Okay, here we go; yet another FIF (fanfic of fanfic). This one was based off of (take a guess) Cuthalion97's In the Shadows chapter 31 where the guys...wait. You know what. I'll leave that unknown. ;D It kind of kills the story if I just tell you what it's about.
By the way, later on in the story, it is planned that there are rather descriptive scenes (and for me, what I did write for this is rather light) of violence so if you don't care for that kind of thing, you can't say I didn't at least warn you.
All that aside, I hope you enjoy reading! :D
Monitors bleeped softly in the background of the ill-lighted surgery room. There was only a faint rustle of feet and cloth as the five doctors crowded the surgical table, three doing what they could to hold down the writhing animal despite the aid of the restraint bindings while the other two prepped the serum for injection.
Watching them from behind a large ballistic-grade interrogation window, unseen by her peers on the other side, Doctor Leanan Ravyn thumbed her lower lip as she scowled. The fools hadn't even thought to try two experiments to see if a depressant really would hinder the serum's effect; instead, they were going right ahead with trying the first thing that came to their minds.
Do it. Do it while they still could with a live, fully conscious specimen.
Like that was ever going to turn out well. Would it have really been a waste to see if there was a safer way to inject a deadly predator?
With a weary sigh, she shook her head and keyed in a silent command on her datapad, tapping into the security systems and effectively shutting down the room on the other side of the glass just in case anything went wrong...Which it was bound to. After all, that was what tended to happen when scientific hierarchs attempted to steal a colleagues work. The said experiments never went right.
Well, no matter. At least in this case, there would be no blame directed at her for the failure. The others had, after all, in fact, insisted that she remain merely on the observation of this experiment...on observation of her work. They really didn't know what they were getting themselves into, did they? Probably not. If they had, then they wouldn't have forced her out of the room when they had claimed they were finally going to test the bioweapon.
Still, they were going to find out and she would be safe to watch them fail miserably while taking external results to hand off to General Lok Durd on his next visit to the facility.
Sure enough, on the other side of the glass, there was a slight lull in movement. The creature had been inject. In the room, one by one, the doctors took a few steps back, watching the specimen's reaction to the serum. Surprisingly - for them, it had stopped all earlier resistance, limp and breathing only lightly.
They waited...recorded what they could and chatted as they wondered if everything had gone as planned. The doctors tried asking Ravyn for her input, but when she silently refused, they figured it was because she was simply simmering with anger at the fact that they had conducted her experiment. In a way she was; but that wasn't why she hadn't responded.
It was because the experiment wasn't over yet. The thing had yet to wake up.
And it did the moment all had untied it from the restraints to move it back to its kennel.
Behind the window, Ravyn wondered briefly what the last thing those others ever saw was. Was it the yellow eyes filled with hunger as it pounced on them? For those who were not attacked first, was it the muzzle splayed open to reveal numerous blood-stained teeth as the creature lunged for their face?
Screams crackled through the intercom, forcing bursts of static in the microphones. One woman struggled to open the locked door, banging her fists against the cruel metal as terrified tears blinded her eyes, begging to be let out.
Of course, given the new nature of the specimen, that would no longer be an option. To let her out would be to let out the beast. And to let out the beast would be to reek havoc on the laboratory. It wasn't long before the young woman's screams of fear turned to shrieks of pain.
The doctor didn't even blink. It served them all well enough that their attempt to steal her discoveries would come back to bite and tear them apart - literally, as the case was. Now was the real test. Before having been taken in for experimentation, the animal had been trained; now Ravyn just needed to see if that training would pass to the animals injected state. Putting herself on speaker, she commanded,
''Four-four-seven, yield.''
When the creature only snarled, ignoring the mangled bodies glare about the room as it tried to determine where the voice was coming from, she tried again, ''Subject four-four-seven, yield and sit.''
It just roared and dashed about the room in a circle, sniffing the air but unable to see her because of the darkened one-sided window. It paused, gave one final howling cry before returning to its meal.
So, the project hadn't worked - not yet...too bad. It might have made a lovely addition to Durd's collection of 'toys' to show off to Dooku.
Granted most of his 'toys' to show off where things that he had demanded be made; and when they were finished, he simply got the glory for it. If things went out the right way though, that wasn't going to happen to this one. For now though, she would need to see how the serum would affect a human's living tissue, which would require a live subject...
No matter, she already knew what - or rather, who she wanted.
''Droid,'' she commanded, motioning for one of the guards at the doors entrance, ''contact the search team. I would like to send them out again to gather more test subjects.''
''Uh,'' the mechanized voice paused, rubbing it's head uncertainly, ''why, ma'am? There are already two in the cryochambers waiting for experimentation and the last time, our team nearly got shot! The clones nearly found our position!''
''Yes,'' she nodded, ''I am aware; however, this time, that is what I want.''
Regally facing away to add affect to her point, she could almost hear the droid gulp nervously.
''Y-you want us to be found?'' it quivered, gripping its blaster in hand. ''W-why?''
''Because, you silly thing,'' she purred soothingly, patting it lightly on the head as if a terrified child - though she disgusted herself in doing so, ''If we can lead a team of the best GAR soldiers here then we can find a way to destroy the Republic Army as a whole. The normal troops will not suffice for this test. I could use those other two. But I'd rather not.''
It was true. If she wanted to, she could use the two captured men for another test...But no. For this...for this, she would want the perfect specimens. Prime and in the most resistant condition she could get her hands on.
She didn't just want the rank and file soldiers. She wanted the best. If she could take down the best, how much simpler would those inferior to that class be to target? She wanted the highest class of soldier she could get her hands on...and there was one class she had her eye on. She didn't just want anyone. She wanted the Republic Commandos. The best of the best that the whole GAR had to offer her.
And if one did not succeed...well, there would be more. After all, from everything she had gathered, they worked in teams of four. If one did not succeed, there would be the rest of it's brethren that it had been captured with...
Purring to herself with satisfaction, she gave the orders and began the shutdown sequence of that part of the lab. The...thing on the other side of the glass was too dangerous to be kept in an open-state wing of the lab. That was simply risking too much. At the final click of a button, the lights dimmed and the temperature plummeted to below zero with the time it took for her to cross the room. With the intense chill, there was no need to worry about risking shooting the experiment; it wouldn't have worked anyway. Ice was the only way to kill that thing and make sure it stayed dead.
Just as she turned to leave that wing for the last time, however, there came an inhuman scream! Startled, she pivoted on her heel, turning to stare back at the window and...and through the frost covered view at the writhing masses that, stood shaking with rage.
Watching it in complete astonishment, she nodded slowly.
''Interesting...Very interesting...''
Two weeks later...
Time: 2312
Location: GNR Negotiator
''Gentlemen, welcome back. I have another mission for you.''
''Sir,'' Hunter replied, snapping off a quick salute while the other three behind him did the same. ''What do you have for us?''
Leading the younger men over to the mission board, Cody picked up a datapad of the holotable, tapping the passcode.
''For the passed three weeks or so - that we've known about, isolated Separatist B1 squads have been rummaging through battle fields afterwards and snatching some of the wounded that we couldn't extract in time. I want to know why and you're going to find out who's behind it.''
Raising an eyebrow as he accepted the pad, Hunter glanced over its contents.
''Why would Seps be taking isolated prisoners away from the field?''
''That's part of what I want to know. My fear is that they'll find a way to use the clone Fett DNA to create their own infiltration team. It could take years for them to develop, but if they know how to make us, then they would also know how to break us. You can't let that happen. Sergeant, I am counting on you and your squad to find out what's going on.''
Straightening, Hunter nodded, ''Yes, sir.''
''Good. Now, you'll need some specialized gear first so you'll have to go to the armory but you'll also need a way to get in the system without- ''
''That, sir, is where I believe I come in,'' a woman's voice broke in, ''...Is that correct or have you changed your mind since I last read it?''
Grinning, Cody slowly rotated on his heel to stare at the two foot tall avatar figure of a female Chiss emitting from Tech's field projector built into his right hand-plate, her red eyes sparking with an amusement that matched the casual smirk on her face.
''Joan.''
''Commander Cody,'' the AI bowed her head in greeting. ''You haven't changed much since I last saw you.''
Cody huffed, amused; then glanced over his shoulder as Hunter as he smirked and replied, ''Trust me, it doesn't sound like you have either.''
A mock gasp escaping her as she pressed a hand to her core, eyes fluttering in disbelief, she sniffed.
''Why, sir, I do not believe I can tell if that was meant as an insult or a compliment.''
Shooting a wink at the AI, Cody grinned.
''It's a fifty-fifty chance it could be either and I was thinking...''
Joan's red eyes flashed fire and she growled, ''Then you had better hope it was a compliment given how I literally have access to your head and...influence certain reactions...right?''
There was a moment of a tense atmosphere on the bridge as the commander and the AI locked their gazes to see who would back out first while the Bad Batch shifted uncomfortably...then Cody laughed.
''She hasn't changed much, has she? Good; you boys need someone spunky to keep you in line. Yes, Joan, it was a compliment.''
''Of course,'' Joan clasped her hands complacently behind her, still smirking teasingly, ''I knew that.''
''I'm sure you did. Now, back on topic. You leave tomorrow at twelve AM sharp. You'll need to be prepared for a jungle climate when you get there so secure your rigging. All the intel we have is here on that datapad and I'll download an extra copy to Joan so she can brief you on the way there.''
Pausing, Cody peered each man in the eyes and asked, ''Any questions aside from the obvious concerning the mission?''
There was silence...
''Good, Go grab your gear. I want you at your destination yesterday. Gentlemen, good luck and happy hunting.''
Marching down the halls of the Negotiator on their way back to the Marauder, Tech tapped the side of his helmet, speaking into the team com.
''Joan, you have all the downloaded intel?''
''Well,'' she began diplomatically, ''if I didn't, consider yourselves very unfortunate due to the fact that you will very shortly be dead because of unforeseen circumstances. My condolences in advance.''
''But you have it?''
Vanishing from the HUD, the AI paused for - what to her and Tech - seemed a long time. Two seconds later, she replied carefully, ''Yes, I have it...however, I have personal policies about intruding on what a lady knows, so hands off. This info - because of it's depleted nature - is delicate.''
That produced chuckles from the rest of the squad as Tech groaned in annoyance. Smirking, Hunter asked, ''Joan, since you like to keep us in the dark, dare I ask where we're heading next?''
''Hmmmm, should I tell you...? Well, if you're going to die there, you may as well know what it's called. Gents, be sure to pack your bug repellent. You're heading to a place called Ajan Kloss.''
Well here we are Ladies and Gents, thank you for reading and reviewing the beginning of yet another story of mine; I hope you enjoyed it! :D With any luck, the next chapter should be out soon (fingers crossed); I am planning on having a few chapters for this (granted, this is me, so we'll have to see where this goes) thus, I hope to see you later! :D
Special thanks to Cuthalion97 for story inspiration, permission, and certain scene edits! :D