The Bad Batch: One Shot Collection

Monster of Light

Author's Note: This is for Day 7 of Haunted Clone Week.

Emerie knew becoming the chief scientist would mean more responsibilities. She just didn't expect to hear about how the halls here are haunted... by Fives' ghost.

There were a lot of things that came with becoming chief scientist that Emerie didn't expect. Experimenting on these children who just want to go home is definitely highest on the list, but then there's also how weird all the staff are acting.

"Don't go in that room," Dr. Scalder tells her shortly, looking at a datapad as she passes by a perfectly ordinary looking room in one of the halls above the room the children are kept in.

"Why not?" Emerie queries, frowning.

"The door will close on its own when you turn the lights on and you won't be able to get out."

What...?

"If it's a problem that needs repairing, why haven't you reported – "

"The room is haunted," Dr. Scalder cuts her off, walking off without another word.

That's hardly how Emerie's seen anyone talk to the chief scientists in the past but natborns have often... looked down on her for being a clone. It's a feeling she's constantly known and – the only one who never has is Hemlock. And yet he's so –

He's done so much.

He's hurt hundreds of her brothers. He nearly had Omega killed and Emerie still doesn't know if her and Crosshair made it out alright or if they're even alive but they presumably are because she overheard Hemlock saying that they're still searching for her. And he has these children here against their will too and they aren't traitors to the Empire, unlike what she's heard about many of the clones.

She just... doesn't know what to think of it anymore.

Emerie was going to dismiss the whole haunted mention from mind – that's scientifically impossible anyway. But she needs somewhere to look over some files so she goes into an empty office room and almost doesn't realize until too late that – this was the room Scalder mentioned.

The room is dark since it's already night outside so she moves toward the switch, flipping the light on.

The door to the room abruptly slams shut, the lock clicking in place.

Emerie freezes, staring at the door.

The room feels cold. She doesn't think the sudden chill prickling down her spine is only her own fear either. It feels unnaturally cold.

Warily, Emerie reaches up to flip the light off again and the door promptly unlocks, opening itself again.

This doesn't make any sense. There's no scientific or mechanical malfunction explanation for what's happening here. She sets her datapad down on the table, the screen lighting the room a little before she warily turns the light back on.

The door slams closed again, locking.

What in the stars is happening here?

The datapad scoots the slightest bit on its own suddenly, screeching against the table.

Haunted, Scalder had said and Emerie's beginning to question if she's right.

"Who are you?" Emerie demands warily, not that she's expecting an answer.

The datapad's screen flickers and her eyes dart to it to see letters typing themselves on the screen.

Your brother.