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The sound of soft laughter came from the main bar, as if someone wanted to come to this seedy bar in the middle of the night. Omega ran down the stairs, turning to see Rex and Gregor sitting at the bar.
“Rex!” She yelled in greeting, running forward with her arms out in a hug. Rex was startled by the hug, but did pet her head, his gloved hand warm. She felt tears run down her face, sobbing sounds coming deep from her throat. She was so happy to see him, to know that her older brother was safe but-
“Omega,” She looked up from where her face was pushed into Rex’s chestplate, turning to Hunter and the rest of her brothers’ weapons raised. “Get away from Rex.”
“Why? Aren’t you happy that he’s okay?” Omega asked, looking back up at Rex, who had his own blaster out.
“Hey! There will be no shootouts in my bar!” She heard Cid growl out, stepping between her and Hunter.
“And there won’t,” A older voice said, his tone full of tiredness and age. He stepped forward, his off green poncho hiding Cid and the Bad Batch from both Rex and her’s view. He was tall, a bit taller than Echo, but somehow taller. He didn’t seem threatening, more brother-like like Rex or Gregor. “It’s nice to meet you again, Sargeant.”
“ Gerrera .” Omega heard her brother growl as Rex sat up, picking her up in his arms. She looked over Gerrera’s shoulder, Hunter’s face in a snarl.
“Hunter, Saw’s a friend,” Rex explained, pushing Gerrera’s own blaster down. “I’ve been working with him for the past few months and… we have an offer for you and the boys.”
“Well, we don’t want to hear it.” Hunter hissed out, eyes going to her own. She knew that Hunter was just being overprotective, just wanting them to be safe, wanting her to be safe. But nothing Gerrera has done is to hurt them, just wanting
“You should trust him, Hunter,” She said flatly, shifting in Rex’s arms so she could properly look at her brothers. “I trust him, Rex trusts him.”
Hunter faltered, blaster dropping just a bit as she saw Gerrera smile, holstering his own blaster pistol.
“All you have to do is hear out my offer and you can, of course, decline it. It’s your choice.” Gerrera said softly, sitting back on his stool, picking up his glass in a cheer. Hunter lowered his blaster, holstering the weapon to his hip.
“We bite.” Hunter bit out, sitting down on one of the stools next to Gerrera’s forearm.
“Then the next round is on me!” He shouted, placing down some credits for the alcohol to come. “Cid, what’s your finest onderonian liquor?”
Omega was drinking from her own cup, filled with a bit too sweet liquid, that she knew was too sugary for Echo’s taste, as Gerrera and Hunter talked out an offer.
“Why do you need us? You have a Republic Commando and an ARC trained Commander; You don’t need us.” Hunter growled, drinking from his cup.
“Just hear him out, Bandanna,” Cid sighed, sitting on one of the stools next to Gregor, who had passed out from drinking. “He has enough resources to give you, Tiny and your family food and shelter everyday for the rest of your and their days.”
Hunter just rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“Would you please explain your offer, Gerrera?” Tech asked, taking out his datapad. “You haven’t given a clear answer yet.”
“One, I want you to join my rebels,” Saw first said, picking up his whiskey glass. He took a long swig, green eyes closing as he did. “And two, Rex has told me that you all are the best of the best. A ninety-eight percent success rate, that’s a group of people I want for my cause.”
“Do we get paid? We still have a ship to maintain,” Echo sighed into his cup, drinking from the dirty glass. His eyes landed on her own, before returning his eyes to the rebel leader’s green ones. “And a kid to feed.”
“You can still do bounties for Cid but yes, if you fully commit.” Gerrera explained, picking up his new cup of glowing, green liquid. He took another long drink, the neon green liquid making his throat glow a faint green as he swallowed.
“We’ll think about it-” Hunter was about to say before Omega placed her own cup a bit too roughly on the countertop, her eyes landing on her brother’s own.
“No, no! We have to fight! Hunter, there are people getting killed, people starving at this moment and you just want to… to let them die?!” She shouted out, pointing one of her fingers at his chest. Hunter seemed as taken aback as the rest of the Bad Batch, their eyes wide and expressions unreadable with emotion. “Crosshair has done horrible things to Onderon and it’s people, including Gerrera and Rex. We have to make this right to them, for Crosshair’s sake and for mine, Hunter. We have to fight for Kamino’s sake, our home’s sake, and for your sake.”
Hunter just sat there, his deep, brown eyes locked on her face with a more readable expression. His eyes bags were more pronounced, his forehead wrinkles scrunched together, and his soft eyes a bit crinkled.
“Omega, we can’t protect everyone.” Hunter finally sighed.
“But we can protect some.” She flatly stated, going back to her own cup, taking a long drink as Hunter turned back to Gerrera and Rex.
“So? So we have a deal?” Gerrera asked in a hopeful tone, pouring a dark amber liquid into three, small shot glasses. He passed one to Rex, one for himself, then Gerrera pushed the third glass to her brother’s forearm, the glass pressed to his vibroknife. “Do we, Sargeant?”
“Fine,” Hunter agreed, raising his glass in cheers with Gerrera and Rex meeting him with vigor, smiles on their faces. They all drank together, a single long gulp of bitter smelling liquor. “To Onderon then.”
“To Onderon!” Gerrera agreed with a loud laugh, pouring himself and Hunter another round. “And to the future!”
She wondered what the planet was like, wondering what animals and bugs decorate the jungle’s trees, and then she wondered why Gerrera was willing to die for his homeworld.
Why would a single man risk his life and his friend’s life for his planet?
Maybe he had family, maybe he had someone close to him who was a part of the Empire, like Crosshair, or maybe he was just fighting for the sake of fighting.
Omega saw Rex’s hand land on Gerrera’s forearm as they laughed, his gloved hand dragging to intertwine with the other man’s own. It was like how the Syndullas’ held their hands before they flew off into the galaxy with Hera. A sweet, comforting gesture for only small moments. She had been watching some holodramas lately, one that she was interested in was a story of two girls with powers, that were around her age falling in love in a magical, new world, which included much hand holding and inside jokes.
Maybe that’s what their relationship was like, like those two girls on the holodrama who fell in love. Maybe she was wrong, but someday she’ll find out eventually. But for now, she had a new person in her life, someone who seemed to be so hard to pinpoint his emotions but also so readable at the first glance.