Chapter Text
‘Sometimes, it’s good to be the winner… Tech? Just, Tech?’
The crowds cheered, roaring the name ‘Tech Tech Tech’.
It was good to be the king. At least for this one time.
As laying low, was the one thing, this event had certainly not been.
Alas, Tech could not help but to bask in the admiration from all the newly gained fans shouting out his very name as he simply waved back to them.
The real royal salute, as it was.
And then, it was all over as quickly as it had started.
The four of them, embarking the shuttle back to Ord Mantell.
Indeed, all fame, was fleeting at best.
And the fortune? Well, there had been none of that this time around.
*
Cid, Omega, Tech and Wrecker disembarked the shuttle having brought them back home and walked the rest of the way to the bar. Home sweet tavern as Omega and Wrecker had dubbed it to be as. The Parlour having become their home when the Marauder was parked at the dock.
Cid having been unusually quiet all the way back home. But then again, the other three were rather exhausted too of the events of the two days and having taken naps on the flight over.
Still, the three Batchers having been with her, had come to realise Cid too had her past life and regrets with the rest of them did. And after the happenings on Safa Toma, she was in debt to them, for sure.
As they arrived to Cid’s Parlour, Azi was there to greet them. Hovering close to the three Batchers, he, well, looked worried, or at least, sounded worried, as with a hushed tone Azi started speaking to the arrivals. Or rather tried to warn them.
“Hunter and Echo are back and they are, well, rather, how shall I put this…. irked… of what they saw on the local news channel. Mostly Hunter.”
Azi had finally gotten it into his wire filled brain to use the Batchers names rather than their CT-numbers. Something which had taken some time and effort on the poor droids part. But he was rather good at it now.
Wrecker, Omega and Tech exchanged glances.
“Oh-oh.”
Wrecker and Omega excelled at the same time, realising what Azi meant with the comment.
Tech, despite his brilliant mind wasn’t in on the comment though.
“What are you on about?”
Tech asked the droid, not following his line of thinking.
“The race.”
Omega reminded Tech.
“They must’ve seen the race on the news. That you, well won!?”
“Oh, well, that is, good then.”
Tech stated simply.
Because Tech was going to give the other two a full report of their little outing with Cid after all.
A mission as Cid had put it even if it had been far from any regular mission, them having been the muscle for Cid during the op. And then having ended riding in the race.
But, if they had already seen the news, then Tech did really not have too much to add to the report, did he?
“Good?”
Wrecker wasn’t following now, knowing full well what Hunter had told the lot of them. That they needed to lay low, repeated it several times over even to get the mantra to stick.
“How can it be good?”
“You do realise if Hunter and Echo saw you racing in the news, then most likely plenty of others saw it too.”
Omega explained to Tech, like a proper parent would to a child.
“Oh.”
Tech was finally digesting the piece of information.
“Well, then, guess it is bad. As you said.”
Sometimes, his brilliant mind was well, a little too far gone elsewhere to really grasp the essence of the moment. Sometimes.
“I will simply explain the reasons behind our little, well, escapade to Hunter. I am sure he will understand.”
“Yeah, I am sure.”
Wrecker huffed and followed Omega and Tech over to where Hunter and Echo were seated at the bar, their usual table.
Hunter and Echo had been deep in conversation when the three of them emerged in front of them.
“Well, well, well.”
Hunter sounded, sarcastic perhaps?
“Our local hero has finally arrived!”
Wrecker and Omega simply took their seats not commenting anything on the matter.
Tech simply glared at Hunter, not feeling like he had been in the wrong. After all, it was Cid’s, perhaps very life having been at stake. So, Tech felt he had done the right thing at the end. Despite the possible consequences.
“Yes, well, I did not anticipate a galaxy wide interest in a simply local race.”
Tech was on the defensive, as he was certainly not going to let Hunter talk down to him.
Hunter stared at Tech in turn, usually, neither of them winning these contest though. As mostly, it was Echo who won the staring contests now that Crosshair was with the Empire.
“You do realise that what you did out there…”
Hunter let his eyes roam to the other two culprits at the table, Omega and Wrecker who immediately averted their gazes finding something more interesting to look at on their boots apparently.
“…could easily bring the Empire to our door step.”
Hunter was clearly angry.
Tech glanced over to Echo who simply shook his head to Tech, meaning this wasn’t the time for debate.
Tech decided to head the warning this time. And despite his need to explain what had happened and the reasoning behind it all, he decided against it.
“I, am sorry.”
Tech simply said, seeing Hunter’s eyes go wide in surprise, clearly having been prepared for a verbal fight.
“Well, then, next time, remember there are eyes and ears all over the galaxy. What you did, is not laying low.”
Hunter sounded much more relaxed now.
Tech was sure Echo had already talked to Hunter about this, which he was glad of.
The two seemingly being able to calm the other down even if they did also argue a lot. Lately at least. But Echo and Hunter understood each other like no one else did, so Tech was grateful for that fact right now.
“I will, Hunter.”
Tech turned to Omega and Wrecker then.
“As will we.”
Omega and Wrecker stated in almost unison.
*
Hunter had a headache and had gone to bed. Something which Echo had seen coming, Hunter behaving in a certain manner, and taking the little sting of Tech’s a little too hard.
Omega and Wrecker were still playing Dejarik while Tech was hanging at the bar, fiddling with his datapad. Clearly deep in his own thoughts once again.
Echo joined Tech there.
“You did the right thing you know.”
Echo stated then, starting the conversation.
“Cid told you?”
“Yeah, she did.”
“So, Hunter, does he know about what happened?”
“I will tell him.”
Echo assured Tech.
“Look, it’s been a difficult time for Hunter and I have certainly not helped any.”
Echo admitted as much. Him having demanded for the team to do the more for a while now.
But after their Nerf Nugget mission, the two of them, Echo and Hunter having come to terms about their current situation, Echo felt a bit better about the Batch’s future over all.
“But Hunter is right about one thing. The Empire has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I understand.”
Tech was so totally glad to have Echo and for him to understand Tech in ways the others did not. Echo, having a kind of a better understanding of how Tech’s mind worked after his own experiences with the Techno Union. Living sometimes too deep inside of his own thoughts like Tech did.
As sometimes, it was difficult for Tech to understand Hunter, but with Echo acting as the buffer between the two, certainly brought things to perspective.
Echo smiled at Tech.
“Now, I will go and check on our patient.”
Echo got up and left the bar, heading upstairs to their bunk rooms, leaving a thoughtful Tech behind.