#novali

It had been a few weeks since the Adventure on Idaflor had taken place, and the Bad Batch were on their way to Ord Mantel when a new mission from Cid came to them. An Old Republic Senator wanted plans that an Old Separatist was trying to sell to the Empire so that the Empire couldn't use them.

“Your target is Victor Reeshe,” Cid’s holo cracked as they flew through hyperspace, “a Pantorian with great connections to members in the Senate. He's trying to sell weapons to the Empire that could destroy starships very easily.”

“Now this is a mission I can get behind on.” Echo whispered to Hunter, who nodded in response.

“I'll send over the information, and I hope you boys have some other enhanced skill,” the all flinched, “‘cause you're gonna need it.”

“What do you mean by that?” Crosshair sneered.

Cid snorted, as if to contain her laughter. “I'll let you find out for yourself.” The holo ended, leaving the batch in a tense state.

“Do you think she found out?” Wrecker asked as he scratched his head.

“I highly doubt it.” Tech said. “Due to our hosts being very protective and secretive with who they were lodging with, and with silencing our enemies when they did find out, it is unlikely that anyone knows of our new enhancements.”

“Except the singing part,” Wrecker added, “She probably knows about that.”

“Probably.” Hunter concurred. Thanks to a certain boy and dragon, they could all sing very well now. Much to their embarrassment. That was one enhanced skill they didn't know that they didn't want. But the other enhancements that they acquired…. They were all given the option to keep them with the risk of being hunted by more than just the Empire, with the understanding that they wouldn't be able to use them but live full lives as normal nat-borns, or they could lose them and go back to have accelerated aging. There were pros and cons to each, and in the end they all chose to keep their decisions to themselves for safety. All Hunter knew for himself was that he wanted to keep his family safe. And he left it at that.

“Maybe that's why she was holding back her laugh?” Omega piped up. Seeing Cid laugh was weird, and she guessed that the only reason why Cid would laugh and make that comment would be because she got word of them singing.

“Looks like it.” Echo frowned at the information he was looking at. “Victor is going to be making the deal at a singing contest on Reecee.” He showed the blueprints and it was not ideal. There were going to be over a thousand people at this party and the room he was going to be in was heavily guarded. “From what the record shows, the only ones allowed back there are the favorite singers from the contest. And surprise surprise! They're all female.”

Omega hopped up, “That means I can do it!” A chorus of “NO”s sounded off in the ship from all five men. Omega's scowl almost looked like Crosshair's. “Why not?! I can sing and I'm a female!”

“The Phantom.” Crosshair hissed at her. There was a blimp of fear that flashed in the girl's eyes as she remembered the four-armed giant on Idaflor. “Those men could be like him. You're not going.”

“Hunter!” Omega pleaded with the oldest brother.

“No.” He didn't have to think long on that. Crosshair made an excellent point. There were too many men at these parties who were a little grabby. “We'll figure out how to get in there without risking you.”

“Now that we know what our objective is,” Tech swiveled in his pilot chair, “we'll have to gather up supplies and refuel before heading for Reecee.”

“And where will that be?” Wrecker asked with a glint in his eyes. He was probably thinking about food.

“The moon of La Harkreus that orbits Takodona.” Tech punched in the coordinates. “It's a neutral system and full of refugees from the war, so we can blend in most effectively.”

“Oh yeah! Now we're talking!” Wrecker tried to lightly punch Tech in the shoulder, but he still managed to almost knock him out of his seat, earning himself a side glare.

“I'll be taking a nap if you need me.” Crosshair got up and moved back towards the bunks.

Hunter and Omega both looked at him, then at each other, then back at him before Omega followed the youngest brother back to the bunks. They had noticed since The Intervention happened, he had been more withdrawn and melancholy, despite the fact that he had been at the healthiest point of his life. He refused to talk about it though, only getting a grunt or hum whenever someone brought it up. So, Hunter had tasked Omega to look out for him in case he decided to say anything about it, and she had yet to report anything. But Hunter did notice that Crosshair’s mood seemed to perk up whenever it was just him and Omega, with her telling him stories of their adventures that he missed with an exaggerated flare here or there, or she would ask questions about being a sniper and everything that it entailed, or learning how to clean weapons. Today it looked like it would be a shared nap.

Crosshair climbed into Tech's bunk and layed down on it and was slightly startled when Omega climbed on him and laid down on top of him. “What are you doing?” Omega shrugged with a hum. He pushed her off and turned towards the wall, only to feel her back pressed up against his. “Tch! You're annoying as Wrecker.”

“So you like his cuddles too?” Omega piped up.

He could feel her smirk. And he couldn't help but smile. “No.” He lied.

“Hunter was right. You're a bad liar.” She giggled.

There was an icy pause.

“So. What has our brother said about me?”

Oh no. Omega tried to flee the bunk but Crosshair wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back in with a gleeful shriek. 

“Spill you little spy!” Crosshair attacked her ribs mercilessly.

“Hahaha! Noooo!” She laughed. 

They landed at the spaceport on La Harkreus with Tech and Echo working on the ship while the rest went to get supplies and food. The place was rather open and not as stacked up as other worlds were, resembling that of a more populated Saleucami. They got what they needed for the journey and we're about to head back to the ship, but Wrecker wanted to see a specific restaurant on the way back because of how it smelled.

“Please Sarge!” He begged. “Just a quick bite of food!”

When Hunter was about to protest, Tech commed him with some news. “It appears a creature of sorts made a residence inside the ship and chewed on some wires and filled the space with debris. This will take some time to clean up.” 

“Do any of the wires need to be replaced?” Hunter asked.

“Unclear at the moment. I'll keep you informed. Please remain on standby.” Tech ended the conversation with a click, and left Hunter with a excited Wrecker and Omega.

Hunter pinched his nose. “Ugh. Fine. Let's get some food real fast then leave.” As the former two ran off in the direction of the restaurant, Crosshair took the remaining supplies from Hunter with a snide look. “Problem?” Hunter nearly growled out.

Crosshair only shook his head. “You've definitely gone soft.”

“So have you, thanks to the kid.” Hunter chided back.

“Tch!” Crosshair rolled his eyes as he left for the ship, but on the inside he was smiling. He really did like the kid. She was a ball of light and energy in their dim ship. But he knew what she- or they were doing. And he wasn't going to unload on her and tell them of his inner turmoil. Since having his chip removed he's been feeling the guilt of all that he has done catching up to him, and there wasn't a person whom he felt comfortable enough yet to talk to about. Maybe Hunter, but he felt like it was too soon. What he really wanted was just peace. A peace to squash out his guilt so that he didn't need to bring it up. And there were three people who really embodied it, and now they're all gone to a different world entirely.

Crosshair made it back to the hangar with the supplies in town and Echo paused from his work at just seeing one brother. “Where did the others go?” He asked, with a bit of worry in his voice.

“To get food.” The sniper shrugged.

“But we had a detailed list of food to purchase already?” Tech popped up beside Echo, covered in webs. “Any more excessive spending and we're going to have to cut supplies again.”

“You don't want them to have fun?” Crosshair snided as he loaded up the supplies with Echo's help.

Tech shook his head. “That is not the point I'm trying to make and you know it.”

“Well how long do you need to clean the webs?” Echo asked.

“Given the nature of this creature and how extreme the pattern is, I can only guess a few more hours.”

“I'd say that's plenty of time to eat food then.” Echo shrugged.

“So you'll leave me to do all the work?” Tech scowled.

“No.” Crosshair wiped the webs off his brother with a cloth. “You're going with us.”

“Don't be preposterous! There is still work- ACH!” Tech didn't have time to say anything else as Crosshair threw Tech onto his shoulders and began to carry him out of the hangar.

“You! Haven't! Eaten! Since! Yesterday!” Crosshair emphasized with each step.

“Crosshair put me down!” Tech tried to remain balanced but he felt Crosshair about to give out from under him and decided to jump and both ended up crashing to the ground.

Echo shook his head. “I don't know if I miss this or not.”

They made it to the restaurant in one piece, but were almost run into by a server who was scurrying about with a tray of food. She caught herself and the food expertly by doing a hop and then apologized. “Sorry ‘bout that! It's a crazy lunch rush today!” She skipped off to a table, “Welcome to Victor's Kitchen!” She yelled her greeting as she dodged a few customers and delivered the food before going back behind the counter to grab more.

“Well, this is lively!” Echo commented. The restaurant was nearly full of different aliens and people enjoying their food and each other's company, so it was surprisingly difficult to find the other three. But they found them right by the door in a corner booth, just watching them.

“Took you long enough!” Wrecker laughed with Omega giggling next to him. Hunter looked smug but also relaxed. Something about this place was putting him at ease.

“Well you could have said something!” Crosshair grumbled as he climbed into the booth, only for Hunter to shove him out again.

“You have to go order first then come and sit.” He nodded towards the counter. Crosshair groaned. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

“What are they offering here?” Tech asked.

“Mostly soups and sandwiches.” Omega answered, then held up a number. “We're still waiting on our food.”

“Order 42!” Came the sing-song shout.

“We’re over here, be careful with the food!” Wrecker sang back.

“Now you're catching on!” The girl from earlier came rushing over with a tray of their food. “Two sandwiches and a bowl of soup?” She placed them down on the table.

“Yes ma'am!” Wrecker thanked the lady along with Omega and Hunter before she nodded curtly in acknowledgement before bounding away for the next order. “I like this place!”

“Same!” Omega concurred before digging into her sandwich.

“I suggest you three go up there and order before you can't.” Hunter nodded again.

Crosshair squinted at him suspiciously. “You're in a cheerful mood suddenly.”

Now it was Hunter's turn to shrug. “Something about this place feels familiar.”

“Like a home.” Omega spoke with a mouth full of food.

“Omega.” Hunter warned her.

“Oops.” She covered her mouth.

“Let's head up to the counter then.” Tech said.

The three of them made it to the counter behind two other patrons when Tech and Echo began to argue over Tech's eating habits. “Did you seriously not eat since yesterday?!”

“I have noticed an increase in weight in my physic and wished to eliminate it.”

“Are you saying you ate too much of Nara's cooking?” Echo smirked.

Tech's face darkened. “I'm saying I have put on some unnecessary weight that could hinder my ability to perform on the standard level of clone physics.”

“Just say you liked her cooking.” Echo chided.

“And you still didn't eat enough!” Tech tried to throw back at the Arc trooper.

Nara. She had a strange sense of peace about her that felt almost tangible and it help with Crosshair's guilt. What he wouldn't give to feel that again. And then it hit him. This place felt like The Cabin. Safe, warm, and peaceful. No one here seemed to care about six new faces.

“I can take who’s next!” Called the familiar voice. Crosshair looked up and saw the girl again behind a register waving at him. He moved towards her and gave his order of a half sandwich and a small bowl of soup. “Sounds good! Your order number is going to be 66.” She beamed up at him as she handed him a card with the number on it. He flinched at the number and he saw her smile falter. “Is something wrong?”

He shook his head. “No.” He reached for the number but she dropped it back on the counter and reached for a different one.

“How about 68?” She held up the different card for him to take, and he felt himself relax. He nodded his thanks and she nodded back, her frizzy light brown hair getting into her face and sticking to her forehead, despite the fact that it was mostly in a braid. She handed him a cup unprompted before she heard a bell and then left the register in a flash to grab the next order. Crosshair slowly made his way to the drink station. Something about her seemed familiar. “Order 49!” She sang out.

“Well about time!” A different customer called back playfully.

“You just ordered, it'll be fine!” She playfully fired back. 

Crosshair stuck a toothpick in his mouth as he watched her bob and weave through the crowded restaurant with a smile on her face, singing under her breath. He went back to the corner booth and Hunter finally let him sit down. “How long did it take for you to get your food?” He asked.

“About ten minutes or so.” Hunter wiped his face with a napkin. “See those men over there two booths down?” Crosshair tentatively looked over his shoulder and saw the men. They were covered in skeleton tattoos and scars, but we're chatting with an elderly couple next to them. “And another group left before you showed up.”

“Order 51!” The girl cried out again. 

“Now it's time for fun!” A different customer sang. 

Crosshair felt like he was going to get annoyed with this. But he saw that she went to the table with the men to give them their food and rushed off again.

“You're relaxed because there are so many people here with similar tattoos,” Tech answered, “Meaning that we blend in with our surroundings, and because we look different from the- uh- others,” Tech caught himself in time with a nod at Echo, “No one can report us.”

“Exactly.” Hunter nodded.

“And yet you still chose the corner booth closest to the door.” Omega added. “Why?”

“We're still not sure who is friendly and who is not.” Echo answered her. “And if a situation arises, we can make a quick escape.”

“Ahh….” The girl looked around and studied the room. “Well they all seem friendly so far.”

“You're still naive.” Crosshair pointed his toothpick at her. “Anyone can appear and act friendly only to stab you in the back later.”

“I trusted you, didn't I?” Omega reminded him and he paused.

“Order 56!”

“Throw it, you can't miss!”

The server made a nervous laugh. “I have before and I won't do it again!” She gave the man his order and ended up going by their table to throw away trash before dashing away again.

“I don't think that one can.” Wrecker pointed back at the girl as she made her way through the restaurant with more food. “She’s friendly and silly like Tore, but has Nara’s calm energy.”

Tech frowned. “Of course you would bring those two up in the conversation as well!” He pulled out his data pad and tried to ignore them.

“What?” Wrecker threw a napkin at him, somewhat confused. “All I said is that the little server reminds me of Tore and Nara.”

Crosshair made note of what Wrecker said and watched the girl. She called out each order with a song and the customers usually responded with a call in a rhyme for some reason, unless she knew where the customers were and just brought them their food. She hopped and danced like the minstrels, was constantly singing something either to herself or when serving food, and sometimes she would bow dramatically with the food held out as if she was addressing royalty. When she did finally bring out his food, he dreaded her singing it outloud, but she just brought it to him.

“Soup and sandwich my good sir.” She waved her hand before bowing dramatically again.

Something about her energy was soothing him, like how Nara's and the blue dragon’s used to, but seeing it coming from this energetic woman was somehow amusing in his mind. He scoffed at her performance, and he saw her flinch. Oh. She did not take that well. Hunter nudged him under the table.

“Sorry about him.” Hunter apologized to her as she straightened. “He woke up on the wrong side of the bunk.”

The girl scratched her head nervously. “Ah, well that was me yesterday, so I guess you caught it from me?” She voice pitched as she backed up. “I-I’ll see about the other orders then.” She turned on her heel and quickly marched away. Taking that soothing energy with her.

She can sing.

She can perform.

And there seemed to be a well spring of peace coming from her.

“Crosshair?” Are you okay?” Hunter asked him.

“She's the one.” He answered.

Hunter was confused. “What do you mean?”

“She's going to be our singer.”

“You mean to ask Novali to sing for the contest on Reecee?” Tech asked.

“What was that?” Crosshair looked back at his goggled eyed brother.

“Novali's her name. Have you looked at her name tag?” Tech studied Crosshair with an uncomfortable gaze, making him shake his foot in nervousness. Tech shook his head.

Crosshair looked back at the girl and saw her being silly behind the counter while she waited for more food to arrive. No one seemed to be in line now. “Maybe. Might as well ask her.”

“It never hurts to ask.” Omega piped up.

No, it never hurts to ask. But what if Novali says no? Crosshair thought.