The Bad Batch: Oneshots

Paternal

The Marauder blew up a dust storm as the vessel came in for landing on the sandy planet known as Tatooine. The two sun's hung high in the sky, casting a bright smoldering glare through the back window of the gunner's mound area. Omega sat in the old, worn down chair, squinting with a hand shielding her vision as she stared out of the glass, interested by the new surroundings bustling market below the ship's perch. The batch was only there for a restock on rations and fuel, but any opportunity to explore new places was enough to excite the young clone. Omega quickly tied her shoulder length hair into a low ponytail just below the nape of her neck. Taking into account the hot, humid weather, she decided to leave her new clothes acquired from Lyana's closet as opposed to her winter gear from Lau.

Omega slid back the curtain to her room, instantly greeted by her brothers who sat just outside in the hold.

"Hey, kid! Like the change of scenery?" Wrecker smiled, nodding at the sand dunes stretching on for kilometers.

"What is this place?" Omega inquired, rummaging around her satchel for her last ration bar.

"Tatooine," Hunter answered, "we won't be here for long though."

Omega could sense his wariness.

"What's wrong with this planet?" she asked innocently.

"It's seedy, more so than Ord Mantell." Crosshair flicked his toothpick at the sergeant leaning against the wall of the Marauder.

"We needed the credits," Hunter huffed before turning his attention back to Omega. "It's not the safest, kid. Which is why you'll be staying on the ship."

"What?" Omega stopped mid bite. "But, you promised I wouldn't have to sit out on any more missions!"

Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose with a loud sigh. "This isn't a mission. I'm not risking the Empire finding you. We...We just got you back."

"I can take care of myself." Omega crossed her arms in defiance as she stood tall next to Wrecker, doing her best to mimic his firm stance.

"Omega, I'm not going to argue with you on this. My decision is final."

"Hunter, wait," Crosshair rolled his new wooden pick to the other side of his mouth, "the ship could be hijacked at any moment while we're out. Do you really trust her to fend off a group of scavengers all by herself?"

Omega tossed an offended glare at the marksman.

"Hey—"

"Be quiet, I'm trying to help you," the sniper hissed under his breath.

Hunter went still. Despite Crosshair's absence at the beginning of the Empire's reign, the flaw he pointed out reminded the sergeant of the Zygerrian incident. They were lucky Omega managed to escape without being seen. Who knows what would have happened if they had caught her. Hunter looked at Omega for a long second. She had grown so much physically, but more so mentally. She wasn't that little girl in the halls back on Kamino. The effects of the war had hardened her. She had to adapt, like them. As they trained her, her survival skills improved tremendously. He didn't doubt she could handle herself, it was the fact she would be putting herself in potential danger that he couldn't stand.

"Please, Hunter?" Omega begged,eyes wide and doe-like.

He always caved in.