𝗙𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 | anakin skywalker

✰ 71: long time no see

Akya and Anakin left the other three to the ship. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan took the first round of Balaans— Ahsoka won, so Rex played her next. As she and Rex continued their round, a beeping sounded from the bridge. All three heads turned to face the open blast door to the cockpit, then to face each other.

"Is it him?" Ahsoka asked.

"It has to be," said Rex, standing. "No one else knows the frequency. I gave them Fulcrum." He handed his cards to Obi-Wan. "Here, General," he said. "Play for me. Try and win this time."

Obi-Wan sent him a smile, then Rex went to the cockpit, closing the door behind him. Once he pressed the button next to the beeping light, a small hologram appeared over the control panel— it was the clone called Hunter, Sergeant of Clone Force 99. He and Rex had only met once before, but they were acquainted enough. Hunter was sitting, and he looked very serious. The hologram glitched again, and two more clones came into view— Echo, who stood just behind Hunter, and Tech, both members of the Bad Batch.

"Captain," he said.  His voice didn't sync with the hologram Rex was seeing just yet.

"It's been a while, boys," said Rex.  He knew they hadn't been expecting him to contact them, whatever side they were on. 

A short glitch happened, shaking the hologram— but it seemed to sync the sound to the pictures.  "We got your message," said Echo.  "What's so urgent?"

"It's a long story," Rex replied.  "But in short, I need your help with something."

"As long as it hasn't got anything to do with the Empire," said Hunter. 

This sentence seemed to answer Rex's burning question.  If Hunter didn't want anything to do with the Empire, that meant his chip was faulty, like he'd suspected.  That meant the same for the rest of the Batch.

"You're not with the Empire, I'm guessing?" he said, cocking a brow.

"No," said Hunter, crossing his arms.  "Are you?"

"No," he said. "I'm glad we made that clear."

"Did you have your inhibitor chip removed?" Tech chimed in.  "Or is it simply faulty?"

"Oh, it works alright," said Rex.  "But it's gone."  He tapped on a scar on the side of his head.  Funny to think that had only been a rotation ago— it felt like years had passed.  As if that were a different life.

"What exactly do you need our help with?" said Hunter, changing the subject. 

"That's not something I can tell you right now," he said.  "But long story short, I'm with a couple people who are supposed to be dead right now.  I can send you our coordinates, and you can come and meet us if you want more information."

"You can't tell us anything about this job?" Echo said.

"It's dangerous, risky, and treasonous," said Rex. 

"Sounds like a job for us," said Hunter. 

"So you'll do it?"

Hunter glanced at his two brothers, who both nodded.  Hunter looked back at Rex. "We'll meet you there," Hunter said.  "Send us your coordinates.  I've got something to show you, too."

"Good," said Rex.  He glanced at R2-D2 behind him, who was already prepping the coordinates for transfer.  Before he ended the call, he looked at Hunter once again.  "Thank you, Hunter," he said.

"Anytime."  Hunter nodded, and the hologram faded out. 

Rex turned to the droid behind him.  "Thanks, Artoo.  Transfer whenever you're ready."  Artoo beeped in accordance, and Rex opened the blast doors and stepped out of the cockpit.  Obi-Wan and Ahsoka turned to face him.

"How did it go?" asked Obi-Wan.

"They're coming," said Rex.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka both let out a sigh of relief.  "Good," said Obi-Wan.

"So their chips," began Ahsoka, "they malfunctioned?"

"They're faulty," Rex said.  "They don't work."

"I say once they get here, we take them out anyway," said Ahsoka.  "Just in case."

"I agree," stated Rex.  He sat down at the seat beside Obi-Wan, and looked from Jedi to Jedi.  "So. Who won?"

Ahsoka smiled. 

— ★ ✰ ☆ —

After returning the speeder bike, Akya and Anakin walked back to the ship. They'd taken a couple moments together at Shmi's grave then left, and hadn't talked much on the ride back. When they boarded the ship again, Ahsoka, Rex, and Obi-Wan were all sitting in the ship, talking. All heads turned to face them once they walked into the common area.

"You're back," Obi-Wan said.  "Good.  Sit." He stood up.  Akya and Anakin glanced at each other, shrugged, then sat, as Obi-Wan had told them to.

"What happened?" Akya asked. 

"Nothing," said Obi-Wan.  "Well, nothing bad.  We're coming up with a plan."

"Is Clone Force 99..." Akya wasn't sure how to word it.  "...not coming?"

"They're coming," Obi-Wan nodded.  "Either way, we have to come up with a plan.  With the Bad Batch on our side, we don't have to split up.  The four of us will deal with Palpatine while the clones stay outside."

"How do you know where he is?" asked Akya.

"He's in his office," said Anakin.  "He's always in his office.  It's where he's most guarded.  Most discreet.  It's his base of operations."

"There we go," said Obi-Wan, gesturing to his former Padawan.  "Anything else you can tell us?"

"It's heavily guarded," Anakin said.  "Especially now, with clones all over the building.  We're going to have to take his personal guards, too."

Akya sighed.  "This should be a much bigger operation."

"We don't have that kind of luxury," said Obi-Wan.  "Trust me, I wish we did."

"Well, at least we have the Bad Batch, right?" said Ahsoka.  "You're right.  This should be a bigger operation.  But this is all we can do right now."

"Actually," said Obi-Wan, hand on his chin in thought, "I might know someone else who can help us."

"What?" Akya said.  "Who?"

"I'm in contact with Bail Organa," said Obi-Wan.  "He'd been harboring Master Yoda until he went into hiding.  Senator Organa will be willing to help us, whether that be artillery, ships, or money."

"What about Master Yoda?"

"He left the senator about one rotation ago," said Obi-Wan.  "He didn't tell us where he was going."

Akya sighed.  "He would be a great help."

"I don't know," said Anakin.  "I think this is something we have to solve on our own.  I caused this.  I want to fix it."

"And we're going to help you," said Akya, putting a hand on her husband's back. He smiled at her in thanks.

Ahsoka nodded in agreement.  "We're with you," she said.  "All the way."

a.n:

I feel like that last couple of lines was kinda cringe but i don't really care because it's also something they would say in the clone wars show. like you cant even tell me im wrong.

anyway here we go!! and also i like wrote this when i was on bad batch brainrot but like im literally so glad i was able to incorporate them into this.  i love my guys! unfortunately the first episode of tbb had already happened at this point in the events so i wont be able to make them a full happy family with crosshair. :(

don't forget to vote!

Molly