Curate, connect, and discover
Obligatory disclaimer: I don’t speak for every other autistic person, and this post is based on my opinions, experiences, and feelings. Not all autistic viewers will feel the same way, and that is absolutely okay. I am also not claiming that Tech is 100% perfect representation or that we don’t need more diverse autistic representation in general. I am, however, saying that for me, he is overwhelmingly positive representation.
Tech is allowed to be a character and his autism isn’t made his only defining trait. Yes, Tech absolutely has autistic traits and they do come up in-text, but his character development focuses more on his journey from a regimented military life to life on the run with a young child. This isn’t the nine millionth “heartwarming” inspiration porn story about an autistic protagonist doing “normal people” things “in spite of their autism”, and that’s so refreshing to me.
Tech isn’t looked down upon by the narrative. He isn’t a caricature followed around by a laugh track like Sheldon Cooper, and the narrative doesn’t treat him as *~inspiring~* for just doing things that allistic characters do. The framing around him doesn’t feel like it’s designed to be a voyeuristic invitation for neurotypical viewers to laugh and gawk. Tech is just Some Guy, and it’s awesome.
Tech isn’t portrayed as a burden. Yes, his disability does sometimes make communication more difficult for him (see The Crossing), but the other characters aren’t shown ruminating about how things would just be so much easier if he weren’t around. He is instead portrayed as being an integral and capable part of the team.
Tech is allowed to be an adult. Autistic adults are often stereotyped as “eternal children”, but Tech isn’t given that kind of treatment at all. He takes on a parental role with Omega, and is shown having drinks, dating, piloting, and engaging in combat. The fact that he is the only member of his team to have a love interest is also huge, because autistic adults are often treated like non-sexual entities incapable of understanding romance.
Tech is caring. Yes, he can be sarcastic and a bit bitchy when he’s in a bad mood (and I love that for him), but he is shown to care deeply for his family. When you google “can autistic people…”, one of the autocomplete options is “can autistic people love”. People genuinely think that we are unable to love others, and Tech loving so fiercely on screen directly refutes that.
While Tech fits some autistic stereotypes, he subverts others. Yes, he’s an intelligent, tech-savvy man, but he also an outgoing and confident person. He doesn’t often belittle others for not being “smart enough” and is shown to be physically capable and strong. Yeah, he is a STEM oriented dude, but he doesn’t get the “scrawny mean, and insecure guy” baggage that often comes with these types of autistic characters. He’s also a person of color (albeit a whitewashed one), and the general stereotype is that autistic people are all little white boys.
I know the finale has left us feeling things (and I one day might share my thoughts on them, but honestly staying off of most social media platforms around this time has been really good for my mental), so let's go back to an episode many of us loved: The Crossing. Here's an excellent analysis of the episode looking at it through the 'Tech is autistic' lens.
I'm going to jump in on the Phee positivity (or positiviPHEE) train after...certain opinions have been aired.
And since those certain opinions were from an autistic perspective, I thought I'd add my own autistic perspective.
I. Love. Phee.
My cat's name is Phee. Phee is one of my top Star Wars characters. I shoved her into one of my longfics as soon as I could.
And her relationship with Tech gave me a lot of hope for my own romantic prospects as an autistic person.
I love that Phee invites Tech to be present. I love the look on his face when he watches her leave to put the artifact away. I love that she was a trusted enough person for Tech to talk to about Crosshair at length with. I love that when it's clear that Tech isn't going to give her the goodbye she expects, she backs off. I love that her love for Tech expanded into loving and helping the Bad Batch.
And even by herself she's SO COOL. She goes and finds artifacts that were stolen from cultures on Pabu and brings them back??? She is a super cool pilot??? She is ride or die for the people she cares about??? She's confident and sassy??? She has a SWORD???
So yeah. Phee is great. She means a lot to me. I hope we see her more in the last 3 episodes.
Anyone else completely normal about the scene with Omega and Tech in The Crossing and Omega says 'we're a family, aren't we?' and the writers could have 100 percent could have had Tech say 'technically, we do not fall under the traditional family structure' or something like that and we would have been mildly disappointed but unsurprised but instead they had him acknowledge that they are a family and even saying 'of course' they're a family which just was such a beautiful moment in which he breaks autism stereotypes and is just a beautiful person that I love?
Okay, so I know that the ship I write for isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But there are some scenes that don’t involve the ship that I’m really proud of and I think would appeal to a wider audience. So I’m going to start posting scenes that I really like with enough context for things to make sense.
For my regular followers and readers, this will be things that you’ve seen before.
Today’s sample!
Tech has a breakdown
The context:
In a world where Order 66 kind of happens, but Anakin doesn’t turn and starts an early rebellion with the clones, Omega is kidnapped by bounty hunters sent by the Empire in order to win Nala Se’s cooperation. The Bad Batch works with Anakin’s rebellion in the hopes of finding some clue of her whereabouts. They’ve found the bounty hunters who took Omega: Taja and Admani Desai, Togruta siblings who were lied to by Nala Se and have agreed to help the Batch find Omega. Tech especially has taken this badly, spending weeks pushing himself to his limit trying to crack the deeper Imperial codes in order to find Omega. Taja has formed a connection with Tech as they’ve worked together, empathizing with him as she has lost siblings as well. Crosshair has also never left the Batch.
That should be everything! I hope you enjoy!
Tech stared at the information on his datapad. He did not understand it. He needed to understand it. He tightened his grip on the datapad and tried to focus on each character one at a time.
It did not help that he could hear the others talk quietly on the other end of the ship. He would not be here if Hunter had not forbidden him from finding somewhere he could do his work in peace.
It took far too long for him to realize that the pad was telling him his latest attempt at cracking the Imperial's secrets was unsuccessful.
Tech swore.
Frustration and anger like he had rarely felt before consumed his chest. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he do this simple kriffing thing?
"Tech."
The rage he felt at himself redirected at the interruption.
"What is it?" Tech snapped.
"You need to take a break." Hunter said.
He and Wrecker had approached Tech.
"No." Tech said. "What I need is to succeed. I need to find a way to bypass their security."
Burning tears sprang to his eyes. He furiously dug the heel of his palm under his goggles to press them away.
"It needs to work." He mumbled. "I need it to work."
"Give me your data pad." Hunter said.
Tech pulled away from him.
"No." He said. "I can continue. I am fine."
"You're not." Hunter said. "You haven't slept or eaten in a rotation and you've barely gone to the fresher. Give me the data pad. That's an order."
Tech pulled it away from him.
“Come on, Tech.” Wrecker said, reaching for the pad. “Don’t-”
“If you touch this, I will destroy Lula.” Tech said. “If you cared for Omega a fraction of how you dote on that idiotic toy, we would not have lost her!”
Wrecker drew back as if punched. Shame mingled with Tech’s anger and frustration as he saw the wounded look in Wrecker’s eyes. Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo were staring at him. He could feel their disapproval. Crosshair opened his mouth and Tech knew he could not hear the words his brother would throw at him.
Tech tucked his datapad to his chest and fled.
The sunlight of Yavin IV blinded him momentarily. He hurried across the landing area and to the main temple. Surely there would be somewhere he could hide from his brothers' anger and censure.
He found himself in a cold, dark stone room. There was nothing in it save a few containers of spare equipment. Good. He could be alone here.
Tech held out his datapad with trembling hands. He still felt a pang when he saw the negative result there. He took a deep breath. He could do this. He had to.
The next six attempts were failures.
He was a failure.
Tech hurled the datapad at the wall. The crunch of the screen breaking made no dent in his miasma of emotions.
It wasn't working and he had hurt Wrecker and Omega was still out of reach-
The words ran over and over in his head, interrupted only by thoughts of worthless and failure.
Tech fell to his knees and curled in on himself. Shameful tears stung his eyes. For the first time since Omega was taken, for the first time since he was a child, Tech cried. He dug his fingernails into his arms as he sobbed. The pain was welcome.
The door opened and Tech cringed away from the light. There was no one that he wished to be the one to find him. The regs would be cruel and even worse, his brothers would attempt to help him.
He waited for the questions, the demands.
What are you doing?
Why are you in here?
Are you crying?
Come out of there.
None came. The door closed again, leaving Tech in the soothing darkness. There was no silhouette joining him in the room when he looked up.
Tech curled up again on the floor, trying to keep his mind away from what had pushed him to this state. He let it go blank, and the world seemed to disappear from around him.
Voices jolted Tech back to reality. He sat up, unsure of where he was. To his surprise, a blanket fell off of his shoulders. He looked around and slowly the memory of his breakdown came back to him.
But then- where did the blanket come from? If his brothers had found him, they would have taken him back to the Marauder. Tech became more confused as he picked up a ration bar and a canteen that had not been there before. He would have thought it was Omega if she were not gone. It was something she would do.
The voices outside sounded again and this time Tech could distinguish the words.
"Ma'am, I need you to stand aside now."
That was a trooper's voice.
"I'm under orders from Clone Force 99." A familiar, melodic voice said. "No one is to enter this room."
Taja?
Tech got to his feet. He hesitated, and then picked up his broken data pad from the floor.
"Uh huh." The trooper said. "Why don't I just comm Sergeant Hunter and see if that's true."
"That won't be necessary." Tech said, opening the door.
His ears had not deceived him. It was Taja standing as if on guard duty outside the closet door.
"She was doing me a favor. I needed some quiet for my research." Tech was surprised with how steady his voice was.
The clone trooper looked between the two of them before shrugging and moving on.
Tech wanted to speak the moment the guard was out of earshot, but found himself unable. The shame of the moment seemed to seep in. She had seen him at his lowest. Words seemed inconsequential in the wake of it.
The long moments dragged before he finally managed to speak.
"How did you know?" He asked.
He did not understand. She should have left him alone. Tech was sure that most of the individuals at the base would have done so, or, if they cared to, have gotten his brothers.
Taja's pale green eyes met his and he averted his gaze.
"My sister would have similar episodes." She said. "I assumed you did not need more stimulation.
Tech didn't know quite how to reply. He merely pressed his broken datapad to his chest.
"Thank you." He finally mumbled.
"I am glad to help." Taja replied.
Tech cleared his throat.
"I was unaware you and your brother had returned." He said.
Taja nodded.
"We have been in contact with some of the leaders of the Rebellion, concerning the increasing number of slavers in the galaxy." She said. "We have come to discuss the possibility of raiding a slave camp near here."
"And by some of the leaders, you mean General Skywalker." Tech said.
Taja smiled.
"Too clever by half." She said.
For the first time since Omega was taken, Tech felt a faint urge to smile.
That urge fled when a loud voice cracked through the air.
"Tech!"
Wrecker was barreling towards them. Taja took a step back as he drew near. He skidded to a stop in front of them, looking between them with his brow creased with worry. He lifted his hands, as if he wanted to grab Tech in a hug, which he probably did. Tech was glad that he abstained.
"You okay?" Wrecker asked. "It's been hours and we couldn't find you."
Tech felt some of his guilt return at Wrecker's concerned tone.
"I apologize." He muttered. "I did not intend-"
"It’s okay!" Wrecker said quickly. "I’m not mad, you know. Just worried."
He paused.
"We're all worried, Tech."
Tech looked down at the ground. His wretchedness that he had forgotten for a moment returned in full force.
"I do not understand." He finally said. "Omega is gone. How can you stand not doing anything?"
Wrecker looked again as if Tech had hit him and more guilt piled onto Tech.
"Cause I can't do anything." Wrecker said. He sounded close to tears. "I'm not smart like you. If I could help Omega by blowin' things up, or taking apart a bomb, or punching something, I would. But I can't."
"Then you understand that my work is of the utmost importance." Tech said. "I am the only one who can find her."
"Maybe." Wrecker said. "The Rebellion still might find somethin' out. But Tech, what would Omega say if she saw you doing this yourself?"
Tech knew exactly how she would react. Her eyes would go wide. He could hear her voice.
"Tech!" She would say.
And it would be all she needed to say.
"I miss her." Tech said.
"Me too." Wrecker said.
Tech became aware of Taja looking between them.
"If I may," She said. "I understand what you are going through. You hurt, you are angry. You feel that the hole in your heart will never be filled."
Tech blinked at her astute description of how he was feeling. Taja looked at him.
"It will not be this painful forever." She said. "But regardless, your sister is alive. There is hope."
"Yeah!" Wrecker said. "We're gonna find her and we're gonna bring her home, okay?"
Tech looked between Taja and Wrecker. For once, he felt no urge to contradict Wrecker or point out the probability.
"Okay." He said.
"I must go." Taja said. "Admani and I have our meeting."
Tech nodded to her. She smiled back. He liked it when she smiled.
"So, is she your girlfriend?" Wrecker whispered as Taja disappeared around a corner.
Tech frowned.
"That is not the nature of our relationship." He said.
Wrecker grinned in a way that Tech was not fond of.
"Uh huh." Wrecker said.
Tech shook his head.
Romance and partners were never something that Tech had considered. They were clones bred to fight a war. The things that other beings considered natural were not options for them. Even now, Tech had far more pressing matters than whether or not he had a partner. It was even difficult for him to conceptualize.
Though, when it came to potential mates, he could do far worse. She was pleasing to the eye, even with her disfigurement. Perhaps more so because of it. She stood with pride, as if challenging others to mention it.
He found her coloring aesthetically pleasing and her eyes striking. She was intelligent, worked well with him, and also seemed to understand how Tech's mind worked. And she cared about him, for whatever reason.
No, he doubted he could do better when it came to a possible partner.
He doubted she felt the same way. It was one thing to help him with his troubles and to be a good mission partner. It was quite another to consider Tech in a romantic light. Tech had no data on how partners he found attractive reacted to him. But he had a feeling that any testing would not end with the results he wanted.