The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

The Ghost of the Desert

'Crosshair on the other hand is not much of a conversationalist but when you need to hit a precise target from ten clicks away, Crosshairs your man'

He heard them on a daily basis as he travelled through the desert, he had been left by the Empire long ago on Kamino where he met a bounty hunter who would not be named and helped him on the right path. He worked silently, using the natural weather to his advantage, the shadows of the dark sky during the night would help him remain hidden. 

Every day he would wake and see his brothers standing by his sides or against him. At first he didn't understand until he trusted a droid to remove the device in his head, the cause of his headaches, the one which destroyed his life turning him into the monster he is. Yes he was cold-hearted but not to the extent of what the chip has done to him. He had his limits and the Empire didn't care that he was out right murdering children and civilians. He couldn't live with himself and labelled himself unlovable.

He took up little jobs under a name which over the years had become a story the locals shared with any travellers, he lived in one place but travelled mostly. He wouldn't stay in one area too long and remained off radar especially when he heard over the comm chatter of both the rebels and Empires battles. 

One person knew he was alive and that was an older woman who had taken him in and helped him onto the right path. The same bounty hunter who saved his life after he almost took it. She was always there for him and was actually with the force but only he knew that. So when word got around that she died and many people found out she was a Jedi, he was quick to do as she asked and take her lightsaber and hide it. She has taught him the way of the force, little bits to protect himself since she could sense it in him. It was one of the main reasons why she believed the Empire kept him, almost like they knew. The village didn't question where her lightsaber was but when a group of rebels came in hopes to save her asked, only then did word get out. 

Crosshair! Pass over my grenade launcher, I want to show you something!

His head whipped left, he had ditched his helmet years ago and created a mask out of it with his helmet's features to keep himself hidden. Something was off, he looked down at the lightsaber on his belt and frowned, feeling something strange. He settled himself on one of the mountains in the desert and looked through his legendary scope only to frown. 

Three ships had landed in the village, he watched as the doors opened only to see more rebels who were recruiting others to fight. He grimaced seeing many volunteers while others ignored it all. 

"Ghost, we have a problem" 

Crosshair could only sigh, he knew who was on the other end. The one who watched over his ship. His best friend matched his attitude quite well. 

"Tinker, what is it?" 

"A couple of visitors have arrived claiming they work for the rebels and are asking for the ship's codes to access the data banks. They believe it's a stolen ship from a planet called Kamino, ringing any bells. I don't know what to do" 

"How many of them are there?" 

"Seven, one of them is a child" 

"What are they doing now?" 

"They are standing bored outside your ship, what do you want me to do?" 

"Stay put, I'm on my way. Activate the droids" 

"To kill?" 

"To watch over them, keep them alive and try not to destroy the droids" 

"Hey! I like recreating them, Ghost!"