Hey guys!

Okay, I need to express some of my Bad Batch finale emotions, so if you haven't seen it, please proceed with caution or go watch it.

*SPOILERS*

I'm in shock. I predicted it would happen, but still. I'm emotionally compromised. I'm at work while I write this and it's still so hard. I cried for an hour.

Tech is very special to me. He's my favorite Batcher and is great representation for who I am. He actually helped me get over a fear of mine through his relationship with Phee.

I do think there's a fair chance he's alive. I'm hoping. I'm praying. It might be denial. I don't know if I've been this blindsided and hurt by a character's death since Wrath of Khan when I was ten.

So I've got a promise to make. I will never kill Tech in any of my fics. I don't think I can physically do it. I will always keep him safe and happy in the end. I want to keep the whole Batch safe and happy.

So I may do my usual angst, but never fear for him. I can't do it. Like with Fives in Fives Effect, I can't do it.

Speaking of angst, expect a few fics applying my signature ability to torture a character to certain players in the last few episodes. Saw Gerrera, you are an excellently written character, but I hate you forever. You have no idea what the Rebellion is about and you wish you were half the man Tech is. I will cheer at your death every time I watch Rogue One now.

*SPOILERS END*

But seriously the finale was 10/10.

*takes deep, shuddering breath*

4thwallbreak: Thank you! I want the Bridgers to be a happy family for a while. And sorry, Grey fell prey to my 'always consequences to their actions' rule. That's why Rex lost a leg in this fic in the first place.

Okay, onto my fic!

Out of complete coincidence, this is partial Tech chapter. Just a warning.

Actually no Mando'a this chapter.

ABSOLVED: Chapter 25

I'll be there when you wake.

Ahsoka clung to those words. They had been spoken by a voice that she knew and loved, even if she couldn't always place the name. Those words were her anchor as the Force tried to coax her into its arms.

She had done something to her body, something that had damaged it to the point where she nearly couldn't return to it.

Nearly.

As she fought to return, she felt the tugging of the Force lessen. A few more of the lines connecting her to her body reformed.

She could hear voices soon.

She's been moving around for a day, shouldn't she have woken up by now?

It's a slow process, Rex. It'll take a while before she's back.

She could feel a hand running over her head, see a flash of concerned brown eyes, and sometimes heard her own voice asking where she was.

It felt like an eternity before she could open her eyes.

She found herself in the Rebellion's medbay. Her throat burned and her arm ached. Her mind felt steeped in fog. When she turned her head, she saw Rex bent over in his chair with his head in his hands. She remembered seeing him like that before.

"Rex." She rasped through dry lips.

He lifted his head and the relief in his eyes was worth the struggle to return. He took her hand and pressed it to his cheek.

"'Soka. There you are." He murmured in a choked voice. "My 'Soka."

He had deep shadows under his eyes and Ahsoka could feel scruff on his face. She vaguely hoped he was all right.

He gestured with his other hand and Kix and Hackjob appeared at her bedside mere moments later.

"Welcome back, Commander!" Hackjob said cheerfully as he helped Kix scan her. "You've been away for a while."

Kix paused in his scanning to give Ahsoka a weary smile.

"It's good to have you back." He said.

"How long-?" Ahsoka mumbled.

"Six days." Rex said.

He still held her hand to his face, eyes closed.

"Six?" Ahsoka repeated, confused and a little frightened.

Rex nodded.

"It's the longest you've been unconscious after one of these." Kix said, checking his datapad. "In fact, the only other time was after you helped Tup and that was only two days. Let's- not try something like that again, Commander."

"I agree." Rex said.

"I can't promise that." Ahsoka said. "We may need me. I can handle a short coma."

"It's not just that." Kix said. "Sir-"

He faltered. Rex opened his eyes and gripped Ahsoka's hand tightly.

"'Soka, you stopped breathing." He said. "We were only able to take you off the ventilator two days ago."

Ahsoka frowned. That explained the pain in her throat. A vague memory of something being jammed in her throat and Rex's soothing voice came to the forefront of her mind.

"I remember." She slowly.

She let Kix and Hackjob finish their fussing, but was glad when they left her alone with Rex. The moment they were gone, Rex scooted closer to curl his arm around Ahsoka's shoulders. Ahsoka sighed and leaned her head on him. Rex kissed her montral and took her hand to run his thumb over her knuckles.

"Gek warned me this would happen." Ahsoka said quietly.

"What exactly is 'this?'" Rex asked.

"That my abilities would kill me." Ahsoka said.

Rex didn't reply, but pulled her closer.

"I don't know what to do." Ahsoka went on. "I had to push myself. I had to save us. But getting myself killed isn't going to help anyone."

Rex nodded.

"Take a break from missions." He said. "Stay here and help me train the recruits. It may give you time to heal."

Ahsoka balked at the underlying fear she could feel in his suggestion. But he was right. Letting herself heal would help her and her men in the long run.

"Okay." She said. "If Anakin agrees."

"I don't give a kriff what General Skywalker says." Rex said. "You need a rest."

Ahsoka tried to smile, but it was interrupted by a yawn. Somehow, after sleeping for six days, she was exhausted. Rex kissed her head.

"Go to sleep." He said. "Kix says you'll need plenty of rest. Just not for as long."

"Right." Ahsoka mumbled.

Rex's free hand stroked her montrals. His tender touch was the last thing she felt as she sank back into sleep.

Ahsoka's mind felt far clearer when she woke next. She lifted her head from Rex's chest, only to find that she had drooled a patch onto his blacks.

"Sorry." She mumbled.

Rex just laughed as she wiped at the spot.

"Tup vomited on me the first time he was on a LAAT/I." He said, wiping her face with his sleeve. "I've had far worse."

Ahsoka studied his face. Despite his smile, the worry lines there seemed to cut deeper into his skin. She would be more careful, if only to keep Rex from more pain at her hands.

Kix was soon by with a bowl of broth and a cup of water.

"Finish them both." He ordered with a stern look.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes but picked up the spoon.

"How is Grey?" She asked after a few bites.

"He's alive." Rex said. "But it's been difficult for him. We don't exactly have the resources to get him a cybernetic right away. He's feeling- useless."

"The poor thing." Ahsoka murmured. "He shouldn't have been on the mission. It was a Jedi affair."

"So you're a Jedi again?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka tried to give him a look, but his cheek was firmly pressed against her montrals.

"You know what I mean."

"Point is that you don't have to be a Jedi to care about Jedi interests." Rex said.

He was right, of course. But so many clones had died for a Republic that hadn't cared. If they had to sacrifice their lives, Ahsoka wanted them to die for their own freedom. Of course, they were too selfless for that.

She was finishing up the bowl when Kix came by again.

"You've got a visitor, Commander." He said. "You feeling up to it?"

"Of course." Ahsoka said.

She was sure that there would be a line of clones waiting to see her once word got out. She was surprised then, when Master Plo came striding into the infirmary.

"Master!" She exclaimed. Rex eased himself from under her so she could embrace Plo. "You're back from your mission!"

"Just an hour or so ago." Plo rumbled. "I had heard you were injured- it is good to see that you are recovering."

"As much as I can." Ahsoka said. "But tell me about your mission! Did you find Master Yoda?"

"We did." Plo said. "We found him on the swamp planet Dagobah. Master Fisto was with him, thank the Force."

"Master Fisto?" Ahsoka asked, trying to sit up. "Is he all right?"

Plo's brow furrowed.

"Perhaps this news will cause too much excitement." He said.

"No-" Ahsoka said. "Please, Master. It'd drive me mad not knowing."

Plo sighed.

"Very well." He said. "Master Fisto is alive, but he was badly injured when Master Yoda found him. Master Yoda did not have the supplies to treat him and so his condition worsened. He is currently in the bacta tank."

"Did Master Yoda say why he was on some backwater planet?" Ahsoka asked, trying to keep the anger from her voice.

"Yes." Master Plo said. "He blames himself for the fall of the Jedi Order, especially for not sensing the Dark Side growing stronger. Dagobah is home to a cave where the Dark Side is potent. Master Yoda wishes to study it and understand it."

Ahsoka nodded. The reasoning made her feel better. She wanted Yoda to have a good reason for leaving them.

"Did he come back with you?" Ahsoka asked.

"No." Plo said. "He believed his work with the Dark Side to be too important."

It made enough sense. A part of Ahsoka was just glad that Master Yoda and Master Fisto were alive.

"How'd Windu take it?" She asked.

Plo paused and Ahsoka got a flash of a memory. Windu, angrier than she had ever seen him, shouting.

The Jedi Code was supposed to prevent this! Why have thousands of us died if we followed it?

"He was- upset." Plo said. "He chose to leave us for a time."

Ahsoka thought of the strict Master. Following the Jedi Code hadn't stopped this disaster. She could see how his faith had been shaken.

"Ahsoka!"

Ahsoka looked up to see Fives hurrying into the medbay. He was closely followed by Jesse, Tup, and Echo.

"Kix commed us." Fives said as they approached. "How are you feeling?"

"Not bad, surprisingly." Ahsoka said as she accepted his hug. "I've always felt so terrible after these."

"Probably has something to do with them bringing in the traitor to heal you." Jesse said.

Ahsoka froze in the act of embracing Tup. She felt more than saw Rex give Jesse a glare.

"Barriss?" She asked as Tup let go.

"We were scared, 'Soka." Rex said. "General Skywalker said that Force healing could help, and she's the only healer we have access to."

Ahsoka didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to feel. She could see, looking back, how Barriss' influence had helped her return. How much had Barriss' help been coercion, guilt, or genuine concern for Ahsoka? She got a glimpse of a memory from Rex: Barriss with her hands on Ahsoka's head with half a dozen troopers pointing blasters at her.

Ahsoka wanted to speak to Barriss, but the idea of facing her former friend in person right now seemed impossible. Perhaps she could write a message-

"Good job, Jesse." Tup said. "We had one job: to not upset her."

"She deserves to know!" Jesse said.

"Not ten minutes after she's woken up!"

"I'm glad he did." Ahsoka said. "I'd rather know."

Jesse gave the others a smug look. Fives smacked his arm.

"Regardless." Echo said. "It's good that you're all right, Commander."

He smiled at her, but Echo seemed exhausted to Ahsoka. She could guess that the search for Omega still was at a dead-end.

Hunter flipped his knife between his fingers. The edge of the vibroblade glowed slightly in the darkened cockpit. He was feeling a headache coming on, and it'd be best to head it off before it really began. He focused on the familiar movements, making each one with purpose rather than instinct.

He tried not to think of the times where he would glance to the side and see Omega copying him.

His stomach seemed to knot at the thought of her. Surely Nala Se wouldn't hurt her, right? Surely she was safe.

Safe didn't mean where she belonged.

Hunter nearly jumped as the cockpit door opened and Crosshair came in. He wore a scowl, which was normal these days.

"Wrecker's asleep already." He said. "And I found this in the medpack."

Crosshair dropped a ration bar onto one of the consoles with a clunk. Hunter sighed.

"You sure that wasn't from before?" He asked.

"Positive." Crosshair said. "Echo restocked it yesterday and he would have said something."

Hunter drew a hand down his face, the knot in his stomach tightening.

"I'll ask one of the medics to come take a look at him." He said. "Maybe- maybe this is something else."

"You know it's not." Crosshair said. An edge had crept into his voice. "He hasn't eaten properly since-"

"I know." Hunter interrupted him. His chest was tightening now. He took a few breaths to loosen the anxiety. "What's Tech doing?"

Crosshair's expression darkened ever further and Hunter regretted asking.

"Still on his kriffing datapad." He said. "I don't understand why you don't just take the thing away."

"How would that help?" Hunter asked.

"How would it make it worse?" Crosshair shot back. "How can it possibly make him worse?"

"You think taking away his only way to actually do something wouldn't drive him mad?" Hunter demanded.

His head was beginning to throb. Crosshair's glower softened slightly as Hunter rubbed at his temples.

"Dammit, Hunter." He said. "I'll get the painkillers."

"I don't need them." Hunter said, squeezing his eyes shut. Crosshair meant well, but his harsh tone never helped. "Tech said that I should only take them when necessary. Something about my stomach lining."

Crosshair's jaw clenched.

"So he cares more about your stomach lining than the fact that you're in pain." He said. "Sounds right."

Normally Hunter would chastise Crosshair for the sharp words, but his head was getting worse and the twisting coil of emotion in his stomach was fermenting into dread.

Hunter's comm beeped with a noise that made him flinch.

"Hunter here." He managed.

"It's Echo." Came the response. "We've got some new intel from the spies in the Imperial army. We told them last time to keep their ears out for anything about Nala Se or the other Kaminoans. I thought you'd like to take a look."

Hunter's dread seemed to spasm, shooting tendrils through his torso and compressing everything into a painful ball. He didn't want to see their news. It wasn't going to be anything good. How could the spies access anything useful at cadet level, when Tech wasn't able to find anything?

"Send it over." Hunter said anyway. "Thanks, Echo."

"No problem, Hunter." Echo said. "See you later."

The comm clicked off.

"He could have brought it in person." Crosshair said as Hunter pulled up the report transcript. "He's been avoiding us. Spending more time with the 501st."

"We're not exactly good company these days." Hunter said, feeling his voice get tighter. "Besides, he's more involved with the Rebellion than we are."

He scanned the lines of the report, waiting for his eye to be caught by any mention of Kamino or Kaminoans.

"What are we doing, Hunter?" Crosshair asked. "Why are we here, instead of out looking for her?"

Hunter clenched his jaw, feeling his head pound with every pulse of his heart. He didn't want to talk about this- they'd gone over it so many times.

"We're looking for two people in the entire galaxy." He grit out. "And we have no leads."

"We're doing nothing here!" Crosshair snapped. "Who knows what Nala Se is doing to Omega?"

"She wouldn't hurt her!" Hunter said.

"We know that Nala Se won't kill her." Crosshair corrected him. "Omega never talked about her time with her. Who knows what kind of sick experiments that psychopath did, is doing on Omega?"

Hunter doggedly stared at the report, trying with all his might to ignore the image of Omega strapped down on the Kaminoan's gurney that Crosshair's words inspired. He wasn't comprehending the words anymore. He tried to make his mind blank. It normally worked, but he wasn't strong enough right now to fight back the sludge of thoughts that seeped in with every throb of his headache.

Remember what she did to you. She could do the same to Omega.

Omega wouldn't tell you what Nala Se did to her.

Your sister is stuck with a monster.

Crosshair was still speaking, but Hunter couldn't hear him over the ringing in his ears. He tried to suck in more air, but it didn't seem to help. His eyes found the word 'Kaminoan' on the report and Hunter latched onto the sentence, looking for a distraction from the frenzy in his chest and head.

The Kaminoans have been reported as virtually extinct. Hunter read. Only two are alive, according to the Imperial records: Lama Su and Halle Burtoni.

Hunter heard a clatter.

"Hunter-"

Nala Se wasn't dead, she couldn't be dead, Tech had said so, Tech wasn't wrong, Nala Se had Omega, she was working with the Empire, they could find Omega by fighting the Empire what if Nala Se's dead who else wants Omega why do they want her where is she what are they doing to her what if they killed her we can't find her we don't know where to look we don't know anything we don't know wedon'tknowwedon'tknowwedon'tknow-

Tech was starving. His hunger pangs had finally grown so strong that they managed to break his concentration. He looked guiltily down at his datapad. He truly had tried not to be engaged in another hours long attempt to crack the Imperial code. He had meant to only attempt once or twice. Desperation had driven him to nearly four dozen tries.

He hesitated, noticing for the first time that he had a new message. He tapped on it and found that Taja had sent him a few basics on one of her chemical agents. It was a sort of game she helped him play, in an attempt to distract him. She would give him some information about one of the agents she created, and he had to determine the full chemical makeup, the full extent of its effects, and how to nullify it.

The sight of the message inspired a slight smile that died quickly. It felt like a betrayal to merely forget about Omega for even a short time.

Tech looked around the Marauder. Wrecker was asleep in his rack, but Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo were nowhere to be seen. Tech frowned. It could be assumed that Echo was with Fives and his 501st brothers. But Crosshair and Hunter rarely left the Marauder by themselves. Then Tech noticed the closed door to the cockpit.

It was rare that Crosshair and Hunter left him out of planning meetings or the like. Perhaps they felt he would not want to. Today they were wrong.

He entered the cockpit with a quick tap of the panel. Then he froze.

Hunter was crouched on the ground, his fingers threaded tightly through his own hair as he clutched at his head. His back rose and fell with shallow breaths. He seemed to be having a major anxiety attack, something he had not succumbed to since before they were deployed.

But- why would this be? Hunter had not been displaying any of his symptoms of acute anxiety.

Hadn't he?

Crosshair knelt next to Hunter with a hand on Hunter's shaking shoulder.

"Hunter?" Tech asked.

Crosshair looked up and Tech nearly took a step back. He had seen that look in his brother's eyes before, but always directed at regs. Now, in Crosshair's eyes, Tech was his enemy.

Tech did not understand. Why did Crosshair look at him with such venom?

Tech reached out for Hunter, unsure of what he would do, but knowing his brother needed help.

"Don't touch him!" Crosshair hissed. "Dammit, can't you see? Why can't you ever see?"

"What?" Tech asked, his eyes widening. "I do not understand-"

He glanced down at Hunter. His brother was pointedly looking away from him.

Tech swallowed and tried to move past Crosshair's anger.

"How long-" He started.

Crosshair gave a sharp, mirthless laugh.

"This has been coming on for weeks." He said.

Tech- had not noticed. That fact sent a surge of guilt through him.

"I did not-"

"No, you didn't." Crosshair said with a sneer. "Because you don't care."

Tech recoiled.

"I do-"

"Wrecker doesn't eat." Crosshair cut across him. He stood, putting himself between Tech and Hunter as if to protect their Sergeant. "Echo can't stand being with us. And you're too caught up in your kriffing project to notice, like always."

Wrecker- Wrecker wasn't eating?

"I- I am trying to find Omega-" Tech stammered.

"There's always an excuse." Crosshair said. "Something is always more important than the rest of us."

"Crosshair-" Tech managed. "I am sorry."

He didn't quite know why he was apologizing. He just knew that he had offended his brother in some way, quite unintentionally.

"Sorry." Crosshair said. "It's too late for sorry."

Tech once again looked to Hunter, waiting for him to silence Crosshair with a word, to soften the barbs, to remind Tech that Crosshair did not truly mean it. He needed Hunter to intervene, as he had since they were cadets.

Hunter did not speak.

Then what Crosshair said was true.

"I am sorry." Tech muttered once again.

Before Crosshair could speak again, he stepped away and shut the cockpit door. He could not stay here. The Marauder was not safe any longer. It was his own fault.

Taking care not to wake Wrecker, Tech slipped from the ship.

At first he considered finding Echo, but if he felt the same way as Crosshair-

He found himself heading towards Taja and Admani's quarters. The Generals had given them space on Yavin after the two had unofficially joined the Rebellion.

He knocked with a shaking hand at their rudimentary door. Taja opened it and smiled as she saw him.

"Was this one too easy? She asked.

Her smile faded as she continued to look at him.

"Tech?" She asked. "Are you all right?"

"I- am unsure." He said. "Crosshair-"

His throat constricted and he couldn't say any more.

Taja stared at him.

"Come in." She said.

Tech found himself sitting on a storage crate as Taja made him a cup of tea.

"What happened?" She asked. "If you want to tell me."

Tech swallowed.

"Crosshair has accused me of not caring about the Batch." He said. "I do not know if he is correct."

Taja did not say anything. Tech had expected her to tell him he was being ridiculous.

"When was the last time you slept?" She asked, handing him a steaming cup.

Tech blinked. That was not the question he had thought she would ask.

"It has been 32.4 hours." He said.

Taja took a deep breath.

"Drink the tea." She said. "I'll find you a ration bar, and then you need to sleep."

She moved to go rummage in one of her bags.

"I cannot go back to the Marauder." Tech said.

"You can use my bed." She said. "I just got up in any case."

Tech found himself nodding and sipped at the fragrant tea. It seemed to loosen some of the uncomfortable emotions knotted in his stomach. His exhaustion was making itself known now. By the time he had ingested the ration bar Taja found, he could barely keep his eyes open.

"Come on." Taja said. "You can tell me more about it when you wake."

She took his hand and Tech let her lead him to where he could rest.

Crosshair cursed every member of the Bad Batch as he hurried through the maze the Rebellion called a base. Hunter, for not stopping Crosshair from snapping at Tech. Wrecker, for not waking up and keeping Tech from running off. Echo, for not being at the Marauder to help calm everyone down. Tech, for getting himself lost again.

He had and hadn't meant what he had said to Tech. Tech was acting like he didn't care about the rest of them. It felt sometimes like they'd lost both him and Omega. And in the moment, Crosshair's concern had been for Hunter. It scared Crosshair to see the cracks in Hunter's facade widen. Not that he'd ever admit it.

The regs stayed out of his way. It annoyed him that he was starting to hate them less. He still needed to build up the civility and courage to ask one of them if Tech had been seen.

"Are you looking for Tech?"

Crosshair whirled around to find the female Togruta bounty hunter appraising him coolly.

"Where is he?" Crosshair demanded.

"Sleeping." Taja Desai said. "And recovering from some harsh words that he believed completely."

She leveled a cold glare at Crosshair. A part of him flinched. Not at her pathetic attempt to intimidate him, but at the knowledge that Tech thought that Crosshair had truly meant his tirade.

"Who are you to judge the way he grieves?" Desai asked angrily.

"Who are you to nose your way into our business?" Crosshair snapped back.

"Someone who cares for Tech." She said.

Crosshair didn't believe her. She was an outsider.

"Take me to him." He snarled.

He received another glare in response.

"No." Desai said. "If you know your brother at all, you will agree that he needs to rest."

Crosshair remembered, for a moment, Tech's first sleep strike, as Hunter called it. Four year old Tech, refusing to sleep as he struggled to find a solution to Hunter's sensory overloads, Wrecker's low academic scores, Crosshair's insubordination, and Tech's own vision loss. Crosshair had stolen a sedative after Nala Se had observed that his behavior was destructive and perhaps that he needed to be decommissioned.

Crosshair gave a short nod.

"Eight hours." He said, teeth clenched around his toothpick. "Or I will come for him."

"Fine." Desai said. "But when he wakes, the choice is his."

"You trust his decisions lately?" Crosshair asked.

"More than I trust your decisions for him." Desai said. "Which seems to be to shout at him rather than help him find a better way."

"The better way is to find Omega." Crosshair hissed.

"You may not have the luxury to wait for that." Desai said. "You and your brothers may have destroyed yourselves by then."

Crosshair thought briefly of Hunter's panic attacks, Wrecker's depression, and his own searing anger that seemed to burn all the time now.

But this woman had no right to lecture him. She was an outsider. She would never understand.

"Tech."

Tech cracked an eye open. Someone had touched his shoulder. He could only see a blur of red and gold.

He closed his eyes again.

"Tech, I'm sorry, but you need to get up." Taja's voice said. "Your brother wants you back soon, and I want time to talk to you."

Tech fumbled for his goggles and he felt Taja place them in his hand. He sat up, put them on, and blinked at her.

"Which brother?" He asked.

Taja grimaced.

"Ah." Tech said before she could say anything. "Crosshair."

"The skinny one, right?" She asked.

"Yes." Tech said. "I apologize if he was rude."

He was feeling far calmer than before. The idea of going back to his brothers did not frighten him as much, though there was still apprehension in his gut.

"He was." Taja said with a shrug of her shoulders. "But I was rude back."

Tech felt his lips quirk up at that.

"He gave me a deadline." She went on. "We have about an hour and a half."

Tech nodded. Taja sat next to him.

"Now." She said. "Tell me what he said exactly."

Tech reported Crosshair's tirade as best as he could remember. He normally had better memory than this, but he had been exhausted and upset at the time.

"He- may be correct." Tech said as he finished his recounting. "I should have noticed. I have been blind to their pain."

Taja put her hand on his.

"From what I've seen, Tech," She said. "You have withdrawn from your family. That has hurt them. They are grieving Omega themselves and you seemed to shut them out. Crosshair was understandably upset. But that does not mean he should have said those things to you."

Tech looked down as she continued.

"You do care." She said. "I know you do. But it's hard to show that when you are pushed beyond your limits."

She put her other hand on his shoulder.

"You are all mourning. Grief is a terrible thing and can cause us to further hurt others. But you have acknowledged your fault." Taja said. "You can move forward and do better."

Tech shook his head.

"I fear that they will not forgive me."

"You forgave me for taking your sister. They will forgive you for your grief."

Tech paused. He- had forgiven her. He knew the exact moment. It was when she had looked at him after witnessing his lowest moment and told him there was hope.

And once again she comforted him, though he was at fault. He had never been cared about this much by one who was not a brother. It felt unreal.

Something warm stirred in his chest as he looked at her.

"Thank you." Tech said. Then, before he could stop himself, "May I kiss you?"

He stood immediately and turned away before he could see her expression. He was sure he would see horror there, like the horror streaking through him now.

"You do not have to answer." He said. "Please, do not answer."

He began to leave. Taja's hand grabbed his wrist.

"Yes." She said. "You may."

Tech's heart beat unusually quickly as he turned back to her. There was a look in her eyes that Tech had never seen before. It was soft and inviting. He slowly sat down again.

Why? He wanted to ask. What about him and about her made her willing to let him kiss her? Perhaps later. He thought as he looked into her face.

He felt overwhelmingly foolish and clumsy as he leaned forward. He pressed his lips to hers. They were soft, as he remembered. He was relieved as she pressed back.

Tech did not know what to do with his hands, so he folded them in his lap. Perhaps that was wrong. Taja placed her own arms around his neck.

Another worry gnawed at him. Was this just a distraction from his pain? Just a way to forget?

Taja had moved one of her hands to caress the side of his neck, running her thumb up and down in a soothing motion. More warmth bloomed inside his chest. No, this was more than a mere diversion. And if it distracted him- perhaps that was a good thing.

Tech let the warmth and pleasure of their kiss overwhelm his anxiety.

And then-

"Taja! You home?"

Admani's voice seemed to slap Tech. He pulled his head away from Taja, but she did not have time to remove her hands from him before the large Togruta man walked into the room.

Tech froze and they all stared at one another for a horrifically long time.

Admani laughed.

Taja relaxed in Tech's arms. Tech tried to do the same, but he still expected a negative reaction from Admani for whatever reason. Perhaps this was because Crosshair most certainly would have been furious.

"I suppose your ship would be too crowded!" Admani said. "Please, Taja, send me a comm next time!"

He winked and disappeared into the other room.

Tech no longer felt like kissing. No, that was not true. He very much wanted to kiss Taja again, and more, but he no longer believed it to be appropriate at this time.

"I should return to my brothers." Tech said. He looked at Taja. "They are grieving; I believe as much as I. I do not wish to add to their burden, but I do not believe that I can continue as I have without help."

He carefully took one of her hands.

"I need assistance. Omega would not want to see me continue to harm myself like this." He ventured a glance at Taja. "I do not believe you would either."

"You're right." Taja said. She squeezed his hand. "I will help you. We can start by figuring out what you can say to your brothers."

Crosshair was disappointed when Tech returned to the Marauder almost exactly at the deadline he'd given Desai. He'd been looking forward to demanding his brother back with his Firepuncher. Hunter and Wrecker hadn't been as eager. Echo straight out told him it was a bad idea when he returned to the ship. It didn't matter. Crosshair knew he could do it himself.

"There you are." Crosshair said.

Tech looked at Crosshair as he entered the Marauder's bay. He seemed- calmer. Crosshair refused to admit that it was because of Desai.

"Yes." Tech said. "Here I am."

He looked around the Marauder. Hunter, Wrecker, and Echo watched him carefully.

"You okay, Tech?" Wrecker asked.

Tech nodded and seemed to take a deep breath.

"I must apologize." He said. "I have been dismissive of each of your pain regarding Omega. I have been too transfixed with my own distress. Forgive me. I will attempt to do better."

Crosshair shared a surprised look with the others. Tech didn't often admit he was wrong.

"It's okay, Tech." Wrecker finally said. "We were just worried is all."

It was more than that and they all knew it. But Wrecker had always been the one to try and quickly smooth over hurt and strife.

"I would not describe the situation as 'okay.'" Tech said. "I do believe it will improve."

He looked over at Crosshair.

"However, I will not apologize for befriending Taja." He said. "She is a comfort to me."

The anger always burning low in Crosshair's stomach these days raged hotter.

"She is the one who took Omega!" He snarled.

Tech shook his head.

"She did not know the whole truth." He said. "I shall not condemn her for something she could not have known."

"That changes-"

"Everything." Tech said. "Tell me, if you knew I had been intentionally inflicting pain on you and the rest of the Batch, would your anger not increase?"

Crosshair hesitated for a split second, a practical admission of Tech's point. But he still had plenty of reasons to hate Taja Desai.

"She's not one of us!" He said. "She will never understand-"

"Understand what, exactly?" Tech said. A dangerous tone had slipped into his voice. Crosshair could only brace for the verbal beating he was about to endure. "What it is like to lose a sibling? She is quite aware, let me assure you. She understands far more than you know."

"How?" Crosshair asked. "How could a nat-born possibly know what's it's like-"

Tech just shook his head.

"She knows." He said simply. "Let us leave it at that."

"Fine. Fine." Crosshair spat. "Do whatever the kriff you want. Let her bed you. But don't come crying back when she throws you away."

He turned from Tech, though he could feel his brother's gaze on him.

"I do not have to choose between you." Tech said quietly.

"I mean," Wrecker spoke up. "She seems pretty nice."

The spell between Crosshair and Tech ended. The others began voicing their opinions.

"She's helped us," Hunter said slowly. "But I don't know if getting this close is a good idea."

"They're working for the Rebellion now." Echo said. "I say we can trust them."

"Trust is one thing." Hunter said. "Getting attached is another."

Crosshair stalked to the cockpit and let the others argue. There, if only for a moment, he faced the fear that this woman would take Tech away from them too.

Okay, from the top! Also I will be referencing the finale in these notes, so proceed with caution.

Ahsoka needs to stop putting herself in deadly situations. Fortunately, she might actually listen to her husband.

Also just snuggle you two. I need some wholesomeness after yesterday.

I wanted to give Yoda a real reason to go and hide like a little b on Dagobah. As it is in Canon, he is the ONLY (named) surviving Jedi that just didn't DO ANYTHING. Obi Wan watched over Luke, Gungi went to help his people, Quinlan smuggled Jedi, Kanan and Ahsoka join the Rebellion, even if it takes them a minute. Yoda seems to NOT GIVE A SINGLE FRICK. He doesn't want to train Luke at first! WHY WERE YOU LIKE THIS YODA. So I gave him a reason. The Jedi fell in part because they didn't understand the Dark Side. Yoda realizes he should change that.

Windu is so rigid, and watching the Jedi Order break down and then meeting Yoda made him just…need a minute. I think a lot of his faith is dogmatically in the Jedi Code and it failed him. So he yeeted.

Ooh, a little bit of Barriss. What's up with her, huh?

I headcanon Hunter as being prone to anxiety. And headaches. The poor man is so stressed.

Each of the Batch is handling Omega's absence in their own way. Echo's is probably the most healthy by getting support from his 501st brothers, but still.

After the finale, I realized I may have made a mistake in Hunter's more understated reaction in the fic. My excuse is this: in the finale he's lost Tech, has lost Crosshair, been betrayed by someone they considered a friend, and then Omega is taken because she refused to leave them behind. He's a lot angrier than in my fic, where it was some strangers who took her and he still has all his brothers. So yeah.

Also, first time with Hunter's POV! Annnd I give him an anxiety attack. Seems par for the course for me honestly.

Oh Tech. Oh honey this hurts. It's so, so ironic that Crosshair accuses Tech of not caring in this chapter (they both know it's not true, Cross is just angry) when in Canon he just showed how much he cares. And it's a lot. It's so, so much.

Man, I was so conflicted when Phee and Tech started to be a thing. Because I LOVE IT. I want to write them so badly. But I've established Tech and Taja and I like them too. The problem is that Phee would have been SO EASY TO INTRODUCE IN GUILTY. But I'll stick to my guns here and just find a way to throw her into Fives Effect. (If any of you have ideas on how that could happen, I'm all ears)

Like I said, Crosshair doesn't believe what he says to Tech. He's just so stressed right now with Hunter, Wrecker, and Tech just simply not taking care of themselves. Plus he's angry because he thinks Tech is being inconsiderate of everyone else's feelings. I also wrote this before a couple of the episodes of the Bad Batch and I'm wondering if he would have gotten that harsh. I do like the idea of Hunter always intervening when Crosshair gets mad and helping the others understand that he doesn't really mean it. So when Hunter doesn't say anything, it's a huge blow.

Tech knows to get out of dodge if Crosshair is mad. Luckily Taja has had Star Wars therapy so she knows how to help him.

I really need to show it more, but Taja is sharp with about everyone but Tech. So she is not afraid to yell at Crosshair. He knows he's at fault partially, but I'm pretty sure he'll do a lot to avoid admitting it.

I think she's a good foil to the emotionally constipated Batch and is able to see how things are.

Tech asking to kiss someone is life. Also him not knowing what to do with his body when he's kissing Taja.

Taja transferred more emotional intelligence to Tech through her kiss. Probably.

Also I love the idea that Crosshair would be PISSED that she's kissing Tech, not just cause he doesn't like her. As we see with the last line, he's terrified of his family being torn further apart. (Which makes Canon even WORSE)

Well, I'm going to go and try to recover now.

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a good week!