Kix - A Star Wars Story

4th

About a month later the Republic intercepted a Separatist broadcast in which Admiral Trench and Count Dooku were planning an attack on the Republic shipyards at Anaxes, so 501 was heading there.

All the battles there  ended in defeat for the Republic, it was as if the enemy knew perfectly what the clone troops were going to do before doing it, some had lost hope, even Rex was worried.

- The captain has been acting strange lately, our defeats are affecting him a lot... - Vaughn commented.- And who does not? Jesse replied. - We are not used to being defeated like this. - He hit the table with his fist.- It is not our defeats that worry him ...-  Kix muttered. Jesse and Vaughn exchanged a look. - At least not the only thing.- What do you mean? Jesse asked, staring at him. It took Kix a moment to answer.- I'm not sure...- Jesse looked at Vaughn again, and he just shrugged. His communicator beeped.- Well guys, it has been a pleasure to share this food with you, but I must go. Duty calls.-  Vaughn got up and, after patting Kix on the back, left the dining room.- Are you ok? - Jesse asked as soon as he lost sight of Vaughn. Kix looked up, surprised by the question.  "No, I'm not fine." That's what he would have liked to say, but he didn't want to worry Jesse.- Yeah...- Jesse put his hand on Kix's shoulder.- You can't save them all. You have done everything you can, you always do. - Jesse was talking about the last battle. They had lost almost half the group. Kix felt guilty about it, as always. He was dragging into his conscience too many brothers whom - he believed - that he could have saved. But that was not the only thing that worried him.- I know. - Kix looked him in the eye, he wanted to tell him what he had found out about the chips, but it was neither the time nor the place. Jesse was staring at him, frowning slightly. They had known each other for life and it was obvious to Jesse that something was wrong.- Tell me. - Jesse said almost in a whisper. - Whatever it is, you can tell me.

Kix was about to say something, but a sound in his communicator prevented him. Commander Cody had summoned them. Kix left the dining room next to Jesse and they met Cody on the runways.

- What do you have for us , sir? - Jesse asked, with some enthusiasm in his voice. Cody smiled at him.- We have to go to the separatist cyber center within their lines to find out how they are countering us with such success.- You, the captain and the two of us, sir?- Jesse asked, Cody cocked his head.- And Clone Force 99. - Jesse and Kix exchanged a look.- Oh, that would be interesting. - Kix said. Jesse was still looking at Kix. Cody smiled.- Don't worry, Jesse. Come on, let's go get Rex.

They walked to the barracks and Cody went after Rex. Jesse and Kix waited outside.

- I've heard some things about these guys. - Jesse muttered with a frown.- They say they have a one hundred percent success rate, they always win.- It is not that they win what worries me, it is how they win.

The commander and captain left the barracks, and Kix and Jesse followed them down the landing platform. A ship recklessly landed. Kix and Jesse exchanged a look.

- I haven't heard of this squad. - Captain Rex suddenly said.- They are an experimental unit, Clone Force 99. They are defective clones with... "desirable" mutations. - Cody explained.- Ninety-nine? Nice touch.- They call themselves the "Bad Batch".

The eyes of all four were fixed on the gate of the shuttle that had just landed. Kix couldn't help but notice Senator Amidala's painting on the nose of the ship. "These guys like risk", he thought.

Four men in black armor with red accents emerged from the ship. Kix was surprised to see their faces. "They don't look like clones at all" he thought and looked at Jesse, who was as surprised as he was.- Are they really clones? - Kix asked. Jesse shrugged his shoulders. The squad approached them and one of them and Cody shook hands.- Nice to see you again, Sergeant. - Cody greeted.- You too,Sir.- this is Hunter. - The sergeant nodded in greeting. Rex, Jesse and Kix returned the gesture.- Sorry we're late, commander. We were busy at Yalbec Prime when you contacted us, we had some... unexpected complications.-  The tall guy behind him laughed.- Yeah - He pointed to Jesse. - Have you ever faced a male yalbec?- Um... no. Never. - Jesse replied, watching the man closely.- Well, you're lucky. The only way to kill them is with one of these.- He grabbed the vibroknife on his leg and showed it to Jesse.- Yeah, Wrecker cut the stinger of the queen while she was still alive. - Hunter explained. His  voice made Kix's feel uneasy.  - that's why the male yalbec attacked us. - He said with a frown. It seemed to Kix that he was angry with Wrecker.- Actually,- the guy with the glasses pushed his way between Hunter and Wrecker. - They were trying to mate with us - Rex shot Cody a glance, the commander was simply smiling. He seemed to be having a good time. - And for your information, the sting of a Yalbec queen is a delicacy in some systems.- They call him Tech.- The commander said, pointing to him. Hunter punched Tech.- Yeah,he can give you  useless info for hours. - then he pointed to the quiet guy behind him. - Crosshair instead, is not much of a conversionalist. But if you need to hit something that is 10 klicks away, Crosshair is your man. - Rex exchanged a quick glance with Kix and Jesse. - Then, Commander. What kind of suicide mission do you have for us this time? - Cody smiled.- Let's get going. - He pointed to the gunship that had just arrived. - I'll brief you on the way.

The eight clones climbed into the gunship. Kix couldn't stop thinking how strange that squad was. he had never met commandos, let alone "defective" ones. They surprised him more than he had ever thought.