Work Text:
– CORUSCANT –
GAR BARRACKS
– 0645 –
“Ok’sana, Tech, I told you boys to call me Ok’sana.”
“Of course, Ok’sana,” she turned, her lips turning upwards as she looked up at him. Tech was, Maker damn him, so much taller than Ok'sana that she had to crane her neck to look at those endearingly goggle-covered eyes.
The boys of Clone Force 99 had joined many battalions on many missions, but most of the time their orders came from higher ups and they were dispatched independently. Hunter oversaw the whole squad, so they had no need for a General. However, they were sometimes sent to reinforce other groups of “regs'', and that's how Ok’sana had first been introduced to them.
Well excluding the time they’d met at 79’s, but that was informal.
Plo, her, and the 104th had been backed into a corner and the Batch had blown their way through the Separatist forces and saved a lot of men in the process. Ok’sana had broken away from formation at one point to help cover Tech when she saw him trying to reprogram a tactical droid. When it was done, she’d slung one of the soldiers arms across her back- and when Tech caught up they ran back to the Marauder. Wrecker had a blaster shot in his shoulder, and Ok'sana patched it up as she ordered Hunter and Crosshair to get the armor off the 104th soldier so she could assess his wounds. None of them argued with her, and Tech, who had the most medical knowledge, helped staunch the bleeding and passed her supplies while he instructed Echo to pull up navigational charts for a safe rendezvous point. After that, Ok’sana had been volunteered to go on missions with them every so often, until she got her own battalion. Then they’d joined her, Baz, and the 602nd pretty regularly.
“What do you need?”
“Ah, well we were- I was, actually,” she began following him into the hangar towards the Marauder, “wondering if you and your men were going on assignment any time soon. I haven't seen missions assigned on your datalog, but of course word of mouth travels faster in situations such as this.”
Ok’sana shook her head, “Nothing has come across my comms, I think sadly we’re going to be here in time for that ridiculous ball.”
“Oh great,” Crosshair said, not even glancing up from his rifle kit.
“Nothing at all?”
“Sorry, Wreck. Anything comes my way, I'll request you boys come along- can't have our best squad sitting in the barracks now, can we?"
“No we can't!”
“Ok’sana,” Hunter said in greeting, she nodded at him with mock seriousness. Plopping onto a crate next to Crosshair, his eyes flitted to her and then minutely to his youngest brother,
“Do we really have to attend this absolute sham of a party?”
“The Republic owns us in every capacity, we move, eat, and sleep when they tell us to. If they wanna throw some ball for Senators to mingle with real people, real soldiers, then we go and rub elbows so we can get bcak to doing what we're actually made for. Fighting this war. Orders came down from the highest of the chain, Crosshair. ”
“And since when do we follow orders,” Cross hissed, leaning forward onto his knees.
Ok’sana bumped his leg with hers, “Free drinks, pretty girls just wanting to thank the Republic's best and brightest for holding down the front lines? I’m sure you boys will manage just fine.” She snorted at the way they all seemed to sit up a little straighter at the idea. "Also, "owns us" seriously, Sarge?"
"Am I wrong?"
Tech began telling them how likely an attack from the Separatists was on a night like that, Ok’sana agreed while Echo grumbled a thank you for the happy reminder. Hunter cut him off, saying he was more worried about the headache he was likely to get from the whole night. Ok’sana's forehead creased, “And why is that?”
“Ah, because of Hunter's enhanced sense, crowded places like an event such as the Grand Army Republic Ball will overwhelm him. His sense of -”
“It’s just a lot to take in," Hunter finished.
Tech pushed up his goggles and reached for his datapad, clicking away, not even realizing what had happened. He was used to it.
“Actually,” Sana leaned forward, elbows pressing on her knees, “Tech if you could finish elaborating, I might be able to help.”
The boys all looked at her for a second. She did that a lot- asked Tech to finish a long winded explanation. If it was a case of time sensitivity Ok'sana did her best to make time for his bursts of information as it was always worthwhile. When Tech got cut off about things he was excited about, they'd see Ok’sana approach him independently and ask him to finish what he’d been saying. Not because of pity, though both Crosshair and Hunter had inquired if that was the case. She was interested. Genuinely. Tech was like a book that was filled with knowledge about so many different aspects. A book that never ended.
Tech only hesitated for a beat before clearing his throat and gesturing animatedly, “As I was saying, Hunter’s genetically enhanced mutations include that of which his five senses are astronomically heightened by about 200%. And with that many live species in a ballroom, especially one as big as Coruscant's Event Hall, voices are more likely to bounce and reverberate off of the walls and floor and attack his eardrums at a more aggressive level. As well as sense of smell- all of the different scents in the room could overwhelm him, inducing the sensitivity in his brain and blood vessels to become stimulated.
Hunter will unfortunately experience pain in the sensitive structures in the head, face, skin, bone and structures in his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Also, the large blood vessels of the head are exquisitely sensitive and these are the principal organs causing pain in vascular headaches, such as migraines..” he trailed off.
“Is that all?”
“Well usually by now Crosshair or Hunter would tell me to st-“
“But I’m asking, is that all you know about it, Tech? Or is there more?”
Crosshair rubbed his eyes, “Don’t get him going again, I just lost minutes of my life I’ll never get back.”
“Shut up,” Ok’sana said, but it was more reflex than malice, and her eyes never broke their gaze. Tech glanced at each one of his brothers in turn, stopping when his eyes met Ok'sana's again.
He cleared is throat, “That is sufficient, I think.”
“How does this help?”
“I can dull that. Your senses, I mean. It won’t be dangerous, and it won’t be for forever. But if I stick with you for part of the night, I can use the Force to help ease your pain a bit,” Ok'sana hedged.
She'd done it before, dulled the pain of men on the battlefield to silence the screaming long enough for enemy forces to pass by. Plo had done it for her when she’d gone through those nights where the walls were closing in. When the air was sucked out of the room and the floor disappeared. Where she cried that everything was too loud and everyone was too loud.
Hunter shifted, clearly uncomfortable with the way, “You really don’t have to-“
“Rue!”
Corvis. Ok'sana sighed, rolling her neck in a circle. Corvis was a friend of hers not two weeks ago. However-
“I’m- I care for you Ok’sana.”
A beat.
“You-“
“I do, I love you-“ she put down her blaster. They’d been practicing her shooting, no cheating with the Force. Just two friends firing off shots and making wise cracks.
“What do you expect me to say to that, Corvis?” Ok’sana was angry, but she couldn’t say why. She didn’t want to say that Jedi couldn’t form attachments, because that would make him think she just didn’t want to break the rules. Which was true, but she also knew people did break that rule.
I’m just not willing to break that rule for him .
“I thought you’d be happy, I thought you cared about me..” Corvis looked like a kicked Loth cat.
“Maker Corvis, you’re my brother. Just please don't do this.”
“I love-“
“Cor-”
“I LOVE Y-”
“ STOP IT!” He looked at the ground.
“It's not easy to love someone like you, you know,” she blinked.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Ok'sana felt her throat tighten. Anyone could walk into the range and hear this ridiculous conversation. A Jedi and a clone arguing about love of all things. She could be thrown out of the Order. Lose the only family she'd ever known.
“I mean you should let me help you. Let me take care of you.”
“You sound like a whiny baby. I don't need or want you to protect me. Is-is this why you always question me when we’re on missions?” she huffed.
“I thought you were joking most of the time! Just giving me a tough time because I was the “shiny”, the new one. But it was this, wasn't it? You doubt me,” Corvis didn't speak. Ok’sana ran a hand through her hair and dropped her blaster,
“We aren’t like that, Cor. We’re friends. Comrades. Question me on the battlefield again and I’ll knock you on your ass,” she started to walk away.
“This doesn’t change the way I feel!” The sound of footsteps didn’t falter. “You need protection out there, Rue. And I'm the only one who can do that! You're just not strong enough," Now she did stop, but still faced the door.
“If you think that little of me that I can’t hold my own out there, Trooper, then you don’t know a damn thing about me. And you sure as Hell don't love me.”
“Fantastic,” Crosshair seethed, “Here comes the General’s pet," Ok'sana dug an elbow into his ribs though she knew it didn't hurt one bit. Corvis jogged up, datapad in hand,
“Here's the report on General Plo’s last mission,” she took it without looking at him, ignoring the polite smile Corvis tried to shove in Ok'sana's face.
She did miss him, they'd spent hours together- both on missions and in their freetime. But Corvis's admission had made her uncomfortable. The way he hadn't listened to her. The way he'd implied she was weak and without his loving and chivalrous help, that Ok'sana wouldn't last out on the battlefield?
It pissed her off.
“I requested that someone message me with the report, why are you bothering with this, Trooper?” Sana made sure to clip her words.
“Well I heard you wanted it right away-”
“And you don’t think pinging her the data file would be more efficient?” Tech sounded irritated, Ok’sana looked up and caught him rolling his eyes- she kind of laughed, making both him and Corvis go a little red. Hunter exchanged pleasantries with the man, as did Echo. Wrecker was tossing Gonk in the air and ignoring them all.
“-actually aiming for a promotion in rank,” Corvis was saying.
“You think you’d be able to handle it, Reg?”
Venom laced his voice, “Not like someone like you could handle it. Maker, maybe the Kaminoans really should have cut their losses with those cloning tanks, they've put out so many damaged clones.”
“It's not easy to love someone like you , you know.”
The Bad Batch stiffened, and though Ok’sana knew she'd never report them for punching out some of Corvis’ teeth- she didn't think the middle of the hangar was the appropriate place for it. Nor did she think the Council would approve of her standing idly by, as a Jedi or a Republic General. Crosshair bared his teeth, but she dug her nails into his forearm and fixed the man in front of her with a stare that could cut glass.
“Thank you for doing a job no one assigned to you Corvis,” her voice was sweet as Tepasi taffy, “I'll make sure to report to Wolffe that you desire having a future as a message carrier instead of a fighter. You'd probably be able to fall in love with a task like that, don't you think?”
His face went pale and then flushed red, and while the boys didn't quite understand- none of them added fuel to the fire, “That'll be all, soldier.” It was cruel, but honestly Sana couldn't find it in her to give a shit. Friend or not, he had wounded her pride and insulted some of the best men in the Republic.
Breathe, Sana. She exhaled slowly as the man turned on his booted heel.
“You wanna explain what that was about?” Hunter was still staring after Corvis.
“Not really," They just looked at her, waiting, and she let out a frustrated noise.
“He told me he loves me-”
Tech made a choking sound, “I beg your pardon ?”
“Hard to believe, is it?” he just blinked at her. “Anyways, he was a bit of a Bantha about it, going on about how i needed protection and i should be grateful for the idea of it and- just-”
“Not listening to you?” Echo asked.
“Exactly! All those times he questioned me on missions-”
Tech started, “He questioned you?”
“Is there an echo in here?”
“Yes,” Ok’sana had to laugh, Echo loved making that damned joke. Wrecker had apparently tuned in at some point,
“You wan’ us to kick his bucket in?”
Another laugh, she stared down at the tablet in her lap, “I’ll handle it, thanks boys. I’m gonna head out actually, I’m in the mood for some breakfast and then a run before I head back to the Temple. Hunter, think about what I said. I don't wanna overstep but I’d be happy to-”
“I will, thanks Ok’sana,” she nodded, turning her attention back to Tech.
“And if you're really interested, Tech, I can get you material that actually explains the physical aspects of Force healing, I’m afraid all the readings I’ve done did not include the scientific aspect of that. Jedi texts tend to speak from only Jedi points of view.”
“I would appreciate that. You can send the texts over messages."
“Actually, we’re really not meant to make copies of the texts.”
“Ah, I see,” he pushed up his goggles. His heart sank a bit at that, because there was so much knowledge within the Jedi Temple many people had never been able to access. Ok'sana was a Jedi like any other, and part of their way of life meant keeping many things secret within the Order. However if anyone was going to give Tech a glimpse into the world of the Force-wielding fighters, it was her. All of Clone Force 99 knew she had a soft spot for Tech, and though it wasn't strictly forbidden for clones and Jedi to spend time together off the battlefield- his face warmed at all the attention.
“But I can bring them to my quarters, and you're welcome to them. I can help as well with the more metaphysical side of it.” All the men looked at their brother, but while his eyes widened a fraction, no signs of panic were seen.
Maker, I should really think before i open my mouth.
“I- uhm- I would welcome the help, General-” she gave him a dry look, “Ok’sana.”
“Good. I'll message when I have what you're looking for. Pretty sure its nothing so sacred it cant be shared amongst friends, Jedi or not.”
“It’s a date, then,” Cross said teasingly.
“Like you know what a date looks like, Crossy.” Then he muttered a curse that would make Master Kenobi choke on his tea. Sana just laughed and waved to them, scrolling through the mission report.
“I told you to keep your distance.”
“I don't know what you mean.”
“You're too smart to play dumb, Tech.”
Silence.
Hunter sighed, “She can’t get involved, you know that," he hated to lecture any of his brothers, but especially Tech. It wasn't as if they weren't all aware of his crush on General Rue, and being sent on so many missions with the Bad Batch had only exacerbated the problem. Hunter didn't want his hopes to be dashed when Ok'sana eventually had to give his little brother the same talk Corvis had received.
Tech sounded exasperated, “No one is involved with anyone-”
“Not like he’d know how to handle someone like Sana anyway,” Crosshair said. Ok'sana and the sniper were close friends, and he knew if she was in hearing range she'd try to knock him upside the head for such a remark. Their friendship let him get away with snide comments like that though, because they'd throw insults back and forth for hours. Cross just liked to get Tech riled up.
Tech snapped, “Watch your tongue.”
Crosshair raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, as if this proved his point.
Which it does not, Tech thought, as he relaxed the glare he’d set upon his brother. He sighed, closing his eyes to shield them from the blue light of his tablet. It was giving him a headache, “We are merely friends. Aren't you all fond of saying I struggle with the skill of making friends?”
“Fine. I just-”
“I am aware,” Tech said, murmuring a “thank you” that only Hunter could hear.
I just don't want you to get hurt.
END OF PART 2