Chapter 7: Nightmares Come True More Often Than Dreams

Kix slipped in the bloody mud, regaining his balance before he could fall. Shooting, shouting and screaming overwhelmed his hearing senses as he ran faster over the battlefield. He pressed himself against a tree and fired at the clankers that got to close, watching as the four Jedi cut down droid after droid, Bly closer to the front than any other clone.

Hearing a moan, Kix turned his attention to one of Bly's men lying nearby. It was Mask, so named for the fact that his expression never seemed to change. Mask moaned again, blood streaming from two blaster wounds, one in his shoulder, and the second in his abdomen.

Kix knelt down next to the clone and removed the fallen clone's helmet, staring down at Mask's normal expression, the pain only betrayed by the clone's eyes and the blood leaking from a corner of his mouth.

"Mask, talk to me. Tell me what you're feeling." After a cursory glance, Kix knew he could do nothing for Mask aside from comforting him in his death.

"Am I going to die, Kix?" Mask asked in a quivering voice.

Kix looked down at Mask and shook his head. He hated to lie, but Mask deserved more than this. "No, it'll be all fine, Mask..."

The dying clone shook his head slightly. "Don't lie. Tell me... truthfully, Kix..."

Kix felt sorry for Mask as he responded slowly. "You're dying Mask." Mask looked up at the medic as Kix gripped his brother's hand. "Stay with...me?" Mask asked haltingly. Kix nodded, ducking another rocket that passed overhead to explode elsewhere.

"I can't...believe this is... it." Mask spoke deliriously. "Can't... win them... all... I guess..." The dying clone turned his head toward Kix, the fading brown eyes searching his. "Don't waste... anything on me... Kix... keep it for... the ones with...hope..." Mask slowly trailed off and Kix fought his hand free, getting up to search for other wounded, leaving the dead clone behind.

Kix came upon Black, whose face was smudged and bloody as he cared for a fallen brother.

"He OK?" Kix asked, crouching next to the shiny.

Black shook his head, barely glancing at Kix. "He's dying, sir. Been unconscious for a few minutes now."

Kix looked down at the clone, Jig, lying in the torn up turf. Jig had been one of Rex's oldest companions. "Leave him, Black." He ordered.

"What?" Black cried, looking up in shock. "But he's still alive! I promised that..."

"Leave him!" Kix shouted at the shiny. "Once they lose consciousness, they don't ever regain it! Now leave him!" Kix snapped at Black, who hesitantly obeyed, dropping Jig's hand as he moved away reluctantly.

"Goodbye, Jig." Black said, turning his back on the dying clone as he made his way toward another as Kix watched. It was hard at first, he knew that first hand, and it'll never get any easier.

Kix shook his head and began to head for a clone that called for help when a movement caught his eye. A droid stood, bazooka on his shoulder as he fired it, ducking back behind some bushes before Kix could even think. He traced it's trail and horror rose in his heart.

"Black! Black, jump!" Kix shouted. Blacl looked up at him, their eyes locking just as the rocket hit, Kix shielding his eyes against the dirt and rubble tossed up by the explosion. Looking up, Kix could see that Black and his patient were gone.

Kix stumbled toward a clone, moving from one to the next, all the while his mind screaming that Black's death was his fault, that if he had let him stay with Jig it wouldn't have happened.

Kix looked up as someone fell nearby him. It was Bly, blood streaming from several wounds.

"Bly?" Kix asked, rushing over, looking down at the clone commander. How he had made it back to where the medics worked with all those wounds, he couldn't imagine.

Kix got down next to the clone and removed the helmet, taking a pulse.

"Still alive." Kix muttered under his breath as he began to check each wound. Most were blaster, and many had caught flesh, but only one was serious. However, blood loss was most likely to cause it to be fatal.

Kix began to work at stopping the blood flow from taking the life of Bly.

Bly came to and stared up at him, Kix attempting to avoid eye contact. "You're lucky, sir." He said softly, continuing his work. "I may be able to fix you up until help arrives."

Bly was silent as he stared up at Kix, brown eyes mirroring the medic's. "A clone brother to the core." He muttered, causing Kix to look at him. "However, I no longer see any reason to live."

Kix looked at him. "Live for Aayla Secura, sir." He answered softly. "She'll need you." He added, but Bly was silent, having slipped back into unconsciousness.

As Kix finished working, Bly regained consciousness, although he was somewhat delirious. Kix ignored the commander until his eyes widened.

"Behind you!" Bly choked, weakly trying to raise an arm to point. "What?" Kix asked. Finally mustering the strength, Bly pointed over Kix's shoulder. "Behind you!"

Sensing danger, Kix began to turn around when something closed on his shoulder, yanking him back to spin in the air, landing on his back with the object still holding him.

Kix stared up at a super battle droid, it's claw-like foot holding onto his upper arm. Pain deadened all of Kix's other senses as the droid pulled his arm sharply, just as blue and green lightsabers cut through it.

Kix was losing consciousness quickly. Dislocated? His mind asked deliriously. No, more broken. Kix thought as a hazy form bent over him and a voice called his name. A voice he recognized instantly... Aayla Secura.