Off to a Great Start (Chapter Breakdown)

### Chapter 1: Not Again

Waking up in the Clone Wars universe to the familiar face of Trevor, a fellow fandom hopper, Shadow’s salt increases exponentially at the sheer amount of fanfiction cliches that they find themselves surrounded by. Not only is it a fanfiction, but a fanfiction that has crossed over with their original stories. At the very end, Shadow discovers who the first characters they will meet are; Clone Force 99, the Bad Batch themselves.

### Chapter 2: Meet the Maniacs

After their attempt at a subtle escape fails, Shadow finds themselves up close to their favorite clone squadron. When Trevor volunteers them for the Bad Batch’s mission, Shadow tries to brush the commandos off but finds that the squad, specifically Hunter, are not easily dissuaded from their mission. As payback for Shadow judo-flipping him, Trevor leaves Shadow to the mercy of the less than sane special forces squadron.

### Chapter 3: This Is Where the Fun Begins

After being left to fend for themselves by their ally (?), Shadow quickly schemes up a way to ditch the mission-driven commandos who, thanks to the different design of said squadron, alert Shadow to the fact that they are in a slightly alternate timeline from canon. Setting the stage for their rivalry with Crosshair after calling him a homicidal twig, Shadow once again rebuffs Hunter’s attempts to coerce them into the mission. Shadow then proceeds to set off a chase scene, evading the Batch using parkour and various projectiles (see: books) to throw the men off their tail before disappearing into an artificial tunnel system.

### Chapter 4: Sadistic Sergeants

Long story short, Hunter flirts with Shadow before letting them escape to keep the chase going. Shadow also makes a lot of puns and references as they evade Tech and Wrecker. The scene ends with Shadow repaying Hunter’s “helping hand” from earlier, only furthering the sergeant’s interest in the odd and somewhat chaotic genderfluid alien.

### Chapter 5: Cardio Is the Worst

The chase continues on, but now all the Batchers are involved as the chase moves from the main building where they met to a playground reminiscent of an Anthill. Grappling with Hunter and Crosshair, and dodging Tech along the way, Shadow manages to use a combination of martial arts and instinct to fend them all off. At least, for a moment.

### Chapter 6: Aight, Imma Head Out

Now cornered by the four man squadron, Shadow yet again grapples with Sergeant Hunter and holds their ground until the sergeant gets lucky and manages to get them in a triangular body lock. The fight kicks into high gear, however, when Tech comes up with the brilliant idea to give Shadow a relaxer by way of a needle. Spoiler: It was not, in fact, a good idea. Panicked, Shadow accidentally reveals they have telekinesis but manages to escape into one of the higher levels of the Anthill, if only for the time being.

### Chapter 7: Everything Is Not What It Seems

Reeling from the freakout and upset the “friendly fight” has turned dire, Hunter ponders the telekinetic show of power, as well as the less than human details he’s noticed about the odd alien. Sending Tech after Shadow with explicit orders to not use the needle, Hunter orders Crosshair and Wrecker back to the ship as he himself aids Tech. Back with Shadow, they’ve been found by Tech but have more or less given up. Once Hunter arrives, more salt ensues before Shadow agrees to join the Bad Batch for whatever mission they have.

### Chapter 8: Shadow the Salt Master

Salty enough to rival the Dead Sea after Hunter, who is rather heavy, sits on them, Shadow follows him and Tech out of the Anthill. During this time, Shadow reveals they have named their plethora of knives and have also one of their guns Kindness due to the phrase “Kill ‘em with Kindness”, which concerns Tech. The trio then head towards the ship, only to come across Trevor.

### Chapter 9: Plot Armor

After both Shadow and Hunter threaten Trevor within an inch of his life, Shadow reveals that they have plot armor that has allowed them to survive not only getting stabbed in the gut, but also a building collapsing on them after getting launched through the air by a truck. Shadow neglects to mention, however, that both incidents happened in another universe because Hunter would, understandably, think them insane. Continuing towards the ship, Shadow and Hunter recreate the “stalling” scene from the Spongebob movie as Shadow tries to deflect their inhuman traits. Tech, however, foils that plan almost immediately by listing the different oddities, forcing Shadow to agree to tell Hunter about it later. Reaching the Marauder and once again insulting Crosshair, Shadow discovers the marksman is an evil little shit after he sics Wrecker on them.

### Chapter 10: But Why Tho?

Once Shadow survives the over-excited rottweiler who just really wants to give them a hug, they yet again insult Crosshair (by telling him to deepthroat a cactus no less). Carried aboard by Wrecker, Shadow gets their wounds from the chase tended to by Tech as Crosshair voices his displeasure with their existence. Both peeved and amused by an ensuing slap-battle between Shadow and Wrecker, Hunter manages to get them to be serious for a moment so he can explain the mission itself to Shadow.

### Chapter 11: I Hate This Part

Hunter reveals to Shadow why exactly they’ve come seeking their help; Shadow (apparently) knows the route to something called the Vault, which will give them the secret to taking down a hyper-powerful race of shapeshifters that have taken over a desert planet in the outer rim. Much to Shadow’s surprise, the species is none other than their Alphian species from their own original stories. After teaching Wrecker “Yeet” by accident, Shadow gets into yet another fight with Crosshair that is broken up by Hunter before the sergeant steers them back to the main building.

### Chapter 12: Interesting

With a DNA replication lesson from Tech, the five man(?) band is on the way to the main building when Hunter takes the time to pull Shadow aside. As the other three head to a nearby barn at Tech’s behest, Shadow fesses up and reveals that they are a member of the species but still avoids the topic of fandom hopping. Flirting briefly, Hunter and Shadow join the others in the barn.

### Chapter 13: But Why Tho? The Sequel

Greeted by a Kelusine, another one of Shadow’s species, Shadow’s crush on the four men gets exposed by the smug furball known as Rushing River. Some more typical humor and salt ensues, with Shadow wishing they’d been born as a toothbrush as Wrecker asks who their favorite is. The rest of the batchers also find out that Shadow is one of the invading species before Trevor shows up again.

### Chapter 14: Square Up

Hunter ponders the oddity that is Shadow, including the possibility of Shadow being something from legends. While amused at Shadow’s reaction when Rushing River spills the beans that Wrecker is Shadow’s favorite, Hunter’s amusement quickly turns to anger when a newcomer, James, calls them all lab-rats and defects. Hunter is not the only one angered, and Shadow proceeds to attack James with elemental earth abilities. This action, Hunter notes at the end, has brought subtle smile to Crosshair’s face due to a pivotal emotion: approval.

### Chapter 15: Remember This Moment

Shadow’s fight with the pos that is James continues, with the fandom hopper carving two bloody 9s into his chest. Trevor steps in, however, cutting the fight short using a lightning blast, as he is also part Alphian as well as part Rageryan. Praised by the batch, Wrecker mainly, for defending them, Shadow realizes that they’ve gained the approval of the entire batch even if Crosshair is still a grouch. Tech asks a few questions about Trevor’s other species half before the halfblood offers the Batch the room across from Shadow’s. The group splits up, with Tech and Shadow heading to the main building while the others head back to the Marauder.

### Chapter 16: Trouble with a Capital T

Crosshair is quite furious that Shadow has begun to grow on him, blissfully unaware that he is unfortunately about to get sucked into an Enemies-to-Lovers trope. His ire only grows when Hunter, observant as ever, sends him to accompany Shadow and Tech to the main building. Back through Shadow’s eyes, the fandom hopper learns Tech is a vegetarian before Crosshair joins them and ruins the serenity by being a NSFW little shit.

### Chapter 17: Eat and Yeet

Contemplating the possibility of smut within the fic they are unfortunately trapped in, Shadow introduces Crosshair and Tech to one of the only other people at the Outpost; a playful redhead named Scooter. Proceeding inside, Shadow tries to tame a burrito with minimal success (leading to a life allegory) before coming for Crosshair’s life once again. When the sniper returns fire, Shadow retreats back to their apartment.

### Chapter 18: Fascinating

Tech does as nerds do and contemplates Shadow as the squad finishes dinner. After being shown to an empty apartment for the night, the squad breaks into Shadow’s connected apartment. Ordered into Shadow’s room, Tech finds himself confronted by a luckily Not-Pissed Off Shadow moments before Crosshair finds something sus: Shadow’s lightsabers.

### Chapter 19: What Are Those

Wrecker finds Shadow’s mini-armory as he ponders his crush on the odd Alphian. Meanwhile, Shadow tries and fails to convince Hunter that the lightsabers are not theirs by quoting none other than Rodrick Heffly. An infodump headache when asked how they got the sabers just makes matters worse. At least it sets up another character in book 2?

### Chapter 20: Shifting Gears

Shadow makes good on their promise to Tech and shows the squad their feral form, launching Hunter across the room with an accidental swish of their giant tail. With Wrecker and Crosshair both calling dibs on the shower, Shadow heads back to their room to watch some YouTube.

### Chapter 21: Fun and Games

Visited by Tech as they watch some CoryxKenshin, Shadow gives the nerd a little peek into their creative side by telling him about a very unnerving creature that totally won’t show up in future books. The pair is then joined by Wrecker and a wrestling match ensues before Wrecker wins by lying atop Shadow and Tech just as Hunter checks on them. Below the mountain of muscle, Shadow invites the sergeant to join them in YouTube watching.

### Chapter 22: Show and Yell

Accepting Shadow’s invite, Hunter goes through their knife collection before turning the conversation to Shadow’s martial arts background. The fandom hopper proceeds to scar the men for life by demonstrating a move that can permanently cancel a man’s ability to have kids. Satisfied and smug, Shadow then switches back to a YouTube watch party.

### Chapter 23: Middle Ground

After Wrecker asks Shadow if they can purr, Crosshair decides to join the gang and make himself at home, much to Shadow’s displeasure. Trading insults briefly, Shadow and Crosshair then discuss the significance of the fandom hopper’s Gadsden flag, which Crosshair takes a liking to. When Crosshair learns that Shadow has named one of their rifles after him, the pair reach somewhat of an understanding.

### Chapter 24: Hunting for answers

Sergeant Hunter is kept awake thinking about the enigmatic fandom hopper. After Crosshair growls at him to tell Shadow and Tech to be quiet in the next room, Hunter finds the latter two engaged in a discussion about evolution. After Hunter delivers his message to quieten down, he quickly retreats back to the other apartment. Crosshair, of course, gives him grief about it.

### Chapter 25: Puzzles and Vampires

Confused by the shirtless sergeant’s hasty retreat, Shadow reveals to Tech that they have been analyzing the squad. Tech asks about their findings, then reveals that he’s apparently part vampire as he borderline begs Shadow for some blood to study. Quickly shifting the topic away, Shadow bids the nerd goodnight and goes to bed, pondering about what lies ahead.