Coruscant, ‘The Works’ Testing Ground, One Year after the Jedi Order agrees to enter the project….

Gathering at the base of the massive set of cloth draped bleachers the various Senators and high-ranking Military Officers mingled and chatted amongst themselves. Most had no idea what they were there to see, the ones that knew about Project Alpha didn’t let on that they knew about the purpose of the demonstration. The only one seriously nervous was the Supreme Chancellor. All previous tests of the subjects to be demonstrated had failed and he begged and pleaded with his oversight committee to allow more time for research. Credits were running short and tempers even shorter. The Senate demanded results for their tax-payer credits and wanted to see something for their investment.

To the Supreme Chancellor this had become too important to allow any more political nonsense to get in the way of progress. He was personally invested and wanted nothing more than to see the Project continue to its full potential. Biting his nail, the Supreme Chancellor stepped to the lectern. On the field behind him a large cloth covered contraption lay dormant. That particular spot was chosen on Coruscant because of the isolation in the area known as ‘The Works’ the heart and soul of the Planet-City. The engineering section that kept everything alive. Secrecy was their primary goal, but Coruscant being what it was nothing stayed quite secret for long as several members of the Czerka Corporation had managed through political connections to somehow get themselves into the demonstration. Had the demonstration been held anywhere else, Czerka would never have found out, but it was Coruscant. None of those facts were lost on the Supreme Chancellor as he began to speak.

“Ladies and Gentlemen…thank you for coming here today. What you are about to see is a mere fraction of the work within a Project we call ‘Alpha’. Its primary goal, to increase the survivability of our Troops through the use of technology and biology in order to give us an edge in the next conflict. Now some of you may say, ‘What Conflict? The War has long been over…’ And to you I say, our society is only as strong as our military forces. In order to remain a free Republic, we must continue to build the strength that our citizens and our Galaxy deserve…” The Chancellor signaled behind himself; the the curtain covering the stage behind him was dropped. Revealed were seven armored and apparently dormant Republic Troopers. Those watching couldn’t see under the helmets they wore that their eyes were closed, awaiting command.

Stepping from behind the seated dignitaries a very gruff looking large armor-clad Trooper walked out toward the stage. The Trooper did nothing to hide the many battle scars on his armor as he approached the brightly armored ‘sleeping’ Troopers.

“Republic Troopers! Fall In!” The seven Troopers seemed to activate immediately, opening their eyes under their visors to look at the voice directing them. They deftly jumped from the stage standing in a row in front of the gruff looking Sergeant. Their weapons all held the same, their poise identical. Looking over at the technicians located behind the stage, the Sergeant seemed to give them a cue as the floor of the field area retracted next to the make-shift stage. A series of very dangerous looking large Combat Droids rose through the floor powering up simultaneously as the floor locked into place. The gun arms on the droids bristled with the grasping arms of the droids opening and closing with lethality. In front of the droids a series of large metallic objects appeared spinning and moving; seemingly coming to life and arming themselves. Fire leapt from the floor in spots as auto-turrets emerged from the side firing across from each other and over the metallic objects. Looking over at his Troopers the Sergeant appeared to assess the situation reaching up to turn up the volume on his external speaker.

“Republic Troopers! Fan out…Formation Omega, HUD set to assault…search and destroy the targets with extreme prejudice.” There was no reason for the Sergeant to actually voice those commands. In the ‘Heads Up Display’ or HUD systems of the Troopers he was commanding, they saw the order and received the command even before he said anything. Only speaking for the benefit of those watching.

In the Sergeant’s estimation the seven troopers would react as other Troopers avoiding the mines on the ground, dodging the fire and deactivating the auto –turrets. And all of that before making it far enough to deal with the battle-droids further in the field. The Sergeant, a seasoned veteran, was brought in as part of the Project to direct only. Having no knowledge who the men he was commanding were or what their background was. If the test was successful, that fact would be revealed. Anyone with a knowledge of how to command and conduct a squad would be able to command those products of Project Alpha.

Too late, the Sergeant was mystified as to how wrong he was. The point man in the Trooper’s ‘V-shaped’ formation met the first mine exploding into a red mist. Disintegrated instantly as he walked obliviously directly into it. The others stopped, mechanically firing on the droids who were at the far side of the obstacles. As they realized they needed better range to deal with what was identified in their HUDs as the primary targets and ignoring the obstacles, one by one they walked into the fire or got cut down by the turrets. There were no screams or attempts to run away as their comrades died in various grotesque ways.

Backing up slightly, the Sergeant turned in alarm as the last of the new Troopers was consumed by fire. Targeting him the massive droids on the far side of the range fired into the Sergeant; the last of the identified targets, terminating him before finally shutting down to the frantic button pushing of the technicians behind the stage.

Everyone in the bleacher area was too much in shock to react or say anything. Several of the Senators already removing themselves for destinations unknown. The Chancellor held his head in his hand the entire time, shaking it lightly. It was a disaster and worse, everyone saw how much of a disaster the Project had become. As the bleachers cleared out, the Chairman of the sub-committee snatched the Chancellor up off his chair.

“You call this progress?!?! A year…an entire year of funding?? Massive investments…and you bring us to a massacre?? This was supposed to be rapid-prototype and production.” The Chancellor snatched his arm away pushing the other man into the lectern.

“I told you! I told you all we weren’t ready! These first-generation Clones follow orders to the letter, they have no semblance of rational thought…but you all wouldn’t listen!” The chairman pushed off the lectern dusting himself off.

“Consider this notice…the sub-committee will not be voting to provide additional funding. This Project is over! Done! I was never sold on this whole thing anyway…” As the Senator removed himself quickly moving for his own luxury speeder, the Chancellor sat back down in a slump. Someone standing above him clearing their throat caused the Chancellor to raise his head.

“Excuse me…Supreme Chancellor, well that was quite a show, I must say. Not exactly what you had in mind I’m betting but a show none the less…” The Supreme Chancellor stood, his nerves already frazzled, he had no intention of listening to more banter about his failures. The man dressed in green and yellow dusted off his hand before offering it.

“I’m sorry…where are my manners, I represent the Czerka Corporation….and I think we can help each other…”

--

- Coruscant, Government Sector….Four years later…..

Former Supreme Chancellor Pultimo, now just Mr. Pultimo sat in his palatial office next to 1000 Republica not far from office he used to frequent as Supreme Chancellor. Trouble creased his brow. Pressure from the company he worked for, the Czerka Corporation, threatened to end not only his involvement in Project Alpha, but his livelihood as well. In not so many words, Czerka had threatened him with termination if he allowed the Jedi to leave the Project. No longer political, Pultimo had used every political favor he had to delay the Jedi’s departure, but he was running out of political clout. As he browsed the morning reports from the previous night’s work, Pultimo needed a break through. Something to keep the Jedi in line. Pultimo’s saving grace was going to come in the form of a little known side Project simply known as ‘Zero-one’. Looking at the Project report, Pultimo sat up quickly noticing a strange notation in one of the scientist’s logs. Pultimo was an administrator, but because of his time spent dealing with scientists and their language he had a keen eye for the way they spoke and the notes they made.

One of the many side projects in Project Alpha, the organ replacement project was a grab by Czerka to try and synthesize organs from host tissue capable of using for transplant in patients needing organs. It was a profit venture. Project Alpha had the scientist and the equipment, it was only natural for Czerka to try and squeeze profit any way they could by doing things outside the scope. Not unusual, but that was not what caught Pultimo’s eye.

…’One of our technicians dropped the sample into the refrigeration unit we use for storing our cloned tissue samples. Upon impact the container housing ‘Zero-One’ shattered and destroyed most of our cloning samples as well. Conducting a further investigation in order to try and replicate the experiment; it was discovered that the tissue from ‘Zero-One’ was that of a Jedi, but no record of the Donor Jedi could be found. The unit housing the Jedi samples had no record of the tissue in question and all attempts to find the donor tissue have been unsuccessful. The experiment would have been terminated for cause had there not been a strange reaction caused by the retrieval of ‘Zero-One’ from the refrigeration unit. Examination has revealed that the tissue in question is now showing massive cell replication. Midichlorian analysis reveals initial estimates which originally placed the count at 500 ppm are now at over 1000 ppm. Sample has been returned to a stasis chamber to await analysis by the cloning division.’>

Pultimo rose, excitedly looking around the room. ‘Could this be it?!?!’ A reason to give the Jedi to stay connected to the project? Any biological matter that could show an increase of Midichlorians in that quantity and overnight was worthy of note. And would be of keen interest to the Jedi. Moving to the Holo-comm he sent an encrypted message in text only to his Czerka superiors. Being only a consultant, he didn’t have the power to call a meeting of the Project's governing board.

Mr. Pultimo went back to his report review. The day still held so many wonders for him, but he knew a visit to the lab would be in order before he received a response from the corporate board. The opportunity could be expanding right in front of him and he would have to jump on it quickly to capitalize.

--

‘Zero-One’ cell replication accelerated at an astounding rate. What was once a tissue sample began to form an actual organ that the tissue was sampled from. No one could explain it. What started out as a sliver of humanoid tissue took the shape of a heart. And it was definitely a human heart. Judging from the characteristics and shape more than likely male. After meeting with the board it was agreed that the sample heart should be moved immediately into one of the new maturation chambers within the clone division, but instead of simply transplanting the organ into a donor body, Czerka was interested to see what would happen if they allowed the cell matrix to grow on its own.

All of it was a bit baffling to Pultimo who was convinced they would want results more quickly. Czerka was treading carefully, quality over profit for some odd reason. Which was very unlike the corporation. Using the DNA sequencers and different apparatuses attached to the chamber, the scientists watched in wonder as the heart began to be enclosed by a human form. The genome began to recreate itself and they could actually see an average size male beginning to take shape inside the chamber.

In their wisdom, the governing board had taken all of the scientists and Pultimo subjecting them to a thorough examination and interrogation. The need to try and recreate the accident being the objective, no matter how strongly they probed there were no answers. Czerka even went as far as taking another sample to try and recreate the ‘accident’. It failed. Not only was the sample different, there were too many smaller variables that weren’t the same. In the end, it was decided that by allowing the ‘accident’ to come to maturity they would gain samples from it thereby having a baseline to start an entirely new project.

Pacing in front of the chamber Pultimo watched the sleeping clone float in the Kolto suspension. His desire to inform the Jedi and lock them back into the project beginning to grow. A hand clasped down on Pultimo’s shoulder, startled he turned to see the face of one of the governing directors smiling back at him.

“Mr. Pultimo this is indeed a great day for science. Perhaps we have finally unlocked the secrets of the Jedi…” the Director gestured at the tank, still smiling. Pultimo ducked under his hand to remove it from his shoulder.

“That remains to be seen, we aren’t out of the gate yet. There is still a question of Jedi acceptance…” he quirked his eyebrow at the man, “I want to bring the Grandmaster in on this, let him come and have a look. We are old ‘friends’ perhaps with a look he can sway the Council in our direction and drop this foolishness.” The foolishness Pultimo referred to was the Jedi Council’s attempts to leave the project. The Czerka director returned the gaze, it wasn’t lost on him that Pultimo ducked under his grasping hand. Czerka never liked Pultimo, they never quite settled with the fact of how close Pultimo was to the Project. But, he had his uses, his connection to the Jedi being only one of them.

“By all means…go to them, bring the Grandmaster here. There is not much to show however, our clone here is still in suspension, there is still some growing and maturing yet before it can be fully realized. Wouldn’t it be more prudent when the clone is completely viable, that way he can talk and interact with it?” Pultimo smiled shaking his head slightly, Czerka types would never fully understand how the Jedi worked.

“Through the Force, the Grandmaster can interact with it in its Chamber. If there is something to see, he will see it through the Force. And we need to know…if there is anything TO see.” The Director’s face turned pale slightly. It wouldn’t do at all for their work to be stopped before it even began. If the Jedi were indeed able to see that the clone was useless it would halt this new endeavor, it may even accelerate the Jedi leaving the Project. He shook his head at Pultimo.

“Then no. I don’t want to show them anything, at least not until the clone is viable. We are having basic functions flashed into the clone’s mind in the coming days, perhaps then we can revisit your proposal.” The Director was referring to the use of the new Flash Memory machine. It was a device created to put basic functionality into a clone during maturation in order to speed up the learning process when they were released from suspension. Since the cloning process was still far from perfect the machine had not had much use as of late and the clones that did reach maturity and the ability to have the machine used on them didn’t last very long. Most of the clones were no more than robots harkening back to the days of then, Supreme Chancellor Pultimo’s, first public failure. He frowned. The Jedi were within days of going before the Senate secret sub-committee and requesting separation from the Project. Time was a factor. Pultimo nodded acceptance to the Director.

“As you wish Sir…I will wait as you requested…” In his heart he already knew what he was going to do.

--

It was late and the maintenance crew had already started their normal cleaning and repairing procedures for the night inside the lab. Mr. Pultimo led the brown robed form to the secluded segregated area that had become the temporary home to ‘Zero-One’. The smile on his face electric. Removing his hood the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order carried a slight frown, although he had been in the lab numerous times, the place had become an object of distain for him. This was a place he wanted to forget and his original agreement to join this Project a stain on a rather stellar career. Pultimo flipped on the power allowing the light to cast itself over the rest of the darkened lab. The liquid inside the single container was dark almost as if it blocked out the light. Pultimo gestured to the Jedi Master. The Jedi Master’s eye quirked upward, his senses telling him something was indeed amiss in the small alcove. Pultimo spoke up first.

“So…this is the Project. It’s not entirely viable yet, but I wanted to see if you could sense anything in the subject…through the Force.” The Grandmaster gave him a skeptical look, although his senses and powers did not lend themselves to the arts of Force Sense and delving into the minds of others, he was still a very powerful Jedi. Placing his hand on the darkened tank he closed his eyes. For what seemed like an eternity, they stood there, the Master with his hand on the tank and Pultimo staring at him in anticipation. Opening his eyes suddenly, the Grandmaster looked directly at Pultimo, the fear in his eyes palpable. Sweat rolled down his face as he shakily attempted to remove his hand from the tank, it seemed to be held by an unseen force. He was only able to say one word to Pultimo.

“Run…!”

Project Zero-One threw itself against the side of the tank in front of the Grandmaster, shattering the tank and throwing the Grandmaster into a series of databanks on the far side of the lab. Zero-One stepped shakily down out of the tank, the Kolto dripping from its ghastly features. Landing on a knee it looked up quickly in the direction of the Grandmaster.

Pultimo watched in horror as Zero-One, still only half finished stood to its full height. The skin was missing in several places as it lurched toward the Grandmaster’s position, its torso being held together by the mesentery of still forming organs. Muscles on its face twisted as it tried to make sense of it all, the skin hanging off in large slabs.

Getting up the Grandmaster activated his lightsaber, charging back toward the monstrosity and jabbing forward with the blade headed for the beast’s heart. It held up a hand slowly as time seemed to slow around the two of them. The Grandmaster suddenly appeared to be moving in water as his thrust slowed down to the speed of the thing’s hand. Disappearing in the clone’s hand, the yellow blade appeared to disappear inside of it, the Grandmaster grunting as he continued to push forward. Raising its other hand slowly it awkwardly showed the Grandmaster its palm, exploding the two of them outwardly as the slow time ended.

Once again the Grandmaster was thrown against the databanks, as the clone continued its forward movement toward him. The blast from its palm seeming to wash over him as the Grandmaster picked himself up again this time much slower to get up. No longer with his lightsaber, the Grandmaster raised both his hands in his attempt to grab the creature and hold it in stasis within the Force. Zero-One arched its back slightly as the Force enveloped it causing it to levitate slightly from being held. Grunting the Grandmaster glanced over at Pultimo motioning down with his head.

“The…L-Lightsaber…grab it! End this thing!” Pultimo looked down quickly from his position on the ground. Scrambling to get the lightsaber, Pultimo awkwardly activated it standing up and moving to the rear of the held creature, but he hesitated. Lowering its head suddenly the creature let out a ghastly howl as it drew back its arms breaking the stasis. Sneering as he stumbled back bending at the waist, the Grandmaster looked up at the creature as it finally closed the distance. Grabbing the Jedi Master by the throat, Project Zero-One lifted the Master into the air tossing him toward a Durasteel bulkhead using its own Force enhanced strength. The Grandmaster seemed to sail like a rag-doll through the air until he righted himself close to the wall.

Using the force of the throw as leverage he landed horizontally feet first on the wall and spring boarded himself back toward Zero-One. A strange peace seemed to settle over the monster as the Grandmaster hurled through the air toward him, the Jedi Master’s fist outstretched in front of him. It seemed as if the creature smiled, raising a hand slowly and twitching its index finger. A large ventilator overhead snapped quickly as the steel bindings that held it gave way intercepting the Grandmaster in mid-flight. Both crashed down loudly inside the lab as computers, tanks and different machinery exploded in showers of sparks and liquid flooding the surrounding area in electrical discharge and light.

Silence fell on the lab as Pultimo rushed to the fallen ventilator, the fear for himself gone he only wanted to see if his friend survived. The majority of his body pinned under the ventilator the Grandmaster began to fade quickly, blood running from the corners of his mouth and his eyes. Pultimo bent down placing a hand on his head.

“I-I am so sorry…how-how could I have known…?” Closing his eyes, the Grandmaster gave a last labored breath before his face relaxed, death finally taking him.

Skeletal feet scrapped the Duracrete floor behind Pultimo as he turned with a start to see Project Zero-One standing over him. Reaching down, Project Zero-One took the still lit lightsaber from Pultimo’s grasp moving the yellow blade in front of itself in wonder. The light from the blade casting its sinister features in an even more horrifying light. As it closed down the blade still holding the hilt in its hand, it reached out slowly with its other hand pointing a bony finger at Pultimo. Air escaped its lungs in a raspy gurgling fashion as Pultimo watched the organs move and operate under its still translucent chest.

“Serve….me, you will….”