Story Note: This is the second part of the Ultimate Choice Story Arc. I would advise re-reading Chapter 32 to refresh your memory on the arcs characters and plot. Thanks and enjoy…

Location: Washington D.C. Suburb, three miles from the White House;

Entering what was left of a modest suburban D.C. home, Private Lund, his friend Bert and the injured clone trooper Nonah cautiously swept the house to make sure no one was it, droids or humans alike.

After double checking, the three soldiers settled down in the kitchen. It was the only part of the house that still had a pristine "before invasion" feel. No bullet holes, charred paint, or ash. The family that had lived here was either dead, or more likely, refugees who's evacuated to some other part of the east coast.

As Bert began administering first aid to Nonah's wounds, William opened the refrigerator to see if there was any food for them to eat. He and Bert were both starving after the battle earlier, and by the look of it, the clone could use some food too. Of course, William could just pull out a few MRE's from his pack…. but he had a hunch he could find something way better in the fridge.

And he did.

Smiling broadly, he reached in and pulled out four Tupperware containers packed with food. They were still cold too, even though power to most of D.C. had gone out a few hours before.

"Let's see…. looks like we'll be having a proper afternoon snack Bert. Ooh, this container I've got Barbeque chicken... and this one has mashed potatoes, and, I hope that's gravy. What's in… yes! Pizza! Fucking great! Nonah, you ever had a Pizza before?"

William opened the last container, but sneered at the contents. Brussel sprouts…. of all the foods to find. Turning to look at the clone, William offhandedly tossed the Brussel sprouts out of the kitchen window.

"Uhh…. What's a pizza?" Nonah asked cautiously, deciding it was either food, some type of spice, or perhaps even a weapon.

The look on Williams face was beyond description, while Bert looked up from patching Nonah's leg with a look of amazement.

"You…. you've never heard of Pizza?" Private Lund asked disbelievingly.

Nonah shook his head, "No…. what is it? Is it a weapon?"

William shook his head, smiling, "Yeah, if hunger is your enemy, then yes, Pizza is your first weapon of choice. What universe are you from any…. Oh, right," Private Lund sighed remembering just exactly who he was talking too, "You are from a different universe… well you're from our universe, but… you're not from Earth. So I guess Pizza, and probably most Earth foods are new to you? What…. What do they feed you guys anyways?"

Nonah immediately reached to his belt and took off a small tube. Opening its lid, he slid out a long, white rod of… well… William really didn't know what it was.

"This," Nonah nodded to the white rod, "is what they feed us. We call em' ration cubes, or ration bars. They're packed with all of the vital nutrients, proteins and vitamins we need to survive both on and off the battlefield. All my brothers grew up with them. Doesn't your army give you these too?"

William gave the white ration bar a weary look. He couldn't imagine living his entire life eating what looked like a smallstick of C-4.

"Does it at least taste good?" William asked with a raised eyebrow.

Nonah extended the cube, "Here, try it. They don't taste like anything."

William shook his head vigorously, "Nah, I'll take you word for it… no offense but that thing looks like a piece of chalk."

"A piece of what?" Nonah asked inquisitively, putting the ration bar back on his utility belt.

"This was a mistake," William mumbled under his breath, shaking his head again.

"Don't worry about it, Nonah, it's another thing from our planet…." William gave Bert a knowing look, before gesturing to the food on the counter, "Tell you what, let's eat first, I'll explain some things to you as we eat, and then some more after."

Walking over to the food, William gingerly picked up a slice of pizza from the container, before turning, holding it up for Nonah to see.

"We'll start with this. Nonah, meet Pizza. Pizza, this is Nonah, a clone who hasn't had any real food, ever. Nonah, this will be the absolute best thing you will ever eat in your life, I swear on my life. And I can say that for a fact, after seeing the crap you guys eat."

Grabbing a plate from a cupboard and two more slices of pizza, William walked over to the kitchens Microwave and plopped the plate and pizza in. Closing the door, William smirked at the power outlet.

There was still no power, but that didn't matter. Reaching to the back of his utility belt, William grabbed a small black tablet. Reaching to the back of the Microwave, the Private unplugged the machine from the wall socket, before plugging it into the tablet in his hand.

Pressing a button on the tablet, the microwave display turned on, and after pressing a few more buttons on the microwave, the pizza started warming up.

Sometimes the US Military would invent truly amazing devices. The compact high-energy battery William was using was just one of the many new inventions that had been created. The battery could charge an entire house if need be. It had become standard issue for combat units since 2030.

A minute later, the pizza was done. When William opened the Microwave's door the smell of the pizza alone was enough to make his stomach growl. Fuck MRE's and ration cubes, pizza was so much better.

William brought the steaming slices over to the other two, before returning to heat up the other leftovers.

A few minutes later, they were all sitting at the dining table, with steaming plates of food in front of them.

Bert had already started wolfing down his food, his pizza slice was already gone. But Nonah just stared at his food with a look equal parts fascination and caution.

"Well, go ahead," Lund gestured to the clone, "Either you eat it, or I will."

Nonah hesitantly picked up the triangular shaped food before taking a bite like he'd seen Bert do.

Lund burst out laughing as the clones eyes almost popped out of his head.

"I told you!" William chuckled, looking to his friend. Bert was smiling as well, before he continued eating his food.

Never in his incredibly short life, had Nonah ever truly been overwhelmed by his senses. The first time he'd even come close was after arriving on Coruscant and seeing true colors for the first time. Kamino was notoriously vacant of colors, at least interesting colors. Black, grey, and white didn't really count.

And sure, the simulations and training exercises factored in some… but they were muted compared to the vibrant colors Nonah had found on the Republics Capital.

But this pizza… the tastes, flavors, textures…. they assaulted his taste buds all at once, each demanding more and more attention.

Pure happiness and pleasure swept through his body, as the wondrous Earth food called Pizza filled every one of his senses with pure and utter amazement.

Lund started eating his food, casting amused glances at the clone who continued to savor every single morsel of pizza that reached his lips.

Bert finally finished his own food, before looking to the clone, "Man, I've never seen anyone ever savor food like that. It almost makes me want to be deprived of real food my entire life just to experience what he's experiencing…"

#

They all finished eating in only a few minutes, though Nonah wished he could have ate more.

The BBQ Chicken and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy were just as amazing as the Pizza, but if Nonah had to choose, he would go with more Pizza.

However, now that they had finished their food, they had to discuss things that Nonah truthfully didn't fully understand.

The two Earth Soldiers first explained why they almost shot him earlier, and why they'd decided to go against direct orders not to.

Nonah was shocked. The mere notion of choosing to disregard direct orders had never occurred to him before, he had always thought such actions made you a traitor.

Which was when the two soldiers started explaining even more to him, things he really didn't understand.

They mentioned a form of entertainment called movies that existed on Earth. Nonah assumed they must be like Holo-vids. But he became more confused the more they explained.

And then, they told him the one thing he truly didn't comprehend.

"We can't let you go back to your brothers, Nonah," William stated with a bit of regret.

Nonah cocked his head, "What… what do you mean I can't go back? My squad is probably worried…"

"I know," Bert jumped in, "You can't go back though. If you go back, we have no choice but to kill you and that's something neither me nor William will do. So since we can't do that, we have to keep you here, on Earth. We'll give you your own armor, so that our officers will think you're one of us, that you're a US soldier. We'll be with you every step of the way, and with luck, you'll blend right in."

"But what about my brothers?" Nonah was getting a little angry, and scared, he'd never been separated from his squad for so long before, "They're probably wondering what happened to me… they'll try and find me!"

Lund shook his head, "Nonah, we're far away from the action now. The droids have been pushed into the center of the city, you're brothers are there fighting. We're on clean-up duty out here. They won't have time to look for you. You're right though, they'll miss you. But this is the only way."

Nonah shifted uncomfortably in his chair, in truth, he was very frightened. He wasn't going to run, he really couldn't with his injured leg. But he wasn't sure if he could abandoned the Republic, the GAR, and his brothers, everything he ever knew. It was unfair, it was unknown territory for him, but, whether he knew it or not, it was his future.

"Okay," Nonah finally agreed, albeit grudgingly, "I'll go with you… I… I'm afraid though…"

Lund nodded, putting a comforting hand on the clone's shoulder, "I know, change is scary. It'll be okay Nonah, you're in good hands now."

With that, they left the house.

Private Lund had a game plan. Unfortunately there were deceased US Army soldiers everywhere in the neighborhood. So, after paying proper respect and tribute to one of them, Lund and Bert helped Nonah change into the US soldiers armor and dog tags. They thought about dressing the dead soldier's body in Nonah' armor, but Lund decided against it.

Lund would normally never disrespect a fallen comrade by stealing his identity this way. But he had to in order to save Nonah's life. A life gone for a life still living, it was that thought that comforted him.

More than that however, Lund planned to create an entirely new identity for Nonah given enough time. One of Lund's squadmate's was an amazing hacker… so it wouldn't be too difficult.

Once that was done, the soldier whose identity they had just stolen would eventually be listed as MIA, and once the Army matched his identity with the body, his family would be notified and a proper burial could be given. Lund would make absolute sure that the soldier was eventually accounted for and buried properly, it was the least he could do for his fallen comrade.

With that taken care of, they stashed Nonah's armor in a nearby alleyway.

After a half an hour, they arrived back at the US Army's makeshift Forward Operations Base in the outskirts of DC. The place was swarming with activity, but finally Bert and Lund found and reported into their Sargent. It took a lot of explaining, but Lund was able to convince his Sargent that Nonah, now known as Jimmy Dower, had been MIA, but they found him.

From there, Nonah was transported to a nearby Army field hospital that had been set up for the non-critically wounded men. While Bert was required to report back to the squad, Private Lund managed to stay with Nonah the entire time.

It was a start, a start that Lund hoped would lead to a new life for the clone trooper, a new life on a planet called Earth. It was a better chance for the clone then the certain death he would have faced in the GAR, in a galaxy not nearly as far away as anyone had ever believed.

A/N: And that concludes Part 2 of the Ultimate Choice Story Arc. If you remember, the first part of the arc was published on Veterans Day 2014. I thought it would be fitting to publish the second part of this story arc on Memorial Day. Private William Lund, his friend Bert, and the injured clone trooper Nonah will most likely not be showing up again in WAWL (ehh, they might be mentioned again…. Then there's always the sequel… : )

Anyways, this chapter was fun to write, and rather uplifting so to speak (no one dies and there's pizza). It's nice to have those every once in a while.

Also, Happy Memorial Day everyone (regardless of where you are in the world). Please take a few moments to remember those who've sacrificed so much.

This story arc was named the Ultimate Choice because Private Lund had to decide whether or not to kill Nonah. The choice of taking a person's life is in many ways, the Ultimate Choice and something a person lives with for the rest of his or her life.

In many ways, our soldiers and Veterans make the Ultimate Choice every day to serve, fight, defend and sacrifice themselves to preserve the lives of others. The least we can do to honor them and their choices is to simply remember them, and be thankful for all that they have done to preserve our freedoms and keep this country safe.

Till the next chapter,

-Sly