Star Warsproved that they know how to twist the knife inAndorseason 2, and after this story based onStar Wars: The Bad Batch, I’m convinced they’re about to do it again. At the core ofAndorseason 2’s storyis the relationship between Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen, acting as the heartbeat of Cassian’s story.
WhileThe Bad Batchfinds its own heartbeat with the family relationship between all ofClone Force 99, it does dabble in romance with Tech and Phee Genoa, most prominently in season 2, episode 13 “Pabu.” Like Cassian and Bix, Tech and Phee’s story ultimately ends with Tech’s tragic death, and nowStar Warsmay be suggesting even more parallels.
Star Wars Has Greatly Expanded Upon Tech & Phee’s Relationship
In the newly-released bookStar Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel)by Lamar Giles, Tech and Phee’s relationship is greatly expanded, making it very clear that they had something valuable truly blossoming between them.There’s no room for doubt about the fact that they were nurturing something truly special, and highly romantic.
Purchase Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel) by Lamar Giles Here
This was a welcome surprise, as any indications of romance between them inThe Bad Batchitself were subtle at best.Sanctuary, however, draws the line clearly in the sand, leaving no room for debate about the nature of their relationship. It opens upmore possibilities about their life together before Tech’s death.
In what’s likely only a few weeks before Tech’s demise on Eriadu, Tech and Phee are not only going undercover together as a married couple, but they’re also shopping together (like Cassian and Bix, ironically enough), andeven making flirtatious suggestions about having to share a room in a hotelin which neither of them outright says their preference.
Star Warshas already twisted the knife with all of these developments in Tech and Phee’s relationship, but it gets even worse. One conversation between the two of them, as well as one pensive moment Tech has to himself, makes it possible forStar Warsto potentially repeat a devastating twist they recently used inAndor.
Suggesting something like this based onThe Bad Batchseason 2 alone would have been a long shot, butafterSanctuary, it’s actually possible to say that Tech and Phee could have, like Cassian and Bix, actually had a child together that he might not have ever known about- and it has everything to do with the moments mentioned above.
InSanctuarychapter 22,Tech takes a moment to ponder a potential future for him and Phee after learning that clones like himself can sire children, as evidenced through the couple Sohi and Ponder. Watching the couple together is what inspires him to explore this as a possibility for him and Phee.
Tech glanced at Phee, who was focused entirely on the exchange between Hunter and Sohi. She didn’t notice him watching her. That was fine. Tech didn’t care for attention in moments like this. Moments he didn’t allow himself often. His focus was generally problem-solving on behalf of the team. He rarely thought of himself apart from Clone Force 99. Yet, right then, with Phee in sight, he skirted… possibilities?
The two of them then speak directly about a potential future together inSanctuarychapter 30, specifically regarding children. Tech talks about the idea of clones being able to sire children along with a desire to do more research on the matter, to which Phee asks what he would do with that collection of data.
“It was never clear if we clones could sire children.”
[…] “Seems like the mystery’s been solved, Brown Eyes. How do you feel about that?”
Tech felt… a loaded question. “It proves a hypothesis I’ve held for some time. I’d love more data on the potential number of clone offspring throughout the galaxy, but I imagine that would be hard to come by.”
“You’re good at solving hard problems. The big question is, if you could gather that data, what would you do with it? What would it mean to you?”
“I…” Tech didn’t know what to say.
This outright acknowledgment ofnot just a future together, but also a potential family together, culminates with the mystery that’s never solved in the book: whether Tech and Phee actually share a room at the hotel or not. It seems more than likely that this was never confirmed or clarified for a reason.
While life after Tech’s death inThe Bad Batchseason 3 has come and gone without it seeming like Phee could be potentially, or secretly, carrying their child, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.Star Warshas actually done something like this before, which means there’s a firm precedent for it - including inAndorseason 2.
There’s Precedence For This Twist In Various Star Wars Stories
Of course, as previously mentioned,Andorseason 2 contained this twist at the end of the series, with its final scene focusing on Bix with her and Cassian’s baby on Mina-Rau.Her pregnancy wasn’t ever revealed until that point, not even to Cassian, which was a large part of why it was such a gut-punch.
This twist, however, also appeared at the end ofStar Wars Rebels. In the epilogue of the animated series, it’s revealed thatHera Syndulla had a child with Kanan Jarrusat some point before his own untimely death in the TV show’s final season. This was also a major surprise at the time.
While this can become a harmful or tiresome trope if not done properly - “Someone to Remember Him By,” to be exact -the added context ofSanctuarywould actually make this quite fitting in Tech and Phee’s story. They acknowledged such a future together and, clearly, longed for it, even if they kept that secret to themselves individually.
There’s also the author, Lamar Giles, stating in an interview withStar Wars ExplainedthatSohi and Ponder were meant to be a what-if of Tech and Phee themselves, and the life they could have had together if Tech hadn’t died. Given how important family is to the clones, having Tech’s legacy live on in this way would be touching.
While Omega also carries on Tech’s legacy, this would give hera chance to pass on what Tech had once taught her to his own child- unless, one day, they explore an avenue where he truly has survived. Either way, this story fromThe Bad Batchdefinitely makes it possible forStar Warsto repeatAndorseason 2’s devastating twist.
