The battle draws near! Unfortunately, due to the crunch time drawing near for final end of year projects, including my big "final project" for graduation, I can't devote as much time to the main story as I would like. Considering this is the big final battle I've been hinting towards, I want to take my time and make it the best it can be.

So, OtR is paused until May or MAYBE late April depending on how much I get done. In the mean time, I'll try to finish off Commander, Meet the Cat since its not as high stakes of a story. I'll also maybe post some original story stuff for my $1 up patrons as well as some WIPs for the $3 up peeps ^^
Again tho, I will eventually post all fanfic content on the various sites!

Until May!

CW: Trust Shattered remnants, sexual humor, general horniness that is pervasive in every one of my chapters apparently

"Woah!" Wrecker exclaimed, whirling around. "Did we just teleport?!"

I spun around too, startled by the change of scenery. "What in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail is this?"

"What in the what?" Hunter echoed, also spooked.

The Night Hunter on Crosshair's shoulder hopped about, chittering, but it only registered as babble to me. Angry babble, but babble nevertheless.

"It's almost evening too!" Tech exclaimed, gesturing at the low sun. "I do not know what he did, but whatever it was fast forwarded us through space and time!"

"He is a god," I reminded him with an ear twitch, taking note of the way the Batch automatically shifted to a back-to-back stance.

There was that soldier-hood kicking back into gear. Hard to shake after being bred from birth to expect an attack.

"Shadow, what did you mean Monty Python and the… what?" Hunter repeated, pulling me back in between him and Tech.

"It's a movie," I replied, batting his hand away. "Also weird as hell. And y'all can un…" I gestured at their stance.

A beat passed before they relaxed.

"Do you… enjoy any movies that aren't odd?" Hunter asked.

I grinned at him, punching his shoulder. "Now where's the fun in that?"

"Can we just get movin'?" Crosshair demanded, kicking a dead Clicker. "Had enough nonsense."

"Shadow," Tech spoke up, tugging my arm and jerking his chin at the bridge. "Should we be concerned about him?

I glanced over, frowning at the hobgoblin of a man standing by it.

Bridgekeeper, that you?

Crosshair followed my gaze then groaned. "What now?"

Questions three.

"I got this," I told the men. "Stay here."

"You aren't plannin' to fight him alone are ya, Squeak?" Wrecker asked with a tilt of his head, blaster at the ready.

"Not all fights are physical, my man," I said, pointing finger guns at him and winking before trotting over to the bridge.

"Stop!" the hobgoblin rasped, grin revealing broken snaggly teeth. "Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see."

I crossed my arms and swished my tail. "Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid."

"What! Is your name?"

"Shadow Hyder."

Technicalities.

"What! Is your quest?"

"To reach Kelusia."

"What! Is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

No innuendos there, no no.

"African or European?"

Confusion flickered over his face. "Huh? I- I don't know that!" He shot into the air with a scream, falling into the misty depths of the gorge.

I looked over my shoulder at the team, my team, who all stood looking my way aside from Tech who currently dissected a Clicker with a makeshift scalpel aka sharp stick

"Done!" I called over, giving them the thumbs up.

"Unladen swallow?" Hunter asked me as he reached my side.

"It's a bird!" I exclaimed, eyes wide with false innocence. "Dirty minded sergeant."

"Ah," he purred. "But how did you know what I meant?"

"Now that's fightin' dirty," I retorted, elbowing his side.

He laughed, punching my shoulder in retaliation and igniting a playful sparring match. Ducking an attempted headlock, I wrapped my arms around his middle and drug him to the ground. Rolling us away from the bridge, Hunter tried to wrestle me underneath him but I kept him off balance by thrashing my tail about.

"Oh yeah! Get 'im, Squeak!" Wrecker cheered with a laugh.

"Get a room," Crosshair snorted.

Sitting on Hunter's chest, I tilted my head at the sniper. Narrowing my eyes, I prepared to pounce but waited for a positive sign from him.

Head mirroring mine, Crosshair remained still before setting the Night Hunter on the ground. Taking up a backstance, he beckoned me forward with two fingers.

Grinning now, I gathered my legs up under me and launched myself at the sniper. Charging forward to meet me, he faked right and stepped left. Getting an arm around my neck, he attempted a headlock but I drug him around my shoulder and yanked him to the ground. Pouncing on him, I triumphantly sat on his waist.

"Ha ha! Victory!"

"Not quite, furball."

I squealed and launched myself sideways as a hand shot up my shirt. "Oh you sneaky motherfucker!" I yelped, tail bushed out as I clutched my side where he'd tickled me.

A laugh.

A true, honest laugh.

From Crosshair.

Tail lifted high and curling at the tip, my smile grew until my cheeks hurt.

If only I could have recorded it and played it over and over again because…

Oh I could get drunk off that sound.

The laughter ended as soon as it began, but that high continued to course through my veins.

Again.

Please.

Let me hear it again.

If I could save it, I'd play it over and over until I wore the record out.

Crosshair's head tilted. "Somethin' wrong?"

"The exact opposite," I replied simply, still smiling.

A soft, amused snort as he got to his feet and walked over, extending a hand.

Letting him pull me to my feet, I quickly stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

He stiffened at first, arms raised, but quickly relaxed when he realized it wasn't an attack. Hesitantly slipping his arms around me, he ventured, "What are you doin'?"

Fear trickled through me as I worried I'd gone too far, but I kept my voice level as I asked, "Can't I hug one of my partners?"

Can I?

His arms tightened. "Yes." Hand reaching under my chin, sending a jolt of electricity through me, he tapped the front of his helmet against my forehead. "Just… didn't expect it."

"Squeak's perfect at unpredictability!" Wrecker laughed, throwing his arms around us both.

"Ruined it," Crosshair grumbled under his breath, but kept his grip on me as he rested his chin on my shoulder.

I curled my tail around his leg, causing his embrace to tighten.

We all jumped apart and reached for our weapons, however, as a screech split the sky.

Blades out, one behind and one in front, I squinted up at the dark shape circling. Was that…? "Trev?!"

"Shads! I got news!" He landed roughly, sending some dirt flying.

Crosshair didn't put down his gun. "You!"

"Not now, shoot me later." Trevor stared straight at me, the wide eyed look in his eyes unnerving me as did the bristling quills down his spin. "Because right now… we got company."

"What do you mean company?" Hunter demanded.

Trevor jerked his head for us to follow. "C'mon!" he yelled, flying towards the ridge top.

Glancing worriedly at the men, I jogged after him but stopped near the bridge. "Hunter?"

"Here, hang on to me," he said, moving in front.

Nodding gratefully, I held on tight as he quickly led us across. Soon as my foot hit the grass I opened my eyes and took off running once more, speeding past the sergeant. Panting as I crested the hill, I froze. "Oh hell."

"What is… oh," Hunter said, stopping beside me and gazing out over the field of droids pouring out from the large transport. "Hell is right."

"Seen worse," Crosshair remarked from my left.

"Oh yeah!" Wrecker laughed. "Time for the action!"

"This shouldn't be a problem," Tech remarked, adjusting his goggles as he joined us. "We have encountered far worse with far less firepower."

"We aren't exactly all battle ready," Hunter said, before quickly apologizing to me. "Sorry, Ice. Know it's a bad subject-

Crosshair suddenly stiffened. "Down."

Hunter, Tech, and to my surprise even Wrecker immediately dropped, but I quickly followed their example. If Wrecker followed Crosshair's order immediately…

Bonding time over. Time to get back into the soldier mindset. Follow them. They know what to do.

This… definitely would take some getting used to but if I was to function as a commando, guess it was time to start thinking like one.

"I got it, hang on," Trevor said, shooting up through the trees with a screech and diving towards something.

Recon droid.

Now I saw the damn thing, heading up the holler our way. Crosshair's eagle eyes must have spotted it first. The sudden shift from relaxed to immediately obeying an order made sense now; Crosshair was the lookout and since he saw things the others didn't, they trusted his word without question.

If only the show writers used this version of the boys rather than whatever nonsense actually happened…

When Trevor came back after leading the droid away, we'd taken up a position on our stomachs higher on the ridge with Crosshair looking down his scope and Hunter eyeing the force through binoculars. Wrecker and Tech kept an eye on our flanks and rear.

The sergeant glanced up at Trevor as he landed again. "How did you not see this coming?"

"I did but." He flicked his ears. "Didn't expect this many."

Lying between Crosshair and Hunter, who both had their helmets off, I glanced up at Trevor. "They did say battalion."

"Yeah but." He sat back on his haunches and gestured with his paws. "I thought it'd just be that tiny bit like in the first episode of season seven."

"What's season seven?" Tech asked.

I answered before Trevor. "It's when y'all came in during the show. Some spiders and B1s were advancin' on y'all in a canyon after the gunship got shot down." I nudged Hunter. "That's how I knew about Plan 82: Shockwave. You used that move."

He lowered the binoculars and looked my way. "Yeah, don't think we can use that one here."

"What was the episode called, Squeaky?" Wrecker asked over his shoulder.

"Ironically, The Bad Batch," I said, flicking my tail. "Your arc in the Clone Wars show was four episodes."

"Just four?" Tech echoed with a snort. "We deserve more than that out of seven seasons."

"We don't talk about your show," I grumbled, shifting closer to Crosshair.

He glanced up from his sniper scope. "Where I…?"

I looked away, ears flat as horrible memories flashed through my mind.

The reveal.

The standoff.

Him shooting Wrecker…

Being left behind…

His face…

The agony in those eyes...

Crosshair, my Crosshair, rested a hand on my arm, gently rubbing his thumb over it.

Moving closer, I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Not goin' anywhere, sweetheart," he whispered, leaning over and brushing his nose against my cheek.

"I know just…" I gripped his hand. "I don't like thinkin' about it."

"Just one battalion for us?" Wrecker asked, trying to lighten the mood. "Karkin' insulin'!"

"Keep your voice down," Tech hissed.

"For once, I'm glad James underestimated y'all." Shifting into a more comfortable position, still remaining close to Crosshair, I asked the sniper, "What'd ya see, Twiggs?"

He handed the rifle to me. "Take a look."

Carefully holding the weapon, I smiled softly at him and peered through the scope. "How do I zoom or whatever?"

He moved closer, our shoulders now brushing. "Like this," he instructed softly, guiding one hand up and resting over it as he helped me turn the scope back and forth. "See 'em?"

Tail curling over his back, I scanned the frontline of droids. "Mmmhmm." I grimaced. "And it ain't lookin good. No commandos, thankfully, but more rollies and B2s. At least the B1s are greater in number."

He nudged the rifle towards the transport.

"Oh. Grand. A tank. No, two. Oodles." I handed the rifle back and sat up on my knees. "First things first. Jam those comms."

"I can handle that," Tech said.

Hunter quickly sat up and jabbed a finger at Tech. "Absolutely not." He looked at me with a subtle yet sly smile. "Was thinkin'," he began. "Our newest member could cause a little havoc if they're up for it."

"Takin' on tinnies? Always down for kickin' metal ass," I replied, baring my teeth in a feral grin.

"Hunter," Tech said. "If Shadow reveals themselves to be that powerful, they could send reinforcements after us. Jamming their communications is top priority unless we want the Separatists to raze this planet to the ground."

"I can help with that."

Wrecker jumped at Sarah's voice as the woman emerged from the trees on Whispering Wind's back dressed in armor with a double bladed staff saber on her belt. "Woah! Where'd you come from?!"

"Volume!" Hunter hissed as both Crosshair and Tech angrily shushed him.

"Oh! Sorry." In a comical stage whisper, he asked again, "Where'd you come from?"

Crosshair smacked a hand to his face and cursed in what I was fairly certain was Huttese.

"She's been headin' this way for a few minutes," Hunter said, nodding to the woman.

"Why couldn't I hear?"

"Because you'd not notice a stampede of banthas chargin' through a minefield," Crosshair grumbled.

"Would too!" Wrecker defended, squaring his shoulders.

"Not now," Hunter scolded before turning his attention back to Sarah. "Have a way to jam their comms?"

She nodded and pointed across the valley. "It's up on the ridge, but it's a signal jammer that works for up to an hour."

An hour? We could work with that.

"Why only an hour?" Tech asked. "That is not an efficient jammer by any means."

"That's all I need usually," Sarah said with a grin. Jumping down from Whispering Wind's back, she pulled a double bladed saber from her belt and ignited it, revealing yellow blades. "I'm old, not helpless."

My ears pricked. I'd expected blue or green, but this was way cooler. Yet again legends were more interesting than canon.

"You were a Sentinel?" Tech asked, eyeing the blades with newfound interest.

"I was! See someone has dug deep into Jedi records and knows the blade color meanings," Sarah teased before sheathing the blade again. "But back to the jammer. It works, but the only way to activate it is manually."

"Seems like a bad call if you ask me," Hunter said with a shake of his head.

"I did not ask," Sarah replied cheerfully, causing Crosshair to snicker. "But someone will have to run up there and manually turn it on."

"I'll help make the distraction if Shadow can haul their tail up," Trevor offered.

"Don't want you goin' alone," Crosshair immediately said to me. When my ears flicked backwards, he swallowed. "Know you can take care of yourself, but… we're a team now. You shouldn't have to."

Still a bit miffed, the outburst rubbing salt in not completely healed wounds, my voice was a bit sharp as I replied, "Then you're on mount duty, Twiggs." I looked at Sarah. "Where exactly is the jammer?"

"Near the old portal," she replied. "Only someone with the ability to fly or leap really long distances can access it."

I gave her a lopsided grin. "Well, good thing I'm a mountaineer Kel with telekinesis."

"Good thing indeed!"

"Still leaves the droids," Hunter pointed out. "Someone will need to keep 'em occupied.

"I can rig an explosive-"

"You will be resting that arm, Tech."

I flinched, last night flashing across my eyes. The way I just… how I easily…

"Ah, didn't mean to upset you, Ice," Hunter apologized, reaching out to me.

Sarah tilted her head. "Shadow? Did… you have something to do with that?"

I kept my eyes on the ground, fur bristling. "There was a… nightmare. Didn't know I'd woken up yet."

She rested a hand on my shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "I can do a little force healing on it, but it will take time."

"Something we do not have right now," Tech interjected. "We cannot let those droids reach your farm."

"I got another idea," Trevor said. "Henry, you got that crystal?"

Crosshair glared at him. "Henry?"

"You're a stickman."

I groaned loudly. "Trevor, I swear."

Crosshair rolled his eyes. "Yes, I have the crystal."

"Good." Trevor looked back at me. "What do you say to a fusion?"

My eyes flew wide. "A Fusion Mera Ki? You're off your nut!"

"Off his what?" Wrecker echoed.

"My noodle," Trevor laughed, knocking on his skull.

"What does he want to do?" Hunter demanded.

"Mera Ki. Literally, Duel Soul," I explained. "Basically take Chimera, flip it, change some letters, add a space, and poof. Mera Ki."

"What is a Fusion Mera Ki?" Tech chirped.

"There's four types," I said, counting them on my fingers. "Co-Exist, which is from birth and two new souls living together in the same body. Split, which is also from birth but one soul, the secondary one is a reincarnation who wanted to try their chance at getting out of the evil afterlife. Both Split and Co-Exist can separate into two bodies but must merge again after some time. Then there's Lingering, which is basically possession. Finally, there's Fusion. Two souls who are still living but are separate beings who, through a ritual, can briefly merge together into one body."

"And you would…" Hunter couldn't seem to say it, gesturing vaguely. "Merge with Trevor?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Power levels off the charts. Lightning and Earth elements, telekinesis, fire breath and resistance, instant healing, and being able to transform into any reptilian or feline creature."

"Do it, Squeak!" Wrecker gasped. "That sounds awesome!"

My tail flicked. "I would… but there's a problem. I never fleshed out the Fusion Mera Ki. There's no ritual description yet. So trying it would be a bad idea."

His shoulders slumped. "Awww."

"Can still transform into a dragon, though!" I said with a grin. "The diamond will power the charge and keep me going for a while."

His spirits instantly lifted. "Oh! Yeah, do that!"

"That settles that then!" I laughed, but my smile faded when I looked back at Sarah. "But, Sarah… They'll probably send more droids to the farm after this."

She shrugged. "It's just some cabins and sheds. If I need to move, I will."

"I just…" I shook my head. "I'm sorry for bringing the war back to you."

War. A pervasive, unrelenting virus that infected and destroyed everything in its path. And now, thanks to James, it was here. On this peaceful world that wanted nothing to do with it.

It wasn't right.

It wasn't fair.

"You didn't," she said gently. "James did. I hear Scoot and River found him and are taking him back to the Outpost."

My fur bristled as my tail lashed violently from side to side. "Wait till I get my hands on him," I swore. "He's dead."

"One battle at a time," Hunter said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "First things first. We can plant an ambush, but we'll need a distraction."

Trevor grinned at me. "I may not have a brain. But I have a plan."

My face dropped into a deadpan glare as my ears flattened. "I got a bad feeling about this…"