* They go to the fictional college of “the Grand Republic University of DC.” (GRU-DC)
* Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair are quadruplets (born in that order)
* Echo is adopted, but has the same father as the others. It’s complicated.
* Omega is the baby sister, also same father, but separated from her twin, Boba, at birth. Also very complicated.
* Omega is in middle school while her brothers are all in college.
* They all live in an apartment off campus and you can bet that there were some crazy wild parties there (one of which where Hunter and Wrecker got so drunk they wrote a very long email to congresswoman Padme Amidala about how they were never interested in politics till she was elected)
* Gonky is their trash cat that lives in the apartment dumpster. It is friendly with everyone but it especially likes Omega.
Tech
* Will overwrite every paper given. Will also turn in a week early only for the professor to say “gotta cut a lot of this. There’s a page limit!” And he will cut it back, grumbling the entire time that there’s no such thing as too much research.
* Uses a ruler and compass in his notes to make perfect diagrams and graphs. They look better than the powerpoints
* Crosses out typos in textbooks. In PEN. To ascertain his dominance in knowledge.
* Is that student who corrects the professor. Always using “technically, it is actually-“ cue the rest of the class groaning.
* Professors either love him or hate him. There is no in-between.
* Triple major. Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Has a minor in Statistics and countless electives in every major building.
* Once took an art class. It was the only class he ever failed. (Bonus: the art majors however loved it when his brothers came to check on him during studio hours. Especially the “dark and broody ones”)
* The college advising staff has to remind Tech every semester that he cannot take more than 10 classes at a time, even with a triple major. Tech always sends in a strongly worded letter to the staff about the pursuit of knowledge. They are always thrown away unopened after receiving the first one.
* After freshman year of living in the library and in the apartment, Tech is forced to study outside at the insistence of his brother, Hunter, where he gets a lovely tan.
* Wrecker and Omega often join him in the park while he studies. Occasionally Crosshair will join but only so he can get some peace and quiet.
* Tech will help everyone with their homework. Even strangers that don’t go to university. Any poor soul in a coffee shop or the park bench is automatically on the radar. He tutors Wrecker and Omega especially, which is why they join him so often outside.
* Isn’t flustered around potential partners as many would assume, but is rather pragmatic (almost cold) in his answers for more personal relationships. Will insist that he is married to knowledge. However, does acknowledge attractiveness in the physical sense.
* Hates the movie “National Treasure” for how inaccurate it is about history and the plot line. Even hatched a plan on how to actually steal the Declaration of Independence (which he totally would never actually do…)
* When he is upset or in a mood, he runs to the Library of Congress. The staff know him personally there.
* In spring, with the hundreds of school field trips going to DC museums, he will casually start lecturing along with the tour guide if he’s there. He sometimes is kicked out for it. Other times the guide just is resigned to their fate and let’s him do it.
* Tech is banned from three bars’ trivia nights for obvious reasons.
* He is also consequentially banned from the debate team, as while he has good points, he has no care for decorum or protocol.
* Tech however is captain of the robotics team with one mission: take over the battlebots arena via total annihilation.
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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The men of the Bad Batch scored big on their latest mission. They decided they would give Echo a portion for discreet medical care, and Tech is there, every step of the way.
Synopsis: The Bad Batch meet a new friend on Ord Mantell. She might just change their lives forever; this chapter Clone Force 99 meets with Smith to come to an agreement.
Warnings: Sexual themes, cis/het sexual themes, MINORS DNI
Inside the control room of the Marauder seemed small, as the squad’s focus was entirely on Echo. Tech was turning the hexagonal tool over and over in his hands as Hunter stood leaning against a control panel with his arms crossed, his face unreadable as ever. Wrecker sat quietly in one of the jump seats looking lost, always the one to take the emotional temperature of the group. Omega was sitting in the gunners nest, her legs dangling off the edge.
“You made this decision without thinking to speak to all of us first?” Hunter asked, turning to look at Echo with stern disappointment.
“Nothing’s set in stone, Hunter.” Echo reasoned. “Besides, it’s my body -”
“But it affects all of us!” Hunter interjected.
Wrecker, uncharacteristically, spoke up. “Let him talk, Sarge!”
“This could get us out from under Cid’s thumb and set us up for a good long while. We could truly lay low! Isn’t that what you want?” Echo argued.
“It is! But you made a decision without us. A potentially dangerous one, too. It could put us on Wat Tambor’s radar, or even the Empire’s!” Hunter voice rose to a shout, as he grew angrier with every word.
“No one is more at risk that I am! It’s my body their after!” Echo yelled, frustrated.
“Please don’t fight!” Omega said from her spot above the ruckus, her voice small. Wrecker gave her a tight smile from his place across the hull.
Tech stepped in between a frustrated Echo and angry Hunter.
“I agree that this plan has some holes. There are many finer details to iron out. But I do believe Smith has honorable intentions. Furthermore, I think this is a reasonable plan overall.” Tech’s assessment deflated Hunter’s anger.
“What makes you so sure, Tech?” Hunter asked.
Tech held up with tool he’d been studying, the very one Smith had made for Echo. “This tool is pure beskar. The worth of Mandalorian steel went up a thousand-fold since the start of the war. Someone like Smith would know the worth of such material.”
Echo, Hunter and Wrecker looked at one another in disbelief.
Echo gaped at Tech for a moment. He reached for the tool. Taking it in his hand, he ran his thumb over the intricately carved symbols that corresponded to each of his connections, hand-etched just for him. “Why would she do this?” He asked, looking up at his brothers. Wrecker was smiling fondly at him and Hunter’s scowl had turned into soft acceptance.
Hunter sighed and gave his eldest brother a half smile. “It’s a sign of faith.” He said.
Omega was more than happy to lead her squad to Smith’s Fabrication from the hangar, getting better at finding her way through the city streets. She was oblivious to the way Echo kept himself between her and the main lanes of foot traffic, or the way Hunter was strategically placed several paces behind her, keeping Omega in a bubble of safety. The young woman chattered happily as they walked, cutting an imposing path through the foot traffic. It was late afternoon, several moons beginning to show their faces in the sky as the horizon began to grow a hazy orange.
As they walked, Wrecker pulled Echo to the back of their tight formation, Tech taking the lead next to Omega.
“For what it’s worth, I’m with you on this.” Wrecker said as they walked. “All this other bullshit aside, I’m really glad you found somebody.” The big guy was earnest.
“Thank you Wreck.” Echo kept his head down as they walked.
“Can’t say I’m not a little bit jealous. There were a few ladies a long time ago. Back before shit really hit the fan and we had more time between missions.” Wrecker sighed, remembering.
Hunter stopped dead in his tracks, Wrecker nearly bowling him over as he walked into him. They all stopped and looked to their leader.
“What is it, Hunter?” Tech asked, knowing Hunter was sensing something none of the rest of them could.
“I think I hear… yelling. It’s Smith… yelling…” Hunter met Echo’s eyes. Both men took off at a sprint toward the sound, Echo knowing the path and Hunter following his senses. The others followed after a beat, in the wake of confused and harried pedestrians thrown out of their path. Omega’s short legs could barely keep up with her brothers’ longer strides, Wrecker scooping her up easily and tossing her on his back.
Two blocks West and one block South they ran full out, skidding to a stop and wrenching the door of Smith’s shop open. Smith was standing inside holding a rifle on a very tall Twilek male with dark blue skin and long lekku, dressed in a flight suit with a blaster in his hand and a scowl on his face. Behind Smith, a hole was smoking in the pricing board just past her head. As the four armored men piled into Smith’s shop, the Twilek lowered the blaster. Smith kept her rifle aimed but smiled up at her guests.
“Well, hello soldiers! What a welcome surprise!” Smith was vision with the rifle tucked against her shoulder and her eye up to the sight.
“Everything OK here, cya’rika?” Echo stepped in front of Hunter who had entered first, his gaze flicking between Smith and her customer.
“Oh, I was just telling Jeck here he needs to come back with twelve hundred credits or he’s not getting the part her ordered for his ship. He disagrees. He thought he could persuade me into lowering my fees.” Smith said sweetly.
“I think you owe the lady twelve hundred credits.” Wrecker’s booming voice rang through the shop, his heavy footfalls causing the windows to rattle as he stepped into the space and slowly took off his helmet.
Jeck slowly holstered his blaster and pulled a small pouch out of his belt and tossed it onto the counter.
“Tech, can you please get the T7 Hyperdrive manifold housing for Jeck out of my workshop please? Right through that door.” Smith motioned toward the doorway with her head.
“I can get it for you -” Echo started to offer.
“Know what it looks like?” Smith raised her eyebrows.
“Err.” Echo replied.
“I’m on it.” Tech shouldered his way into the shop and went into the back, returning quickly with a small, complex-looking piece of machinery in a crate. He set it in front of Smith on the counter.
Smith slowly set down her rifle, her eyes never leaving Jeck who’s shifty eyes flitted from clone to clone. She picked up a datapad and typed in a few lines of data, a small piece of flimsiplast printing from a machine under the counter. She added it to the crate and then smiled sweetly at Jeck. “Pleasure doing business, Jeck. Feel free to find someone else next time.”
Jeck grabbed the crate and nearly ran out of the shop with it, leaving Clone Force 99 and Smith Audrey staring at one another in amused disbelief. Omega finally entered the shop from where she had been watching through the window.
“What the hell just happened?” Hunter finally asked.
All the fight seemed to leave Smith all at once, her knees giving out as she grabbed blindly, her eyes losing focus. Wrecker and Omega yelled, Echo was around the counter in a heartbeat, catching her and easing her to the floor. Omega was held back by an equally concerned but stoic Hunter, as Tech quickly reached for his med scanner.
“Cyare!” Echo called out as he felt Smith tremble.
“I’m ok, I’m ok. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to pull that rifle.” Smith winced as Tech scanned her, the red light of the device shining directly in her eyes.
“You’re experiencing an adrenaline crash.” Tech announced. Smith was already trying to stand, letting Tech and Echo help her to her feet.
“That hut’uun won’t be coming back anytime soon!” Wrecker said, his face a mask of concern.
Smith had to chuckle. “Thank you for that, Wrecker. I’m just glad you didn’t make him piss his pants.”
“Are you alright Smith?” Omega asked from over the counter with big, scared eyes.
“I’m fine, sweetie.” Smith reassured. “But, what are you all doing here?”
It was Hunter’s turn to speak up. “We wanted to discuss your offer to Echo.”
Smith blanched and turned to Echo, who still had an arm around her waist. Her first thought was of her offer to help him with his inexperience. Hunter could hear the uptick of her heartbeat and smell the pheromones seeping from her skin.
“The offer to reverse engineer his cybernetics. Patent them?” Hunter clarified. Smith’s heart calmed immediately as she smiled in relief.
“Right! Let me close the shop. Echo, you want to bring everyone into the workshop and I’ll meet you in there?” Smith looked up at Echo who hadn’t let her go. He was looking down at her with such longing and concern, his cybernetic arm firmly wrapped around her, his hand holding the edge of the counter, effectively keeping her in caged in.
Echo looked down at Smith, a thin layer of sweat beading along her brow, eyes glassy and still unfocused. She looked flushed even if he couldn’t see more color in her cheeks, her breathing was still labored and… she was beautiful. Smith licked her dry lips and drew his eyes down, the urge to kiss her strong. Smith laced her fingers with his on the counter and pulled him away, feeling all the eyes in the room on them both.
“Omega, can you help me close up?” Smith stepped past Echo, which shook him out of his stupor and went to close the blast doors over the big window.
They talked late into the night. Hunter’s fears assuaged and Tech’s concerns heard, they drew up a plan that would have Smith and Tech reverse engineering most of Echo’s cybernetics and patenting the designs, marketing them under a shell corporation and routing the profits through to Smith’s business. Omega had fallen asleep curled up in the empty quenching tub, and was snoring quietly in the corner. The adults were snacking on the remains of a hastily prepared meal of soup and biscuits at the work tables, datapads and flimsiplast spread out among the food, drink and assortment of snacks.
“The only skank in the scud pie,” Smith said, setting down the biscuit she’d been munching on, “Is that we can’t patent it from here. We have to go to Coruscant and present them in person.” She winced.
“That is a problem.” Tech said from his perch on the adjacent work table.
Hunter slid off his stool. “We can get you to Coruscant. Can you do the rest?”
Smith eyed the big piece of flimsi she had been writing on. Taking a bandana out of her back pocket she reached up and proceeded to wrap her hair in the bandana, oblivious to the way her shirt rode up her stomach. Echo noticed however, and he squirmed where he sat. With an exaggerated huff she replied, “I think so. I think it would be safe to contact my lawyer friend on Coruscant.”
“You won’t mention us, right?” Wrecker asked.
Smith patted him on the shoulder. “No! Of course not. And I probably won’t do more than ask for a consultation. But he helped win a law suit that helped me… well, a long time ago.” Smith smiled sadly.
Wrecker stifled a yawn.
“It’s pretty late.” Hunter commented.
Echo picked up a data pad from the table. “Or early, depending on how you look at it.” He smiled at Smith who smirked back at him.
“You’re all welcome to stay here, if you like.” Smith offered. The squad looked at one another. “The upstairs has several unused rooms.”
“Why not?” Hunter shrugged.
“Will your droid take care of all this or should we pick up?” Echo asked.
Smith frowned. “R7 is on the fritz. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I’ll take care of the mess.” Smith waved off the offer of help.
“I would be more than happy to look at your droid if you would like.” Tech was at full attention with the promise of something to tinker with.
Smith giggled. “Thank you Tech, I would appreciate that!” She moved to the stairway. “C’mon, I’ll show you all where you can sleep.”
“Excuse me, where is the droid?” Tech asked.
Wrecker smacked Tech hard on the back of the head. “She didn’t mean now, nerd!”
Tech rubbed his head. “Fuck off Wrecker!” Tech punched Wrecker in the arm, which didn’t phase Wrecker at all. “Smith, I don’t sleep well, I can look at it now or whenever you wish.”
Smith pointed to the corner opposite the stairs. “He’s plugged in over in that corner. Feel free Tech.”
Hunter picked up a sleeping Omega and followed Smith, Echo and Wrecker up the stairs while Tech found the R7 droid in the corner. Four large bedrooms, a larger refresher and an open space between the rooms was illuminated as they walked onto the second level.
“Fresher’s here,” Smith pointed out, “feel free to get a real shower. Clothes washer and dryer is in there too. Hunter, if you want to take Omega in this room, there are two full beds in there.” Smith opened the first bedroom where there were two bed across from one another. “Wrecker, this room has a queen and a sofa with a pull-out bed, so if Tech wants to bunk with you he can, or the other room has two singles.”
Hunter shuffled into the room with Omega and lay her down, taking off her shoes. Echo helped get the sleeping girl under the covers.
“Thank you Smith.” Hunter said quietly. “This is very kind.”
Echo smiled proudly behind Smith who grew warm and shy all of a sudden, Hunter’s approval meaning more than she realized. “You are always welcome here.” She said.
“What did this place used to be that you have so many bedrooms?” Wrecker asked.
Smith laughed softly. “It’s an old brothel!”
Wrecker turned crimson and laughed along with her. “Makes sense! Thank you, Smith.” He enveloped her tiny body in a hug.
“Of course Wrecker!” Smith gasped, before she was “You made this decision without thinking to speak to all of us first?” Hunter asked, turning to look at Echo with stern disappointment.
“Nothing’s set in stone, Hunter.” Echo reasoned. “Besides, it’s my body -”
“But it affects all of us!” Hunter interjected.
Wrecker, uncharacteristically, spoke up. “Let him talk, Sarge!”
“This could get us out from under Cid’s thumb and set us up for a good long while. We could truly lay low! Isn’t that what you want?” Echo argued.
“It is! But you made a decision without us. A potentially dangerous one, too. It could put us on Wat Tambor’s radar, or even the Empire’s!” Hunter voice rose to a shout, as he grew angrier with every word.
“No one is more at risk that I am! It’s my body their after!” Echo yelled, frustrated.
“Please don’t fight!” Omega said from her spot above the ruckus, her voice small. Wrecker gave her a tight smile from his place across the hull.
Tech stepped in between a frustrated Echo and angry Hunter.
“I agree that this plan has some holes. There are many finer details to iron out. But I do believe Smith has honorable intentions. Furthermore, I think this is a reasonable plan overall.” Tech’s assessment deflated Hunter’s anger.
“What makes you so sure, Tech?” Hunter asked.
Tech held up with tool he’d been studying, the very one Smith had made for Echo. “This tool is pure beskar. The worth of Mandalorian steel went up a thousand-fold since the start of the war. Someone like Smith would know the worth of such material.”
Echo, Hunter and Wrecker looked at one another in disbelief.
Echo gaped at Tech for a moment. He reached for the tool. Taking it in his hand, he ran his thumb over the intricately carved symbols that corresponded to each of his connections, hand-etched just for him. “Why would she do this?” He asked, looking up at his brothers. Wrecker was smiling fondly at him and Hunter’s scowl had turned into soft acceptance.
Hunter sighed and gave his eldest brother a half smile. “It’s a sign of faith.” He said.
Omega was more than happy to lead her squad to Smith’s Fabrication from the hangar, getting better at finding her way through the city streets. She was oblivious to the way Echo kept himself between her and the main lanes of foot traffic, or the way Hunter was strategically placed several paces behind her, keeping Omega in a bubble of safety. The young woman chattered happily as they walked, cutting an imposing path through the foot traffic. It was late afternoon, several moons beginning to show their faces in the sky as the horizon began to grow a hazy orange.
As they walked, Wrecker pulled Echo to the back of their tight formation, Tech taking the lead next to Omega.
“For what it’s worth, I’m with you on this.” Wrecker said as they walked. “All this other bullshit aside, I’m really glad you found somebody.” The big guy was earnest.
“Thank you Wreck.” Echo kept his head down as they walked.
“Can’t say I’m not a little bit jealous. There were a few ladies a long time ago. Back before shit really hit the fan and we had more time between missions.” Wrecker sighed, remembering.
Hunter stopped dead in his tracks, Wrecker nearly bowling him over as he walked into him. They all stopped and looked to their leader.
“What is it, Hunter?” Tech asked, knowing Hunter was sensing something none of the rest of them could.
“I think I hear… yelling. It’s Smith… yelling…” Hunter met Echo’s eyes. Both men took off at a sprint toward the sound, Echo knowing the path and Hunter following his senses. The others followed after a beat, in the wake of confused and harried pedestrians thrown out of their path. Omega’s short legs could barely keep up with her brothers’ longer strides, Wrecker scooping her up easily and tossing her on his back.
Two blocks West and one block South they ran full out, skidding to a stop and wrenching the door of Smith’s shop open. Smith was standing inside holding a rifle on a very tall Twilek male with dark blue skin and long lekku, dressed in a flight suit with a blaster in his hand and a scowl on his face. Behind Smith, a hole was smoking in the pricing board just past her head. As the four armored men piled into Smith’s shop, the Twilek lowered the blaster. Smith kept her rifle aimed but smiled up at her guests.
“Well, hello soldiers! What a welcome surprise!” Smith was vision with the rifle tucked against her shoulder and her eye up to the sight.
“Everything OK here, cya’rika?” Echo stepped in front of Hunter who had entered first, his gaze flicking between Smith and her customer.
“Oh, I was just telling Jeck here he needs to come back with twelve hundred credits or he’s not getting the part her ordered for his ship. He disagrees. He thought he could persuade me into lowering my fees.” Smith said sweetly.
“I think you owe the lady twelve hundred credits.” Wrecker’s booming voice rang through the shop, his heavy footfalls causing the windows to rattle as he stepped into the space and slowly took off his helmet.
Jeck slowly holstered his blaster and pulled a small pouch out of his belt and tossed it onto the counter.
“Tech, can you please get the T7 Hyperdrive manifold housing for Jeck out of my workshop please? Right through that door.” Smith motioned toward the doorway with her head.
“I can get it for you -” Echo started to offer.
“Know what it looks like?” Smith raised her eyebrows.
“Err.” Echo replied.
“I’m on it.” Tech shouldered his way into the shop and went into the back, returning quickly with a small, complex-looking piece of machinery in a crate. He set it in front of Smith on the counter.
Smith slowly set down her rifle, her eyes never leaving Jeck who’s shifty eyes flitted from clone to clone. She picked up a datapad and typed in a few lines of data, a small piece of flimsiplast printing from a machine under the counter. She added it to the crate and then smiled sweetly at Jeck. “Pleasure doing business, Jeck. Feel free to find someone else next time.”
Jeck grabbed the crate and nearly ran out of the shop with it, leaving Clone Force 99 and Smith Audrey staring at one another in amused disbelief. Omega finally entered the shop from where she had been watching through the window.
“What the hell just happened?” Hunter finally asked.
All the fight seemed to leave Smith all at once, her knees giving out as she grabbed blindly, her eyes losing focus. Wrecker and Omega yelled, Echo was around the counter in a heartbeat, catching her and easing her to the floor. Omega was held back by an equally concerned but stoic Hunter, as Tech quickly reached for his med scanner.
“Cyare!” Echo called out as he felt Smith tremble.
“I’m ok, I’m ok. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to pull that rifle.” Smith winced as Tech scanned her, the red light of the device shining directly in her eyes.
“You’re experiencing an adrenaline crash.” Tech announced. Smith was already trying to stand, letting Tech and Echo help her to her feet.
“That hut’uun won’t be coming back anytime soon!” Wrecker said, his face a mask of concern.
Smith had to chuckle. “Thank you for that, Wrecker. I’m just glad you didn’t make him piss his pants.”
“Are you alright Smith?” Omega asked from over the counter with big, scared eyes.
“I’m fine, sweetie.” Smith reassured. “But, what are you all doing here?”
It was Hunter’s turn to speak up. “We wanted to discuss your offer to Echo.”
Smith blanched and turned to Echo, who still had an arm around her waist. Her first thought was of her offer to help him with his inexperience. Hunter could hear the uptick of her heartbeat and smell the pheromones seeping from her skin.
“The offer to reverse engineer his cybernetics. Patent them?” Hunter clarified. Smith’s heart calmed immediately as she smiled in relief.
“Right! Let me close the shop. Echo, you want to bring everyone into the workshop and I’ll meet you in there?” Smith looked up at Echo who hadn’t let her go. He was looking down at her with such longing and concern, his cybernetic arm firmly wrapped around her, his hand holding the edge of the counter, effectively keeping her in caged in.
Echo looked down at Smith, a thin layer of sweat beading along her brow, eyes glassy and still unfocused. She looked flushed even if he couldn’t see more color in her cheeks, her breathing was still labored and… she was beautiful. Smith licked her dry lips and drew his eyes down, the urge to kiss her strong. Smith laced her fingers with his on the counter and pulled him away, feeling all the eyes in the room on them both.
“Omega, can you help me close up?” Smith stepped past Echo, which shook him out of his stupor and went to close the blast doors over the big window.
They talked late into the night. Hunter’s fears assuaged and Tech’s concerns heard, they drew up a plan that would have Smith and Tech reverse engineering most of Echo’s cybernetics and patenting the designs, marketing them under a shell corporation and routing the profits through to Smith’s business. Omega had fallen asleep curled up in the empty quenching tub, and was snoring quietly in the corner. The adults were snacking on the remains of a hastily prepared meal of soup and biscuits at the work tables, datapads and flimsiplast spread out among the food, drink and assortment of snacks.
“The only skank in the scud pie,” Smith said, setting down the biscuit she’d been munching on, “Is that we can’t patent it from here. We have to go to Coruscant and present them in person.” She winced.
“That is a problem.” Tech said from his perch on the adjacent work table.
Hunter slid off his stool. “We can get you to Coruscant. Can you do the rest?”
Smith eyed the big piece of flimsi she had been writing on. Taking a bandana out of her back pocket she reached up and proceeded to wrap her hair in the bandana, oblivious to the way her shirt rode up her stomach. Echo noticed however, and he squirmed where he sat. With an exaggerated huff she replied, “I think so. I think it would be safe to contact my lawyer friend on Coruscant.”
“You won’t mention us, right?” Wrecker asked.
Smith patted him on the shoulder. “No! Of course not. And I probably won’t do more than ask for a consultation. But he helped win a law suit that helped me… well, a long time ago.” Smith smiled sadly.
Wrecker stifled a yawn.
“It’s pretty late.” Hunter commented.
Echo picked up a data pad from the table. “Or early, depending on how you look at it.” He smiled at Smith who smirked back at him.
“You’re all welcome to stay here, if you like.” Smith offered. The squad looked at one another. “The upstairs has several unused rooms.”
“Why not?” Hunter shrugged.
“Will your droid take care of all this or should we pick up?” Echo asked.
Smith frowned. “R7 is on the fritz. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I’ll take care of the mess.” Smith waved off the offer of help.
“I would be more than happy to look at your droid if you would like.” Tech was at full attention with the promise of something to tinker with.
Smith giggled. “Thank you Tech, I would appreciate that!” She moved to the stairway. “C’mon, I’ll show you all where you can sleep.”
“Excuse me, where is the droid?” Tech asked.
Wrecker smacked Tech hard on the back of the head. “She didn’t mean now, nerd!”
Tech rubbed his head. “Fuck off Wrecker!” Tech punched Wrecker in the arm, which didn’t phase Wrecker at all. “Smith, I don’t sleep well, I can look at it now or whenever you wish.”
Smith pointed to the corner opposite the stairs. “He’s plugged in over in that corner. Feel free Tech.”
Hunter picked up a sleeping Omega and followed Smith, Echo and Wrecker up the stairs while Tech found the R7 droid in the corner. Four large bedrooms, a larger refresher and an open space between the rooms was illuminated as they walked onto the second level.
“Fresher’s here,” Smith pointed out, “feel free to get a real shower. Clothes washer and dryer is in there too. Hunter, if you want to take Omega in this room, there are two full beds in there.” Smith opened the first bedroom where there were two bed across from one another. “Wrecker, this room has a queen and a sofa with a pull-out bed, so if Tech wants to bunk with you he can, or the other room has two singles.”
Hunter shuffled into the room with Omega and lay her down, taking off her shoes. Echo helped get the sleeping girl under the covers.
“Thank you Smith.” Hunter said quietly. “This is very kind.”
Echo smiled proudly behind Smith who grew warm and shy all of a sudden, Hunter’s approval meaning more than she realized. “You are always welcome here.” She said.
“What did this place used to be that you have so many bedrooms?” Wrecker asked.
Smith laughed softly. “It’s an old brothel!”
Wrecker turned crimson and laughed along with her. “Makes sense! Thank you, Smith.” He enveloped her tiny body in a hug.
“Of course Wrecker!” Smith gasped, before she was released.
Echo left Hunter in the room with Omega, closing the door behind himself.
And then Echo and Smith were alone in the hallway.
“So.” Echo said. He looked down at Smith who was looking up at him with expectant trepidation.
“So.” Smith repeated. “You’re welcome to bunk with me soldier. If you want.”
Echo gripped the railing and glanced down at Tech who already had the droid dismantled on the work table. He swallowed hard, turning to meet her soft, fond gaze. “Go easy on me?” he asked.
Smith stepped into his space. “Lesson one is just an introduction.” She grinne.
Echo left Hunter in the room with Omega, closing the door behind himself.
And then Echo and Smith were alone in the hallway.
“So.” Echo said. He looked down at Smith who was looking up at him with expectant trepidation.
“So.” Smith repeated. “You’re welcome to bunk with me soldier. If you want.”
Echo gripped the railing and glanced down at Tech who already had the droid dismantled on the work table. He swallowed hard, turning to meet her soft, fond gaze. “Go easy on me?” he asked.
Smith stepped into his space. “Lesson one is just an introduction.” She grinned.
Synopsis: The Bad Batch meet a new friend on Ord Mantell.
This chapter includes content that is part of Writer Wednesdays @clydesducktape @autumnleaves1991-blog
She might just change their lives forever
Warnings: Sexual themes, cis/het sexual themes, MINORS DNI
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Read on AO3
The streets of Ord Mantell had grown dark by the time they left Cid’s, a red-faced Corporal requesting a few hours leave from his Sargent, who gave it without question. The walk through the dusty streets was quiet, Echo carrying his helmet under his arm, stealing glances at the woman beside him every so often. Neon lights from cantinas and shops glinted off her jewelry and highlighted the ringlets flowing off her shoulders. A couple of times Smith turned to Echo, pointing out a business or landmark, and the artificial light would catch her eyes just so; something would swim in his chest and force him to smile back.
A hand on his arm, pulling him in the direction of her shop, Smith lead him to the back of the shop where they entered into her small but tidy home. A small kitchen was separated from a living room that was stuffed full of real paper books and a single antique chair. A small refresher sat open at the end of a hallway from a set of stairs leading to another floor. A door off the kitchen could only lead to the back of the shop.
Echo stood in the threshold of Smith’s home, as she removed her jacket and hung it on a hook, placed her satchel on the kitchen table and turned on the light. He held his helmet under his arm still, standing in a relaxed parade rest, just inside the door. Smith saw his hesitation and gently took his helmet from him, setting it on the table.
Smith said softly, “Come with me.” She held a hand out to Echo, who took it with some hesitation. Glancing down the narrow hallway, it seemed to telescope into a never-ending sea of paper and leather binding, data pads and binders. Tomes lined floor to ceiling shelves that were in disarray, several lamps creating cozy haloes of light in an otherwise dark hallway.
Smith led the hesitant clone through the hallway and past a stairway, into a glass -ceiling courtyard where Smith’s forges, cutters, grinders and all manner of tools were kept, all neat and ready to be used. Several projects lined one wall, the second story of the building overlooking the courtyard on three sides. Underneath the overlook was storage and more tools, and in one corner a quenching tub on a skid, which is where she led Echo now.
“I don’t do blacksmithing often, so this doesn’t get used much, but for my clients with cybernetics, it comes in handy.” Smith turned to Echo and beamed. “It’s a quenching tub.” she replied, when all she received in response was a furrowed brow. “I have a special mix of purified water, bacta and hemp oil that will clean all your connections and your skin. You can take all the time you need. Free of charge.”
Echo’s frown grew deeper. “What’s the catch?”
“I’m not gonna watch, if that’s what your thinking!” Smith chuckled. She watched the man’s ears turn red at the insinuation. She turned to him fully and grew somber.
“While I was scanning you, I realized, all this damaged had to have occurred all at the same time… so… I sent the data to my droid. You are listed as property of the GAR. But the design of your cybernetics aren't registered anywhere..”
“So, you can’t help me?” Echo seemed to deflate before Smith’s eyes.
“No! Not at all! I mean, yes, I… I have no problem building something for you! I’ve already built a tool for your adjustments. But I have a proposition for you.” Her voice was a whisper. “You let me reverse engineer some of your specialized parts, servos and programming, and we patent them together.”
Echo took a step back in disbelief. This was not what he was expecting at all.
Smith took his hand and squeezed, keeping him close. “Hear me out!” She stepped back into his space. “While you were off doing whatever it is you do for Cid, I did some research. Your cybernetics aren’t patented, by the GAR or anyone else. You are wholly unique, clone or not, Echo. I don’t know how or why you acquired this hardware, but, this war can’t last forever. You’re gonna need something to fall back on some day, if you survive it.”
Echo scoffed “If I survive it. My brothers and I age faster that natural born humans. Even if I see the end of this war, there won’t be much to enjoy afterward.” He looked down at their joined hands.
“What about Omega? You call her your sister. Is she like you and your brothers?” Smith asked sincerely.
Echo looked up into Smith’s open, honest face, brown eyes fathoms deep and unblinking in their surety. “No, she’s not. She’s not like us.” Echo swallowed hard.
“Patenting and selling these designs could take care of her for the rest of her life, Echo.” Both Smith’s soft hands covered his singular calloused one.
Echo squeezed back. “Let’s do it.” He smiled.
Echo soaked in a steaming hot tub of fresh water, bacta and sweet-smelling hemp oil behind a rolling screen while Smith put his clothing in her cleaning unit. He nearly fell asleep to the sound of her working on the other side of the screen, occasionally disappearing into her home. Despite being completely bare in the home of a woman he was desperately attracted to, he found himself totally relaxed in her presence. There were few people in the galaxy he felt so safe around, none of whom didn’t live on an Omicron-Class attack vessel with him. To be out of his armor and at her mercy was a completely new and foreign sensation; not one he was entirely unwelcoming of; he had even removed the magnetic field dampener from his head that helped filter his thoughts from the electronic chatter that plagued him, leaving him especially bare. Echo reveled in the feeling of being at Smith’s mercy as the hot water cleaned and sanitized him.
A loud rap on the metal edge of the rolling screen gave him a start, causing the water to slosh over the edge of the tub. Smith’s bubbly laugh rounded the corner however, easing the tension.
“You awake there soldier? I have your clothes, and the driver ready for us to calibrate.” Smith reached around and set the clothing on a chair just inside the screen with a towel on top.
“Thank you!” Echo called, as Smith’s shadow retreated.
Drying himself and dressing in just his briefs, Echo made his way back out to the workshop where Smith was waiting with her calibration tools and the new tool she had made for him. She sat on a stool at the big work table as he came from behind the screen with the towel around his neck looking sweetly boyish in his embarrassment. Smith bit her lip to keep from grinning at him as he walked over to her, his muscular physique still damp from the bath. Despite Echo’s misgivings about his cybernetics and prosthetics, she thought he had nothing to be ashamed of and had a hard time reigning in the desire to outright ogle the soldier as he sauntered into the workshop in just his underclothes.
Starting with his arm, Smith showed Echo how to attach the tool, which was hexagon shaped and had a different driver on each side. Each plane had a different little symbol on it that corresponded to which part it was for, so he didn’t have to guess. With her calibration tool, she placed his joint inside and then slotted the new driver into it and let the calibrator do it’s thing, the box-like tool beeping and flashing a green light when it was done. Smith gently took it off and set it aside, opening the jar she had attempted to give him at Cid’s. She applied a small amount to his upper arm where the metal of his prosthesis met his skin and then applied the calibrator to the next joint. Echo let Smith manipulate his limbs as she worked, listening intently as she explained each step before she did it. Her touches were firm but gentle, using only enough of the salve to moisturize and not lubricate his skin and the metal around it.
Taking the calibrator off his upper arm, Smith added a tiny bit more of the salve on the underside and Echo flinched. Smith burst into a fit of giggles. “You’re ticklish!” She laughed. The tension between them seemed to shatter.
“I am not ticklish! I wasn’t expecting you to poke me there!” Echo protested. It held no heat and he smiled through his proclamation.
“Whatever.” Smith smiled and shook her head.
Setting aside the calibrator she took a generous amount of the salve and began to massage it into Echo’s scalp. Their height difference proved to make the task awkward and they danced around each other for a moment, Echo finally sitting on the stool so Smith could reach.
With both hands she spread the sweet-smelling oil over his scalp and around the nape of his neck focusing on the disused access ports spaced evenly over his skull and the thin skin around them, massaging around each piece of durasteel. Echo closed his eyes and let his head fall heavy into her warm hands as she worked. Try as he might, he couldn’t help but let a small, satisfied groan slip from his throat as she worked the tense muscles at the base of his skull. Smith was loathe to move away as she finished, watching as his face moved from pinched nervousness to smooth relaxation as she worked. She held his chiseled, handsome face in her hands and spread her thumbs over his brows.
“Feel good solider?” Smith smirked.
When Echo opened his eyes their faces were mere inches apart, his honey-brown eyes looking directly into her earth-dark gaze. His vision flicked down to her smiling mouth and back to her eyes as he held his breath, frozen in her embrace. Smith watched as he wet his dry lips and made her body move: away from where she was stood holding her client.
Smith cleared her throat and picked up the calibrator again, tapping Echo’s hip. He pulled up the edge of his grey boxer briefs so she cold have access to his hip joint and she applied the tool, kneeling before him. Echo tried to look anywhere but down at the woman on her knees in front of him. Smith worked in silence on his left leg, standing to retrieve the jar of salve when she was nearly done with the knee. Kneeling back down she did each ankle and then silently asked Echo to turn so she could do the other leg.
Mortified, Echo stood from the stool, his arousal obvious in his briefs. His first instinct was to cover himself up, which only drew Smith’s eye directly to the problem.
“Sorry.” Echo murmured. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, trying to will his erection to go away. “I haven’t had a… This hasn’t happened since, um… I didn’t think I could… do this.. anymore….” He explained with some trepidation.
Smith just kept working on the knee joint without pause. She glanced up at the blushing trooper. “Just be glad it does! It would suck if you lost an arm, your legs and your dick. The hand you have left would get lonely!”
Echo looked down at Smith, incredulous. He laughed dryly as she removed the calibrator from his knee. Smith stood and set the machine on the table, still standing too close to Echo for comfort. She eyed his muscular chest and abdomen, which, gaunt as he might appear when he was wearing armor, was still impressive. Smith was thankful her own arousal wasn’t evident, as her gaze roamed his body. Meeting his eyes disarmed her and she reached for the salve once more.
“May I?” Smith asked quietly, gesturing to Echo’s chest where he had several more unused access ports.
“Please.” Echo replied, watching her with hooded eyes.
Smith applied the salve over the ports, Echo sucking in his stomach when she ran her fingers over the two lowest. He hissed, Smith pulling back in amusement. “Not ticklish?” Smith asked as she continued, smile on her lips.
“Not at all.” He replied breathily. Smith looked up to find Echo watching her, his face slack, completely blissed-out, as she moved closer toward his still-hard cock. She stopped moving and Echo grabbed her wrist, letting out a shuddering breath.
They considered one another for a moment. Standing under the glass dome of Smith’s workshop, while the soft, small slip of a woman applied healing salve to a battered clone trooper who had looked death in the eye and lived to tell the tale. To most people Smith was a plain, short and slightly plump dark skinned human woman who spent most of her days making metal parts and tools for ships and machines on a seedy Mid-rim planet. Echo saw obsidian ringlets framing a kind face and smiling eyes, a sharp mind and wry wit wrapped around a hemorrhaging heart. A heart that accepted him as the man he was, the whole, capable man and not the piecemeal cyborg he had been turned into against his will. She saw in him a potential to take back some of what was taken from him and help him benefit from the hand he’d been dealt. And for the first time since he’d been released from his imprisonment on Skako Minor, Echo felt truly human.
Echo brought the fluttering pulse point in her wrist to his mouth and placed a reverent, chaste kiss there. Smith inhaled sharply at the unexpectedly tender display of affection. It had her surging forward on her tiptoes to press her lips to his, letting the solid weight of his prosthetic arm pull her closer. His kiss was unsure and soft, sweet and unpracticed. Smith reached up to cradle his face in her hand and guide the kiss, stoking his arousal further. He guided her hand to his shoulder so he could feel the silky skin of her throat, moving to take a handful of her hair and simply hold it. Smith sucked gently at his plush bottom lip and pressed flush against him, his impressive arousal pressing into her belly. It was too much.
Echo pulled away abruptly and held Smith from him by her shoulders, blood rushing in his ears, willing himself not to completely lose it altogether. “I’m sorry, mesh’la. This is - it’s too much.” He said, panting.
“Maker, no, Echo, it’s ok!” Smith tried to soothe as he trembled. It was her turn to be embarrassed. “Um, wait here. Ah, get dressed and I’ll be right back!” She touched his face, and then quickly retreated into the kitchen.
Echo took a moment to gather himself, focusing on slowing down his breathing. When he thought he could put his blacks on without finishing in his pants like a cadet, he got dressed and went to find Smith in her kitchen, pocketing the tool she had made for him.
Smith was leaning against the kitchen counter drinking a glass of water with her arms crossed in front of her. As Echo entered the space she stood up straighter looking properly chagrined.
“Echo - I’m sorry if I crossed a line or something -” she began.
“Hush now.” Echo crowded her against the counter. He seemed bigger, more sure, in full armor, but the boyish half-smile was still there. He tucked an errant curl behind her ear and caressed her cheekbone. “You know what side of the line I’m on, mesh’la. I’ve just never… I have very limited experience with women. Can you teach me?” He whispered.
“Would that be part of our agreement?” Smith winked.
Echo took a step back. “It doesn’t have to be. If this attraction is one-sided, tell me.” He said, flustered. “I’d still like to work together!” It was incredibly endearing.
Smith laughed. “No Echo. I like you very much. And I would very much like to help you with your limited experience.”
Echo’s face split into a grin. “Good.”
Smith put her arms around her trooper’s neck. “Good.”
