Writer: CourtesyTrefflin (@fanfictasia and @disastertriowriting)
Artist 1: @pidgotto.arts (Instagram)
Artist 2: @aceinspaceart (@ace.in.space.art - Instagram)
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Crosshair, Echo, Omega, Anakin, Fives, Ahsoka
Relationships: Hunter & Crosshair, Wrecker & Crosshair, Hunter & Tech & Wrecker & Crosshair & Echo & Omega, Wrecker & Tech, Echo & Fives, Crosshair & Fives, Anakin & Crosshair, Anakin & Hunter, Anakin & Echo, Ahsoka & Omega
Summary: In the quest to find Omega, the remainder of the Bad Batch stumble on an old Republic base while following the trail of what they hope is of a surviving Jedi. Instead, they walk into a Sith trap, and awaken back in the Clone Wars. Finding one another scattered across the galaxy may be more difficult than it seems.
Echo seemed certain this might work. Hunter⌠isnât, but itâs the only chance they have. And they have to try. Thereâs nothing he wouldnât be willing to try. Nothing he wouldnât be willing to do.
Anything, so they can get Omega back.
She gave them purpose. They were supposed to take care of her â they would do anything for her. They would die for her.
Tech did.                   Â
Any of them wouldâve done it.
And it feels like a part of him died there, too. Wrecker is the only one of the brothers he grew up with who he has left. Tech⌠used to be the middle. He always was. Now, itâs Hunter. Even if heâs still â somehow â supposed to be their leader.
He feels⌠empty. The Marauder is quiet, too quiet.
It would be easier if Tech was here. At least that way, everything would make a small amount of sense. They hadnât even had time to grieve or process before they lost Omega, too.
So, when Echo suggested they go to this now-abandoned Republic base, despite the potential dangers, Hunter didnât think twice. But now that heâs here, now that heâs inside â he left Echo and Wrecker with the ship, so he could scout out alone, just in case â he knows somethingâs wrong. He canât even say what it is, but itâs⌠something.
He senses it, that energy is pooling to center at a point in⌠the middle of the room, which doesnât make sense.
Something in the darkness is shimmering red. If Omega were here, Hunter would tell her to stay back, because it looks⌠dangerous. He knows it is, but after⌠after, he canât even care about that anymore â not so long as they take the chance they have.
He should hold back, should wait. Something is⌠wrong.
Hunter knows that, so he doesnât know why he moves forwards, anyway. He can almost hear Techâs voice in his mind, telling him to be careful, that this is dangerous, and they donât know anything about the Jediâs Force abilities, or whatever this object is.
But in the end, he canât change the past. He canât turn back time. He canât⌠bring them back.
Tech should have been here with them. He would have been, if Hunter hadnât let them go in blindly after Crosshair. Because for all that they want their little brother back, this isnât about what they want. Itâs about survival.
Itâs about Omega. Itâs always about Omega.
And in that hope-driven moment, he let himself forget that.
They lost Tech for that. They lostâŚ
And there is nothing he wouldnât do to get them all back.
The energy in the room is shifting, pulsing. The object is⌠radiating energy. Itâs gathering, whirling around it in a violent storm, andâŚ
Hunter doesnât really remember what happened next.
