Braca was a desolate rusting and rotting planet, its surface littered with the carcass' of venators and Jedi cruisers. Ryki leaned on Tech's chair, peering out the window with the rest of the Batchers as they grew closer to the junk planet. 

"We're visiting a rusty planet to remove your chips." Ryki pursed her lips. "Not to be discouraging but that isn't actually a sterile facility to get a minor surgery." Echo swivelled on his chair and turned his attention to the mirialan, "We don't exactly have the luxury to return to Kamino or visit and medical centers, so this is all we're getting." Ryki grimaced but she figured he made a valid point, after all, they were living under the shadows of the empire as wanted people. As Tech began the landing sequence, Ryki retreated from the cockpit where Wrecker was currently at. 

"You good big guy?" The gentle giant momentarily released his death grip on his head, "Yeah, yeah. I'm good." Ryki nodded her head tentatively, Wrecker's constant moans of pain only made her wonder more about these inhibitor chips and the extent of damage they did on the clones. "We'll get you fixed up soon enough. Hang in there Wreck." She patted his shoulder. 

---

Rex treated the Bad Batch the moment they landed on a dead cruiser, the surrounding rusty remains of the other ships provided them cover from prying eyes. Rex lead them to a specific venator class cruiser where they could start removing the inhibitor chips. The captain led the front of the group along with Wrecker, Omega and Tech. Ryki hung back with Hunter and Tech. 

"What is it?" Tech asked when Hunter suddenly paused to glare at the water that pooled around the cruiser graveyard menacingly. Ryki stood by the two, watching as the surface of the green water shifted. Probably by the cruisers slowly sinking into the ground, she thought. "Stay above the waterline." Hunter warned the two, Tech walked ahead and Hunter lightly urged Ryki to follow by pressing on the small of her back, her green eyes scanning the green liquid. 

---

After Wrecker was nearly devoured whole by an aquatic creature that lurked beneath the green water, the Batchers finally reached the medical facility. Tech began to look around the dark room, watching as a womprat like creature scurried into the venators walls. "I would no longer call this medical bay a sterile environment." 

"Do you prefer to use the facility on Kamino?" Rex countered with a hint of amusement in his voice. Echo lightly tapped on Ryki's shoulder, "Deja Vu." 

The boys settled in, placing their items on the floor while Ryki, Tech and Echo began to set up the medical bay. Echo managed to get some power back online for the procedure and Tech prepped the equipment. "Take it easy Wrecker." The demolition expert slowly sat on the medical bed, his headache seemed to worsen by the minute. While tending to Wrecker, Ryki overheard the youngest clone worrying over Wrecker. The thought of Omega doing so was touching and heartwarming, it brought a smile to Ryki's face. 

"Ryki, if something goes wrong please keep Omega and yourself away from me." Wrecker placed his hands on Ryki's, stopping her from work a little while. The mirialan felt her heart drop. "I don't want to hurt the kid, and you are a good friend. Can't hurt you too." 

"You'll do just fine Wrecker. Don't think that way, and I know you wouldn't hurt Omega, Rex, your brother's and even me." She held Wrecker's hands, attempting to calm him down. The demolition expert was still frightened but cheered up a little by Ryki's encouragement. Tech joined the two, "Thank you Ryki. Wrecker, let's get this chip out of you." 

Hunter and Rex stood side by side, watching over the group. "Wrecker's condition is getting worse." Ryki pointed out as she approached the clones. "How terrible is the extent of these chips?" Rex's shoulders fell slightly as memories of Order 66 began to flood back to him. "Let's just say, no one deserves to even experience it." 

 Tech placed his chip scanner on Wrecker's head and the other's watched in silent worry. For some reason, Ryki began to feel an odd chill run down her spine and her head began to feel fuzzy. The room seemed to darken and an ominous blood red light filled her mind. Disembodied voices rang in her head, echoing in the walls of her brain. 

"Execute..." "...in violation..." "Violation....". 

Ryki shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but every other sense in her began to fade, the walls of the room began to close in and the creaking and groaning of old metal walls amplified and deafened her hearing. Then the final words came in, giving her just enough time to warn Hunter and Rex of the oncoming storm. "Execute Order 66" whispered past her lips. 

"What did you say?" Hunter gripped her shoulder's tightly, noticing her dreamlike state. Several shakes brought her back to the land of the living, her emerald eyes held warning as they bored into Hunter's soul. "Wrecker's chip is activated." 

The captain and Sargent exchanged dreaded glances but any action was too late. "Wrecker!" Tech croaked under Wrecker's grip on his neck. "You are in direct violation of Order 66." The poor man was lifted from the floor before being hurled into the wall, knocking him unconscious. 

"His chip. Hunter his chip is controlling him." Ryki carefully eyed Wrecker and trailed her eyes to Omega, who stood just inches away from the trooper. Hunter noticed Ryki's line of sight, immediately putting himself in front of her. "Get Omega." He whispered. 

Tension in the room rose. A stun blast rang and Wrecker began to fight back. Ryki made a mad dash and pulled Omega to her chest as blaster bolts began to fly around the room. "Get behind here!" Ryki saw Hunter waiting for her behind a table and sprinted over with Omega in her arms, ducking from several blaster shots. She hopped over the table and landed beside Hunter. Her body flew over Omega's to cover her from blaster fire. "He'll destroy the equipment if we don't get him out of here." Echo hollered to the group. 

"You're all traitors!" Wrecker shouted and began to fire down on the four. "Draw him out," Hunter ordered. "Omega and Ryki, stay with Tech." The girls nodded. Hunter distracted Wrecker by throwing a gas cylinder his way. It caught a bullet and exploded, the gas providing cover for the clones to run out the bay. Wrecker pursued them, leaving Ryki and Omega in a smoking medical bay. Tense shoulders finally relaxed, Ryki took in deep breaths to orient herself. 

"Will Wrecker be alright?" Omega tugged on the mirialan's sleeve. Ryki cupped Omega's face and pulled her into a hug. "He'll be fine. They will all be fine." There was uncertainty in her voice, but she prayed to the Force that everything would be alright. "Come on. We need to help Tech." Ryki released Omega from the hug and moved the metal wall piece off him. Omega gently shook him "Tech. Tech, wake up." 

Ryki leaned over to check his head for any blood or wounds. Tugging on his blacks, she took a look at his neck. Omega silently worried as Ryki assessed Tech's injuries until she finally let out a sigh of relief. "His neck is fine, but there will be some bruises." Ryki took out some of her homemade medicine, a medicinal cream and gently placed it on the forming bruises. 

Blaster fire echoed throughout the venator. "We should go help." Omega urged. Ryki sighed helplessly, "We can't take on Wrecker. I'm sure Hunter, Rex and Echo can handle it." Omega was not pleased so she tried to beg for Ryki to help. "Omega, we can't do anything right now. Wrecker is unstable right now and we can't stop him." She tried to explain. "We need to trust that they'll make it Omega." Ryki placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Let's tend to Tech. I can't take care of both of you if you run off to find Wrecker." 

Hoping that Omega understood, Ryki returned her attention to Tech. Minutes later, he woke up. "Wh-what happened?" He groaned, voice all scratchy. Ryki helped him stand up, "Wrecker's chip activated and he began to Execute Order 66. Your brothers are trying to stop Wrecker. Omega and I stayed to help you. " Tech grimaced "Thank you, but where is Omega?" 

Ryki looked at him weirdly, "She's right-...here." The room was only left with Tech and Ryki. Omega had ran off. "Kriff! She's going to get herself injured!" Ryki grabbed one of Tech's blasters. "What do you think you're doing?" Tech urgently pulled her back. "Getting Omega." 

"I'm following you." Ryki shook her head, "You're injured." Tech carelessly took out his other blaster, "And you, respectfully, don't know how to shoot. Respectfully. And also, I am fine." Rolling her eyes at his stubbornness, she pulled him out of the med bay. 

The halls were dark and barely lit. Tech took the lead in front. "Tech look!" Hunter and Echo were knocked out. "They'll be fine. Where is Rex?" 

More blaster shots echoed along the eerie hallway. Tech and Ryki followed it and it led them to a tight corner. "Ugh, where is she?" Ryki grumbled. "I'm scanning the halls. This hazardous hall is decreasing our chances of finding Omega." Ryki grumbled again. "Omega!" 

"Run! RUN!" Tech turned to see Omega running towards them at full speed, behind her Wrecker in full pursuit. "Stun him!" Ryki shouted. Tech and her fired at Wrecker waiting for Omega to run past them before they joined her. Tech switched from stun to live fire and shot several loose hanging walls to slow Wrecker down. The trio ran but reached a dead end, Wrecker's frustrated shouts nearing them.

"This way!" Tech pushed the girls towards a semi-opened door. Omega and Ryki got in first. Wrecker came around the corner. "Tech hurry!" Tech was halfway through but Wrecker caught his legs. Omega grabbed Tech's hand to pull him and Ryki dove to his legs and threw a punch at Wrecker's face. That distracted him enough to let Tech go. The three clamoured in the room as Wrecker glared at them from the door's gap. Ryki held Omega tightly, panting with fear and adrenaline. "We need to hide." Tech pulled the girls to a hiding spot behind a loose panel. The hissing of the door pulled them into a deathly silence. Tech and Ryki silently held onto their blasters on stun. 

Wrecker's footsteps echoed in the empty room. Ryki huddled in closer to Omega. Tech inclined his head to the floor where Wrecker's shadow could be seen. Pieces of metal were being thrown around as Wrecker began to physically tear down the place to find the trio. Tech drew closer to Ryki and Omega, both the adults boxing Omega safely between them. Everything went quiet, too quiet. 

The metal panel covering them was pulled out. Wrecker's threatening form loomed over them. Without waiting, Tech furiously began to fire stun blasts on Wrecker. Ryki pulled Omega away from him and began to shoot stun blasts at Wrecker from another side. Wrecker pulled on Tech's leg and flung him across the room. He landed by Ryki and Omega. "Omega stay behind us!" Tech orders as himself and Ryki continued to shoot Wrecker but the brainwashed trooper swung his gun and knocked out Tech's and Ryki's blasters. 

"Wrecker! Snap out of it." Tech stood between Ryki and Omega, shielding them from Wrecker. "You're all traitors to the empire." Wrecker snarled. Ryki pulled Omega protectively behind her, Tech still standing in front of the both of them. "Please Wrecker. We don't want to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you." Omega begged and looked into her friend's eyes. Wrecker seemed to hesitate a moment but the chip got the better of him. Blaster now locked on the three "Good...soldiers..follow..orde-"

A stun blast got him from the back, temporarily neutralizing Wrecker. He dropped the floor and Rex was leaning heavily on the door, a smoking blaster in his deathly grip. He nodded to the three, "You're okay now. We're all okay now." 

Ryki slumped to the floor, her heart still beating out of control. Tech panted tiredly, "You're safe now Omega. He is too." He pointed to a stunned Wrecker. Omega nodded silently then lunged to hug Tech. He wrapped his arms around her slowly, patting her back comfortingly. "You're alright?" He turned to Ryki. She smiled weakly and nodded. 

---

The procedure took too long for comfort. Everyone had returned to the medical bay, waiting for Wrecker's recovery. Omega sat by his side the whole time. Ryki was leaning on the wall, body aching all over. "You're alright?" Rex joined her, slumping down with a tired huff. Ryki hummed, "I'm just glad we managed to save the big guy. Force know's how sad Omega would be if we hadn't." Rex watched Omega leaning on Wrecker's arm. "She's a compassionate girl. Too innocent and kind for our world." 

There was a hesitant pause in Rex's words. A question he had, pulling at the edges of his mind. "You whispered the order just moments before Wrecker's episode. Then you warned us about  it." The mirialan knew where this was going but she just hummed to acknowledge it. 

"Are you Jedi?" Rex tried, he sounded hopeful. "I'm sorry. No Jedi here." Ryki sadly explained. "Then how?" 

"Force-sensitive only. I can sense things to a certain extent but not Jedi level." Rex deflated a little after hearing Ryki's confession. "Looking for Jedi huh? Sorry to disappoint." She joked around a little. Rex chuckled sadly, "Just, I just hope some Jedi have survived. Not disappointed, it's better to hide from the Empire than live in the open now." 

Although Ryki was not hiding from the Empire, she still understood the sentiment. "Still, you're force sensitive. The Empire would see you as a threat." Rex warned her, "Stay with them. They'll protect you. You're a good person." Ryki glanced at Rex, a smile growing on her face. "Thank you, Captain. You're a good person too." 

Wrecker woke up not too long later and the Bad Batch was more than happy to welcome him back. Rex urged the other's to remove their chips, now that they were more aware of the dangers of the chip when activated. "Thanks for your help earlier." Tech fussily touched the shaved side of his head. Ryki slapped his hands away. "Stop fussing." She scolded lightly, running her routine check on the scar on his head like she did the other Batchers. "Also you're welcome." 

---

Rex left Braca after dark. The Batchers decided to remain on Braca for a while since it seemed like the perfect hideout. They were safe from the Empire and hidden away from the Scrapper Guild. The boys and Omega settled in for the night. Sleep couldn't come for Ryki thought, so she quietly left them. She came to a broken window, leaning on it and watched the rotting planet. The moonlight cast odd shadows on the planet's surface, courtesy of the jagged pieces of metal that littered the planet. 

Pondering to herself for a moment, she thought over Rex's warning. Would the Empire really see her as a threat even though she was not Jedi? What could they even do if they did catch her? Make her evil with the Force? Ryki scoffed at the idea, but deep down somewhere she did fear it. A yawn escaped her lips, sleepiness finally taking her over. Guess she'll have to worry about this another day.

---

Somewhere in the Inner Rim

"I want a bounty on her head!" The man screamed again. "I want my property back. It's my right! She stole from me!" 

"Do you have details on this person?" 

Mor Vendi slammed a data stick down on the table. "All of her information is in here. Mor Vendi knows her as a criminal. She is a thieving runt!" 

The guild leader rolled his eyes. "Can't you just go to the Coruscant police for this?" 

"You want your guild to go bankrupt! Mor Vendi will be happy to deliver." The umbaran scratched his nails on the table, his guards crowding into the table and threatening the guild leader. 

"Fine FINE!" He raised his hands up. "Pay me and I'll prepare her puck." Vendi snapped his fingers and one of his guards pushed a camtono of spice on the table. Greedily the guild leader took his payment. "You puck will be ready sir. My best hunters will be in pursuit." He went off the prepare the puck.

Not long after, Mor Vendi smiled evilly in his burned down slave house. A blue hologram flicked in the dark room. Her name written in Aurabesh

Wanted: Ryki Taala (Alive)

Property of Mor Vendi-

Age: 24

Species: Mirialan

Reward: 30 000 credits

"Soon, you will be mine..."