35

Wolffe's idea of a celebration was a cold glass of ergas.

He and Warthog brought a pitcher to the table, where they poured out glasses for Cody and the rest of the 104th, who'd come to join. The ergas was bitter on Saedii's tongue, but it felt like a reward nonetheless. Especially as she got to raise her glass with her friends.

There were lots of backslaps and saluting. It was almost comical how every other word out of Warthog's mouth was General and how quickly he snapped into a salute. She finally told him to stop after he began to repeat everything she said like he was relaying orders, much to the amusement of Wolffe and the others.

A few other troopers joined, though they seemed a bit confused about the whole promotion thing. Saedii was sure they were wondering if she'd promoted herself, and the thought almost made her laugh as they held up a glass to cheers to her anyway. Happy with any excuse to get a chance to celebrate.

Rex stopped by with some of his lieutenants in tow. Howzer and Gregor were more than happy to raise a toast in her honor, though Saedii had a feeling they were mostly excited about the ergas. Happy even cracked a rare smile for her.

"I'm happy for you, General," Rex said earnestly. He kept his voice low as the other troopers around him laughed and cheered with one another. "After what I saw on Hareth, you more than deserve your rank."

"Thanks, Rex." Saedii still wasn't so sure that she did, but for the moment, she was glad to hear him say it. Glad to celebrate with Wolffe and the others.

"Wolffe hasn't stopped talking about it for days. He's thrilled for you."

Saedii looked over at the stern commander, who for once was smiling and laughing. Rex was right. Wolffe looked ecstatic. Beaming with pride like a father who's kid just won an award.

She smiled, but it was strained. Seeing Wolffe so happy for her was great, but there were others that she wanted to be there, too. Others that she wanted to celebrate with.

For what had to be the hundredth time in the past few hours, Saedii looked up towards the door, hoping for a glimpse of the Batch. But they were nowhere to be seen.

Why hadn't they come to join? They had to know about the celebration by now. Weren't they happy for her?

It was the only thing weighing on her mind. The only thing keeping her from really enjoying the moment.

"Have you seen Hunter and the others?" Saedii tried to keep her tone casual. Like it didn't bother her that they weren't there.

By the tightening of Rex's lips, she hadn't succeeded. "I think Hunter was talking to Cid."

"Cid? Why?" Alarm bells rang in Saedii's mind. They hadn't run a job for Cid in weeks. Not since Serenno. And Cid had made no efforts to contact them since. Why would Hunter be talking to her?

"You'll have to ask him." Very casually, Rex dipped his head towards the door. Saedii looked up just in time to see Hunter appear in full armor.

Her stomach dropped. She knew what that meant.

They were leaving.

Rex patted her on the arm before he turned to join the rest of the troopers.

Saedii met Hunter by the door. She was frowning as she demanded, "Cid has a job for us, doesn't she?"

"She does," Hunter said. "A big one."

Her shoulders fell. "Do we really have to go now?"

"Sorry, kid. I've been holding Cid off for a few weeks. She said this is our final chance before she gives the job to someone else."

It wasn't fair. She just got Wolffe and the others back. It had only been a few weeks. Not nearly enough time.

Hunter looked contrite, at least. "I really wish it could wait, but we need to go. Cid's expecting us on Ord Mantell by tomorrow morning."

The trip would take all night, which meant they'd have to leave now. Her celebration with Wolffe and the others would be cut short. Disappointment flooded through her.

"We're taking off in thirty minutes. That should give you some time to say bye to Wolffe and the rest," Hunter said. He had the good grace to at least look unhappy for her, like he knew how hard this was.

Saedii gave a forlorn nod.

Hunter laid a hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "Cross told us you got promoted. Congratulations. I'm really proud of you, kid."

"Thanks." Saedii's voice was wooden. Hearing him say that now felt like a hollow consolation.

"We'll celebrate when we get back. I promise."

That could be days from now. Weeks. Cid's jobs weren't always straightforward.

She sighed. "I'll meet you on the Marauder."

"I really am sorry, kid. I wish it didn't have to be now." Hunter's tone was sincere, at least. He really sounded just as disappointed as she was.

"It's ok." This time, Saedii gave him a smile. "I understand."

He returned it and gave her one last squeeze on the shoulder before he left.

Back at the table, Wolffe was waiting for her. His earlier excitement was gone, replaced with a steely sort of anger as she pulled him apart from the others. "What was that about?"

"I have to go."

"Go?" Wolffe looked outraged. "You can't leave now. We're celebrating."

"We have to run a job. Cid won't wait any longer," Saedii explained.

The group at the table was getting boisterous. Warthog let out a loud cheer of "To the General!" and thrust an overflowing cup into the air. It was matched by several others, to resounding cheers of "The General!"

Wolffe's scarred eye narrowed. "It's not bad enough they didn't show up to celebrate you, but now they're pulling you away?"

"It's not like that."

"What is it like then? Explain it to me."

Saedii didn't like what Wolffe was implying. She knew there had to be a good reason Hunter and the others hadn't joined them in the cafeteria. They loved her. They wouldn't have just decided not to come.

But judging by the steely look in Wolffe's eye, that was exactly what he believed. That the Batch hadn't wanted to show up for her.

"You haven't met Cid. You don't know what she's like," Saedii said lamely. "She's very...insistent. If she wants us now, then we don't have much choice."

"That's bullshit and you know it," Wolffe said at once.

Across the room, Rex was watching the two of them. His expression was made of stone, but Saedii was sure he was uneasy. Beside him, Cody leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

"It's not –"

"There's a war going on and Hunter and his lot have you running errands for a criminal. You – a Jedi." Wolffe's expression was fiercely intent.

Saedii frowned. "Rex needs the money. We don't mind to run these jobs. It helps fund the Rebellion."

"Right. Rex told me all about the cut you get from this Cid character. It's chump change. Mere scraps."

"Every little piece helps."

A very frustrated breath blew from his nose. "Your talents are wasted on that group. You should be helping Rex plan recon missions and gathering intel. Not running errands."

"What we do is just as important as running missions for Rex."

"You really think stealing from Count Dooku's war chest is as important as liberating Clone troopers from prisons?" he challenged.

When he phrased it like that, it didn't sound close. But Saedii knew that without money, the Rebellion would have already fallen. The contributions the Bad Batch made were just as important.

She gestured to the group of Clone troopers at the table. At the new faces. "We have three and a half thousand new troopers here. All that need to be fed and housed and trained. That takes money."

"Senator Amidala gets money. Lots of it from her allies in the senate."

"Aren't you listening? We have almost four thousand new troops. Every credit counts."

Wolffe was shaking his head. His heated eyes flashed up over Saedii's shoulder, locking with Rex and Cody. The two held his gaze for only a moment before they looked away, giving them privacy.

"Look," Wolffe began, and by his tone, Saedii knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say, "I didn't want to say anything, but now I don't have a choice. The Bad Batch aren't a suitable squad for you. I don't like you hanging around them."

Outraged, Saedii demanded, "What do you mean not suitable? They're some of the best troopers I've ever worked with!"

"There were a lot of rumors about them in the Grand Army. That lot leaves destruction in their wake. Disobeys orders. They always seem to find trouble."

"So did the Wolfpack," Saedii said. "We were always improvising. You're the one who taught me how to pivot in the midst of a mission, remember?"

"That's different." His tone was brusque. Sharp. He lowered his voice. "Clone Force 99 showed blatant disregard for rules and regulations. They put themselves and other troopers in unnecessary danger. I saw the reports. They're dangerous and they're going to get you hurt."

"They've kept me safe for over a year."

"Not exactly." His hard eyes landed on her prosthetic arm.

Gingerly, Saedii brushed a hand over it. The stump of her arm seemed to throb beneath the metal, as if Wolffe's scrutiny scratched against the nerves. "Kamino wasn't their fault."

His eyes blazed. "Rex told me what happened. You went there to save them, and you lost an arm for it. Almost died for them."

When Saedii glanced across the room, she noticed Rex seemed uncomfortable. He kept glancing their way, trying to gauge how the conversation was going. Guilt was heavy in the Force around him.

"That wasn't the Batch's fault," Saedii argued quietly. "The Empire –"

"Of course it was their fault. You went there for them."

"I would have done the same for you."

Wolffe rubbed at his jaw. She hadn't seen him this angry in a while. Had almost forgotten just how hot his eyes could blaze when he was mad. "They're not good for you. You deserve better. A team that will watch your back and keep you safe."

"They do keep me safe. I owe them my life, Wolffe." Now, Saedii was getting mad. Wolffe wasn't the only one who cared for her. The Batch had more than proven their capability to protect her in the past year. They were her family now just as much as he was.

"They're going to get you killed."

"They'd rather die than see me hurt."

He gave a humorless laugh. "They couldn't even be bothered to come and celebrate your promotion. You really think they would put their lives on the line for you? The Batch doesn't care about anyone but themselves."

This was pointless. For whatever reason, Wolffe was determined to crucify the Batch. But he hadn't even spoken with them since that first day. He didn't know them. Not like Saedii did.

Very calmly, Saedii insisted, "They're my squad. My family."

"No, we're your squad. The 104th." He tapped his chest before sweeping an arm out towards Warthog and the others. "You're our commander. Our general."

"I can be both," she said.

"No, you can't."

The heat in his eyes simmered down as he let out a long breath. Reigning himself in, she knew.

A bit more gently, he began, "You can't be a member of the 104th and Clone Force 99. You're going to have to choose, and I don't want you to make the wrong choice."

"Choose?" she demanded. Stunned. "I can't pick one of you over the other. You're both my family."

"The Bad Batch's loyalties don't lie with the Rebellion. As a Jedi, it's your responsibility to defend the galaxy," Wolffe continued passionately. "Eventually, your goals aren't going to align."

Saedii shook her head. "The Batch are committed to helping Rex. They're not going to abandon the Rebellion."

"You're wrong. You just can't see it."

Now, she was glaring at him. In the time apart, she forgot just how bullheaded Wolffe could be. How stubborn. He always believed he was right. Arguing with him was damn near impossible.

"I don't think you should go with them," he added, a touch gentler.

"Well, it's a good thing I outrank you now," she snapped. "You don't get a say."

Something flashed in his gaze – disappointment and anger. And maybe just a bit of fear. "Saedii –"

"You don't get to tell me what to do, Wolffe. Not anymore."

He lowered his voice. "I'm not telling you what to do. I'm asking. Please don't go with them. They can't protect you, and I don't want you to get hurt."

It was strange to hear him plead. In the time she'd known him, she'd never known him to beg before. He'd always been too proud.

Saedii reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Everything will be fine, Wolffe. We'll be back in a few days. You'll see."

Wolffe's expression was shuttered. He didn't believe her.

"I promise." She gave him a blinding smile. "You have nothing to worry about."

Disappointment lit in his eyes as he realized he hadn't persuaded her. But he gave her hand a faint squeeze in response.

She handed him her glass of ergas. "Go have another glass on me. When I get back, we can celebrate again."

"If you say so, General." His tone had gone very stiff and formal. Hiding behind protocol.

When Saedii looked over his shoulder at the other troopers, Rex met her gaze. He seemed apologetic, lips pressed into a tight line. Whatever he'd told Wolffe about the Batch clearly hadn't been meant in malice. Or to cause tension between Wolffe and Saedii.

Saedii turned towards the door, where she found Crosshair waiting for her. His helmet was on, covering his expression, but the tight cross of his arms over his chest told her he was angry. Furious.

Wolffe straightened at the sight of him. Eyes narrowing.

She left before Wolffe could say anything else.