To Heal Poignancy ■ TECH - The Bad Batch ■

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"You are?" Adla's tone held boredom and disinterest. She was not ecstatic in the people who wished to whisk Crosshair to Maker knows where, but it was important to learn who they were in case he disappeared.

The assistant fixed her glasses. "Emerie Karr, ma'am. Assistant to Doctor Hemlock."

She hummed. "He can be decommissioned from missions perhaps pertaining to the Empire, but he will still remain with me. He still works for me and remains under my care. Even if, let's say, the Emperor has an issue with this, he can come speak to me directly." Her eyes remained steady on the doctor and assistant. Her voice was firm. "That is my final word on this matter."

There was glint behind the hard look in Hemlock's eyes. Adla recognized that he was displeased, but she was not easily swayed. Unfortunately for him, she would not allow him to easily change her opinion. She was not the rest of the senate. His calm essence exuded distrust and harm. There had to be more that met the eye if Hemlock wanted someone who killed a commanding officer in his care so readily.

She remembered his earlier deflection. "Doctor Hemlock, I do not recollect seeing you around this facility. Are you new? Is there a reason you are fascinated by my guard?"

She succeeded in his departure. He remained calm and poised as he turned to make his exit. Before he completely departed from the doorway, he stopped and turned his head towards the wall so she could hear him.

"He will remain with you, for now, Senator." The threat was very clear now.

Adla waited a few more moments before she plopped herself onto the edge of Crosshair's bed. She let out a deep breath as her gaze drifted back to the unconscious Crosshair.

She didn't know who that man was, or what his purpose in the Empire was, but she did realize one thing. The look in his eye said that their conversation was far from over. He would return for the enhanced clone. She couldn't allow for that to happen.

Adla was now crunched on time.

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The Naboo Senator walked briskly down the hallway. She left Crosshair in the care of TC-6O. Her mind was still stuck on the doctor she knew nothing about. She didn't trust him, and she would be damned if he thought he could take Crosshair away to whatever womp rat infested office or lab he had.

She barged into Bail Organa's office unannounced. Bail sat at his desk, but the sudden intrusion caused him to stand up quickly and shout her name in surprise.

Adla quickly scanned the room, hoping whoever she looked for was still there and hadn't been shipped back to Alderaan. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the blue and white astromech.

"Can I borrow R2, Bail?" her gaze zeroed in on the senator.

Bail hesitated, "I don't believe that is such a good idea, Adla."

"Please. It's extremely important."

Bail Organa sighed but reluctantly agreed.

Adla grinned and calmly left the office with R2D2 in tow. She slowly and almost leisurely made her way back to her office to avoid suspicion. Once safely inside, Adla went to her desk and picked up a grainy close up of Doctor Hemlock.

"I have an important mission for you, R2. You're the only one I trust with this," she showed the droid the picture. "This is Doctor Royce Hemlock. He apparently works for the Empire. His assistant behind him is Emerie Karr. I need you to find everything you can on this guy. I just..." she dropped her eyes in thought. "I don't trust him, R2. He was too comfortable with me and the way he spoke to me to be new. A newbie in his position would have hightailed it out of there when I mentioned I was a senator. He feels secure in his position. I want to know why."