One Hundred and Six

"Kix, over here."

Whisk had gone over the specs several times, and still, he couldn't make heads or tails of them.

"It just doesn't make sense," he muttered as he handed the data pad over to the more senior medic.

Kix looked over the information associated with the new vaccination regime the Republic had ordered all troopers to partake in.

"Suspension fluid; saline, check. Preservatives and stabilizers; albumin and phenol, check. I don't see what the problem is. The guidelines for all these vaccines have stringent requirements Whisk."

"Yeah, I know," the other continued, "but usually vaccines have a small amount of the culture medium that the virus is raised in. There is nothing there to suggest a virus has been used to propagate this vaccine."

Their eyes locked.

A question had been asked.

Kix wanted to get started on the vaccination programme so he could sign it off.

For some reason, Torrent's immunisation's had become piecemeal, an oversight that annoyed him.

Other units within the GAR had already been inoculated against the virus that sent Tup and Fives to their death. The stalwarts of the 501st, including his captain, were dragging their feet. Being back from the emotional brink, Kix had pledged to make a difference. He was rejuvenated mentally and was determined to carry out all orders to the best of his ability; as it was in the beginning, before the black dog began nipping at his heels.

Kix opened the refrigerated container and took a second look at the vials.

"You would think there would be something to hint at the type of virus this is supposedly immunising us against? And where," Whisk asked more quietly, "have you seen Cucurbit[n]uril Hydrate before?"

The alarm bells sounded and Kix's cheeks immediately flushed. If Whisk was right, this was trickery that rang louder than any claxon, this ran to the very core of each troopers DNA.

Kix was aware of the other man staring him down. He knew what Whisk was saying was correct, he just couldn't believe it. Another manipulation, but what was it this time? His mind ran through the possibilities, but came up a blank.

There was simply no need.

"Kix," Whisk implored.

Kix nodded his head, "I see it brother, I see it."

.

"Captain, we have a problem."

Rex never liked the sound of those words used in a sentence, and he liked them even less when his trusted medic was saying them. He sat back patiently in his office and listened to the two medico's, bamboozled by the terminology and angry at the insinuation.

"This isn't a simple immunisation, this is gene therapy. Historically it was used to alleviate disease in a patient by modifying their cells, but in our case, it has been used to make us stronger, and as we all know, age faster, repair quicker. Genes can be switched on and off by introducing modified DNA into a cell. Gene therapy is particularly suited to treating infectious diseases as a result of infection by a bacterium or virus. There are lots of subdivisions for the type of gene therapy that can be used, but in this case I, sorry, we believe that the vaccine is or was, to modify the genetic expression of a virus. Here, adenovirus, which causes upper respiratory tract infections is used as a vector to - "

"Bottom line it for me Kix," Rex spoke loudly to stop the medic. He didn't need to know the scientific details and theory. In fact the whole conversation regarding genetic manipulation had always made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Kix bowed his head slightly, "sorry Sir."

"Basically no virus medium was used in this vaccine to propagate another virus that would be used to illicit an immune response in us."

"Which means?"

"Which means that the substances used in this immunisation is for something other than treating a virus."

Kix could see how bewildered his captain was with the information. "Rex," he stepped forward, "they are genetically modifying us further, but what I can't figure out, is which gene they are attempting to manipulate, and more importantly, why? Why now?"

Rex rubbed both his hands over his face. His head hurt from all the intrigue and deception of recent weeks. He almost wished for a decent battle against the Seps.

Almost.

Right then, he wasn't a captain, he became a friend and he trusted what Kix was attempting to spill out to him.

"What do you want me to do Kix?"

Kix straightened. What he was going to say next was treason, no way around it.

"Give them a choice. That's all I ask."

.

Rex waited for the men to enter his office. Once they were all assembled he walked behind them and hit the lock switch and waited for the red light to illuminate.

"Gentlemen, what we say in this room, stays in this room. Are we all clear?"

"Sir," the men replied crisply, each standing at attention. It was unusual for the captain to ask them into his office when the majority of troopers were in the chow hall for first rations.

"I'll make this brief. I want you to listen to Kix and make a decision for yourself."

Rex had carefully chosen a handful of his men to inform them of the information that had come to light regarding the compulsory vaccine. What Gem had said about the Republic becoming secretive, her rationale for not telling him about transporting Fives to Oriis, had been made abundantly clear.

Kix was right. Every one of the men standing in his room deserved to make one, just one decision for themselves.

He had already made his.

"What about Appo?" Jesse asked as he looked around at those assembled.

"What about Appo?" Rex raised an eyebrow; he didn't need to elaborate further.

"At ease men," he continued as he leaned himself up against the edge of his desk and waited for the one more qualified to talk.

Kix then continued to reiterate what he had said for the captain the night before.

"Oh, for the love of the Universe Kix, what are you attempting to say? Just tell us straight, none of that medical mumbo jumbo you guys use." Jesse was becoming concerned over what was being said, it all sounded too technical for his liking.

Kix eyed off Coric, who was wearing a stunned look of disbelief on his face.

"I'm saying, I think that the Republic hierarchy are attempting genetic engineering on us, again."

"But what are they trying to change? I don't understand." Didge was brave enough to ask the question.

"We're not sure, but it's definitely not a vaccine against a virus," Whisk announced, happy that his vattie had understood the implications of the conversation.

Rex stepped forward, "If you want to have the vaccine, that's fine. But I just wanted you all to make that decision for yourself."

"Well," Jesse announced proudly, "I am definitely not having it."

"Me neither," said Whisk.

"Count me in, or out," replied Didge.

"OK, have we all made a decision?" They all nodded to the captain, Jesse wore a terrific smile and Rex knew that the tattooed trooper liked nothing better than sticking it to the cronies in HQ.

"Kix can we just throw them out?"

"No sir, they need to be dispelled and electronically recorded against each troopers number."

Rex rubbed his forehead and laughed, "ah, they get us every time don't they. Well, they didn't pick our template for his good looks. Let's use some of that Fett intelligence and outsmart them at their own game."

He looked around his office and whipped the cushion off his chair.

"OK, register my name."

"But Sir," Kix protested, not sure what the captain was intending to do.

"Do it Kix."

CT-7567 was pressed into the data pad and the hypo number was scanned against it.

Rex moved forward and took the immunisation from Kix, he then injected it into the green upholstery.

"For Tup," he said loudly.

Each of the men then smiled.

Jesse was next and took great pleasure in jabbing the soft material and said aloud.

"Hardcase."

Kix never recited a name, but Rex knew he was mentally going through the list of men he hadn't been able to save along the length of the war.

Coric wasn't sure about what the other two medics had said and was still inspecting the information stored on the vials. He had always found it hard to push the system and was feeling the heat of peer pressure.

Rex could see his anxiety and said in a gentle voice. "The choice is all yours Coric, do what you feel is right for you."

Coric looked around at all the identical faces staring back at him. He grabbed the hypo and twirled it around in his fingers and for a moment, the group held their collective breath, wondering what the other medic would do. Coric tutted his tongue and stabbed the cushion, "for Syd, Judd and Docks. May you all rest in peace brothers."

It only took six minutes.

One minute for each of the men assembled

"I repeat, this doesn't leave the room, is that understood? If anyone asks, we all took the shot."

"Sir," they all said quietly.

Then Kix sealed up the medivac bag and nodded his head.

"OK, come what may."

"We'll be in it together," Jesse said with a smile, "but I wouldn't be sitting on that cushion sir."

Rex could see the mirth on his face and couldn't help but reciprocate. He scanned the group assembled and was overwhelmed by the genuine fondness he had for each and every one of them standing there. They had supported him, and saved him, on more than one occasion; there was nothing they wouldn't do for each other.

The last of Torrent to be trusted.

The war had been notched up a level, and he was glad that he had spent a fraction of that defying the establishment that produced them.

It was a nod to their ancestry, their training; the bonds only risking life on the battlefield could forge.

"Dismissed gentlemen."

.