The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

Safe

Yelling and shouting always triggered him whether it was at him or hearing others, why? Well that was simple, childhood trauma, which is why he froze when he was yelled at. For one, he hated orders and always went off page but in this situation he didn’t know how to react, was he a bad guy or a good guy? For a bit of context, he had saved the batch from making a stupid decision and they were now all punished, he had been separated from the batch who were being dismissed out of the military, he was being kept on, why? Because he knew too much plus his intel is what the force needed so when he found himself in front of the Jedi then being tortured and yelled at, he actually shut down. For weeks he found himself trapped behind bars in a separatist prison, his main goals to break out undercover military operatives but it never worked out the way the force wanted it too as soon hours, turned into days, followed by months and into years. His original family had heard he was KIA, when in reality he was just a tool to be used. 

Present Day…

Fifteen years had passed since that day the batch were dismissed from the military, a lot had happened since then, beginning with Tech meeting his wife; Phee and the two having twin boys. Wrecker had a successful gym business going, he was opening his twenty-first gym and the family were certainly celebrating it. The older two of the batch: Hunter and Echo had tied the knot after their own partners had died in the line of fire, both had military funerals. They had adopted a girl together, her name was Megan and she was the only granddaughter of Graham ‘99’ who spoiled his grandchildren rotten and he didn’t regret it. What he did regret was ignoring the yellow page he had received ten years ago, instead he watched it burn knowing that life may have not worked out the way the others thought if they knew. Thankfully karma liked to catch up to some especially in the middle of the night. 

One minute Hunter was cuddled close to Echo, the next a cry of pain had the two on their feet and sprinting down the stairs only to find 99 holding his cheek while a furious mother stood over him, anger radiating through their body. 

“Mother?” Echo gasped out, seeing his mother known to many as Cody who glared at 99 who equaled his own. 

“Woah, what’s going on?” Hunter held his hands up just as more footsteps revealed a tired Phee, and Wrecker, neither of them impressed to be woken up.

“I think your mother has lost his mind” 99 stated, glaring at Cody who barely blinked. 

“Mother? What’s going on?” Echo reached for Cody who watched 99 carefully as he knew for the fact that the elder man was armed, he always was. More footsteps had Echo turning only to spot his father, Rex appeared looking half relieved, half annoyed. 

“How about you tell them, Graham? How you lied to their faces when they married one another? When they thought their…” Cody never finished as 99 lunged, Rex intercepted the elder man and shoved him back. 

“Don’t you dare touch him!” Rex snarled, he normally didn’t get angry but he was fuming, he placed himself in front of Cody like a barrier. 99 glared, he glanced at his children, Wrecker and Hunter wore a worried look. 

“The truth is ten years ago, I received a yellow page directed at Cody and I burnt it” 99 admitted as Tech appeared in his dressing gown. 

“Why? What was it?” Wrecker asked, his military days far behind him. Echo watched as Rex wrapped a hand around Cody’s waist, moving him behind him. Echo could only share a look with Hunter, what was Rex protecting Cody from. 

“In all honesty, I can’t remember but…” 

“Bullshit” Cody called out, he glared darker at 99 who rolled his eyes. 

“In all honesty, I swear on the life of my…” 

“Tread lightly Graham, I swear…” Rex glanced at Cody who nodded, 99 could only grit his teeth.