Virgin Squad
Disclaimer: All characters in this army are my own. I don't own Star Wars, or the Mandalorian wars.
Arran stepped off the ship swiftly, right behind Avery onto the very green, very hot planet. His face contorted into a grimace at the realization at how humid this place was. According to Recad, the pilot, they had landed close to the capital, and were now to be transferred into the hands of the Onderonian Resistance, or the 'make-shift army of half-trained idiots' as Anak had so poetically put it. The six of the walked towards the end of the shuttle bay with Avery leading, him being the ranking officer. As they walked through the square, they passed the through the merchant plaza, everyone taking note of the cantina.
DoubleDandAnak were both grunting and arguing in the background about whose pack was heavier, and if they were each doing to same amount of work and all the while questioning when they would get where they were going. Arran walked silently, just in front of Grimmy, who had Mia's hand firmly held, as if for fear of her running off. Avery turned the corner, and went through an open gate and walked into the thick, sucking mud that gripped for his boots as he walked at a brisk pace for camp.
Arran, all the while in the ship had been wondering what the hell camp was going to be like. He expected much like base, strict diets, organized personnel, and a whole lot of people doing random jobs. It wasn't quite like that.
After much convincing, DoubleDandAnak finally left the confines of the city for the jungle, now thoroughly assured that we were close enough to town that nothing would eat them. The six arrived at camp, and each dropped their bags at what they saw. There were scattered pazaak games, each with their own exceedingly high wagers at tables which littered the area. There was drinking, as the smell of alcohol carried through the sticky air and threatened to intoxicate any who breathed it in. There was camo netting stretched over it all, and blocked no sunlight from hitting the ground, lighting the entire thing so it looked no more like an army encampment, than a busy cantina on Nar Shadda.
Arran stood mouth agape as Mia and Grimmy slouched back, recoiled in the shock of what the hell was going on in a damn militarized zone. Avery turned to the six and held the welcome for them all,
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the official Republic outpost of Onderon, go make yourselves comfortable, and get ready to report to the comm. tent at 1400 hours tomorrow. All good?" A few half-hearted grunts answered him, but he had had already left. However no one else had moved an inch. Anak's voice carried over the squad.
"Damn!"
"My thoughts exactly," Arran said underneath his breath.
"Sweet! This place is frakin' awesome!" He yelled, dropping all his bags onto DoubleD and breaking for the keg that was ceremoniously planted in the middle of the whole shebang.
"Not quite my opinion." Arran said half to himself.
DoubleD soon followed as Arran turned to the two comrades behind him.
"Glad they like it, come on lets find our rooms." He said, walking to what looked to be like a makeshift barrack. Makeshift, in a way that made it look like it could come crashing down at the slightest breeze, or bullets.
Arran walked into the dorm tent with Mia and Grimmy right behind, and looked at what would be their home for the next months or so. There were eight beds, four on either side, each of which had green sheets. There were poles, supporting the tent every four feet or so down the middle, and the beds were each accompanied by a small desk.
Arran stepped in and claimed the bed closest to the door, Grimmy and Mia claimed the next two beside him, and placed small bags onto the first three on the other side for the others.
Arran sat down and opened up his incredibly heavy pack, filled with clothes and his gun cleaning kit, which he removed and put on his desk. He fumbled through the medical supply kit on the top as well, which added another 22.7 pounds onto the already bulkiest pack. He flipped through the kolto packs and injections and came across the chemical sacks. Each of them with their own use, reviving, healing… killing. He re-organized the entire order of everything and committed all of it to memory. He looked for something to unpack, but couldn't find anything, so he dropped the bag and lay down on his bed.
Mia was fussing with her bag as Grimmy found Arran removing his gun kit, and he did the same. Mia did as well, and took out the black case that carried her outsized, powerful, long-range rifle. She pulled it out and laid it on the bed, it was massive and Arran wondered how the hell she carries it. She screwed it all together expertly, excepting the adapter that went on the end for only extremely long shots, and lay down on her bed as well.
Grimmy pulled out his rifle as well. It wasn't as big as Mia's, but it fired at a much faster rate, allowing him to change from spotter, to rifleman in an instant. He clicked together the stock and held it up on his shoulder. He rested it on the bed and brought out his binoc's and looked through them as well. They provided kilometer length vision, and adjusted the sight on Mia's gun accordingly. While it was tuned to his lover's gun, it could just as easily be changed and set up to help another sniper.
The binoc's range finder equations were automatically linked to the scopes shot algorithms. This allowed the two of them to be at two totally separate locations, and find the same target instantly via arrow finder on both. Also, the calculations of wind, air, planet gravity, etc. could be worked out by the spotter on one side of a ridge, while the sniper's scope calibrated instantly for the optimum shot. All this from a small piece of machinery.
Arran sat up and looked at Grimmy.
"Grimmy,"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you need to rearrange the scope for distance? Doesn't the laser just keep going?"
Grimmy laughed and sat down on the cot, tossing Arran the binocs.
"Nope Doc, laser's take too long to get to the target at the distances we shoot; so we use bolts instead. They're charged, heated, plasma coated and sent off for their target. Really, really fast."
"Huh." Arran grunted and sat back, putting the binocs onto the table between Grimmy and him.
Grimmy put the rifle down, and lay down next two Mia, arms and lekku tangling around one another. Arran lay back in his cot and thought about what was coming next.
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The tent's flaps open wildly as Arran was woken from his shallow slumber, and had fallen out of bed. Grimmy had instantly risen, however, and was ready to take on anything that decided to trespass onto what was now 2nd squad's private property. DoubleDandAnak broke through the barrier and DoubleD put his hands above his head.
"Whoa there Krakenslayer," DoubleD said sarcastically, all the while staring down the very lengthy barrel of Grimmy's rifle. Grimmy reluctantly lowered the point of the gun, and resumed his spot next to Mia.
"You'd better watch out, you could take an eye out with that thing," Anak mocked, downing the last of his drink. He passed a cup to Arran, who took it, and stared skeptically at its questionable contents. He passed one to Grimmy, who downed it without a second thought, and lastly one to Mia, who did exactly the same as Arran. Anak then reached from his pack, and pulled out three, exceptionally fat steaks and handed them out in very similar fashion.
DoubleD reached from his pack, and pulled out various spices which were well welcomed by the other three as they ate the steaks trying to take as little taste with them as they could.
Avery strode in as everyone was finished eating.
"Everything OK?" he asked.
"Yes," Arran answered, sipping the juice again. "So, what do we do now?" He inquired now.
"What do you mean?"
"What? You all just sit around and drink and eat all day? No exercises or anything?" Grimmy asked.
"Well, there's the hot-tub, oh and the full equipped gym." Avery replied acerbically. "And no one can forget the nurses. If any of you are looking for some action, just make your way to the medical tent. Man oh ma-" Avery said, with a low whistle through his teeth. Mia cut him off his a cold stare, and then sat back onto Grimmy's chest with a look of satisfaction at shutting Avery up.
"Hell, we should've moved here a long time ago." Anak said, laughing lightly.
Mia sat up now, her and Grimmy's backs on the head board.
DoubleD reached behind his head, and pulled out notes, which were skewered on one of his many horns. Arran caught Anak shaking his head at the undignified display of contempt for the poor sheets of paper. He tossed them onto the upturned keg, which they both had brought in to serve as a table of sorts. Arran glared at the letter and wondered what was on it. Interested he edged slightly towards it.
Avery tapped the keg, attracting everyone's attention.
"OK, ladies and gents, we got two extra beds, so you're all going to have to meet the members of third squad, well two of them at least, 'cause they're gonna be staying here for a while." Avery, stepped back and out the door with largely exaggerated arm motions and disappeared out of the tent. Arran looked at the Mia and Grimmy with a questioning look. They returned it with two shrugs and the same expression.
Anak caught the look and turned to the group.
"Hell, as long as they're on our side, I don't care who they are." DoubleD then nodded, and dropped all their bags onto the floor and lay back on his cot, Anak, still standing, seemingly excited to meet the new member's of our team.
Arran quickly looked at the letter. He then sat up and reached for one and read its contents. He put it back down on the keg soon, uninterested on what it had to say.
… Sgt. Sveless, 2nd squad.
Two hours later,
Hell, apparently the group had thought Avery would be back within a couple of minutes, but as the hours passed each of them doubted whether he'd be back or not.
DoubleD rose from his bed, "That's it; I'm out of here, that damn music is driving me crazy while I'm cooped up in here. Anak, you coming?"
"Damnit, DoubleD," Anak rolled over, "can I get some sleep!" he yelled, tossing a pillow at DoubleD. He ducked but it hit him upside the head, and flew into the wall. Anak, dropped his head again and realized he didn't have any pillows left. He rolled aver again and propped himself up.
"DoubleD, hey, can I get my pillow back?" DoubleD chuckled as he chucked the pillow back and walked out of the tent; Arran got up and left after him.
"Hey D, I'm coming as well," he yelled as he jogged after him out of the tent, trying to match his long strides.
They walked for a bit, passing various pazaak games, drinking contests and arm wrestles. Arran looked around, noticing there were many species he had never seen before in real life. He had only seen them in medical text books and the sort. Odd shapes and voices drifted through the air as he failed to understand any of it.
"Arran," DoubleD spoke for the first time. Arran was taken from his pondering.
"Yeah?"
"Where you from?"
Arran laughed and looked up at the taller counterpart. "Corellia, you?"
"Courascant."
They walked in an uncomfortable silence as they both took a seat at of the few empty tables.
"D, can I ask you a question?" DoubleD looked up from the questionable drink they had had earlier. It wasn't half bad, but Arran was not thirsty enough to drink it again.
"Shoot."
"Well, why do they call you DoubleD? You wife stacked or something?" With this DoubleD burst out laughing, spraying all the liquid onto the table as Arran recoiled slightly. He pounded the table, which looked as if it was about to snap anyways.
"Hell, I wish!" He said as he slowly turned serious. Arran stopped the laughing that had been contagiously passed onto him. Both of them went solemn as D dictated the mood.
"Nope, no, I'm not married." DoubleD looked up at Arran, "It has to do with my school, if you have to know." Arran wrinkled his brow, confused.
"Huh?"
"Well, when my mates at boot found out I grew up on Courascant, they laughed. But when they found out I graduated from CCU, they laughed harder."
"D, that's the finest school on the planet!"
"Yep, and so when they heard I had a degree from there, they figured I'd have to be one of two things to get here," D pointed to the ground and flecked the dirt off the table.
Arran looked up and inquired silently.
"I'd have to be either Dim, or Depressed." Arran grinned, but DoubleD seemed to be more serious than he'd ever seen him from the few times at boot. "Anak told them I was both. So, they called me DoubleD, Dim & Depressed."
Arran looked up again from his drink, to find DoubleD staring into his. Arran heard a sudden scream from a tent behind him. He looked backwards for the tent. Another shriek, but this time Arran discovered it was female. He got up and ran for the tent as fast as he could, leaving DoubleD alone at the table; lost in his own thoughts.
2nd Tent.
Grimmy woke up again, unable to sleep more than a few minutes in this weather. He sat for a few minutes, just looking at Mia who was sleeping and strewn over his body. He watched her chest rise and fall, and her body stir slightly until the flaps popped open again. He looked around, Arran wasn't here. Neither was DoubleD.
Avery burst through the door, a drink in each hand. He put one down on the desk and looked around.
"Where are the other two?" he asked, looking at Grimmy, who had one hand around Mia, one holding the large rifle ready to take a hole through Avery's chest.
"Arran and DoubleD went out about four minutes ago." Grimmy said with hints on contempt. He didn't like Avery, he was too laid back for a person who'd be leading them into battle.
"Why? What the hell? Didn't I tell you that I'd be back with the member's from third squad?"
"Yes, you did, and that was two hours ago." Grimmy said, also satisfied at shutting Avery up.
Avery looked slightly hurt, but it passed as quickly as it came as the flaps opened again and the two members of third squad walked in.
202nd tent.
"Press harder! Don't release the hold; keep pushing down as hard as you can!" Arran screamed at the top of his lungs. "Damnit, hold still! HOLD STILL!" He shouted trying to pin the woman down while struggling with the wrapper of the Koltodifluerenzizine injections and instructing another person on how to treat the leg wound. Fuck. He thought to himself.
The woman reached up, thoroughly horrified at waking up in pain, and being straddled by a very large man. Arran kept her left hand pinned up against her body with his right leg. He had his teeth on the wrapper and was ripping it off when a right hook caught him on his temple. DoubleD was pressing as hard as he could on her left leg, suppressing the bleeding as her right boot caught him in much the same way.
"Get off of me!" she screamed.
Arran winced at the pain, as the taste of blood sifted into his mouth. The woman was trying to get up, when he tackled her again, straddling her once more, and finally getting the injection into her as she quieted down a bit, the pain medication taking affect. D resumed his post on her leg as Arran pulled out another kolto bandage.
The woman finally stopped struggling and looked up at him, her eyes darting from the bandage to his eyes, and back again.
"Shh, don't worry, you'll be fine." Arran said smiling slightly as he felt her relax. He looked over and caught her gaze again holding it and silently accepting her complete trust. Better not screw it up. He thought to himself.
"This," he said looking at her sympathetically, "Is going to hurt." He felt sick about what he was going to do to her, the pain she was going to feel, and finally brought himself to do it knowing it'd save her life. He took a few heavy breaths and looked at her again. She nodded slowly.
"One,"
"Two,"
"Three," AAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!
2nd tent.
Grimmy jerked up hearing an extremely shrill scream. Someone was in pain. He grabbed his rifle and placed Mia on the bed. Avery cut his laughing instantly getting his rifle as well, while was Anak still in bed. Avery let out a loud whistle, waking everyone else up in the tent. Anak rolled out of bed hitting the ground.
"Wha- Whats going on eh? Why you gotta do that?" He said, trying to get up. He did and took his commando machine gun off the bed.
"Someone's been shot; we're thinking we're under attack." Anak tucked the bipod in and locked and loaded again, his face going serious.
Avery stood with his back to the flaps, looking at soldiers lined up. No one was on the beds anymore. He grinned.
"Let's go."
The new six broke out the tent guns ready. What they saw, was utterly strange. Everyone doing exactly as they were. So much for the surprise attack.
Avery looked at the five behind him.
"Well, at least we were ready right? Grimmy, Mia go find out where that scream came from." Mia was right behind Grimmy, and the took off to find the source.
202nd tent.
She stopped screaming, and DoubleD was sitting in the corner of the now empty tent, only Arran the injured woman and himself. Arran had scared everyone else out with a simple glare. D thanked him.
She had passed out, thank god, after Arran had put her out of her misery, not permanently of course, but with some difluenzy thingy. D knew, he had to pass it too him. She had screamed so loud when Arran place the patch on her stomach, he was sure he'd go crazy, that, and his ears would pop. Nothing came to mind now, except the horror of the red liquid on his hands and shirt. He sat there, unable to move, talk even think contemplating what had happened. The sticky fluid covered his hands and forearms where he had rolled his sleeves up. He swallowed and sat silent still.
Arran look at the woman on the bed. He had had to move her, because the blood had interrupted his equipment. She needed blood now. Damnit. He thought to himself. He finally had stabilized her, fixing up the stab wounds on both her stomach and leg. Someone had tried to kill her. The knife in her stomach had been twisted, exaggerating the wound and opening it even bigger. If it hadn't been for his work on Corellia, he wouldn't have known how to patch it up.
He had her fixed up now, but she wouldn't be better at all without some blood. He stood up and removed his outer shirt, which was soaked through in her blood. He took it off, and saw that his undershirt was covered as well. He kept that on and turned around from his patient to leave and go find some blood. Somewhere.
Grimmy and Mia burst through the door.
"What the hell is going on here?" Grimmy asked, raising his rifle to Arran.
"Whoa, stop, stop stop." Arran muttered, calming Grimmy down. Mia placed a hand on his arm, lowering the barrel.
"She had been stabbed, she needs blood, human blood OK?"
Mia stepped forward. "Well, why don't you give her some of yours?"
"Huh, well I would, but we don't have the same type. I have the transfusion machine, that changes the blood type, but I'm A-." Arran looked up at the confused stares returned back to him. "It means," Arran said, losing his patience, "the transfusion machine doesn't change its chemical make up."
The Twi'leks still looked confused.
"It'll kill her." Arran said finally, angrily.
"So, who do we look for?"
"Just find another human, with a different blood type than A-!" Arran yelled.
Mia stepped forward, obviously pissed at the way Arran was talking to them. Grimmy turned her around and shook his head. The two of them left to look for some more blood. Grimmy walked back in and grabbed Arran to the side.
"Check on D." He said and left.
Arran turned and saw DoubleD in the corner. He had just opened up a woman's abdomen, injected her, sewn her skin up and wiped the pooling blood off of her, but what he saw there, scared him.
D was pale as snow; he sat in the corner, his eyes glued to his hands, which where soaked through with blood from the leg wound. He was trembling, and convulsing slightly. His hands were shaking more violently than the rest of him, and he was muttering to himself.
Arran gradually approached him. He reached out and took his forearm. D looked up and stared at Arran with wide, blank eyes. Arran recoiled slightly.
"Did we save her?" He asked slowly.
"Yeah." Arran replied.
"Good." DoubleD said and promptly rolled onto the floor- unconscious.
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A/N: So, there we go. I thank the reviewers, but I can't mention their names apparently. Just, uh, just review I guess, just a few words is all it takes. Review!