The Bad Batch: Oneshots

When Have We Ever Followed Orders P1

Context: Set at the beginning of S2.15...

     Echo swiveled around in his seat, a bleak mountain landscape glowing brightly behind him.

"Eriadu?" Hunter asked, his arms remaining placed on each side of his hips since the beginning of the conversation. "It won't be that simple... I'm not sure it's worth the risk. Besides, it could be a trap. It's not like Crosshair hasn't tried that before."

Tech immediately interjected. "I understand your hesitation. We have not always agreed with Crosshair, but he is still our brother. We do not leave our own behind."

"We have to try!" Omega chirped up from below, staring at the sergeant with eyes full of determination.

"What about reinforcements?" Hunter turned to Echo.

"Er, Rex is on a different mission at the moment." The ARC rubbed his neck, nervously. "It would just be us."

Hunter sucked in a deep breath. There was too much at risk. The mission could easily turn suicide. As a leader, he couldn't chance losing the rest of his brothers or Omega.

"No," he said after a long pause, aware of the disappointment brought with his answer. "It's too dangerous, even for us."

"But, Hunter—" Wrecker started, only to be shut down with one stern look from the sergeant.

"My final answer is no," Hunter crossed his arms, "End of discussion."

Tech watched as Omega tried her best to reason with the headstrong man, tugging at his armored wrist as he walked down the ship's ramp.

"What do we do now?" Wrecker asked, his voice abnormally deflated compared to his usual excited and playful nature.

"I can try and talk to Rex again," Echo suggested. "If it's numbers that's the problem, I'm sure he can spare some men—"

"Don't bother," Tech snapped, adjusting his goggles with a deep, narrow frown. "Nothing more we say will change Hunter's mind."

"B-But what about Crosshair?" Wrecker blinked rapidly. "We're not gonna leave him in the hands of that scientist, right?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, Hunter does have a point. It could very well be a trap," Echo said, casting his eyes down to the floor. It's not like he wanted to believe Crosshair would set them up, but he had to be realistic.

"Plan 88: The seeker," Tech muttered, pacing around the hull of the Marauder.

"What's he doin'?" Wrecker whispered out of the side of his mouth to the ARC.

Echo placed a hand on the technician's shoulder as he came back around.

"You, uh, you good, Tech?"

Tech shrugged off the hand, stepping back. "I am going after Crosshair."

"Say that again?" Echo asked, eyes bulging out of their sockets.

"I understand Hunter's decision; however, I do not agree with it," Tech began to pace once more, "Plan 88 was designed as a warning call. If Crosshair was still in allegiance with the Empire, I sincerely doubt he would risk his rank to help us. I want to believe he's reconsidered his standings, therefore, as I have already stated, I will be going after him."

Echo opened his mouth, closing it quickly. A bright red flash began blinking from his wrist, forcing the clone to pause and step away.

"I'm going too!" Wrecker exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air.

Tech shook his head. "No, Wrecker. You must stay here."

Wrecker's face fell into hurt. "Come on, Tech. You can't go alone. Let me help!"