"Good Soldiers Follow Orders...": A Bad Batch Story

C H A P T E R S I X

FERN'S POV

Not two minutes after we entered hyperspace, Lt. Lync called for a meeting around the holotable that was stationed in the center of the grand ship. I silently insisted I sit next to Echo with a glare at the only other female on the team. Xion Derpith. She didn't strike me as a soldier. In fact, she didn't reveal any sign she was a fighter. Did she even know how to shoot a blaster?

"Let's start with what we already know." Lync calmly said, seating himself between me and Hiro Yamm. He gestured to Echo. "I understand you are, or should I say, were a member of Clone Force 99, so you would know the most of them. What can you tell us that would be useful to this mission?"

I side-eyed Echo and I knew this what he meant when we needed to limit the amount of information we spill. It could a matter of life or death depending on what we say. "I had not been a member long. I only joined a few months before the war ended. My time with them was brief compared to other squads."

"How did you get that arm?" Hiro questioned bluntly. He was munching on a fiber roll and used to point to Echo's right arm, which was now a cybernetic socket that could perform the same duties as a droid. Echo flinched a little at the question and then cleared his throat. "I was injured and captured by the Separatists during the war. They turned me into...this, and used me a unwitting pawn for counterintelligence, accessing my knowledge of strategic Republic algorithms against the Republic itself. It was Clone Force 99 who actually saved me."

"Touching story." Hiro rolled his eyes, like he was hoping for a story with a lot more action. I balled my fist on my lap. Not just because of the blantant disrespect, but also because I was suppose to be on that mission to Skako Minor, but I had turned it down when I found out Hunter and the others were following under General Skywalker. Even today, I feel incredibly guilty for allowing my feelings towards Hunter to stand in the way of me rescuing an old friend...

"...I'm not sure why Hunter and the others had abandoned me and Fern, but hopefully we can find them and find out."

I blinked. I had completely zoned out during Echo's briefing, and unfortunately Lt. Lync seemed to notice. "Alright there, Fern?" he asked condesendingly.

"Apologies, sir." I averted my eyes, only to catch Echo's worried ones.

"I understand you are a defective clone just like Hunter and this Bad Batch? Perhaps you like to share why you were never part of the squad." Lync was attentive to details, I'd give him that much. However...

"Forgive me, but with all due respect, I'd rather not talk about it."

"It wasn't an option, Fern." The officer's smooth tone temporarily changed into something much more...menacing. I knew it, I gulped. His true colors were beginning to show.

"Long story short." I straightened myself in my seat, leaning forward on the holotable. I didn't try to hide the sass in my voice. "Hunter didn't want me on the squad when it first formed. We were partners before there was a 'Bad Batch' and we worked very well together. However, after our first and only failed mission, Hunter decided he was done with me and requested to the Kaminoans that I not be part of Clone Force 99. Does this satisfy you?"

Echo kicked my foot under the holotable. Damn... I wanted to kick myself. I spilled too much...

"Calm down, Fern," Lync chuckled. "No need to get worked up. I just wanted a simple explanation. And you delivered. Well done."

It took every cell in my body to not snap back with Don't patronize me! Lt. Lync was growing more and more irritating with every word flowing out of his mouth. Across from me, Hiro Yamm's permenant smirk made me want to punch him square in the nose. Xion's silence only made me nervous. I couldn't read her.