Nobody Listens to Kix
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Star Wars: The Clone Wars or any related titles, characters, plots, settings, etc. These rights are the sole property of George Lucas, Dave Filoni, the Walt Disney Company, and their various publishers and distributors. I own only the original elements of this story, the writing and publishing of which earn me no money.
Case 00563: Nute Gunray
"Okay, men," General Skywalker said, pacing back and forth in front of the gathered troopers. The entirety of Torrent Company was in the large room. Kix had even been called from the medbay to attend the briefing. "Some of you may know that we have a prisoner onboard the Resolute. We are transporting Nute Gunray, a Separatist leader, to Coruscant to stand trial for his crimes against the Republic."
A muffled cheer rang from the back of the room, joined quickly by other sounds of approval by the other troopers.
Skywalker smiled, but motioned for the troopers to calm. "I know, men. We did good. Still, there's a long way to go before we get to Coruscant and the Separatists are going to try everything they can to take him back into their custody. We're going to heighten security, add some guard shifts. Basically, we're on high alert until we get him into Republic hands on Coruscant. If you see or hear anything different or wrong, report it to me, Ahsoka, or Rex. We'll advise you what to do from there. As always, no interacting with the prisoner. Don't give him anything, physically or verbally. Rex?"
Rex stepped forward. "As the General said, we know what to do here. We've lost Seppie prisoners in the past and we can't take any risks with this one. I'll assign extra guard shifts at fourteen-hundred hours. Report to the barracks by that time to receive your new assignments."
General Skywalker smiled. "There's no other group of men in all of the GAR that's better qualified for a high-security mission like this one, and none I would rather have at my back. Dismissed."
In the ensuing rush of troopers, the general said, "Kix, could I speak to you?"
Kix saluted, tucked his helmet under his arm, and approached the spot where the general stood. "Yes, sir?"
"Gunray seems to need some medical attention," General Skywalker said, clearly unhappy. "Under the terms of the Republic Code of Conduct and GAR regulations, I am obligated to give him access to medical care."
"Understood, sir," Kix responded easily. "I'll go pick up a pack from the medbay and report to the brig immediately."
"Wait a minute, Kix," Skywalker said, sounding thoughtful. "That gives me an idea. None of Gunray's injuries are life-threatening; he's just whining about them to make us sympathetic. Maybe we shouldn't send you in at all."
Kix made eye contact with Rex and both men glanced around the nearly-empty room while the general and the commander looked unconcerned at the implications of what General Skywalker had just suggested. The few troopers still in the briefing room kept their eyes on the floor. General Skywalker was their leader and they respected him, but what he had suggested was a violation of every peace treaty the Republic had ever made.
"I think it would be best if I went to see him anyway, sir," Kix told him. "We wouldn't want him to complain that he had been mistreated."
"Or maybe we should have you give him something to really complain about," the general suggested darkly.
Kix's spine stiffened and the remaining brothers in the briefing room shot incredulous expressions toward their general. From General Skywalker's face and bearing, he didn't understand what he had just asked Kix to do.
Clones were looked down upon by most of the Republic. They were seen as being scarcely capable of medical duties to begin with, a last-ditch option for men who would die without immediate care, no matter the quality. Kix and the other troopers could be medics, but never doctors, and the distinction was important. Suggesting that Kix treat Gunray in an ineffective manner was already slightly offensive - implying that Kix was incompetant and couldn't help Gunray with his minor ailments - but asking him to harm the Separatist leader? That would reflect poorly on Kix and every one of his brothers who trained and worked to be a clone medic.
Kix was far from alone in his shock at the general's suggestion. The brothers left in the room slowed in their actions, ready to help Kix argue his case if needed. Captain Rex frowned, his dark brows drawing together fiercely. Even Commander Tano seemed to sense that her master's words had been inappropriate, her montrals darkening as she glanced between the general and Kix.
In a room that had gone oddly silent in order to eavesdrop on the conversation, Kix shook his head. Using his mildest voice, he said, "As a medic, I'm afraid I cannot do that, sir. I've taken oaths to help the hurt to the best of my ability and - more importantly - to do no harm. I can't violate those oaths. I can't and I won't. Even with a direct order from you, General, I could not do what you're asking."
General Skywalker seemed to finally realize that he had made a severe misstep. He grinned and shook his head. "I was joking, Kix. I would never ask you to violate GAR regs or the Republic's treaties. Go get your pack and treat Gunray, but don't let him give you any trouble."
Kix saluted crisply and left the room, receiving a sympathetic look from Commander Tano and a pat on the shoulder from Captain Rex. His mind buzzed as he retrieved a medpack and made his way to the brig. As he walked, Kix came to the uncomfortable realization that he had lost a bit of respect for General Skywalker.
The green-skinned Neimoidian was possibly less happy to see Kix than Kix was to see him.
"A clone medic," he scoffed, his words running counterpoint to Kix's own thoughts. "I suppose they want me to die."
For a moment, Kix's stomach twisted with raw, burning emotion and he felt that he could fulfill General Skywalker's request without any regrets, but he forced the feelings away and concentrated on his training. "None of your wounds are fatal, sir, but I will make sure they heal as quickly as possible."
In only minutes, he had bandaged and applied bacta to a number of Nute Gunray's smaller wounds. There was one cut that had looked fairly serious, so Kix used a set of the adhesive stitches to close it and topped it with a bacta patch. After asking a few questions about Gunray's general physical comfort level, Kix allotted him a small dose of mild pain medicine and stood attentively nearby as the Neimoidian took the pills.
"Clone you may be, but your competence cannot be doubted," Gunray said, his rasping voice holding a begrudging respect.
"If any sudden pains develop, have one of your guards call for me immediately," was Kix's only response.
Kix returned the unused supplies to the medbay, every motion clipped and efficient despite the discomfort still bubbling inside him. His arms ached to lash out at the idea that people found him less capable because he was a clone, and his throat fairly itched to release a Mando'a curse or two, but he fought back the urges.
After all, and despite everything, he was a professional.
Author's Note - Fun fact: I wrote this particular chapter on my phone's notepad and it kept autocorrecting to "Nuts Gunray", so that's all I can think of him as now. Also, I do not dislike Anakin Skywalker, much as this chapter may make it seem like I do. I just feel that Anakin is one of the few Jedi who is willing to bend or break the rules to ensure victory, and he probably assumes that his men feel the same way, even if he's asking them to do something that is against their morals.
As a side note, this is the last chapter of this fic that I feel is 'eh'. I'm super pumped about every other chapter of this story and I can't wait to share them with you all! Along those lines, thank you to those who favorited or followed over the last week! Special thanks to those who reviewed Chapter Eight: KarajeJinsta, RyanSquad, STARWARZMYLIFE, Lillie Tano-Syndulla, dieFabuliererin, Slim 'Tech' Sherman, Liotashi, SolarRose29, my guest reviewer, and ghostguts! To my guest, you're probably right! I have no idea when Jesse joined the 501st relative to Echo and Fives. I'm not nearly the expert I wish I was!
Thank you for reading! If you don't mind leaving a review, we're sitting at 66 right now, which both amuses me and makes me a little sad. Have a wonderful day, and happy early Thanksgiving to my American readers! I'll see you next week!