"Who we are never changes, but who we think we are does."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Cid better pay us extra for that mission." Echo said as the group left the Marauder.
"Eh. It wasn't that bad." Wrecker shrugged.
"She failed to mention that the drop zone would be swarming with Gundarks." Echo snapped.
"I hate to break it to you Echo, but I think she might be purposely excluding those kinds of details." (Y/N) teased the frustrated clone.
"It is not the first time she has left out key details." Tech turned to the squad.
They made their way through the bustling crowds on the street of Ord Mantell. It was pretty obvious though that something was up. There were strange guards walking along the street near Cid's bar. The guards were wearing helmets concealing their faces, but their heads turned towards the squad as they walked into Cid's parlor. It didn't go unnoticed by (Y/N) that they had their hands on their blasters.
Cid's parlor was full of life. Citizens mixed with the guards were crowding the area. It was strange, as the bar wasn't usually crowded.
"When did this place get so popular?" Echo questioned.
"And who are they?" Tech gestures to the many guards walking around the parlor.
"Not our problem. Let's find Cid." Hunter scanned through the crowds quickly.
The squad began to walk towards Cid's office,
"Where do you think you're going?" They asked forcibly.
That earned the guard a punch from Hunter before being thrown into the wall by Wrecker, knocking them unconscious. (Y/N) felt little to no remorse for the guard. The squad walks through the door to Cid's office, Hunter stormed in, (Y/N) right behind him. The room had two guards seemingly conversing with someone in Cid's seat. As soon as the guards heard the door open, they whipped around and pointed their blasters to the squad. Without a second thought, the Bad Batch had drawn their weapons in retaliation. (Y/N) had both her blasters drawn at the guards as she hid Omega with her body from potential harm, her eyes filled with focus and determination.
"It's rude to barge into one's office unannounced." The squad's eyes glance at the Devaronian sitting in Cid's seat with her feet on the table.
"I missed the part where this is your office." (Y/N) grit her teeth.
"Are you sure about that?" The Devaronian lifted his feet off the table, he was holding Ruby in his arms,
"Ruby?" Omega asked.
"She's my prized pet."
"What are you doing with her?" Omega clenched her fists.
"I paid. Cid delivered." The Devaronian man said as he stroked Ruby's feathers.
"And where is Cid?" Hunter asked, his blaster still raised.
"Cid's out. This parlor and Ord Mantell are now my territory." The Devaronian man stood up and walked around to the front of Cid's desk.
"But if you're looking for work, I might have use for you." He placed his hands on the two guards' arms, having them lower their blasters in a sign of peace.
(Y/N) crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, we don't do business with people who just waltz in and take over." She remarked.
The Devaronian's gaze shifted to (Y/N), curiosity lighting up his eyes. He took a step forward.
"And what's your name, beautiful?" he asked, his tone dripping with flirtation.
(Y/N) rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she responded coolly, her voice laced with sarcasm.
The Devaronian's smirk widened, clearly amused by her defiance.
"Feisty. I like that," he said, his eyes raking over her appreciatively. "You'd make a stunning prize."
Each member of the Bad Batch reacted with visible shock. Hunter's eyes narrowed, Wrecker's fists clenched, Omega's face hardened, and Echo's jaw tightened. But it was Tech who reacted most strongly. His normally composed demeanor shattered, replaced by a livid and jealous protectiveness. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and his eyes blazed with fury.
In an instant, the Bad Batch stepped in front of
(Y/N) protectively, forming a barrier between her and the Devaronian. Hunter's voice was a low growl as he spoke.
"That's not going to happen."
Tech reached back and grabbed (Y/N)'s hand, his grip firm yet gentle. (Y/N)'s eyes widened in surprise, a flush spreading across her cheeks. She looked up at Tech, momentarily flustered, but she didn't pull away.
The Devaronian raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the display. "Interesting," he said, his gaze lingering on (Y/N) before he shrugged.
"If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."
XXXXX
"We're getting off Ord Mantell." Hunter spoke quickly as the squad made their way back to the Marauder.
"Tech, prep the ship. The rest of us will gather supplies." He told the squad.
Tech looks at Hunter, the sergeant raises an eyebrow at the fact (Y/N) and Tech are still holding hands, fingers intertwined. (Y/N) pointedly avoids looking up, oddly enough finding the ground rather interesting.
"But what about Cid? What did he mean when he said she was 'out'?" Omega asked.
"Given his tone, it is a plausible assumption that Cid was either forced out or taken out." Tech explains, his grip on (Y/N)'s hand tightening ever-so slightly.
Omega runs up in front of the squad, causing them to stop and look at her.
"Well, we have to find her and help her." Omega says, exasperated.
"Well that won't be very hard." (Y/N) gestures her head to behind Omega, the squad follows her gaze.
(Y/N) had sensed Cid's presence before the young girl had even finished talking.
"Nice to see one of you cares." Cid says, leaning up against the Marauder door frame.
"Inside. Now." Cid demands.
XXXXX
"So you guys met Roland. He's a former client and the son of crime boss Isa Durand. Roland's trying to make a name for himself by joining up with the Pykes." Cid puts her hands (talons?) on her hips.
"Who in their right mind would join the Pykes during this time?" (Y/N) raised an eyebrow.
"Good question, it's a stupid decision on his part." Cid answered.
Bolo and Ketch, who were playing holochess behind Cid, nodded in agreement.
"What's he doing on Ord Mantell?" Hunter asked.
"This port's connected to multiple hyperspace routes, ideal for smuggling. My parlor's right in the middle of the action. Roland saw the value in it and took it." Cid said bitterly.
"But we are taking it back." Cid pointed to herself and the squad.
"We?" Hunter made the same gesture in a questioning manner.
"If I lose, you lose. Don't forget how good I've been at keeping secrets." Cid took a step toward Hunter.
"I believe she's threatening us." Tech raised a finger from his right hand, since his left was still intertwined with (Y/N)'s.
"You're quick." Cid said sarcastically.
"When we needed help, we came to Cid, remember? Now she needs help. We can't just walk away." Omega stood in front of Cid defensively, and Cid shrugs her arms in response.
"You tell 'em, Tiny." Cid puts a hand on Omega's shoulder.
Hunter sighs, defeated.
"So, what's your plan?" (Y/N) asks.
XXXXX
"My sources tell me that a buyer is meeting Roland tonight to acquire a shipment of spice he's storing in my back office." Cid says as she guides the squad through the city.
"You want to disrupt his supply chain by stealing the shipment and thereby sabotaging the deal." Tech realizes.
"Very good, Goggles." Cid said.
"So when the Pykes come to collect, Roland won't be able to pay." (Y/N) says.
"-And he'll be their problem." Cid finished (Y/N)'s thoughts.
The squad walked down an alleyway, stopping at a box of crates, Cid places her staff against some crates and moves the items off to the side, revealing a ventilation system. Cid pushes a button and the vent opens.
"Start climbing."
Each squad member, one-by-one, made their way carefully down the ladder into the dark passageway. Hunter went first, then Omega, Echo, and Wrecker. Tech held onto (Y/N)'s hand to help her down the ladder, and she thanked him bashfully before letting go to begin her descent. Tech went after her, and she swore she heard Cid say something to Tech before she came down too.
The passage was dark, so each squad member had their flashlights out, Cid had leant two flashlights to Omega and (Y/N).
"Where are we?" Hunter asks.
"Ord Mantell's old mining tunnels. These run underneath the city. It's how we're sneaking into my parlor to steal the spice." Cid answers.
"Well, why don't we just walk in there and take it? We can handle those guards." Wrecker suggested, cracking his knuckles.
"No one can know we're involved. Roland is one thing-" Cid began.
"-But the Pykes aren't an enemy you want to make." (Y/N) finished, her mind flashing back to when her, Obi-Wan, and Anakin went to investigate what happened to Master Sifo Dyas.
Cid turns to the mine carts behind her, the carts were suspended in the air with a pole in the middle securing it, for transportation for miners.
"We'll use these carts to transport the crates of spice." She says.
Tech hops on the cart.
"They're not in the best shape, but I can get the motors operational." He said, his analytical mind already thinking of solutions.
"No. Motors are too loud. This is a stealth mission. You guys are good at that, right?" Cid answers, turning towards the squad.
(Y/N) looks at Wrecker, not forgetting all the times the squad was on a stealth mission during the Clone Wars and Wrecker's hunger for droid-killing cost them some intel.
"Pretty Face, Goggles, Tiny, you're with me." Cid gestures to the mine cart, urging the three to hop on.
Omega goes first, cautiously hopping over the gap between the platform they were standing on and the cart. (Y/N) goes after the young girl, the cart wobbles, which is surprising, considering how graceful (Y/N) is. Tech goes after her, going to the front of the mine cart to help Cid get the cart manually moving. As the cart starts moving, (Y/N) could hear the others not far behind her.
The creaking and rattling becomes a constant annoyance, but they continue through the winding caves before coming to a stop in front of a faded yellow door. Cid turns around to the others.
"Now listen up, when we pass through those doors, not a peep out of anyone. We don't want to wake the hive." Cid says as she turns back around.
"The what?" Echo questions, dumbfounded.
"The caverns have a slight... infestation problem." Cid explains vaguely.
"We're not afraid of a few bugs." Wrecker chuckles.
"Well, it won't be a problem if everyone keeps their traps shut. Big guy, get the door." Cid tells the giant.
Wrecker nods before getting off the mine cart and onto the platform they had stopped at. He forces open the door slowly so they could clearly see into the other area. Thick, white webs covered the passageway. (Y/N) gulped before the mine carts started moving into the forest of webs.
(Y/N)'s ears picked up on the distant screeches of whatever creature was hiding down here. The group passed a hole in the ground, most likely where the creatures were nesting.
"Wha- What was that? Oh!"
(Y/N) turned behind her to Wrecker, just in time to see him drop his flashlight. It landed damn smack in the middle of the hole. The squad watches in horror, expecting some kind of insect attack. Cid turns her attention from the flashlight to Wrecker.
"What did I say?!" She whisper-shouts.
"It was an accident!" Wrecker scoffs.
(Y/N) wasn't concerned about that, but instead the rumbling that came from below the group, and the screeching getting louder. The group tenses up at the noise, and Omega looks at (Y/N) uneasily. (Y/N)'s jaw clenched, but then the screeching faded away, still, a frown remained on her face.
"Keep moving." Hunter urges the group.
Cid shakes her head disapprovingly at Wrecker before continuing forward. It wasn't long before they made it to the end of the passageway.
"We're here." Cid tells them.
(Y/N) exits the mine cart, examining the ladder that presumably led to Cid's office. Tech and Omega behind her. Wrecker is audibly panting from the pumping to get the cart moving.
"This ladder leads into my back office."
(Y/N) and Tech stick their flashlights upwards to see how far up the ladder goes.
"Up you go." Cid told them.
"Without eyes on the office, how do we know Roland is not inside?" Tech turns to Cid as she begins to walk away.
"I've got that covered." Cid pushes a button, on what looks like a comm device, which beeps.
There's a little bit of a ruckus that only Hunter and (Y/N) can hear due to their heightened senses, there's some angry yelling that gradually fades away as Roland seemingly leaves the office.
A voice from the comm comes in, it sounds like Bolo.
"All clear."
Tech goes first, he puts his flashlight away, and relies on (Y/N)'s light to climb up the ladder. Once he makes it to the trapdoor, it takes a few tries, but he's finally able to force it open. He peeks his head through before saying,
"All clear."
He ascends through the trapdoor, (Y/N) right behind him. Tech turns around and offers a hand to help. (Y/N) cocks her head slightly with a grin before taking it. She steps into Cid's office, with Tech's arm around her waist. (Y/N) blinks owlishly at the engineer, before she pulls away and wrinkles her nose at the sight of Cid's trashed office.
Echo comes up after (Y/N). Tech is still watching her as she looks for the crates of spice.
"What? Not gonna help me into your arms?" Echo sarcastically asks.
Tech's cheeks burn with embarrassment at being called out in front of (Y/N).
Echo helps himself into Cid's office and points his flashlight at a shelf. There's a couple of shelves with rats eating some fruit on it.
"Ugh. And I thought Wrecker was a slob." Echo remarked.
(Y/N) found the keypad on the wall, opening the door to the spice. Tech, Echo, and Hunter follow her.
"Can the commentary. Roland won't be gone for long." Cid's voice cuts through the comms.
(Y/N) let Tech go in front of her to open up the crates. He opens them and takes a wrapped, white package out and scans it with his datapad. His datapad beeps in confirmation.
"Six crates of spice confirmed." Tech tells them.
"Here, hand it over." Wrecker calls from the trapdoor.
The group starts to slide the crates of spice towards Wrecker, who puts them down in the passageway for Cid and Omega to move to the mine carts. The squad had gotten a couple crates secured before Cid's voice rang out on the comms again.
"Out of time, guys. Get the last two crates." She tells them.
"I'll seal the door." Echo says as he lets go of the crate of spice he was pushing and runs to the door.
Echo puts his scomp into the control panel at the door, sealing it off from the inside. (Y/N) resumes her work, taking the crate Echo had previously left, and pushing that towards Tech. As they hustled to get everything done, (Y/N) could hear voices and footsteps getting closer and closer.
"Here! It's the last one!" (Y/N) said as she pushed the last crate to Tech.
Once Tech had pushed the crate to Wrecker, Hunter went back down, and (Y/N) and Tech waited for Echo, who was still at the door. She could hear the guards struggling to open the door to Cid's office.
"Times up! We gotta go, soldier!" (Y/N) whisper-shouted to Echo, who got up and ran towards the pair.
(Y/N) descended into the tunnel first, skipping the last couple bars of the ladder, and landing silently. Echo came down next, followed by Tech. Just in time too, (Y/N) heard blaster fire from above them, indicating that Roland and the guards had busted down the door.
(Y/N) hopped onto the mine cart with Tech, Cid was still securing the spice, but it would have to do for now.
"That's secure enough. Let's go." Cid tells the group.
Both Tech and Cid grab the opposite ends of the pump system to make the cart move quicker. Hunter, Echo, and Wrecker right behind them on their mine cart.
It doesn't take long for (Y/N) to realize the guards are following them. She moves to the end where Omega was standing with her flashlight, and turns hers on to get a glimpse of them.
"Karabast!" (Y/N) yelps as she brings Omega down to duck the incoming blaster fire.
Wrecker grabs his blaster and starts shooting back at the guards.
"We've got incoming!" He yells.
"I said no blaster fire!" Cid retorts from where she was pumping.
"I don't think they care!" (Y/N) says, putting her flashlight away and taking out her blaster.
Elves can see pretty well in the dark anyway.
(Y/N) lined up for a shot as Hunter, Echo, and Wrecker ducked down from the guards shot at them. (Y/N) shot one of the guards in the shoulder, causing him to fall off the mine cart and into the web-infested cavern. Hunter suddenly pulled the bar on the cart he was in, causing the cart to screech to a stop. Two of the three remaining guards got up and readied their blasters, but only one braced for impact. The cart the guards were riding in slammed into the squad's cart, and the two guards standing fell right over the railing with a scream. Hunter turned back around to try and get the squad's cart moving, but (Y/N) spotted another cart of guards incoming.
Without even really thinking, (Y/N) channeled the Force and lept from Cid's cart to Hunter's cart, ignoring all the cries of shock and protest from everyone. (Y/N) ran and hopped into the cart that the guards had previously fallen off of. She puts the cart in reverse and as it starts going backwards towards the incoming guards, she jumps to Hunter's cart, landing right in Hunter's waiting arms. Hunter steadies her, then the two look back just in time to see the empty cart ram into the cart with the incoming guards, knocking them all off.
"That was- wow." Hunter had is eyebrows raised in surprise.
(Y/N) smiled proudly. But she and Hunter missed the look Tech had made upon seeing them so intimate with each other.
As they continued forward, a rumbling noise was heard from below, in the web-infested hole.
"Cid, I don't like this." Omega said, unsure.
Cid stops pumping to look over the edge. There was an almighty shriek from below that was slightly painful to (Y/N)'s sensitive ears.
"I have a bad feeling about this." (Y/N) announced, looking down below the carts.
Sure enough, not even a parsec later, a massive swarm of these beatle-like creatures were swarming around the group, screeching incredibly loud.
"Power up the engines!" Cid yelled over the screeches.
Wrecker pulled a lever in the cart and the squad was thrusted forward.
(Y/N) turned her head and internally groaned at the incoming mine cart with guards on it.
"We've got more guards coming our way!" She yelled.
But fortunately, the guards were unexpectedly taken care of by the bugs. (Y/N) pulled out her blaster along with Hunter, Wrecker, and Echo and started shooting at the bugs. There were a lot.
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