing on the ground, the trio found a spot to camp out, while keeping a close eye on a group of troopers.

Kiv sat back, letting the boys keep watch. If she needed to fight, they would let her know.

"They're setting up a perimeter," Wrecker commented, letting a lounging Kiv aware of what was going on. "Like that'll stop us," he chuckled.

"They know our forces are split," Hunter added. "They'll moniter comm channels." He then started speaking over the comm in code. "Havoc-2. The fourth sun is setting. Plan double zero."

"Copy that," Tech's voice came through.

Hunter sat back, moving next to Kiv. Wrecker remained on lookout while Hunter pulled his helmet off.

Kiv glanced at him, following suit with her own. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes and feeling the air of the planet around her.

"This suit is so stuffy," she complained. "I don't know how you boys do it."

"You get used to it," Hunter muttered, fidgeting with his hands. "Hey, I'm sorry you had to go inside the castle earlier-"

"Don't be sorry," Kiv dismissed. "What are you sorry for?"

"I made a poor choice," Hunter continued. "I should've told you to stay at the ship. Then you wouldn't have had to go in there, and we wouldn't be in this situation anyways."

Kiv placed a gentle hand on top of his. "It's okay, Hunter."

A silence settled over them, but soon after Wrecker whispered back to them.

"What's your deal with that castle?" Wrecker asked.

"Wrecker!" Hunter scolded quietly.

"I'm just curious!" Wrecker snarked back.

"It's fine, Hunter," Kiv dismissed. "I... I had a bad mission there. My worst..."

"Oh," Wrecker muttered. "Well, what happened?"

There was a light hitting noise, but Kiv spoke anyway.

"It was my first big mission," she began to explain. "My first big mission that my master, Obi-Wan, ever thought I was fit to come on. It was going fine until..."

"You don't have to, Kiv," Hunter whispered, but she shook her head.

"The mission ended with Obi-Wan having to drag my unconscious body out of the castle after Dooku chopped a bit out of my shoulder," she finished, pulling off her shoulder pad. "They managed to patch it up but... it wasn't fun."

Hunter reached forward, tracing his finger along the scar that ran across her shoulder. Kiv looked up, meeting his eyes.

The air between them was thick. Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Wrecker. "So that's why you didn't wanna go in?"

"Mhmm," Kiv confirmed. "I lost so much faith in myself that day... that's the day I was no longer a child. That's the day the war became real."

Kiv's brows furrowed as she felt a prickling sensation behind her eyes. She shook her head lightly, standing in place.

"Kiv," Hunter reached for her.

"I'll be right back," she said, turning to the side and beginning to walk out into the darkness.

Hunter sighed, knowing he couldn't stop her. "Be careful."

She sarcastically saluted him as she went on her way.