Kix

Chapter 5: Umbara

I do one last check to see whether I have all of my medic supplies, it's important that I have enough to go around considering how bad Pong Krell is going to be whilst leading us. I want to ensure that the least amount of brothers die, I don't need another squadron dying on me I can't go through that again it isn't something that I can cope with. I hear someone enter the medic and turn to see Captain Rex, Ahsoka and Anakin, Ahsoka looked like she was hiding a box behind her back. "once you're ready Kix could you please join us the hanger." Anakin says, "I am ready now sir." Anakin nods but as I attempt to follow them I begin to struggle with my backpack considering its weight, Rex notices so he goes behind me and using one hand he lifts the bottom of my backpack up allowing the weight to be on his hand. "thank you brother" I whisper to him. He looks surprised that I called him 'brother' but then smiles and pats me on my shoulder recognizing my thanks.

We arrive in the hanger where everyone has stopped putting their armour on for some reason. "Kix we have a surprise for you." I raise an eyebrow at Anakin's words confused by what he meant by that. Until he nudges Ahsoka who reveals the box that she has been hiding. She opens it and inside is my old armour. White and purple with lightning bolts on the helmet (design wise it looks like the armour Hardcase wears but instead of stripes it's lightning bolts also the lightning bolts are purple and the medic symbol is still red). I pull out the helmet looking at it, thankfully it's just as dirty as it was when I took it off last which is good. I would hate to be mistaken as a rookie. "Thank you sir" I say feeling a tiny bit emotionally looking at the armour that I had spent my entire life wearing. He grins, pleased by my reaction and watches as I put it on. It feels good seeing through my helmet again, it feels amazing to finally be classed as an Elite Archtrooper and getting the respect I earned. I see pride in my new squadron's eyes, they look proud that I'm in their squadron which I can understand. It feels like I finally have a purpose, I'm finally helping again. General Skywalker smiles before turning to my brothers, "we leave in twenty minutes" he says as he walks out. I immediately head over to the gunship, placing my med pack in there, I open it trying to figure out how I could possibly make it lighter without using another pack or taking any of the med kit's out. "Hey Kix" I turn to see Tup, "oh hey Tup are you okay?" I ask wondering why he's talking to me I mean I know we are brothers but he's never once spoken to me one to one, "oh I'm fine I just wondered if you need help with your med supplies. I saw that Rex was helping you with its weight so I wondered if I could do something to help." I smile, "I thought that you weren't going to carry a pack?" "well I can make an exception besides I was supposed to carry grenades and bombs but Hardcase has taken that job." He says smiling as I laugh, "they let one of the most happy trigger clones I have ever met to carry explosives? There is obviously nothing wrong with that!" he laughs with me to the point that some of our other brothers join in. eventually we stop laughing," seriously I really don't mind carrying med kit's I don't want to see you struggling." Tup says concern shining in his eyes, "Thank you Tup but just be aware that General Krell may have certain opinions about this so let's try not make this obvious okay I would hate it if something happened to you because I allowed you to take some of this." I say as I take half the med Kit's out of my pack and put it into a different pack that does not have a medic symbol on it. "I understand Kix don't worry I will do everything possible to make sure that he doesn't know" He says as he takes the pack that I have filled and puts it on. "Tup, Kix we are ready to go please board the gunship" we both turn to see General Skywalker as we both salute and say yes sir before doing as he says. Jesse, Hardcase, Rex and Bruce join us in the ship along with General Skywalker.

I'm not good with detailing battles so we are going to skip ahead to where Pong Krell has briefed Rex in the plan on taking the airbase however Pong Krell will be there whilst Rex explains the plan to 501st okay now we can continue!

I'm standing beside Jesse listening to Rex as he briefs us on the mission. It's complete suicide I mean because my squadron was highly trained we could survive something like this but this squadron won't stand a chance. I listen as Fives argues against the plan and witness as Rex loses his temper. However, all arguments cease when Pong Krell comes with one of our backpack's, I freeze knowing exactly what was in that pack considering it's the one that I gave to Tup when he offered to help me with carrying my Med Kit's. This is not going to go well... "CT-5385 explain why you have med kit's in your backpack" he glares at Tup as Tup self-consciously rubs the back of his neck obviously panicking trying to come up with an excuse. Rex glares at both of us knowing what we had done. I know what I need to do, "Sir I was the one who asked Tu- I mean CT-5385 to carry some Med Kit's as my pack couldn't carry anymore. If any punishment should be made it should be for me." Pong Krell glares harder at me, as Tup looks at me in shock. We are in this together, I allowed him to put them into his pack so therefor it's my responsibility. "CT-6116 come with me" Krell says as he waits for me. I pass past Tup who stops me by placing a hand on my shoulder, with Krell out of earshot I can already guess what's about to happen, "Are you crazy? I was the one who offered I should be following him not you" he whisper yells, "yes well your younger than me there isn't too much to lose if he kills me." I hear sounds of shock coming from our brothers and Tup's eyes widen but I'm not done, "If I continue to survive these wars Tup I'm going to eventually get unwanted attention which will be bad for all of us. Besides I have survived this mess long enough it's your turn now." I see sadness in his eyes but I don't let him speak I need to go I can't anger Krell anymore than I already have. However, "Kix" I turn to see Jesse who puts a hand to the back of my head and pulling my head to his. Our foreheads press together as I place my hand on his shoulder, "please survive I don't want to lose you. You're the closet brother I have..." I understand his fear I was the same with our brother Vosma. I nod and pull away from him as I walk in the direction of general Pong Krell.

I see Pong Krell on the edge of the cliff overlooking the landscape. From here we can quite clearly see the airbase which is the priority right now, we need to take control of it. This could be a good moment to find out whether Krell is a Sith or not. I stand to attention preparing myself mentally for what could happen, Krell obviously sensing my presence turns to me his back now facing the airbase. He walks towards me until he's towering over me. "how dare you defy me. You were not authorized to allow CT-5385 to carry med kit's that is your job if you have failed to notice medic." He sneers at me as I remain silent. This obviously annoys him because he raises his hand smacking my helmet right off my head as I stumble from the force of it, "maybe we need to bring you up to my level. If we did that then you may listen to me..." oh no that's not good. I watch as he lifts up his arm and clenches his fist. I immediately feel the force wrap around my neck choking me. I clutch my throat trying to release the tension even though I already know that it's useless. I feel myself being lifted up from the ground until I'm face to face with Pong Krell. He clenches his fist tighter causing me to let out even more choking noises, "if you dare to defy me one time then I may just have to tell Count Dooku about you." Oh he is definitely working for Count Dooku. My vision has started to darken spots floating in my sight, I'm beginning to become weak but then I remember I have cyborg legs, I quickly kick Pong Krell in his stomach with enough force that he goes flying into a huge rock. However, my brothers have come up here and as I kneel down coughing trying to get air back I feel that Pong Krell is coming. I turn to see him coming towards me, I'm too weak to run away and I feel as he grabs hold of my neck this time with hands. He begins to squeeze as I claw at his arm attempting to get him to let me go as I cough. "Sir we need to know when to le- "both Krell and I turn to see Captain Rex, Fives, Hardcase, Dogma, Appo and Jesse staring at us. Then simultaneously they raise their blasters at Krell as Krell tightens his hold on my neck. "Let him go" Rex says venom in his voice as he glares at Krell, hate evident in his eyes.

Jesse's POV

I look at Kix still aiming my blaster at Krell's head. I look at Kix's scared desperate face as he continues his feeble attempts to get Krell off him. I use him to fuel my ever growing hatred for Krell. How dare he do this to our medic. Who does he think he is we need Kix... I need Kix. I don't want to lose him; I can't lose him. I want to help him to make him see that even though his family is dead we can be his new family. The thought of him suffering hurts me, even though he's older I want to protect him. I would quite willingly jump in front of a blaster shot to protect him because he is my brother and I love him. I watch as his eyelids flutter; he's running out of air if Krell continues then he will pass out. "Krell if you do not release Kix then we will arrest you" Rex says. But we hear the loud choked sound as Kix suddenly bops up and then down. Krell has tightened his grip because Kix is desperately clawing at Krell's arm so we all activate our blasters at the same time. The collected sound gets Krell's attention as he gives us a side glance and then he sighs letting Kix drop onto the floor. Without hesitation I rush to Kix as he coughs and wheezes. I place my hand on his shoulder and look into his eyes, "Are you okay brother?" I ask needing the comfort of knowing that he will be fine, that he will continue breathing. However, in response to my question his eyes roll back into his head as he collapses. I catch him ensuring that he wouldn't hurt himself. At this point Tup has joined us. His eyes widen as he sees our unconscious brother, he runs over kneeling down beside Kix and grabbing his hand. He checks his pulse and lets out a sigh of relief. I look around seeing all of our brothers looking worried and concerned for Kix. "he's going to be- "

A/N hey guys sorry that I'm leaving you on a cliffhanger but it's already, in my opinion, too long of a chapter to add in how Kix is don't worry though I shall be updating this very shortly hopefully by either Saturday or Sunday or may be even tonight which will quite an achievement for me. Anyway see you soon!