AHAHAHA I DID IT. I GOT IT OUT TODAY. It may not be out on Monday for many of you, but according to my time zone, it is still Monday, baby! I am so sorry for the delay. It has been a CRAZY week. The family emergency has been resolved well, so that's good, but in the last week I returned to work, came home from school, helped take my niblings to an amusement park, and have been dealing with the difficulty of transitioning between school and home. Not to mention my sister/editor is dealing with being 8.5 months pregnant and parenting three other young kids. So between all of that, we haven't had much time.

Things are crazy for us, the baby could come at any minute, plus I am dealing with some burnout from school and work combined.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

So I am officially announcing my hiatus from both Guilty/Absolved and Fives Effect. I'm really sad to do it this early, but editing has been difficult to do consistently and will become even MORE so once this baby is born. I'm going to go ahead and say that we're going on hiatus for the next four weeks. I will try my hardest to return with Fives Effect on August 22nd. Hopefully in that time I'll be able to get some edited content built up.

Thank you all for your patience and your support during this weird time.

Anyway, onto the fic stuff!

OneLittleSpark18: GUESS WHO'S GETTING MORE SOFT BATCH STUFF. And oops, sorry to hit you while you're down

IrishDrunk14: Aww, thank you! And I'm glad you enjoy the Bad Batch stuff, cause that's all you're getting this chapter. Rex and Ahsoka will return in full next Absolved chapter though.

Tarantinofanboy: Thank you! And I'm pretty sure he wasn't deformed in this timeline, since he and Windu didn't fight. So he's still looking naturally pretty okay. Oh crap do I mention him being shriveled? I should go back and check.

OwlishBookworm, Guest, and 4thWallBreak: Thank you all so much for the support. Things turned out well, thankfully!

So yeah, this chapter is basically all Bad Batch...but I promise the next chapter (and arc) is ONLY REX AND AHSOKA.

Actually there is no Mando'a in this chapter. Huh.

ABSOLVED: CHAPTER 11

Tech held out his hand and a tool dropped into it. He didn't have to look to make sure it was the correct one. Omega was the best assistant one could ask for.

"So what does it do?" Omega asked as Tech continued his work.

"I am working off of the information Captain Rex obtained from the Kaminoan doctor." Tech said. "I am attempting to create a device that will disrupt the chips' influence from a distance."

"Oh!" Omega said. "That would be great!"

"And most helpful to the Rebellion." Tech said absently.

"But we're not part of the Rebellion any more." Omega said.

"That does not mean that we do not wish to help them." Tech said. "Captain Rex asked me specifically to make this."

And, he added internally, this was a welcome challenge that he would not reject.

He worked for a few minutes more, Omega watching him. Her stomach growled loudly enough for Tech to hear.

"Hunter." Tech said without looking up. "I believe it is time for lunch."

"Right." Hunter's voice was worried. "Just give me a minute."

They were low on rations. Tech knew they should have stopped for supplies at least a rotation ago. Hunter was putting it off, but Tech understood. As long as they were in hyperspace, they were safe.

"Here, Omega." Hunter said, handing Omega a ration bar.

He didn't offer one to Tech. Tech did not ask for one, though his body was telling him that he needed food. Omega wouldn't find it suspicious.

"Wrecker!" She called to the cockpit. "Didn't you hear Tech? It's lunch time!"

"Not hungry!" Wrecker called back.

Omega frowned. Tech raised an eyebrow at Hunter. Technically, all growth accelerated clones were perpetually hungry, but Wrecker especially needed more calories than the average clone. As a result, he was never 'not hungry.' Omega would know this. Hunter had clearly gone to Wrecker to inform him of the ration situation and now he was refusing food for Omega's sake. However, if Hunter wanted to keep up the ruse that everything was fine, having Wrecker say he wasn't hungry was not helpful.

"Hunter?" Omega asked. "Is Wrecker okay?"

Hunter shrugged.

"He is fine, Omega." Tech said.

"Do we have enough food?" Omega asked. "If we don't, Wrecker can have mine."

"No, you don't." Crosshair's voice came from the cockpit. "Because we're going to stop for supplies as soon as possible. He can stuff himself then."

Hunter frowned at this.

"He is correct, Hunter." Tech said. "We cannot stay in hyperspace forever."

Hunter sighed.

"What's the nearest inhabited planet?"

Omega perked up.

"Can I come get the rations too?" She asked.

"That's a negative." Hunter said sternly. "You'll stay on the ship."

Omega wilted.

"I will need your help, Omega." Tech told her.

She seemed reconciled to this.

"Nearest planet's Ord Mantell." Crosshair called back to them. "We can be there in a half hour."

Omega was distracted as the half an hour passed. When they dropped out of hyperspace, she darted to the cockpit. Tech continued without her. He would not restrain her excitement at seeing new planets. He hoped it would never fade.

Tech could hear Crosshair smoothly communicate with the flight control. He got up, carefully put his burgeoning device away, and made his way to the cockpit. It wasn't that he didn't trust his brothers to land the Marauder. He just preferred to do it himself.

"Okay," Hunter said as they landed. "Crosshair and Wrecker, you're in charge of getting rations. Tech, Omega, and I will stay here."

Wrecker whooped. Tech counted out the exact number of credits they would need, if the current economic trends had held. Wrecker and Crosshair went to get changed into their civilian clothes.

"Do we have to get just rations?" Wrecker asked as he came back. "I bet they have all sorts of great food here!"

"Rations keep." Hunter said. "And they have everything we need. I don't want to mess around with our diets."

"If we have leftover credits?" Wrecker pressed.

"Fine." Hunter said. "But don't let it distract you."

Tech handed the credits to Crosshair.

"You have an hour." Hunter said. "Don't go shopping around. This isn't for sightseeing."

Crosshair and Wrecker nodded.

"Bye." Omega mumbled.

She was leaning her chin on Gonky, arms folded on top of the droid.

Wrecker tousled her hair.

"Don't worry, 'Mega!" He said. "I'll bring you back something good!"

"It's not going to be fun, you know." Crosshair said.

Omega nodded and watched forlornly as they disembarked.

"Omega," Tech said. "I believe we would benefit from a diagnostic of the ship. Have I shown you how to do so?"

Omega shook her head and followed him eagerly to the cockpit.

Tech enjoyed showing things to Omega. She wanted to know for the sake of knowledge and being helpful. When Tech had to teach the others, they were often sullen and resigned. They had to learn what he was telling them, but they did not like it.

Tech did not enjoy today's session as much as he usually did. He was worried about Wrecker and Crosshair. They did not know how far the Empire's reach had gotten.

A boom burst through the air. Tech whipped his head up. Hunter leapt to his feet.

"That was close." He said.

"What do we do?" Omega asked.

"You will stay here, no matter what." Hunter said.

"Crosshair. Wrecker. Come in." Tech said into his wrist comm.

Only static responded.

"The comms are jammed." Tech said. "However, if it is a smaller device, which is likely, they will have to be close."

"Can you find them?" Hunter asked.

"Of course." Tech said.

He quickly inputted a sequence into his vambrace and picked up his data pad. He scanned the information on it.

"I was correct." Tech said. "They are within a quarter of a klick."

"Find them." Hunter said.

He met Tech's eyes and Tech knew that he was to eliminate the target. It was likely it was another bounty hunter sent by the Kaminoans.

"Be careful!" Omega said.

"There is nothing to fear, Omega." Tech told her.

He placed his helmet on and peeked out of the ship. There was no one in sight. He glanced down at his data pad. It indicated that the source of the jamming was in an alley off of their docking station. He slipped forward, keeping to the shadows. His scanner wasn't picking up any life forms, but that meant nothing. There were ways to hide a life signal, or the hunter was a droid.

Tech reached the alley entrance and peered down its length. He couldn't see anything. Of course, he had learned not to trust his eyes years ago. But his scanner wasn't showing anything. Perhaps the hunter had left the jammer behind. He took a step forward. There was a blink of light just in front of him.

Tech froze for a millisecond and then threw himself backwards. It wasn't enough. The subsequent explosion caught him midair and flung him into the air. He landed with a crash of pain and he felt bones break. He let out a gasp but that was all he allowed himself. He tried to move but his body screamed in protest.

Assess the damage. He managed to think.

At least three broken ribs. A fractured arm. A possible concussion. Second degree burns across most of his front, with a few possibly reaching third degree. A hopefully temporary loss of hearing. His armor was compromised.

His goggles were cracked.

Tech smothered the panic that fact sparked and tried to look around. He needed to see what his enemy was doing. He saw a blurry figure on the ramp of the Marauder. They tossed something inside. Within seconds green gas flowed from the entrance.

He faintly heard Omega's voice crying out and he redoubled his efforts to move. The pain overwhelmed him and everything faded.

"Tech!"

Tech opened his eyes to see Wrecker's knees in the dirt amidst a multitude of small white and purple spheres.

"What happened?" Wrecker's voice demanded.

"Omega." Tech croaked. "Find- Omega."

"She's not on the ship!" Crosshair's voice was farther away. "Hunter's been gassed!"

Wrecker's large but gentle hands took hold of Tech. Tech hissed through his teeth as his wounds were aggravated.

What were they doing?

"Omega." Tech said again. "Not me. Omega. Find her."

"Wrecker." Crosshair said. "Do what you can for Tech and Hunter. I'm going after them."

Tech heard Crosshair's footsteps pound as he ran. Wrecker lifted Tech.

"C'mon, Tech." Wrecker said.

Tech grit his teeth as Wrecker carried him. The pain was beginning to overwhelm him again.

"We- we-" He said. "We have to find- Omega."

"I know." Wrecker said. "Cross'll find her."

Tech did not remember anything more.

Tech couldn't move when he awoke next. For a second he couldn't tell if it was because he was restrained or his body would not respond. He realized quickly that his limbs were so heavily bandaged that he couldn't move them. It was obviously Wrecker's handiwork.

Tech opened his eyes. His goggles were still cracked but he could discern the bottom of a sleeping rack. He himself was on the bottom. He turned his head. Hunter was slumped on one of the crash seats with an oxygen mask strapped to his face. He could not see Wrecker, Crosshair, or Omega.

"Wrecker?" Tech asked.

There was the sound of pounding footsteps. Wrecker came into view. Tech noticed his eyes were red, but he grinned at Tech.

"Tech!" He said. His tone was uneven. Tech had heard it like that many times before, when the reg's bullying on Kamino had gotten too harsh. "How are you feeling?"

"Wrecker, where are Crosshair and Omega?" Tech asked.

"I'm right here."

Crosshair had followed Wrecker. His right arm was in a sling.

"Where is Omega?" Tech pressed.

Wrecker's smile was gone. Crosshair's scowl was deeper than ever. Tech's heart seemed to stop.

"They got away with her." Crosshair said.

"What happened?" Tech demanded.

He tried to sit up but a combination of pain and tightly wound bandages stopped him.

"The bastard had help. Someone on the rooftops shot me." Crosshair growled "Twice. I had nearly caught them."

"Did you get a look at the one who took Omega?" Tech asked.

"It wasn't anyone I recognized." Crosshair said. "They were Togruta."

"Cross called for help." Wrecker said. "There were a bunch of the Empire's goons there when I got to him. I managed to get Cross and get out, but they started following me and shooting. I- I had to get us out."

Wrecker faltered. Tech swallowed.

"You made the right choice, Wrecker." He said. "We cannot help Omega if we are dead."

Crosshair made a furious noise and looked away. Tech wondered how much of Crosshair's abuse Wrecker had endured since they had escaped.

"What is our destination?" Tech asked.

He had to keep talking and asking questions otherwise he would begin to think about Omega.

"I found the nearest civvie medcenter." Wrecker said. "You're hurt bad, Tech."

Crosshair made a sharp noise in his throat. Wrecker shot him a glare but did not respond otherwise.

"It is our best option." Tech said. "At least to recoup and discuss our next course of action."

Crosshair made another angry noise and limped back towards the cockpit. Wrecker stood fidgeting for a moment before following him. Tech wanted to call him back. He needed a distraction.

Instead his unhelpfully brilliant mind supplied him with all the things the Kaminoans could want Omega for. None were good.

Omega tried to wake up. She tried so desperately to come to her senses. Her thoughts fuzzed away even as they tried to form.

Eventually she was able to open her eyes, though her thoughts were still out of reach. She didn't recognize where she was, though she couldn't remember where she was supposed to be. She shut her eyes again.

Her throat burned. What she did remember was that her brothers would help her.

"Hunter." She croaked. "Hunter- water-"

Voices began to speak from far away. For a moment Omega felt better; her brothers were here. But then she realized these voices were different. Melodic voices, like a song, that would have lulled Omega back to sleep if she wasn't so frightened.

"Hunter?" She called. "Wrecker?"

Maybe they hadn't heard her.

She could make out what the voices were saying now, though none of it made any sense to her."

"Taja!" The deeper voice sounded close. "I think she's having a bad reaction to whatever you gave her."

"Let me see her." The other voice was near now too.

A hand took Omega's face. It wasn't rough, but it wasn't as gentle as her brothers' hands.

"Open your eyes." The voice ordered.

Omega opened her eyes a slit. A face of deep red and gold was inches from her own. Pale green eyes searched hers.

"Kark. Admani, get her some water and keep an eye on her while I get a scanner." The face said.

Omega squeezed her eyes shut, nauseous. The next thing she knew, she was being lifted a little.

"Come on." The deeper voice encouraged. "Drink."

There was a cup at Omega's lips and she drank eagerly. She opened her eyes again for just a moment. She was confused. It was the same face, but a different voice. No- no. The colors were in different spots and the face shape was different. Their eyes were green too, though, but far darker.

Omega had to close her eyes again soon after. She was lowered down. She shivered against the cold ground.

"Taja, I'm going to get her a blanket."

"We need to have a reputation!"

"Not with a kid!"

There were soft folds around Omega and she pulled them close. In a few minutes, or was it a few hours? The noise of a scanner buzzed above her.

"Tech?" She asked. "Tech, what's wrong with me?"

Tech didn't reply. Instead the two voices spoke.

"Who's that she keeps asking for?" The deeper voice asked.

"She's delirious." The other voice said. "You were right. Most humans don't react like this, but I guess she's unlucky. I can treat it."

"You know they want her alive, right?" The deep voice said.

"That's why I'm treating her!" The other voice snapped.

Someone shifted near Omega.

"This should stop the reaction and keep her out until we get to the Kaminoan."

A spike of adrenaline brought everything into a sharper focus.

"No!" Omega said as she tried to sit up. The two red and gold figures were kneeling next to her. "Not Kamino! Don't take me back!"

"Taja-"

"She's delirious. Hold her for a moment."

Strong hands took Omega by the shoulders. Omega cried out and struggled against them. The other figure stuck a hypo in Omega's neck.

More panic flooded her. They were experimenting on her again. She was stuck on Kamino. Her brothers were light-years away-

The drug dragged her down into oblivion.

When they arrived at the civilian medcenter on an unfamiliar planet, Tech was rushed to a bacta tank. Tech hated being in bacta. He couldn't have his goggles and his choices were to be drugged into unconsciousness or being left with nothing to occupy himself. The latter was excruciating and the former was terrifying. He chose the latter. Being drugged was too much like what the Kaminoans had forced him through, especially when he had proved more clever than them.

Luckily, he only needed a rotation. So he sat in the bacta, unable to see, missing sorely the pressure of his goggles. Whenever he opened his eyes, he could always make out at least one dark shape through the hazy blue liquid. He could often hear the muffled voices of his brothers. Tech knew they would not leave him alone in here. It was an unspoken promise after they had been shut out when Wrecker had been caught in the explosion that left him half blind and deaf. Not only had it been hell for those left outside, but Wrecker had confessed to have been in a panicked state for most of his stay. That had been for two weeks.

When Tech was lifted from the bacta tank, he was not surprised to see three blurry figures waiting for him. Tech tried very hard to not focus on the fact that it should have been four.

He was unsteady as the medical droid unhooked him from the harness. Wrecker's large hand was almost immediately on his shoulder.

"How're you feeling?" Wrecker's voice asked.

"Goggles." Tech said.

He held out his hand and they were placed in his palm. He wasted no time in replacing them around his head. He could not help but sigh with relief as sight was restored to him. They had repaired them and his vision was clear. He found Hunter.

"What is our plan?" He asked. "What is our next course of action?"

"We commed Echo when you first got dunked." Hunter said. "He might be able to provide some resources. I told him we'd comm back when you were out."

"Comm him." Tech said.

"Tech, you should kit up-"

"Comm him." Tech repeated.

Hunter sighed and inputted a frequency into his wrist comm.

"Is the Rebellion going to provide us with resources to recover Omega?" Tech asked as soon as the comm went through.

"I'm assuming you're all right then." Echo's voice said. "To your question, things are complicated."

Tech went was trying to let them down gently. The Rebellion's leaders would not help the Bad Batch recover Omega.

"What is their reasoning?" Tech demanded.

He was confident that he could successfully counter any flimsy argument the leaders had given. The Bad Batch had been instrumental to the Rebellion's current stability. They were owed.

"That they're ungrateful cowards." Crosshair spat before Echo could respond.

"Crosshair, we don't even know where they're taking her." Echo said.

Tech frowned.

"They are taking her to Kamino." He said. "We know that the Kaminoans sent the bounty hunters."

"That's the problem." Echo said. "Kamino's been razed."

"Razed?" Tech repeated. "By whom?"

"The Empire." Echo said. "From what we can guess, they took the clones off the planet and then destroyed the cities completely. No word on if any Kaminoans survived."

Tech's mind set to work. Why would the Empire destroy the Kaminoan civilization? The answer was obvious: the Empire wanted to phase out clones. An entire legion had defected, as well as significant portions of others. Tech was also fairly certain that any de-chipped clone that remained in the Empire's army was not doing so without causing some sort of trouble. The clones were not reliable. They were not truly loyal to the Empire. They must be replaced.

But completely destroying the most advanced cloning society was extremely illogical and foolish. True, their soldiers were no longer needed, and their technology could be used against the Empire. That same technology was also a powerful tool. Tech himself would have spared the scientists, those who did not care about the business or economic side of things.

"When was Kamino attacked?" Tech asked.

He seemed to have interrupted the others' conversation, but that was irrelevant.

"From what we can tell, a week ago." Echo said.

"Between bounty hunter attacks." Tech mused.

That meant whoever had hired the hunters was still alive. Ergo, whoever hired the hunters was a scientist.

"Nala Se." Tech said. "How did I not think of it before? The Empire has clearly retained some of the Kaminoan scientists in case they need their services. Nala Se is the head of cloning. She also has a connection with Omega. They are taking Omega to Nala Se."

"But where's Nala Se?" Wrecker asked.

Tech frowned. He hadn't gotten that far.

"Listen." Echo said. "The Generals haven't said that they're not going to help at all. They're just saying we can't do anything about it right now. We don't know where Nala Se is and the best chance we have of figuring that out is to continue fighting the Empire."

"You want us to rejoin the Rebellion." Hunter said.

"He's made that clear that's what he cares about." Crosshair said.

"If you're saying I don't care about Omega, you're wrong." Echo said. "I honestly believe that our best chance of finding her is through the Rebellion."

"So it's 'our' best chance now?" Crosshair said.

"Crosshair." Hunter sounded tired and more defeated than Tech had ever seen him.

Crosshair shot him a dirty look before turning his back.

They were silent as Tech dressed and put on his armor.

"So?" Echo asked.

"No." Hunter said. "We can do this on our own."

Omega once again fought to wake up. She still felt like something heavy was pressing her into unconsciousness, though less heavy than before.

She was in a bed, that much she could tell. It wasn't particularly comfortable. In fact, now that her mind was getting a little more clear, it felt more like a gurney. A Kaminoan gurney. The overly smooth material under her fingers told her as much.

Omega's already sick stomach rolled as she opened her eyes.

She was met with the white of her home planet.

She forced herself to a sitting position. She wasn't on Kamino, she realized, but on one of their ships. She could feel the engine rumbling through the room.

There was no sign of her brothers.

"Omega."

Omega's emotions imitated Tech's flying style. There was a feeling of- Omega couldn't call it affection- loyalty at the voice. But there was also fear and apprehension.

She didn't want to hear this voice. She wanted Hunter's warm rumble, Tech's fond explanations, Wrecker's loving boom, or Crosshair's affectionate derision. She even wanted Echo's slightly grumpy tone.

She did not want Nala Se's clinical, cold orders.

Omega found Nala Se with her eyes. The Kaminoan scientist was standing at the entrance of the room. She looked just like she always had: completely placid.

"What is your condition?" Nala Se asked.

Omega swallowed down the urge to give Nala Se an answer and glared at her former caretaker.

"Where are my brothers?" She demanded.

Nala Se gave a slow blink.

"They did not wish to come back with you." She said.

"That's a lie." Omega said. "You sent those bounty hunters to kidnap me."

"You are the property of the Kaminoan government and I am your guardian. Clone Force 99 stole you."

"I left because I wanted to!" Omega snapped. "And I am not going back to Kamino!"

"This should not cause you concern, Omega." Nala Se said. "We are not going to Kamino. Tipoca City is destroyed."

"What?"

Omega- didn't know how to feel about that. It was where she had been born and watched her brothers' creation. But Omega had been hurt there, her brothers had been hurt, and every clone had been hurt on Kamino.

Omega recovered her wits enough to realize that Nala Se thought that was what was worrying her.

"I'm not going with you." Omega said.

Nala Se blinked again.

"You belong with me, Omega." She said.

"I belong with my brothers!" Omega said. "And they'll come and find me!"

"That is impossible." Nala Se said. "We are going to a secret Imperial facility. It did not exist in the Republic. There is no knowledge of it."

"That won't stop them." Omega said.

Her mind raced. Tech had taught her how to contact the Marauder long distance from any terminal. If she could just get to the ship's communications-

Omega darted off of the gurney. Her limbs were still a bit heavy, but she was confident that Nala Se still couldn't catch her.

Instead of crying out, Nala Se just stepped aside, allowing Omega to run past her. Omega ran into a pair of armored legs.

"Stun her." Nala Se said.

The trooper pointed his blaster at Omega.

Omega flinched.

THE DRAMA. Try to leave the Rebellion to protect Omega, and get Omega immediately kidnapped. Oops. I really enjoyed writing the Tech and Omega angst in this chapter. I've said it before, but Tech is so much fun to write. Kind of introducing some new OCs here. I'll expand on them later.

And yes, Wrecker had gotten Omega Mantell Mix that he spills when he sees Tech.

I headcanon several things that come forth in this chapter. One, all clones HATE being sedated. They didn't know if they would ever wake up again. Two, Tech has trauma regarding his goggles being taken. Three, Wrecker tends to over use bandages, because when he's treating his brothers, he's usually EXTREMELY WORRIED. So he subconsciously uses more. Four, Hunter is extremely sensitive to gases and other similar substances, due to his heightened senses.

That's all for now! I hope to see you all in around a month!