An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Cartoon)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hunter & Omega (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), CT-9904 | Crosshair & Clone Trooper Hunter, Hunter & Wrecker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Crosshair & CT-21-0408 | CT-1409 | Echo & Hunter & Omega & Wrecker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch)
Characters: Clone Trooper Hunter (Star Wars), Clone Trooper Tech (Star Wars), Clone Trooper Wrecker (Star Wars), CT-9904 | Crosshair, CT-21-0408 | CT-1409 | Echo, Omega (Star Wars: The Bad Batch)
Additional Tags: Hunter Needs A Hug (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Everyone Needs A Hug, Who doesn’t want to throw their older brother at a tree though, Clone Trooper Tech Lives (Star Wars), Sibling drama, POV Hunter (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Pabu Island (Star Wars), Angst, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Family, Friendship, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Bad Batch Season 3 Predictions, Imperial Tech (Star Wars: The Bad Batch)
Summary:
Hunter thought finding Omega would be the end of fighting. That they could finally choose to live the lives they’ve wanted for so long. Until the Empire shows up on Pabu, ending their short stay, and something surfaces that will change their lives forever.
Tech's emotions over flow after going unsaid for too long. Hunter realises his brother needs some support and that forgetting about Crosshair isn't good for any of them. Omega is the perfect younger sister.
Find it on my AO3
As the Havoc-Marauder settled into hyperspace, the tension in the ship dispersed and was replaced by the friendly familiarity between the members. Hunter had a hand on Omega’s shoulder as she excitedly rattled off her and Wrecker’s accomplishments on their side, Wrecker interrupting with his own equally excited comments whilst echo (who had spun round in the co-pilot’s seat) nodded along trying and failing to cover up the fact he was scanning them all for injuries. Tech didn’t face them, eyes set on the blur of stars before them, fiddling absentmindedly with a clump of wires he had picked up and had no plan for.
“And then I shot the droid with my bow”
“Right in the head, kid’s got perfect aim”
“And that’s when Crosshair arri-”
Omega was interrupted by a sharp clang from the pilot’ seat. They all turned to face Tech whose cheeks flushed as he picked up the wires before turning away from them without so much as a glance in their direction.
“Hey, Tech, you alright?” Hunter’s concerned voice broke the silence.
“Affirmative, I have sustained no injuries. Neither has the ship. I apologize for the interruption”
Hunter kept his eyes trained on Tech’s back but didn’t probe him any further, a squeeze to Omega’s shoulder signalling her to carry on.
“Crosshair arrived and started shooting at us and his aim was so good but luckily Wrecker threw a crate at him so we had time to run around the corner.”
“You know how delicate Cross can be - took him minutes to get up again”
“And then we made it to you and had that whole stand off”
That’s when Echo interrupted, providing his ARC interpretation and analysis on their efforts. Hunter tended to forget how much experience the man had, working so closely with Rex and found himself nodding along with him. The conversation soon got thrown off into a tangent about the new TK soldiers and other developments the Empire were making from the GAR.
Hunter found himself pausing and waiting for Tech’s interjections; he was so animated when they first discovered the changes with the Commandos. But Tech sat silently at the Cockpit’s control desk. As he drowned out the surrounding conversation to take note of the Pilot’s tense shoulders and un-Tech-like lack of precision while handling the wires he felt his concern grow.
He pulled himself back to Echo and Wrecker’s conversation, intending to send them away so he could talk with Tech and figure out what was wrong.
“Yeah, we could’a used a sniper,” Wrecker vigorously announced.
“I will admit, Crosshair being a traitor’s kind'a inconvenient. Don’t see him coming and suddenly you're being shot at.”
“What’s not inconvenient is not having an attitude!” Wrecker laughed.
“Shut up!” Tech suddenly stood up, his wires thrown to the ground and the chair spinning from the force he left it with. “Shut up shut up!”
He flung his helmet across the cockpit and smashed into the wall with a loud crash. Omega startled and hurried out of the room.
Hunter took a step back and resisted the urge to cover his ears. He felt his stomach lurch at the sight of tears streaking from behind Tech’s goggles. Wrecker and Echo were frozen, mouths still open.
“He’s not a traitor!
“Tech, he’s literally hunting us down for the Empire,” Echo stated whilst Wrecker shouted: “If he wasn’t a traitor he would be with us now.”
“Hunting us down? What like you did to Omega, Wrecker?”
Wrecker physically flinched back, tears welling in his eyes whilst they started to freely stream down Tech’s face.
“It’s not him. It’s not. It wasn’t you trying to shoot Omega in the face. Cross wouldn’t betray us. And you’ve abandoned him. None of you care - none of you did. He got left behind. We left him behind and none of you care or feel bad,” tremors began to wrack through his body violently, “We left him behind. We are the traitors. He’s all alone - the Empire doing maker knows what to him - and we aren’t saving him because none of you care!”
“Tech-” Hunter slowly stepped forward, hands raised in a placating manner.
“What? You're the one who made us leave him. You’re our sergeant, you’re meant to keep us together and you didn’t”.
“Tech-” He signalled for the others to leave, “We did what we could, but we couldn’t get out of their alive and save him.”
“Bullshit - that’s just what you tell yourself.”
“Maybe you’re right-” Hunter considered his options.
It was rare for Tech to feel emotions strongly, let alone let them out. When Tech had breakdowns like this it would be after something had been building for weeks. Hunter cursed himself for not having noticed the signs: taking the night shift so he didn't have to sleep in front of them because of nightmares; not eating’ overworking so he didn't have to think about it. Crosshair was usually the one who helped Tech in these situations, he was the only one Tech felt comfortable speaking to about these matters actually, the both of them not feeling as strongly as Hunter, Wrecker or Echo. He should have seen this coming with Tech’s closest brother being unavailable.
“Tech, tell me, was there a way for us to get out alive with Crosshair? Think.” He commanded, hoping that giving Tech the puzzle would help his analytical mind ease the onslaught of emotions so Hunter could begin to help him with them.
“No.” Tech's voice was strained and croaky from shouting. He slumped forward with resignation at the admission.
Hunter stepped forward and laid a hand on his back. Tech flinched away for a second before falling into his brother’s chest. Hunter wrapped his arms around the slender man and realised this was the first time he had hugged Tech. A pang of guilt made its way through his body as he wondered whether it was more than their similarity that had Tech heading to Crosshair for comfort. Hunter found Tech’s constant babble exhausting and incomprehensible, sometimes leading him to be a bit short with the others.
“What brought this on?” He asked.
“They talk about him as if he’s no different than Rampart or Bane or Tarkin. But he is. He’s our brother. And then they don’t talk about him at all. No one’s mentioned that he’s gone.”
They had all been so concerned with Omega’s safety they hadn’t had time to mourn Crosshair’s separation and Tech, finding emotions as confusing and illogical as he does, had never felt confident to bring him up - not with Wrecker often ignoring what he said assuming he won't understand and other more urgent situations ongoing.
“Do you want to talk about it - him now?”
“I miss him.”
“So do we.”
“Really.” Tech deadpanned, “”It surely gives that impression when you all spend hours insulting him”.
“Perhaps convincing ourselves we weren't as close to him saves us the pain from his absence.”
Tech stayed silent.
“I will talk to the others. And Tech,” he waited until his eyes met his younger brother’s. “We will get him back. I promise.”
Tech sobbed into Hunter’s chest in response. They stood like that for a while, until they heard the door open behind them. Omega poked her head in the cockpit, concern worrying about her face.
“Tech, are you okay?”
“I will be.” He pulled away from Hunter, his cold exterior returning quicker than Hunter would have liked, “I apologise for scarring you.”
Omega reached down and picked up his wires, handing them back to him, “It’s okay,” she smiled, “We’ll get him back.”
The rest of the group filtered back in, they cast Tech concerned glances which he pretended to not notice. The atmosphere was awkward, the conversation choppy as they tried to stick to light subjects. But Omega’s game with her Bad Batcher doll drew them all in.
Tech tapped Omega on the shoulder and passed her a small toy bow he had made with the wires.
“This is so cool, she matches me now!” Omega lurched forward and hugged her older brother.
This was generally a smooth write just wish I’d gotten it done sooner. Either way I hope it’s an enjoyable read.
“Tech, are you sure you know what you're doing?” Hunter questioned.
“I went through the primary training to learn to fly any ship at the Republic’s disposal. So yes, I know what I’m doing.” Tech replied irritated.
He’d been through every trial he could to prepare for this, so what if it was his first time flying! He could still do it! He would still do it!
“That may be true, but this is still your first time. Just, take it slow.”
Tech looked over at Hunter with a look of absolute confusion. They’d gotten their own personal ship and wanted to take it slow!
“Teeech,” Hunter scolded, already being able to guess what his vod was planning to do. “Take it slow!”
He rolled his eyes at Hunter, “I could follow your advice-”
“You should follow my advice,” Hunter corrected.
“And we could have a less than memorable first flight,” Tech continued, ignoring that Hunter had cut into what he was saying.
Hunter began to lean over towards the controls so he could have an easier time prying them from Tech’s hands, if need be.
“Or, I could do this-” he jammed the wheel forward before Hunter could enact his plan.
“Hold on!” he yelled as the thrusters burst to life forcing the ship forward at startling speed. Hunter’s body slammed forward and two other slams could be heard from the door behind them. A set of loud expletives being heard not too long after.
Tech had a wild grin on his face as they cut through the dreary clouds of Kamino into the vast stary abyss beyond the planet. The galaxy opening up before them for the first time.
Tech’s breath hitched as he saw the wider galaxy for the first time. He’d read copious amounts about as many planets as he could. He’d seen thousands of schematics about where planets and stars were in relation to one another. And he’d heard descriptions of what it would look like when they got off of Kamino, and yet he was still shocked by it.
They weren’t on Kamino anymore. They had their own ship. They could go anywhere, they may have missions they needed to do but they could still go anywhere.
He looked over at Hunter and saw a similar look of awe and realization on his face.
“Maybe…next time I can take it slow.” he muttered, making Hunter look over at him with a nasty glare.
“Yeah, I think that's fair!” Hunter rolled his eyes as he sat down next to Tech in the co-pilot seat. “But, it was kind of fun.”
“I knew you’d say that!” Tech said triumphantly.
They had the whole galaxy laid out before them, and Tech, along with the rest of his aliit, was ready to explore it.
