Bad Batch Oneshots

Content: Slight Gore

Omega scrambled behind the nearest crate as a barrage of blaster shots narrowly missed her. She clutched her bow to her chest, her chest heaving, as she tried to plan her next move. She heard the heavy footsteps of Imperials rushing by, shouting orders, shooting the crate she used at cover. She winced as a bolt whizzed past her face.

"Omega!" Hunter's voice blared from her comm unit. "Omega, where are you!?"

Hunter sounds mad, Omega thought, taking a deep breath and keying her comlink on. "I'm in the town square, but there are a bunch of troopers on me. I'm pinned down!"

"Why are you in the town square? I told you to stay on the Marauder!" Hunter shouted.

"I know, but—"

"Don't worry, Hunter, I see her," Wrecker cut in. A surge of hope spiked in Omega's chest, and she looked up to see a burly figure running toward her. Omega smiled broadly as Wrecker took out the incoming Imperials, diving behind the crate next to her.

"Wrecker!" Omega shouted.

"Hey kid," Wrecker laughed, raising his helmet off his head to look at her. "C'mon, let's get out of here, yeah?"

Omega nodded. She activated her bow as Wrecker stood, shooting at the troopers who arrived on the scene. Following her brother out of harm's way, she took down the remaining troopers, her confidence returning rapidly. Wrecker glanced behind his shoulder and stopped in his tracks.

"What is it—?" Omega started, following his gaze to see a small device beeping on the wall.

Wait—

Before Omega could comprehend what was happening, Wrecker threw himself over her with a shout. She hit the ground hard, her bow falling out of her hand, the sand underneath her shaking. The air turned unbearably hot as an explosion burst in her ears. She screwed her eyes shut as she went flying, wrenching away from Wrecker's grip. She tumbled across the square, the rough sand biting into her skin.

Just as quickly as the explosion started, it went away, leaving her ears ringing and eyes burning with smoke. Omega found herself disoriented, and it was impossible to tell which way was up. She pushed herself off the ground, shaking her head, and looked around. The fountain in the center was destroyed, its fragments littered across the scene. She touched her face to find a thin cut on her cheek, dripping blood.

"Ow..." Omega murmured, rising to her knees and gripping her wrist. Must be broken.

Suddenly, Omega gasped. Wrecker! She frantically searched the scene before her eyes fell upon a figure in the distance.

"Wrecker!" Omega shouted, standing and running toward him. She kneeled at his side and touched his cheek, turning his head to face her.

She bit back a scream.

Blood was smeared across his face, the flesh at his forehead marred and cut open. A lump formed in Omega's throat, and she covered her mouth in horror.

"C'mon, this way!"

Oh, no. Omega looked to see a pair of Imperials running toward her. She looked around for her bow, but she couldn't find it anywhere. Her stomach dropped. She glanced back at the Imperials, who raised their blasters—

Until a vibroblade pierced one's helmet.

Omega turned to see Hunter, Echo, and Tech storming the scene, taking out the final troopers. Tech and Echo hurried toward their siblings, and as Tech helped Omega to her feet, Echo kneeled at Wrecker's side. Hunter followed close behind.

"What happened?!" Hunter asked. His voice was amplified by his helmet's modulator, and he didn't sound happy.

"Wrecker came to get me, and we were trying to escape," Omega started, her voice trembling. "But then an explosive went off, and—"

"I told you to stay in the Marauder!" Hunter shouted. "What possessed you to go running about and get yourself into trouble? You were never meant to be there!"

Echo and Tech tended to Wrecker's wounds. Tech glanced over his shoulder with apprehension.

"I'm sorry, Hunter," Omega said, curling into herself as she grasped at her waist. "I knew I should've kept watch—"

"No," Hunter interrupted, yanking his helmet off with a flourish. "You weren't meant to be here, with us to begin with."

Echo whipped around at Hunter's words, mortified. "Hunter—" he started, but Hunter cut him off. He stepped toward Omega and jabbed a finger at her, making her flinch back.

"You may have managed to slip your way into my squad,, but you will never be a Bad Batcher."

Omega's fingernails dug into her skin as she stared up at Hunter. The anger written in his face burned an image in her mind. His heaving chest, knitted brows, the way he looked at her with pure fury...Hunter averted his gaze, instead focusing on Wrecker. He sighed and crossed the scene, tucking his helmet under his arm and kneeling beside his brothers. Omega watched him walk away from her without a second glance. Her vision blurred, her cheeks hot and wet. She touched her face, glancing at her fingers. Tears. She swallowed hard, screwing her eyes shut as she wiped her eyes, her chest hurting at the words that destroyed her heart.