"... you're welcome." Agent Talla feebly mumbled, then click-

*distorted static*

She may have disconnected, she may be out of sorts right now, but Convor was no longer. He was confident in her abilities, even if she didn't see it yet - she would. Having been assigned to do the last screening on the medical inventory for this medical frigate, Convor had managed to seal himself in one of the numerous storage closets for this private call, and everyone was too busy bustling around getting ready for the long journey, hauling in crates of supplies and trolleys with injured men, that they were none the wiser.

And since no one had come looking for him, Convor figured an extra minute for one more call wouldn't hurt. He hoped she was at her station and not on break or occupied with another call. Using the same earpiece, Convor flicked open his fake wrist chronometer again and typed in a public comm code and then her specific extension. He gripped one of the higher shelves on the unit in front of him and waited, waited, waited, with his heart pounding in his ears.

"Grand Republic Medical Facility - how may I assist you today?" A woman with a heavy accent answered.

It was easy to adopt a casual tone, growing up on Kamino you had to hide your true feelings about, well, everything unless you wanted to be exploited, "Ah, hello, it's the guy who called last night on behalf of my friend and her little brother who was injured, and we weren't sure if paramedics were needed."

Rough Translation: "Talked to her, have an update."

"Oh yes, I remember you, sir - it has been a sluggish morning so we do have some paramedics on standby and ready to assist if needed."

Rough Translation: "Is she in or out? My people on standby I know would be more than willing to be a huge help in all this either way."

They had discussed this at length, so Convor started with: "She's a little shaken up but uh, it turns out her little brother is going to be just fine, won't need the paramedics but thank you."

Rough Translation: "Talla is on board, out of sorts right now but on board."

"Are you certain, sir? Perhaps we could still send support, for precautionary measures?"

Rough Translation: "Are you sure she should go at this alone? Is she going at this alone? My people have the potential to be a big help - I know they are capable if it's needed."

Convor let out a troubled breath, leaning his forehead on the same shelf his hands gripped, and his eyes slid shut. One of the major deciding factors in asking Agent Talla first was her training and skill levels already supplied, both of which the others considered unfortunately did not have, and these two secret revolutionaries had both come to an agreement they didn't want to have to wait any longer to get this show on the road unless it was absolutely necessary, and training up other revolutionaries would have definitely taken up a lot of time. "... No reason to make anyone else worry for now," Convor stated with finality he hoped she'd agree with, "And my friend will personally reach out to update on her brother's condition when her nerves aren't shot - thank you for everything and please tell those ready to come to her aid that their hard work is much appreciated and we're lucky to have such caring providers like them."

Rough Translation: "... I don't want to risk anyone else's family right now, but you make the final decision after meeting with Talla and discussing how you two want to proceed with getting the intel. Please know your family is doing such great work already, and if the need comes up, I do know they'll rise to the occasion. It's in your hands now, I trust you."

The woman had to take a pause too. "Completely understandable, sir. I will relay the message - stay safe out there!"

'Stay safe out there.' This had become a common parting phrase on Republic aligned planets among civilians, with the war showing up on the most unexpected of places. But if that wasn't enough, Convor had another battle to face once he reached Kaliida Shoals, one where he'd already written himself off as dead meat. The comm disconnected, but instead of crushing it under his boot Convor slipped it into one of his pockets. He had a hunch Talla would keep hers, to perhaps try checking up on him in the future even though it'd be pointless, but she was definitely the sentimental type. But, according to his transfer doc Nala Se would be at Kaliida Shoals when CT-0411 arrived to 'show him the ropes,' but

Luckily, wherever Nala Se was, AZI-3 was, one of the new pals Convor had made when on Kamino. Convor wasn't going to go down without all his nunas in a row, that was for sure, and there was one last straggler left. It wasn't exactly imperative for his peace of mind to be completed, but would be one real good petty jab in Nala Sithspawns eye and a nuisance that would severely inconvenience her long after he was gone, especially considering she'd been doing everything to prevent it from occurring. Convor chuckled to himself at how he intended to exploit her for once, and how Talla would do the rest. 'Can't wait to see you again, doc, and for you to finally get recognition - you do oh so deserve the rotten fruits of your rotten labor.'

It always felt good to get the last laugh.

CT-0411 was invisible, just like the rest of his brothers. Not one of the medical droids or non-clone commanding officers paid attention when he emerged from the closet frowning grumpily with the front of his tunic soaked from what seemed to be a compromised saline pouch.

But brothers were not invisible to brothers, and one walked in on him among the barracks as he was slipping on his spare regulation tunic. "Hey brother!" His fellow medic whistled at the detailed body art he got a glimpse at, impressed especially at the quality of the golden bird wing now hidden under a sleeve as Convor turned around with a curious brow raised, "That's some nice ink, where'd you get something like that and not have to sell an arm and a leg?" He joked, but was rather serious about knowing where to get some tattoos himself.

While looping his belt around his waist, Convor allowed the corners of his lips to lift, "Nik's Parlor, a couple of streets over from 79's, they offer discounts and freebies to the brave soldiers of the Republic." His buckle clicked on and his hands were free, so he draped an arm around his fellow medic's shoulder and waved the other as he said inspiringly, "It's owned by three of the most generous souls I've ever seen, and I'd say have the best quality work of the entire galaxy, brother."

As expected, Talla wanted to get as far away from Crosshair and any conflict as possible.

As soon as the speeder was parked in the cargo hold she let go of him and hopped right off, but with a fast hand to her shoulder Crosshair roughly turned her back around. "What were you doing down there?" He demanded, nostrils and throat still stinging from the toxic filth that polluted the air at Level 1313.

Talla smacked his hand away and stubbornly kept her mouth clamped shut.

"Dank farrick, Talla!" Unable to express concern in a healthy way, Crosshair sprung from the speeder and caught Talla by surprise by giving her a light shove. "What's gotten into you?!"

Barely able to restrain her enhanced strength, with a mighty glare Talla shoved him back. "Stop adding to the pile, Crosshair!"

He might've stumbled back, but got right back in her face. "Then why keep you screwing the Sarge a secret at all?" He snarled down at Talla, whose features morphed into terror. "Your guilty conscience is driving you insane and -" Crosshair had to contain stamping his foot like a temper tantrum throwing toddler, "- forcedammit, if I can't smoke then neither can you!"

'... He knew?! He smoked?! When, where, how -' Talla could only gape. For an annoying amount of time. Before she could even start blurting out pieces of sentences, Talla got so very dizzy so very fast at even more chaos dumped on her today that she absolutely did not need.

A moment of clarity finally hit her. "... HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?!"

Crosshair could only stare down Hunter's new girlfriend, whom Tech said had no intention of any wrongdoing against the family. This was finally undeniable confirmation from one of the perpetrators themselves and... Crosshair had thought the victory would make him feel on top of the world but instead he felt completely discombobulated over this huge change in the family dynamic confirmed, and hot under the collar for his dramatics over it. But there was no going back now. "Surveillance-cams caught you two." He simply stated.

Talla couldn't believe Tech already had fixed the cams and that Hunter had forgotten to close her door when he came in earlier and couldn't believe that tiny mistake ruined their little secret and couldn't believe so much was happening in such a short time. Rendered mute, Talla just kinda, sorta, slowly fell down to her haunches and held her fists to the side of her head, as if she could shut out the chaotic galaxy trying to drive her mad, and everything would just stop. General Shaak Ti and Captain Rex once said that being completely upfront and honest was the wise thing to do within a squadron, but the things Talla has accidentally let slip prematurely through loose lips or stupid mistakes - her wanting to leave the Bad Batch that one time, her period, Suu's pregnancy, her smoking, now the little thing between her and Hunter - they seemed to only either rock the already unstable boat, hurt people or bring more unnecessary chaos to their cruddy lives in Talla's limited experience and she desperately wished everything to slow down or come to a standstill completely. Even for a minute. A good soldier had just sacrificed himself for her, and she would not be allowed the time to process that.

At that moment, Tech ever-so-calmly came to see what all the fuss was about, because Crosshair had previously decided to not go through with the plan yet there was a lot of shouting heard even from his barracks. He stopped in front of the pair and tilted his head, because one was resorting to a fetal position for self-soothing purposes and the other wearing a withering look and fighting to not make a scathing remark at her dramatics.

Crosshair felt it was embarrassing enough when he was being dramatic, and this was all self-inflicted turmoil in the first place in his opinion.

Tech addressed the fallen woman first. "As long as the squadron's dynamic and success will not be compromised by your relationship, then there is no reason for any distress... especially at this level - Talla, stand up." Tech ordered, but when she didn't listen he had to holster his datapad and reached down to heave her back up by an arm. He tugged at that arm trembling from strain when she didn't release her head, "Talla, you will eventually crush your head with the amount of pressure you are applying - we -" He made sure to emphasize, shooting a look at Crosshair just in case the man did in fact follow through on his threat for payback, "- we as your family respect you and Hunter's decision to pursue a romantic relationship, as should have been obviously expected."

'Sweet force, they knew.' Talla had to say to herself a couple of times before it processed. So, this was one tooka out of the bag that Talla had to face doing damage control with. Tech kept a steady hold on her just in case, and the Agent forcibly let out a long breath, slowly dropping her arms. She forced herself to face her teammates. "About... Me and Hunter's real feelings for each other -" She made sure to emphasize with a specific glance at surly-frowned Crosshair so he wouldn't say something derogatory again, or bring up the smoking, "You - you guys are really okay with it? Okay with an... us?" She asked, for a lack of better words.

"You and Hunter being functional adults, I do not believe it is mine, Crosshair or Wrecker's place to have a say in the matter." Tech stated, pushing his slackened goggles back up the bridge of his nose.

"But you do have an opinion regardless." Talla said quietly, eye contact no more.

He nodded once. "I do."

Insecurity washed over her, heat creeping up her face and neck, palms got sweaty. Her eyes bravely flicked upwards but Tech still looked inexpressive as always. She couldn't bear another conundrum, of Hunter's brothers not thinking pathetic little her was good enough for him, because half the time Talla already felt that herself. "So your personal opinion of me being with your brother, what is it?" She couldn't hold back from asking, and shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, one holding the dry cleaner receipt given back to her, and she sifted it through her fingers to keep from pulling hair out.

"That I cannot fathom the concept that Crosshair discovered your transgressions before I did, and as long as you two also keep your canoodling off my ship, I have no protests of you and Hunter's courtship." Tech deadpanned. And then he promptly walked off.

Her ex-nemesis a seething cauldron of negative emotions was bravely acknowledged next, and lingering defiance on Talla's part granted her the strength to turn and soberly face the glare he maintained.

She didn't have to say anything because he already foresaw the question. "As long as I don't have to see you snogging either, I don't care." Crosshair heckled, but was obviously lying through his teeth about that last part.

He did care about something, she just didn't specifically know what it was or why, but had some theories. It was no use to hide anything from someone like Talla, his elevated blood pressure was a dead giveaway. "Are you really okay with this?" Talla pressed again, to give him a second chance to tell the truth overtly and willingly.

"Just said as much, didn't I?" Crosshair snapped.

"Stop it!" Talla snapped right back, having the audacity to frown disapprovingly up at him, and the urge to smack it right off her face coursed through the Sniper, "For once, can we have a real conversation, no BS? I know you don't care for it, but a simple and sincere yes or no would be appreciated."

They'd only had a handful of discussions like that in all the months they'd known each other, and every single time it made Crosshair want to tear his face off. And yet, curiosity broke through with a raise of his brow. "Why?" Spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it. Talla didn't pester Tech about his lack of a yes or no so why torture him of all people?

Talla seemed to stare right through Crosshair, and his hand twitched at his side, he so desperately wanted to slap or punch or do something to make her stop. "It just took you the longest to get used to me joining the squadron, and to get used to Wrecker and Skylar, and after all we went through together, it's only recently that you confirmed that you think of me as part of the family -"

"What a fragile being you must think I am." Crosshair drawled sarcastically, much offense taken.

"Shut that down right now." High and mighty Agent Talla retorted, "I know how protective you are for those you give a damn about, that's what I was saying." This only mildly cooled him off, "And I know we've come a long way, and you've turned into one of my best friends, but when it boils down to it Hunter is family by blood and I definitely am not so I guess I just want to know," She gave a disgruntled shrug, "If I really have your approval, or blessing, or whatever you wanna call it? Especially after... What happened last night... And this morning." Talla couldn't find any more words to describe it, not without giving away too much information.

Talla hoped she didn't imagine catching the slight slackening of Crosshair's rigidity, the silent falter of his heartbeat. He tried to hide behind a roll of the eyes, "You care too much about what other people think, cyar'ika." When it boiled down to it, they all had issues, he was self-aware enough to know that at least.

Talla scoffed. "Funny, usually I can't get you to stop with the unsolicited opinions and yet you're giving every other one except for the one I'm asking you for - you've never held back before. So why start now?"

Briefly, Crosshair cursed himself for being so weak as to allow this chick to force friendship onto him, it had given her the circumstances to learn how to read him - how ironic, usually he cursed outsiders because they refused to do just that with his squadron. The tables had indeed turned.

Talla took a step closer and crossed her arms, determined and pushy. "I want to hear you actually say it instead of all this deflecting, because tough luck, I do value your opinion on this," That insecurity reemerged, eye contact broken, her boots apparently a riveting spectacle, "I value it very much." Ironic as it may be since Wrecker was the most open with his emotions, Talla thought Crosshair was the one who feels emotions in a more vivid and profound way than his brothers, and Tech may have been the one with the enhanced mind, but out of all of them Talla thought Crosshair was the one who's brain never shut off - she didn't of him as fragile, rather just knew the real Crosshair now, and coaxed him out when he needed to make an appearance the most so she could figure out how to proceed in a way that was sensitive of the family's feelings too. "So yes or no, out with it." She blurted how he's been acting, it seemed Crosshair had been stewing on this for a long while.

Talla had definitely done everything humanly possible to infiltrate the icy and spiky fortress protecting Crosshair's heart, and he absolutely, childishly hated it when she used it to her advantage. It took a bit to rewire his brain from seeing Talla the outsider and victimizer to who she wanted to be seen as: Talla his teammate, and found family and apparently they were besties now and Talla wanted to know if she had his blessing to be with his big brother, especially since he'd seen the real ugly side of her. She wanted his blessing. She didn't fight it with Tech. So Crosshair outranked Tech on the bestie scale, even if he didn't talk as much? And she'd grown to appreciate the crude candor? Never thought he'd see the day.

And he'd never admit it out loud, but it really did touch his cold, black heart. And stroked at his ego.

Crosshair took his sweet time with a pause, but because he was a button pusher, of course he didn't do as Talla requested, a simple 'yes' or 'no.' Instead, he drew himself up to his full height, "It's a bold thing to shack up with the brother of your husband, who sacrificed his dream for our babies." He crudely jested as expected, while pulling out a toothpick from his belt pouch. Crosshair raised it up to his teeth, lips curling upwards into his signature, trouble-making smirk, "But how could I refuse what the pretty little mama wants?"

Based on a quick calculation which predicted Wrecker's reaction to the news that Talla believed was skewed in her favor, it seemed there would be no conundrum with the Bad Batch brothers! Relief flooded her system. A heavy weight remained across her shoulders and within the cavity of her chest, but Talla had not screwed up with her family and with that she was going to be able to divert more energy towards making her comrades' sacrifice would be worth it. It was enough for now.

Although... "Three seconds?" Talla took another small step towards him with her arms hopefully spread.

This phrase had become a less grating way for Talla to ask for a hug, and she has the common sense to make these very few and far in between. That three letter word 'hug' made him wanna cut and run, because Crosshair being given a hug was always against his will when it came to Wrecker, but with 'Three Seconds' he knew what Talla was going to do, for how long the torture would last, and that they'd never speak of it again or mention it to anyone, nor would she make fun of his brief moment of vulnerability that made his skin crawl. But Crosshair also wasn't above feeling smug that despite his severe and unyielding tendencies, he managed to make someone NOT wanna jump off the nearest skyscraper at times... And secretly, the fact that he was considered a huggable person despite his prickly tendencies helped him hold onto the belief that he wasn't a complete monster.

His lip curled in disgust, just as expected, but Crosshair didn't punch her in the gut and run, just glued his arms to his sides. Talla felt Crosshair actually let go of most of his tension when she wrapped her arms around his rigid arms and torso, and she gave him a thankful light squeeze... And dare she say it, he actually relaxed into her embrace?! To her immense surprise, Crosshair actually set chin atop her head!

She was on cloud nine until, "Don't hurt my brother." Crosshair ended up stating, since she valued his opinion so much and it was much easier to not say any BS since Talla's piercing silver eyes were not psychoanalyzing him anymore, his distant eyes could be pointed ahead instead of wanting to cowardly avert. "That... is something I have never forgiven." He gravely added.

She tensed, but Crosshair felt Talla nod against his chest, "I'll tell him, I promise," She said, referring to last night's escapade, though with everything else he was in the dark about she admittedly hadn't decided yet. Oh, and she was dying to ask Crosshair about his past with smoking but they'd far exceeded his conversation capabilities - no need to destroy all the progress.

"Good girl." He praised, and immediately wriggled out of her grasp when the three seconds were long over, and Talla was met with that smirk again, "But don't take any guff from my brother - one call and I'll happily bring mantell mix and my front row seat to watch you kick his ass."

'We're fine where we're at, and don't know any other way... wouldn't even know where to begin, trying to figure out a life beyond just being a soldier.' These words spoken by Hunter himself echoed in Talla's mind as she sat cross-legged at the edge of her bed, creepily watching and waiting for him to wake up, using this pause in the chaos to figure out the right words to say while apprehensively rolling between her fingers the datachip that started last night's escapade.

Man oh man, Hunter got the best sleep he's ever had since he came out of the tube, and this bunk felt so heavenly. Though mixed with the bearable mild chemical smell of odorless detergents used on the freshly laundered bunk linens, he was still pleasantly surrounded by the faint, intoxicating essence of someone that drove him crazy and yet was so comforting.

The mattress dipped to his right. A fresh wave of her scent washed over him, and his head instinctively rolled towards her. His brows twitched when acrid yet sweet notes came along too, but it was also welcome, strangely familiar and comforting. His eyelids were heavy and hard to open as it was, and when the hair in his face was brushed away and she kept brushing through his hair with her fingers - ah, the magic touch he'd wished for, his absolute weakness she loved to exploit, it made Hunter nearly fall asleep again. For just a moment, he was devoid of all stress and anxiety. Anything to do with the war and their little distraction from it that needed to be kept a secret for sanity's sake was far from his mind.

Until it wasn't.

Eyes snapping open, Hunter bolted upwards from the mattress. He instantly remembered how he got in Talla's room, cringed at his uncontrollable sedative delirium, but what was important is that he had to find a way to GET OUT OF HERE without raising suspicion, and before anyone saw them together like this, even if he got the newly awakened urge to simply curl up in Talla's arms and never leave. "Are any of them out there?" He was able to ask Talla, who was sitting cross-legged next to him.

She shook her head. "Wrecker and Tech are at the mess hall and Crosshair is in his room."

"Did they know I was in here?" He inquired next.

"Not that I know of."

At that, his blanket was kicked away and Hunter made to flee, "Alright, if I can just get back to my room -"

"Wait wait -" He heard the sheets rustle and from behind, a pair of arms wrapped around his bicep and he froze, "You don't have to if you don't want to," Talla murmured regretfully, and he felt her head rest against his shoulder. "That is, they kinda found out already, it's my fault - Sorry."

"..."

"..."

The universe hadn't exploded, nor were his brothers in jail for trying to murder them... Guess Hunter was worried for nothing? How long was he out though? And Talla seemed a little anxious, her elevated heartbeat was concerning - he sent her down a questioning look. But with their faces only inches apart he was finally able to place a name on that scent lingering on her lips and his eyes lit up with worry and appalment. "... Were you smoking?" He asked quietly. Then, he zeroed in on the new nose piercing, and then he did end up recalling a conversation with her and the Glam Squad, and found another thing a bit strange, "What did you do last night? None of us ever go anywhere alone. What happened?"

"It was voluntary." She said, about the smoking, and at being caught without knowing how to explain yet, Talla could not face him. "And it's a loooong story." She said quietly back.

Hunter blinked a couple of times. "Considering we haven't got an assignment yet, I suppose I got all day."

But they didn't. They jumped out of their skins when the base-wide alarm system blared to life. Unlike the scare that Hunter and Talla had experienced outside of Nik's Parlor yesterday morning, a real enemy threat was announced to be underway.

Not five minutes before that, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano walked with purpose into the 501st barracks situated on the Coruscant Military Base. It was early afternoon, and those who had no present duties and were taking a well deserved rest still shot up from their bunks with a salute and respectful 'Sir' to the commanding officers passing them, and they earned polite nods back.

Rex was in his corner bunk stripped of his armor and intending to catch a few extra winks, for Ahsoka ended up needing half the night to fully process and uneasily try planning for this new close-mouthed mission to glean more information out of Agent Talla. Really, he didn't like the undeniable, dirty feeling of keeping a secret like this from Skywalker anymore than Ahsoka did, but alas Rex was the only other person on this assignment, so naturally he was required to be present at this briefing. A briefing his Jedi CO had no idea about, so when footsteps were heard heading his way and Anakin called out to him jokingly about sleeping on the job, Rex jumped out of bed and immediately gave the excuse about how the shiny's shipped in yesterday were rowdy after their first party at 79's. "Where are we going next, General?" He asked, quick to turn the conversation around, hunched on the edge of his bunk and massaging the taut muscles of his neck and shoulders.

Folding his hands behind his back, Anakin looked to his padawan to explain. "After the outbreak of the Clone Wars, there was a pro-separatist coup on the planet of Onderon, and it aligned with the Confederacy under a new king instead of remaining a neutral system. The Council was contacted early this morning by a band of Onderonian rebels," Ahsoka made sure to emphasize, knowing the council had thrown around the term terrorists and neither she nor her Master liked that for separate reasons, "They have asked for our help to reclaim the capital city Iziz, saying their king is merely a Separatist minion that most of the population does not support."

"But instead of getting involved with what is considered their internal affairs, it has been agreed we will help by simply training them to defend themselves." Anakin finished, rather distastefully but at least there would be some level of action at the end of the day. "You, me, Ahsoka and Obi-wan are the team chosen for the job."

"Unfortunately, that will not be the case anymore." They heard Obi-Wan announce, and turned to see him at the barracks entrance, radiating with concern as he made haste to their group. "A Separatist Dreadnaught, Droid Command ships and hundreds of frigates and destroyers has just come out of hyperspace into the Kuat System, and they've already managed to take out one of the Republic Star Dreadnaughts by their element of surprise." At this, Anakin and Ahsoka were immediately alert and quick to meet him halfway, Rex not far behind, "And a suicide bomber in the form of a tactical droid flying one of those frigates with strong enough frontal shields was able to deflect all ground attacks and was set on a course to their planets security headquarters. It was loaded with explosives and it severely depleted the capital city's forces upon contact detonation. Since the Separatists failed to cut off the supply run with their assault on Duro last year, it is assumed they are attempting a daring strike to cut off our warship supply altogether at the source, mounting one of the biggest attacks since the Kamino raid to try getting the Republic to bend."

As if on cue, the alarm system was activated. A monotonous voice boomed over the speaker systems for certain personnel to begin preparations for departure immediately, which Obi-Wan explained in an elevated tone to be heard over the blaring alarms and beginnings of the hustle and bustle. "Anakin, you and I have been given instruction to lead the counterattack and do everything it takes to stop this complete siege of the planet and shipyards! The 501st is to conduct an aerial assault to help fight back the droids storming into the armed orbital shipyard complexes, and my men will lead the ground assault on the droids intended to march into the Capitol. Master Unduli will be assisting us along with her battalion and new padawan by evacuating citizens to nearby towns, and Masters Fisto and Mundi will hold down the fort here, just in case the Separatists intend to pay a visit to Coruscant since they've come all this way, after all!" Obi-Wan dryly humored.

And so the Fight for Kuat needed any and all available local Jedi and soldiers it could get.

Yet, that didn't mean they should deprive others who desperately needed them too, not after they promised aid already. Anakin was confident he and Arc Trooper Fives could help lead the 501st legion, yet he faced Ahsoka with a serious expression that didn't spark much confidence for what was about to be asked. "Do you believe you'd be able to lead the mission on Onderon and train a handful of rebels with Rex's counsel and assistance?"

And Ahsoka was not oblivious to the underlying message behind the question about a certain rebel in that group, which made her uncomfortable, but thankfully Obi-Wan attributed it to the daunting task of a job without her Master, who'd be participating in what was predicted as one of the deadliest battles of the Clone Wars. "I am confident, but not with the time efficiency." Ahsoka admitted, folding her arms and tapping her chin with a curled finger thoughtfully, fighting a wince from the alarms continuing to blare, it definitely made the ominous decision making harder. "Two masters of their trade against a whole camp, I wouldn't mind one more skilled person to come along so we could divide and conquer much more quickly, and return to aid fighting against this siege ASAP."

"I have already thought of a solution for that," Ahsoka's senses tingle at the suggestive tone Obi-Wan had, addressing her with an underlying message of his own, "It seems that Clone Force 99 docked on Coruscant yesterday morning."

'How convenient.' Both Ahsoka and Rex thought, and resisted giving each other an incriminating look of understanding.

"I suggested that we divide the team - Sergeant Hunter will take the boys and fly to Kuat's second moon, Ronay, with us, where the Ten aristocratic families who run Kuat Drive Yards and govern the planet are evacuating to an armed bunker that will serve as our base of operations, they will be giving us insight on how to proceed with protecting their livelihoods and the livelihood of Republics warship supply, and I'm certain the Bad Batch boys can hold down the fort there; Agent Talla shall accompany you to Onderon." Ahsoka had no response, but Obi-Wan was not looking for one and raised his hand, "The Council has already agreed and you are to leave immediately, a pilot with a scrambled ship will be doing a simple drop off of you three into the jungle, and he'll be laying low in a nearby system to pick up once your assignment is complete."

It seemed that this task to glean information from Agent Talla wouldn't be shoved to the back burner, in fact it was ranked as just as important as this attack.

Ahsoka... was not as excited or relieved as her clueless Master expected. It'd been many months since V'Hiina and the last time they'd been able to see each other in person, statistics showed Agent Talla could handle herself in battle, and while Anakin was put off that the Council agreed to a course of action FOR HIS PADAWAN WITHOUT HIS INPUT, he intuitive enough to notice something was amiss and placed a hand on Ahsoka's weary shoulder. "I thought you'd be more excited to see your little friend again, Snips!"

Ahsoka couldn't suppress a startle, "And I am master!" At least she would be, if it weren't for the confusing assignment placed on her and Rex. "I'm sorry, I suppose I'm just a bit apprehensive about how the Bad Batch will react about being split up." She halfway lied, and hated to do so, picked up on Rex's unease right alongside hers, "They have a reputation for disobeying orders, and I don't wish for a confrontation."

Hunter and Talla rushed out of her room just as Crosshair did from his, and together they hastened outside the ship to get word on what the hell was going on.

They barreled down the open cargo ramp just as the trio of Jedi they'd previously worked with reached the bottom of it. A rundown of what was going on was repeated, and you can easily guess the members of the Bad Batch's reaction to the plans made for their particular squadron, regardless of the gravity of the situation.

"We. Stay. Together." Sergeant Hunter boldly denounced, "It's non-negotiable." He added with a sharp swipe of his hand when the ginger Jedi giving the briefing opened his mouth to assumably shoot him down, just as Wrecker and Tech ran up from one direction.

And fully geared up Rex came from the opposite direction. The infamous reg Captain whom Talla met on Kamino wasn't sure what he was expecting to see when laying his eyes on the batch of defective clones known as Clone Force 99 for the first time. Definitely not the long-haired one with a skull tattoo and the silver-haired one with a crosshair tattoo to be glaring down their CO's and seeming to wanna throw hands, angrily catching up to speed the big muscly guy and the goggled one. One joined the glaring party and the other adopted a similar demeanor as Agent Talla.

Agent Talla... her appearance had altered so much since the Battle for Kamino! Civvies, straight up purple hair, piercings, and from what Rex could tell must have gone through some electrical shock torture recently, her face having a couple erratic streaks of scar tissue and no doubt marked up the rest of her body. Leaning against one of the ramps beams with her arms crossed and fingers anxiously tapping against biceps, Talla bore a troubled expression, glancing between her seething Sergeant who so presumptuously spoke for her and General Kenobi not exactly in the jolly, playful mood she'd remembered him to always be in. This whole situation had done something rare by stunning her into silence.

She caught a blur of white and blue out of the corner of her eyes, her gaze landed on Captain Rex as he skidded to a halt next to his Legions Jedi General. His presence only soured her teammates' mood further. Though he never recalled personally doing anything to these guys, Rex was on the receiving end of some scornful grumbles and if looks could kill, he would have been incinerated on the spot, especially by the one with the crosshair tattoo.

Obi-Wan tried to maintain a peacekeeping tone and took a step nearer to Hunter. "I understand your apprehension -"

"It's out of the question." The oldest brother repeated slowly, ears purposely deaf to an outsiders 'understanding.' Just because he was a Jedi, that didn't mean he 'understood.' He wouldn't 'understand' unless he lived through what they lived through.

Lips pressing tightly together, Obi-Wan wasn't fond of the attitude, and understood why Ahsoka was fearful of this plan. "We are wasting time by arguing nonsense over this finalized matter, the second Star Dreadnaught protecting Kuat is being demolished as we speak - we cannot hold up the fleet!"

"Then send another reg along with Commander Tano and him." Crosshair decided to butt in and 'suggested' with a disgusted sneer down at confounded Rex, "You're teaching a gaggle of insurgents how to shoot straight, you don't need a soldier of Talla's caliper for that, but for a planetary siege you most certainly will." He thought would turn out as the be all, end-all of the argument... without Talla's input yet again. A compliment yet an insult at the same time.

"But we are not adverse to the idea of guiding the rebels so they'll be able to reclaim the planet in the name of the Republic," Meek Ahsoka negated, earning her chance to be a death glare recipient and it was admittedly bone-chilling coming from the Sniper but she remained steadfast and climbed up another step to show she was not afraid. "That will take more than target practice, which Talla can assist me with because she specializes in stealthy infiltration, where blasters would not be considered helpful but vibros would."

Obi-Wan was usually very calm, nothing except Anakin could rile him up so quickly until now. But he really did not expect the magnitude of the Bad Batch's defiance that completely disregarded THEIR SUPERIORS OPINION and disregarded INNOCENT CIVILIANS SAFETY because they simply didn't want to work separately! How selfish that was! They took loyalty to a whole new level never seen before in clones and it was not celebrated this time. Obi-Wan's disapproving frown was growing, and he crossed his arms and his voice was more terse and General-like than urgent and pleading. "Your squadron functioned perfectly well before Agent Talla was added, so it can function without her again for one mission that could dramatically shift the tides of the war against us if we fail."

"General Kenobi raises a viable point of view that is legitimized by our mission reports ante-Talla." Tech the Analyst did have to admit up to his Sarge, who's nostrils flared.

Above them all, Talla's face fell even though she echoed those very words when attempting to flee before V'Hiina. To hear it from someone else, she couldn't help the brief flare up of insecurity with her place in this squadron. But the facts she replaced that insecurity with was that Crosshair had insinuated once that they'd commit mutiny to protect each other, and here they were, openly rebelling because they didn't want her to be separated from them... yet it only caused a pit in her stomach instead of warm fuzzy feelings in her heart because this was pure madness and she didn't need more of that when things started to seem bearable again. And they had not asked for her opinion on what she thought her position up in the air should be!

Obi-Wan was uncharacteristically silent and stoic, gazing up at this trooper with such disappointment until he decided what to follow up with. Only the sound of the continuing alarms was heard for a hot minute. "Sergeant Hunter, your squadron has gotten away with disobeying orders thus far because of your 100% percent success rate, but by blatantly refusing an assignment you are making you and your squadron perilously close to being court martialed."

Rex snapped into action, marching up a few steps and not being too shy about bumping Hunter aside to face the silent Clone Agent above. "Talla, what do you say, hm?" He challenged.

Any further commentary was cut off by Crosshair retaliating for his oldest brother's sake with a shove back. "Do that again, I dare you." He growled down at the shorter reg whom he fully believed got 99 killed, and wouldn't mind using the real thing as a target instead of a drawn up dummy.

Rex did dare, the stakes were high and these rebellious soldiers simply did not seem to care! He threw down his helmet and shoved Crosshair, Crosshair latched onto his arms and pushed back and they tried throttling each other. Hunter knew this was getting out of hand but did not want a flatter nose from a wayward fist and disappointedly remained on the sidelines.

The altercation quickly turned ugly. Rex and Crosshair ended up tumbling over the side of the ramp, Crosshair ending up being the one getting the wind knocked out of him. Wrecker shoved aside the Jedi to join the scuffle, had not Talla jumped down first and separated the two troopers by the collars of their shirt and armor. "Stop it!" She shouted, and pushed back on their chests for good measure to give the choking some more distance between each other, "You're acting like children over nothing, for kark's sake!"

"It's your position in the lurch!" Rex managed to croak out first, clutching the front of his irritated throat, "And you mentioned to me once that your designation has not yet been decided and that you're designed for more than droid combat, so I'd say it's your decision to take orders from the selfless Jedi Council, or follow your selfish Sergeant and squadron to the path of punishment."

Ahsoka appeared at his side and a hand of hers ghosted over Rex's throat as he cleared it and she worriedly observed the irritated skin, but at least Talla hadn't snapped his neck.

Crosshair merely slapped Wrecker's concern aside, even though his right arm had experienced the brunt of his fall. He rolled that appendage's shoulder and pressed his lips tightly together when it painfully popped - one time he didn't wear armor at the reg base! Definitely would need bacta. But he was not going to show that the reg had managed to hurt him!

Pointedly avoiding Talla's irate glower directed up at him, Hunter wasn't sure what made this oncoming strange heartburn worse - the fact that he had completely forgotten a key aspect of his own girlfriends creation, the fact that he realized that after a long winning streak he'd still managed to mistreat Talla by this time disrespecting her in front of their CO's, or the fact that this random reg managed to predict her answer before he did.

With blood boiling, she drew herself up and faced her Jedi superiors. "General Kenobi, you are right in saying my squadron has a reputation for being defiant, and yet things always manage to work out in the Republic's favor," She spoke professionally as opposed to her ill-mannered team, "So I suppose I should be making my Sergeant proud by saying that I've decided to disobey orders - his orders."

Without looking at any of her appalled teammates, Talla ascended the ramp.

Her shuttle would leave as soon as it was powered up and the team was on board. Talla wasted no time in putting her hair in a simple braid, putting on her armor, and strapping on her weapons, simmering over this oh so happy beginning to her first assignment apart from the Bad Batch. 'If it's not one thing it's another.' She bitterly concluded that was going to be her lot in life. Those poison cravings returned but would remain unsatisfied - no wonder Crosshair had been so unhinged earlier.

Speaking of one of the devils, Hunter just walked in, geared up himself. Devoid of emotion and giving her a wide berth, he raised his hands in a silent 'I come in peace.'

Talla saw this out of the corner of her eyes, but didn't even look his way. "We don't have time to talk." She stated coldly, strapping on her utility belt.

"I know."

That clipped answer just irritated her more, yet Talla still didn't look at him, used her supply crate as a footstool so she could tighten the straps on one of her boots. "My splitting off was inevitable."

"I know."

Jaw clenching, she kicked the lid off the crate, reached down for her vibrosword. "We're just training a bunch of rebels, it'll be a blue milk run, and we'll be back in two shakes of a banthas tail." She couldn't hold back.

"I know."

Devastation hit its peak. This time around, Talla whirled on Hunter. "Then why in God's name would you do something so reckless?!" She bellowed, "And how could you disrespect me like that in front of our commanding officers, too? You all get to showcase your enhanced skills day in and day out, but this is MY first time to shine, to prove my value to those damn long-necks, and my shot reputation as expendable Kaminoan property already makes things so much harder, which means the expectations are higher, and the stakes are higher, and I'm already nervous as KRIFF, and one mistake could mean I have no chance of earning anyone's respect on my own and if we had been court martialed, decommissioning wouldn't be far behind!" Or more accurately, DEATH!

Flooded with guilt and self-loathing, Hunter remembered the original deal with Nala Se. "I know."

"You nearly committed mutiny over a simple change!" Talla cried out in disbelief and post-potential-crisis beserkness. "I never actually expected you guys to commit mutiny when someone wants you to do something you don't like! There are SOME orders you have to follow, Sarge! And we're all capable of handling ourselves, you know that!"

"I do know that, Talla, when I'm thinking clearly, and I'm sorry." Hunter said calmly, remorsefully, sincerely. "After what happened on Kamino - and not even getting to say goodbye - I just - I can't - the very thought of -" The thing he never told Cut but Suu had figured out. 'I can't lose another piece of the family again, I don't want to experience that pain EVER again. I want to protect you all every chance I get.' He couldn't voice it, stopped himself from trying because his stuttering was pitiful and even now, he refused to get wimpy in front of Talla like that again. Right now, they needed to part on good terms like Suu had described would cause the least regret, so he took a cautious step closer and said as empowering as he could, "I know we'll deal like we've always managed to do, so go out there and... Train a bunch of terrorists, and we'll be fine, and I know you'll be... fine, too." When was talking in a relationship supposed to get easier? Hunter hoped it'd be soon, he would love to stop making a fool out of himself.

Like what happened after she ranted many apologies to Cut and Suu for her many wrongdoings against them, past and potentially, Talla had to turn and take a knee, because that and Hunter's layered admission took a lot of her, emotionally and mentally. She definitely felt the same way, especially after Convor's sacrifice. They weren't close like Hunter and 99 were, but it was still a devastation.

Hunter quirked a brow when her shoulders began shaking... but it wasn't because she was crying. Instead, he heard quiet laughter, and Talla turned to him again, brushing her bangs back and indeed had done a complete 180 on the emotional spectrum. "I don't think Nala Sithspawn was quite able to perfect in me the 'withstanding all kinds of stress' thing clones are supposed to have." She weakly joked, mentally going over her erratic behavior today that should have been quelled in the cloning process. Convor wasn't kidding when he said that Nala Se ended up tampering more with SAC-2 so the poor thing wouldn't have to suffer this. Talla almost envied the infant.

'... you gonna start your period soon?' Hunter swallowed that question because Crosshair asked that one when Talla was having a bad day some weeks ago, and that did NOT end well for him. "You're going to do great, I know you will, and I already talked to the others and they're confident in you too... In their own boneheaded way." Hunter wholeheartedly believed, wanting to build on the positive turn on the argument, and finally felt safe enough to lower his hands.

"If it's any consolation, I'd much rather be helping out with stopping a planetary siege than training civilians for what I believe your right in saying that it qualifies as terrorism." Talla said, the vibrosword in her hand finally snapped into place on her belt.

A hesitant shuffle of boots in her direction made Talla upturn her face, met with Hunter's weathered one inches away, soft and hopeful just for her. A hand of his reached up to a lock of hair that was too short to be braided back and he brushed it behind her ear, letting the back of his gloved fingers brush against her cheek, gazing down at her as if to memorize every detail to recall when they were apart like this for the first time since Talla's deployment. Unlike when that stupid reg did that to her on Kamino all that time ago, Talla's eyes closed blissfully at the pleasant tingling, she reached up a hand of her own to grasp his and hold it there, and Hunter that as a signal to lean down and touch his lips to her shyly smiling ones in a soft kiss goodbye.

'I can't wait to take those bastards down.' The purpose of her promise to Convor finally hit Talla when they parted, yet kept their eyes closed and foreheads pressed together, her hands brushing down the exposed parts of Hunter's shoulders and arms beneath his armor, ending their journey at his hands, which clasped onto hers. Fresh determination like never before washed over her. The Kaminoans might not have directly caused 99's death, but she was going to make sure her fellow soldiers would get the quality of life they deserved - they could love who they love openly, they could properly be healed or enjoy those breaks in between assignments, and never be discarded like they were nothing, be it because they came out of the tube defective or received enough injuries in the courageous line of duty that rendered them unable to fight any longer. And in extension, all these things would benefit the Clone Agents too.

The rest of her teammates were lined up behind one of the couches in the common area.

On her way out, Talla surprised Tech into looking up from his datapad by ruffling his hair in goodbye.

Talla jumped up to give Wrecker a big ol' high five that he initiated with the words, "Knock 'em dead, Tal!"

And Talla blew her soon-to-be-ex hubby an air kiss with a wink, which he replied with a disgusted roll of his eyes, yet he caught the kiss... and threw it down and stomped on it, flipping her the bird with his other hand.

"Save a battalion of clankas for me, boys!" She yelled over her shoulder when running down the ramp.

~ End of 'The 'New Developments' Arc ~

Next on PASSING TIME: The Probation/Onderon Arc, Hunter having to deal with his brothers knowing ALONE, new OC's, foreshadowing, the plot thickens, and some returning Canon Character fandom favorites :3

A/N:

Hehe, yes I messed with Canon and Rex has met tbb!

I messed with the timelines a bit in case anyone got confused or even noticed, and from here on out here will be time jumps, because I have one and a half years left to cover till the end of the Clone Wars but fret not friends, it will not take as long as you think - plus, there is a delicious Crosshair novel you get to eat up.

There are five main arcs, that will occur here in Passing Time before we break into the Crosshair novel

Names:

The Probation Arc (coinciding with the Onderon arc)

The Agent Undercover Arc

The Deception Arc (coinciding with the Ahsoka on the Run arc)

The Mutiny Arc (coinciding with the Fives/Clone Conspiracy arc)

The Choices and Consequences Arc

It shouldn't take long to release these cause I've been planning them out for so long. I am also working on Wrecker and Skylar stuff. A part of me wishes I had included that in my original book but oh well, I was still a new author trying to figure things out lol

- Ella :3