Summary: "'Maybe we'll get the chance one day- if this war ever ends.'" Sometimes, on extended leave, the Batch visits the Lawquanes on Saleucami and spends a few days in a life just outside of their grasp. One-shot.

Devotion To Family, Duty To Greater

They've been warned of an abundance of missions ahead. The Republic allows them a week of extended leave before they start, because they'll barely even have time to sleep once the chaos starts.

Hunter suggests they visit Saleucami for a couple of rotations, and the others agree. It's been nearly a year since they were last able to visit the Lawquanes.


The Marauder, in top condition, lands gracefully on the short, patchy wildgrass.

Tech steps from his ship behind the others, and it almost feels like coming home- to his second home away from home, anyway. Kamino will always be first, the Marauder second.

The trees and plants sway slightly in the gentle morning breeze, and the faint scent of crops and soil come with it. The sun shines brightly through the mist- though Tech doesn't appreciate the angle at which the light hits his datapad and reflects into his eyes through his goggles- and what little tension is between the brothers fades as they relish the natural beauty of the planet.

Crosshair and Wrecker still find something to bicker about on the walk towards the Lawquanes' place. Hunter shakes his head and tunes it out. Tech tries to do the same, focusing on his datapad as he quietly follows the sergeant.

"-right, Tech?" Wrecker's saying.

"Do not bring me into this." He warns.

His second eldest brother, ever so physical, throws a playful punch into his shoulder.

"Ow." Tech glares at him over his aching shoulder, wincing at the sharp refraction of sunlight from his datapad into his eyes- he decides that he really needs to upgrade the lenses to block it.

Crosshair snorts.

"Well, look who we have here." Tech turns forward again at the sound of a clone reg's voice- Cut's voice. His red-brown hair has a few streaks of gray, but it's not much longer than it was the last time they saw him. "Clone Force 99, still alive and well. Glad to see it."

"Unfortunately." Crosshair unsubtly mutters.

Tech doesn't catch the sarcasm. "Actually, that is a good thing, Crosshair."

Hunter ignores them. "It's good to see you too, Cut. It's been awhile."

"Yeah, it's been forever!" Wrecker comments.

"That is not the word I would use for it." Tech interjects, putting his datapad away.

"How are Suu and the kids?" Hunter asks Cut, as they continue towards the farmhouse.

"They're looking forward to seeing you boys, actually. Jek recognized your ship." The farmer explains with a chuckle. "He's got sharp eyes- not as sharp as yours or Crosshair's, of course, but they're pretty good for his age."

"You should let me teach him to shoot." Crosshair suggests.

Cut chuckles again. "He's still a little young for that. Give it a few years."

The squad makes small talk with the farmer as they walk along the natural trail, and as they reach the outer rows of the crop fields. Cut leads them through with a light warning of scolding them if they harm any of the plants, mentioning that harvest is nearing and he needs every credit that he can make.

The house has been in better shape, Tech notes when they reach it. A couple of the wood-barred windows are in need of repair, as are the roof and outer walls. He silently vows that he'll put some work into it, because he knows how difficult that purposelessly sitting about and talking will be for him.

"I take it that you boys are on leave again?" Cut's asking them, as Jek and Shaeeah burst from within the house, excitedly racing over to them.

Wrecker laughs, scooping each of the children in his arms.

"Yeah. We have a week, but we don't plan on staying longer than a couple of rotations. Tech has some things he'd like to finish up back home before we're shipped out again. And besides, we don't need to intrude upon your privacy for too long."

"It's no bother to us. Wrecker does a great job at keeping Jek and Shaeeah out of our hair. I'd say that makes up for it." There's an amused gleam in the deserter's eyes, a sly smile playing on his lips that says he's all too happy to house them for as long as they need.

"Thank you, Cut." Hunter replies gratefully. "Crosshair and Tech might not be the best at showing it, but they enjoy being here as much as Wrecker and I do. The war puts a strain on all of us, but out here...you have it good, here. You're luckier than most."

"I know. Sometimes, I wonder what it'd be like if you just stayed here."

Tech can hear Wrecker and the children laughing joyfully, and his lips lift upwards ruefully.

"You know, they'd come looking for us. You wouldn't be safe, if we tried that."

Cut nods sadly. "Still, you boys deserve to be happy."

"Maybe we'll get the chance one day- if this war ever ends." Hunter muses.

If this war ever ends.

As Tech and Hunter accompany Cut inside the house, Crosshair slips away. Tech glimpses him climbing up onto the roof. Wrecker and the children remain outside.

Suu calls a greeting to them upon their entry, which Hunter returns. Tech gives her a nod of acknowledgement.

"Are you all still alive, then?" She asks with a raised eyebrow that warns them against lying.

"I don't think any of them can die, with Tech's medical expertise." Cut comments proudly, clapping a hand gently on his shoulder. "He's the best at what he does."

"That may be a bit of an exaggeration." Tech manages, slightly flustered by the praise.

"Nonsense." He insists. "Hunter was on death's door when you first showed up here, and I saw you practically bring him back from the dead."

"Come on, Tech, you know he's right." Hunter agrees.

His cheeks are uncomfortably warm, and he ducks out of Cut's grasp. "Well, when you put it like that..."

Suu smiles. "I am glad all of you are safe."

Above, there's the sudden creaking of metal, and then a black and red painted leg comes through the ceiling.

Crosshair snarls in frustration as he fights to pull his leg free, and the roof nearly goes with him when he does. His face appears over the hole and he calls down to them. "You need to hire Tech to fix this."

"Actually, I was considering helping with some repairs." Tech admits.

"You never stop working, do you?" Cut asks, huffing out an amused laugh before jerking his head to his left. "Come on, I've got some supplies in the back."


Tech spends the whole time- other than when he sleeps- working on the house and making improvements to the barn.

Crosshair spends most of his time on the roof, peacefully gazing out over the landscape.

Hunter spends time talking to both Cut and Suu, and occasionally checking in with the others.

Wrecker never leaves the childrens' side.


It's hard to say goodbye.

But duty calls; it always does.