Episode 3.2—"The Turf War"
Hunter pilots the hijacked ship through space. Echo announces that he finished decrypting the file on the datastick, but it only contains half of what they need to know. It lists code names for all Imperial prisons, as well as the coordinates to each location, but it does not name the individual inmates within each facility. Wrecker says they'll have to return to Ord Mantell after all. Hunter agrees that interrogating Cid is their only option now.
Inside the main lab on Mount Tantiss, droids extract vials of blood from Crosshair, who they have strapped to a surgical bed. When the droids aren't looking, Crosshair manages to grab an empty syringe with an attached needle. He conceals it in his pocket just as a pair of guards enter. They unstrap him and escort him to his cell.
Meanwhile, Emerie leads a weary but unharmed Omega out of Nala Se's lab. As they walk, Omega catches sight of a blaster hidden in Emerie's lab coat. They enter the detention level, where Crosshair is already in his cell. Omega asks why Emerie refuses to speak to her. Instead of responding, Emerie deactivates the cell's ray shield so Omega can step inside. As Emerie does so, she reaches for her blaster with her other hand.
The minute the ray shield deactivates, Crosshair and Omega both react. Omega seizes Emerie's arm and Crosshair brings the stolen needle to her neck. Emerie calmly asks them to trust her. Ducking away from Crosshair, she zaps the surveillance camera with her blaster. She says she has already replaced the cell's security feed with old recordings, but she doesn't want the camera to store any footage that could be accessed later. If they want to talk, now is the time.
The Bad Batch reaches Ord Mantell, landing their ship in a junkyard to avoid detection. When they reach the city, they find its streets in disarray. Mercenaries guard the entrance to Cid's parlor, and blaster fire echoes down the alleys. The three creep down a backstreet to search for an alternate way into Cid's parlor. They run into Bolo and Ketch, the Ithorian and Weequay duo who once frequented the parlor. The aliens try to escape, but the clones chase after them and corner them. Once he's assured that the three will not harm them, Ketch explains the situation:
When word got out that Cid had betrayed the Bad Batch, many of her allies turned on her, fearing she would double-cross them as well. They formed a rival gang against those still loyal to her. The two sides are now vying for control over Cid's business. The rival gang has taken over the parlor, but Cid's forces are intent on taking it back. As for where Cid herself is, no one knows.
The Batch concludes that the rival gang may be willing to help them find Cid. They approach the guards outside the parlor and ask to speak to the gang's leader. Several mercenaries step out and lead them to an abandoned warehouse. One of the mercenaries comments that the clones' dedication to finding Cid seems suspicious. Sensing a trap, the trio prepare to open fire. More mercenaries rappel down from the ceiling, weapons drawn. Before a shootout can take place, the gang's leader emerges from the shadows.
The leader orders her forces to stand down. She removes her mask, revealing that she is Phee Genoa. Hunter demands to know what she's doing here. Phee replies that she's seizing her opportunity. If she captures Cid, the Trandoshan's forces would surrender and Phee would gain control of Cid's enterprise. Hunter distrusts Phee, but he offers to help track down Cid. Phee declines, saying she would rather not be seen with clones at the moment, particularly since her two favorite ones have failed to show up. Before the mercenaries can throw them out, Hunter reveals what happened to Omega and Tech. If Phee has any information about Cid's location, it could help them save Omega. A solemn Phee agrees to assist them.
The squad asks to enter Cid's parlor. Phee refuses, assuring them that Cid is not inside. She suspects that Cid is hiding in the abandoned mines, but no one has succeeded in tracking her. Hunter says he can help with that. Phee puts her mask back on and leads them to the mine entrance. As they walk, Hunter notices that most of the civilians are cowering in their shops. He asks if Phee's efforts are worth this. Phee responds that there have been no civilian casualties in the turf war, and she's going to keep it that way. If she takes control of Cid's business, she can improve the lives of the citizens. Hunter looks doubtful.
Back on Mount Tantiss, Crosshair asks Emerie why she's helping them. Omega says it's because Emerie is a Fett clone, just like them. Emerie replies that this is not quite the case. She is the biological daughter of Jango Fett. She was raised by her uncle and never knew her parents, but when she learned of her connection to the clones, she was determined to help them.
Emerie divulges that she and Nala Se have a plan to free Crosshair and Omega—a plan that will bring down the whole mountain and everyone in it. Omega dislikes the thought of killing so many people, and Crosshair claims that Emerie's proposal is impossible. Emerie says she could contact the Bad Batch for help…if she knew the Batch's transmission frequency. Crosshair and Omega both refuse to reveal this information. Emerie glances up at the clock and warns them that this may be their only chance to plan an escape. She asks if they are in or out. Crosshair replies that they are out.
Back on Ord Mantell, Phee enters the mine with the Bad Batch. They search through the mine, but they don't find Cid. Eventually, Hunter senses a weak spot in the ground. They uncover a hidden sinkhole that leads to a tunnel network deep beneath the mines. After a perilous descent, Hunter uses his tracking abilities to guide the others through the tunnels. They discover a large cavern, where they come face-to-face with Cid. The Trandoshan holds up a comlink. She warns them that she can signal the Empire in the time it takes them to fire their blasters. Hunter lowers his weapon and says they're here for information; they do not intend to hurt her. Phee tells Hunter to speak for himself.
Cid recognizes Phee's voice and orders her to remove her mask, which she does. Cid proposes a deal—if Phee surrenders the parlor, Cid will tell them what they want to know. At the Batch's insistence, Phee speaks into her own comlink, commanding her forces to stand down. As she does this, she secretly presses another button on her comlink.
We return to Mount Tantiss. Another member of the Advanced Science Division, Dr. Scalder, summons Omega and Emerie back to Nala Se's lab. Scalder explains that Hemlock sent her to speed up Nala Se's progress. She orders the Kaminoan to finish splicing the genes she is modifying before the hour is up. When Nala Se protests that this is impossible, Scalder nods to a stormtrooper. The trooper briefly touches Omega with his electrostaff, prompting her to cry out. Nala Se immediately begins working as fast as she can. Emerie watches uneasily.
Back in the cavern, Wrecker asks where the Imperials took Omega. Cid replies that all she overheard was a reference to a place called the Gullet. Echo recognizes this as one of the code names on the data file. Wrecker assumes they can part ways with Cid now. Cid replies that, unfortunately, this is not the case. A gang member's voice crackles through Phee's comlink, announcing that he has the sinkhole surrounded. Hunter glares at Phee, realizing she has not called off her forces.
Cid remarks that she isn't the only one who is surrounded. The mercenaries still loyal to Cid materialize from the shadows, blasters drawn. Cid quietly assures the clones that she doesn't have anything against them. If they surrender their weapons and order Phee's reinforcements to do the same, they can all walk out of this alive. As he hands over his blaster, Hunter tilts his head, sensing something. He whispers to Echo that they are not alone. Echo replies that he sees Cid's allies, too. Hunter says that's not what he meant.
Cid's allies begin to escort them out of the cavern. Hunter makes eye contact with Phee, who nods to a chasm in the ground. Hunter pretends to stumble, momentarily distracting the mercenaries. Phee uses the opportunity to snatch her blaster from a mercenary and fire into the chasm. The shot awakens the irlings beneath the mine, sending them swarming up around everyone. In the chaos that follows, the clones break away from Cid's allies and retrieve their weapons.
Everyone scrambles back up into the mine, but the irlings follow them. Cid's mercenaries reach the exit first. Phee has a grip on Cid, but Cid's allies escape through the exit. The last mercenary to leave tosses an explosive back through the opening. It detonates, destroying the irlings and sealing the exit with rubble. Cid breaks free and retreats into the darkness. Phee prepares to pursue her, but stops when she hears shouts from the others. Wrecker is trapped in the rubble, and Hunter and Echo struggle to free him as stalactites crash down. After a moment of hesitation, Phee lets Cid go and helps the two pull Wrecker to safety. She tells them to follow her.
Phee leads them further into the mine, through a narrow tunnel that inclines steadily upward. Eventually, they reach what appears to be a dead end. Phee raps on the hard wall of earth. After a moment, it swings open. The four step into the office in Cid's parlor.
An irritated Hunter asks why Phee didn't mention this secret entrance earlier. Phee responds that it wasn't important. Echo accuses her of having ulterior motives. Before Phee can reply, they hear a small whimper. At Phee's encouragement, a small child steps out from behind the curtains and climbs into her arms. With some reluctance, Phee leads the squad out of the office and into the bar.
The room is filled with refugees from Pabu. Among them is an orphaned Lyana, who has a burn mark on her face. Phee explains that Imperials invaded Pabu shortly after the Bad Batch left. The Imperials ordered the citizens to reveal the squad's whereabouts. Her people had little information to give, so the Imperials opened fire on the town. Phee escaped with as many refugees as she could and hid them in Cid's parlor. She didn't want the Bad Batch to come here, as she feared their involvement would bring the Empire to her door once again. Hunter promises to leave as soon as they access the information they need.
While Echo searches the data file for the Gullet's coordinates and Wrecker cheers up the younger refugees, Hunter speaks with Phee. She asks if Tech suffered when he died. Hunter answers that he doesn't think so. He adds that Tech gave his life to save his squad. Phee forlornly comments that she'd do the same to protect her people. She had hoped she could change Ord Mantell for the better and provide a new life for her people here, but she's no longer sure if this is possible.
Echo announces that he has pinpointed the Gullet's coordinates. The prison is located on the planet Weyland, inside a mountain called Tantiss. Phee says all she knows about Weyland is that those who are taken there don't come back. Outside, they hear the sound of approaching ships. They peek through the window, where they see Imperial shuttles land outside the city. Hunter realizes that Cid must have contacted the Empire after all. As stormtroopers march down the street, Echo remarks that getting to Tantiss just got a lot harder.
Back on Mount Tantiss, Nala Se completes her work just before the hour ends. Scalder congratulates her on her progress, then nods to a stormtrooper. The trooper stuns Omega with his electrostaff. She yelps, then crumples to the ground, unconscious.
Emerie carries Omega back to the cell, where Crosshair is waiting. He demands to know what they did to her. Emerie explains what happened and assures him that Omega will recover quickly. As Omega comes to, Emerie once again asks Crosshair if he's in or out. Crosshair looks down at Omega and studies the red abrasion that the electrostaff left on her neck. He meets Emerie's eyes and says he's in.
END OF EPISODE TWO