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

C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

THIRD PERSON POV

Even though Rex had gone after Fern not long after she rushed off the ship, he lost any sight of her. He scoffed to himself, knowing this was the work of her enhanced skills. Her agility and flexibility allowed her to disappear without a sound. He knew she wouldn't go far though, because she knew her duty to her and Echo's mission.

He found her atop of the underground hangar, overlooking the Florrum city in a state of despair. Rex had known the female clone for years, but he had never witnessed her without some sort of smirk and a quick joke. This new Fern worried him, that her mindset was no longer focused on the mission.

"Did you think you could give me the slip with those skills of yours?" he quipped, sitting next to her. Fern sighed in a huff. "No, that wasn't my intention. If it was, you would never find me."

"Fair enough." Rex chuckled, resting an arm on his propped-up knee. "The padawan's death... it's really weighing on you."

"Very perceptive, Captain." Fern mumbled in her arm.

"Come on, Fern." Rec closed his eyes. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"I promised her..." Fern sighed again. "Hondo would've protected her with his life. She would've been free to live her life with someone she trusted."

"We can't save everybody." Rex said. "The war should've taught you that."

"I understand." Fern growled, a little too agressively.

"But we still try, don't we? Just like we are going to save Hunter and the others. That chip in their heads is very dangerous, even with the modified version of what they believe to be Order 66. Right now, it seems like they are doing the galaxy a favor, hunting down these Inquisitors, but they have become massive targets now by the Empire. Even the infamous Bad Batch can't take on the whole Imperial army."

"Hunter," Fern scoffed. "I know what you say is true—that's why I'm doing this. But, if we're being realistic, Hunter doesn't want me of all clones coming to his aid."

"Still hung up on that mission, huh?" Rex shook his head.

"It's not just about the mission." Fern rolled her eyes, irritated. "Hunter rejected me from Clone Force 99 when it first formed because of it. We were the greatest duo in the Galatic Republic Army, and he just threw it all away." She threw up her hands, exasperated.

"You're really sold on that story, aren't you?"

"What? Oh, let me guess, Hunter claims I'm the one who rejected him?" Fern laughed, but just as quickly stopped when she saw the captain's reaction. "No...Really? I—I was joking."

"I'm just telling you that's what Hunter told me when I asked him."

"That's complete nonsense!" Fern slapped her legs in frustration. "Nala Se told me—"

"Nala Se?" Rex raised a brow. "Not Hunter directly?" Fern's mouth formed a straight line, and Rex couldn't help but laugh. "It seems you should've gotten your story straighten before overreacting. Nala Se had told Hunter you wanted nothing to do with him after that failed mission. It seems, Nala Se told you the same thing."

"Those Kaminoans..." Fern growled through her gritted teeth. "If I ever see Nala Se again, I'll make her wish she never created me."

"Hunter cares a great deal for you." Rex placed a hand on the female clone's shoulder. "And I know you do, too, despite the aggressive facade."

"Who cares if I do?" Fern's mouth twisted. "If there was supposed to be anything between me and Hunter, then it would've happened. Besides, clones are not created for that...purpose." She struggled to say that last word.