Grievous Tech

After Eriadu, Tech has been brought back in General Grievous' husk. He escapes the late general's former compound on Vassek 3 and returns to his brothers.

Notes:

This wacky AU has been brought to you by me. You're welcome.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Tech woke with a jerk, the kind of jerk where the body fooled itself into thinking it was falling. He awoke from slumber that didn’t exactly feel like sleep, more like nothingness. Nothingness, but somehow both dreamless and dreamfull at the same time. He recalled the last memory he had, or perhaps dream? The haze of dream was overlaid over his last memory.

He and his brothers, and sister, had just been making their escape from Tarkin’s fortified compound. Half of the railcar was dangling from the skyrail, and so was Tech. The approaching roars of the incoming V-wings gave urgency. The railcar would be shot down soon if they didn’t hurry. And, there was no time to waste.
“There is no time Wrecker, plan ninety-nine.”
“Don’t you do it, Tech.” Wrecker shook his head, holding onto the edges of the other rail car with every ounce of strength he had.
Tech sighed, heart heavy with foregrief for his family. But there was a choice, and he didn’t want to take all of them down with him. “When have we ever followed orders?” Tech aimed his handblaster at the rod that connected the two cars together, and fired a bolt.
Wrecker held onto the car as long as he could before the weight slipped from its hands. “No!”
Tech fell. But the railcar above suddenly zoomed away along the track. That was all Tech needed to see for reassurance. His brothers would make it out alive. It wasn’t an educated guess or hope, it was certainty. It was the most probable outcome. And his predictions were seldom wrong.

The lights above were far harsher than what was on the Marauder. He was flat on his back, not in the reclined seat of the pilot’s seat he normally slept in. Tech recognized that this was not the Marauder. He immediately moved to get up from the pod he awoke from, only to fall right onto the floor as soon as he stood. A heavy metallic thud echoed through the empty chamber. Was that him? Tech was quick to notice something was very off. He had felt very unbalanced in the brief second he stood. He pushed himself off the floor, noticing the metal arm that did so. Bone white, mechanical, four fingers with two thumbs on either side.

Interesting. Tech thought, not even take a moment to pause.

He grabbed onto the metal pod and pulled himself upright, looking down at the rest of himself. It was not the usual katarn class armour he normally wore. It was bone white outer plating. He was supported by legs that stood digitigrade on six sharp digits that splayed like a spider. This certainly wasn’t his own body, but he was in it nonetheless. That, he could accept immediately. His focus was on finding out where he was. He turned back to the pod he woke from. It looked familiar. It was slightly altered but it bore resemblance to Echo’s stasis prison back on Skako Minor. Several wires lay draped over the side, snaking from the back of the now empty stasis pod, all in the same direction. Tech’s gaze followed the wires to find that they were still attached to him. Somehow this research had survived, or was rediscovered again after such a short time. If this was anything like the pod on Skako Minor, he probably needed to figure out how to disconnect himself from a control panel. And he was in luck, there was a control panel in the same chamber. By the looks of it, its dials and meters were active. Tech took a step forward, testing his new center of gravity and weight distribution on his new legs. As soon as he stopped, he had to grab onto the pod again for balance. This is going to take some time adjusting to.

He took careful steps towards the terminal, only to be gently tugged back by the wires still hooked up to him. He outstretched an arm trying to reach for the terminal. But even his new reaching distance was still short. Instinctively, he reached up and tapped the helmet comm that he realized wasn’t there. He returned to the side of the pod and paced back and fourth, holding onto the side of the pod, switching hands each turn. His pacing to brainstorm a plan unintentionally made good practice for learning to walk. Rex and the batch had only been able to rescue Echo by singling out a live signal broadcast. Tech needed to figure out how to do the same. But Echo had been used by the separatists to counter the republic. And the clone war was over, there was no more republic.

What is my purpose here?

Tech stopped pacing and folded himself squat, lowered to the floor in an inorganic position. A single clawed digit from his foot tapped rapidly against the metal flooring as he was thinking, and thinking, and thinking. What was outside this room was an entire unknown factor. This would be far easier if his brothers were right there with him, lending him reach to the control panel with their own hands while he directed them. Or would they not even recognize him? Tech didn’t need a mirror to know he clearly wasn’t the same in body. This may be a problem he needed to figure out a solution to, on his own. But a plan came into place. Awkwardly, Tech climbed back into the pod, still unused to his new limbs. As he lay down, he held his hands up in front of him, flexing and unfurling sharp digits. If he couldn’t figure out how to interface with the systems he was hooked up to, these he can test out. Someone was bound to come in and check on his pod. That was the only leverage he could make for himself. He nestled his arms down at his side. Waiting with no datapad to fiddle with would truly test him, but there were far worse discomforts possible.

Tech had managed to get himself unhooked from the stasis pod. The muun that had walked into the chamber now lay crumbled at the control terminal, which Tech relocated to the stasis pod. It was the only necessary option. He was by himself, a stealthy approach was his best chance of getting out of here. He peeked beyond the door, looking down both ways at either end of the hall. With the coast clear, he scurried away from the room. It took only a couple steps for him to realize just how heavy his footfalls were. His steps had always been light when he was running stealthily, and it didn’t take much to stay light on his feet. Now, they were just about as heavy as Wrecker’s ‘stealthy’ running. It was also likely due to his new gait. Despite being spindly, Tech was rather densely weighted. He figured he might not be able to swim if he had to. Dense weight on a thin frame didn’t pair well for buoyancy. He adjusted his steps the best he could, managing to run a little quieter.

It had come to his mind that he could have been here for quite some time. Or perhaps this was a dream. Those were possibilities. But he kept himself grounded in the here and now, while he was aware of what he currently knew. And he currently knew he was a machine, or at the very least, in one. And in a facility he was keen on escaping from. He just had to find his whereabouts. The sound of chatter up ahead made him halt and turn tail in the other direction. The barren halls provided no cover to hide. As he rounded the corner, he couldn’t make out what the chatter was about. It certainly wasn’t Basic. His helmet’s visor would have come in handy if he had it. But judging from the tone, someone had still heard him scurrying off. That wasn’t good. Tech kept moving, making a mental map of the halls he already explored.

Around another corner, down another hall, and there was a door he wanted to go through. What was on the other side, he would find out. At the door, he poked at the control panel. He got a beep of denial in response. Out of muscle memory, he reached for a datapad at his belt, only to be reminded that his utility belt was not on him. But, there was always another solution. The Wrecker solution. Tech punched the control panel in on itself. Just as quickly as his fist had landed, he withdrew it. The panel sparked and the door slid open in a blink. On the other side of the doorway, several heads swiveled towards him. Several humanoids were armed and armoured in mismatched armour pieces. Mercenaries, Tech deduced.

Tech turned to find that the people at the end of the hall had caught up to him. But he fled before anyone in the room moved a muscle. Tech had no choice but to charge right through the people in the hallway, causing them to dive out of his path. Stealth was no longer an option now, he had been spotted. His heavy metallic footfalls carried far down the halls, announcing his presence more than his whereabouts. Along with several shouts at once, blaster fire followed him, and luckily missed him. But he was faster than he used to be, his legs sprang him forward with long strides. He found refuge around the next bend but he knew that was only temporary.

He came to an abrupt stop at the next available door. However, a swift punch to the control panel did not open the door. Tech jammed his claws into the seam of the door to pry it open. The door gave way little by little, with heavy resistance. Tech needed more force, so he placed both talloned feet on the bottom edges of the diamond-shaped opening and forced the door further open with his entire body, the motors of his joints threatening to fail under the door’s unrelenting pressure. When the door was wide enough, Tech hopped through. The door behind him slammed shut, it would buy him some time. The room was empty, and just what he needed. There was a transmission terminal at the wall. Tech raced right up to it, dancing his sharp fingers along the console controls. He could hear the armed foes trying to slice the door open. While he was prepping for a signal broadcast, he also figured out where he was. In the computer’s logs was this facility’s location. This wasn’t Skako Minor, but it was within the outer rim.

Tech leaned over the console. “Plan twelve. Hunter, Wrecker… Omega, if you’re still around, I need a pick-up from Vassek three.” His voice was still his own, albeit heavily modulated. He kept his message short.

As he tapped away on the terminal, he glanced over his shoulders, left and right, looking for a quick escape route. There was a vent up near the ceiling, but was far too small to fit through, even for a fully grown clone. He would have to make an escape through doors. As much as he wanted to dig through the computer logs and all its data some more, he couldn’t be a sitting duck. He left the terminal and made his way over to the door. As soon as the door winked open, Tech grabbed the nearest foe and their gun and backed up a step. The hired guns didn’t seem to mind him taking a hostage, they fired upon him and the meat shield regardless. Tech returned fire. A few of the mercenaries took hot molten plasma through their chests and dropped. The mercenary he held was most likely deceased from all the blaster bolts. With nowhere to take cover, Tech threw the body at his enemies. That was enough to make a very brief ceasefire for him to grab another and toss them against his foes. This sort of strength was actually very useful, he found.

Tech made a break for it through the enemy’s broken formation, twisting just slightly to keep shooting behind him and keep them at bay. Eventually with enough running through the halls and avoiding enemy fire, Tech found a crawlspace vent overhead, wide enough to fit himself through, and possibly lead to the exterior of the building. But without a grappling gun, there was no way to reach it. The only other option was to climb. Having been in this new body for less than an hour, he already had an inkling of what it was capable of. He ran closer to the hallway wall. One big leap got him more than halfway up the height of the hallway, and pushed off the wall to leap further upward. Tech dropped the blaster to latch all four claws onto the crawlspace vent on the ceiling. He pierced through and ripped open the less durable metal with his own hands and entered the vent.

The sound of his scuttling was probably heard through the vent, and it became apparent to him that he would have to relearn how to be stealthy again. But he did appreciate the much faster crawl speed he could pull off. The draft of fresh air through the vent clued him in on how close he was to the exterior of the building. He followed against the current and found light pouring through the grate at the end of the crawlspace vent. It didn’t take much to get through the grate. A single forceful punch ripped it from its screws and down some meters below. Tech crawled out and jumped, splaying himself out like a falling tooka cat. What would normally shatter a shin; his digitigrade legs absorbed the landing like suspension springs. He landed squat on the hardened dirt ground, then bolted away from the building, as far out as the mercs would stop pursuing.

The thick mist of Vassek Three provided decent cover, both to his enemies and allies alike. The landscape was otherwise barren on the breathable moon. There was only simple fauna. Tech was certain he had lost the army of mercenaries back at the building, now far behind him now. But he still kept vigilant, one could never be too safe. He had been out here for at least one rotation. So naturally, he had thought of a plan to escape on his own. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a ship looming overhead, its high engine whine upturned Tech’s gaze towards the sky. The light of the ship’s thrusters were blurred behind the cover of the atmosphere’s mist. Tech stood up from his crouched resting position as the ship descended. Regardless of who it was, that was his ride off the planet. But it landed within the depression, at the bottom of the slope that rose towards the edge of the crater. Its landing thrusters had disturbed the mist, clearing the fog enough for a faint view of its descent.

With a high whine of the hydraulics, the ship’s door dropped and became steps. Tech glanced down at his hands, then approached with slow steps while five figures exited the ship, familiar silhouettes he recognized instantly. Hunter and Crosshair were the first to draw their blasters and aimed right at Tech’s alien silhouette through the mist. Echo, Wrecker, and Omega with her energy crossbow followed suit, aiming in the same direction.

Tech stopped in his tracks and raised his hands above his head. “Hold your fire.”

No one answered right away, until Hunter said “Why should we?”

“I am your brother, Hunter.” Tech took a tiny step closer. “Do not be alarmed. I’m quite a bit different now, but I am still me. Tech.”

Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair, and Omega all glanced at each other.

“You? You’re Tech?” Wrecker questioned in disbelief.

“I am, as far as I’m aware.” Tech simply replied.

“If you really are Tech, tell us something only Tech would know.” Crosshair snided.

“Yalbec Prime.” Tech said. “Wrecker cut off the stinger of a Yalbec queen, and that’s why all the Yalbec males went rampant. Before that, we once swapped armours. I could go on about all our missions, classified or otherwise.”

Crosshair readied his rifle to fire, adjusting the scope as he looked through it. Omega folded her crossbow away and was about to make her way over to Tech, but Hunter stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Omega.” Hunter sternly said.

Omega glanced up at him. “He’s telling the truth.” Omega pulled away from Hunter and strolled up to the Tech. “Is it really you, Tech?”

Tech squatted down. “It is.”

Omega threw her arms around Tech. Tech in response, stiffened. After a lingering second, he gingerly returned the hug.

“You’re alive!” Omega buried her face into Tech’s shoulder.

“Yes…” Tech trailed off, recounting his last memory before waking up on Vessak Three. The fall on Eriadu. “Yes I am.”

Watching Omega go up and hug the cyborg creature, Wrecker lowered his rifle. Furrowed brows and focused frown now replaced with surprise.

“What happened to you?” Echo asked.

“I woke up like this, in a stasis pod much like the one we rescued you from on Skako Minor.” Tech pointed with his whole arm in the direction of the facility he escaped from. “The facility is roughly six klicks from here.”

Echo too, was now astonished. He holstered his blaster.

“Omega, step away.” Hunter still had his blaster aimed.

Omega wiped tears from her eyes as she pulled back from Tech and turned to Hunter. “We can trust him.”

“I don’t trust any of this. This could be a trick.” Crosshair said.

“When you rescued me from Skako Minor, you didn’t trust me either. I think we can trust him.” Echo told Hunter and Crosshair who hadn’t lowered their blasters.

“We can trust him.” Omega added with emphasis. She grabbed Tech’s hand and tugged him towards the ship. “Come on, we have a lot to tell you.”

Tech rose and let Omega lead him to the ship. Hunter reluctantly lowered his blaster, and Crosshair did the same a moment later.

“Tech?” Wrecker said once Tech was within arm’s reach.

“Yes?” Tech turned to Wrecker.

Wrecker pulled him into a tight hug that would have normally crushed Tech, but his new chassis held. “We’ve missed you so much.”

Tech awkwardly tried to return the hug despite his arms being pinned to his sides. “I’ve missed you too.” Even if it’s only been a day for Tech, that was still longer than he was used to without his brothers and sister around. “And Crosshair,” Tech turned his gaze to the sniper. “It’s good to see you back with us.”

Once Wrecker let him go, Tech and Omega continued their way into the ship, followed by everyone else. The ship wasn’t the Marauder, it was much roomier, which Tech needed. He took up more space than he used to. Aboard the ship, the first thing Tech went to was the data terminal and its display screen. He typed away on the console. While Echo took to the pilot’s seat at the front of the ship, Hunter and Crosshair kept their eye on Tech, hanging around his general proximity. Wrecker was around as well, but he was more relaxed. His gaze was not glued to Tech like his brother’s were.

“What are you looking for?” Omega peered at the screen while Tech was going through an archived version of Republic logs.

“Information.” Tech said.

“What kind of information?” Omega glanced up at Tech.

Tech had found the file he was looking for, and pulled it up onscreen. “The late General Grievous, former separatist general.”

“Why are you the separatist general?” Wrecker asked.

Tech’s response was a shrug. “I do not know. But I will find out.” He kept digging into the old files, talons tapping away.

While Tech scoured through the archive, Omega filled him in on what had happened since Eriadu. About what happened on Ord Mantell with Cid right after returning to get AZI, about what happened on Tantiss base and the escape, about the reunion with Hunter and Wrecker, about the CX operative coming to Pabu, and about yet another mission to rescue Omega from Tantiss, and finally settling on Pabu. Wrecker and Hunter had filled him in on what he and Hunter were up to while Omega was on Tantiss with Crosshair. Crosshair didn’t say much aside from a few snide remarks. By the time Tech was caught up to speed, he had gone through the general’s entire file. And now he stared at his own reflection in the black screen.

Omega had noticed it was out of the usual for Tech. “You’re still you, Tech. No matter what you are.”

Tech glanced down at Omega. “I can accept what I am.”

Omega’s brows creased with concern. “Then, something else is bothering you.”

“I…” The cyborg’s face frills subtly flared and slowly returned to how they once were, a telltale sign he was thinking. Expressions were a thing of the past.

Wrecker clapped his hand on Tech’s shoulder. “It’s okay. You’ll find the words for it eventually, but you don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”

Crosshair only scowled at what Wrecker had said. “We’d prefer if you spit it out.”

Wrecker shot a disapproving look at Crosshair.

“Crosshair..” Hunter sternly said.

Tech turned away from the terminal to face his brothers. He decided to spill. Not because of Crosshair, but because of the weight on his chest. “I will never be normal again.”

Wrecker let loose a sharp “Ha!” in response. “When have we ever been normal?”

“We’ll get used to the change. You said change was a fundamental part of life.” Omega said. “And we can adapt.”

Tech’s frills fully out fully. “I did say that.”

“Then, we will.” Omega sounded certain. “Let’s go back home to Pabu.”

“Phee will be happy to see you again.” Wrecker gave a playful nudge to Tech’s shoulder.

“That will be an interesting reunion.” Tech said. “Now, I will be at the helm.”

“You’re gonna fly the ship?” Hunter asked.

“I believe I am still able to do so.” Tech then made his way to the helm of the decently sized ship, claws clanking heavily on the durasteel flooring and alerting Echo long before Tech even reached the pilot’s seat.

Echo raised a brow at the sight of the deceased separatist general casually stroll in and plant himself into the co-pilot’s seat, a sight he wasn’t used to. “Feeling alright? Any pain?”

Tech shook his head. “None at all. I’m feeling quite fine.”

“We better get you scanned anyway, just in case.” Echo said.

Tech grabbed a datapad and was looking at his own scans after the ship touched down on the Archium. Phee was already waiting there, watching the bad batch exit the ship.

“So, what’s the word? Was it brown-eyes or something else?” She asked.

“Oh we found him. Just don’t freak out when you see him. It’ll hurt his feelings.” Crosshair said.

Phee blinked at the sight of a menacing droid-like being exiting the ship, skipping half the ramp with just one step. “That’s a scary droid you got there.”

“That’s not a droid, that’s Tech.” Hunter told Phee.

Phee raised her brow. “That’s brown-eyes?”

“Yeah.” Wrecker gave Tech a small nudge to get him to say something.

Tech didn’t even look up from his datapad. “I know this is alarming, but I no longer inhabit my original body.”

“Tech, wait here. Wrecker and I have thought of a surprise for you.” Omega quickly blurted before running off.

“And don’t look yet.” Wrecker added while following Omega.

Phee was left speechless for a moment. “Well, the datapad habits certainly checks out. How did you end up like this?”

Tech sighed, lowering the datapad. Although Phee wasn’t in the loop, he wasn’t fond of repeating what he had already spoken. “The mission on Eriadu was the last thing I remember, I am certain you were briefed about that. Then I woke up on Vassek Three, in the fortress of the late General Grievous. I managed to escape and transmit a rescue beacon.”

“I was en route to drop off some supplies to Rex’s underground when I received the signal. I wasn’t even sure if it was real.” Echo said.

Phee filled in the rest. “And you came to Pabu to ask Hunter about it. I know about that part.” She turned to Tech. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to the new you, brown-eyes.”

“Tech, what if this isn’t really you. What if… you suddenly turn on us?” Hunter was hesitant to even entertain the idea.

Tech responded without pause. “If I do turn on you, use any means necessary to stop me. Including lethal force.”

That put a stop to the conversation. No one had anything to say, or wanted to say anything. For a while it was just the five of them standing there, beside the ship on the stone grounds of the Archium. A broad brushstroke across Tech’s upper back caused him to tense his shoulders back and take a step forward. He turned around to find Wrecker holding a wide brush tipped with white paint in hand.

Wrecker looked surprised. “You felt that?”

“Yes.” Tech said.

“How?”

“Cybernetic prosthetics are integrated into the user’s nervous system. That is the same principle applied to my entire body. I thought you would have known that.” Tech answered.

Wrecker frowned. “Now the surprise is ruined.”

“What are you painting on me?” Tech asked.

“You’ll see when we’re finished.” Omega didn’t let a ruined surprise deter her from applying white paint with her own brush. “Now hold still.”

Tech would have pressed his lips into a thin line if he had them. He held out the datapad to Crosshair, which the sniper took out of his hands so that he could hold his arms out to the side.

Echo stepped towards the ship. “I can’t stay long, I’ve gotta get these supplies to Rex.”

Hunter gave a nod.

“Well, I’ll leave you folks to it.” Phee said to Wrecker and Omega. To Echo she said, “If you need something smuggled, you know who to call.”

“Are you three going to be alright up here?” Hunter asked Wrecker, Omega, and Tech.

“Yep.” Omega responded.

“Then we’ll be around.” Hunter said, leaving for the lower levels of Pabu with Crosshair.

Tech was left standing there while Omega and Wrecker painted, covering the yellowish bone tint with paint. “How long will this take?” He eventually asked.

“It will take a while, the paint needs to dry.” Omega told him.

“We need to put on the finishing layer before that.” Wrecker added.

“You can’t touch anything until it’s set.” Omega added.

Tech only sighed with exasperation. Somehow, he managed to endure without tapping away at a datapad or shifting too much. By the time Omega and Wrecker had set aside the paint brushes, they held up an ordinary old-fashioned hand mirror to Tech. He leaned close to the mirror to see the work they had done. His main outer plating had been painted a brighter white. A red stripe ran from his head, to his face, and continued down to his chest. A dark shade of grey-black paint covered parts of his dome on either side of the head stripe. Looking down at his arms, a strip of red rand from his shoulders down the back of his hands. Tech hummed.

“Well, what do you think?” Omega beamed.

“I quite like it.” Tech admitted.

Wrecker rubbed the back of his head. “We weren’t sure if you wanted your original colours, or your later ones.”

“I suppose you could always repaint if you wanted my other colours.” Tech said.

Omega said, “That would be up to you, Tech.”

“This will do.” Tech was settled on his current paint job.

Omega picked up the paint and the brushes. “Remember, don’t touch anything until the paint dries.”

“That will be a challenge.” Tech admitted, craving a datapad in his hands, or to be at least tapping away on a console.

“You could try meditating with me. That will pass the time.” Omega suggested. “Wrecker, do you want to try too?”

“I don’t think I’ll be very good at it.” Wrecker said. “But I can put the paint and the brushes back.”

“Okay, tell Hunter we’re still at the Archium.” Omega handed the paint and the supplies to Wrecker.

Omega brought Tech over to the centuries-old tree. “You can’t sit down yet, so you’ll have to stay standing.”

“I have never thought meditation was a productive use of time.” Tech said.

“But you can’t hold onto a datapad, and you will get too antsy doing nothing.”

Tech didn’t answer right away, Omega was right. He couldn’t do much of anything at the moment. “Very well. I will try meditating with you.”

“Relax and open up to the world.” Omega demonstrated, bringing her hands up about elbow level, palms open to the sky. “Close your eyes.”

Tech mirrored the gesture. But there was one problem. “I cannot close my eyes.”

With eyes closed, Omega said, “Then look out onto the ocean.”

Tech did just that. From up here, there was a clear view of the horizon where the deep blue ocean met the lighter sky.

“Try not to think about anything.” Omega said. “Focus.”

“On what?” Tech questioned.

“On whatever you hear and feel. Don’t think about anything.”

Tech turned his gaze back to the ocean and the sky. It was easier said than done, his mind was always thinking. Probabilities, alternate plans in case the current one went wrong, how much rations were left for future missions, and various other things. It was hard to let his mind drift and feel the breeze on his body without quantifying it into data he could analyze.

By the evening, Omega led Tech down from the Archium, telling him about her brothers’ new house on Pabu. It was on the mid-levels of the island, but closer to the ocean. Batcher greeted him with caution, letting her sniff his talons, and perhaps the new coat of paint. The outside dining space was smaller than what Shep and Liana had at their house. But there was room for the residents and a few guests. The table was already set with food with his brothers, Omega, and Phee already being there. Phee slid over a spot to sit next to Tech while the whole table chatted.

“You haven’t touched your plate.” Phee remarked.

Tech lightly tapped his vocoder where his mouth would normally be. “I’m not able to eat food, it seems.”

Wrecker gave a sad look to all the food abundant on the table he and Hunter prepared.

“You’re missing out. The food’s tasty.” Crosshair taunted.

“How do you get your energy?” Omega asked.

“It appears that my own system is self-sustaining. I do not need to eat, and I don’t feel the slightest bit peckish.” Tech said.

Phee took on a pensive look that Tech noticed at a glance.

“We don’t have any spare rooms, we’ve taken all of them. But we’ll clear out someplace for you to sleep.” Hunter said.

Tech held up his trusty datapad, his scans were still displayed on the screen. “It appears that I also would not need sleep. But, rest would be advised in my case.”

“I need to go for a walk to let all this food digest better. I’ll see you all around later.” Phee left her seat.

Wrecker tried to keep a hushed tone from across the table, holding up his hand like a wall to the side of his face to direct his words to Tech. “I think you should walk with her.”

Tech watched Phee leave, his pointed frills flaring. His ‘expressions’ were yet to be discerned by Omega and her brothers. After a moment, he decided to catch up to Phee. He walked with her, feeling the cool air of the evening. Phee raised a brow at him, and Tech glanced at her. For a moment, they continued walking towards the sunset with no words.

“I’m glad you’re back.” Phee eventually said.

“Likewise.” Tech replied.

“But… You’re a big scary droid now.”

Tech corrected her. “I’m not a droid. Technically, I’m now a kaleesh cyborg.”

Phee shook her head without hiding her brief smirk. “You’ve always got the facts to back you up.” She spoke again when Tech didn’t fill the silence. “But, potential dinner dates are off the table.”

“Dinner dates?”

“Oh please, like you haven’t considered it yourself.” Phee said. “But the thing is, I think I would rather keep this platonic.”

Tech stopped in his tracks, and subsequently, so did Phee.

“That is understandable.” Tech said. Unfortunately the sentiment wasn't mutual, and he couldn’t find the words to express it in his thoughts. “We’ll merely be friends.”

“Best friends.” Phee tried to mend the fresh wound she figured she might have inflicted. “Well, I’ll see you later, Tech.”

Tech stayed where he was, watching Phee stroll away to lower Pabu in the sunset.

Tech returned the same evening and helped clean up the table. Omega helped Wrecker clear a space in the common area inside to make way for a makeshift place for Tech to sleep. Which was just a blanket thrown onto the large sofa in the common room. Omega insistently made sure Tech got at least some rest. Reason being that they settled permanently on Pabu. And Tech did rest. The former clone couldn’t fit comfortably on the sofa, and opted to rest seated on the floor, away from foot traffic. He folded his lithe limbs as close to himself as possible, and Omega tucked the blanket snug over him. However, that did not last long. Some time after everyone had gone off to bed, Tech was up and about.

By morning, Omega had found Tech at the outside dining table now turned workbench. “Good morning Tech.”

Tech looked up from his work of constructing a signal booster. “You’re up early.”

Omega smiled energetically. “It’s because I’m working on a big project. We’re rebuilding the Marauder.”

“Rebuilding the Marauder?”

“Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you, the Marauder blew up.” Wrecker came outside, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “The shadow trooper we told you about blew up our ship when he found us on Pabu.”

Tech set down his tools. “And how do you intend to rebuild the Marauder?”

“I’ve memorized the schematics. I know the Marauder inside and out.” Omega said.

Tech stood up. “I would like to see what you’ve done so far.”

“We’re still picking up the pieces, we haven’t put anything together yet.” Wrecker rubbed more sleep from his eyes.

Wrecker and Omega led Tech to the wreckage of the Marauder where its pieces lay. Tech stopped short from where Omega and Wrecker stood, and assessed the damage. Most of it was scorched by heat.

“By the looks of it, the Marauder is not salvageable. You cannot rebuild it with the parts we have.” Tech stated. “You will need new components.”

“We can get ship components. We still haven’t used up all the money from Phee’s mission to rebuild Pabu after the quake.” Omega said.

“Remember that one?” Wrecker nudged Tech’s shoulder with a fist.

“Yes, I remember. We siphoned the majority of Cellia Moten’s monetary value to help rebuild Pabu.” Tech said. “Very well, we can request funds to help us build our ship. I know what components we will need and our potential budget. I will draft a proposal once we clean up the wreckage.”

Wrecker and Tech began picking up the large pieces of the ship, placing the debris into a neat and orderly pile. Omega pitched in to pick up the smaller pieces that her two younger brothers missed.