Chapter 8: Welcome to Standards

Everyone had originally believe that the Clone War was the worst thing that could happen to the galaxy – war is horrible; but people's minds were too narrowed, too focused on the present to explore other possibilities. So when MAV arrived, no one was prepared.

Absolutely no one.

Christophsis was the first to be infected, though no one knew at the time. An entire city was being overrun by mutants, and people didn't find out until it was too late.

Coruscant was next. That was even worse, because billions had occupied that planet. Now? Nothing but those flesh-chomping creatures. Even the Jedi are near extinction.

It continued like this for about five months, until every single planet except for Naboo was infected. Every single one of them. Unthinkable, right? It's true. Now we've got probably a million or so people, all huddling on this one planet, cowering in that little corner of the galaxy, just waiting to be the next victims of this kriffing disease. We've tried doing research, but we don't have enough information to even begin thinking of a cure.

It's these facts that have brought us to where we are now. Three military ships heading back to the ruins of Coruscant to attempt finding a cure. Living among those monsters so we can try discovering a vaccine.

Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Jason Dean. Inya. Ax. Karis Marie. Captain Rex. Kix. Lynn. Josh Kaller. Derek. Nathan Fox. Match. A few other clones.

We're the Colony.

DATE: 5/06/45876

"Force, damn it, shoot them in the head!" Jason's voice screamed into the air, which was filled with the sounds of the other's shouts and the mutt's screeches.

Volleys of lasers began flying across the room, small, glowing blue pellets used in the Yaazix-5 military machine guns.

Anakin's lightsaber came to life, but before the young Jedi could move forward, Obi-Wan lunged forward and grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing, Master?"

"Use the guns," the bearded Jedi instructed swiftly. "Remember what happened earlier? Josh is right – we can't afford jumping into the middle of those things. The blasters are safer…"

Just then, the last of the barriers came crashing down, and the zombies came pouring in…

xXx (15 Hours Earlier) xXx

"Everybody up!"

The barking, sudden voice was enough to nearly send Obi-Wan reeling out of his seat, his Jedi instincts keeping him from crashing through the floor. He groaned, rubbing away the remaining sleep that weighed down his eyes.

The first thing he noticed once his vision was clear was the hot, yellow sunlight that streaking through the tiny little slits that passed as windows. Sunlight? But that would mean…

His thought was finished by Derek calling out, "Wake up, you kriffing sausages! We're in atmosphere! We're in Coruscant's atmosphere! Up and at 'em, time to kick mutt butt!"

Obi-Wan was fully awake one second later, as were the rest of his company. Now that his senses were fully operational, he could hear the engine's had been reduced to a low humming – they were hovering in the atmosphere. Rex was going over his twin pistols, Derek striding around waking up the others. Obi-Wan guessed Josh was still piloting, since he didn't see him in the seating hold.

Suddenly, there was a heavy, brown/green uniform being dropped onto his lap, along with a large shotgun and plenty of ammunition. Raising an eyebrow, the bearded Jedi looked up to see Derek looking at him with a similar stare.

"I really hope you weren't planning on running out there like that," the Yaazix-5 soldier stated. "Cause those mutts down there would chomp right through that like a hot knife through butter. This…" He patted the uniform as if it were a dog or something. "…is your life right now. Protection from bites is as good as a whole round of ammunition. Speaking of which, after you change, come back to me so I can give you a weapon. A real weapon."

Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel a bit offended at the brash trooper's nature, and frowned. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by…"

"That lightsaber of yours is great, yeah, but what happens when you've got a hundred or so mutts running at you with their teeth bared and claws ready to rip right through your flesh? To use that sword you need to be in close range with the target. A firearm will allow you to blow off mutt by the dozen and you can be several feet away, on the rooftop or hiding behind a clump of wreckage."

True points were in Derek's words, so Obi-Wan consented, and walked off to change in the small 'fresher.

"Prepare for synchronizing in five." Josh's voice poured from the speakers planted on the ceiling.

All three military transports were flying side-by-side, just inside Coruscant's dry, hot atmosphere. As he slipped out of his Jedi attire and into the heavy brown/green camouflage kakis and jacket Derek had given him, Obi-Wan noted the intense heat sinking into the ship from the outside. The weather controls was knocked out before the final evacuation, he remembered. Who knows what the planet is like now?

They didn't have to wait long to find out. Once all ships were in position, still hovering in the sky, a large, circular door began sliding open in the side of the wall. Obi-Wan only managed to catch a quick glimpse of Coruscant before vacuum tunnels were implanted; but it was enough. A mixed shade of yellows and browns were down there. Hot, dry winds, a relentless sun that fried everything below its harsh gaze. Almost like a desert, except that instead of sand dunes, there were toppled buildings, ruins that went on and on for miles. And somewhere hidden in that destruction lay the creatures that were itching to sink their diseased-ridden fangs into his flesh.

Josh spoke up from the cockpit, "Synch completed in five… four… three… two… one…"

There was a loud clang, and all three transports were connected by the vacuum tunnels. This maneuver was common for Yaazix-5 military troopers, connecting all the ships so that everyone could have a face-to-face meeting before heading into battle.

Everyone still for a minute. Then, everyone began walking forward and meeting up in the center ship. It only took five seconds until Obi-Wan spotted Anakin and Jason, already together and standing in a corner of the ship. He walked over to them, and tried to conjure up a weak form of a smile. It didn't work.

Anakin's tired, desperate eyes locked onto his Master, and then he simply refused to let go. Obi-Wan moved over to his side and inconspicuously placed a hand on his arm, squeezing slightly. Anakin relaxed a bit at the encouraging touch, but not much.

They weren't the only anxious ones. Everyone was either burying their fear by attempting to appear completely nonchalant, while others poured over holo-maps or triple-checked their weapons. Obi-Wan observed each with intense observation, trying to get a firm reading on everyone. These people would be the Colony, his team, the ones he would spend the next days, weeks, months with. Everyone was dressed in the same Yaazix-5 military uniforms – courtesy of Derek, no doubt. He looked down, and saw Anakin was clinging to a large, sub-machine revolver blaster with an iron grip. He didn't have to ask before Anakin whispered, "Ax told me to use it. Said it was safer than the lightsabers."

They were in identical uniforms, but Obi-Wan also noticed the all three Jedi had a red line across their arms while the others didn't. Then he realized that the Jedi had a red band, and the medics had white. The clones were stripped of their shiny white armor, and their uniforms had a blue stripe. Everyone was loaded down with heavy ammunition, with various knives and smaller pistols on their utility belts.

Obi-Wan felt constricted. A Jedi's tunic was designed for maximum flexibility, covering the body with a light material that provided warmth but also ventilation for various weather. Being covered with so much armor, lugging around heavy blasters instead of his lightsaber felt strange to say the least.

Derek, who already seemed to be acting as unspoken-general of the team, was telling the others of Coruscant's main points, those that had never been to the planet. Obi-Wan knew each street and alley by heart – he had lived there for all thirty-three years of his life, after all; but he paid attention anyway. At least, until Anakin's quiet voice broke into his concentration.

"What do you think we'll find?"

Obi-Wan turned to see Jason had moved off to give them an opportunity to discuss things, and Anakin's stare was hard but seeking answers as he gazed at the older man.

"I don't know." He didn't want to admit it, but it was true. He wanted to say more, think of something encouraging to say or some good advice; but for once, the Negotiator was at a loss for words. Nothing he said would make the situation seem brighter, or fool Anakin into thinking everything would work out without major causalities or losses. So he remained silent, feeling the Force trembling around him from the worries and fears that seemed to melt right off the people surrounding him as he listened to Derek's voice.

"We are currently just yards away from Standards," the soldier was stating. "Our current mission is to take it over, and rid the halls of any mutts. Now there is an electric fence surrounding the building, but all power is currently offline. So for today, our plan is to land on the rooftop and take control of the first three levels. Create a barricade, spend the night. Tomorrow, we'll concentrate on restoring power and taking the rest of the building. Is that alright with you, generals?"

It took Obi-Wan a full minute before he realized Derek was staring right at him, waiting for an answer. Of course. Yaazix-5 had been neutral during the Clone War, but now this was a Republic operation. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Jason were the only Republic generals here, Obi-Wan a Jedi Master, so…

He had to answer.

Obi-Wan had really just been nodding to the entire plan, though, so he only replied with a, "Yes, that sounds good," before lapsing into silence again. He was impressed with Derek's abilities so far and wanted to see more.

The rest of the meeting consisted of everyone making sure they had a full two belts of laser bullets strapped onto them. Helmeted masks were slapped onto faces, guns checked then checked again. People were divided into two teams, one that would start going into the levels and clearing them, and the others would cover them. Obi-Wan knew that there had to be a Jedi on each team, and having the most experience, it would be better if he joined one group so that Anakin and Jason had each other. He made a move to go to the opposite party when he felt Anakin's panicked grip latch around his wrist.

"Don't." One word, but it spoke volumes for the younger Knight.

Obi-Wan turned, and saw that look had returned to Anakin's eyes. That haunted stare, filled with never-ending depths of pain, misery, and despair. He had that same look the weeks following Ahsoka's death.

"Anakin…" What could he say? Certainly things like "Everything will be okay" would be empty and meaningless. Anakin was depressed and desperate, but not stupid. So he said the next thing that came to his mind.

"…I need you to trust me."

Anakin's eyes flickered with a bit of that old honesty and trust that he had held as a Padawan, so Obi-Wan continued. "I need to be in the other group; but I need you to trust me. Do you?"

Anakin slowly nodded. "Yes."

Obi-Wan swallowed and then sighed shakily. "Okay then." He didn't know what else to do, what else to say, so he slowly turned and began walking away. He almost didn't catch the barely audible whisper that gently touched his ears as he left.

"Just don't die."

Three words, with a depth to them that only Obi-Wan would be able to discern.

Don't leave me alone, like Ahsoka did.

And of course, there wasn't a moment's hesitation before Obi-Wan responded through the Force, even if Anakin's thought had been implied and not sent aloud.

"Wouldn't dream of it"

The two teams each took to their ships: #1 held Obi-Wan, Rex, Ax, Lynn, Josh, Kira, and two clones. #2 was Anakin, Jason, Inya, Rex, Nathan, Derek, and four of the remaining five clones. Kix, a clone commander, would pilot the last ship once the rooftop and three upper levels were clear.

"My team will lead frontal assault while Kenobi's guards our backs and deals with the rear problems," Derek exclaimed above the noises of the engines, which were beginning to fire up again. "Any objections? Cause this is where the bed-wetters leave the station."

No one spoke up. Not even a nodding or shaking of the head. Just the grave, stone expressions that engraved each one's faces. Derek mirrored that look a few minutes longer before nodding slowly.

"Then let's do this."

The vacuum tunnels were retracted, and the teams in their proper shuttles.

"May the Force be with you" Anakin heard Obi-Wan whisper gently through the Force, and Anakin managed to take slight comfort from the welcoming presence of his Master.

"And with you. Be careful"

"I should be telling you that. You're the one running headlong into the blaze, as usual"

Anakin almost smiled. Almost. "Always with the lectures"

"Just… as you said. Be careful"

The mental conversation was interrupted when Jason came and sat down to Anakin, fumbling with his uniform's zipper. "Stay next to me at all times, okay?"

The younger Jedi raised an eyebrow, frown growing a bit deeper. "I can handle myself, you know."

Before Jason could reply, Nathan came over and sat himself down next to the two, playfully slapping Anakin on the back. "Ah, we don't doubt that kid. We just don't want you getting killed the first day. You're supposed to be our psychic or something, right?"

"What?"

"Dreams or whatnot? You can use your Force-thingy to get us through this? That's what I overheard some of the others on Naboo saying…"

"Nathan." Derek snapped at the scientist, and sat down near the three. "Have some respect will you and shut up?"

Nathan slipped away to sit somewhere else soon after, and Derek took that time to finally sigh and shake his head. "Sorry 'bout that," he said, looking at Anakin. "I don't know why that guy is going on this joyride."

Jason quirked an eyebrow. "You know him?"

Derek nodded, and exhaled once again. "Yep. Scientist on Yaazix-5; got into the field 'cause of his daddy." He shot the blonde thirty-one-year-old a dirty look before turning back to the Jedi. "Guy's a pain in my ass, that's for sure."

"A lot of people from your planet were so willing to volunteer for this whole Colony thing," Anakin commented quietly. "I respect that, but… why?"

At that, Derek smirked and leaned back, a grin appearing on his lips. "See, people on our planet have this thing about respect. Respect, honor, and sacrifice. I guess it's got something to do with the fact that we're a military system."

"So you came for the honor of it?" This time is was Jason that voiced the question.

The smile reappeared. "We came because we saw quite a show of all three traits when they were asking volunteers." His eyes twinkled at Anakin, but when the younger Jedi still remained confused, he laughed lightly. "You're a bit shallow for a Jedi, kid." His expression turned more serious as he added, "I know you've got a family. I saw your wife, and I saw her say goodbye. That… that took guts. Leaving them behind to come here. That took guts, and that's at least why I volunteered."

A heavy silence followed, Anakin staring in disbelief for several minutes before he whispered the words, "Thank you."

Derek nodded, as if satisfied, and then ran a hand along his machine gun. "Just do what your red-headed friend suggested…" He winked at Jason. "…stick with him, and I've got both your backs."

Just as Jason and Anakin nodded, red lights began blinking around the ceiling, and then the announcement came.

"Get ready, guys, we're in position! Prepare for landing! Get ready!"

Suddenly, as everyone got to their feet, the round door slid open slowly; and everyone found themselves looking out at barren Coruscant, hovering a few feet above the rooftop of their target building – with about a dozen mutts already screeching and trying to jump up at them.

Anakin's ears seemed to burn as he felt Derek's arm rest of his shoulder and then his breath against the side of his face as he whispered, "This is it, kid…"

"…welcome to Standards."