I Love Phee So Much That I Named My Cat After Her! I Was So Afraid That They Were Just Going To Leave

Not me clutching this screenshot to my chest, grinning like an idiot, because YES. YES HE'S BACK. I AM SEEING IT WITH MY EYEBALLS. IT'S REAL NOW

THAT’S CROSSHAIR AND HUNTER.

I REPEAT.

THAT’S CROSSHAIR AND HUNTER.

WHY ARE THEY SHOWING US THIS????

THEY HAVE TO GET TOGETHER BEFORE EPISODE 7.

SO I’M 95% SURE THAT THE SECOND PART OF THE SEASON IS ABOUT GETTING TECH BACK.

LOOK AT THEM.

CROSS IS WITH HUNTER. WITHOUT HIS HELMET. THEY CANNOT DENY IT ANYMORE!

Rexsoka Week 2021 Day 3: Bitter, not Sweet

I think this is the one with the most angst. Well, until we get to day 7.

Day 3: Bitter, not sweet

Rex moved among the crowds of the market. It always surprised him when the marketplaces of backwater planets like this bustled. He quietly made his purchases at different stalls. No one recognized him, thanks to the bounty hunter's helmet Ahsoka had found for him.

"Thank you." Rex said quietly to the last vendor.

He handed the young woman a handful of credits and picked up his bundles. To his surprise, the vendor began packing up her stall. Looking around, Rex could see many merchants doing the same.

"What's going on?" Rex asked.

The woman looked from side to side.

"The Imperials have sent those devils." She whispered. "Those Inquisitors."

Rex's heart plummeted. Not here.

"Better make yourself scarce too." The woman said before hurrying away.

Rex watched her go, weighing his options. The streets were becoming barren. If he went looking for Ahsoka, he'd stick out. He should head back for the ship and wait it out.

Rex found himself running the opposite direction of their ship. She was too precious to leave to chance.

Ahsoka had been on the other side of the market. If she was smart, which she was, she would have disappeared with the fleeing crowds. But if she was noble, which she was, she'd try and find out who the Inquisitors were searching for and help them.

Rex bet on the latter.

He reached the beginnings of the backways of the town, alleys and narrow streets ideal for losing an enemy. Rex plunged in. 

His heart nearly stopped as he distantly heard the hum of a lightsaber.

Ahsoka didn't have her sabers anymore.

Rex ran harder, and then harder still when the sound abruptly stopped. He stopped before rounding a corner, voices becoming apparent.

"She doesn't have lightsabers." One voice said. "But she definitely was a Force user."

"Lord Vader will be pleased regardless." Another said. "Come on. She wasn't our original target."

Rex stole a glance around the corner.

Two dark figures stood over a crumpled form of blue, white and orange.

Rex couldn't move at first. The dark figures leapt over a near wall, leaving the body.

Finally Rex was able to force his limbs into action. He tore off his helmet as he ran.

He reached the body, and his world fell apart.

Her blue eyes stared at the wall. The lightsaber stroke that had killed her was a deep slash in her chest. It had severed one of her lekku.

Rex pulled her into his arms.

"'Soka." He called, as if calling to her could bring her back. He had called hundreds of names. None of them had ever come back.

"'Soka." He said again. "I'm sorry."

He had been the one to choose this planet. He had convinced her it was safe, despite her uneasy feelings. It was his fault.

He reached down and caressed her face before closing her eyes.

"Ni-" Rex could hardly speak for the tears he was holding back. But he had to say this, even if it was far too late. "Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum, 'Soka."

And though it was too late, he leaned down and kissed her still warm lips.

The tears broke through. He had dreamed that her lips were the sweetest thing in the galaxy. But that kiss was more bitter than he could have imagined.

Check it out and my ongoing Rexsoka fics on A03!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34125910/chapters/84998950

https://archiveofourown.org/users/ExecutiveCucumber/works

Me, going over some older chapters that I’ve already posted: oh man, I did a great job with this OC! I really like them! What was I going to do with this character again?

Also me, remembering that I’m going to kill them: oh yeah

OH MY GOSH. OH MY GOSH!!!! THIS IS AMAZING!!! Thank you @apparentlyautistick for sharing your awesome art!!! (You've done Commander Jr's ears so perfectly!!!)

fanart of ExecutaveCucumber’s Across the Stars fic on Ao3 (absolutely you need to read it!!)

I need some happy angst in my life right now so here’s Fives living and getting to find Echo.

Once again, posting things from my fic that I think appeal to a wider audience. Ever since I saw Echo was alive, I knew I needed Fives to have been there. It was a pleasure writing this version.

Again, sorry my usual followers, this is stuff in the fics. 

Today’s Sample: Fives learns what Rex discovers and comes along on the mission to rescue Echo.

The context: Fives lives and Ahsoka stays with the 501st. Also Ahsoka has super charged Force powers that cripple her if she uses them too much. She leads the mission to go get Echo. Also Fives and Crosshair one hundred percent got into a fight. (oh and Tup lives too)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

General Skywalker was serious as they explained what had happened.

“I’ll talk to the Council.” He said. “But we will be getting permission.”

Rex knew that meant they were going whether or not they got actual permission. For once, the General was acting as his old self again.

“Go and talk to Fives.” He said. “He’ll want to know.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rex said. 

General Skywalker patted Rex on the shoulder.

“I’ll let you know when we can leave.” He said. “And I’ll see if that Bad Batch can give us a hand.”

Rex and Ahsoka turned to leave before the General spoke again.

“Oh, and Rex?” He said. “I’ll need your- help later, okay?”

Rex repressed a sigh.

“Yes, sir.” He said.

“You’re only back a few days, and he’s making you stand watch during his little meetings with Padme?” Ahsoka asked once they were on the way to the barracks, shaking her head.

“It’s all right most of the time.” Rex said. “Just as long as General Kenobi’s not around.” 

Fives was waiting at the entrance of the barracks for them.

“Rex, Ahsoka.” He said as they approached. “Tup said you had something important to talk to me about?”

“Yes.” Rex said.

“We’ll go to my quarters to talk about it.” Ahsoka said.

Fives’ frown deepened, but he followed them to the small room Ahsoka stayed in.

“Take a seat.” Ahsoka said to Fives, gesturing to her cot. 

Fives did so, looking between them.

“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it, okay?” He said.

It was a weak attempt to diffuse the tension, Rex knew, and Fives’ grin slipped away as Ahsoka and Rex continued to look grim.

Rex gave the outline of the mission: that they suspected an algorithm that could predict Rex’s plans. 

“We found a live signal at the Separatist Cyber Center. From a being on Skako Minor.” Rex said. “When we asked who it was-” 

Rex took a deep breath. He hoped he wasn’t wrong in opening this wound.

“It said it was CT-1409.”

Fives’ eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and he stood immediately.

“When do we leave?” He demanded.

Rex and Ahsoka shared a look.

“Fives, we are going, and soon, but you have to consider that this may be a trap.” Ahsoka said.

“Of course it’s a trap!” Fives said. “They’re using our dead brother to try and lure us in! They have to pay for it!”

“Fives,” Rex said, unsure on how to respond to Fives’ reaction. “Echo could be alive.”

“He’s not.” Fives’ voice had dropped to a low growl. “He’s not. It’s a trick and they have to pay.” “Fives-”

Fives whirled on them, eyes wild.

“Don’t you think I would know if my brother was alive?” He yelled. “I saw him die! I felt it! Echo is dead!”

He stared at them, daring them to say differently. Tears were leaking down his face, unnoticed. 

“Just-just let me know when we leave.” He said.

He pushed past them and out the door.

“Ahsoka.” Rex said. “Can you- can you maybe feel Echo?” 

Ahsoka shook her head.

“But that doesn’t mean he’s for sure dead.” She said. “I couldn’t really feel Master Obi Wan when he was pretending to be that bounty hunter, and sometimes a person can change so much that you can’t recognize them in the Force.”

“I have to believe he’s alive.” Rex said quietly. “It has to be him.” 

"But if it's not?" Ahsoka asked.

"Then I say his name in remembrances again." Rex said. "And move on, like with every fallen brother."

It was a lie. If it was not Echo, Rex did not know if he could move on this time.

Fives shot again and again into the crowd of clankers. His face still throbbed from where Crosshair had landed his only decent punch from their fight earlier. Fives liked to think that the sniper had come off worse for wear from their scuffle. The idiot shouldn't have brought up leaving Echo behind. 

That was why this couldn't be Echo. It was a trap, through and through. Because if Echo was alive, that meant Fives had left his injured brother behind, left him for dead. Fives could have never done that. So Echo wasn't alive. It was just a fact.

Ahsoka led the group through the Techno Union's base. Rex was at Fives' side. The Captain had been high strung and moody this whole mission. He'd nearly attacked Crosshair too and would have if Ahsoka hadn't stopped him. 

Fives vaguely wondered how he'd been acting, if Rex was this bad. 

Fives was forced to admit, the Bad Batch was good. He wouldn't choose to take any of them on missions, as they were all pretentious shebs'e. Except the big one. Wrecker was all right, and was worth a squad of his own. 

He’s a bit like Hardcase Fives thought as he yanked a droid's head from its body and chucked it at another oncoming clanker. He never thought this much during missions. He had a laser focus, only deviating for a well timed joke.

"The signal is coming from in there." Tech said, pointing to a door.

He had been calling it Echo's signal until Fives had threatened to shove his datapad up his unmentionables. It wasn't Echo's signal. It was a trick.

"Open the door!" Rex ordered.

An ugly, amphibian like mug appeared on a screen next to the door.

Fives tuned out most of what Wat Tambor had to say and shot more clankers. 

"Your friend is dead." Fives managed to catch Wat Tambor's words over the blaster fire. 

He knew it.

"Liar!" Rex snarled.

Fives wanted to scream at Rex. He didn't know how the Captain would react to finding out that Tambor was telling the truth. Rex needed to let the delusion go.

"Fives!" 

Fives looked back to see an open door. Rex was beckoning to him. 

"You're with us!" He said.

Fives ducked in with Tech and Rex. Hunter looked back at them.

"I hope you find what you're looking for." He said.

The door closed behind them. They were in a dimly lit chamber with several control desks. The focus of the room seemed to be a strange- Fives couldn't think of any other word than casket.

"I don't like the look of this." Tech said as they moved slowly into the room.

He tapped at his datapad.

"I'm definitely picking up a lifeform in there."

"Signals can be faked." Fives said. 

No one responded. Rex was staring at the casket.

"I think I can get it open." Tech said.

He worked at the controls. Fives stood next to Rex, ready to pull him away from whatever trap was contained in the casket. 

The casket opened.

A body fell forward, hanging from a jungle of cords and wires.

For a horrifying moment Fives thought it was a corpse. Then he saw the flickering of the eyes.

It was alive.

Echo was alive.

Fives moved faster than Rex, ripping his helmet off and climbing up to where Echo was attached. An anguished noise he couldn't remember making echoed around the chamber. He pulled Echo down into his arms. 

"Echo!" Fives said.

Echo made no movement. His skin was freezing, even through Fives' armor and blacks. Fives clutched him harder into his chest.

"Ey'ika, wake up." He said. 

Hot tears were dripping off his nose onto Echo's back, melting the frost.

"Ey'ika, please." He begged. "We're here, we're here. You can wake up now."

He was openly crying now. He was vaguely aware of Rex giving Tech instructions, but he didn't care what the others did. Echo had to wake up. 

Then Echo began to speak.

"We-we have to get to the shuttle-" Echo mumbled. "To escape the Citadel."

Fives' already cracked heart broke into two.

"No! I'll go first."

"No, Echo." Fives said in a rush, rocking Echo back and forth. "No, you're not there."

"No, no!" Echo struggled weakly against Fives' grip.

"You're with me. It's Fives. I'm here." Fives babbled. 

"No!" Echo pushed against Fives one last time before falling back. "Fives?"

His eyes finally focused on Fives' face.

"You- you came back for me." He said.

A fresh wave of tears overcame Fives. He pressed their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry." Fives choked out. "I'm sorry."

Echo shifted against Fives' grip.

"Rex?" He asked.

Rex knelt next to them.

"Yeah, it's me." He said softly.

"What- what happened?" Echo asked. He pulled weakly away from Fives and looked around. "Where am I?"

"It's okay, Echo." Rex said. "You're safe now."

Fives wondered how Rex was staying so calm. How could he reassure Echo that it was okay? It wasn't okay. Didn't he see what they had done to Echo? And they were the ones who left him.

"Just sit tight trooper." Rex said. "You're going home."

He beckoned and suddenly Tech was with them. Fives instinctively wrapped his arms tighter around Echo.

"Fives." Rex said. "We gotta make sure he's okay." 

Fives swallowed. He felt if he let go of Echo, then his brother would suddenly disappear and Fives would find that it was a dream. He released Echo and gently positioned himself so that Tech could get a look, but kept one arm around Echo's shoulders.

Tech was surprisingly gentle as he checked Echo over. Even still, every so often Echo would shudder or flinch.

Fives took in Echo’s condition as Tech worked. Echo was so, so thin. He was ghostly pale and his now faded eyes were too large in his face. But the worst thing was what they had added. Metal studded the skin of his back, his stomach, his chest, his head. Wires were screwed into his left arm, and his right- Fives swallowed bile as he looked at the inhuman scomp they had replaced his right hand with. As far as Fives could tell, Echo’s legs were also mechanical. For a second, Fives was overwhelmed with how little of his brother was left. 

"Unfortunately there isn't much I can tell without a good scanner." Tech said after a moment. "As I suspected, most of the useful information will come from the data here."

He stood and handed Fives a canteen.

"He is dehydrated." Tech said. "Make sure he drinks."

Then he turned back to the controls and started tapping away.

Fives unscrewed the canteen and held it to Echo's lips. Echo grimaced and turned his head away.

"Come on, Ey'ika." Fives encouraged. "Just a little."

Echo opened his mouth and Fives poured a little of the water in, careful not to make his brother choke.

Echo drank slowly at first, and then hungrily. Both his hand and his robotic attachment came up to steady the canteen as he gulped.

"Slow down." Fives said.

Echo's eyes widened and he pushed away at the canteen. He only moved it a little bit, but it was enough space for him to hunch over and vomit the water over his and Fives' laps. It hadn't had time to warm in Echo's stomach and the cool, yellowish liquid soaked into Fives' blacks. 

"S-sorry." Echo mumbled, attempting to wipe at his mouth.

"It's okay." Fives soothed.

Echo stared at the canteen. His throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed, his thirst evident.

"Hey Tech!" Fives said. "He threw up the water."

Tech glanced at them.

"His stomach's size has been reduced considerably." He said. "Only let him take sips every few minutes."

"You hear that, Echo?" Rex asked.

Echo nodded.

"Do you remember how you got here, Echo?" Rex asked after Echo had had a few sips.

Fives shot Rex a glare. Echo didn't need to be interrogated right now.

"No." Echo said softly. "I-I just remember trying- trying to get to the shuttle and then- and then-"

He clutched at his head with his hand. He was trembling under Fives' arm.

"That's all right, trooper." Rex said. "Just relax. Do you think you can stand?" 

Echo put his hand on Fives' shoulder, pressing down. He managed to get to his feet, but he swayed. He took a step but immediately lost balance. Fives caught him and helped him back down.

"It'll be fine." Fives said. "I'll carry him."

Rex nodded. He placed his hand on Echo's shoulder again for a moment before standing and taking a defensive position near the front of the room.

It wasn't long before Ahsoka came into the room.

“Things are almost under control out there.” She said. "How's it going in here?"

"I'm still trying to decrypt Echo's cerebral interface." Tech said promptly. "Until I do, we cannot disconnect him from this computer system."

She came forward and knelt in front of Echo. “Echo.” She called softly.

Echo, who had retreated into his own mind, started and looked up.

“Com-commander?” He stuttered. “What-what happened to you?”

Ahsoka gave a small laugh. Fives’ own smile disappeared when he saw the look on Echo’s face.

“How long have I been here?” Echo whispered.

“We can talk about that later.” Ahsoka said. “How do you feel?”

“I-” Echo swallowed. “I’ve been better, sir.”

Ahsoka glanced at Rex and Fives.

“He’s too weak to walk.” Rex supplied. “He’s very disoriented. Can’t remember how he got here.”

Ahsoka nodded.

“Have you called in the extraction squad?”

“I tried.” Rex said. “Signals are-patchy here. I don’t think I got through.”

Ahsoka grimaced.

“Well, we’ve been in worse binds.”

 The rest of the Batch had come into the room.

Fives ignored their reports and turned back to Echo. His brother was shivering and damp from the melting frost. All Fives could do was hold his brother close.

Echo seemed to fade in and out of reality. Occasionally he would jerk and whisper his number again. 

"I've got it!" Tech declared. "We can unplug him now."

Rex approached and Fives helped Echo turn around. Fives held him steady as Rex ripped the connections out. Echo jerked and gasped after each one. The last one sent him sprawling onto Fives' shoulder, coughing. He lay still for a second.

"Echo?" Fives asked.

He pushed Echo off of him and held him at arm's length. To his surprise, Echo was sitting upright by himself. When he looked into Fives' eyes, there was a light that wasn't there before. A smile touched his lips.

"I got a big headache." He declared.

Fives gave a laugh that verged on a sob. Echo was free.

Fives helped Echo up the Marauder's ramp, despite his brother's protests.

"I can walk, Fives."

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Fives replied. 

Echo's snort of laughter made Fives' heart swell.

Behind them Rex carried Ahsoka. Saving all of their shebs'e had put her firmly out of commission. 

Fives figured that spewing forth masses of lightning would take it out of anyone.

The battle alongside the Poletec had been going badly. Fives had had the traitorous thought of wishing they had a Jedi with real lightsabers. Ahsoka's electrostaffs had been useless against the tri-droids. Hunter and Rex had been making some progress on them, courtesy of Wrecker chucking them on top of the droids.

Then one had made the mistake of turning its sights on Crosshair and Echo. 

Fives had shouted, but Ahsoka had acted. Fives could still see in his mind her flinging her hands forward in a desperate attempt to stop the tri-droid from firing. Instead of an invisible push, a barrage of green bolts of electricity had sprung from her fingers. It had overwhelmed the tri-droid and it toppled over into its fellow, bringing them both down.

After they'd taken out the rest of the droids, they'd found Ahsoka unable to move, but able to curse loudly. Rex had carried her the entire way back.

Fives had been impressed, but Ahsoka seemed somewhat upset about it. General Skywalker had told stories about Dooku's ability to use lightning. Allegedly it was something only Sith could do.

Fives figured there was a first time for everything. Ahsoka was the furthest thing from a Sith one could get, at least according to Fives' limited understanding.

Echo stumbled and Fives quickly steadied him. 

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah." Echo said. "Just a little tired."

"I suspect you are feeling more than 'a little tired.' Tech said. "The adrenaline that has kept you functioning the last several hours should be wearing off."

Fives had Echo sit on one of the Marauder's seats. Looking into his brother's eyes, Fives guessed Tech was right. Echo's eyelids were drooping.

On the other side of the ship, Rex was lifting Ahsoka onto one of the sleeping racks.

"Does this happen to you a lot?" Wrecker asked Ahsoka. "Cause this is the second time-"

Rex shot Wrecker a look, but Ahsoka laughed. 

"It's a recent development." She said. "Doesn't happen as often as it used to though."

"Here." Fives looked up to see Hunter holding out a set of blacks and a blanket.

"Thanks." Fives said, accepting them. 

He nudged Echo, who'd been staring into space. 

"Tech says he shouldn't eat anything right now." Hunter went on as Fives began helping Echo get the blacks on. "But he's getting nutrition and saline shots ready."

Fives nodded his thanks. Echo kept zoning out, making dressing him a little difficult. Finally Fives got Echo settled with the blanket wrapped tightly around him. Fives removed his own upper armor and put an arm around Echo. For the first time since they'd freed him from that casket, Echo stopped shivering.

It wasn't until the Marauder had taken off that Tech came by with several hypos.

"Echo." Fives said softly.

Echo blinked at Fives and then saw the needles. His eyes widened.

"No-" He croaked and jerked away from Tech. "No more, get away from me-"

"Echo!" Fives held his brother firm. "Echo, you're safe. These are going to help you."

Echo shook his head.

"No more." He said again. "No more."

"You will have to hold him." Tech said. "I will administer a sedative first."

"I'm not gonna hold him down!" Fives said. "Not like they did!"

Tech pushed at his goggles and frowned.

"Echo." Ahsoka said. "Be calm."

Fives could feel the power in her words. Echo stopped struggling. He meekly allowed Tech to roll up his sleeve and give him the first shot, though he was trembling. He flinched hard as the needle pierced his skin. Fives let out a breath as Echo's head fell onto his shoulder.

"Excellent." Tech said. 

He administered the other two shots. Fives tucked his brother in closer and settled down. 

The Batch migrated to the cockpit. Fives suspected they were uncomfortable with their ship so overtaken by strangers. There were a few minutes of indistinct conversation before the only sound on the ship was the hum of the engines.

Fives looked down at Echo. The shadows under his eyes were so dark. Fives wondered why. Wasn’t stasis like sleeping? He’d have to ask Kix when they returned. Maybe they just looked dark because of Echo’s ghostly skin. 

Clones didn't have much to lose in terms of body weight. They were slim, efficient machines. But Echo was skeletal. His bony shoulder dug painfully into Fives' side.

Fives suddenly became terrified for Echo. Did he meet the standards anymore? Could he do what was required of him as a soldier?

That thought made Fives even more sick to his stomach. Echo, if he wanted to live, had to become a soldier again. Looking down at him, Fives thought that he'd never seen anyone who looked less ready to go to war. Fives didn't want him to, either. He wanted Echo to have the chance to forget about what he'd been through. The war would make that impossible.

Echo twitched in his sleep and let out a soft groan. Fives didn't want to imagine what horrors lurked behind Echo's eyelids. 

"You're safe, Echo." Fives muttered. "I'm here."

Echo stilled again. Fives mentally prepared himself for a long trip. Echo would need him and Fives would be there. It wouldn't make up for the years he'd left Echo alone, but he would be there. 

He would not sleep. Not when there was the chance of waking and finding that Echo’s return was a dream.

Mando’a: 

shebs’e: asses

Ey’ika: Little Eyayah, Fives’ special nickname for Echo

Eyayah: Echo

And then later they fight about Echo going with the Bad Batch and it’s the last conversation they have before Fives takes a blaster bolt for Ahsoka after Rex’s chip activates. And then Fives nearly dies because they don’t have enough bacta. But then he recovers and bullies his way into the Bad Batch. And somehow I torture him less than in my other fic.

I know the finale has left us feeling things (and I one day might share my thoughts on them, but honestly staying off of most social media platforms around this time has been really good for my mental), so let's go back to an episode many of us loved: The Crossing. Here's an excellent analysis of the episode looking at it through the 'Tech is autistic' lens.

Executive Cucumber's Thoughts on the Bad Batch Season 3, Episode 5, The Return!

(And I'm doing this instead of sleeping)

Spoilers after the break

Notes may not be in order

At first I was a little disappointed that we didn't start immediately after the end of the last episode, but I think I prefer it. We can have the reunion any way we want now. It's possible that the writers thought that they would all just awkwardly and quietly get on the Marauder and fly off and they knew we would be disappointed by that. So they left it to us to imagine what happened next. I think that's also why they didn't show Crosshair finding out about Tech. For them, Crosshair might just stay silent, or disassociate or something and we wouldn't be satisfied. But now we get to imagine all kinds of angst for when that happened.

Oh, the contrast between Omega waking up on Pabu and on Tantiss. SHE DESERVES THIS SO MUCH.

Aww AZ really loves Omega.

Okay, but how did Crosshair accept the fruit? Did he say thank you? I NEED TO SEE CROSSHAIR BE AWKWARD AROUND NORMAL PEOPLE.

I honestly think Crosshair wants to train Omega as his replacement if he can't get over his hands.

Wrecker and Hunter just blatantly watching them is amazing.

MOM'S HOME

Crosshair's sass is everything to me in this episode.

I honestly think that Echo is the only one who really talks about Tech out loud because he's the only one of them who has experienced loss before. He knows how to handle it. The others...do not.

STOP MAKING CROSSHAIR GO TO COLD PLACES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT COLD PLACE TRAUMATIZED HIM

'Little brother' oh my gosh they are my everything.

I expected Crosshair to love Omega, but he ADORES her and I am here for it. I'm also here for the fury for when she is inevitably captured again.

Hunter, you are a butt. I still love you.

HIS ARMOR. YES. YES. YES.

'It still fits' it might not have because he was so skinny and that is devastating.

Oh my gosh Hunter and Crosshair's arguing is everything I could have wanted.

'Kill each other later' Echo I love you.

I love that Batcher is just a member of the Batch now. Also, Hunter, get your senses in order the dog is doing your job.

THE HELMETS. AAAAAAAAAGH.

Hunter: sees Crosshair tenderly arranging helmets

Also Hunter: this is unreasonably suspicious

TOOTHPICKS YES

HIS TREMBLING HAAAANDS

Ugh I love Crosshair and Hunter's fight so much. Crosshair isn't just pushing Hunter's buttons, he's legitimately angry that Hunter let Omega get captured and go through what she did. And then there's the beautiful subtext of 'you let Tech die.'

Crosshair and Batcher are best duo.

THE SNOW IS SO GORGEOUS

CROSSHAIR SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE TECH HE EVEN SAYS 'OMEGA' THE SAME WAY.

This is their get-along-worm.

Wrecker hugging Crosshair and Hunter may be one of my favorite things ever.

'There's no blood.' I am requesting all fic writers to provide me with a plethora of fics featuring Hunter and Crosshair fighting to bloodshed, ranging from angst to the stupidest argument ever.

CROSSHAIR YOU BEAUTIFUL PERSON YOU OPENED UP.

Okay after Hunter said he did things he regretted too I'm now convinced that he has committed so many war crimes in trying to find Omega. Wrecker has nightmares about it.

I can't remember where, but Crosshair's theme was played in the major key!!! LET HIM BE HAPPY

Crosshair is such a joy to watch this episode. This is who he is and it really contrasts with chipped Crosshair.

I miss Tech so much. I want to see him in this dynamic. I also want to see Crosshair and Phee's dynamic.

I mean this in the most complimentary way possible: this episode felt like a fanfiction. The focus on their interactions and emotions feels like something we'd get from a fic rather than Canon. And I love every moment of it.

I adore seasons 1 and 2, but there were definitely episodes I preferred over another. This season has been 10/10 for me so far. And once more I have to wait a FREAKING week for more.

I'm going to jump in on the Phee positivity (or positiviPHEE) train after...certain opinions have been aired.

And since those certain opinions were from an autistic perspective, I thought I'd add my own autistic perspective.

I. Love. Phee.

My cat's name is Phee. Phee is one of my top Star Wars characters. I shoved her into one of my longfics as soon as I could.

And her relationship with Tech gave me a lot of hope for my own romantic prospects as an autistic person.

I love that Phee invites Tech to be present. I love the look on his face when he watches her leave to put the artifact away. I love that she was a trusted enough person for Tech to talk to about Crosshair at length with. I love that when it's clear that Tech isn't going to give her the goodbye she expects, she backs off. I love that her love for Tech expanded into loving and helping the Bad Batch.

And even by herself she's SO COOL. She goes and finds artifacts that were stolen from cultures on Pabu and brings them back??? She is a super cool pilot??? She is ride or die for the people she cares about??? She's confident and sassy??? She has a SWORD???

So yeah. Phee is great. She means a lot to me. I hope we see her more in the last 3 episodes.

FORGET EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE FANDOM RIGHT NOW:

I think I've finally come up with a ship name for TechPhee:

TechnoloPhee.

Like Technology.

You're welcome.

Preach it!

A couple points of note before we venture into Bad Batch season 3 tomorrow...

Let us remember a few things before Bad Batch season 3 begins tomorrow.

It is NOT Dave Filoni that we "blame" for any emotional trauma. It is Jennifer Corbett and Brad Rau 😝 He may be one of the executive producers, but Filoni hasn't been involved in the writing of this show since the pilot, it's all Jennifer and Brad.

Our theories/headcanons are NOT canon! Which also means that if your theories don't pan out, it's NOT "bad writing". WE are not the tellers of this story, we are the receivers of it. We do not determine how this season is going to go. That is Jennifer, Brad and Lucasfilm. So don't get mad and pissy if certain theories don't happen or if things didn't go the way you thought they would. (Unless anyone dies, then you have every right to be mad 😝)

BE! PATIENT!! If we haven't seen certain characters in a while...be patient. They might show up in the next episode or two. You never know. If we haven't had certain questions answered yet...be patient. They'll most likely get answered in time. There are 16 episodes, so not everything is gonna happen at once. It's okay to wonder, but don't be getting mad that certain things haven't happened yet. We've got a couple months of this and it's gonna be a very long ride if you're not patient!

If things happen in the show that you don't agree with, but other people do, don't be rude about it. Either just keep scrolling and don't engage with discussions about those topics if you're not gonna be nice about them or just block the posts/people who talk about them. It's not that hard!

ACT YOUR AGE!! A good majority of us in this fandom are adults. ACT like adults and don't get pissy about things. Get as emotional as you want (cuz we all know it's inevitable), but still be mature about it all. Follow all of the above points and you should be fine. Don't be hateful, don't be rude, don't act like you're better than anyone, etc.

If anyone has other things they think the fandom needs reminding of before tomorrow, feel free to add them!

Otherwise...once more unto the breach, my friends 🥺 We're in for a long, emotional ride, so let's get through it together!