Rumor Has It

"Who are we escorting again?" Cody stood from the shuttle's co-pilot seat, looking at his datapad reading General.

"Korkie Kryze - the Duchess's nephew. From Kalevala to Coruscant. And since we were nearby, I volunteered to be escort."

"Ah."

I'm sure that's not the only reason.

General Kenobi tossed the datapad onto the dash before he followed Cody out of the cockpit. "The rumors aren't true, you know."

"That you and the Duchess are married? Or that the prince is your son?"

General Kenobi rolled his eyes while they walked down the ramp and onto the Sundari landing bay. His gaze caught sight of their two people welcoming party, and he grinned. "Take your guess, Cody - Duchess Satine! It's a pleasure to see you again."

Duchess Kryze smiled warmly while General Kenobi bent to kiss her outstretched hand. She was quite beautiful - handsome, maybe, was the better word for it - when she wasn't yelling in frustration or rolling her eyes. "The pleasure is mine."

"Oh I certainly hope so," General Kenobi murmured with a salacious wink. "When I come home, maybe?"

Beside the Duchess, Korkie rolled his pale blue eyes in disgust. "Really Uncle Ben?"

General Kenobi laughed, his crowsfeet crinkling. "Mmm, quite. Satine," he gestured to his right, where Cody was waiting a few places away, "you've met my second-in-command."

"I have."

Cody dipped his head at the steely gaze of the Duchess, swallowing uncomfortably. "Highness - your nephew couldn't be in finer hands."

The Duchess raised her thin blonde eyebrows, her earrings catching in the light when she cocked her head to the side. "Mmm - I'd certainly hope so. General Kenobi tends to be a bit reckless. I'm glad he has someone that's actually competent making sure everything is running smoothly."

Cody blinked in surprise, unsure what to make of the phrasing.

They didn't seem to notice his lack of response - too busy ironing out the escort details. (Which really looked a lot like flirting and barely refraining themselves from kissing each other senseless).

Korkie shook his head in amusement, gesturing to the shuttle waiting for them.

In silence, Cody followed, figuring his General would want to say his goodbyes in private.

"General Kenobi is not my father, Commander."

"It's always safe to presume there are familial relationships between people, sir. Saves time."

"I suppose - but it causes far too much media hassle." Korkie gave him a side-long glance while they walked up the ramp. "My people are wrong about clones, Commander."

"Oh?"

"You fight for a worthy cause, like any Mandalorian should."

Cody thinned his lips, tucking his hands behind his back while he thought of a response. "I fight because I must, Your Highness. It's what I was bred to do - I just so happen to be bred to fight for the right side of the law."

Korkie's expression was hard to read, but he eventually gave a small smile when he glanced behind them at the approaching Jedi General. "You've been spending too much time with my uncle, Commander. You sound exactly like him."

"I don't see how sounding like the grand Obi-Wan Kenobi is a bad thing," Cody remarked.

"Depending on how many drinks he's - Uncle!" Korkie exclaimed when General Kenobi ruffled his hair on the way to the pilot's seat.

Author's note: welp, I wrote more. Oi. This always happens to me. This may be the last chapter, this may not be. We'll see

But hey - at least I'm having fun. Tell me what you think :D

(Like usual I'll edit at a later date.)

ii Digestive Reader ii