A/N: okay here's the thing, I had originally planned on this being just a simple one shot...But then it started dragging out and the snowball fight seemed just a great place to end except there was moooooore I'd planned for this...So here we are, folks. Chapter two.

No clue how long this whole thing is going to be. So if you have suggestions for stuff, please let me know :)

(No snowpeople were actually harmed during the making of this fanfiction...well, not in this galaxy ;P (yes, I am being sarcastic)

Barely thirty minutes into the work, everyone had to go back inside to grab their helmets. With the sun shining on the snow, snow blindness was risk none of them were willing to take. But when they got back outside, Hunter made sure everyone was were he could see them; he didn't want history to prove right by repeating itself.

He wasn't taking that chance again.

(However, since this was the Bad Batch, things were going to happen not as he planned whether he liked it or not. But luckily it wouldn't be anything too unfortunate until later the next morning)

The work, though tedious and methodical, went by rather quickly with all four of them helping. They had shoveled most of the snow off and around the landing gears, and Tech was working on the tiny details between parts; but that was when Wrecker happened to notice a leftover snowball form earlier. Seeing it made him remember the giant one he'd thrown at the others, which gave him an idea. He stepped away from the Havoc Marauder and began packing more snow on to the ball.

A moment later, a warning tone in his voice, Hunter called, ''Wrecker, what are you doing?''

Instead of answering, Wrecker focused on his task, humming a holiday song as loudly as he could.

''Wrecker!'' Hunter demanded. He knew he would let him be-for now- but he would have to keep a close eye on him. After all, so far as he knew and could tell, it was Wrecker who had thrown that first round earlier that morning.

''Maybe he's trying to build a snowman?'' Tech suggested, shrugging. ''It is rather common this time of the standard year.''

He glanced up at where the landing gear hooked up to the Marauder, using his helmet to gauge the distance, then back at back at the others.

''Uh, a little help?''

Wrecker thought about it for only a moment before he began shoving the snowball towards the others. Without a word, he pushed it over to the landing gear. Though, Tech had a few choice words ringing in his head when Wrecker suddenly picked him up and dropped him unceremoniously on the top.

''Hey!''

''Would you rather I'd thrown you?''

Tech was about to answer that, but shut his mouth before he did.

''I could have done with a warning first.''

''Now where's the fun in that?'' Wrecker pouted.

Tech rolled his eyes, then glanced up. ''Well, at least I'm closer. But still not high enough.''

Shaking his head as Wrecker frowned thoughtfully, Hunter shrugged. ''Worth a shot. You could probably reach it if there was one more snowba-''

Before he could even finish his sentence, Wrecker was already racing out to a fresh patch of snow. Tech waited patiently on top of his improvised ladder for the sixteen minutes it took for his squad mate to finish his next, and slightly smaller, snowball; then, once he tried it, he nodded.

''Thanks.''

''Now you just need to complete it.'' Crosshair smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. ''It's missing its head.''

''Crosshair,'' Tech warned, not really wanting to have to have to put up with this on this particular day.

''And since there's really only one standing body, I suppose that's the only logical place to put it.'' CH continued, completely ignoring his brother. ''So, I suggest you build that head so when Tech's done you can finish your snowman.''

Despite Tech's protests behind him, Wrecker's eyes lit up, and the scientist knew it was already too late.

''Nope, you did it wrong...''

Crosshair face palmed. Of all the things he would have thought that his genius, crazy smart, annoyingly blunt batchmate would have made...this was not something he would have imagined in a trillion years.

While everyone else was working on their own little creations, Tech's was literally 'little.'

Hunter had gone with a far more traditional snowman, three snowballs stacked one on top of another with a simple face that he had carved into the ball at the top. Well...traditional, until he'd added the fangs for the mouth, grinning from under his helmet as he'd explained a legend he'd heard once about snowgoons that would eat people who displeased their leaders.

Wrecker had, rather loudly, objected to that, but he stopped mocking it when Hunter's snowgoon accidentally fell over on him. The sergeant had protested (too dramatically and far too pleased with himself, in Tech's opinion) before he swaggered off to rebuild his goon.

Wrecker had added to his snowman by having another two snowballs added to it before carving a ninety-nine into it's forehead.

Crosshair had refused at first to participate, but then grudgingly began building his own. His, he figured could be like him so his was thinner, with a scowl and crosshair over one eye. In one hand made of spare chopsticks they'd found back on the ship, it carried a pistol. The other, since half-way through making his, Crosshair magically decided to turn his into a gangster, was held up at its mouth, pretending to hold a deathstick (really a piece of cinnispice) between its teeth. The finishing touch he'd added was a surprisingly good snow-impersonation of a hat resting at a forward-slide slant on his snowgangter's head.

The others gave no real comment other then Hunter commenting about how the snowganster was too young to be smoking at a whole ripe old age of an hour from the time CH started packing the first snowball to the time he finished.

But then there was Tech's...

When he'd started, he'd said he'd wanted something small so he could back to working on the landing gears as soon as he was finished. But the others hadn't thought he would mean snowbaby small. Which... is exactly what he'd made.

It was about as long as his forearm, with big green eyes made out of two old dried leaves he'd found in his lab and a tiny nose made out of a dried raybead fruit. Carved into its face was a happy grin. Anyone who knew Tech well would say he looked rather proud of it as he held it up to show the others.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. ''Why don't you make it realistic and show it crying?''

''Tech, wHat HavE yOu DoNE!'' Wrecker wailed, clapping his hands to his face in despair.

Crosshair had just face palmed.

''Nope, you did it wrong,'' he muttered, before chuckling a little to himself. Of course Tech would be the one to think completely outside the box with something like this; but CH didn't say anything else out loud.

Hunter was apparently thinking the same thing. But, unlike the sniper, he wasn't keeping something like this quiet because of an idea that had planted itself in his head. Besides, he couldn't help being just a little cheeky (Only about that (F ^_^) much) so he swung his arm around Tech's shoulders, nodding at the little snowbaby he was carrying.

''So that's your little baby, right?''

''Yep.'' Tech chirped, a little confused, but going along with it.

''Yep, okay and you're the proud papa, I got that right?''

''Yes.''

''Yes, alright, alright, good, good, so here's my question:...If that's the baby, and you're the papa, what's the mama?''

If there was a power to roll ones eyes enough to use the sling-shot maneuver while in space, it would have happened right then. As the youngest, Tech had undoubtedly perfected the art of the eye-roll; but with the one he gave Hunter right then, he probably set a new personal record.

It was near dark when they finally went back in.

As before, barely anything had been completed. The landing gears had been mostly cleaned off and the system's sun had melted most of the snow on the top and on the wings of the Marauder; but once Wrecker had gotten the idea in his head that a snowman took more priority then Tech being allowed to help them get out of there by checking the landing gears condition, he had somehow managed to drag everyone else into it as well.

So, get it done, they did; but get it done with time to spare so they would have the energy to leave, they did not.

When they finally dragged themselves up the jagged steps of the Marauder's steps, stomping the snow off their boots, they nearly collapsed. As a matter of fact, Wrecker actually did. He didn't bother trying to get to the crews quarters before picking a spot in the main cabin before he slid to the floor and curled up on his side, snoring within three minutes of laying down.

While they were tired, the others were considerate enough to tiptoe around him, even though they knew they technically didn't have to given how he often slept like a rock. Still...

Creeping around him, Tech staggered his way to the kitchen, flicking the caffpot on to heat up the water. Despite the fact that they had been moving around the whole time they'd been outside all day and despite their insulated blacks and armor, he was freezing. They all were, but before they could even try to warm up, the console in the cockpit chimed.

Hunter hobbled over, glanced at the name, then completely forgot about being cold. Dashing to Wrecker, he woke him quickly, calling to the others.

''Guys, it's Commander Cody!''

As if by magic, their tired state was forgotten.

They all jerked off their helmets, grinning as their friend and mentor appeared on the holo, his arms crossed over his chest and a tell-tale smirk on his face.

''So,'' he drawled slyly, ''what have you crazy rascals been up too?''

The Bad Batch glanced at each other, suddenly biting the inside of their lips when they suddenly remembered exactly what they'd been doing!

''Uh...Yeah, well, we don't like it much grounded.'' Hunter began, but luckily, before he could say more, Cody suddenly glanced up.

''Anyway, I called becau-Holy Kriff! Crosshair, where'd you get the bruise? Tech? You too?''

Everyone (except CH who was being predictably stubborn and stoic) gave each other sheepish grins, trying to hide their grimaces as they were suddenly and painfully reminded of their sore spots.

''Well, Wrecker started it...''

''Sarge, I did not! I keep telling you, it was Crosshair!'' he protested.

As another argument in the making escalated, Cody shook his head and held up a hand. ''I'll take this as another one of those unplanned situations that has you on the ground?''

Hunter nodded. ''As I said, grounded. Yuck.''

Cody studied them for a moment, then he nodded at Tech. ''That bruise over your eye. Let me see it.''

After Tech complied, Cody was silent for a moment, once more peering at each man in front of him before a small lopsided grin plastered onto his face.

''That was from a snowball, wasn't it? Who won?''

There was a pause. No one had particularly considered whether or not someone had won; They had been too busy to care.

''Well,'' Tech replied meekly, ''this one here over my eye is the one Crosshair gave me,''

But then his eyes flashed proudly, ''So I gave him that big one on his cheek.''

Cody nodded. ''Sweet. But if you don't know who won, looks like later you'll have to have a rematch.''

Groans echoed through the Marauder.

''Not now,'' he corrected, ''But soon.''

He flashed a smile, ''Once you've all recovered. Anyway, I called because I needed to check up on your progress. Where are you?''

Sighing, Hunter dipped his chin a little, righteously self-disappointed. ''No clue. When we landed, it was during a blizzard and we got blown off course and, uh, well,'' he rubbed the back of his neck sub-consciously, ''We've been getting distracted.''

If there was one thing that burned in his gut, it was admitting that he had let the others goof off when there was something that needed to be done. They had come here for a reason and yet they hadn't even tried to figure out where they really where. Hunter knew he had a general idea because of his internal electromagnetic modification which often acted as a compass, but right after he'd felt it, he'd been smacked with a snowball and after that he'd completely forgotten.

Needless to say, this wasn't exactly his proudest moment.

''Really?''

To his great disturbance, Cody didn't sound surprised.

''And that is why-''

Oh kriff, oh kriff, this is it. We've been recalled. We've been recalled from this mission. Blast it, I knew we should have left the moment we had the-

''I sent you on this wild nuna chase.''

They all blinked, surprised.

''Listen, here's the deal.'' Cody looked them all in the eye, ''You all have been running none-stop ever since you graduated. It's been-what?-how many missions?''

Hunter honestly couldn't remember. But, he thought, he was just tired; this had nothing to do with his lack of coordination lately. He just needed to focus more. He was letting himself slip. He was-

''I thought so.''

The words were said softly, gently as if the commander knew exactly what he was thinking.

''Because of how tired you all are, you said you were grounded because of the weather? Well get used to it. Under orders, you'll be like this until two weeks from now.''

''Two weeks!'' Hunter exploded, ''Commander, we can't! The Republic-''

''Can spare you those two weeks. You're not all what's keeping her on her feet.'' He paused, before chuckling lightly. ''You're not that special.''

He winked. ''That's for us-what had you all called me behind my back once?- the GAR posterboys?''

''We'll never live that one down will we?'' Tech asked, smiling as he remembered that night back at Kamino.

''Nope. Now, I expect you to behave on your vacation.''

''A vacation isn't forced.'' Crosshair sniffed.

''Then consider this a grounding.''

For the next ten minutes, Commander Cody explained some details of why they were to be considered on leave, hinting at the end that he would call them again soon with special instructions. The Bad Batch wondered about that, but knew he would tell them when he was ready. He told them to got get some rest, especially since now they didn't have to worry about leaving to get somewhere.

But just as everyone else turned, Cody said, ''Hey, Hunter, one last thing.''

Once Wrecker, Tech, and Crosshair left them alone, Hunter glanced at the holo.

''Yes?''

''Just...relax, try to keep in shape, and be sure not to do anything stupid. That's all I ask. Maybe now, you can actually sleep.''

''Thanks.'' he shook his head, '' Now, hopefully I can sleep only to get a good wake up tomorrow.''

In the morning, however, Hunter woke to conflicting song alarms. Crosshair's epic music was, as Tech argued, too fast for his own more classy jazz style and as a result of that, neither one was particularly appealing.

He sighed, then shoved himself out of bed, escaping from the warring brothers and styles by simply leaving while he still had the chance. While usually Tech and Crosshair glared him out of their personal disputes, there were occasions when they demanded he intervened to shut each other up...Or, Tech, at least, since Crosshair only stood there and glared at his batchmate, adding in his comment only when it really counted.

Slipping into the kitchen, he grabbed a spare protein bar from the pantry, Tech's voice from yesterday echoing in his head despite his attempt to ignore it.

''It's not a good idea to be tired, tired, sugar rush.''

Too bad. Bad, horrible me. But do I honestly care right now? I could say yes, but that would be lying.

Making a non-comital self shrug, Hunter bit into the mixture of protein and sugar. He waited about a minute, finishing it off, then it all crashed his bloodstream.

Okay this was probably a bad idea.

Shaking his head as if to shake away the slight headache, he took a breath, pausing when he realized he could still hear Crosshair and Tech arguing in the other room. (Hunter heartily disliked when they where like this; it always dulled the mood)

Groaning, he went over to his usual station, when he suddenly paused. Where was his helmet? He had left it on his chair the night before. Just as he was about to call to the others, Wrecker came in with an odd look on his face.

''Where's my commpad?''

Hunter was about to reply that he hadn't seen it when Tech and Crosshair came in.

''Where's my sketch case?''

''And some of the food from the pantry?'' Tech added, staring intently at all of them.

''Okay, maybe we just miss-placed them.'' Hunter said, holding up his hands, ''After all, we did have to clean up after we landed here. Possibly some one grabbed something and put it in the wrong spot.''

''But I used it yesterday!'' Wrecker argued.

There was an odd pause; the type that usually meant something was up even if they didn't fully know what it was yet.

''Guys?'' Hunter turned to the other two.

They both nodded. ''We at least knew where they were yesterday.''

''Alright,'' he sighed before straightening up. ''We'll check around the ship and see if we can find it.''

From there they split up, each taking sections of the ship they knew the best, then criss-crossing the other's sections to double check. They all knew things didn't just magically disappear so their items had to be somewhere in the ship...Even if, as it later turned out, that they weren't.

Wrecker and Hunter took the back while Tech and Crosshair took the front.

Tech had just entered the cockpit, when, on a whim, he happened to glance out the view port. He froze, eyebrow lifting.

''Uh...Guys? You may want to come see this?''

''What the Kark?'' Hunter muttered.

After Tech had called, they'd entered the cockpit to see just what he was so confused about. When they saw for themselves, they went outside where they were met with one of the weirdest things they'd ever seen.

All around the Marauder, snowmen...and parts of snowmen... littered the ground, all screaming silently. Many of them were rather grotesque. The ones in front of the landing gears and behind the Marauder were missing their heads...which lay on the ground next to them. Others were completely broken; Red food paste soaked the ground around these ones, X's crossed at their eyes with a green cookingspice leaf sticking out in place of a tongue.

Even Wrecker's from the day before was dead, stabbed through the heart with a sparring staff the Bad Batch often used for practice.

The ones well in front of the Marauder were all screaming, many either running or covering their face with their stick hands. Snowcouples (rather cleverly made with a single, wide snowman base but two heads and the arms sculped out of the middle) clutched at each other in terror. Snowmothers carried snowbabies (easily recognized by their two-snowball form and tiny nose made out of various nuts and dried fruit) that, obviously, wouldn't make it before the dreaded Havoc Marauder caught them. There was even one where a snowgoon, a monster, was about to take a bite out of one even as its mother ran over, her mouth frozen in a desperate 'NOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!''

Hunter blinked. ''Wow. That's...dramatic. Uh, guys? What's with the snowman central?''

No one answered. They were too busy trying to make out this whole mess themselves. All the snowmen they had made the day before were dead, either scattered around the foot of the Marauder as if they had been crushed or their expressions and positions had been altered to render them barely recognizable.

Crosshair paused, something catching his eye, and scowled. ''When I get my hands on who ever did this...'' he muttered, pulling out his individual pencils from every single snowperson that had one or two stuck in its head like antennas.

Tech was walking around, muttering savagely to himself about how annoyed he was as he tried to find hints of who had done this; but since it had apparently snowed the night before so footprints were impossible to find.

Wrecker was walking around randomly from one snowperson to another too...picking off the nuts and fruit from the snowkids; though, his mouth was the final destination for most of them.

Shaking his head, Hunter couldn't help the facepalm, not wanting to lift his head to watch.

Now, though he didn't agree with who ever had taken everything and used it for this snowprank, something just didn't sit right with him when he saw Wrecker doing that. But, in all reality, it was just a Wrecker-thing to do. To him, snacks were still snacks.

Plus, after all, they were just snow packed up into tight balls and frozen together...But still. Hunter didn't think Wrecker quite got the moral implications behind his actions.

But he wasn't going to be the one to tell him; he'd save that for Tech...

Shaking it off, he started going from one snowperson to another, looking for his helmet, when one suddenly caught his attention. It was the farthest one from the Marauder then all of the rest, on top of a hill about a hundred yards off. Lifting a suspicious eyebrow, he made his way over. Sure enough, there, held out in it's arms, was his helmet.

The snowman was about as tall as he was, with the body arranged at an angle to add the affect of running, sticks poking out of his back to indicate wind-streaks. His arms were stretched out in front of him, helmet tied to the sticks to keep it from falling. It's expression made by raisins was one that said, ''He's gonna catch me, he's gonna catch, he's gonna catch me if I don't run and run fast!''

Rolling his eyes, Hunter took his helmet back.

Caught ya'.

He paused, then grabbed his commpad out, snapping a quick photo of the running snowman before snapping a panorama of all the ones by the Marauder. He'd have to send them to Cody next time there was a fair moment of peace. Turning, he glanced once more at the 'culprit' and shook his head. With a slight smack to the snowman's head, he was about to walk off when, to his surprise, the head just fell off!

Startled, he jumped back. Spurting from where the neck would have been, red liquid died the snow. The head hit the ground with a slight 'thump', surprisingly staying intact. Crouching next to it, upon further inspection, he found it was a can of the same cooking paste as used for the snowmen near the Marauder, the can stuffed up in the underside of the head. Raising an eyebrow, he carefully extracted the can, noticing there was something else behind it.

When he pulled out the commpad, he rolled his eyes as a pre-recorded, ''Bleeeeeehhhhhhh'' sounded form the hidden speaker, completing the snowthief's death rather dramatically. He was just turning when suddenly, he chuckled; He'd have to remember that one next time they were on a snowplanet with Regs.

Hunter let himself laugh about it for another minute before heading back down to the others. So, with the snow the night before, the landing gears were once again covered and they would have to dig it out, effectively leaving them grounded for at least another couple of hours. But that was fine. Besides, there was some explaining to do. The commpad that had had the message was Wrecker's.

Dundunduuuuhhhhhhhh! Cheesy cliffhanger; well, I tried. vUv

So, thank you so much for reading! It really helped! :D

Thank you to everyone who review the first chapter! I loved the suggestions, and (while it may take me a while to get them in) I promise, I will do my utmost to get them in :)

Translation: raybead= raisins

Up next: The Interrogation.