((AN: Sorry if there are any typos))
Something had changed. Most of the clones were acting off. Omega noticed right away, even though she herself felt normal. Whatever affected them didn't do anything to her. She wondered if maybe something had happened to the clones. Something really serious and maybe it was something bad even. Working with Nala, she knew of a lot of bad things that could have happened such as things with their chips.
She had tried to find out on her own by eavesdropping, but it was like as soon as people saw her they would stop. A few times they even gave her looks as if they knew what was up to. It just wasn't fair.
So she was going to have to ask Nala herself but she already knew that she wouldn't tell her.
That didn't mean that Omega wouldn't try. If it didn't work, she wasn't about to give up yet. If she did then she would never know anything and Omega hated the thought of that. There was no way she would let that happen, even if she had to break some rules.
She would be so bored if she just did what Nala wanted.
"Nala?" Omega asked as she looked up at her. They were in the medical wing and Omega was supposed to be taking notes. She was doing that but she also had drawn some loth kittens on the corners of the paper. She always did this even though Nala didn't like it and would sometimes lecture Omega.
Once she had told her that she was acting like a child but Omega was a child. She wanted to do things that children did.
So if anything that made her want to draw more pictures. And besides, the loth-cats and kittens looked so cheerful.
"Yes, Omega?" Nala asked but she didn't look at her too busy with work.
"Did something happen?" Omega asked as she looked up from another loth-cat she had been working on. She had done a really good job on its ears. That used to be something she was bad at. "People are acting different and things just feel different." There was something different about the whole building. The energy of the place.
Nala might not think she would notice but she did. Omega tried to notice everything. She was sure that was how the Bad Batch was. But they hadn't noticed her yet. That was because they were busy with such important things.
But soon they would know about her and they would do all sorts of important and fun things together. It would be great.
"It's… you don't need to worry about it," Nala said sounding almost bored. "You really don't need to."
Omega had been working on some whiskers for her kitten but this caused her to look up. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… that…" Nala frowned. "Things are changing."
"Changing?" Omega asked. Usually things never changed here. Every day was the same over and over again. Would a change be a good thing? Would it be exciting? Or would it be bad? She heard that some people hated change for that reason. That some even feared it. Obviously it was because of bad changes that had happened to them. "A good change?"
"You should work on your studies, Omega." As if that was any kind of answer. It just made her want to know more.
Omega groaned. "But I want to know." She knew that she was whining and Nala didn't like that, but she didn't care. Maybe she should. Nala hated whining and always scolded her when she did it. It might make her less likely to tell.
"Omega…"
"You'll find out soon enough," Nala sighed like she often did around her. Was Omega really that annoying? She just wanted to know what was going on.
"But—"
"Omega…" And with that Nala took her notes and sighed yet again. And Omega knew instantly why.
"I want a loth-cat," Omega said. "I swear I'd take good care of her. I'd feed and play with her and make sure that she was happy. I'll even clean her litterbox." She would do whatever she had to that her loth-cat would be healthy and happy.
A loth-cat would be a good friend. She wanted one so much. If she had one they could cuddle at night together and she would be able to put her and they would be the best friends. She would play with her all the time. She would be a good owner.
It didn't even need to be a kitten. Maybe she could get a nice sweet one that just wanted a family. Omega wanted that too. They would understand each other.
"That doesn't mean you could draw one here and you're not going to get a pet anytime soon. This isn't the kind of place for a pet."
That was sad. She wanted a loth-cat that she could pet and cuddle with. It could be one of her best friends along with the Bad Batch and toys. Omega really wanted to have toys as well but not as much as she wanted a loth-cat. She knew that a lot of kids had toys.
Even some here did. She wished that Nala would have given her one.
"Can I have a toy?" Omega asked as she jumped up. "Like a clone trooper one?" She asked that because she didn't think Nala would want her to have just any, but maybe if it was a clone trooper one, she'd allow it.
"No, Omega. Now let's get back to work."
Omega sighed. She imagined that Hunter would get her a toy. And if not then Wrecker would.
"Soon you'll find out what's going on." Nala reached toward Omega as if she was going to stroke her hair. Omega leaned toward her without thinking but Nala pulled away as if it was nothing.
Omega tried not to react. She knew Nala wasn't family even if she was the closest she had to a friend here. She also knew that Nala didn't want to be Omega's friend.
So far no one did. Maybe there was something wrong with her. It just wasn't fair. Everyone else had a bunch of friends, even if they were clones like her. Even clones that were unique had friends.
But maybe it was because Omega was even more different than most people.
Omega thought about asking but Nala would just say something about how she had been genetically engineered differently than other clones. She wouldn't give her a straight answer. As far as Omega knew, she was the only girl clone here. But that wasn't the only thing that was different about her.
Nala was right about finding out what has changed. Soon everyone was required to go to an update on the war even though usually Omega never had to. This was the first time, and so she tried not to squirm or fidget when listening.
The war often seemed far away to her and yet close at the same time. She knew people who fought in it even though they never spoke to her and she knew that she might one day, although Nala never gave her a straight answer.
And yet Omega never saw any fighting and Nala wouldn't talk to her about it much. She was treated different.
But Omega still knew it was good the war was over. Now people wouldn't die. Right? Everything would be good and peaceful? The Bad Batch and everyone would be safe now. She wouldn't have to worry about something happening to them. Right? And yet something seemed off especially when they mentioned the Jedi. Omega didn't know too much about them but they had been their friends.
And now they weren't. They were told that the Jedi were bad and had done a horrible thing, but from what Omega had been told about the Jedi, they wouldn't do something like that. But they had?
It was all so confusing.
"Nala, why is everyone acting different?" Omega asked after the presentation, even though this was similar to the other question she asked her. Maybe just maybe Omega would get lucky this once.
Nala ignored her but Omega knew that she was listening because of her facial reaction. Apparently, she wasn't going to get lucky, but it didn't mean she would give up.
"Is it—" Omega said trying to ask about the chips. She had heard Nala and others talk about them especially recently. It was always when they thought that no one could hear.
"You already basically asked this earlier and it doesn't concern you," Nala said.
"But—"
"Omega…" Nala said with a sigh. It was enough to make Omega quiet.
And Omega ended up being glad about it because then she heard someone talking about them. The Bad Batch. They were here today, but Omega didn't know where. They probably would be going back to their room. Omega could find them and finally introduce herself.
Nala had said things were changing and Omega could make sure that some of it was good and not just confusing. Today would be the day.
Nala would probably be too busy to even know that she was missing.
So as soon as Nala got in a boring grown up discussion with someone, she took that chance to sneak away. At first, like always when she did this, she thought Nala might send someone after her, and she sometimes did, but not today.
Today really was different.
Now she just needed to find the Bad Batch. She doubted they would be acting weird because they were different like Omega. If they had turned out like all the others, Omega didn't know what she would do.
It would mean she had waited too long.
And so she had to hope that wouldn't be the case.
First Omega went to their room, and no one was in there. It had the horrible smell like always. She visited here sometimes even though Nala would be mad. Omega wasn't going to stop.
They weren't here. She sighed and hugged the stuffed animal before putting it back. She was glad that Wrecker wasn't one of those adults that thought toys were stupid. She didn't think any of them thought that even if Wrecker was the only one who had a toy.
They were probably fine with their brother having one and wouldn't make fun of him for it.
She left the room after. It probably wouldn't be good if they caught her snooping around their room. She was lucky they hadn't figured it out yet even though she was careful. Maybe they wouldn't care.
They had to be around here somewhere. She searched. They couldn't have left the war update that long ago. Yes, she would find them soon. Maybe she could have waited near their room but that was boring.
And what was the point when they weren't around here? Waiting would just increase the chance of Nala catching her. She had to keep moving.
And then she saw them. She had never been this close to them before. Just from a distance. A few times she had thought about going over to meet them then but she had always been stopped. She wasn't going to let that happened this time.
But she had to make sure that she said the best thing that she could. She didn't want them to reject her like so many other clones had. Omega didn't think she would be able to stand that. It would break her heart especially since there were the people who she was like.
What should she say to them? Should she tell them that she had admired them forever? Or maybe that would make her seem like she was a stalker. She didn't want them to think that. Because it wasn't like that. Not at all. She looked up to them already. She wanted to be just like them even if she was different even from them.
She wished that she could get someone else to introduce her. Obviously she couldn't do that. For some reason Nala was being mean and wouldn't let her meet them. Yes, she might tell her stories about them but she had even been doing that less now.
Today she would take her life in her own hands. She hurried closer to the Bad Batch. Closer and closer. She kept expecting someone mean to stop her and take her back to Nala. Maybe Nala herself would show up.
But she didn't.
And soon Omega was right behind them. At first they didn't notice her even though she was there. She was surprised but this was probably a good thing. They kept on talking. Right away she could tell they hadn't changed like some of the clones had. They seemed how she had always imagined them. They weren't brainwashed. At the war conference all the clones had been so happy that the Jedi were dead but the Bad Batch didn't seem as sure right now. They didn't seem as sure about the Empire in general.
Omega wanted to say something but instead she just kept following them and listening.
She actually liked walking behind them as if she was belonged. As if she should have been with them the whole time. Obviously she should have.
And then they noticed her. At first Omega wasn't sure what to say because it had to be perfect after all but then she finally found some words.
((AN: I have a question. Readers, would you prefer I skip over the events of the episode and just write about reactions to them or do you want me to write them from Omega's PoV? I'm split on what I should do. What do you all think?
Thank you all for reading. I appreciate all comments.))