Hello lovely people!

THE SEASON 3 OF THE BAD BATCH IS GIVING ME EVERYTHING I COULD EVER WANT. The amount of AMAZING Crosshair content is *chef's kiss* It's funny, I always thought I was a bit indulgent in writing Omega and Crosshair in my fics, but nope, Canon Crosshair adores Omega.

Apologies if you're here for my actual fic and not my reactions to the Bad Batch season 3. If you actually do want to read some of my ramblings, I posted some on tumblr. You can find me xecutivecucumber.

Lothcat99: Hey, you are always welcome to come gush about Star Wars on my fics! And yeah, it doesn't look like we get the exact moment Crosshair finds out about Tech, but that's what fanfic is for.

Your comment about Crosshair not being able to find his toothpicks SENT ME. And don't worry, I have a- creative solution for Crosshair.

I'm definitely on the 'Tech is alive' theory boat, so don't worry, I am aware! And you'll have to wait and see what Ahsoka senses! And no, I'm not going to stop making you cry. It's my job. Apparently the Star Wars writers think that I'd write good Star Wars too, BECAUSE THEY KEEP STEALING MY IDEAS(I'm not serious lol) I would give my left foot to be able to do the what if series. Buuuut I would have it all focused on clones and prequel characters and I don't think that would fly.

OnelittleSpark18: You have no idea how much that means to me! Thank you as always for your kind words! And a reread sounds like a daunting task, I'm not gonna lie.

Mando'a translations at the end!

ABSOLVED: Chapter 42

The moment Crosshair woke up, he knew something was wrong. Besides the pain he could sense under a layer of painkillers, his eyes- something was covering them. A blindfold? Was he captured?

He recognized the small hand clutching his own. Omega. Not captured, then, unless something had happened as they were escaping. The last thing he remembered was searing, nauseating pain and Omega's voice pleading with him to live.

Well, he had. It wasn't pleasant at the moment.

"Crosshair?" That was Omega.

"What-" Crosshair rasped. He tried to lift his heavy hand to feel at his eyes. "What happened-"

He cut himself off with a painful cough. Only a moment later he felt the mouth of a canteen at his lips. A large hand lifted his head, helping him drink. Wrecker was here too, then.

"You got caught by a frag grenade." Hunter now spoke. "You were hurt pretty bad."

"I hadn't noticed." Crosshair said. "What about Echo and Tech?"

"We are here, Crosshair." Tech said. "Our mission was a success."

A measure of relief washed over Crosshair. They were all here and accounted for. He reached out with his other hand to find Omega's head. But why did they all sound so somber?

"Why aren't I in a tank?" He asked.

He'd been dunked for less.

"We needed to talk to you first." Hunter said.

Crosshair tensed at his tone.

"Spit it out." He managed.

Omega began stroking his hand in a comforting manner. He hated it.

"Your eyes were badly damaged in the explosion." Tech said. "We do not know the extent, but you will experience vision loss. Perhaps- even blindness."

Blindness.

Crosshair's ears filled with a ringing noise. His heart began to pound painfully against his ribs. Each breath felt like it brought him less and less air. That air stunk of antiseptic that he could taste even sucking air through his mouth. He could feel the bandages, uncomfortably tight on his head and the slimy feel of bacta.

It all overwhelmed him because it was all he had now. His lesser, insufficient senses. What was he without his eyes?

Nothing. His steady heartbeat and hands were useless without sight to guide them.

He had no one to blame but himself.

"Crosshair." Omega said, her voice deeply sorrowful with an edge of reproach.

The last time he had seen her, the last image of his sister was her broken and weeping. Afraid. And his brothers- harrowed, exhausted expressions. He wouldn't have the chance to replace those memories.

"You should have let me die." Crosshair said. "I should have died rescuing her instead of being reduced to this."

He heard Omega sob and felt her grip tighten.

"Don't say that!" She pleaded.

Crosshair knew he was a monster as he pushed her away and turned away from their voices.

"Leave." He said.

"Crosshair-" Hunter started.

"Go away." Crosshair snarled. "Let them kriffing dunk me already."

It was quiet. Crosshair would have thought that they actually did what he asked if not for Omega's quiet crying.

"Do you wish to be sedated?" Tech asked.

"Yes." Crosshair said without hesitation.

He hated being sedated, but to float there in complete darkness would be a special kind if hell.

"We'll be there, Cross." Wrecker said. "Don't worry. We won't leave you alone in there."

Crosshair pressed his lips together and said nothing.

"Come on." Echo said. "He needs some time."

Crosshair was relieved to hear their footsteps. He started when a tiny voice whispered to him.

"Thank you." Omega said. "For saving me. Please don't be scared. We'll take care of you."

Crosshair didn't know what to say. She was so endlessly kind.

"Omega." Hunter said.

Crosshair barely heard the padding of her feet as she left.

He lay there, waiting for the medics to come take him away. His anger roiled inside, and underneath, he tried to ignore the frigid fear that poisoned him. But a single thought returned to him again and again, becoming the last thing in his mind as he was sedated.

If given the chance, he would make the same choice.

Senator Amidala was light in Tup's arms. She had closed her eyes, resting against Tup's chest. He tried not to focus on that.

They walked in a covert line, Fives leading the way and Talon bringing up the rear. Jesse helped Scales with his good arm.

"Where the kriff is everyone?" Jesse said.

"It's a war zone." Fives said shortly. "They've gone, if they've got any sense."

The streets were hauntingly empty. Dirty, poorly maintained, but empty. The traffic lanes were just open space.

"There's been reports of rioting, remember?" Talon said. "They're probably destroying things."

"They won't listen to me." The Senator mumbled. "I can't stop them."

"We know, Senator." Tup said. "It's not your fault."

She'd been piping up with comments that almost fit the conversation for the last half hour. Tup wasn't too worried yet. The bacta patch he'd placed on her temple would help.

They all froze as the sound of a transport reached their ears. As one, they pressed themselves to the side of the nearest building.

"What's the ETA on that evac?" Jesse asked after the transport moved on.

"Twenty minutes at the earliest." Fives said. "Assuming they don't get shot down too."

Tup let out a long breath. Twenty minutes was a long time on the battlefield. They began to creep along again, trying to put as much distance between them and the crash site as possible.

"Anakin." The Senator said. "Anakin, is he all right?"

"Commander Tano's gotten him." Tup told her again. "And your children. They're all okay."

"Okay." Senator Amidala murmured. "They're- okay."

Let's hope we stay the same way. Tup thought.

As if the Force wished to prove him wrong, he began to hear shouts and screams. Blaster fire.

Fives raised his fist to signal a halt.

"We didn't deploy anyone down here." He said. "Rioters."

Tup looked around. They were on a main street and if he squinted, he could see the haze of blaster fire and billowing smoke straight ahead.

"Side street." Fives said.

They ducked into the nearest alleyway.

"They're heading straight for the Imps on our tail, if they keep going." Jesse said.

"Which would be fantastic if we didn't need to be on the main street for extraction." Talon said.

They looked at one another. Even with their helmets on, Tup could read the worry in his brothers. They were ARCs, yes, but Jesse and Scales wouldn't be much help and they had to protect a completely helpless Senator Amidala. Not to mention that the rioters were civilians and Tup didn't want to hurt them even in self defense.

The shouting was getting closer and Tup could smell smoke.

"These alleys don't lead to much." Talon said. He must have brought up a map of the area. "Kriff, we picked a bad place to land."

"We could stay out of the way." Tup said. "Tell evac to standby and wait for their fight to end."

"I'm no coward!" Jesse snapped.

"We have a mission, Jesse!" Fives retorted. "I don't like it either, but both groups would shoot us on sight."

"I know, but-"

Jesse was interrupted by a blaster bolt narrowly missing his head.

Tup whirled around to see a group of TK troopers charging at them from the other end of the alley.

"Kriff!" Fives swore.

He and Talon moved in between Jesse, Tup, Scales, and Senator Amidala and their attackers. They returned fire and Tup heard the sound of blaster fire hitting plastoid.

Tup tensed for a fraction of a second, torn between moving the Senator out of danger and firing at the enemy. He chose the latter and dove with her behind a trash receptacle. His unprotected back twinged. There weren't enemies behind him now, but there would be soon.

"Sorry, Senator." He said and tucked her securely against the receptacle. She looked at him with unfocused eyes and mumbled something that Tup didn't quite catch. Tup turned and used his body, the receptacle, and the wall to create a three sided fortification protecting the Senator. He glanced to his side. His brothers had taken cover as well, shooting at the squad of Imps. The enemy's numbers were dwindling, but Tup knew they were far from safe.

As if on cue, a storm of people charged by the entrance of the alley. Many just moved on by, but some- Tup clicked his blasters to stun as angry eyes turned their way.

They were trapped. TKs on one end, rioters on the other. Tup stunned the first civilian that rushed him.

"Stay back!" He shouted. "We are not your enemy!"

"That armor means oppression!" Someone screamed back.

Tup stunned them. And then, four more. Talon had joined him in stunning the crowd. Luckily, few of the people had blasters and they seemed to not be trained. But chunks of broken duracrete clattered against his armor. The bottleneck of the alleyway was a blessing, but Tup didn't know how long they'd last.

He also didn't know if he'd ever been glared at with such hatred before, not even on Umbara. These were the people he was supposed to protect, and they hated him.

The blaster shots were getting closer, some sparking off the wall. Senator Amidala gasped. Tup glanced back at her and then down. He felt- strange as he saw the glowing, round hole over his ribs. Only then did he feel the pain.

He sucked in an agonizing breath and kept shooting. He didn't have time to check how bad it was. His hand was shaking.

He noticed the next time he was hit- in the shoulder. His arm went numb and he slumped against the wall. He kept firing. He had to protect the Senator. Not just because of orders, but because she was worth protecting. He could hear her crying behind him.

Against all hope, the alley was suddenly flooded with the lights of a gunship. Many of the rioters scattered. Tup forced himself to his feet.

"Cover us!" He said to Talon.

Then he leaned down and pulled the Senator up by her arm.

"I'm sorry." He rasped. "We have to go."

He vaguely registered his brothers: Fives helping Jesse and Talon helping Scales. The clones on the gunship laid down cover fire for them.

"Tup?" Senator Amidala asked.

He didn't answer. He had to use all of his concentration on moving forward step by step. Finally, armored hands reached down to take her from him.

"Senator, are you all right?" He heard someone ask.

"She has a concussion." Tup managed.

He felt his legs collapse as soon as he boarded.

"Tup!"

Was that Kix?

Someone tugged his helmet off. He blinked and it was Kix hovering over him.

"I'm counting six blaster wounds." Kix was muttering. "Kriff, Tup, what were you doing?"

Six? He didn't remember getting shot six times. It was a lot, but based on Kix's tone, Tup didn't think he was going to die.

A gentle hand touched his. Tup turned his head to see Senator Amidala staring at him.

"Thank you." She whispered. "I get to go home. I get to see my family. Thank you."

She touched his head. It felt nice compared to the pain from his wounds.

"Please don't die." She said. Was she slurring or was Tup fading? "Please. You shouldn't die for what's left of the Republic. It never deserved you."

"He's going to be fine." Kix said. "Don't worry, ma'am. Please let Quack treat that head injury."

The Senator hesitated but nodded. Tup was glad. She needed- She needed to-

"That's right, brother." Kix said. "Don't fight the seds."

Tup's final thought as he slipped into oblivion was that he had done well. He'd protected one of the brightest suns in the galaxy.

The second the shields were up around Padme's ship in the Venator's bay, Ahsoka gave the order to retreat. She felt the Defiant shift under her and they were in hyperspace. Safe. The battle was over.

Ahsoka relaxed.

"We've made the jump." Gek's voice said from her comm.

"We have as well." Master Fisto reported.

"Excellent." Ahsoka said. "Have a good trip."

She clicked her comm off and watched Anakin carefully approach the gunship. The only reason he wasn't running, Ahsoka knew, was the twins he held.

"Mind giving me a hand over, cyar'ika?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka glanced over at him. He was perched on a crate, subconsciously cradling his residual limb. They'd had to remove Cettie once it had started shocking him.

"Of course." Ahsoka said.

She helped him up and put his arm around her shoulders.

Though, should you be straining yourself in your condition? Rex said in her mind.

His tone was teasing and Ahsoka nudged him.

Not a word to anyone. She told him. We don't have time for everyone to make a fuss over me.

My lips are sealed. Rex replied.

They were only a few yards behind Anakin when the gunship doors opened. Ahsoka felt tears fill her eyes as Anakin stepped forward.

"Padme?" Anakin called.

"Anakin!"

"Ma'am, wait!"

Ahsoka let out a wet laugh as a medic tried to keep Padme from leaping at Anakin. Anakin, laughing and crying, maneuvered one of the twins to her so they could embrace.

"You came." Padme said. "I knew you would. You saved us."

"I had to." Anakin said. "I couldn't let Palpatine hurt you anymore."

"Sir, I hate to interrupt," The medic said. "But the Senator has a concussion and needs the med bay."

"I'll take her." Anakin said. "Come on, Padme."

Padme saw Ahsoka and Rex as Anakin guided her by.

"Ahsoka!" Padme said. "Rex! You're all right!"

Ahsoka smiled and took Padme's free hand with her own.

"There's a lot to catch up on." Ahsoka said, squeezing it. "But we have time now."

There was so much. Padme didn't know about Ahsoka and Rex, maybe didn't even know about the chips. But Padme and the twins were safe with them. They could take their time.

"It's good to see you, ma'am." Rex said warmly. "It's been-"

He stopped short and Ahsoka felt him pale. She looked where he was staring and saw Kix guide a hoverstretcher out of the gunship. Tup lay on it, ashen and eyes closed.

"He's alive." Kix said once he saw Rex. "And he's going to stay that way."

Ahsoka helped Rex to Tup. Rex put his hand on Tup's shoulder. Ahsoka nodded to Anakin. He didn't need to stay.

"The others?" Rex asked.

"We're fine, Rex." Fives said as he helped Jesse from the ship. "Jesse broke his arm like a di'kut, but we're okay."

Relief surged off of Rex and Ahsoka felt the same. She noticed the two other ARCS disembark with grieving expressions and her heart sank. This hadn't been a perfect mission.

"Did my nat borns get out okay?" Fives asked.

"They're on General Fisto's Venator." Ahsoka said. "Come on, let's get Jesse and Scales to the medbay."

Jesse gave a dopey, pain killer filled grin.

"Good job losing your leg again." Fives told Rex as they limped after Kix, Tup, and the Skywalkers.

"This one can be rebuilt if we've got the resources." Rex said. "How did you end up with the Senator? Your mission was infiltration."

"It was. I ran into her and Cody-"

"Cody?" Rex demanded. "He's back? He's alive?"

Ahsoka winced. With everything going on, she had forgotten to tell Rex that Cody had been recovered. Fives raised an eyebrow at Ahsoka.

"Yeah, he's okay." He said. "He sprang Senator Amidala and we met up. We had Jesse and Tup pick us up."

"Where is he?" Rex pleaded.

His emotions were overflowing from his head to Ahsoka's.

"Probably with General Kenobi in the medbay." Fives said.

"What happened to General Kenobi?" Rex asked.

Fives gave Ahsoka another look, but didn't say anything. She let him give Rex the missing intel. Now that they were safe, the doubt began creeping over her again. Palpatine was alive because of her. He had escaped. She repressed the urge to search the galaxy for him in the Force.

"General Kenobi can have my socket." Rex said, breaking Ahsoka out of her thoughts. "I can get by with a normal prosthetic."

"It's a lot more difficult to attach a used cybernetic socket, vod." Kix called back to them. "Yours is keyed to your body. We'd have to deprogram it from you and then to General Kenobi. A lot can go wrong."

Rex deflated slightly.

"He'd appreciate the thought." Ahsoka murmured to him. "I'm sure we'll be able to get him cybernetics."

He tightened his grip on her.

Soon they reached the medbay. Ahsoka could feel Rex practically vibrating with emotion as they searched the crowded bay.

"Cody!" He shouted.

Cody looked up from where he watched a crowd of medics cluster around a bed.

"Rex!"

Cody pushed past medics to get to Rex and Ahsoka. He pulled Rex immediately into a keldabe kiss.

"You made it home." Rex muttered.

Ahsoka saw the strain in his hands as he gripped Cody's shoulders.

"Yeah." Cody said, a heaviness in his voice. "I'm sorry it took so long."

"I'm sorry we didn't come for you." Rex said.

Cody shook his head.

"You were right to stay away." He replied. "I was the one stupid enough to not get his chip removed."

"You're not the only one." Rex said. "I was lucky enough to have Ahsoka save me from my idiocy."

Ahsoka squeezed Rex's shoulder.

"How's Obi Wan?" She asked.

Cody's expression darkened.

"He's alive." He said. "But-"

He trailed off and Ahsoka could see the guilt bow his shoulders.

"If you were there, what could you have done?" She asked. "How could you have stopped it?"

"I could have been by his side." Cody said stubbornly. "He wouldn't have been alone when Maul mutilated him."

"No, because Maul would have killed you for interfering." Ahsoka said. "This is no one's fault but Maul's."

Cody sighed and eyed Ahsoka.

"You've gotten wise, if you don't mind me saying sir." He said.

"Thanks Cody." Ahsoka said. "And you don't have to call me sir. I'm your sister-in-law."

Cody's jaw dropped and Ahsoka couldn't help but laugh. Then a grin spread across his face.

"Well, good to have you." He said. "I'd say that you were the first married clone in the army, Rex, but Bly-"

His expression fell and Rex took his shoulder.

"Bly's okay." He said. "He and General Secura are back at our base. Wolffe's okay too, and General Plo."

Cody smiled again.

"That's good to know." He said. "Congratulations, you two."

He hugged Rex again, and then Ahsoka.

Can I tell him? Rex asked Ahsoka.

Not yet. Ahsoka said.

She knew something of pregnancy. She had looked into it as a guilty indulgence a few times. She knew that it was customary to wait a while to tell people, just in case.

Ahsoka swallowed and unconsciously put her hand to her stomach. What if she lost the baby after everything? After she had let Palpatine win?

Rex looked at her with concern, but before he could say anything, a large voice bludgeoned the crowd.

"CODY!"

Wrecker pushed his way towards them, Tech in tow. Before any of them could so much as breathe, he'd picked Cody up in a bone crushing hug.

"Hey, Wreck." Cody wheezed. "Where- where's the rest of you?"

"They are with Crosshair." Tech said as Wrecker let go. Ahsoka thought he seemed strained. "He was injured during Omega's rescue. It is good to see you unharmed, Cody."

"Omega?" Cody asked.

"Ah. You would not know." Tech said. "As you disregarded my warning and therefore became controlled by the inhibitor chip."

Tech's tone was sharp and Cody flinched.

"Don't, Tech. You think he doesn't feel bad about it?" Wrecker rumbled, before glancing at Cody. "Sorry, Cody. He was just worried 'bout ya."

He patted Cody heavily.

"How is Omega?" Ahsoka asked. "Is she okay?"

The warmth in Wrecker's face drained, as did any emotion in Tech's.

"No." Tech said flatly.

Ahsoka exchanged a concerned glance with Rex.

"Is she-" Ahsoka started.

"Her life is not in danger currently." Tech said. "But- she has been through a terrible ordeal."

Ahsoka's heart clenched. She hadn't known the young clone for long, but she had been so bright and full of life.

"Is there anything we could do to help?" Ahsoka asked.

Tech looked at her and she could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

"No." He said. "Thank you."

The lie was as obvious as the goggles on his face. Ahsoka frowned as Tech proceeded to explain Omega to Cody. The Bad Batch adored their sister. Losing her had nearly destroyed them. Ahsoka knew they would do anything for her.

Then why was Tech lying to Ahsoka if he thought she could help?

It took Ahsoka too long to realize that Rex was exhausted, his leg trembling. And the weariness that had been chasing Ahsoka was catching up.

"Cody, give Obi Wan our regards." Ahsoka said. "It's been a long day."

Cody, who had seemed dazed at the revelation of Omega, focused on them and nodded.

"An understatement." He said. "It's good to see you both."

He grasped Rex by the shoulder one more time.

"Welcome home." Rex said.

Ahsoka helped Rex out of the crowded medbay and to their private quarters. The quiet, dark room was a balm on Ahsoka's frayed nerves. By the sigh Rex let out, it was for him as well.

"Help me get this off." He said with a gesture to his armor.

Ahsoka gladly did so and relished the feeling of him so close. He was safe. He had survived. She saw him smile as her hands lingered over him. She sat him on the bunk to remove her own armor.

"C'mere." He said once she was done.

Ahsoka let Rex pull her onto the bunk. She sighed and tucked her head against his neck. He wrapped one arm around her and placed the other hand against her stomach. He was trembling, she realized, holding back his emotions.

Show me. She told him.

A tsunami of joy, anxiety, gratitude, and love swept over Ahsoka. She saw the nights Rex had laid awake, longing for what Cut had. The times he had held her as she slept, wondering if they would ever be able to fulfill their wish. The eternal love he already held for their child.

It was beautiful. Rex was beautiful. And their child was beautiful.

For a moment, she was at peace with her choice.

"When will it happen?" Rex finally asked. "Kriff, they barely told us anything about this. What's going to happen?"

Ahsoka smiled. She wasn't an expert, but she knew the basics.

"I'll be a little different from humans." She said. "I'll be pregnant for around five months. Maybe less. There are stories of JedI being able to- speed up gestation with meditation."

"Really?" Rex said, sounding fascinated. "That's so soon! So- do you have to do anything else to grow the baby?"

He sounded so innocent. Ahsoka took his hand from her stomach and began absently massaging it.

"Not really." She said. "At least, I don't think so. I never thought this would happen when I was young. We should probably do more research."

"Sounds good." Rex murmured. He kissed her head. "This- this would have been the happiest day of my life. If only-"

He trailed off, but Ahsoka knew what he meant. It had been a day of extremes. They had saved Padme, Cody, and many others. The clones were free. They had both survived and their family was going to grow. Their closest brothers and loved ones had made it.

But- poor Obi Wan's injuries, the deaths of so many clones, and the chaos they had left Coruscant in dragged those joys down. Not to mention the grief that now followed the Bad Batch, and not every clone had been so lucky as she and Rex had been. There were clones that they had been forced to leave behind. And- Palpatine lived and there had been that strange, unsettling presence that Ahsoka had sensed leaving the planet.

But right now, exhaustion and Rex's warmth overcame her guilt and grief.

She fell asleep to her husband's breath on her montrals as he whispered love to her and their child.

Mando'a:

Cyar'ika: sweetheart

Di'kut: idiot

From the top!

I'm becoming more and more dissatisfied with the way I wrote Omega and her captivity in this fic, especially with Season 3 of TBB coming out. I tell myself that this is season 1 Omega who goes through this, and she is less independent and skilled, but still. I feel like I'm doing her a disservice. I also think I write her a year or two too young. Hopefully I'll be able to change course easily enough.

I'm so sorry Crosshair, you're victim to my 'consequences' rule. But I have plans for you, don't worry. And he would do it again. Because as we see in Season 3, OMEGA IS HIS EVERYTHING.

Try not to die, Tup, I pulled lots of strings saving you. It's really fun writing him having the hugest crush on Padme.

Okay my mom/editor is so fixated on the fact that Anakin's face is half disfigured for some reason. She wanted Padme to mention it, but it didn't quite fit.

So a quick explanation on how I imagine cybernetics work. The socket, or part that directly connects to a body, is the most complicated part and has to be wired to a person's nerves. This is the expensive part. You can plug most anything into it, though, and have it work. Rex is worried they don't have the resources to get Obi Wan sockets, so he offers his like the sweetie he is.

Cody and Rex reunion!

Cody and Bad Batch reunion!

I would now like to request that every time Tech lies in a fic that we say it was as obvious as the goggles on his face because I love it.

Also, maybe talk to the Jedi, Tech. Secrets may not be the best idea right now.

And now for fluff. So much fluff. It felt so nice to write.

So yeah, at least in Legends, Jedi can advance the growth of their babies. Etain gets her baby to six month growth in NINETY DAYS. So basically double time. I also get to make up Togruta pregnancy.

The Kaminoans had no reason to give the clones detailed pregnancy lessons, besides to the medics maybe, and I love the idea that clones have no idea how pregnancy works.

We're getting to the wrapping up point of Absolved. I'm thinking we're going to have at least one more chapter in Absolved, and then a bridging chapter, and then we'll have to go on hiatus so I can plan.

That should be everything!

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