"Listen up men." Chis, who had been reassigned to Slick's former position as Sergeant after the traitor had been jailed for betraying the Republic, called for attention as he walked in to the room. Five clones looked up from what they were doing. "We have a new assignment. Report to the armory for your new armor then meet in briefing room D-3 in half an hour."
Jester set down his gun that he had been cleaning again. "Sir, why do we need new armor?" He looked down at his heavily battle scarred armor. Those networks of scratches and chips were what separated the veterans from the "shinnies" at first glance.
"Yeah. Besides I haven't heard about anything new coming out." Gus added.
"I was only told by Captain Rex when I was leaving the mess hall to tell my men to report for armor and that General Skywalker has an assignment for us." The Sergeant snatched his helmet off his bunk. "Don't forget. New armor, half an hour, D-3. I have to finish a report then I will meet you there." The door closed behind him.
Jester, Gus, Chopper, Punch, and Sketch all moved to finish what they were doing. Gus slammed Sketch's hand on the table. Earning him his third win needed for the best three out of five arm wrestling match.
"Yes!"
"You can't do that! We were in a time out!"
"Nobody declared a time out, Chis was just telling us something and you got distracted."
"Rematch!"
"Fine by me. You know I'm just gonna win again."
"After briefing." Punch cut off further argument when he hit Gus upside the head with a pillow. He pulled his own generic white helmet off the wall, where it hung above his gun, and put it on. "Not two days after we win Christophsis and they're sending us off on a mission." He muttered. "Don't we feel special."
Three of them followed suit. "Hey Chop, you coming?" Sketch said as he offered a hand to help his brother up. Chopper only continued to lie on his bunk and stare, focusing on nothing beyond the barracks ceiling. Thinking.
Three months earlier, during Rex and Cody's surprise interrogation of the squad, they had found out about his trophy necklace. Jester had still treated him like he was the same as the rest of them. He still talked to him as much as he used to before Slick's betrayal. They had an understanding between them. He figured Jester's easier acceptance of his contraband than the others was due to his own habit of continuously cleaning his gun after a mission till it was beyond a high polish. Both "addictions" helped them to cope with constant war.
It had taken Punch and Sketch nearly a month before they stopped walking on egg shells around him. Sketch had explained that they, or he at least, had been worried about their squad mate but couldn't quite figure how they could help.
And Gus. Deep down Chopper still harbored a grudge against him for when he had said "I always knew there was something deficient about you." Gus didn't seem to be in any hurry to make an effort at apology. And Chopper wasn't in any hurry to let it go. The scarred clone had been taken aside and told by Sergeant Chis to" Suck up whatever" he had "against Gus or work it out. War is no place for those who act like children." This came after Chopper had been less than helpful towards covering Gus' retreat during a firefight.
"Chopper. Kamino to Chopper. Come in." Now Sketch was talking loudly, waving his hand in front of Chopper's face. The trick worked.
After Chopper came back to reality he swatted the annoying hand out of his face before rolling off the other side of his bunk. Hitting the floor in a crouch, he felt around under the bed for his helmet, which had been kicked there during some good natured rough housing earlier.
Chopper followed Sketch towards the door. "Well, let's see this new armor."
"You were the one spaced out." The two of them walked out of the barracks, quickly catching with the rest of the squad.
Twenty minutes later Jester, Gus, Chopper, Punch, and Sketch were trying their best to ignore the double-takes from the other 501st soldiers. "By 'new armor' I was hoping for upgrades, not a change of color." Gus said. From helmet to boots the entire armor was a dull black. They had also been issued packs of the same color.
Sergeant Chis met them at the briefing room door. "Good, you picked up your new armor."
"Yes, sir" Punch entered the code for the door. It silently slid open. "Sir. Do you have any idea why our armor is black?"
"Only that it has to do with the assignment." Chis answered.
They all took a seat around the table. Five datapads were lined up at one end of the table. "At least we stand out now."
Jester observed.
A moment later General Skywalker entered the room.
Succeed
