Chapter Text
“It looks kinda crooked don’t ya think?”
Wrecker was observing the side of the building rising up quickly enough.
The seven of them along with their friends from Pabu, clones and nat-borns alike were helping to build the Batch’s new home. After all, they needed more room for each of them to have a place, a nook or a cranny when things got too crowded. Plus all their activities, which there were plenty of these days!
And so, here they were, constructing the rather large size home right at the edge of the ocean.
The plans having changed several times over as each member having had their input for their ideas of what they wanted to do in their home. But they had agreed everyone should have a say in what kind of home they would create, together. And so, after some negotiation and compromise, Crosshair had had the honour of drawing the floor-plan, him being the artist of the family and all.
Their old house, the one which had become rather crowded by the time Tech had returned and Fives and Mayday having joined their polycule, had been designated for Omega and Lyana to call as their new home. The two girls having found an even stronger friendship and more all those years ago. The girls or rather young women having felt it was time for them to be on their own despite the brothers and Shep’s objections.
But they were close enough, even if it wasn’t the same roof they were all living under anymore.
“Well, it’s just the support structure Wrecks, so don’t worry about it. Once we get the permanent fixtures there, it will be removed and standing up straight.”
Vik, one of the rescued clones having decided to remain on Pabu commented. The clone having saved Echo’s life back on Tantiss, well, they both had kind of saved each other. But he had remained in the island and had turned out to have quite the carpenter. Vik having helped several others in their house builds along the way. As there were quite a few clones living on Pabu now, while others had chosen to go to Pantora or other secure locations to live on.
“Oh, okay!”
Wrecker had been helping out with quite a few builds himself as had the rest of them family. But this time, it was a more personal project for the Batch, and so, they all were pretty involved with the whole process.
“Yup, you’ll see!” Vik laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder.
“I trust you!” Wrecker smiled, knowing well, how skilled Vik really was.
Just then, the meal bell rang.
Echo and Hunter with Fireball, Gregor and Shep having cooked for the whole crew as per their usual.
The four of them having become quite the cooks for the clones, Shep having taught them a few tricks while Gregor and Fireball shared their own little secrets as well. Their meals having become famous even among the nat-borns, as usually, when there was a feast for whatever reason, which there were a lot, these five were called in to do the catering.
Gregor and Fireball having also settled on Pabu, while still running ops for Rex on occasion even if the Clone Rebellion had pretty much slowed down, mostly only helping out the other Rebel fractions where special talents were required. The clones having agreed they had done their bit for king and country, well, galaxy. Retirement, life as they wanted it their reward.
Rex and Cody had made their home in the same system as Pabu but on another planet. Them often visiting the other clones though. But it seemed the two Commanders had wanted to live a more quiet life with just the two of them, which was understandable. Even if they still were the leaders of the mostly retired Clone Rebellion.
Wolffe and his pack were living on Pantora in the clone colony having been formed there. Them too visiting Pabu on often enough. The clones all having promised to keep in touch after their liberation all those years ago. After all, they were a brotherhood, kindred even if they were all clones. A very large size extended family as someone jokingly put it.
Howzer having found his counterpart in a fellow Captain, Wilco. The two of them having met soon after the liberation on Tantiss, Wilco having been among the captives. Disobeying orders and all that jargon the imperials so having loved to blame the clones for any minute mis-step taken only to put them in jail for said mistakes.
The two former Captains were also residing on Pabu. Well, most of the time.
Mox, Stak and Deke were still living on Pabu as well. The trio sharing a home together.
Hunter and the rest of the Batch had also managed to reconnect with Cut and Su and their kids, no longer kids either. The family having settled in the Outer Rim, far away from the Core of the Empire. The family prospering on their farm, but having come to visit Pabu when they could.
All, and all, despite the Empire still having its claws sunk deep in the galaxy, the clones were thriving in their respective safe havens. Living their best lives now that there was hope for a longer span, with thanks to the teachings of Nala Se and both Emerie and Omega. The Kaminoan’s legacy still living in the two of them. Emerie especially having done much to help her kindred, her payback for Tantiss as she still called it even if everyone was telling her she had already paid her dues.
“Come and get it!” Gregor’s voice boomed over the bell sounds. “While it’s still hot!” He chuckled. Loving his role in all of this, the former commando totally in his element with his loving partner Fireball smiling by his side.
“We’ll be there!” Wrecker shouted back and motioned for the workers to join him and Vik in the atrium where they served the meals whenever a larger crowd was joining, just like on this occasion.
*
They were all gathered around the large size table, the makeshift extensions added there to accommodate all the patrons having their meals together. The soft mumble and laughter was emanating all around as they had begun to devour the meal.
Mostly eating it all with gusto, even if Crosshair and Echo certainly were the most picky eaters of the lot. But they too had learnt to appreciate the culinary delights of their favourite cooks, Echo himself having become a part of creating them but of course.
“So, any chance we get the roof finished before the next monsoon comes in, Vik?”
Hunter having been the project manager along with Tech was probably the most worried they would not finish the exterior work before the rain season hit. As the interiors could be done even in bad weather, because well, being inside and all.
“We’re actually slightly ahead of time. We should be able to start with it tomorrow noon if we keep up on the work until later today.”
“I have calculated the patterns of the winds against the rotation of the planet and deduced the next monsoon will hit Pabu Island in the next three rotations.”
Tech was back to his usual brainiac self. Well, almost.
As there were still part of his memories missing, sometimes even getting things wrong when in the past he had not. And yet, he was smarter than most despite his diminished capacity as he self-deprecatingly sometimes chided. Tech being still at odds to some extent of what had happened to him. Thankfully, with the nurture and love of his family, Tech had managed to recover almost fully. But he did not like to be wrong. Something, Tech had to live with as Crosshair quite simply put it to the genius.
“See Hunter, plenty of time.” Wrecker chuckled, as sometimes, Hunter really worried too much.
“Well, if you think we can manage.” Hunter trusted Vik and Tech of course, even if he sometimes still acted like the overbearing leader of the group. “Hunter, we can still live in the old house if push comes to shove.” Fives reminded Hunter.
“Yeah, Hunt, we managed so far, even if it sometimes feel we’re in each other’s hair too much.”Mayday joined in.
The two new additions clearly more relaxed about their current living arrangements, regs as they sometimes so fondly still were called, lovingly but of course. Echo, though, eager for the larger home having lived long enough with the Batch to really miss his own peace. Sometimes. As all of them certainly loved spending as much time together as possible. Sharing the one large size bedroom all of them together for sleeping and the more intimate activities.
But sometimes, a clone simply needed their personal space no matter how loving the *ship they were in was.
“I agree. We can manage in the old house for a while still, Hunter.” Crosshair much to Hunter’s surprise chimed in the conversation.
The former sniper certainly having become a changed man in so many ways. While in the past, never too comfortable with crowds, Crosshair was positively craving the company of others if he had been spending too much time on his own while creating his art. A solitary passion of anything, unless he had someone posing for him.
“I hear ya. All of ya.” Hunter smiled then, letting his gaze roam across his loving, precious family, and his friends as well. All of them there now, helping to build their new home. “And I trust in all of you.”
It was all the others needed as encouragement. To perhaps put in the extra effort to get the new home finished in time, even if there really was no pressure to do so.