🐺 ~PROJECT SAC-1~ ⚔️

Chapter 22 -🪵 Sticks and Stones 🪨

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Sergeant Hunter has received a taste of his own medicine!

After finding out that Agent Talla withheld information on their latest assignment, the enraged and insulted Bad Batch leader refused to hear out her reasoning, which was to alleviate some of the burden he was forcing himself to carry singlehandedly, which was against the code of friendship she had begun to grasp. As punishment Hunter benched Talla from participating in the action, giving her strict orders to guard the ship - a rookie's job and a severe insult to a fellow enhanced clone. This irrationality led to a chain of events ending with Tech sustaining a blaster bolt injury, which could have been prevented with some backup from Talla. It was a small hitch for the clone commandos, but a massive wake-up call for Hunter. 

Things could not go on as they were.

Under extreme duress, the stubborn and heavily guilty Sergeant reveals to Talla that he was designed to be the supporter, not one of the supported. He held firm to the belief that showing the weakness of unbalanced emotion to his subordinates, it would risk his losing their respect, and their trust in his orders. But after a firm lecture, given by someone who she hopes he sees wishes to be his friend and confidant so that these mistakes will not be repeated, Talla hopes that this the start of a beautiful, platonic relationship.

Meanwhile, Tech's bargaining has led him to reveal a tribute he wishes to integrate into their growing list of battle plans, and Wrecker does not take it well... 

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That blasted (but failed) Kamino invasion where beloved 99 died.

That disastrous (but successful) rebel base infiltration where Tech got shot.

Hunter (formerly) wanting to spill Talla's blood from Kamino to that rebel base.

It was a hellish week for the Bad Batch squadron.

So, while his brothers dropped off the rebellion leader at the Republic Military Base, Wrecker's feet had wings, so to speak, when he had another destination in mind: Nik's Parlor.

That's where his girlfriend-

(heh, even mopey he LOVED saying that)

- where his new girlfriend ran her side of the business from.

The sting over 99's death was still very much fresh, yet instead of wanting to continue hiding out, Wrecker now had hopes Skylar would offer physical affection like she tried on their first date... but this time he was open to accepting it. Maybe a hug could help put back together the shattered pieces of his heart, at the very least offer some relief. The weird butterflies in his tummy and hangover-like nausea would be a welcome sensation compared to the way his chest felt like it was being painfully crushed over and over again when he thought about 99's sacrifice, and how he couldn't even go the tiny funeral.

If nothing else, spending time with Skylar could give Wrecker a break from his grieving family. With everyone's emotions outta whack, even with Talla's help the batch of brothers kept getting on each other's nerves with their different coping mechanisms. It was probably to be expected, as death brought out the worst in people, Tech had so helpfully pointed out before Wrecker escaped. Talla happily tagged along with Wrecker, also needing a break, but at least her and Hunter had resolved their differences.