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Cx 2 - Blog Posts
Executive Cucumber's (sorta) thoughts about the Bad Batch 03×10 & 03x11!
Spoilers under the cut
All right guys, I'm not doing my full list of thoughts. These episodes were really, really emotional for me for many reasons and I do not have the emotional energy to do my usual dives. I'm stepping away from the fandom in general for this week. Honestly, for my mental health, I just do not need to be around Fandom discourse right now. I've already left the pertinent subreddits and hopefully I'll survive.
But my brief thoughts!
So, I majored in the Humanities in college. I saw and read a lot of amazing art. But there was a category of art that I like to call, 'this was beautiful and poignant and life changing, but I never want to consume it again.'
These episodes fall under this category. They were art, and they were excruciating.
I also am still firmly in camp 'CX-2 is Tech.' Because it actively makes The Point of No Return less tragic if it is not him. Part of the reason I was sobbing during it was that it was TECH who was being so cruel, destroying the home he'd nearly had, destroying HIS ship, nearly killing his brothers.
And it's Tech, who gave Omega her first comm, who loves her, who would die to keep her safe, who takes her comm and takes her back to Tantiss.
Plus, who the heck else says 'domicile?'
(On the plus side, he gets his revenge on Cid)
My heart is broken for Omega. I hate that she has to make this choice. I KNEW she was going to sacrifice herself. If anyone says 'the Empire did nothing wrong' to me, even as a joke, they're losing a finger.
I dread how the rest of the Batch are going to confront each other about this. Crosshair was also the only one who would let her do this. In a positive way.
...I loved seeing Phee.
I wish I had more to say about Identity Crisis, but I spent that episode trying to overcome my disappointment that it wasn't about Tech. It was still an exceptional episode, regardless of my expectations.
But I do want to say, Cad Bane takes a lot of kid jobs. What's up with that? Weirdo.
Anyway, happy birthday to me! I get: Omega getting taken and Tech destroying everything he loves. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay.
An excellent analysis on CX-2 and how his identity affects the narrative. It helps that it's very funny.
A thought or two about our current Fandom discussion
*spoilers under the cut*
I have been a Tech lives believer since about an hour after I saw him fall. I also very strongly believe that Tech is CX-2 (I am aware of what Jennifer Corbett said today about CX-2 being a new character, but Tech being presented as CX-2 can be considered as a new character)
I've seen people say they don't want him to be Tech because they don't want to see Tech like that. Totally valid. Not everyone wants to bathe in angst like I do.
But I believe that Tech being CX-2 is going to create the most compelling story and create the most conflict.
I could go on about the reasons, and maybe I will one day. But I want to share the most devastating one that came to me today.
If Tech is CX-2, that means Echo left his brother behind, left for dead, to be tortured and used against their brothers.
Just like he was.
i was plotting when i put these two next to each other on my wall fr 😭
Not Strong Enough
Written for Angstpril 2024: Alt Prompt #2 - Not Strong Enough
Fandom: The Bad Batch
Character Focus: CX-2, Tech, Crosshair, minor Hunter, Wrecker and Omega
Summary: ‘Not strong enough’ was an unfamiliar phrase for CX-2. Mentally, he was exceptionally strong. His mind was sharper than a knifes edge, his strategy sound, and his fortitude indominable. When that had begun to crack and crumble, he could not fathom. It harkened the return of ‘the other one’, and that was something he could not allow.
“Why have I been activated?”
.
.
.
Cosplay by me!
Photographer: IG @maddyhobbsphoto
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
So I was thinking about CX-2 (Tech’s) memory
Like he has all of his old skills like encryption and flying a ship but didn’t remember the location to Pabu
But there are those moments of hesitation around Omega and Phee, deja vu perhaps…
And head trauma from The Fall could have caused most of this amnesia
But… what if Hemlock did something to Tech like what the capitol did to Peeta in Mockingjay?
Where they twisted his good memories so when he saw Katniss he wanted to kill her
…And that also got me thinking of a Real or Not Real interaction between Tech and Phee…
*cough* Someone write this… @clownery-and-fuckery I’m looking at you *cough*
Nemec on Tantiss…
(There are expressions of coupling, so please be careful )
(Product after playing…)
music: Mulasaki Ima — femme fatale A
https@//youtu.be/d0QFalAKRNM
@—> :
I had the darkest dream last night involving a recovering CX-2/Tech on Pabu with his brothers. I’m kind of questioning my sanity a little bit maybe? And Crosshair saying some terrible things he definitely didn’t mean.
WARNINGS: Attempted Suicide
The dream started out with Tech recovering from all that had been done to him. He’s healed physically for the most part but mentally he’s got a long way to go and suffers from severe PTSD.
He woke up in a panic one day. Mentally, he was still CX-2, seeing Hunter and the others as a threat and Omega was his target. He had to bring her to Hemlock.
So he snuck and grabbed a blaster, stunning Omega and ran with her. But the others have noticed by now and are trying to stop him. He shot Wrecker before Hunter and Crosshair could stop him. The shot nearly killed Wrecker.
Fast forward a few hours. Tech was back mentally, in a more stable place of mind. He’s not CX-2 anymore but he remembered what he did and he’s horrified. After he’s told Wrecker would be okay, Tech started spiraling.
He couldn’t handle that he almost killed Wrecker and tried to take Omega again. He’s afraid he’ll do it again and next time he really would kill someone.
In a heartbreaking way, to him, finding a blaster when the others were asleep was another Plan 99. He believed he was a danger to others and couldn’t be trusted.
But Crosshair wasn’t asleep. He was in the same room when Tech put the blaster to his temple, lying down on the other side of the room. He started to jump up, but stopped himself.
One move of Tech’s finger and Tech was gone.
He got up slowly. Tech was silently crying. He felt so much guilt. He was sorry his brothers or Omega or Phee would have to find him this way.
Crosshair said his name quietly and Tech startled. But he didn’t pull the trigger yet. He told him to put the blaster down. Tech only pressed it more to his head.
He told Crosshair he had to do this. He was too much of a threat. I can’t remember what else but then Hunter was sneaking behind Tech. Crosshair noticed him, but his eyes stayed on Tech.
I don’t know how he got there. Maybe he heard Tech switch the blaster from stun to kill and it woke him up or both of Crosshair and Tech’s unusually frantic heartbeats. But he was there. Not far away but not close enough either.
He didn’t dare make a move with Tech still pointing the blaster at his head. So Crosshair tried to talk him down, but it wasn’t working. He told Crosshair he should turn away then closed his eyes and was about to do it.
But Crosshair said, “wait. Let me do it.”
And that stopped Tech. Hunter was just as surprised and confused behind him but Crosshair went on, improvising every word that he thought would make Tech pull the blaster away from his head long enough for Hunter to grab it.
He told Tech to give him the blaster and he would kill him. That he’d been wanting to ever since Tech cut off his hand. As Crosshair is saying these things, Tech debates if Crosshair really meant it or if he’s just lying to get the blaster.
He starts to realize Crosshair was probably lying, but he couldn’t stop wondering if all those things Crosshair had assured him about weren’t true.
How Tech tried to drown him and kill the others, cut off his hand, nearly burned Pabu, taken Omega. He worried what Crosshair was telling him now was true and everything he told Tech about those actions not being his fault were just lies.
Did the others hate him too?
So lost in his thoughts, Tech let the blaster drop down away from his temple. Hunter took the chance. He jumped over to Tech and pushed the blaster away. It hit Tech in the shoulder, but it wasn’t fatal. Tech was writhing in Hunter’s hold trying to get the blaster back.
Crosshair took it and threw it in the ocean. Then he went over where Tech was breaking down in Hunter’s arms. Crosshair said everything he could to tell Tech he didn’t mean it while he tended to his wounded shoulder.
Then I woke up.
Does anyone else have vivid dreams? I don’t get these all the time. Also should I include this in my CX-2 is Tech fic or is it too dark? I thought it would be but then the show itself has some dark stuff in it already though it’s watered down to be suitable for kids.
And for the Bad Batch fans out there too
HAP KNIFE
HAVE A MERRY KNIFE
For those believing/liking the idea of CX-2 as Tech…
What happened during Hemlock’s conditioning that made Tech/CX-2 hate Crosshair so much? Their fight over the waterfall and the way CX-2 said, “you could have been one of us, but you chose the wrong side!” was so packed with emotion. This wasn’t just two strangers/acquaintances on opposite sides fighting.
It was personal.
Then the next time they meet, CX-2 TAUNTS Crosshair before he SLICES OFF HIS HAND.
“You should be more careful with your shooting hand.”
Maybe he did that because he knew what Crosshair was capable of if he got a hold of that blaster, but why go that far? If CX-2 planned to kill Crosshair, he could have just shot him there. Dead. If he wanted Crosshair alive, he could have stunned him then restrained his hands.
But CX-2 didn’t.
Like before, that decision was personal.
I could be over thinking or seeing something that’s not there, but Crosshair and CX-2’s interactions gave off a deeper vibe. There’s some backstory between them we didn’t get to see in the show.
And to think that CX-2 used to be someone that cared so much about Crosshair that he’d risk his life to save him the second he found out Crosshair was in trouble. Because Crosshair was his brother.
“We have not always agreed with Crosshair, but he is still our brother. We do not leave our own behind.”
“You could have been one of us, but you chose the wrong side!”
Do you think CX-2 felt betrayed when Crosshair refused the conditioning and left him behind?
DOMOCILE 😂😂😂 I love it!
With Memorial Day coming up in the US, I guess this art is in memory of CX-2. 😭 (Barbecues are popular on that holiday for the record to those not in the US.)
I want to clarify that I absolutely adore The Bad Batch. My life has revolved around it for 3 years and Star Wars even super longer. Maybe I'm just trying to keep hope alive, lol.
Remember in Season 1, Episode 1 Aftermath, Tech says "I am merely stating a theoretical hypothesis based on factual data?" Well, that's what I did, I made a "logical conclusion." From Lama Su coming back when we thought he was dead to the infamous "domicile," it was all factual evidence that was meant to push us in a direction of hoping that Tech would return and that CX-2 could be the way he does it. I'm not stupid, and neither are you. There's an underlying reason that I love Tech not based on just his handsome looks. I don't claim to have an exceptional mind like him and I don't intend to convince anyone that CX-2 was Tech, but I do want to explain how it could be construed through the way that character was presented that he could have been and none of us were wrong or "losers" to think so.
48 Reasons and more well on the way, lol...
General reasons: *Tech is never seen actually dying. *Hemlock being untrustworthy source of death certificate. *The return of many thought to be dead characters in past Star Wars from Darth Maul who was sliced in half to Lama Su - the door closed on him and we thought he was getting shot by troopers only to show up alive later and this happened in The Bad Batch itself. *CX-2 is shown walking toward the 'light' after dropping off Omega, symbolically toward a future redemption. @astrovoidy *Height change on starwars.com *The word 'dead' danced around on official sites and by BB employees *the similarities to Winter soldier @on-a-quest *the cryptic tweets that showcased reborn characters like Gandalf *The official poster of CX-2 shows him in 'good' light. @eriexplosion *other people in professional settings like New Rock Stars on youtube thought the same exact thing *the large focus on him, over multiple episodes *CX-2's ship has similarities to the Marauder @wolveria *Tech CC-9902 / CX-2 - both end in 2 @wolveria
Physical and character similarities: *the shrimp posture *the kick in the fight similar to droid kick in S1E1 *the similar hand to hand combat style *the shooting accuracy- ipsium cave/ plan 99 *the elegant deliberate movement especially of hands and fingers *the animated head and body when speaking *the helmet – even has his hairline @jorolle *the viewfinder similar to Tech's and utilized just as often *the pouches(!!!) *the limberness and agility *the confident capability *the crouching/getting on one knee - Tech is an infamous croucher! *the deviant nature – ignoring orders *the technology know how *the flying – some say the turn on Teth was a Tech Turn *the extraness of tool/weapon twirl *armpad like Tech's datapad @wolveria
The 'British' accent, speech inflection, pronunciation. and vocabulary (this alone is enough to onvince anyone...): 'You better get back HERE." - "I know the girl is HERE." "The fifth IS Omega." - "The girl IS alive." "Who are you?" - "Who are you?" "Naveecomputah." - "Neveecomputah." "DOMICILE." - "DOMICLE."
Cinematic framing similarities: *the limping *the coming out of the water @lilacjunimo *hooking the rappel hook rappelling down was like dangling off the rail car *the boulder moving
Conjectural situations of suspicion: *the beef with Crosshair *the constant surviving *the pausing when choking Crosshair *the pausing to look at Phee Foreshadowing lines: *More machine than man, percentage wise at least. *Better late than dead. *See you around, Brown Eyes. *Tech's not gone. *The operative's gone rogue. *Romar saying he's a survivor and Tech's look at him.
Abandoned storyline reasons: *CX-2's death being anticlimactic *The finale seeming rushed and incomplete *Actors saying there were script changes
@wolveria made a great analysis here with her Tech-Genda !
Having said that, here are some reasons it may not have been him: *Too many characters coming back from the dead. *The way he says 'clones' in Infiltration was more reg accent. *Tech's line in the cave to Omega which "was a big one to me” in retrospect: "I am aware that you miss him, but we have to adapt and move on." As for the intentions of the writers to either have been forced to change the script, but can't admit it due to NDAs or if they truly meant for CX-2 to be Crosshair's foil which to me was unnecessary and unclear, especially with all of the evidence above, at least they could have made him talk and move like a reg. Making him talk and walk like Tech was, to be frank, cruel on top of a cruel we already experienced in Plan 99. I think this is the last time I'll personally address Season 3 or the finale unless to support other commentators/creators and for my own fix-it and art and writing. And I look forward to seeing everyone else's works as well and hope no one gives up this beautiful Batch or fandom as I almost did. Canon seems done with him, he belongs to us now. 💜 And if anyone has anything I missed (I'm sure I'll think of more myself), feel free to comment or reblog with that addition or a link to your own post and/or I can edit the OP to include. Also, don't feel like you can't make your own post about this subject! But I do hope this maybe helped anyone still dealing with the 'aftermath' like me, to know you're not alone, and you did not read too much into it. (In retrospect, I can't believe they killed him though, lol. What the kriff were they thinking!?! #too handsome to die #too awesome to die)
Somebody please just push the little button that pops the face plate off pleeeeease! 😫
I'm still in clown mode and will be until the final credits of the finale. Too many similarities and too much focus on this dude to be a nothing burger!!!
Sometimes I think about Tech grabbing his blaster as he hanged from the train in midair. The way he said “Plan 99” without hesitation when he knew Wrecker wasn’t going to sever the connection cord. The way he sighed before he said “when have we ever followed orders” and made such an amazing shot that Crosshair would be so proud of. His look as he fell and let go of his blaster. How the last thing he probably heard from his brothers was Wrecker’s panicked shout.
And if CX-2 is Tech then that didn’t mean that we’d get him back. The person hidden under that armor isn’t Tech (even though he said Domicile). And if we ever did get that happy ending where Omega escaped Tantiss and Tech broke out of the conditioning and all six of them were together at the end. Tech still won’t be the same Tech.
Sometimes I see CX-2 as Tech, but knowing Tech is still dead. And my day is ruined.
Anytime I started doubting it’s him my brain goes, “but he said domicile”
cx-2 is tech because of his movements and behavior: ❌️
cx-2 is tech bc he said "domicile": ✅️
This may seem like an obvious answer, but do the clones being conditioned to be assassins get their memories wiped? Crosshair said their identities are erased (could it be the chip in their left wrist with their designated number information that is erased) and they undergo conditioning.
What is that conditioning exactly? He never out right said their memories were wiped (unless it’s implied and I’m just dumb and overthinking this) I know whatever they did, it didn’t work on Crosshair.
Crosshair resisted the torture and brainwashing of the conditioning but did he also resist having his memories taken away also?
DOMICILE
Listen. No, I mean actually listen. For anyone who is skeptical that CX-2 is Tech, this is irrefutable evidence! 🤓 My last chance to post before the big Episode 13 reveal. 🙃 (Sorry, I discovered I can edit videos on my phone.)
Amazing
The more art I see of Tech as CX-2, the bigger my need grows to see Winter Soldier Tech
YES. I am on the bandwagon that Tech is CX-2
Listen, I'm just saying, they're both extra with their twirly whirlies.
Yes
The real reason CX doesn't remove his helmet is because he can't see without his goggles 👀 the helmet fulfills the same purpose for sure
Please 🙏
Meme credits
It's what we're all hoping for pls pls plsssss
You don't understand, CX-2 said domicile it HAS to be Tech