The next morning, a pounding headache greeted me, a lingering reminder of my immersion in the icy waters. I staggered to my feet and shook myself vigorously, sending droplets of water cascading from my tail. I could sense Echo's presence before he even spoke.

"Morning, Echo," I said, yawning and arching my back, the motion causing a slight tremor in the floor as my long, curved foreclaws tapped the ground, nearly gouging it.

"Hello to you too, sunshine," Echo replied with a hint of amusement. "Want to join us for breakfast in the mess hall?"

I turned my gaze downward at Echo, a tired but determined look in my eyes. "I might as well. Come on," I said, brushing past him, my tail flicking slightly. He followed close behind as we made our way outside.

The others were already gathered, and I immediately noticed a tense atmosphere among us. Crosshair seemed colder than usual, casting sharp glares at some of his comrades—most notably, at Hunter. Hmm, that's not too surprising. Those two always seemed to clash, I thought.

I tapped my deadly claws on the ground, my pupils narrowing into slits as they usually did when I was on edge. Hunter and the others turned toward me, and Wrecker's face lit up with a wide grin. "Ah, you're up and about now, aren't you, Crimson?" he called out cheerfully.

I let out a soft hiss in response, his loud greeting interrupting my contemplation. Noticing my slight wince, Wrecker quickly raised his hands in a mock apology. "Oops, sorry," he said, his grin now tempered with a touch of embarrassment.

I shook my head and stalked past them into the building where the mess hall was. As I walked, I felt the weight of the clones' gazes on me, their stares flickering in my direction. It was expected—I hadn't been around for a year, and now, with the war over, my sudden reappearance was bound to attract attention. I was used to it, though.

We reached the mess hall and found a table. The others settled down while I coiled around them, careful to keep my tail out of the way of the clones navigating the room. I went to get a tray of meat from the serving clone, who greeted me with a lovesick smile. I returned his smile politely before returning to my seat and devouring the food.

Halfway through my meal, I felt a presence near my tail and caught the scent of a female. I turned to see a small blonde girl sitting with the Bad Batch.

"Well, well," I snorted, my curiosity piqued. The girl looked up at me, her eyes widening with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Who are you, little one?" I asked, my tone gentle despite the gruffness in my voice.

"I'm Omega!" she greeted cheerfully.

"You must be Nyx," she continued, her head tilting slightly. "But it was said you were reported dead on Mandalore. You're not going by that name anymore, are you?"

I blinked, a smirk forming on my lips. Reaching out, I traced one claw gently around her cheek. "You're a smart little girl, aren't you?" I teased, nodding as I spoke. "Yeah, I don't go by that name anymore. You can call me Crimson."

She smiled up at me. "Nice to meet you, Crimson," she said warmly.

I dipped my head, gently touching her forehead with my snout. I drew in her scent, imprinting it into my memory as I did with everyone I got to know. The same little Sara I thought, recognizing a familiar essence beneath the surface.

I leaned back and continued eating. A few clones walked past us, their whispers carrying over to where I sat. "Look, the Bad Batch got themselves a new recruit," one of them said.

My eyes narrowed as I looked up. "Yeah, right," I snorted, my tone edged with irritation. The other clone, sensing my mood, rose slowly and growled at his companion. The two clones stopped, their gazes shifting to me with a mix of fear and surprise.

"What did you say about my friend?" I snarled, the menace in my voice making it clear that their words were unacceptable.

They all backed away, their faces pale. "Sorry, Commander. It was just teasing," one of them stammered, trying to placate me.

I stared at them with an intense gaze before leaning down and blowing a stream of hot steam directly into their faces. "See to it that it doesn't happen again," I growled, my voice carrying an unspoken warning. The clones flinched and nodded quickly, their eyes wide with apprehension.

They hurried off, clearly eager to escape. I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "Stupid newbies," I muttered to myself, returning to my meal with a faint smile.

I resumed my place at the table, where Omega gracefully settled beside me and tenderly brushed her hand against my flank as I dined. "They did not speak a word about you," she murmured quietly, drawing my gaze as I wiped the blood from my jaws. "Well, I suppose they have consistently held a favorable opinion of me," I responded.

Omega rested her head on the table. "You mean they liked you?" she inquired, and I nodded. "Yes, every day spent with such newcomers allowed me to sense their hearts," I replied, a hint of amusement in my voice. "New clones are always the easiest to manipulate."

Hunter turned to me and fixed me with a stern gaze. I merely snapped my teeth at him, causing him to retreat. "But do they like you?" Omega asked, pointing toward the Bad Batch. I shrugged indifferently. "We met when Rex and I rescued Echo from the Skakoan mines; the Bad Batch assisted us," I stated. "At that time, we did not hold each other in high regard."

"Well, you did try to kill us," Crosshair said with a smirk, and I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you did, because you went after Jesse and Kix when I was supposed to protect them," I said coolly, getting up and shoving a plate toward a passing clone. He grabbed it and went on his way.

I looked back at Omega, my tail swishing in anticipation. "I have to admit, I'm not always the best at deciphering a clone's emotions," I mused. "They are trained to hide their thoughts, after all." I chuckled softly and tilted my head as I watched Omega smile. "But it seems that Captain Rex is not one of the few who can shield his feelings from me." I let out a pleased purr and nodded in agreement with Omega's statement.

I then heard the comms go off: "The Night Fury General is to come to Rampart's office at once," said the officer. I sighed, rising to my talons. "Keep yourselves out of trouble, boys," I called before I walked out of the mess hall and down toward the office to the new officer, Rampart.

The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel the weight of my duties pressing down on me. Each step echoed in the quiet corridor, a reminder that the fate of our clan rested on my shoulders. As I approached the office, I steeled myself for whatever news awaited me.

Rampart sat at his desk, his eyes narrowing as I padded into the room. He blinked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, hello! I didn't quite believe what I heard the other officers saying—that you were no human. I mean, how can a monster hold its place in the ranks of the Republic?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, and I could feel the heat rising in my chest.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I'm here to do my job, Rampart. No matter what you think of me, I'm still part of this fleet." My voice rang out, fierce and unwavering, echoing off the cold walls.

Rampart leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, clearly amused. But I wasn't about to back down. I straightened my wings, letting the weight of my presence fill the room. "You might want to remember that monsters can be just as brave as heroes," I added, my gaze locking onto his. The challenge hung in the air between us, and I could feel the tension crackling like static. It was time to show him that I was more than just what he saw on the surface.

He nodded, a smirk still playing on his lips. "Yeah, I know that. But you're with the Bad Batch. Are they under the rules, or do they just like to break a few?" he spat, his tone dripping with disdain.

I growled low in my throat, the urge to defend my squad rising like a tide. "I don't betray anyone," I shot back, my voice steady despite the fire burning inside me. "We may bend the rules, but we do it for a reason. We fight for those who can't fight for themselves."

Rampart raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He might think he had the upper hand, but I wasn't going to let him underestimate the loyalty and strength of the Bad Batch.

He sighed, dragging his fingers over his forehead in exasperation. "Fine, but come back to me if they break any rules, or else it'll be worse for them," he warned, his tone shifting to something more serious.

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "I'll keep an eye on them," I replied, my resolve firm. "But don't underestimate what we're capable of. We may not always play by the book, but we get the job done."

Rampart leaned back in his chair, studying me with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. "Just remember, loyalty can be a double-edged sword," he replied, his voice low. I could sense the challenge beneath his words, but I was ready to face whatever came next. The Bad Batch and I were a force to be reckoned with, and I wouldn't let anyone forget it.

 ◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

I padded back to the barracks where the guys were, soon finding them all gathered. "Where's Omega?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease brewing inside me.

Hunter sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I sent her away. She doesn't do well being around people like us," he replied, and I shot him a sharp look. "Let others in the pack, Hunter," I said calmly, brushing past him and sniffing around the room.

Echo tilted his head, concern etched on his face. "Is something wrong, Crimson?" he asked, watching me closely.

I stood up on my hind legs, scanning the space. Tech stiffened beside me, his eyes narrowing. "She's doing the same thing Nyx did when she sensed the scent of something—or danger—was nearby," I explained, my instincts kicking in. The air felt thick, and I knew we needed to find her before it was too late.

"Wait, wait! You can't just walk off in the corridors!" Hunter called out, stepping in front of me. I looked down at him, a low growl rumbling in my throat. "Hunter, you might be the leader of your brothers, but you have no power over me," I hissed, shoving him aside.

Without another word, I sprinted through the corridors, my heart racing. It didn't take long to find Omega. She was safe, and relief washed over me. I turned my head slightly so none of the others would see the concern I felt; I just wanted to protect her.

As I approached, she looked up, a small smile forming on her lips. "Ah, Miss Crimson! I thought you'd be in your room by now," she said, her tone light despite the tension in the air.

I softened at her words, but the urgency still pulsed through me. "Omega, you need to stay close to us. There are things out there—dangerous things." I kept my voice low, glancing around to ensure we weren't being overheard. "Promise me you won't wander off again."

Omega smiled and came over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I lowered my head to rest it on her back, feeling a wave of warmth and comfort wash over me. "Don't worry, I was just with Nala. She always takes care of me," she said, letting go and stepping back.

"Anyway, I'm her assistant, so I'm supposed to be here, but I'll come and visit you and the boys later," she added, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

I couldn't help but smile at her spirit. "Just be careful, alright? If you need anything, don't hesitate to find me," I replied, my voice gentle but firm.

She nodded, her expression serious for a moment. "I promise, Crimson. I'll be safe." With that, she turned to head back, and I watched her go, feeling a mix of pride and protectiveness. As long as she was with Nala, I knew she was in good hands, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to keep a closer watch on her. The world outside wasn't always safe, and I would do whatever it took to keep her protected.