Chapter 11: Clearing Standards
"Anakin!"
The scream was ripped from his throat before he even registered it was forming. All at once, a million images buzzed through Derek's mind, most of them containing a blonde man a few years younger than he, falling and screaming as the ground collapsed underneath him on that Force-damn mission only months ago… The mission that registered his younger brother Cal MIA, most likely dead, vanished while trying to evacuate the rest of Yaazix-5 before MAV took over completely.
He'd be damned if he lost Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi he'd allowed himself to grow protective over, just because that bastard Ax couldn't handle himself. He cocked his gun and made ready to shoot that kriffing mutt as soon as he had a clear shot.
Anakin, Ax, and the mutt hit the platform with brutal force, Anakin just barely having time to use the Force to soften the blow before his right side collided with the black, metal grate with an angry howl from the mutt.
Ax rolled over like a rag doll towards the side, nearly falling right off the stairs. He slumped down, unmoving, while the mutt immediately got back on its feet and turned towards the Jedi, snarling and snapping its jaws.
Anakin's heart leapt into his throat, and he choked on strained breaths.
Rex.
The clone captain that had so faithfully served under him during the War now had his helmet ripped off, bloody scratches and obvious bite marks maiming the dark skin of his lower jaw. Bloodshot, constricted pupils eyed their former general hungrily, and Anakin found himself temporarily paralyzed, gaping stupidly at the Rex-thing.
Shit.
By now, Obi-Wan, Inya, and several others had poured onto the stairwell, already heading downwards, with Derek taking each step two at a time and hollering at the top of his lungs.
Anakin slowly managed to sit up, wincing at the pain stabbing the nerves in his shoulder and thigh as the Rex-thing continued baring its teeth and hissing, dark red beads of drool dripping from the former clone's jaw.
And then it lunged.
"Shit!" Anakin found his instincts kicking in, and allowed auto-pilot to take over. His body immediately rolled over once; and then he was off the platform, falling once again. Hands shot up, and he desperately grabbed onto the lower guard railing, using the momentum to perform an acrobatic flip that turned him around and hurled him back up to 'safety'. The Rex-thing, not as quick as the Jedi, toppled downwards, still-gloved hands blindly clawing for a handhold. It crashed down in a standing position several floors down, both legs smashing upon impact, breaking and shattering the bones. After that, it simple rolled around furiously, unable to stand but still snarling at the would've-been-prey that kneeled shakily on the platform, staring down at him.
"Anakin!"
Surprisingly, Obi-Wan had beaten Derek to the younger man, and the Master now slid to his knees next to his partner. Inya went to Ax, who lay unconscious across the platform, and everyone else remained standing awkwardly amongst them, listening to the growing growls and groans of the mutts as they awaken from the noise.
"Damn it." Derek was brought out of shocked stupor by Anakin's pained hiss, brought out by Obi-Wan gently probing his injured shoulder. He moved over and crouched down between the Jedi, with Jason close behind him.
"I'm really hoping you didn't crack your collar bone," he heard Obi-Wan murmur. He also caught Anakin's, "Don't get your hopes up"; which was completely unnecessary, because no one did that these days. Who dared?
More outrageous screeches came from the Rex-thing below, and no one hesitated to flinch violently at the noise. Rising to his feet after shooting Anakin one last glance, Derek crossed his arms and glared at the others, voice grave and he spoke up, "What. Happened." Now that he looked closely, he saw three more clones were also missing from the Colony. Damn.
No one spoke for several minutes, until finally, Josh's wavering voice was heard. "W-We were ambushed. Up there… There were too many of them, a-and… and Rex told us to run a-and he'd hold them off…"
"You were supposed to stay with your partners!" Derek all but roared, catching the attention of everyone. Inya cringed a bit at the high volume as Derek's flushed face glared at each of them. "I want a play by play. Right. Now."
"You and Anakin separated first!" Nathan exclaimed, defending the rest of the group. "You guys ran off ahead and left us to fend for ourselves!"
"We fought to the best of our abilities, but when we were overwhelmed, Rex told us to go. We didn't doubt in him," Josh added. "So we ran for the stairwell. He must've got bit, because he came at us from behind only seconds later, and got three of the clones."
Derek frowned, but didn't say anything in reply. Instead, he reached up and swiped the black cap off his head, running another hand over his short, military-cut hair. Without turning around, he called over his shoulder, "How's Anakin?"
His response was a grunt and the sound of Obi-Wan helping his former apprentice to his feet. "I'm fine." The younger man sounded pained, but his voice was steady and firm. "No bones broken, miraculously."
Derek gave a single nod, then cocked an eyebrow at Lynn. "And Ax?"
Lynn looked up from where he was slapping Ax's cheeks. "Knocked out, no concussion, though. Rex, um… he softened the blow for the two of them, I guess…"
Another curt nod, and then Derek slapped his blaster, cocking it, and tightening his grip around the hot metal. "Alright then. Someone use their canteen and pour some water over sleeping beauty. Everyone up and ready to finish this damn mission in five."
xXx (Five Hours Later) xXx
"Shoot 'em bastards!"
Bullets sprayed everywhere, along with small flash bombs and an occasional blast from Nathan's portable flame thrower.
"I want every single mutt in here on the ground!" Derek's voice never lessened in power as he led the others through the basement of Standards hospital, not a single bullet going to waste from his blaster as each struck skull after skull, mutt falling after mutt. "Get to the generators!"
Hearing the order, Jason Dean tensed. "Shit. That's where all the kriffing things are coming from!" He shot down another gasoline-covered creature, then stomped down hard on its head for good measure.
Obi-Wan slowly made his way forward through the group, until he was side-by-side with Derek. "What if they hit the generators? We don't have time to repair bullet holes along with restoring power?"
Derek frowned, and took advantage of the temporary lapse in mutt waves rushing at them to think about their situation. Almost immediately, he replied, "Who are our best shooters?"
Obi-Wan glanced backwards at the others. "Anakin, Jason, and I use the Force to help our aim. You, of course, and Ax and Josh. Karis isn't too shabby…"
"Alright. We're going in there, and the others won't even think about pulling the trigger unless it's to save our asses. They'll stay out here, and I think you should too. I need a Jedi to help them keep their cool."
"Are you sure?" Obi-Wan managed to sneak a tendril of Force into the other man's mind, and his frown deepened upon feeling the high, buzzing adrenaline, the worry, the concern, and the fact that the man was willing to do anything to just get this kriffing mission over with already. Don't panic, Derek, we can't afford to lose you now.
Derek shot down two more mutts and then slammed the butt of his rifle into their skulls. "Hell, I'm sure! Go spread the orders! I see the doors to the generator room – it's wide open." Yes, I'm sure. I have to be sure. We can't lose anymore today – ever. But that's wishful thinking… damn this virus! He kicked another mutt on the side of the head and sent a round of led and acid into the others.
As soon as Anakin heard the orders, doubt erupted in his mind. "He wants what?"
The mutts were still coming in large waves; but Anakin and his mentor had grown accustomed to speaking to each other while fighting large numbers. Obi-Wan had no problem answering while shooting down the deformed creatures that kept running at them with rabid insanity. "We can't risk any damage to the generators!" It was still rather annoying, however, to have to shout above the noise.
"He can't split the group up! That leaves us even more vulnerable! If the generators are damaged…!" Anakin continued to protest.
"What other choice does he have?"
Obi-Wan risked a glance at the younger Jedi, and did his best to give what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "It'll work out, Anakin, don't worry." I remember you used to be the one reassuring me during hard missions. He noticed the torn expression, and sent a gentle pulse through the Force. "Don't worry about me," he added, knowing suddenly that Anakin was mainly against Obi-Wan being outside with a few rookie shooters.
Anakin blew off the head of a nearby mutt, rewarded with guttural growls and then the sounds of wet flesh hitting the cement floor. "You're okay with this plan?"
No, I'm not. "I have confidence in Derek. Just… just make sure you stay next to Jason, alright?" Derek's sudden behavior is concerning me, but…
"Fine."
And then Derek's voice swam over to them. "Alright, I need all my shooters up here with me, right now!"
Anakin sent his Master one last glance before running off to join his team. Almost immediately after he was out of sight, Obi-Wan reached out through the Force and connected with the boy's mind; not enough to distract him, but he could get a pretty clear picture of what was going on.
The team ran into the generator room, which happened to be pitch black and filled with the brim with monsters.
He heard snippets and pieces of conversation through the Force, but didn't manage to try to get a clearer image lest he distract Anakin from the mission; but he managed to conclude Anakin had partnered with Jason, and that soothed him a bit. Jason. I trust Jason. He's a good man, I trust Jason.
Does that mean I don't trust the others though?
This whole nightmare felt as if hell was closing in on itself while they were still trapped inside, the flames closing in… Obi-Wan closed his eyes just a moment, just to try to quell the fear threatening to choke him like an unrealistic, paranormal nightmare.
But the deafening explosion that came seconds later snapped him into full, terrified reality, as he realized the flames were very real, the generator room on fire with oil leaking out into the main area of the basement. And the following explosions, in the room with his best friend, were laughing at him and dancing, sending him a big, silent, "Fuck you."