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Ok’sana and Phee were practically sprinting to meet the Marauder as it landed. The sun on Pabu was burning their shoulders as they ran. They’d changed into more casual clothes once they’d returned from their mission, hoping to get some time on the water before the boys and Omega got back. It hadn’t been long before Ok’sana received a beep on her comm and Shep poked his head out of his house to let them know he’d seen the ship pass by.
The Marauder landed softly and the ramp came down immediately. As soon as they’d entered the atmosphere Oksaan had already felt the weight in her chest ease. She could sense them all now. Everyday she was becoming more in tune with the Force again. Regaining the foundations of what she’d been taught in the Temple, being able to feel energies of those familiar to her.
Still, she held her breath as the Batch emerged one by one. First came Wrecker, stretching and waving with Echo close behind. It’d been tearing Ok’sana apart that she’d not been with them to retrieve Crosshair, but they’d assured her it was handled and she could attend to other pressing matters. She’d be missed but they’d survive. Hunter and Omega came next, Phee hugging Omega before passing her to Ok’sana. The boys crowded around them both, giving half hugs and high fives.
Then she felt it. Like the sun finally coming out from behind a cloud. A flower opening in bloom after a long winter. He stood at the top of the steps with his back facing them, seemingly talking to someone still aboard the ship. His ship.
Ok’sana’s feet moved so quickly she almost tripped. She was up the steps in an instant, leaping once to near the top. Tech took a step forward without turning around and almost lost his balance. Her hand came up instantly to steady him. His head finally turned, those soft brown eyes meeting hers. The last bit of tightness in Ok’sana’s chest melted completely. He was here. Safe.
“Ah, thank you- oh!” Tech’s voice cut off as Ok’sana threw her arms around his neck, instantly wrapping an arm around her waist to support her. She could hear the whistles and laughs from the group behind them. Dangling from Tech like this, Ok’sana’s feet were a good few inches away from the ground. It always shocked them both in moments like this how drastic their height difference was. There was a rumbling that reverberated in her chest. He was chuckling now.
“I can see we were missed.”
She pulled back to look at him again as if assessing for injuries. Tech did not set her down. He was doing the same thing, looking for bandages or bruises. When they were both satisfied, small smiles broke out on both their faces.
“Is he-”
“He is inside his bunk, refusing to leave at the moment,” Tech rolled his eyes behind the goggles, grabbing one of Ok’sana’s hands. He kneaded her fingers asif needing something to ground him. Ok’sana’s heart leaped.
Crosshair was here, finally back with his family where he belonged. There was no telling what had been done to him in his time away, especially after whatever betrayal he had enacted to be imprisoned with other rogue clones by the Empire. But that didn't matter now. He was here, and they would face everything else together. As a squad, as a family. Ok’sana brought her other hand up to Tech’s face, her eyes flickering down to his lips in question. As a couple they were not prone to public acts of affection in front of the Batch, mainly because it wasn't necessary. They were together everyday and on most jobs, so they had more than enough time to go off on their own to do such things. However they’d been separated for one of their most dangerous missions, both worried about the other. Tech’s gaze went to his brothers for a fraction of a second, then met Ok’sana’s again. The side of Tech’s mouth quirked. He placed his hand on the back of Ok’sana’s head, weaving his fingers through her hair and brought his mouth down to hers.
This kiss was full of love, words they would save for later when they were alone. How glad they were that they had all survived.
I’m so proud of you.
Thank you for bringing him back.
I love you.
I love you.
They broke apart before one or both of them got carried away. The whistles had not ceased, if anything they’d gotten louder at their antics. Ok’sana was sure her face was bright red, and not from the sun. Tech brushed a finger over her flushed cheeks. She huffed out a laugh, taking a step around Tech and into the Marauder.
“Maybe I can get him off the ship. Is he injured?”
“Ok’sana,” Tech’s gloved hand wrapped around her wrist in an instant. It was almost too tight, and she looked down in confusion.
“What?”
He said nothing. Sana tried to tug her arm away, to try and rush to where Crosshair was hiding. Something was wrong, but there was no way Cross was seriously injured and Tech hadn't told her already. None of them would keep something like that from her.
“Tech… What’s going on?” She tried to pull away again, “You’re ah- you’re hurting me, T.”
“You know I'm not real, don't you?”
“I- what?” Tech’s gaze softened, hsi hand tightening again. It would leave bruises, but Ok’sana wasn't even thinking about that.
Tech would never hurt her. This was wrong. Not real. This was not real, it was in her head. Then where was she? Where was Tech? Ok’sana shut her eyes tightly and thought hard. They were on Pabu.On Pabu waiting for the Batch and she-
No.
She had been on Pabu, waiting for them. A beep had come in and Shep-
Wrong again. Ok’sana had failed in her mission, gotten a call from Echo to meet them on Ord Mantell at Cid’s because they needed her medic skills. He’d cut off the call before she could ask to talk to Tech or who was hurt. Phee had lent her a ship. Images flashed behind her lids.
Omega unconscious in Hunter’s arms. Wrecker in tears, leaning on Echo who looked like he’d seen a ghost. Ok’sana had gone to work on Omega instantly, Hunter’s panic overwhelming her sense of anything else. He was talking, explaining everything that’d gone wrong until he seemingly ran out of words. Then her hands had stilled. Darkness began to cloud her vision as Hunter’s words became buzzing in her ears. Ok’sana’s breathing became jagged and she opened her eyes to try and catch a glimpse of those yellow goggles one more time. She wanted the bruises on her wrist to be real. One mark of him on her body to remind Ok’sana that he’d been real. That the love she felt still existed. But he wasn't there.
When Ok’sana opened her eyes all she saw were dusty shelves filled with papers and trinkets. Low lamps in the corners made the room look eerily familiar. She was lying on the bed she’d treated Omega on, covered in a blanket she could barely feel. They’d probably placed her here after she’d passed out the second time. The screams Ok'sana had let out robbed her of air, and hadn't let up until she'dgone unconcious again. Her throat ached, there was blood caked under her nails but she didn't know why. Dried tears made her face feel like there was a layer of grime all over it. Ok’sana’s chest felt as if a hole had been carved out of it. There was a murmur of voices outside, but she didn't care to try and decipher them. It didn't matter, none of it did. They weren't safe, and they weren't all together- the Bad Batch would never be whole again.They’d failed, all of them. Once again the galaxy shifted from beneath Ok'sana's feet, reminding her again that she was a failure. The Force, why was it doing this to her? Had she not repented for the deeds she'd done? That had all been left in the past. There had been hope on the horizon now that Ok'sana had foud her place once again amongst friends and family, found love in the arms of a man she'd known almost her whole life. But now that balance was gone again. Nothing would ever be the same. All they’d done and sacrificed had been for nothing, every wound sewn shut had been ripped open.
Tech was dead, and Ok’sana’s heart had gone with him.
END