A short Coda for Chapters 14 and 15 of Wells of Silence. We get to drop in and see how some if our favorite clones are doing!

I hope you enjoy!

-Becks

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Cody

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Cody scrubbed his hand over his face as he tried processing what had happened, what he had learned. He was... well Cody was feeling a lot of things. He supposed shock was a good descriptor, but it was much more complicated than that.

General Skywalker was pregnant! And judging by the look he got of her, quite far along.

How was that even possible?

He knew biologically how it was possible, but it just didn't make sense. Skywalker was a very active general in the war. She was a Jedi! She couldn't – shouldn't be pregnant.

Her sudden disappearance nearly six months ago made sense now. Of course she couldn't be fighting battles if she was pregnant.

How could she do that now when the war was at such a crucial turning point? How could she choose to do something that would leave her men in the hands of another general? Ever since Krell, Skywalker had refused to leave her men under the command of anyone she didn't trust. Not to say that List wasn't a good general – he'd heard no complaints from Rex or anyone else in the 501st – but still. Her squadron was like her family, and she just left them! To have a baby... one she shouldn't have in the first place. He wasn't even one of her troops and he felt betrayed!

Skywalker was smarter than that. What happened?

Cody shot back the remainder of his drink, the whiskey burned its way down his throat. He tapped the bar for the tender droid to give him a refill.

Kriffing hell!

Did anyone else even know? The Jedi did, obviously, or at least General Kenobi knew. As did Senator Amidala. Skywalker was working closely with the Chancellor. No doubt he knew as well. But did any clones know? Did the 501st know why their general left them? At the very least did Rex know?

Kriff, probably not.

Kenobi's orders echoed in his ears. Not a word about Anakin to anyone.

Maybe Rex did know and he had just been ordered to the same secrecy he had been. His brother respected the generals, and as off-putting as this whole revelation was, he wouldn't disobey orders.

Cody wouldn't either. He shot back his drink again and tapped for a refill.

"I'll have the same." Another clone told the bar tender as he slid into the seat next to Cody. He caught a familiar profile and blonde fuzz in the corner of his eye.

Rex took his drink and nursed it much slower than Cody was drinking his. Cody nodded to Rex and looked around the bar.

The Officers Club was certainly much quieter than any other clone bar. It was easier to hold a conversation, but also easier to be overheard. He wanted to talk to someone about Skywalker. He needed to know how much Rex knew. They had several seats as a buffer between them and the other patrons. But, of those patrons, was General Plo Koon. He decided to try and be subtle about it. He downed his drink again and tapped for a refill.

"You know they're not going to run out of whiskey, Cody. You don't have to drink like the galaxy has a shortage." Rex commented quietly, still sipping his drink. "What's wrong?"

Cody scowled down at his glass. How many had he had since he sat down? More than he should have. Clones weren't lightweights, and he was beginning to feel a little fuzzy around his temples.

"Nothing really," he said, sipping his drink now. "Just learned something today is all."

Rex raised a curious brow at his brother. "You learned something?"

Cody looked around the bar. Nobody was paying them any mind, but General Koon was only on the opposite end of the bar. It wasn't unheard of for a general to come to the Officers Club, but it put Cody on edge tonight. Was he being watched?

He shook his head, shaking off the thought. He could speak with General Kenobi about Skywalker tomorrow. He was certain that his general would tell everything he could. There wasn't going to be some big conspiracy about Skywalker to uncover. No doubt she just made a stupid mistake and the Jedi were trying to avoid a public embarrassment.

"Nothing important." He told Rex.

"'Nothing important' makes you drink like that?" Rex asked unconvinced.

Cody took a drink and shrugged off his brother's concern. "They're unrelated. Have you seen General Skywalker recently?"

Rex shook his head. "We only just got back from a five month run in the Outer Rim. I haven't seen her since List took command."

"Oh, I was just wondering. I ran into her this afternoon."

"Did you? How has she taken to her special assignment with the Chancellor?" Rex asked before taking a drink.

Cody paused. The Skywalker he saw today had been nearly out of her mind. She had tried to attack him, she hadn't even recognized him. Clearly something was wrong with her, aside from being pregnant. "I think she's getting anxious being stuck here for so long."

Rex hummed and drank. He seemed unsurprised that the general was unhappy here. Then again, Skywalker, under normal circumstances, would rather chew off her other hand than be relegated to a desk job.

"Have you heard any rumors as to what her secret assignment is?" Cody asked causally.

"I'm pretty sure I've heard them all." Rex said with a scoff and an eye roll. "Honestly, the things people come up with."

Cody chuckled with him. "Yeah, I heard one today that said she was hiding a secret pregnancy."

Rex actually choked on his drink. He spluttered, pounded his fist against his chest, and tried to contain his laughter. "That's the most ridiculous one I've heard!"

"You think?" Cody prodded. "If you think about it, it makes sense."

Rex rolled his eyes. "Please, the General barely took time to sleep or eat or shower. I seriously doubt she found the time for clandestine relationships while we were bouncing around every corner of the Outer Rim." He nudged Cody with his elbow and muttered through barely contained laughter. "Kriff, I'd pay money to meet the poor bastard that actually managed to bed her though!"

Rex resumed laughing just at the thought and Cody joined him halfheartedly. He could tell that Rex didn't have the slightest suspicion that General Skywalker really was pregnant. Rex's laughter was far too genuine. That filled him with guilt. Of any clone, Rex deserved to know more than anyone.

Cody wanted to tell him right then and there, but he had to follow orders. Still, maybe he could drop a hint and lead Rex to figuring out on his own. As he tried to form the words, he felt a heavy gaze on him. Cody liked up and meet General Plo's eyes.

Had he been overheard? Did the Kel-Dor think he had been spreading rumors and idle gossip?

He downed the last of his drink and slid off his bar stool. "I've gotta go. Early start tomorrow." He clapped Rex on the shoulder.

"Thanks for the laugh, brother." Rex said, waving him off. When he turned back to where General Plo had been sitting, he was gone. Cody took a breath to prepare himself for the inevitable confrontation outside and walked through the doors.

Plo Koon wasn't even trying to be subtle. "Commander Cody."

"Yes, General." Cody snapped to attention automatically.

"Walk with me."

"Yes, sir."

They walked well out of earshot of anyone going into or out of the bar before Plo spoke again. "You ran into General Skywalker." He stated more than asked, letting Cody know he had heard everything.

"Yes, sir. This afternoon while I was helping General Kenobi with something."

"You saw what has kept her on Coruscant?"

"Yes, sir. General Kenobi ordered me to secrecy."

"Orders you nearly disobeyed." His tone was still casual and non-accusatory.

"I... I just wanted to see if Rex knew as well."

"Nobody knows. Save a few Jedi. You understand that this secrecy is for her safety."

Cody nodded. Skywalker had no shortage of enemies. If they knew of her vulnerable state they'd take advantage of it.

"I assure you general, I have no desire to see her or her..." Cody cut himself off, unsure of whether he could mention Skywalker's baby, it might be a test. He decided to be vague. "I would never want to see them get hurt."

"I know you wouldn't. But rumors only take hold faster when officers help spread them."

"I understand, General. I'll never speak of it again."

"That would be for the best, Commander. Though…" Plo stopped walking, and gazed off into the distance. Cody had the sense that he really wasn't looking at anything in the present. "I sense that all this secrecy will become unnecessary quite soon."

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand."

The Jedi drew a long breath. "Neither do I, I'm afraid." He turned and began walking back towards the bar. "Take care, Commander, and may the Force be with you."

"And you, General." Cody waited until Plo Koon was a ways away before starting back towards the barracks. Today had been off on so many levels, and quite honestly by this point he just wanted to sleep the rest of it away, even if it was still relatively early. Questions about Skywalker could be answered tomorrow.