"And the winner of the ration bet is Boost!"

A group of clone troopers in various armor colors and markings gathered in a circle around Fives's helmet in an abandoned debriefing room. He had activated a hologram counter that displayed the active bets. Several blue charts floated in a circle for the men to peruse at their will. The nature of the bet, time limit, the amount of money wagered, the contact info of the clones wagering, and any other such data they may require. The longest-running bet was on how long it would take for General Obi-Wan Kenobi to shave off his beard. None of the clones present could remember or had seen the General without facial hair. Commander Cody probably, but it was against the rules to ask. As stated in rule number four of the Betting Guide, no high ranking members of the GAR were allowed to participate or know of the betting circle's existence or of any past, present, or future bets. Echo, of course, had written it. He sat off to the edge of the group on his datapad. Likely going over another regulation manual. He made sure that everyone paid up and played fair. Despite being an unofficial member of the Torrent company, his ARC trooper status and love for regulations allowed the group to trust him.

Today's winner was one of the Wolfpacks members. The gray armored trooper stood up to collect his credits, bowing to the circle. He was recognized for his red hair that he'd buzzed into two stripes and for his complaining. "Thank you, ladies, it really was a pleasure beating you."

"Oh, go rot in bantha shit!" Someone shouted. This response was greeted with applause. Boost gave him the finger as one of his mates yanked him back down.

Tup rubbed the back of his head. He sat in between Hardcase and Dogma, two other members of the 501st's Torrent Company. It was his first time attending the betting circle since it opened last cycle. "I still don't fully understand how this works."

"Look, it's simple really," Hardcase said.

"Not if you ask Echo it isn't." Dogma interjected.

Hardcase waved off his brother's comment. He marked himself with a zig-zag down his temple slightly past his eye. "You put credits down on the probability of an event happening. You win or lose credits based on if the event succeeds or fails. You just have to have the credits in hand to bet, can't inform any high ranking officers or Jedi about the happenings, and have fun. Those are the basic rules."

"If you want a lecture, I'd be more than happy to let Echo talk your ear off." Dogma said. A huge v shape ran down the front of his face.

"Naw, I think I get it," Tup said quickly. He had suffered through more than one unwanted lecture from Echo on regulations. Useful when preparing for missions, but not on his downtime. He wondered how Fives put up with it. "What bets have you placed?"

"Don't have any going currently. I won a bunch of credits last week. Bet one of the Shinies that he couldn't shoot more targets than me in practice." Hardcase stretched.
"And he couldn't?"

"Nope."

"I don't bet," Dogma sniffed. "I think bets are silly."

"Yeah right, you just don't have enough credits for it." Scoffed a shiny from the 212th.

Dogma twisted in his seat to glare at him. "Says who?"

Fives's voice interrupted the argument before it could get heated. "46 bets were placed against General Skywalker falling for the bucket over the door prank with 100 bets for. And we are pleased to report that he did indeed fall for the bucket over the door."

Trapper chuckled. He was a member of the 212th unit. A recon trooper, with lots of stealth training. "Now that is something I would've liked to see."

"I was there," Oz spoke up. "And let me tell you it was a sight to see! Commander Tano called the General up to the bridge. She held the bucket over the door using the force, and dropped as he stepped through!"

"We have video surveillance of that if any wants to check their datapads," Fives said over the whistles of admiration.

Tup frowned. "I thought that higher-ranking officers and Jedi couldn't participate…"

Oz leaned over Hardcase. "Technically, yes. But it just so happened that she mentioned her plan to Fives before he called the last meeting. Since she was already planning on pranking him, Fives figured that it wasn't breaking protocol to place bets on it. Echo allowed it."

"And that just about wraps up old business," Fives cracked his knuckles. " Any new business before we leave?"

Waxer stood up. "I bet 5 credits that Boil won't slide across the mess floor, full speed into the Lunch Droid's station."

"Watch me Waxer." Boil snapped. They were the best scouts of the 212th and best friends. Commander Tano had once remarked that they acted closer than Echo and Fives sometimes.

A few other troopers added their credits to the bet, but there was no doubt that Boil was going to do it. They had probably placed the most bets out of everyone here. Most involved running into things. Or just running.

"You know, I wonder who could get with Commander Tano." The 212th shiny said. If he had a name, he was too new to have earned the right to it yet.

There weren't a lot of female leaders in the GAR. Granted, they existed. Commander Barriss Offee and General Luminara Unduli dual led with Commander Gree of the 41st elite corps. Commander Bly fought brilliantly with General Alya Secura and practically all the clones were raised with Shaak Ti. Only one was universally known and admired by the troopers. Commander Ahsoka Tano. Not only did the Jedi Padawan fight well, but she genuinely cared about the well being of her troops. Her being a Torguta helped of course. With her sienna skin and deep blue eyes that seemed to look right into one's soul…..she was gorgeous. The 501st was proud to call her their Commander and the Torrent Company, in particular, bragged about her combat feats.

Tup shrugged. "She's closest with Captain Rex. I'd put my money on him."

Captain Rex was General Skywalker's second in command, leader of the 501st and Torrent Company. He was renowned in battle for his leadership besides the two Jedi and was often assigned on special missions with them. If you saw Ahsoka and her dual blades flying through a fight, you could bet that her Captain was right on her heels, dual blasters drawn.

"Yeah right, as the Captain had even a chance with the Commander." Stab scoffed. He was one of the clones under Commander Bly's command. Stab named himself for a stab to the shoulder he'd suffered in the battle of Geonosis. Rumor said that he'd gotten it on the shuttle before take off, but no one dared to say it to his face. He and Tup had a run in the past over ration packages. Hardcase had to break it up before things got out of hand.

Tup hadn't forgotten the grievance as he demanded. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean that Captain Rex ain't good enough for the Commander."

"That's arguable -" Waxer began, but Tup cut him off. "And what, you are?"

"I think I could compete with the Captain." Stab acquiesced.

The group began to rumble in discourse. "The bastards got Jaig eyes, the highest honor you can get for bravery. If Jaig eyes aren't good enough for the Commander, then who is?"

"Stab, you can't compete with Jaig eyes."

"Aww shuddup. I ain't talking about my combat skills. I'm talking about my game."

"Vod, you could barely speak to that shopkeeper without stuttering."

"All I'm saying is that the Captain got less game than me," Stab flexed. "I've got bigger muscles than him for starters."

Boost booed, rolling up his sleeves. "Yeah right, you wanna say that again?" He flexed and to Stab's chagrin, he found that Boost's biceps were indeed bigger. A few other members of the Wolfpack began to follow Boost's lead, displaying that they too could beat Stab in an arm-wrestling match.

Stab began to bluster. "Look, all I'm saying that if Tup thinks his Captain could get with the Commander, he's wrong!"

Tup leaped up. The holograms tinted his face blue. With the teardrop under his eye and the fury on his face, he looked almost like a nightmare. "I bet 100 credits that Captain Rex can!"

Five S's eyes widened. "Tup!"

His cries went unheard as Stab laughed. "As if! I'll raise your bet to 200 credits."

"200 and he makes a move by the next meeting," Tup shouted.

"Done!" Stab shouted back. He looked around the room. "Who's with me?"

"Wait guys-" Fives tried again.

The other clone troopers raised their voices in unison over his, adding their bets against Tup as they filed out of the room. Waxer and Boil lingered behind with Hardcase, Tup, Dogma, Fives, and Echo. Boil dropped two credits on top of the pile while Waxer waited by the door.

"Sorry mate, Captain's simply not gonna do it." Boil said apologetically, his hand on Tup's shoulder. "I've seen the two interact. She would have to be the one to make a move. He wouldn't dare risk their friendship."

"There is a possibility," Tup said hopefully. The reality of what he had done hadn't fully sunk in yet.

"There's always a possibility," Boil admitted, stroking his mustache.

"Maybe after the war is over," Waxer slid his helmet on. "If they're still alive by then."

They exited the room, leaving the Torrent company to digest the ominous statement alone. Tup looked up to see Fives stalk over to him, helmet in hand. He did not look happy.

"Emergency meeting. Now."