Hello everybody!

Apologies that this is later on Thursday. As you can imagine, I've had a rough couple of days.

SPOILERS FOR THE BAD BATCH SEASON 3 FINALE

I'm in two minds about the finale. Objectively, it was amazing and almost everything I could have hoped for. It's that 'almost' that has broken my heart. I'm already hurting because the Bad Batch is over. But it feels like I've lost Tech all over again.

As I've mentioned before, Tech is extremely special to me. He's my all time favorite character and the fact that he's canonically autistic makes him all the more precious. I missed him all this season. And on a writing level, I think teasing a character's return and using another character as a 'ghost' of that character, and to end up not bringing them back is interesting writing. To have a character's sacrifice echo so long that all of their loved ones survive is beautiful. But I think the writers didn't really understand what Tech means to a lot of us. Which is interesting because he's so well written. The writing concept was good, but it should not have been Tech. If they wanted him dead, they should not have given us hope. He was too precious.

So yeah, I've been hurting. Luckily my sister has been feeling the same thing and we've been able to have each other.

Of course, like with the end of the Clone Wars season 7, I have to fix it. I've already started on the fix it fic. Well, eventually fixing it fic. You know me. We've got to hurt on the way there. It'll be more of my butterfly effect, change one moment and see how it plays out nonsense.

But the rest of the Batch were beautiful and almost everyone got what they deserve. I was so shocked that everyone lived in the finale. Take that all those edgelords that wanted Darth Vader to show up and kill everyone. And Crosshair got his hug! I always knew that Omega would join the Rebellion. (also I am annoyed now because Nala Se actually cares about Omega and that means I mischaracterized her in the Fives Effect and here)

I would appreciate it if we could refrain from any finale or writer bashing in the comments. I've pretty much disengaged from social media because the negativity is not good for my mental.

SPOILERS END

Okay, to my actual fic!

Zabuzasgirl: Thank you!

Guest: Thank you as well!

Lothcat99: Sounds like you're having fun! Well, at least Crosshair has BOTH HANDS in this fic. Honestly, I don't do a lot of social media. I have my Tumblr, but like I said, I've stepped away from the Star Wars communities just for my own peace of mind. I might be making one finale post, but not much more for the foreseeable future. My username is xecutivecucumber, if you still want to go check it out. And I don't really post about my life. Fanfiction is probably the best place to interact with me.

And honestly, my life is not that interesting lol. You sound like you get out a lot more. We're definitely internet friends though!

With my new fic in the works, I'm going to have to take a hiatus in the near future, likely after the next chapter, so prepare yourselves for that!

TW: non graphic descriptions of pregnancy

Mando'a translations at the end!

RESTITUTION: Chapter 2

"Again."

SC-04 raised his durasteel training sword, though he hurt bad today. He always hurt, but today seemed worse. Sergeant's blurred face appraised him before swinging his own sword. 04 blocked and attacked. Sergeant easily hit 04's sword away.

"You're slowing." He said. His voice echoed around the blank room 04 lived in. "You need to push past your weakness. There are many like you, but your Master only needs one."

04 swallowed and nodded. There was a lump in his throat, but he wouldn't cry. Sergeant said he couldn't. But he hurt so bad today.

He tried to turn those bad feelings into power, but he wasn't good at it yet.

"Isn't today an evaluation day?" 04 asked. "Wouldn't it be better if I had a break before?"

Sergeant paused, narrowing his eyes.

"You're in pain." He said. "You don't normally shirk like this. I'll order the painkillers."

Sergeant stalked to the wall and hit a button. 04 waited, staring at the floor. It would take a few hours for the medicine to work.

"You have orders to tell me when it gets to a certain level." Sergeant said when he returned.

"You told me they count how many times I need it out there." 04 mumbled.

"Yes, but it is there for a purpose." Sergeant said. "Without it you cannot work for as long or as hard."

SC-04 bowed his head.

"Yes, sir."

Sergeant leaned on his practice sword. His blurred face flashed to an annoyed one for just a second.

"We will proceed with flash training." He said.

As he spoke, the equipment appeared.

"When will the evaluation happen?" 04 asked as he sat at it.

"Tomorrow." Sergeant said. "You miscounted. It is day nineteen."

"Oh." 04 said.

He was relieved. He hated going out there, with the doctors who had too clear faces, the wires that wrapped around him, the pain that was so much worse. They still made him run and exercise, even though it hurt him, for the hour he was in that world with too fast time.

But worst of all, Sergeant was not there. 04 was always alone.

"Congratulations, Chancellor Syndulla." General Skywalker said, shaking the Twi'lek's hand. "Your planet is yours again."

"Thank you, General." Syndulla said. "And we will be glad to join your Alliance."

Rex could see General Skywalker's shoulders relax somewhat. He knew that they weren't sure if Syndulla would join them.

The capitol state room was filled with celebrating Twi'leks and clones alike. Boil was here, with a young Twi'lek girl clinging to him. Syndulla's daughter, Hera, was dancing from clone to clone, grabbing their hands and laughing with them. Her droid was chortling its satisfaction.

Rex eyed it. He was sure he'd seen the droid push a surrendering Pyke off a wall during the final assault. The only unhappy face was Orn Fre Taa. Rex wasn't quite sure why Syndulla was keeping the former Senator in the room, though he supposed it was funny to see the Hutt of a Twi'lek so uncomfortable. The Twi'lek and clone guarding him seemed to find it amusing as well.

"This took long enough." Fives said from Rex's side, arms crossed. "Hopefully Ryloth can relax for a while."

"I don't know if anyone in the galaxy can relax right now." Echo said on Rex's other side. "What's the next mission, Rex?"

"I'm not sure." Rex said. "Pantora's been requesting more aid, but plenty of smaller planets have been asking for help too."

"We'll worry about that later." Fives said, waving a hand. "It's not every day that we get invited to the festivities."

Rex tilted his head in acknowledgement. While Rex himself had been to a few post-siege celebrations, not many planets invited more than a couple clones to them.

Drinks began making their way around the room, distributed by droids. Jesse came by, bearing glasses of creamy liquor for them all.

"What is this?" Echo asked, giving his a suspicious sniff.

"No idea!" Jesse said happily.

"We better find out." Fives said. "Remember when 79's started stocking that Wookiee drink?"

Jesse laughed.

"How many troopers got alcohol poisoning?" He asked.

Echo's brow furrowed.

"Doesn't seem very funny to me." He said.

"They were fine." Fives said. "T-3ND had an eye on them and had calculated how much they could drink before it would kill them."

"I swear that droid liked watching drunk clones." Echo said.

"Howzer!" Rex called.

Howzer came wading through the crowd. Rex thought that he could see a few disappointed Twi'leks left in his wake.

"What's up, Rex?" Howzer asked.

Rex lifted his glass.

"Mind giving us an identification?"

Howzer grinned.

That's T'ssolok." He said. "Careful, it's stronger than the grog we usually got. I've told my men that three is their limit."

Rex nodded.

"Sounds reasonable." He said. "Spread the word, boys. Three drinks."

Fives and Jesse sighed, but Echo seemed unbothered. He wasn't likely to drink more than one.

"I'll bring some down to Kix and the other medics." Jesse said.

"Aren't they helping patients?" Echo asked.

"They'll stop eventually." Jesse said with a shrug. "They deserve to have a good time too."

He wandered back into the crowd. Rex took a sip of the T'ssolok and grimaced at the flavor The initial unpleasantness faded to a rather nice aftertaste.

"What are your plans now, Howzer?" He asked.

Howzer, who had found his own drink, swirled it thoughtfully.

"I'm not sure." He said. "I'm a soldier. I want to go where I'm needed. But- I think I have a home here."

Rex nodded.

"In a way, it's harder to have a home, people you want to go back to." He said.

Howzer raised an eyebrow.

"You've got that?" He asked.

Rex smiled into his drink.

"I'd say so."

"You're an ass, Rex." Fives said flatly. "He's married, with a kid on the way."

Howzer choked on his drink. Echo pounded on his back.

"Who's the ass?" He asked Fives. "Let a brother down easily."

"Who?" Howzer asked once he could breathe again.

Rex felt his face heat and couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or not.

"She's- well, she's- or she was, our Commander." He mumbled. "Ahsoka Tano."

Howzer stared.

"Kriff, Rex!" He said. "How many rules were you aiming to break?"

"We weren't together until after the war ended." Rex retorted. "We didn't break any rules!"

"I should have known." Howzer said with a grin. "You've never been one for breaking rules."

"You do realize that I covered for my Jedi General during his secret calls and meetings with his wife, right?" Rex asked flatly.

Howzer blinked.

"Wait, those rumors were true?" He asked.

Both Fives and Echo snorted into their drinks.

"I knew within a day of joining the 501st." Echo said.

"I knew within five minutes of joining the 501st." Fives said.

Echo nudged Fives.

"Liar." He said. "I was the one who told you."

Howzer laughed and Rex smiled.

"What about you, vod?" Rex asked. "You've had far more chances with nat borns than we have."

Howzer laughed nervously and put a hand to the back of his head.

"I wouldn't say that." He said. "At least- not with the one I'd like them with."

"Oh, really?" Fives said. His face was flushed. Kriff, this stuff worked fast. "Tell us about them, and maybe we can give you some tips."

Howzer shook his head before knocking back the rest of his drink.

"No clone I've met has ever been purposefully suave." He said. "I don't think your tips would be particularly helpful."

"You've not met Kix." Rex said as Fives gave an indignant sputter. "But yeah, not many outside of him."

"We must be doing something right!" Fives protested. "We're both in relationships, Rex!"

"Despite Rex's best efforts." Echo said. "And you're just lucky that Senna likes preening di'kut'e."

Fives scowled while Rex smiled.

"Rex!"

Rex looked up at his General's call.

"We've got intel coming in." He said. "Get to HQ in ten minutes."

Rex nodded.

"Echo, Fives, go find Jesse." He said.

Fives gave an exaggerated sigh.

"Can't have one night." He said. "Come on, Echo."

"Want to come?" Rex asked Howzer.

Howzer shook his head and glanced somewhere in the crowd.

"For once I don't have to." He said. "I'll take advantage of that."

"I don't blame you." Rex said. "See you around, brother."

Howzer clasped his shoulder and wandered back into the crowd. In a minute, Fives and Echo returned with a grumbling Jesse.

"There are so many single women here!" He complained. "I have a chance, Rex!"

Rex grimaced to himself. He might need to order a round of stims to combat his ARCs' drunkenness.

"I thought you were into Pantorans, Jesse." Fives said as they made their way to the exit.

Jesse paused, thoughtful.

"Dunno where you got that idea." He said. "But, I think I am."

"Good thing we're likely going to Pantora." Echo said.

Rex paused as they reached the door. He'd caught sight of Howzer again. His brother was listening with a rapt expression to a short, plump Twi'lek woman with red-orange skin. She was speaking animatedly, gesturing with her hands. Rex recognized the look on Howzer's face. He'd worn that expression himself, he was sure, and he'd seen it in Fives. Clones didn't hide their affection well.

"You may want to make this quick, General." Rex said as he ushered his tipsy brothers into the command center. "These stims won't last forever and I think it best they get to bed before too long."

General Skywalker nodded with a smirk.

"I don't blame you men for having a little fun." He said.

"It's just our luck that intel came in right as things were getting good." Fives said.

Echo, the only one at proper parade rest besides Kix, gave his brother a look.

"The last time the Captain let you get as drunk as you wanted, you forgot that you named yourself after your number and you lost your bucket over the 'coincidence.'" He said. "That's what you call 'good?'"

"Can't remember that happening, so yeah, I'd call it good." Fives said.

General Skywalker cleared his throat. Fives and Jesse focused on him after a moment. Rex had to admit to himself that he was having a bit of trouble paying attention to the General himself.

"One of our scouting teams picked up a transmission on the edge of our territory." General Skywalker said.

He activated the main console.

Mayday, mayday! A clone's voice spoke. This is CC-3425 of the Kamino Guard. Our Venator has crash landed in enemy territory and we are in need of immediate extraction. We have clones of cadet age and younger with us.

Rex heard Echo suck in a sharp breath and it wasn't until after the clone gave coordinates that it hit Rex.

"The cadets." He said. "Kriff, the cadets."

"We haven't had word of them since Kamino was razed." Echo said. "I'd assumed that they'd been shipped off to some training base."

Fives and Jesse's eyes had gone wide now.

"That planet's in Empire territory, isn't it?" Rex asked. "But not by much."

General Skywalker nodded.

"We're waiting on permission from the Parliament to retrieve them." He said. "Don't worry, it's just a formality. Padme and the others agree that we need to get them out."

"I'll lead the mission, sir." Rex said. "Those cadets must have been on the run since Kamino fell. It's time that we helped them."

General Skywalker reached out and patted Rex on the shoulder.

"I thought you'd want to take this one." He said. "But how about we sober up before making any plans?"

Rex hesitated for a moment. A part of him wanted to start drawing up strategies right away. He hated the idea that these brothers had been separated and alone for all this time. But- the other part of him was drunk, or at the least tipsy.

"Bed." He said. "For all of us. Let's sleep this off, and then we get straight to getting those boys out."

"Here." Padme said, handing Ahsoka a cup of steaming tea.

"Thank you." Ahsoka said. "But Padme, I could have gotten it myself."

"Ahsoka, I've been pregnant." Padme said as she sat down in the spartan chair across from Ahsoka. Ahsoka wondered how much Padme missed her old plush trappings. "If someone else can do it, let them."

Ahsoka glanced down at her rounded stomach. It was getting harder to move. But she hated inconveniencing Padme and Tup, when he was around. That was most of the time, but his injuries were playing up today.

"I don't understand how you humans can do this for nine months." Ahsoka said.

Padme grimaced.

"It must be worse for you." She said. "You were far more spry than I ever was."

Ahsoka gave a nod. Leia had toddled to the edge of her chair and it was an effort to pick her up.

"'Soka!" Leia declared, and patted Ahsoka's cheek. Then she leaned down and patted Ahsoka's stomach. "Beby!"

Ahsoka smiled.

"Excited, Leia?" She asked.

"I think she's hoping that your baby will be- sturdier than Luke." Padme said.

Luke looked up from his quiet play at the sound of his name and gave a radiant smile. As if on cue, Leia gave a shriek that made Ahsoka's montrals ring and Luke burst into tears. He scuttled to Padme, who picked him up to cradle him.

"Mama!" He complained.

Ahsoka laughed and then winced at the odd sensation in her abdomen.

"I never thought having a baby would be this uncomfortable." She said. "I'll be glad when-"

There was a knock at Padme's door. Padme stood up with Luke and after a moment's struggle, Ahsoka deposited Leia on the floor and followed suit.

"Let me, Padme." Ahsoka said. "I know who it is."

"What did I just tell you, Ahsoka?" Padme said.

"I know, but-" Ahsoka hesitated.

Padme's expression softened.

"Omega has a hard time around me, doesn't she?" She asked.

Ahsoka nodded.

"Hemlock had a lot of assistants that looked like you." She said. "It's nothing personal."

She made her way to the door and opened it to reveal Omega and Crosshair. She caught sight of a familiar bearded clone walking away from them. He seemed to always be there when Omega and Crosshair came.

"Hi Ome-" Ahsoka cut herself off at Omega's concerned expression.

"Echo just commed!" The young clone said. "Did you hear about the cadets?"

Ahsoka nodded.

"Padme just told me an hour ago."

"So maybe you can tell Omega that we're not going on the mission?" Crosshair said. "She's been pestering Hunter all day."

"Echo's going!" Omega said. "I want to help!"

Crosshair's expression was a combination of exasperation and fondness.

"An entire company is going." He said. "Echo doesn't need us."

"Crosshair is right." Ahsoka said before Omega could protest again. "Besides, you're in no state to be going on missions."

Omega deflated and Ahsoka caught a whiff of her disappointment and frustration in the Force.

"I just want to help." The young clone muttered.

Crosshair subtly squeezed her shoulder. Despite the despair that shadowed the Force around him, he was always there for his sister.

"You'll be in a better position to help when you've gotten control over your powers." Ahsoka said. "Come on, let's get to meditating."

Ahsoka took a strained step out of Padme's house.

"I'll see you later, Padme!" She called behind her.

Omega frowned, looking between Ahsoka and Crosshair.

"Um, do you need help, Ahsoka?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine." Ahsoka said, waving Omega away. "Keep Crosshair on track."

They set out together on the dirt paths through their settlement. Ahsoka hated to admit it, but she could probably do with a steadying hand.

Omega was mostly silent as they walked. Ahsoka could tell she was preparing to ask something, so she waited. Crosshair, holding to Omega's arm, was completely silent.

It wasn't until they reached their calm glade in the forest surrounding the settlement that Omega spoke up.

"Ahsoka," She said quietly. "I'm- having trouble with meditation."

Ahsoka resisted the urge to smirk. Didn't she know it? Omega once might have handled meditation well, but in her current condition she had plenty of intrusive memories to swarm her in times of quiet.

"Is there anything else we can try?" Omega went on.

"It was one of the most important things we learned as younglings." Ahsoka said. "Omega, what you need is control and meditation is the basis for that."

Omega looked down.

"What if I can't?" She asked. "What if what happened to me made it impossible?"

A spike of distress speared the Force, not from Omega, but Crosshair.

"Rex meditates. Did you know that?" Ahsoka asked.

Omega looked up, confused.

"Why'd he learn?" She asked. "You didn't teach him to use the Force."

Ahsoka shook her head.

"It was right after he lost his leg." She said. "It was a- rough experience for him. He couldn't stand being touched for a while. But the Head Healer at the Jedi Temple taught him to meditate."

Omega looked thoughtful and she settled down in the traditional meditation position.

"Could you ask him for some tips?" She asked.

Ahsoka blinked.

"I should have thought of that." She said. "Kriff, that's a good idea. I'll ask him when I see him next."

She thought with a pang that the next time she would speak with her husband would be in a week if everything went according to plan. Knowing their lives, the odds weren't good.

"Are you going to join us, Crosshair?" Ahsoka asked.

Crosshair snorted and turned his face away.

"Crosshair," Omega said. "It- might help me if we tried together."

There we go. Ahsoka could see Crosshair's defenses crumble to nothing.

Crosshair settled down on the ground and Omega began instructing him on the position.

"So what do we do now?" He asked once Omega had told him his posture was correct.

"You breathe deeply and focus on your breath and how your body feels." Omega said. "At least, that's how it starts. You're supposed to eventually focus on your feelings, but without really thinking about them. Through that, you connect to the Force."

"Exactly, Omega." Ahsoka said. It was unfortunate that Omega could understand the concept so well, but not be able to perform. "With your permission, I can try and help with the process."

Crosshair shot a dirty look somewhere to the right of Ahsoka. She could guess what he was thinking. He was trying this for Omega, not to get any results. Omega had refused the help as well, determined to do it by herself.

Ahsoka took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her years of training and her enhanced connection to the Force made it easy to fall into a trance. Omega turned into a flickering flame in the Force next to Ahsoka. Bright, but uncertain and out of control. Crosshair, on the other hand, almost felt like nothing. Not Darkness, but a void. Rex had once felt like this.

Ahsoka took another long breath. These two had much work to do.

She could feel Omega's jittering thoughts, the anxiety lapping at the girl's brain. She resisted the urge to sooth them. Omega had requested that Ahsoka not help in that way, and Ahsoka would honor that.

"Breathe, Omega." Ahsoka said aloud. Her voice sounded distant to her montrals. "Feel the wind, your heartbeat. The Force is in these things."

Omega's anxieties began to ebb away little by little. Crosshair came to life just a bit.

And then, a third, searching mind. Ahsoka cocked her head.

Not Dark, but- strange.

Hello. She said. They were near, at least near for her.

Hello. The mind responded. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?

My name is Ahsoka Tano.

Ah, Skywalker's apprentice. Are you with other survivors?

Yes. Ahsoka said. I don't know how much you know about Galactic events, but there is a safe planet now. Who are you? Where are you? We can come get you.

Serenno. The mind said. And I am Baylan Skoll.

Mando'a:

Vod: brother

Di'kut'e: idiots

So, I know some of you guys thought that the strange perspective last chapter was Commander Jr. That's not the case, as we see with its continuation into SC-04. I'm giving mysterious perspective with limited information a go, so no, I'm not going to try to explain this one.

T'ssolok is canon and I love that I was able to google 'twi'lek alcohol' and it shows up. I enjoyed the banter in this scene. It was fun. And Kix is the only smooth clone. You can't convince me otherwise. I cannot help but add a reference to Rhys, my OC from the Fives Effect that Jesse marries.

I love the idea of a drunk Fives going 'ECHO. MY NAME IS FIVES. AND MY NUMBER IS ALL FIVES. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES.'

So I was writing this, and I had Hemlock on Tantiss. And then season 3 aired and we learn that Hemlock went to Tantiss after screwing up some plants and nuking his old facility with all the young clones still in it. And I realized…uh all the baby clones are still nuked in this timeline because Hemlock was on Tantiss. So I had to do some quick thinking and I think I've got a solution. THEY ARE NOT NUKED.

I can never help but add realistic pregnancy because I'm too close to my sisters who have all been pregnant. Tup usually hangs around, but he was pretty badly beat up after Coruscant and he has his bad days.

Hemlock had such a weird thing for brunette women. There were only brunette women until right before the finale.

Mayday always walks Crosshair and Omega to Force lessons. One of the Batch would do it, but Omega and Crosshair are too stubborn to admit they need company.

Canon Omega is great at meditation. This is not Canon Omega. This is TRAUMA OMEGA.

I uh, have never really figured out meditation. Thanks, ADHD.

Ohohohohohoho! A Baylan Skoll! For good or for bad?

We've reached 300k words! WOOOOOOO!

Sorry if the notes are a little short. I'm up too late and I need to go to bed after staying up after the finale.

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great two weeks!