They’re So Badass

ARC echo would have been too powerful for the bad batch so they had to nerf him 🥲

CX-2 angst 💕 cause I’m going insane waiting for the reveal you guys

I don’t normally post traditional art on here, but the parasites possessed me to draw ☺️ so enjoy

Tech and Hemlock whump, as promised.... I have some SOLID PheeTech coming ASAP, so the burns will ease !! ...actually in context that joke isn't that funny, sorry ;"0

I hope you enjoy!!! Small spoilers under the cut !!

Run. That's all they had to do.

Batcher was streaming ahead, all bark, a warning to others ahead. Omega's legs were beginning to tire, but she pushed herself forward. She had to.

The Imperial behind them was catching up.

"Keep going!" Crosshair snapped, voice dangerously close to a wheeze as they sprinted across the open field. Hunter and Wrecker were just up ahead, they were ready to leave with them. They just had to keep going.

"Omega!!" Wrecker's voice, however different sounding, shouted clearly from up ahead. "Cross, hurry up!! We're gone!"

They kept running until Crosshair felt his foot get snagged. He tumbled, gasping as he face-planted onto the ground. Omega turned and stopped. "Crosshair!"

"Don't stop running!" He hissed, pulling himself up. "Go, go!!"

It was too late. Crosshair felt the boot colliding with his spine. He went down hard, wheezing as his ribs collided with the ground harshly. He hacked, hearing Omega shriek as footsteps approached from behind her.

He turned, staring up into the masked eyes of the soldier.

"Omega, run!" He ordered, willing his voice to sound more like Hunter's. Or Echo's, she'd listen to them, wouldn't she?

Apparently not. "Let him go!" She demanded, readying her blaster. This soldier was already aiming its blaster at Crosshair's face, emotionless. The blaster wasn't set to stun.

"Omega!" Hunter's voice was loud, and he gasped, before drawing his blaster. "Get behind me-!"

Omega must not have budged, but all Crosshair could see was the blaster. He breathed harshly through his nose, glaring up at the soldier for a moment. It still hasn't shot him yet. Why?

That's when Crosshair noticed.

The soldiers hand shook.

It was only a minor tremble, barely noticeable unless the hand was in your face. Fortunately for Crosshair, it was. This soldier wasn't hesitating. It was resisting.

A re-educated clone, like Crosshair should have been. But why hesitate? Why resist this far into the mission? It didn't make sense.

So, Crosshair edged the clone on. "Shoot me!" He demanded, ordered. Hunter's studdered gasp and Omega's immediate shout of, "Don't-!" were ignored. He watched the soldier tense, hands beginning to change from a small tremble until its whole arm shook.

A blaster shot rang out.

Crosshair's eyes were squeezed shut, until he heard the soldier speaking above him.

"Run."

He felt arms pulling him, and noted the scorch mark of a blaster shot right beside where his head had been. The soldier held his arm, pinning it to its side as he watched Hunter drag Crosshair away. He watched the soldier until they were out of view.

The soldier had refused to kill him. The soldier had resisted the re-education to spare him. Crosshair knew that soldier.

The Marauder was shooting off before he could question it further, and he watched the soldier from the port view as they lifted off.

He watched them leave, and went to touch his face. At the last second, be seemed to remember something, fingers almost touching where the bridge of his nose should be, and his hand dropped, despondent.

He limped away, into the treeline, but not without one wishful glance back to the Maurader.

The realisation didn't hit until Hunter was making the jump. "No-!" Crosshair gasped, eyes widened as he turned to Hutner. "Don't—!"

The jumped to hyperspace.

—

"The doctor would like to see you."

He froze, and nodded curtly before walking into the main control room. Doctor Hemlock was standing, his usual round of guards surrounding him. He didn't turn when the soldier had walked in.

"Leave us," His order was addressed to the room. Everyone but he left the room, some glancing at the soldier before he was left alone with the doctor.

The room went eerily silent.

"Remove your mask." Doctor Hemlock instructed. "I want you to look me in the eyes while you explain your failure."

He hesitated, and reached up, taking off the top part of his helmet, allowing his eyes to be hit by the cool air of the room. His mouth stayed firmly concealed, the mask having been forcibly bound to his jaw long ago.

Doctor Hemlock turned to face him, his cold eyes boring into him. He didn't say a word, just examined him for a moment.

"Your vision seems to be clearing." He mentioned offhandedly. "The fogginess has dissipated."

The finally was left unsaid. He nodded shortly, avoiding looking directly at the doctors face. Hemlock walked closer, standing over him.

"Despite my best efforts of reviving you after your unfortunate accident," The doctor spoke down to him, voice laced with venom. "You have chosen to fail me."

He froze, looking away from the doctor, downwards. He kept quiet, watching Hemlock's hands carefully. There wasn't a hint of regret in his stance.

His jaw was gripped, and his face was tilted upwards. "Now," Hemlock said sharply. "9907. Explain yourself."

He swallowed thickly, voice distorted because of the mask. "There were unforseen complications," He explained quietly, willing his eyes to unfocus, so that maybe he could pretend he wasn't there. "I apologise."

"Unforseen circumstances." Hemlock repeated. "The appearance of Clone Force ninety-nine does not constitue as an 'unforseen circumstance'. The girl's capture is your primary objective."

He didn't answer. The grip tightened, and his face was forced upwards, throat exposed. The doctor watched him, seemingly coming to a decision.

"You require more time in the re-education programme," Hemlock's voice cut through him like a viroblade. He straightened, shoulders raised as he stared at the blurry ceiling.

"And I believe," Hemlock added, before releasing the grip on him and turning away. "Added incentive."

Before he could have a hope of understanding the doctor, electricity coursed through his body. With a horrid, choked cry, his knees gave in. He collapsed to the floor, gripping his throat as he let out breath after strangled breath.

It felt like an eternity had passed before it finally stopped. He gasped, curled over himself on the floor. He could vaguely smell burnt flesh, and watched swirling steam rise to the ceiling. He panted, holding back agonised sounds of pain.

The doctors shoes appeared beside him. "That is the level you would have received," Hemlock spoke quietly. "Had you been honest with me from the beginning."

He barely had the energy to prepare. Another wave of electricity, stronger, harder and longer than before shot through him, and this time, he could not stop the shrieks of pain that left him, the crack in his voice only spurred the doctor on further.

When it stopped again, he couldn't hear the doctor over the ringing in his ears.

He let out a horrid shout of pain when guards raised him to his numb feet. Hemlock was standing over him, and with care he did not deserve, the doctor secured his mask back over his eyes.

"Secure him in a cell," Hemlock ordered softly. "I wish to oversee his re-education personally."

He was dragged out of the room, eyes rolling back.

Burn joke definitely isn't funny anymore.... my lads......... my baby lads 😭

Luca🐟🐠💫

current state of mind

in honor of the trailer release, here's the comm with Hunter and Crosshair for s0ftbatch on twitter

Me trying to enjoy seeing crosshair in a new outfit when he’s got a frickin toilet seat on his head

I’m cosplaying her next 🫡

Even she thinks that's unoriginal.

Tech x Phee Museum Date Idea

tw arachnophobia?

I was just at a natural history museum and couldn’t help but think of how much Tech and Phee would love going on a museum date in a modern!au.

They’d spend hours walking hand in hand and enjoying every bit of it, reading every single display.

I can just hear Tech saying “Fascinating” a hundred times over.

Phee would especially love the artifacts and Tech the gemstone exhibits.

I got excited just telling my mom what little facts I knew from my anthropology class, so imagine the joy Tech would have recounting his knowledge to Phee and learning so many new things.

^^^ a display I saw of some very pretty insects!

This also got me thinking, do we have an idea of what Tech’s special interest is?