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

C H A P T E R S E V E N

THIRD PERSON POV

Hunter stared down into the drink he and his men were just handed. There was no way this wasn't drugged. The four defective clones of Clone Force 99 were seated in a line at a long bar at Hondo Ohnaka's headquarters. Across from them sat the one and only notorious pirate lord. Ear-piercing music and obnoxious drunk chatter from the pirate gang filled the chamber, irritating all four clones.

"I said it once, and I'll say it again!" Hondo exclaimed with a wave of his hand. He leaned back in his high-and-mighty throne with his boots propped up on the table. "I never! In my whole life! Though I'd see the day, when clones such as yourselves would come to me, seeking out Jedi AND the Sith! Outrageous!" He laughed in hysteria. "Now, now, now, you say you've come to me because of my reputation of working with both parties during the war, yes?"

"That's correct." Tech nodded, sliding his goblet of questionable liquid away from him. Next to him, Wrecker sat motionless, his narrowed eyes fixed on the center of the table. Crosshair sat on the other side of Hunter, chewing mindfully on a toothpick, watching the reckless crowd around and behind them.

"And you are correct!" Hondo slapped his hand onto the table, causing Tech to jump. "It was because of me there were so many victories for the Republic! And it also because of me the Separatists were allowed to trade through my sector! Of course, my averice also led to, to a bit of trouble, kidnappings and ransoms and such. Ah! Such fun and exciting it was to play double-agent! How unfortunate..." Abruptly, his charismatic attitude dropped like a stone in water. "For this new Empire to ruin all my fun."

"You got something to say against the Empire?" Crosshair sneered.

"Not at all, my friend." Hondo sipped from his chalice. "My business will continue to thrive even in this new galaxy. It does not phase me one bit. However, it was unpleasant to see so many great warriors fall, without honor, at the hands of those who served them through countless battles."

"Those traitors deserved what they received," Crosshair said. "and what the survivors will get once we track them down. You are proving to be a waste of time."

"A waste of time!" Hondo exclaimed. "It seems to me, clone, that you do not understand where you are!" The pirate then sighed, leaning forward onto the table. "Bah, I waste my breath. You clones do not know honor, anymore. I used to admire the loyalty and bravery you all immortalized. But now, my ears have heard of this 'Order 66', and you have become...good soldiers, yes?"

Hunter flinched at these words. He hadn't mentioned it to the others, but the itching in his skull had not receded. In fact, it had gotten worse since they had left Kamino and Hondo's words were making it unbearable. "Are you going to tell us anything, or not?" His tone caused Wrecker to size himself up in his seat, acting as a threatening figure to their host.

But, Hondo grinned, downed the rest of his drink, and tossed the goblet over his shoulder. "I will help you, but only because, I will benefit from it."

"Okay," Hunter nodded.

"There is a new force out there." Hondo spoke in a serious tone. "They are a tricky, but strong organization formed by the Emperor himself. They are Sith, tasked with hunting down the remaining Jedi in the galaxy, called Inquisitors. But I had heard rumors, that they are, restless and eager to gain power."

"And with that power," Tech affirmed. "They could overthrow the Emperor."

"Exactly!" Hondo grinned even wider. "You, the smart one, have got it!"

"So where can we find these Inquisitors?" Hunter questioned.

"Ah, well, that's the easy part." Hondo shrugged, gesturing for another drink and one was brought to him almost instantly. He took a swig and swirled the goblet in his hand. "They are Empire. You are Empire."