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“Word is the generals staff isn’t completely behind this mission.” Hunter said, as he walked through the base, Rex and Skywalker by his side.
“I admit, the idea that Echo is still alive is a long shot.” The blond captain sighed, sounding both tired and worried.
“I’m sure the council will approve the mission.” General Skywalker said, his arms folding across his chest. “Just remember, the primary goal is to learn how the Separatists are predicting our strategy, whether it’s Echo behind it or not.”
“Well, if you want my opinion, sounds like a trap,” The sargent remarked, “But me and the boys will tag along anyway, if only to say ‘I told you so’.” Hunter had to admit, he was almost on the same page as the general’s staff on this one. But a mission was a mission and he and the Bad Batch were never ones to shy away from difficult tasks. It did concern him that Rex seemed to have an unusual emotional investment in this mission. If it was a trap, the general and his captain would have a much better chance getting out of trouble if his team were with them. So reluctantly, he’d go along with the crazy fool’s errand.
“Just make sure you’re ready if we get the go-ahead from general Kenobi” Skywalker said.
“If you’re certain he’ll approve the mission, why wait? Let’s get going!” Rex said pumping a fist, eager to jump headlong into danger. The Sargent had to give him credit. The Reg didn’t back down from a challenge either.
“First, we have that ‘thing’… to do.” Anakin said, swatting Rex’s arm with the back of his hand. Rex looked confused for a moment.
“Uh, what thing?” The captain asked stepping closer to his general, brow furrowed. What the hell had he forgotten? Was there a meeting he’d let slip his mind?
“You know.” Skywalker said lowly, giving him… THAT look. Rex instantly remembered. Almost kicking himself. Honestly, he was too tired and worked up for these antics right now. He had to resist the urge to roll his eye’s hard.
“We don’t have time for that, sir.” Rex said quickly, his eye’s darting to Hunter, only to find the other clone looking at them strangely. Clearly aware they were talking about something the general wanted to keep secret. Anakin didn’t seem to care about the other clones presence and turned to face his captain fully. His young handsome face calm but his eye’s betrayed his dogged determination.
“Yes we do.” Skywalker said simply, inclining his head a little and raising his eyebrows.
They were so caught up in their secret conversation; that they didn’t see Hunters sharp grey-brown eye’s fliting back and forth between them throughout the exchange. His heightened senses picking up some… very interesting things. It wasn’t desperately clear but… from the way they were acting. He thought he could put two and two together. The Sargent rolled his eye’s briefly,
“Well, I’ll let you two sort this out.” Hunter said, the barest amused tone in his voice. Raising a hand to stop the secretive conversation going on. Not wanting to be an awkward third wheel in this apparent argument. Also wanting to stop this charade before it became to ridiculous and one of them let slip something… incriminating. “I’ll be waiting on the ship with the rest of the team.” The sargent waved them off as he turned towards the Marauder.
The tattooed man trudged back to the ship. The whole scenario he’d just witnessed playing over and over in his mind. He cast a quick, curious look back over his shoulder… Only to see the pair heading off towards the barracks. Hunter couldn’t help the short sharp bark of a laugh that escaped him. He shook his long haired head as he scaled the boarding ramp.
Inside he found the rest of the bad batch. Wrecker was working out with Gonky, Cross was cleaning and checking over his fire-punch and Tech was busy tapping away at a Data pad. More than likely having tapped into the communications array to ‘not’ spy on incoming and outgoing transmissions.
Hunter said nothing as he came in. He got a nod of acknowledgement from Cross and a grin from Wrecker as he squatted, Tech never looking up from his pad. The sargent just quietly sat down on one of the console chairs and let out a long breath through his mouth. Debating with himself whether he should say what he was thinking or would it be better to keep silent as it could possibly cause headaches later.
Oh Fuck it. He thought at last. Life’s too short and this gossip was too juicy not to share.
“Well…” He announced out loud to the group, drawing the others attention. “Rex and Skywalker are clearly fucking.” Hunter enjoyed the 2 seconds of stunned silence before Wrecker dropped the Gonk droid and hell broke loose.
“I beg your pardon?!” Tech spluttered loudly, looking utterly scandalized.
“WHAT?! NO WAY!” Wrecker gasped, eye’s wide.
“How the kiff did you come to that conclusion?” Cross scowled at him, looking dubious. Hunter looked round at the now three very shocked but very interested men with a small smirk.
“Well… just before I left them, they were having a little disagreement. Apparently, Skywalker said they had a ‘THING’ to do.” Hunter said, emphasising the word heavily. “But Rex, looking very shifty I might say, said they didn’t have ‘TIME’ for ‘THAT’.”
“Shut up.” Crosshair said harshly, but the amused, sly smile, really told him to continue.
“Oh no, Skywalker was very adamant that they DID have time for…’the thing’.” Hunter mused. “He gave Rex a very meaningful look and everything.”
“Hunter.” Tech said, fixing him with an intense look. “Are you seriously implying that General Skywalker and Captain Rex are-”
“Knocking boots?” The sargent folded his arms and lent back in the chair. “I think I may even put credits on it.” Crosshair’s absolutely evil laughter drifted through the room as their larger brother gasped again in utter shock.
“From what I understood, Jedi were forbidden from having amorous relations with anyone. Especially not clone subordinate. It throws up some uncomfortable questions about consent and propriety.” Tech mumbled, not liking the idea that had quickly manifested in his head that perhaps Skywalker was pressuring his captain into something he didn’t want. After all, who was going to listen to a clone about being sexually harassed by a Jedi knight? The very notion was almost to ridiculous to even entertain. Almost. The goggled man kept his darker thoughts to himself as Hunter continued.
“Skywalker was feeling very… charged up. He really wanted to get away. And I saw them heading off towards the barracks before I came in…” Hunter said with a meaningful look. Indicating that he thought he knew exactly what was going on behind those closed doors. Wrecker started to giggle like a cadet having herd his first swear word. Crosshair just shook his head, a grin on his face as he went back to cleaning his rifle.
“Hummm, perhaps my data on Jedi intimacy rules is not as accurate as everyone believes it to be.” The genius mused, pushing his goggles back up his nose. Already planning on a way he could tap into the Jedi archives and search for answers himself.
“Yeah, I thought they weren’t allowed to, ya’know, hook up with people.” Wrecker pouted with a puzzled frown. “I know us clones aren’t allowed to get with higher ups. Them’s is the rules ain’t it? How come they gets to break ‘em?”
“Well… Not everyone plays by the rules Wrecker.” Crosshair drawled softly. “It’s not fair but, for some it’s a case of… Do as I say and not as I do.”
“Well, whatever is going on. No one let on that we know anything.” Hunter warned, the serious sargent tone in his voice. “This mission is going to be tough enough as it is. We don’t need both the Jedi and the Reg on the defensive if they think we are onto them. We need them to trust us and work with us on this mission. Not be in fear of us ratting them out to the GAR. It might push them to do something… Un-heroic. We clear fellas?”
“Sure thing sarg!” Wrecker chuckled, turning to pick up Gonky again and resume his work out. “It’s forgotten already.”
“Our lips, shall be sealed.” Tech said, turning back to his data pad. Though he promised himself to keep a close watch on both Skywalker and Rex. If he caught even a whiff of something he didn’t like happening between the pair; If he found the Jedi was using his status and position to abuse his captain; Tech would not hesitate to anonymously drop all 12 hells of Bantha crap on Skywalker.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything. But I must say… I can’t exactly blame the Reg for breaking the rules and messing around with his Jedi.” Crosshair said softly, looking down his scope. A sly, devilish grin pulling at his lips. “The general is a very handsome man. I’d certainly let him handle ‘MY’ rifle any day of the week if he asked. If you all… get my meaning.” The sniper said with a waggle of his eyebrows and twirl of his toothpick between his lips.
Wrecker roared with laughter, snorting and almost dropping poor gonky on his head again. Tech couldn’t help but snigger into his data pad, his shoulders shaking with mirth. Even Hunter allowed himself a soft chuckle at his brothers blatant innuendo. Trust Crosshair to bring the tone down.
A little brevity before a dangerous mission never hurt. Hunter was always grateful for them as it helped keep them all relaxed and ready for action.
It wasn’t long after that that they herd footsteps coming up the steps into the Marauder. The boys had kept their promised and no one mentions their little conversation the for the rest of the time they spent with Skywalker and Rex.
Though there was one incident that nearly broke them. The batchers nearly all having a collective hernia while en route to Skako Minor. Skywalker quite innocently, asked the sniper if he could take a look at his modified rifle.
With Crosshairs previous, sexually ladened, statement still running loud in their heads, it took a lot of effort for them all not to lose it. Wrecker had to stuff the roasted leg of meat he’d been eating in his mouth to stop himself from guffawing out loud. Hunter bit his tongue hard as he herd Tech cough loudly form the cockpit to hide his laughter. The Bad batchers nearly lost their collective crap when Crosshair, cool as an arctic ice flow, merely smiled around his toothpick and offered the fire-punch to the Jedi with a softly spoken.
“As long as you promise to be gentle. MY rifle is one of a kind after all, not like the Reg’s you’re used to.”