Bad Batch - Omega Isn't Going Back to Kamino - Extended Scene
*I wrote this scene then a few weeks later I saw this work from one of my all time favorite SW fan artists @lornaka - I literally shrieked with happiness that we had the same idea :) - AC
Hunter sat in the pilot’s seat of the Marauder. The rest of the batch had gone to sleep, and he was on watch staring out into the darkness pinpricked with distant stars. He reached to push a button in front of him, softly grunted in pain and placed his hand on the bandages wrapped around his left side. The wound was healing but he definitely needed another bacta patch. He stared out into space before him and rested his forearms on the steering column.
Omega climbed down from her room in the gunner’s nest and quietly walked into the cockpit. She wordlessly climbed into the copilot’s chair and drew her knees up to her chest. Hunter pushed another few buttons then turned to look at her.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly.
“I keep thinking about the Kaminoans….seeing that place.” She shuddered and hugged her knees again. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I don’t want to end up an experiment in a tube.”
Hunter could sense her fear. It made him angry. He just wanted to take on all that pain so badly. He would rather die than let something happen to her.
“That’s not gonna happen.” He said firmly.
She sighed. “If I’m as valuable as you say, Lama Su will keep sending bounty hunters after me.”
“He can send every one in the galaxy.” Hunter growled. “You have us.”
She looked at him with a half-smile then turned away to rest her cheek on her on her knee. She didn’t want him to see her tears. “You can’t fight them all.”
Hunter moved out of his chair to kneel at her side. He slowly spun her chair to face him. He sighed and gently lifted her chin with a finger. She was too young to worry about something this serious. She met his eyes.
“Omega, you don’t have to worry.” He wiped away a tear on her cheek with his thumb. “You are never going back to Kamino” he said matter-of-factly.
“Promise?” she asked.
“I promise.” His eyes hardened with resilience.
She managed a small smile. He stood and sat back down in his chair.
“It’s late. Get back to bed, kid.” He said softly.
Without moving she glanced toward the ladder of the gunner’s nest then back,
“I-I-umm.”
Hunter knew. Clones were notorious for having especially vivid nightmares. He had never seen war or had nightmares when he was her age, but Omega was one of them and he could only imagine how frightening those thoughts must be to someone so young. He extended his hand toward her.
“I will never let anyone hurt you, Omega.”
She put her feet down and stepped across the cockpit. He gently gathered her in his arms and sucked his teeth when she rested her head on his chest.
“Sorry!” She gasped and picked her head up.
“It’s ok.” He sighed, gently guiding her head back down. He didn’t care about the pain if she was comfortable.
He reclined the pilot’s seat and propped his heels on the edge of the console. Omega felt the strength of his good arm around her and the steady rhythm of his breath; she felt safe. Her nightmares of Kamino melted away. Hunter felt her relax and he smiled to himself. He was getting better at this whole kid-raising thing.
A few hours later Wrecker entered the cockpit to begin his watch. He was met with the sight of Hunter struggling to stay awake in the pilot’s chair with Omega curled up against him. His cheek rested on her head, and he gazed heavily out at the stars.
Wrecker sat down in the co-pilot’s chair and gave him a smile and nod. He had been relieved from watch. Within seconds, Hunter’s eyes closed.
Art Credit: LORNAKA <3
