Hey everyone!
Like I said, during my main hiatus, I'll be popping out a few one shots. They're generally easier for me and require WAY less editing.
Without any further ado!
"Wrecker, while Tech and Echo hack into the system, we'll need you to disarm the bombs. We don't need any accidents happening while transporting them." Hunter said.
"Ooh!" Wrecker said, his voice loud in Crosshair's ear. "So I hafta make sure we can put them back together?"
Hunter nodded. Crosshair waited for him to continue and mention his name.
"After we get that done, Wrecker and I-"
"And where will I be during all of this?" Crosshair asked.
"Yeah!" The girl piped up. "What are me and Crosshair going to do?"
Crosshair glanced down at her. He didn't exactly like her lumping him in with her. The others may have taken to the girl like she was a purring tooka, but he still had his reservations.
Then Crosshair noticed Hunter's face. He felt his frown deepen.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"You and Omega will not be joining us." Tech said, pushing at his goggles. "Hunter feels, and I agree with him, that a bomb factory with active explosives is not the place for a child."
"And since when am I a child?" Crosshair growled, right as the girl said, "Why not?"
"You haven't passed my test, kid!" Wrecker boomed. "Can't have ya getting stuck with a bomb in there!"
"And we need someone with her." Hunter said. "This place is pretty heavily guarded. I don't want her by herself."
"Then you stay!" Crosshair snapped.
"You heard the plan." Echo said. "We need Hunter's abilities. We need Wrecker, Tech, and myself too."
Crosshair scoffed and looked at Hunter.
"Are you sure you're not leaving me behind because that's an Imperial facility?" He asked.
The cockpit went silent. Crosshair could almost feel the partially functioning chip throb in his head. They still hadn't figured out where to get it removed. Knowing what it was helped Crosshair resist it, but there were still urges. Not to mention the occasional blistering headaches.
"I trust you." Hunter said. "You know I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't be leaving you with Omega."
Crosshair and Hunter stared at each other for a moment before Crosshair finally gave a nod.
"I'll do it." He muttered. "But I won't like it."
"You don't like anything, Cross!" Wrecker said cheerfully. "'Cept being grumpy!"
"I want to come!" Omega protested. "I can help, I promise!"
"This isn't up for debate." Hunter said. "You'll be our backup."
The girl's face fell.
"In any case," Tech said. "We will not arrive for another ten hours. I suggest we get some rest."
Crosshair shrugged. He didn't think he needed much rest in order to give the kid a data pad and keep watch. He still headed for his bunk. He ignored the girl's attempt to catch his eye.
Crosshair woke up to the sound of retching. He sat up immediately and looked for the source. If one of his brothers was sick-
Hunter rushed by, going straight to the girl's room. Tech was close behind, while Echo and Wrecker hovered back. Crosshair relaxed. He'd just get in the way.
He heard the girl's voice, sounding tiny.
"It's okay, 'Mega." Hunter soothed. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Crosshair watched Hunter lift the girl and head for the 'fresher.
"Where does it hurt?" Tech asked, following them. "Is it just your stomach or is it anywhere else?"
"My belly." The kid whispered. "My head. I'm- I'm so cold."
"She's got a fever." Hunter said.
"Cid mentioned that there was an outbreak of Corellian flu." Tech said. "We have been vaccinated against it, but it seems Omega has not."
"What do we do?" Wrecker asked.
"It will need to run its course." Tech said. "I can potentially bring down her fever and we will need to make sure she is receiving enough fluids."
Crosshair watched as Echo moved to clean up the sick in the girl's room. Surely they weren't going to leave her with him when she was in this state.
"We'll have to change the plan." Hunter said.
He was standing in the 'fresher doorway. Crosshair could hear the girl's coughs and quiet sobs.
Here it is, Crosshair thought. Hunter had come to his senses.
"We'll have to land a few hours away." Hunter said. "I don't want any patrols coming across you and Omega, Crosshair."
"What?" Crosshair said. "What am I supposed to do with a sick kid?"
Tech looked up from his datapad.
"You have successfully tended to the rest of us while we were ill." He said. "This will be no different."
Crosshair bit back a sharp retort. This was entirely different. But he knew, due to the worry sparking off all four of them, that it'd be pointless to argue.
Crosshair didn't get any more sleep. The girl continued to vomit for the rest of the night. One of the other four was there for her each time. Crosshair was amazed with how soft they each had become with her. Even Tech would quietly tell her that it was unfortunate, but her immune system was fighting a virus and this would be necessary for her body to purge it.
Crosshair didn't know what they expected him to do, but he hoped it wasn't anything like the way Wrecker cradled her in between vomiting fits.
Eventually the moment he dreaded arrived, and Tech went to go land the ship. Hunter approached Crosshair.
"This will be around five hours." He said without preamble. "Maybe more if things go south. All you have to do is make sure she makes it to the refresher, have her drink some water every half hour, and give her another painkiller around 1200."
Crosshair just nodded. Hunter paused.
"She's having a rough time of it." He said. "If you could just- comfort her a little-"
"I'll keep her alive." Crosshair said in a flat voice.
Hunter sighed.
"Guess I can't ask much more than that." He said. "We'll let you know when we get there and when we're on our way back."
Then Hunter moved to the girl's room, moving aside the curtain.
"We're on our way out." He said. "Crosshair will take care of you."
"Be safe." Crosshair could hear the girl mumble miserably.
"We will." Hunter said.
Wrecker came next.
"Feel better, okay?" He said in what Crosshair knew to his version of a whisper. "You've got to be up for Mantell Mix when we get back!"
Tech moved forward to scan her as Wrecker left.
"You still have a fever, but it has indeed lowered." He informed her. "I expect to see that you have recovered a great deal by the time we return."
Finally Echo approached.
"Chin up, ad'ika." He said. "You'll be with us next time, I'm sure of it."
They then bade farewell to Crosshair and then he was alone with the kid.
Crosshair sat up on his bunk and found a pair of large brown eyes staring at him from a peaky face.
"Need something?" He asked.
He tried to keep some sarcasm from his voice; he wasn't a monster.
The girl shook her head and retreated. A few minutes later, Crosshair heard her vomit again.
"Kriff!" Crosshair hissed, leaping from the bunk.
Luckily it seemed to be mostly stomach acid, but the girl had managed to get it all over her front.
"Kriff." Crosshair said again. "Why didn't you say anything?"
The girl gave him a nervous glance.
"I didn't- didn't want to bother you." She said.
"I got bothered either way." Crosshair grumbled. "You don't have any extra clothes, do you."
The girl shook her head. Crosshair rubbed at his face.
"Give me a moment." He said. "Close the curtain and get out of that."
He turned around and scanned the ship. Blacks would have to do, he decided. Hunter's civvies had probably never been washed. The sergeant's blacks were probably no better. He washed those occasionally, but not enough to get the smell out. Same with Tech and Wrecker. Tech would forget and Wrecker would 'forget.' The smell of any of them would make her more sick.
That left Crosshair's or Echo's. Crosshair sighed as he pulled a blacks top from his gear. Echo's blacks were modified for his scomp. It'd be more annoying to replace them.
Crosshair grabbed a handful of sanitation wipes from the 'fresher and went back to the girl's room.
"Here." He said, shoving his hand past the curtain. "Give me your clothes."
She pushed them out a moment later. Crosshair wrinkled his nose as he picked them up. He briefly considered tossing them, but as they had discussed, they were her only clothes. So he threw them in the overflowing laundry compartment. Maybe that would incentivize them to get it done.
The girl peeked out from her curtain again. The overly large blacks made her look even tinier.
"Anything else?" Crosshair asked shortly.
She shook her head.
"Thank you." She mumbled.
Crosshair shrugged.
She retreated and it became quiet again. Crosshair decided to go get a canteen, just so he didn't have to look for one when it was time for her to drink. Tech had thought of that, leaving a full flask next to the med kit.
He returned to the bunk, where he could hear the girl. It was good he was a sniper, used to waiting and watching. He was already up when he saw her silhouette sit up twenty minutes later.
"Cross-" She started, but Crosshair had already swung her from the gunner's mount and carried her under her arms to the 'fresher. He waited with his arms crossed as she heaved into the vac tube. When she nodded that she was done, he picked her up again and plopped her back.
He went to go sit back down on his bunk when she spoke.
"Crosshair?" She whispered.
He paused.
"Again?"
"No." She said. She sounded nervous. "Do- do you think if I don't get better, Hunter will leave me behind?"
Crosshair nearly laughed at that. Hunter? Leave her behind? An opposing flash of anxiety writhed in his chest at the thought of his own position within the Batch.
"Why ask me?" He asked.
"You won't try to make me feel better."
Crosshair raised an eyebrow. Fair enough.
"If we didn't get rid of Wrecker after he got sick from eating moldy ration bars, they'll keep you." He said.
She didn't say anything. Crosshair hoped it lasted.
"Crosshair?"
Kriff.
"What?" He asked.
She was quiet for a moment. Maybe Crosshair scared her off with his tone.
"Why do you not like me?"
What did I do wrong?
A young Wrecker's voice came back to Crosshair, spoken in the exact same tone. Crosshair could see his brother's wide, watery eyes ringed by bruises caused by the regs.
Crosshair shook the memory off.
"Why do you like me?" He shot back.
She couldn't ever seem to get the hint.
"'Cause you're my brother."
Crosshair froze.
"You don't know what that even means." He finally said. "Echo uses it too much. What's the real reason?"
He expected the girl to protest, but instead she just moved the curtain aside for a moment so she could see him.
"Lots of reasons." She said. "I like how you protect us."
Crosshair rolled his eyes.
"I like that you fight against the chip every day." She said. "I know it's hard."
That gave him pause.
"I like that you would share your rations with Wrecker when he was hungry. I like that you protected everyone from the regs when I couldn't."
When she couldn't? Crosshair thought with a jolt. And how does she know about Wrecker?
"I like the way you let Tech talk to you for hours and hours. I like how you see everything, even if you don't say. I like how you always take care of your gear." Her voice was getting more drowsy. "I like how you'd hold my finger when I held you and looked into my eyes."
Crosshair whipped around to look at her. Her eyes were closed and her cheek was squished against her arm.
"How long have you been watching?" Crosshair rasped.
But she was asleep.
Crosshair continued to stare at her. Conflicting emotions clashed in his chest.
Another enhanced clone?
Was it possible?
A datapad somewhere buzzed an alarm. Crosshair jumped and found the pad on Tech's bunk. The alarm read: WATER FOR OMEGA.
Crosshair wanted to be annoyed at Tech's intrusion, but he had to admit that he'd forgotten. He picked up the canteen and went to Omega's room.
"Hey." Crosshair said. He could feel his voice grow softer than it had been before. "Wake up. You have to drink something."
She blinked open her eyes and for a moment Crosshair saw relief in her eyes. She was glad to see him.
"Here." He said.
He hesitated before helping her sit up a little and letting her sip from the flask. Her hand was too warm on his wrist and a small twinge of worry crossed through him. He let her back down and her eyes closed again almost immediately. Crosshair watched for a moment, determining that her breathing was deep and steady. Then he went to go sit back on the bunk. He found himself glancing back at her. The girl who watched.
He didn't think he'd ever dote on her like the others did, but- he supposed there was room for a little sister.
Mando'a:
adi'ika: little one
I LOVE sick fics and generally can't get enough of ones surrounding the Bad Batch. There are definitely not enough of them.
I also had a concept for an AU where Crosshair doesn't get his chip enhanced and escapes with the Batch. I think it has a lot of cool potential and I'm considering just writing a bunch of one shots for it. I just need more Crosshair and Omega interation. And Crosshair and the Batch interaction. In this instance, they're still doing jobs for Cid and stuff.
I am very attached to the idea that Crosshair alone knows about Omega being there since the beginning.
Uh, that should be everything!
Stay safe, remember to review, and I'll see you around!