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Omega had special relationship with each member of The Bad Batch. Tech was the best teacher she ever had (granted he was the only teach she ever had); Echo was like an uncle; and Wrecker was like a big brother (and her partner in crime). But her relationship with Hunter was more special. Without even trying or noticing, he had become like a father to her. He was the one that always made sure that she was safe while on missions and that she ate well and got a decent amount of sleep. He was also the one who had begun teaching Omega how to protect herself and instructed Tech to set up a school program for her.
He also made sure that Omega had some fun. Game night was a big hit as was movie night. Omega's favorite movies were Raya and the Last Dragon and Moana but she surprised the rest of the squad by also liking The Swan Princess and Spirited Away.
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"It's movie night. It's movie night," Omega said happily as she helped Hunter portion out the Mantell Mix. "Can we watch Raya?"
"Omega," Hunter said with a laugh, "you know it's Echo's turn to pick the movie."
"I still don't see why I can't pick the movie," Wrecker said.
"Because you constantly choose movies that are not appropriate for Omega," Tech said.
"It wasn't that bad."
"Wrecker, Red Riding-Hood is rated R which stands for 'restricted' and there is good reason."
"Well," Echo said, "hopefully this one is alright. At least it's PG-13."
"The Fellowship of the Ring. Are you sure that the Orcs, Ring Wraths, and Sauron won't be too scary for Omega?" Hunter asked.
"I can handle it," Omega said.
"Alright. But it's a long movie," Hunter said. "So you have to get ready for bed first."
"But Hunter..."
"No 'buts'. Now go on."
Omega knew better than to argue. She went to her room and coming back a few minuets later in her nightgown.
"Remember," Hunter said as Omega took a seat next to him and the movie started, "bedtime right after the movie."
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Hunter was awakened in the middle of the sleep cycle by the sound of quiet footsteps moving through the ship. His heightened senses had always made him a light sleeper. He was about to reach for his knife when he felt something, or rather someone, snuggle into his side.
"I had a feeling the movie would be too much for you," he said as he turned over and put an arm around Omega.
"I'm not scared," Omega said. "I just...didn't want to be by myself in my room."
Hunter didn't say anything. Omega had a habit of crawling into his bunk when she was scared. The last time she did this was just after they escaped from Kamino the second time.
"Don't worry," he said. "Sauron can't leave his tower, Tech and Echo can outsmart the Ring Wraths, Wrecker can take on a whole battalion of Orcs, and I'll know they're coming long before they get here."
Omega snuggled closer. She always felt the safest with Hunter.
"Sleep well, little hobbit," Hunter said.
"Elven princess," Omega clarified.
"Oh, so you're Arwen."
"Yep. She's not like the princesses from some of the other movies I've seen."
"Well then, your highness, sweet dreams."
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The moon was lush and forested. It remined Omega of the forests from the movie. She couldn't help but think of how fun it would be to play Fellowship of the Ring there. But they were on a mission, so she knew better than to ask Hunter. This was a simple supply run. Cid has some kind of contact they were to meet. Phee had come with them claiming to know the contact, but Omega knew different. Phee kind of liked Tech. Omega liked it when Phee came on missions with them. She was fun to be around and had lots of interesting stories. She had come to recognize Hunter as their leader and didn't question his decisions and Hunter had learned to defer to her in matters where she had more experience. Sticking close to her brothers and Phee, Omega looked around some more.
"It's like the forest from the movie, isn't it?" Hunter said as if reading her mind.
"Yes," Omega said before looking back at the forest. "There aren't any Orcs out there, are there?"
"We checked. There are no Orcs here."
"What's this about Orcs?" Phee asked.
"We watched The Fellowship of the Ring the other day."
"It was really good," Omega said. "It had elves and wizards and magic in it."
"It sounds like a good movie," Phee said.
"It is. And it's supposed to be based on a book," Hunter said.
"Echo said it's part of something called a trilogy," Omega said. "Hunter, what's a trilogy?"
"It's a set of three movies or books."
"Oh."
Omega was learning and experiencing a lot of new things since leaving Kamino with the Bad Batch. Back on Kamino, she had never left the city; there had even been times she had been restricted to Nala Se's private lab. That's where she first met the Bad Batch, though they didn't know it at the time. She had downloaded and read the files on them. She wanted to know everything about them. They all had interesting files but Hunter's had intrigued her the most. Right then & there she had decided that, if she ever got to leave Kamino & have a normal life, it would be with them & Hunter would be her dad.
"Can we play Lord of the Rings?" Omega asked. "Please, Hunter?"
Hunter smiled. He couldn't say "no" to his unofficial daughter.
"Who do you want to be?" he asked.
Omega thought a moment.
"Frodo," she said. "He's the hero, I think. You're...Aragorn."
With that, Omega ran ahead to tell the others who they would be. Hunter heard a groan & figured that Omega had decided that Wrecker would be Gimli. No doubt Omega would have Tech be Gandalf & Echo would be Legolas.
"It's nice to see her like this," Phee said. "She's playing & acting like a kid."
Hunter had to agree. Omega never did have the time or the chance to act like a kid. The last time had been on Salucamine. He & his brother had been trying to give her more opportunities but Cid kept them busy.
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Omega was tired when she went to bed but she was happy. Cid didn't have any jobs for them so the squad decided to take the day off and went to their favorite forest moon for a day trip. It had been fun. Swimming in the lake, having a picnic lunch, exploring the forest, and playing Fellowship of the Ring. Omega had had the time of her life. When the time came to go back to Ord Mantell, she didn't want to leave. The goal had been to give Omega a fun day where she could be a kid and just have fun and play. And they had definitely achieved that goal.
"Did you have fun today?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah," Omega said as Hunter helped her take off her boots and get in bed. "I love when we have family days. I wish they happened more. "
"We'll try to have them more often. But keep in mind it won't be as common as Movie Night or Game Night."
Omega nodded trying to hide a yawn. She was almost asleep when she climbed into the gunner's chair. smiling, Hunter picked up Lula and handed her to Omega before draping a blanket over both child and toy. Omega gripped Lula tightly, finally falling asleep. Hunter leaned forward and gave her a kiss goodnight not caring if the others saw him.
"Sweet dreams, Omega," he said. "I love you."
"I love you, too,...Dad," Omega said loud enough for only Hunter to hear.
Smiling to himself, Hunter headed to the front of the ship. He had never thought he would be a father but now, with the help of his brothers, he was raising Omega like she was his daughter.