The Bad Batch: Oneshots

Malfunction P2

     Hunter held onto his ad'ika as he carefully scanned her over to make sure that she wasn't hurt anywhere else. His own breaths were shaky as he realized what had just happened. He wasted no time rushing her out of the winding tunnels and back into the humid temperatures. Luckily for them, the Marauder was in sight. He guessed that Tech must have moved it while he was out looking for Omega. Hunter noticed that she was starting to squirm, possibly still trying to fight the chip.

"Tech!" Tech turned his head upon hearing his name from the unusually panicked Sargent. It didn't take long for him to see what was causing the reaction though.

"Hunter, what's—" He didn't even get a chance to ask.

"Her chip, it activated when she hit her head trying to escape falling rocks. I-I had to stun her."

Tech could hear the extreme sense of sadness and regret in his brother's shaking voice. It must have been one of the toughest things for him to do. Seeing how much the effect of being chased by Wrecker had on him, must have been ten times worse now that it was Omega. At least they knew that Wrecker would be okay, but they had thought Omega didn't have an inhibitor chip so it could possibly be different. Perhaps, irreversible. Tech pushed the intrusive thoughts out of his head as he grabbed the device that he made especially for the chips. He had made some modifications. Now the device could suppress the order, for a little time at least.

"This should help her for a while." He placed the strip of metal on her head, pushing her blonde curls out of the way. "You'll be okay now, Omega," he whispered.

"Should we go back to Bracca?" Hunter questioned, still cradling the girl.

Tech shook his head, "No, it's too dangerous with the Empire watching our every move. We were lucky to find this planet without being followed. I-I have an idea though..."

Loud footsteps hammered on the ground, coming to a screeching stop in the doorway.

"You won't believe—" Wrecker's eyes landed on Omega laying limply in the Sargent's arms. "—What's wrong with Omega?" The excitement in his voice changed in a matter of seconds.

"Apparently she has a chip afterall—" Tech began.

"What? I thought she said she didn't have one," Echo cut in.

"It appears they lied to her, though I should have made sure of her claim on Bracca because of this situation right now." Tech bit his lip. He should have double checked. Of course the longnecks lied to a child about the surgical implant they placed in her head that she knew the purpose of. It all made sense. What was sickening to him was them making her think that she had some freedom of her own mind all while being secluded from her brothers.

"Well, how are we going to get it out of her head? It's not like we can go back to Bracca," Echo pointed out what Tech and Hunter were discussing prior to his and Wrecker's entrance.

"As I was telling Hunter, I have an idea. We have a lot of supplies on the ship, along with my device just in case, but..."

"You wanna remove 'er chip here? On the Marauder?" Wrecker asked, sending a nervous glance to his sister.

Tech gave a slow nod. "Yes. It seems to be the best option without risk of being interrupted by the Empire."

All eyes turned to Hunter.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Tech to get the job done, but more of all the possibilities of the procedure going wrong. He wouldn't ever be able to live with himself knowing that Omega died while they were trying to prevent that very outcome.

"H-Hunter?" Omega mumbled as her eyes fluttered open. Hunter jumped a bit at her sudden awakening. She sat up in his lap, holding a hand to her head which he had to slowly take away in case she tried to take off the device keeping her from going rouge again.

"What's happening?" She looked between each batch member. "...What? Why are you all staring at me like that?"

"You don't remember?" Hunter asked, astonished, "The caves?" He pressed on which he was met with a blank stare.

Omega shied away, looking down at her hands. "Did I do something wrong again?"

"No no, you didn't it's just—"

"Your inhibitor chip activated, Omega," Wrecker said softly, rubbing the back of his neck not sure how she would respond.

Immediately her hand went to her head. "B-But, Nala Se said I didn't have one. I thought..." Her breaths started to increase as she shook her head in disbelief.

Echo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. You haven't done anything. Tech was just saying how he has a plan to take it out."

"You do?" Omega turned to him with a glimmer of hope in her big brown eyes.

"With your permission Omega, I would like to do the chip removal here on the ship." Tech crouched down next to her, "But if you are not comfortable with it, then that is okay as well. We can search for a different solution."

Omega didn't need to think about it. She just wanted it out as soon as possible. "I trust you, Tech." She gave him a small smile.

Hunter grimaced, but he knew that it was her choice. Most importantly, she was making the right one. His overly protective feelings for her seemed to be affecting a lot of the decisions he wanted for her the longer she's been with them. He was always protective over his brothers, but when Omega came along it was just different. He knew that one day he would have to let her grow up and make her own choices without him, but that parental feeling in him would always be there like Suu had told him back on Saleucami.

"Are you sure, Omega?"

Omega looked up at him and gave a fierce nod. "Yes, I'm sure."

Hunter sighed, "Alright, Wrecker prep the table." Omega hopped up from his lap and followed Wrecker as Tech gathered the needed tools for the surgery.

"She'll be okay, Hunter." Echo caught his arm as he started to walk away. "She's a strong kid."

"Never said she wasn't," Hunter chuckled, "I just don't want anything to go wrong," he admitted.

"I know and neither do I, but this is the best chance she's got. It'll be over before you know it and soon the kid will be chasing Wrecker 'round the ship again." Echo gave him a reassuring look. Hunter would never say it aloud, but he took the role of her buir pretty seriously. The ARC smiled to himself as he left the Sargent.

"Ready?" Tech came up from behind the leader holding a series of sharp objects.

"...Yeah. Let's get that chip out."

Omega held Lula close to her chest as Hunter and Tech came to her side. She was stupid to have forgotten that the procedure would require her to be put to sleep and that meant she had to be injected with medicine to help her fall asleep. Echo and Wrecker each held her hands as Tech carefully pressed the needle into her skin. Minutes later she began to feel the effect. She laid down listening to the voices of her brothers as they began to fade away. The last seconds of being aware of the outside world, she felt Tech's device being lifted from her head. The pain of the chip's command was only brief before her heavy eyes stayed shut. She would be okay. She knew she would wake up and finally be free.

I have a long weekend so I'm trying to write more. I meant to get this out a few days ago but just didn't feel like writing cuz guess who got COVID. 😗 Thankfully feeling a lot better than Monday. Hope y'all stay safe and healthy! Happy Friday!!!

-Chop🧡💙🤍