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Chapter Text

“Alpha-17 receiving transmission.” 

“Alpha,” the older trooper was surprised to hear it was General Skywalker. “We have a situation.”

“Your definition of situation always makes me nervous, sir.” Alpha waved off a couple of cadets who had appeared at his office door. 

Skywalker actually had the gall to give him an easygoing laugh. “You sound just like Rex.” 

“Speaking of the karking mir’sheb,” Alpha sat down in his desk chair. “Haven't heard from him in a while.” He frowned. “Haven't heard from any of them, actually.”

Anakin’s face bore a look of strained tension. “That's why I'm calling, actually.”

“Oh?” Alpha shoved away the boiling terror in his gut, managing to keep a neutral expression. 

Anakin nodded. “It's hard to explain…”

“Don't keep him in suspense, Anakin,” Kenobi scolded. “He might mistake your meaning.”

Anakin tossed his master an eye roll. “So uh, they're alright,” he clarified, and Alpha only felt himself relax a bit. “They're just.” He struggled to find the words, and suddenly Alpha was speaking with Obi-Wan. 

“Alpha,” he greeted, that soft demeanor of his always putting the clone at ease. 

“Sir,” Alpha demurred. “What's going on with my troopers?” 

“They're cadets.” Kenobi stated simply, and Alpha let out a breath. 

“The…what now sir?” He wasn't sure he'd heard the general correctly. “Requesting clarification.” 

Obi-Wan’s answering sigh was so tired Alpha could hear the creaking in the Jedi’s bones. “Some of the 212th and the 501st, and some of Woffe’s men have almost inexplicably, and overnight…been physically turned back into cadets.”

Alpha blinked a few times. In the distance he could hear Anakin yelling something about biting. Rex was in trouble, then. 

He drew himself up and took a deep breath. “I'm supposing you need my help, then, sir.”

“They're impossible!” Anakin charged back, his voice weary and frustrated. “you gotta come help, Alpha. You trained them, maybe they'll listen to you!” 

“It doesn't help,” Kenobi interjected mildly, “that Life Day is around the corner, and they're all suddenly insistent on celebrating it.”

“I lost three of them when we went shopping,” Anakin moaned. “They're even smaller than Snips! They just disappeared into the crowds!” 

Alpha couldn't hold back a laugh. “I'm afraid, sir, that herding cadets is more similar to wrangling massifs than you'd think.” 

“Yeah, feral ones!” Anakin insisted with a huff. “Rex kriffing bit me! And then Bly started a fight in the mess. There were rations everywhere…” he shuddered. 

Alpha stifled another amused laugh. 

“I'll see if I can't get someone to cover me here. Sounds like I need to get them under control.” 

“Please,” Anakin begged. “Please get here soon. I can't take much more of this.” 

“Getting a taste of your own medicine, Padawan mine?” Obi-Wan teased him tiredly. 

“Now isn't the time, master.” 

“Fair enough. How soon can you leave, Alpha?” 

Alpha was already out the door and down the hall. “Putting in my request now, should be off planet in a few hours.” 

“Looking forward to the assist. Kenobi out.” 

Alpha was nearly vibrating with nerves by the time he'd gotten his little ship off the planet. He had no idea what to expect when he landed on Coruscant, but he was confident he could handle whatever his former cadets could throw at him. Once he'd gotten into hyperspace, Alpha had plenty of time to recall just how each of his men had acted as cadets. Some were shyer than others, some, if they retained their memories of the war would require special handling. Others were bold from the beginning, picking fights and challenging orders from the time they could speak. Rex was a biter when cornered, feral as a street massif. Cody was the perfect soldier, supportive and caring to his brothers, following orders almost to a fault at times. Bly and Wolffe had been inseparable, constantly causing trouble and pranking the CO’s. They were almost a packaged set. 

Alpha muttered to himself as he urged the ship to move just that much faster, recalling just how open and fragile a few of the boys had been. 

Anakin was running ragged. “Rex, if you bite me one more time!” Rex evaded his grasp again, vaulting over the chair and pelting into the other room. “Cody, can't you help?!” 

“Sorry, sir,” Cody gave him a feral smile. “He's just going to keep doing that. That's his thing.”

Wolffe snorted. “Not if Alpha had a say in it.”

“Alpha isn't here.” Cody murmured exhaustedly, his scrawny shoulders slumping. 

Bly and Ponds continued their wrestling match on the rug, limbs flailing. 

“Alright!” Obi-Wan raised his voice. “Enough!” Activity ceased, all the troopers and Anakin staring at him with chagrin. “Anakin, you have reports to do. Go do them. Cody, take Rex and get him something to eat. The rest of you…” he sighed. “Try and behave yourselves.” He finished with a shake of the head. 

The doors whished open and Jesse and Kix came through, curiously looking around at their much smaller vode. 

“Alright boys, you know the drill. Line up and let Kix check you out.” Jesse gestured. 

Cody had to reach out and grab Rex by the arm. “no you don't, vod. We can hit the mess after, I want you checked out.”

Rex scowled up at him and he rolled his eyes. “Don't. I'll be right here.” Reluctantly, Rex slipped his smaller hand into Cody’s and tried to hide in his brother’s shadow. 

“It's really good to see you,” a very disheveled Anakin met Alpha at the hangar. 

Alpha couldn't help but laugh at Skywalker’s expression. 

“You look like you need a break, sir.”

“Ten breaks wouldn't be enough.” He responded, pushing his sleeve up to show off the angry bite marks on his flesh arm. 

Alpha snorted. “Rex always was a biter. Can't corner him, he gets angry as a feral tooka.” 

Anakin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well…I know that now.” He jerked his thumb. “Just get moving. I need all the help I can get.” 

Alpha fell into step with Anakin. 

“Any word yet on how this happened?” 

Anakin shook his head. “The healers are working on it, and the medics say nothing is wrong with them. They're just…small.” he finished, gesturing toward the lift. “I'm going to get more caf, you go on ahead.”

Alpha nodded, pressing the button and taking a deep breath to prepare himself for whatever chaos his former squad was up to. He stepped from the lift and readjusted his rucksack over his shoulder.

“Right you lot,” Alpha muttered. “You better not give me any trouble.” 

Surprisingly, things were rather quiet when he stepped into Kenobi’s quarters. The Jedi master was sitting at the table with his flimsiwork spread around him, his clothes rumpled and his hair sticking up like he'd run a hand through it. 

“Evening, sir.” Alpha picked through the pile of sleeping cadets and approached the table softly. 

Obi-Wan smiled softly. “Thank you for coming, Alpha. As you can see, Anakin and I seem to be in over our heads.”

“Never thought I'd hear you say that, sir.” He set his bag down on the rug. 

Obi-Wan shrugged. “I never thought we'd have a situation quite like this one on our hands.” 

“I'm surprised to see them asleep and not giving you the run around.” 

“They did, earlier. But once Rex fell asleep the others didn't want to wake him.” 

“They always did cater to him,” Alpha sat down across the table. “he was the youngest, and the smallest. He had Cody wrapped around his finger from the first time they met.” 

“They were that close from the beginning, then.”

Alpha nodded. “I do have one other question.”

“By all means,” Obi-Wan said tiredly. 

“Is it mental, or just physical?” 

“Their behavior seems to be an even mix of what I'd expect from children that age, and what I've come to expect from them as adults.” He mused. “They've been seen by the medics, and Kix seems to think testing indicates it's mainly physical.” 

“Mainly?” Alpha raised a brow. 

“I wouldn't say…that is, it isn't typically my information to give away…” Obi-Wan seemed conflicted. 

“But the situation demands it?” Alpha clarified. 

The general gave him a nod after a moment. “I have to believe it does.” He stretched his legs out under the table and looked at the sleeping cadets thoughtfully. After another beat he finally scrubbed a hand down his face and gave Alpha his attention once more. “I can't say for the others, though Kix seems to believe there are others…but for Rex,” he paused and shook his head. “I hope he'll forgive my exposing him like this.”

“The situation needs must,” Alpha reminded. 

“Cody says that Rex and perhaps a few of the others suffer from involuntary age regression as a method of coping with trauma.” 

Alpha looked at him quizzically. 

“That is to say, among the Jedi, whether voluntary or not it carries the connotation of one’s mind reverting to a child like state in order to help free oneself from the burden of trauma. It can be incredibly healing, if surrounded by those that will build up, and not tear down.” He looked to Cody and Rex again. “For Rex, I'm told Cody and Fives are among those trusted few.” 

“So,” Alpha struggled to follow. 

“Meaning,” Obi-Wan shifted in his chair. “Rex has had enough trauma for ten lifetimes, let alone one expedited life cycle. Therefore if anyone has grounds for involuntary regression, it's Rex. From what I've been able to glean, he seems to hover around 3-5 standard years of age, preferring the company of Cody and Fives over anyone else. I'm told Wolffe is a notable exception, as well as Force 99 and Echo.”

“So,” Alpha connected the dots mentally. “For some of them- for at least Rex,” he corrected himself. “It's not completely physical?” 

Obi-Wan nodded wearily. They sat in silence until his grumbling stomach startled the both of them. 

“Want me to bring you something to eat, sir?” 

Obi-Wan scowled at the clock. “Anakin was meant to relieve me, but clearly he's gotten sidetracked again.”

Alpha shook his head with a grin. “Then I'll be sure to bring you something when I get back. I'd like to have a sonic and a change of clothes too, if you're alright with that.”

Obi-Wan turned back to his paperwork and nodded. “By all means.” 

By the time Alpha returned, Anakin was supervising the sleepy batch of clones. 

“What are you doing here, sir?” Cody rubbed his eyes tiredly, one arm looped around Rex, who still slept deeply. 

“I called him.” Anakin passed him a blanket and he draped it over Rex. “Things have been absolute chaos around here, and we figured he could at least keep you in line.” 

“Unfair, sir!” Bly complained, his voice cracking a bit. Cody and Ponds sniggered.

“Oh, shut up! Like you two don't have that problem too!” 

“Keep your voice down!” Anakin hissed. “You'll wake up Rex!” 

Boil and Waxer grimaced. “I think it's too late for that…” Boil muttered, and Cody swore. 

“Great! Now he won't want to sleep tonight, and he'll be a right terror!” Cody glared at Bly and the other boy shrank in on himself slightly. 

“Sorry, Cody.” Bly mumbled, as Rex began to stir. 

“Cody?” Rex’s little voice hitched. 

Kark, but he was small. Alpha only realized how small he was now that he'd walked up to the group. Rex couldn't have been bigger in stature than four or five standard years. Small enough that any of the others who appeared to range from 10-17 or so in stature would easily be able to pick him up. 

“It's alright, vod'ika,” Cody soothed, rubbing his back. “Bly just got excited, I'm sorry he woke you.”

Rex let out a sleepy whine, his tiny hands curling into Cody’s tunic. “Was sleeping!” He blinked his eyes open, and Alpha noted a sheen of tears. 

“I know, verd’ika,” Cody held him a little tighter. 

“I'm sorry, Rex.” Bly leaned forward a little. “Will you accept my apology?” 

Alpha took a step closer and the rest of the groups eyes went wide. 

“Well?” Alpha rumbled with a slight smile as Rex scrambled from Cody’s lap. “Do you accept his apology, ad’ika?” He caught Rex and swept him onto his hip. 

“Alpha!” Rex crowed happily, wrapping his little arms around his neck. 

“Hello, Rex’ika.” He patted Rex on his little back. 

The others grinned widely, before identical evil grins spread across their faces. 

“No.” He cautioned, taking a step backwards. 

“Yes!” Cody surged forward and the others moved with him, until he was flat on his back with a pile of gigging cadets on top of him. “Careful of the little one!” 

Rex didn't seem fazed, laughing along with his brothers. 

“Alright, alright,” Alpha grumbled. “Off. You've made your point.” 

The group of unruly clones clambered off of him, leaving only Rex behind, who seemed none too quick to let go of the ARC trooper. 

Alpha sat up slowly so as not to jostle Rex. He took a deep breath. “As General Skywalker has said, I'm here to keep you lot in line.”

“For how long?” Ponds asked with a frown. 

“Until he can help us fix this osiik.” Wolffe strolled through the doors with a quick nod at Alpha. “We don't know why it isn't all of us,” Wolffe looked around at his much smaller vode. “but we do know that someone has to keep you lot on your toes while we figure this out. And who better than Alpha to make sure you don't slack on staying sharp?” He negated his stern lecture by picking up Rex, who had let out a delighted squeak and pelted towards him. “Rex’ika,” he pulled his helmet off with one hand, allowing the ad’ika to pat his face with one little hand. “Did you nap well, cyar’ika?” 

“Bly woke him up.” Cody crossed his arms. 

“I didn't mean to,” Bly lamented again, throwing up his hands. 

“And nobody is blaming you since it was an accident,” Alpha leveled Cody with a firm stare. 

“Right. That.” Cody mumbled, as Rex wiggled down and made his way back to Alpha happily. 

“I'll send you their schedule once you've gotten a datapad set up,” Wolffe couldn't keep a fond smile off his face as he watched his vod’ika. “That way you can get started as you have time.”

“Who made a schedule?” Cody growled. “that's my job.”

“Was your job,” Fives strolled through the door. “before you were taken off duty for being pint-sized.” 

“I can still knock you on your shebs, vod.” Cody threatened darkly. 

“Knock it off.” Alpha held Rex close. “Or the lot of you will be on latrine detail for the foreseeable future, with toothbrushes as your only tools.” 

Waxer actually stuck his tongue out at Cody, Boil chuckling as he slung an arm over the younger boy’s shoulders. Cody snarled under his breath, looking firmly away from Fives. 

“Fine,” Fives said airily, as he shook hands with Alpha. “Good to see you, vod.”

“And you,” he inclined his head. 

“I'm only here for Rex, anyway. Kix said he had a bit of a sniffle when he woke up this morning, wants to see him again in medbay.” 

Fives held out his arms. “Want to come see Kix, Rex’ika? I hear he might have candy, if you're a good boy.” 

“Don't bribe him with candy,” Alpha sounded tired already. “He's going to get a stomach ache.” Rex turned grumpily into Alpha’s neck, clinging on for dear life. “Go on, ad’ika, go with your ori’vod, hmm? I'll be here when you get back.” He patted Rex on his little back. “Come on,” he gently pulled Rex’s arms away as Fives knelt down beside them. “Go with Fives.”

Rex only teared up a little as he was transferred from one set of arms to another. It wasn't all that bad if he still got cuddles. Even if it wasn't from Alpha. He gave a sad wave to Cody as he was carried from the room, his little feet dangling at Fives’ hip. 

“I'll see you when you get back!” Cody called as the door closed. 

“That went better than I expected.” Anakin held out a spare datapad and Alpha accepted it. 

Cody grinned. “You know it's just because he hasn't figured out they're gonna do stuff to him yet. As soon as he gets to medbay he's gonna raise as much trouble as he can.” 

“Which is why I'm glad it's Fives and not us,” Boil agreed, putting his feet in Waxer’s lap. 

“C’mon, Cody.” Anakin agreed. “Take a break while he isn't here. Take a shower or something.” 

Cody bit his lip uncertainly. “Fives is with him,” he said slowly. “I guess I can clean up a bit.”

“Good, you smell.” Ponds teased, and Cody smacked him on the shoulder. 

“Do not.” 

“Do too!” 

“Not!” Cody got the last word as he disappeared into the fresher. 

“While he's gone,” Alpha spoke up, typing on the datapad. “How long has Rex been…”

“Rex'ika?” Waxer supplied, and Alpha nodded.

“We didn't even know about it until all this osiik kicked off about a week ago.” Bly spoke up. 

“But apparently since a few hours after he shrunk, he's been um…” Boil tried to remember the word Cody used. 

“Regressed.” Anakin sat down with a cup of caf, swirling it thoughtfully. “I'm glad he has something to help. Back at the temple, we learn about things like this. I just hadn't even met anyone…or at least that I knew of..that fell into that category until now.” 

“It's usually between the Jedi and their Padawan, or a knight and their former master,” Obi-Wan strode into the room in a set of fresh robes. “it's quite personal, so even amongst fellow Jedi it's rarely known just who exactly indulges in such a coping mechanism.” He sat down in a chair with a sigh. 

“I'm sure being tiny doesn't help him..not do it?” Bly scrunched his face as he attempted to figure out how to word things. 

“From what I understand it isn't voluntary for him, at least not most of the time.” Anakin responded. “His brain just kinda chooses when to regress for him, based on how overwhelmed he is or whether anything bad has happened.” 

“But I'm sure you're right, Bly,” Obi-Wan acknowledged. “Being physically the smallest of you can't help him cling to whatever adult headspace he has at the moment. Losing all agency like that, being so small he can easily be moved around…I'm sure Rex is quite insecure.” 

They sat in silence for a moment, thinking about Rex before Alpha spoke up again. “And what about the rest of you?” he looked around at them all. “How are you holding up?” 

Wolffe leaned against the wall, his bucket under one arm. “You lot had better answer, or I’ll answer for you.” 

Ponds rolled his eyes. “It’s kriffing wonderful, having the body of a cadet. I love it so much, I really enjoy this, and I’m having a great time.” 

Bly snickered. 

“Don’t make me come over there,” Wolffe scowled at them. “And don’t make Cody carry this whole conversation when he comes back. He’s lost enough rest as it is these past few days.”

Boil spoke up, his ears slightly pink. “It feels karking useless,” he mumbled. “I can’t do things I’m used to. I know the ones that are younger than me must feel worse, though. I’m short and skinny, and most of my muscle memory isn’t there anymore, which scares me. Tried to strip and clean my blaster last night and I just couldn’t do it…” he nibbled his lip and leaned into Waxer slightly. 

“Yeah,” Waxer muttered. “It’s…not a good feeling. And I dunno why some of us are so small when others are bigger. Cody isn’t that much shorter than Wolffe and all the others that didn’t get affected.”

“And how many of you did get affected?” Alpha frowned. 

Anakin spoke up. “It’s been about a week now, and so far just these six, but that doesn’t mean it might not happen again.” 

Obi-Wan hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps, but perhaps not. Perhaps whatever happened to the men has already burnt itself out, and isn’t going to repeat itself. Either way, I’ve been talking to the healers at the temple on the subject to try and figure out what we can do to help them.” 

Cody trailed into the room looking relaxed and slightly sleepy as he sat down on the rug beside Alpha. He was wearing clothing that looked fairly similar to what the Jedi children wore, and Alpha was almost certain the general had gotten their supplies from the temple. Alpha turned his gaze on Cody.

“S-something you need?” Cody squirmed uncomfortably. 

“Will you say it, or should I?” Wolffe asked wearily. 

“I’ll take this one,” Alpha growled sternly. “You,” he pointed at Cody. “Need to take better care of yourself and realize you’re not the only one that can wrangle the kid.” 

“He’s scared,” Cody insisted. “He doesn’t understand what’s going on and since he started regressing I’ve been there for him. If he needs me and I’m not there then…” Cody looked down at his hands. 

“Then one of us will be,” Wolffe introjected. “As much as you feel you betrayed him by not keeping his secret, the secret’s out, vod. And Rex is the one who let it out, whether he chose to or not. Now our priority is making sure that when-” Wolffe licked his lips with a small set to his jaw. “Or..or if he comes back to himself, then he knows we don’t think poorly of him. Kark if the kid doesn’t already have issues with his self esteem, and feeling like he belongs.” Wolffe leveled Cody with a kind stare. “He won’t be alone, vod. But you can’t be there for him every moment no matter how much you want to. You have to care for yourself, so you can look after him.” 

“Yeah,” Anakin broke in. “And like Wolffe says, he’s never gonna be by himself. You’ve already seen how he has Obi-Wan and Snips wrapped around his finger,” he gave his master a teasing grin. “So I can only assume the others will be too. I know Fives and Kix already are, and force knows Wolffe is even when he isn’t regressed or physically small.” Wolffe now found himself on the receiving end of Skywalker’s teasing. 

“Hey, what can I say?” Wolffe shrugged. “Always been that way. Plus, the di’kut never knows how to take care of himself, so someone has to remind him to.” 

“The point is,” Alpha cleared his throat. “Cody can’t be the only one running himself ragged for the ad’ika. The rest of you have to pitch in as needed so he can either train or take time for himself.” 

“But…” Cody swallowed softly. “But I don’t mind it…I’ve been lookin’ after him since the first time he regressed. Never interfered before.” 

“You didn’t have this body before,” Wolffe sighed. “Force knows you’re going to tire more easily, and get overtaxed faster.” 

“We’re here to help, vod,” Bly broke in with a little shake of his head. “So let us.” 

Cody stared thoughtfully at his hands. “Alright, then.” He finally sighed. “Help, then.” 

“Good, that’s settled!” Wolffe clapped his hand against his thigh. “Now I’m off. I gotta see a man about a ship.” 

The room fell silent for a moment, until Ponds and Bly wrangled a few of the others into a game of sabacc, and Anakin put on a holovid in the background. 

“Can…” Cody cleared his throat and looked over to Alpha-17. “Can I at least go to the medbay? To check on him, I mean?” 

“He’ll be back soon enough.” Alpha responded with a hum. “Now, what do you think of this rota, Kot’ika?” 

Cody took the datapad from him and looked up with a raise of the brow. “You can’t be serious, sir.” His voice cracked slightly and Alpha smirked. 

“Oh, I’m serious, cadet. I aim to get you di’kutla adiik into shape as fast as I can. Starting tomorrow.” 

“And…” Cody continued scrutinizing the exercise and training regimen. “And where will Rex be for all this?” 

“With whichever vod can take him,” Alpha responded succinctly. “We’ve been over this, ad’ika. There’s no shortage of laps for him to sit in while a vod is doing paperwork, or data work, or even while they’re going about their rounds they can take him. But you’ll be busy. Which means you can’t be toting Rex’ika around for several hours.” 

Cody’s shoulders slumped. “Right. I uh, I guess I do feel a little guilty about all this, but…” he gave a half shrug. “He seems happy, so…it can’t all be bad, can it? If he’s happy, I mean. But I suppose I could do with some thought about how best to handle that guilt…” 

“You’ll get there. But to start with, you need to let your vode do their part. And I’m sure they won’t be put out by it.” 

Cody handed the datapad back and settled into the pile of blankets and pillows Anakin had set up on the floor. “I suppose so.” He murmured. It was a while before Fives returned, looking exhausted and carrying a sleeping Rex. 

“Yours,” he muttered, holding him out gently. Cody looked to Alpha and settled deeper into his nest. 

“Alpha’s,” Cody replied, and Fives handed Rex off without complaint. 

“He’s had meds, and fluids, and bitten a good few of the medics. It took me and Kix to keep him still while he had his treatments.” 

Alpha chuckled deep in his chest as he settled Rex against him. “Of course it did. Get some rest, trooper. You earned it.” 

“Thank you, sir.” Fives looked relieved as he hurried to exit the quarters. 

Chapter Text

Alpha woke them all bright and early, cheerfully scooping Rex up from where he'd been snoozing with Cody. 

“Hush, ad’ika,” he soothed. “You're alright.” Rex sniffled pitifully and rubbed his face into Alpha’s shoulder tiredly. “Rex’ika,” Alpha patted his back. “You're over tired, little one.” 

Cody yawned and stretched. “Understatement,” he rolled out of the blanket. “After you left last night he cried for an hour and then refused to settle down.” 

Rex whimpered and clung to Alpha tighter. 

“Right,” Alpha sighed. “You five better have eaten and be ready to hit the training grounds in half an hour.” he carried Rex from the living area to the kitchen. 

“Hungry, ad’ika?” Alpha sat down and offered him a bit of bread. Rex pushed it away and whined. “Eat something, Rex'ika, your belly won't hurt so bad.” 

“No!” He turned away with another sleepy cry, his little hands pushing at Alpha’s. “Don't wanna eat!” 

“Cranky little tooka-cat,” Alpha muttered in exasperation. 

Rex stuck out his tongue. 

“Don't want to eat your breakfast, Rex?” Obi-Wan sat down with a smile. 

The little captain shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “No food.”

“Could you tell me why not, little one?” Obi-Wan’s voice was soft, pitched perfectly to interact with a child. 

Rex let out a sleepy huff and shook his head. 

“Lots of big emotions this morning, I see,” the general spoke quietly, with an empathetic slant to his head. “Would you eat something else? Porridge, perhaps? Or a bit of fruit?” 

Rex just went boneless, whining against Alpha. 

“Gearing up for another day of terror, Rex?” Anakin leaned against the doorframe with a grin. That didn't sit well with Rex at all. He coughed and whimpered, bursting into tears. 

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan huffed. 

“What?” He raised his hands in the air. “How was I supposed to know that would make him cry?” 

“He's a youngling, Anakin, nearly everything makes him cry.” 

Alpha pressed the back of his hand to Rex’s tiny forehead with a frown. “I don't think it was you, sir. His fever is spiking.” Alpha rose to his feet. “Better get you more medicine, Rex'ika.”

Rex wailed. He didn't want to go back to the medbay! Everything was icky and white and bright and everyone was so much bigger than him! It was so scary! He shoved his fingers in his mouth in a desperate attempt to self soothe. 

Alpha stuck his head in the other room. “Someone comm Kix. Need to get the ad’ika more meds.” 

Bly nodded. “Got it.”

“And why haven't you lot had breakfast yet?” Alpha scowled. 

“Working on it, but Waxer doesn't want to get up yet.” Boil thumped his brother on the back and the cadet shifted beneath the blankets. 

“M’tired, vod,” he mumbled, and launched into a coughing fit so violent even Rex’ika went silent. The little one stopped mid-yel, whimpering and hiding against Alpha’s neck. 

“Well,” Obi-Wan appeared at his side, gently disentangling the blanket from Waxer’s face. “That doesn't sound good.” The Jedi placed a hand on the cadet’s forehead and sighed. “You have quite the temperature.” He looked at the others with a grim set to his chin. “Bly, I think you ought to let Kix know that he may need to bring more supplies. Anakin, see to getting more blankets and then let the kitchens know we need meals sent up for a few days. I'm afraid once we know what we're dealing with, we may all be sick before the week ends.” 

Anakin grumbled his way out the door, and Alpha let out a sigh. “Right. I should have known you would be more affected by illness…your bodies are several vaccines behind.” Rex hiccupped sadly and Alpha swayed a bit on the spot. “It looks like we're changing plans.” 

Bly came back in from the kitchen with an irritated look on his face. “Kix will be here soon. He's gonna make us all go through tests though, so he knows what we're sick with. Dunno why the di’kut didn't do that with Rex yesterday…” he flopped onto the sofa angrily. 

Alpha paced the small room, trying his best to keep Rex from crying again. “Well, sounds like you'd better get to coming up with the entertainment, then. Once Kix leaves, the lot of us are here until he clears us to leave again.” 

“Kriffing right,” Kix shouldered through the door with his med pack and Anakin trailing behind with a stack of blankets and pillows. Kix set his bag on the end table, pulling a face when Rex peeked out from Alpha’s neck and burst into tears. “I know, vod'ika, I'm back. And I'm afraid I need to give you more meds again.” 

“No!” Rex kicked his little feet impatiently, his face turning a frankly impressive shade of red. 

“Yes, Rex'ika,” Kix opened his kit. “But if it helps, I'll do everyone else first, then you.” 

Alpha patted Rex on the back. “It's alright, your vod is going to make you feel better, ad'ika.” 

“Maybe do me first?” Cody looked at Kix anxiously. 

“Better,” Kix eyed Rex’s escalating tantrum. “Else he's likely to yell himself hoarse if you don't take him soon.”

Cody sat down and allowed Kix to scan him. 

“Low grade fever, but nothing else amiss.” He murmured. “I'll leave you some fever reducers.” 

Cody nearly sprang to his feet, anxiously plastering himself to Alpha’s side. “Come here, vod’ika,” he pleaded, holding out his arms. 

Rex nearly flung himself at Cody, his tiny face a mess of snot and tears. “You're a mess,” Cody said fondly, as Rex dropped his head to his shoulder, nearly instantly quieting. “Anyone got a 20 on VT?” 

Boil searched the pile of blankets as Waxer submitted wearily to Kix’s ministrations. 

“Here, Cody,” he picked up the plushie and held it out. 

“Look, ad’ika,” Cody cooed. “It's your friend, and he's so happy to see you!” 

Rex made a muffled sound of discontent, greedily snatching the toy from Boil. He buried his face into the soft fabric and sighed heavily. “You're alright, vod.” Cody patted his back as Rex miserably sucked his thumb. 

Alpha grimaced. “Does he always do that? Not exactly sanitary, especially if it could be how he picked up this virus in the first place.” 

Kix hummed. “Virus, yeah. That's my inclination. Nothing too tangible from Cody or Waxer.” He patted the cadet on his shoulder. “Meds. Water. Sleep. Yeah?” 

Waxer took the meds and downed them in one gulp, wincing at the taste. “Yeah,” he mumbled, throat scratchy. “Sleep.” He quickly went back to the makeshift bed, curling under three of the blankets Anakin had brought in. Boil, Bly, and Ponds turned up to be mildly infected as well. Kix grimaced. “Well boys, can't say I envy you. But if you have any more symptoms, or start vomiting or the like, call me. I want meds in you every few hours, and hydration. All you can do now is wait it out and try not to feel too miserable.” He left a few bottles of liquid on the table. “Meds.” He pointed, snapping his bag closed. “Right. I'll be back in later. I've got a surgery to assist in fifteen minutes.” 

Kix waved as he swept from the room. 

“So,” Anakin spoke up, looking around at the morose group. “What I'm hearing is license to be lazy.”

Obi-Wan met his gaze fondly. “I'll make some tea.”

Anakin clapped his hands together. “Right. You're likely to feel pretty rotten in the next hour if you don't already, so, everyone needs a clean change of clothes. After that, I'm voting for holovids.” He disappeared to change out of his day clothes. 

Cody held onto Rex until Obi-Wan returned from the kitchen. 

“Rex,” Cody wheedled, feeling a prickle of sweat slide down his back. “Do you think you could go with Alpha for a minute, while I change clothes?” 

Rex nodded miserably. 

“Thank you, vod.” Cody kissed the top of his sweaty head. “I won't be a minute.” 

Obi-Wan stared at Rex thoughtfully, then disappeared to his room for a moment before returning with a satchel. “Would you like to change clothes, Rex? I brought you something clean and soft to wear.” 

He shifted in Alpha’s arms, pouting at the general. “I bet it doesn't feel good, does it, being in those sweaty pajamas.” 

He nodded pitifully. “Here,” Obi-Wan opened the satchel. “Let's get you changed.” 

Alpha and Obi-Wan worked quickly to change him into a clean tunic and leggings. “I have something else here,” Obi-Wan passed Alpha a pair of socks and he worked them onto Rex’s little feet. “Do you want to try it, little one?” Obi-Wan pulled something else from the depths of his bag. Rex wiggled curiously, leaning forward. “Here,” Obi-Wan gently held the pacifier toward Rex. “In your mouth, youngling.” 

Rex allowed it, a little curious frown on his flushed face. 

“Is it nice, ad’ika?” Alpha asked, wrapping a blanket around him. Rex hummed happily, hugging VT tighter. 

“And much more sanitary than your fingers.” Obi-Wan murmured approvingly. 

“I see Alpha found you something that isn't your fingers,” Cody shuffled back into the room, collapsing into a pile with Bly and Ponds. Bly shoved a blanket at him and he wrapped himself up so only his face was showing. 

“What's that?” Waxer and Boil were one imperceptible tangle of limbs beneath their shared blankets. 

“This,” Anakin draped himself over an armchair. “Happens to be the best holo drama I've ever seen.” 

“Fives would beg to differ,” Ponds sneezed. 

“Fives can bite me.” Anakin rolled his eyes. “He's got no taste.”

Rex made a little inquisitive sound and pointed toward Cody, looking up at Alpha.

“Let him rest, Rex'ika. You can have all the cuddles you want with me, okay?” Alpha moved to sit on the sofa beside Obi-Wan. 

“I thought you'd seen this one already?” The general sounded like he had the beginnings of a sore throat as he looked over at his former Padawan. 

“Mhm,” Anakin sipped at his tea and wiggled under a blanket. “They haven't though. So I started over.” 

“Shhh!” Bly and Cody scowled at Anakin. 

“Sorry. You're not missing much, though. It's just establishing the setting on Naboo.” 

Alpha fussed over Rex, settling him firmly against his chest and gently wiping his nose with a tissue. 

“Settle, cyar'ika,” he whispered as Rex squirmed. “You're safe here. Can you get some good rest for me?” Alpha passed a hand over Rex’s blonde curls gently. Rex’s eyelids dropped deeper and deeper, and before the tiny captain dropped off to sleep he gripped the pacifier with one hand. 

“Sleepy, buir.” He mumbled, before instantly dropping off to sleep. Five heads swiveled to face Alpha with identical grins. 

“Haha, buir,” Waxer pointed and Boil laughed. 

“He called you buir,” Cody was delighted, looking up at Alpha with glee. 

“Well you are, though,” Anakin paused the video momentarily. “Aren't you? At least, sort of like Obi-Wan is to me, right? You kinda raised them, didn't you?” 

“Anakin, if you start calling me your father-”

“Too late!” Anakin smirked. “I'm telling everyone you're my dad now. That girl at the shops even called you my dad, remember?” 

Obi-Wan grimaced. “Don't remind me. But this isn't about me,” the general slid into a grin of his own as he took stared at Alpha. “It's about Alpha and his six adiike.”

“Force help me,” Alpha looked down at Rex just to have something to do. “But I guess I am.” He relented finally, the gleam of happiness in the five cadet’s eyes not going unnoticed. “Just don't call me that in front of the other commanders, I’ll never live it down.”

“Got it,” Cody settled his head against Alpha's knee comfortably. “Call you that to anyone who will listen.” 

“Careful you,” Alpha threatened. “Or I'll have to punish you for insolence.”

“You wouldn't,” Bly lazily propped his head on Ponds’ shoulder. “You care too much to see us miserable.” 

“We're already miserable,” Waxer gave up and extricated himself from Boil, squishing himself in between Obi-Wan and Alpha. Obi-Wan studiously draped a spare blanket over him, and Waxer curled up to Alpha's side. “That's true.” Cody felt himself sliding towards a nap, surrounded by his vode and his Jedi. “But hopefully we won't be for long.”

Chapter Text

Rex was miserable when he woke up. His head pounded, his nose was congested, and his entire body hurt. When he cracked his crusty eyes open, he came face to face with a broad expanse of chest. Right. Alpha had shown up…and worse, he’d seen him…like that. While he’d learned from his vode that it was nothing to be ashamed of, he hadn’t exactly intended on Alpha and both Jetii finding out about it. Especially not while he was stuck in the body of a karking tubie. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and turned to face the other direction. Waxer was slumped on the arm of the sofa, half propped against the back and half against Alpha.The elder clone had one arm firmly around Waxer’s waist so the cadet didn’t tumble off. Rex shivered and sighed, His headache spiked and he let out an uncomfortable grumble, muffled by…something. He blinked a few more times, then reached a tiny hand around to pull the foreign object from his mouth. Huh. Rex shifted a bit. He wasn’t too sure how he felt that he’d been given a pacifier without his permission. But he also couldn’t remember which of his vode had done it. His brain was foggy and hazy, and he felt trapped in that oh so delicate balance between wanting to tumble back into the softness and wanting to push it away and at least try and be somewhat of an adult. While he was contemplating the object, holding it a bit away from him to better see it, he let out a hoarse sneeze. The act sent a fresh wave of pain through his sinuses, but with his tiny frame it also sent him moving forward a bit, inadvertently knocking his head into Alpha’s shoulder. The subsequent motion had his nose colliding directly with the ARC trooper’s clavicle. He dropped the pacifier, bringing his pudgy hand up to his nose, feeling a traitorous sheen of tears welling in his eyes. Alpha was immediately in motion, his movements in turn waking up Waxer. 

“What happened, ad’ika?” Alpha’s voice was gruff with sleep, his throat sounding as if every word was painful for him, too. Nonetheless, the battle-hardened trooper’s face was soft, his eyes kind as he wrapped both his arms around Rex. Rex leaned into the contact, blinking hard to try and keep the tears at bay. Alpha was actually crooning at him, like he was some kind of…ik’aad. And he could only sniff and curl closer to him. “Did you sneeze yourself awake?” 

Waxer uncurled from his cramped position and began stumbling across the room toward the fresher. “Rex?” 

Rex only whimpered, taking unending comfort in the way Alpha was scrutinizing him carefully, gently taking his hand from his face to look at his nose. Suddenly Cody was in Waxer’s place, laying a soothing hand on Rex’s back. He silently offered his other arm, but Rex just shook his head. 

“He’s alright.” Alpha concluded, after giving Rex’s nose a good wipe with a clean tissue. Rex scowled, though his rage was somewhat dampened by the large tears rolling down his cheeks. “He sneezed so hard he woke himself up.” 

Cody retracted his arm, looking only a bit hurt as Rex was once again settled against Alpha’s chest. “Oh.” 

“Kote,” Rex mumbled, as Cody leaned down and came back up holding that infernal pacifier again. Cody held it out to him. 

“What?” 

Rex stared for a moment before reaching out one of his tiny hands and taking it back. “C’n stay,” he mumbled, coughing a bit. “Stay with me. Just wanted buir.” He felt the need to explain himself, but as his mindset began to slip again, he found himself less caring about his fleeting bout of embarrassment. Besides, Cody would knock anyone on their shebs that even dared to make a comment about his regression. And Fives. And Kix, and…well, a number more of his vode, now. Maybe even buir- Alpha, he corrected himself, finding it suddenly unfitting to use the older clone’s name. 

Cody coughed into his sleeve. “Okay, vod’ika,” he relented, curling up in the barest hint of space beside Alpha. “I’ll stay. If…” he hesitated for a split second, something soft and uncertain crossing his face before he forged on. “That is…if buir says its okay.” 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Alpha scooted over to give him room. The two Jedi had packed off to their rooms, evidently, giving the clones the rest of the furniture for the rest of the night. “Now get your shebs over here and under this blanket before you start getting chills again.” Alpha held the large quilt up, and Cody shuffled until he was curled against his side. “Now go to sleep.” 

Rex was already drifting again, one hand clutched in Alpha’s tunic. “That’s an order, cadet.” 

Cody chuckled, but it sounded rough against his throat. His eyes rapidly grew heavy, and he let his head drop onto Alpha’s shoulder. The next time he woke up, there were new additions to the pile of sleeping forms. Evidently Wolffe, Fives, and Jesse had decided to join them. Only…while Jesse and Fives were normal sized, Wolffe was about Cody’s size. He yawned heavily and blinked a few times, only to find Wolffe staring at him from his place curled under Jesse’s arm. 

Okay? Cody signed tiredly. 

Affirmative. Wolffe pointed to the others and mimed sneezing, and Cody pulled an empathetic face with a nod. 

Okay? Wolffe signed, and pointed to Rex. 

Cody nodded, leaning a bit more into Alpha’s side. Affirmative. 

Then Wolffe pointed to where Boil and Bly had bedded down, and Cody caught sight of yet another cadet smushed in between them. He stifled a grin and Wolffe nodded tiredly, looking pleased as Waxer curled up to his free side. 

“Go back to sleep.” Alpha’s voice caught him off guard. “You two can socialize when the sun is up.” 

Cody’s body was heavy with the need for sleep, and he turned his face into Alpha’s scarred bicep. “Yes, buir.” He mumbled tiredly. 

Rex wasn’t sure how he knew it, but someone other than Alpha or Cody was holding him. Judging from the size, it wasn’t Jesse or Kix, or one of the vode who hadn’t been shrunk. He let out a few sneezes and groaned, screwing up his face. 

“Your sneezes are so cute, vod.” The amused voice spoke up, and he immediately opened his eyes, craning his neck to see the cadet holding him. 

“Wolffe?” 

“Apparently so.” Wolffe sighed. “And Fox. One of the boys dropped him off last night. Fives and Jesse brought him over and I bumped into them on my way.” 

Rex nestled his head into the lanky teen’s neck. “Same age as Kote.” He mumbled.

“I am, yeah, as near as Coric could figure when he came earlier. So far, from what he and Kix have estimated, in terms of natborn years Cody and I are the oldest, they think we’re maybe 17 or so. Fox is about 15, then Ponds at 12, Bly at 10, Boil and Waxer are maybe 6 or so?” he scrunched his eyebrows together. “It’s difficult for them to tell really, with the accelerated aging, even if we are cadets.” He held Rex a little closer. “And finally there’s you, vod’ika. Did they tell you you’re only around 3?” 

Rex purred like a congested loth-kitten, basking in the contact. “Evaar’la.” he mumbled. “Never really got a chance to be,” he yawned. “Before.” 

Wolffe pushed aside the pang of guilt, and smoothed a hand over Rex’s blonde curls, once again startled at how fresh and soft his own hands looked. None of them had a scar on them, their skin fresh and smooth, all facial hair gone and any shaved heads now bore the slightly shaggy hair of a cadet. “No,” he said softly. “You didn’t, did you? But for now, maybe things can be different, at least for a while.” Wolffe told him. “Because now we don’t have to worry about…” he pushed back at the old memories, the fear bubbling up inside his chest. “Because we’re not on Kamino.” he finished. “We’re on Coruscant, with the generals, and our vode. And the longnecks can’t take our happiness away this time.” 

“You say that like there was any the first time.” Fox took a seat beside Wolffe. “C’mon, you’ve had him all morning, I want a turn with the ik’aad.” 

“Not,” Rex protested sleepily, but he let Fox take him anyway. It was actually kind of nice, being passed around from one lap to another. He didn’t mind at all, so long as Alpha or Cody was there when he was ready to fall asleep again. 

“Not even a little?” Fox teased gently, as Rex settled against his scrawny chest. 

“Nuh uh.” Rex rubbed his eyes and coughed. 

“Meds!” Ponds scampered into the room holding a tray with various bottles and cups on it. “Coric left them when he came in to check on us, and you three are the only ones who haven’t had them yet.” He set the tray on the table and handed Wolffe a bottle. 

“Down the hatch, I guess…” Wolffe grimaced, tossing back the dark liquid with a grunt. “Ugh, ori’dush…” he shuddered, and Rex let out a grating giggle. “Oh, that’s funny is it?” 

Rex nodded. “Not so funny when it’s your turn, vod.” Fox used his spare hand to toss back his own dose, then Ponds held out a spoon. 

“C’mon, Rex’ika. Your turn.” 

Rex suddenly felt overcome with the urge to hide, even if he knew the medicine was safe, it came from his ori’vode. His vode who worried about him because he was sick, and had sent him medicine to feel better. A flash of something long buried reared its head in his mind, and he slipped free of Fox’s grasp. 

“Rex!” Wolffe cried.

“No!” Rex ran as fast as his chubby toddler legs could take him, through the rest of the living area and into the kitchen. He tore past General Kenobi working at the table, past Cody making more tea, past the rest of his vode clustered on the floor. 

“Rex, come take your medicine!” Ponds and Fox chased after him, but he was too quick, dodging them and making it down the short hall. In the blink of an eye he had to decide which way to dive, and he ended up in one of the bedrooms. It was dark, and there was someone sleeping in the bed, but he didn’t care. Rex scrambled for the wardrobe and flung himself inside, hiding beneath the layers of clothing. 

“Rex!”

“Hey, what-” A protest, followed by a coughing fit. He’d run right into Anakin’s room. 

“Rex?” 

He scrambled farther back, pressing his back against the wooden boards. 

“What’s going on in here?” 

“Buir,” Fox was breathless. “Something set Rex off when he was about to take his meds, and now he won’t come out of the wardrobe.” 

“And,” another set of bone-rattling coughs. “They woke me up!” Rex would have laughed at how childish Anakin sounded, if he hadn’t been in the throes of recalling some of his worst memories-which was saying a lot, since most of his memories were bad. 

“Out, you three,” Alpha’s deep voice floated back to Rex’s ears. “Go.” 

“But-” Cody’s protests were cut off, and three sets of feet shuffled from the room. 

The door swished shut. 

“Apologies, sir.” 

Anakin gasped for a breath and Rex dimly heard what sounded like someone patting someone else on the back. 

“T-thanks,” Anakin breathed heavily. 

“Of course. I’m sorry about this, I’ll try to make it quick so we don’t disturb your rest anymore.” 

“It’s alright, really.” Anakin rasped. “I just want to know he’s okay.” 

“He will be.” Footsteps came close and the door creaked open slowly. “Ad’ika,” Rex flinched as the layers of clothing were pushed aside, and the dim lighting revealed his hiding spot. Alpha’s face was filled with concern as he crouched in front of the wardrobe. “Cyar’ika,” he murmured sadly. “Would you like to come out and tell me what’s the matter?” 

Rex’s breath hitched on another sob, and his tiny frame shook. 

“Can I guess, then?” Alpha lowered himself into a sitting position. Rex tried his hardest to even his breathing, but he felt his composure fleeing rapidly. He was finding it harder by the day not to be fully regressed with all the coddling, and the body didn’t help either. As it was, being so overwhelmed with memories only made it hurt worse when he realized he had none of his adult practice to fend them off. “I think, maybe…you’ve been thinking about what medical used to be like on Kamino? Perhaps…feeling some other worries come back, about how Kote and the others would hide you from the longnecks?” 

Rex’s head twitched in a nod, and he let out an anguished noise. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore, Rex’ika.” Alpha whispered, and Rex thought he sounded sad. “You don’t have to fear decommissioning anymore. Your vode and I, the generals…we won’t let them touch you. They wouldn’t even be able to get in without clearance, much less be inclined to even come to Coruscant.” He continued. “I swear to you, ori’haat, you are safe here. I would tear anyone apart if they tried to touch you the way they did.” Alpha moved closer and suddenly Rex was wrapped in his arms again. “Rex,” he sighed. “I should have told you this before…I should have told you all before…” He was definitely sad, Rex could tell. He reached out his little hands and grabbed Alpha’s tunic desperately. “Rex, ni kyr’tayl gai sa’ad.” Rex instantly stilled, eyes wide and red as Alpha gently maneuvered him so their foreheads were pressed together. “Ner adiik.” He mumbled fondly, and Rex hiccupped. 

“They’re not gonna take me away from you?” He whispered, his tiny voice raw. 

“No,” Alpha used his sleeve to wipe his tears away. 

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Anakin knelt down beside them. “Rex, look at me.” 

Rex reluctantly looked at his general, trying his best to stop the flow of tears. 

“I promise, you’re safe here. And however long it takes until you’re back to normal…” Anakin hesitated, then caught himself. “..if you’re back to normal, and even then, if you aren’t…I’ll keep you safe, okay? You always have mine and Obi-Wan’s lightsabers ready and willing to fight for you.” 

Rex calmed a bit more at that, knuckling at his itchy eyes. “T-thank you…” he whispered, voice barely audible. 

“Any time.” Anakin slowly rose to his feet. “Now, I’m going to get some tea, my throat is killing me.” He shuffled from the room slowly, Cody brushing past him as soon as the doors had opened. 

“Rex,” he rushed over and flopped to the carpet, taken aback when Alpha instead put a calloused hand on the back of his neck and pulled their foreheads together. 

“Please,” he insisted. “Let me say my piece before you fuss over the ad’ika.” 

Cody stilled. That was his ‘utmost importance’ voice. He leaned into the contact gratefully and took a deep breath through his plugged up nose. “Kote.” Alpha spoke up, soft yet firm. “Listen to me. I need to make something right that I ought to have done ages ago. So…I’m saying it now. Kote, ni kyr’tayl gai sa’ad.” 

Cody felt his eyes go comically wide, and he found himself leaning even more into the touch, feeling Alpha’s hand just that much more against his neck. He shut his eyes and let himself feel the depth of emotion hanging in the air. “Thank you,” he mumbled. “Thank you, buir.” 

After a moment, he pulled away and swiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, turning his attention to the grinning yet still discontented bundle in Alpha’s lap. “You okay, vod’ika?” 

Rex nodded, reaching for him. “Kote,” he begged. “Please.” 

“Always,” Cody hugged him close and breathed in the faint scent of shampoo clinging to Rex’s fine curls. “Always, vod. Forever. Whenever you need me. I promise, if there’s anything I can do, I will. And if I’m not there for whatever reason, know I would be if I could.” Alpha gave the two of them a quiet moment, then put a gentle hand on Cody’s shoulder. 

“Come on you two, I think it’s best we give Skywalker his room back.” 

“Oh,” Cody grinned sheepishly. “Yeah. Didn’t think about that.” 

Alpha helped him up and kept one arm over his shoulders as he led the two of them back into the kitchen. Naturally, all eyes turned to Rex. He shifted in Cody’s arms, turning his face into his neck. “He’s alright.” Cody cleared his throat. “He’s just fine. But now, I think, he’s finally ready for meds.” 

“And a nap,” Alpha broke in, and Rex whined. “Hey, no arguments. You’ll feel so much better.” 

Wolffe padded over with his medicine and gently rubbed Rex’s back. 

“Vod’ika, can you swallow this for me?” 

Rex whimpered pitifully, looking put upon and very tired as he turned outward and allowed Wolffe to give him the liquid. He made a face and Cody couldn’t help but press a kiss to his damp curls. “Now, ready for sleep?” Rex nodded against his chest. “Plus,” he looked at the other clones with a cheeky grin. “I think buir has something he wants to say to you all.” 

Cody felt the hand that reached out as he carried Rex from the room, Alpha affectionately tugging on a lock of his hair. Cody was just glad the living area didn’t have a door between the dining area, so he could still hear Alpha talking to the others while he settled Rex down. 

“C’mon, vod’ika,” Cody bundled him up in a blanket and held him close. “You have VT,” he tucked the vulptex into Rex’s blanket. “And this, if you want it,” he wasn’t surprised that Rex accepted the pacifier given how exhausted and overwhelmed the tiny captain was. Rex blinked long and slow as he worked the pacifier in his mouth. “Sleepy, cyar’ika?” 

Rex hummed. “Then have a nap. It’s important for you to rest while you feel ill.” Rex’s brows creased in a way that he was all too familiar with, and he let out a sigh. “Yeah. Fine.” Cody settled himself into the sofa more comfortably and draped the abandoned quilt over himself, holding Rex a little tighter. The entire quarters had that still air quality to it, that spoke of illness and unease, but Cody felt affection curling in the pit of his stomach as he listened to Alpha vowing himself to his vode. For now things were…good. Rex was resting peacefully, Anakin had likely said something he’d felt for a long while, and he and his vode had maybe the best buir they could ever hope for. Things would be different this time, for however long it lasted. And even if they didn’t return to normal…maybe buir could still look after them? Cody’s thoughts drifted into the segmented nonsense of dreams, and just before dozing turned to deep sleep, he felt his vode descend on the sofa and settle around him.

Chapter Text

After another day or so, the sickness had run its course, but Alpha put his foot down and initiated another 48 hours worth of rest. While the older cadets initially complained, he found they weren’t so upset when it meant they could relax more. After breakfast, Fives and Echo arrived, trailed by a gleeful fully grown Bad Batch and a very grumpy looking pint-sized Hunter. 

“You’re all so small !” Wrecker cackled happily, beaming around at them all. Wolffe and Cody scowled at him, but Waxer and Boil simply grinned at him with a gleam in their eyes. 

“Dare you to pick us up at the same time.” Waxer’s grin was absolutely feral. 

“Easy.” Wrecker flexed his enormous biceps. “You barely weigh anything.” 

“Oh yeah?” Boil did a running leap and Wrecker easily caught him, allowing him to scramble up and onto his shoulders with a happy whoop. Waxer’s eyes went wide and he nearly tripped in his haste to get his six year old body to cooperate. “Me too!” He crowed, and Wrecker scooped him up with a grin. 

“Where’s Rex?” Fives sauntered over to the sofa where Wolffe and Cody were relaxing. 

“He went with buir,” Cody didn’t miss the genuine surprise followed by happiness that flickered over his vode’s faces. “General Kenobi had to…well…” 

Wolffe slung an arm around Cody’s shoulders with a wistful sigh. “The units need to mobilize soon, and unfortunately for our scrawny shebs’, the good general has decided that we’re not able to go with them.” 

“Something about unfit for command,” Cody grumbled and crossed his arms. “Never been unfit for command even when I was a cadet.” 

Fives perched on the arm of the sofa. “Do you want us to stay, vod? I can ask the general…” 

Echo sat down on Wolffe’s left and looked to Cody. “Yeah, it isn’t any trouble. We can always try.”

“He has plenty of company,” Wolffe countered. “You two are needed elsewhere anyway, you’re ARCs,” he pointed out. “Squad needs you two.” 

Echo looked conflicted. “Well yeah, but…still. If you’re not comfortable staying behind…” 

Hunter edged slowly closer to their little group, Tech and Crosshair hot on his heels. They moved as one unit, and Tech and Crosshair’s protective posture clearly meant they were worried about him. 

“He’ll be fine, vod.” Wolffe insisted, still finding it odd that his eye had suddenly become functioning again. It was interesting seeing in a full field of vision after so long without. “I’ll keep him in line, and he’ll keep Rex in line.” 

“And Alpha will keep you all in line.” Fives smirked. 

“And then Rex will bite Alpha,” Echo chuckled. 

“Ah, to that point,” Fives smirked. “You owe me ten credits,” he nodded toward the door as it swished open. Alpha appeared, toting a very disgruntled Rex. “He finally got the general.” 

Obi-Wan was rubbing at an angry spot on his exposed forearm, though he had not malice in his expression. If anything he was amused and affectionate. 

Echo let out a disappointed hum, producing said credits from his belt pouch and passing them to his brother. 

“Anything new to report, sir?” Cody was on his feet as soon as they came in the door. “Were the archives able to help at all?” 

Obi-Wan sank into a chair wearily, and Waxer clambered down from Wrecker’s shoulders to clamber into the general’s lap. Bly and Ponds quickly set aside their card game and scrambled for Wrecker. Soon the largest vod was covered in a cadet pile, laughing uproariously.

Obi-Wan looked delighted by the fact he now had a lap full of cadet, allowing him to curl up against his shoulder. Kriffing Jetii and their unending urge to mother every small creature they came across…Cody shook his head fondly. It really baffled him to no end. But then, he thought, watching as Alpha actually knelt down to be on Hunter’s level-those of them with more Mandalorian influence in their life cycle were no better. Caring for the young was simply…mandokarla. If the general was ever anything, Cody thought mandokarla applied. He waited till the general had finished settling a blanket over Waxer before shifting anxiously. “G-general?” 

Obi-Wan actually had the karking gall to shush him like an ik’aad. “Patience, Cody. The information will still be there in a moment.” 

Cody felt his ears burning as he dropped to parade rest instinctively. He could hear Alpha quietly engaging Hunter in conversation, Tech and Crosshair occasionally chiming in. 

“Lemme have the ik’aad,” Fives begged, holding out his arms to the older trooper. “Please? I haven’t seen him at all today…” Cody could hear the implied tooka eyes Fives was making. He was famous for them. And he knew they’d work against Alpha. 

“Yes!” Fives scuttled to the sofa, happily toting their vod’ika in his arms. Rex was busily nuzzling his neck like a massif pup scent-marking their master. “Rex’ika, did you bite the general, hmm?” Fives' voice was sickly sweet, his expression soft as Rex cuddled up to him. Rex nodded against his neck, not seeming to mind in the least that he was curled up against cold plastoid. He could at least reach Fives' neck and face, and that seemed good enough for him. Rex mumbled a quiet apology against his neck, and Fives laughed. "No worries, vod, I'm sure the general doesn't hold it against you." 

General Kenobi smiled. “It's alright, Rex. It reminds me of Anakin, actually.” 

Cody snorted and rolled his eyes. “Probably why they get along so well.” 

He felt his frustration building as Wrecker pretended to lose the wrestling match, his good eye gleaming happily. “Well?” he demanded, and Wolffe grabbed his elbow, yanking him back down to sit beside Fives. 

“Don’t push the general, he’s your superior officer!” Wolffe scolded. 

“It’s alright, Wolffe.” Obi-Wan said gently, giving Waxer one last affectionate look as the six year old dropped off to sleep. “Cody is anxious, and that’s perfectly understandable given the gravity of the situation.” 

“The…gravity, sir?” Echo tilted his head. 

“It seems,” The general held Waxer a bit closer. Boil curled up against Wrecker’s armor happily, and Ponds and Bly leaned against his side. “It seems that…well, there is no easy way to say this.” Obi-Wan hesitated a bit. “As near as Master Nu and the others have been able to come by, during their research…there are a few artifacts scattered around the galaxy known to produce these effects. However, most of them are in the possession of the Sith, or have fallen out of known location. I have consulted with Masters Yoda and Windu, as well as Master Koon. They are of a similar opinion that an attack this pointed can only mean a handful of things. I am inclined to agree with Master Windu’s theory that there is a certain front seeking to cripple the efforts of the republic by putting our commanding officers out of commission one at a time.” He gazed pointedly at the cadets. Hunter shrank into his vode’s shadows nervously. Echo stood up and strode confidently across the room to wrap his good arm around Hunter’s skinny shoulders. “With Hunter being the most recent turn of events, and the rest of his squad remaining untouched, I can only assume he was targeted specifically.” 

Hunter looked as if he might cry, the usually stoic demeanor gone as he cowered against Echo’s midsection. 

“Which isn’t his fault,” Alpha rumbled pointedly. “It isn’t any of your faults. It just means that the Separatists, or the Sith, or…maybe even both of them are determined to take down our strongest men and hamstring our armies.” 

Echo patted Hunter on the back absently, and Boil hid his little face against Wrecker’s plastoid plating. 

“Sir,” Fives broke in, resting his cheek against Rex’s hair. “What’ll happen to the ones that step up to assume command? Won’t they just…poof too?”

“Yeah,” Wolffe frowned. “What about Thorn, and Thire and…Jesse and…they’re our brothers, sir! We don’t want this to happen to them anymore than we wanted it to happen to us!” Wolffe’s voice cracked as it reached the high register of panic. 

“ Will it happen to them, sir?” Cody piped up timidly, leaning into Wolffe’s side. “And…and can it be fixed?” Cody felt Wolffe’s panic rubbing off on him, curling into his stomach unpleasantly. Fives shushed Rex quietly as he began to make little scared sounds, feeding off the energy of his vode. “It’s okay, vod’ika.” Fives locked eyes with Echo, who gave him a nod. “Why don’t we go take a bath, hmm? We can try those bubbles General Ti sent ya. She’s gonna spoil you as bad as Alpha is, vod.” He quickly removed their youngest brother from the room. 

Obi-Wan huffed a weary sigh. “We…are unsure if the effects will be permanent. We’re currently trying to figure out just where those artifacts might be located and whether or not it intersects with the last known location of Ventress or Dooku.” 

“....general?” Fox spoke up quietly, sounding as uncertain as his vode had ever heard him. 

“Yes, Fox?” The general turned a kind gaze on him.

“Can..that is..am I…can I say something, even if it’s…disrespectful of someone who outranks me?” 

“How do you mean?” He readjusted Waxer across his lap. The cadet snored on, unfazed by the movements, his mouth hanging slightly open. 

“I…” Fox suddenly looked pale and afraid, shaking his head. “No. I-it’s…I can’t…he’s…” 

Alpha strode quickly over and knelt down beside him, firmly gripping his shoulders. “Listen to me. The general is a good man, mandokarla, and you will face no punishment here for speaking your mind. If this person is involved somehow,” Alpha scrutinized his face carefully. “If this person is…hurting you at all…then know that there is no safer place to speak up than among your vode, or with the general.” 

Fox’s lanky teenage frame shook slightly, and he looked ready to bolt for the door before deciding at the last second to dive toward Alpha instead. Alpha settled onto the floor and held onto him tightly. “Speak your mind, ad. Nobody is going to hurt you.” Bly and Ponds looked troubled, torn between going to Fox and taking the comfort Wrecker now offered by scooping them into his lap with Boil.

Fox continued to tremble, holding tight to Alpha’s tunic. “It’s…it’s the Chancellor.” he whispered finally, barely audible in the silent room. Wrecker and Boil settled themselves beside Alpha in a show of solidarity, the cadet looking absolutely at ease in Wrecker’s large arms. “He…he’s…najaat,” Fox spat, a sudden bout of derisiveness finding its way to the surface. “Ori’dush…he…he’s cold, buir. Demagolka. He hurts. And…his eyes…” Fox let out a choked sound and all Alpha could do was hold him a bit tighter, locking eyes with the general over his head. Obi-Wan’s eyes were alert, a slight flare of panic in their depths as he sat up straighter and cradled Waxer against his chest. 

“Do his eyes…change color, at all? When he’s angry, Fox?”

Fox nodded against Alpha’s chest. “Ciryc…he is empty. I see nothing in him, and…and he treats me like nothing. I heard something…he thought I wasn’t there…he always ignores me and this was no different. I heard him talking…” Alpha rubbed his back firmly as Fox let out a dry sob. “It was Nala Se!” The scrawny marsnal commander's voice pitched with fear as he cringed against Alpha's shoulder. A collective flinch went around the room, and the general’s brow raised slightly in question. 

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that name." Obi-Wan murmured apologetically. "A Kaminoan, I assume?"

Alpha's eyes flashed with poorly contained fury. "We are her pet projects," his tone was clipped. "She garnered quite the reputation around base for her brutality, and-"

“The demagolka!” Crosshair’s snarl took everyone by surprise, his fists curled at his sides, his eyes blazing. “She tortured us!” He hissed. “Used us like animals for her own pleasure, carving out our bodies like it was nothing to her! Adenn barr’ur!” 

“No!” Echo spoke up, equally as furious-the most anger Cody had ever seen in him. “She doesn’t deserve the title! She knows nothing of being a barr’ur!” Hunter shook against his armor, his eyes screwed tightly shut, his little hands coming up to cover his ears as if it would ward off the bad memories. 

"She tried to have Rex decommissioned," Cody's voice was hollow, his chest felt empty, and chill bumps covered his arms. "More than once. She didn't like deviance..."

"We had to hide him a lot," Ponds whispered, his eyes downcast. "Sometimes we were afraid he'd just disappear." 

"Or be reconditioned," Bly muttered with a cringe.

"Like Dogma," Echo whispered, and the others' faces became impossibly more pinched. "After Umbara..." 

Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "So that's why..." he lapsed into thought. "What exactly," he spoke very gently and carefully. "Does reconditioning entail?"

Alpha cut the conversation off at the pass with a very pointed look at the general. "All you need to know is that it's barbaric and inhumane. Vode go in...and templates come out. There's nothing left. And they go off to a new squad and follow orders without question." The air hung heavy, and he let out a long breath, resting his chin on Fox's head. "But we're off topic, sir. The ad won't last much longer. He needs to finish saying his piece." 

"Of course," Obi-Wan murmured, his eyes filled with empathetic pain as he held onto Waxer tightly. 

Fox let out several shaky breaths, grateful that Alpha’s large form kept him mostly shielded from the prying eyes. 

“What did the Chancellor say, ad’ika?” Alpha murmured softly. Cody padded over and draped a blanket over Fox’s shaking form, a worried crease to his brow as he sat down in between Wrecker and Alpha. Bly and Ponds had started to cry quietly, Boil not far behind. Wrecker wrapped his arms around them tighter.

“He said…” Fox flinched again. “Didn’t understand…” 

“It’s okay, Fox,” the general encouraged him gently. “Just tell us what you can remember. I might be able to help it make sense.” 

“Inhibitor…something?” Fox was clearly too worked up to be as useful as he might if fully composed. And none of his vode blamed him. They all bore identical expressions of pain and empathy. “Here,” he tapped at Alpha’s temple with a cold finger. “Control. Ke’gyce. Make us do stuff we don’t want to do. All of us.” Crosshair and Tech were visibly propping themselves up against the wall now, their faces pale as they exchanged a glance with Wrecker. Hunter had given up entirely, practically crawling Echo’s armor until he was lifted off his feet with his vod’s good arm. Finally, Tech and Crosshair slid to the floor, terror in their eyes as they simply stared at the tiny marshal commander falling apart in Alpha’s arms. 

“Did he…hurt you at all, verd’ika?” Cody had never heard buir sound so fragile. It was hard to tell which of his vode needed him more at the moment, and Cody wanted to help them all. Ultimately, he ended up prying one of Alpha's arms away and curling around Fox's back protectively, grateful for the support as the arm wound around him. 

Fox managed a timid nod. 

“Kriff!” Cody whispered, suddenly recalling something. “I should have known…the shabuir!” He clenched his jaw in anger, a vein standing out in his neck. “That’s where they came from, then?” 

Fox let out a pained moan, nodding as he attempted to get even closer to Alpha. Cody shifted, threading his arms around Fox's chest, trapping them between Alpha and his vod. 

“Where…what came from?” Obi-Wan spoke up, doing his best to ignore the foul vibrations in the force that floated around the room. The force was none too happy at the sudden revelation surrounding not one, but two influential allies of the republic. An influential Kaminoan and the Chancellor? Force help him, but things were about to get hairy. He pushed back at the gnawing pain the force was sending his way, the echo of all the trauma those in the room had experienced. 

“The karking scars on his chest!” Cody hissed, sounding not unlike Crosshair. “I saw them, last week. They weren’t there before, I’d have known what they looked like. They were…deliberate. Calculated. Evenly spaced, and intended to cause constant pain rather than actually debilitate.” 

Cody was so angry it startled Obi-Wan. He’d never seen the commander that angry, and Cody had plenty of cause to be angry. He instinctively tried to send him soothing feelings with the force, then realized it was not in fact Anakin he was dealing with, but Cody. Nevertheless, he felt Anakin probing back, sensing the turmoil. He attempted to share as much as he could through the force, and he felt Anakin’s answering shock and urgency so strongly it made him shift in his chair. “I think,” Obi-Wan spoke up slowly. “That I need to speak with Master Yoda and Master Ti about this. You’ve made some serious accusations, Fox, and while I can sense your honesty it does bear further investigating.” Obi-Wan shifted Waxer onto his hip and carefully picked his way over to stand in front of Alpha. “I am very proud of you, Fox.” He murmured, resting his hand on the boy’s head. “You put yourself at great risk to share this with us, and I can assure you that it will remain protected information. Your name will remain anonymous once the masters and I have done our research and bring the matter to the council. You must know we will keep you safe, and that as long as I have a say in the matter you won’t ever be penalized for sharing this information.” He crossed to the sofa and tucked Waxer in neatly. With one last fond glance, he turned on his heel. "I’m afraid I need to find Anakin-we have very little time to lose.” 

Obi-Wan rushed headlong from the room in a whirl of robes and flyaway hair, nearly knocking right into his former padawan in his haste. 

“Master, what’s wrong?” Anakin looked equally as frantic, his large eyes betraying a myriad of emotions. The concern and passionate anger radiating off him was enough for Obi-Wan to take a step backward with a grimace. 

“I think,” he said with a deep breath. “Before we do anything, we must meditate. We need to collect ourselves before bringing this to the others. It won’t do to have such clouds in the force surrounding us.” 

For once, Anakin simply nodded. “I think you’re right. Lead the way, master.” 

They fell into comfortable step as they mounted the stairs, heading for a comfortable enough balcony that had enough shrubbery that it provided a decent privacy curtain from the endless traffic outside. 

“They’ll be alright, won’t they, master?” Anakin copied his position, settling beside him on the smooth stone floor. 

Obi-Wan let his eyes slide shut, deeply breathing in the energy of the force. “This certainly changes things.” He agreed, the uncertainty of the force frustrating him a little. “Whether they will be okay, I cannot say. But what I can say for certain is that we can help them as much as we can, and keep them as safe as we can.” 

Anakin was silent for a few moments, and then Obi-Wan felt him tentatively requesting access to his full memory of the conversation. Obi-Wan allowed him to see, and when the memories came to a close, Anakin snarled. “Kriff if I’m going to let anyone else touch a hair on their heads! Especially Fox.” Anakin charged to his feet and began to pace. “Palpatine?” he mused to himself, his long strides taking him along the balcony and back again. “Palpatine…”

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked up at him. “Anakin.” 

The firm tones had his padawan stopping and turning to look at him. 

“Look into the force. Look into yourself. You knew it to be true long before this came to light. I kept my distance because I trusted you to come to that conclusion on your own. But now I cannot in good conscience hold my tongue any longer. You heard what Fox had to say. You felt the truth. Now please. For the sake of the clones, let yourself know the truth.” 

The weight seemed as if it physically shrunk him, but after a moment he sank down again, sitting beside Obi-Wan once more. “I know it to be true.” He said finally. “The force isn’t lying.”

“No,” Obi-Wan agreed. 

“I went to see the healers today.” What was supposed to be meditation was now evidently only a one on one conversation. “They’re…cautiously optimistic it might be reversible. But it depends on whether or not we can pinpoint what artifact caused the damage in the first place. Apparently the legends are contradictory on whether or not this could be permanent. If it is…” he hesitated. “Kriff, if it is, then…why not just give them all a chance at a real childhood?”
“Anakin,” Obi-Wan softened. “Your big heart will get you into trouble. You know we can’t afford any more of this happening.”

“But…” Anakin had to fight to control the volume of his voice, the feeling of being a chastised padawan. He tried again, softer this time. “But if it is the Chancellor’s doing…if he’s really a Sith…then…surely we won’t need them to fight anymore?” 

“The Separatists won’t go down that easily, padawan mine.” Obi-Wan murmured wearily. “There is still Dooku to contend with, and Ventress, and any number of other groups who have aligned themselves with the cause if only for the coin.” 

“Bane,” Anakin mumbled with a tired hum. 

Obi-Wan nodded. “And many more.” 

“Then…we start with Master Yoda,” Anakin said confidently. “He always knows what to do. And if he doesn’t then, Mace, or Jocasta, or anyone else that will listen.” 

“I should like to speak to Shaak Ti,” Obi-Wan mused. “Her inside insights will prove indispensable in the matter.”  

“Hmm,” Anakin sighed. “Well, we have work to do, master. I’d like to go in with a clear mind, how about you?” 

“Unusual for you, Anakin,” Obi-Wan couldn’t help himself.

“Oh, Anakin’s such a hot-head, look at Anakin, he feels emotions too deeply!” Anakin teased back, rolling his eyes. “Master, this is serious!” 

“Oh,” Obi-Wan spoke deeply, once again letting his eyes close as he reached out to the force. “I know.”

Chapter Text

As it turned out, Life Day being just around the corner gave the lot of them an excuse to put aside all unpleasant thoughts. The 212th and 501st had been up to much behind the scenes planning, as it happened. Though they were deployed three days before the holiday itself, taking both generals and Ahsoka with them, they left behind plenty to remind their vode that they weren’t alone. Tup and Jesse had strung lights all over the quarters. Fives and Echo had brought in a mountain of mysterious wrapped boxes with very stern instructions that they were not to be touched yet, stacking them neatly in the corner. Kix and Coric had even lent a hand, wrangling their small commanders into the kitchens for a bout of cookie making. It was…unsettling. Cody couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling something bad was going to happen, though things were perfectly content for the moment. They’d all tumbled out of bed early enough, with Rex surprisingly in the lead once Cody had reminded him of the mysterious stack of boxes. Several different vode had chipped in to buy them gifts, as was the way amongst the 212th and 501st. Anakin always insisted they celebrate the day, even if it was only a trinket or two passed amongst brothers in the barracks or at mess. It didn’t have to be huge, but it was nice to stop for a moment and consider what they still had left after so much loss. Currently, he thought they had rather a lot to be grateful for, despite his brain urging him to get his lazy shebs back to the front with the rest of the men. He never got a break, and he was going to take Kix’s advice and enjoy this one for all it was worth. Colorful paper littered the floor, the welcome sound of happiness filling the quarters for a change. Waxer and Boil made little paper animals from the discarded wrappings, lining them up on the arm of the sofa in a little menagerie. Hunter looked unsure what to do with his gifts, but Fox had put a stop to that early on, assuring him that they were from his squad and came with every good intention. Rex was the center of the show, wrangling most of them into his elaborate set of games he’d invented with his new bag of toys. He’d gotten several new stuffed animals, two sets of blocks and a couple more blankets, and a few storybooks which he hadn’t initially seemed interested in. Cody had a hunch he’d be just fine with them once he was good and tired, though. He just wasn’t certain any of them were really accustomed to being treated like natborn kids, though Rex’s regression had given him a leg up on the rest of them. Seeing Hunter’s perplexed reaction to gift giving had Cody worried though, thinking that the younger clones didn’t even normally go in for Life Day at all. He remembered when Anakin had first brought up the concept, with much of the 501’st and 212th being just as confused as Hunter. 

Cody leaned his hip against the wall of the doorway, holding the warm mug of tea in both hands to warm them. It was quite a sight, the decorations brightly lighting up the little room, the circle of vode surrounding an elaborate block tower on the rug. He pushed himself off the wall and padded over to where Alpha was lounging on the sofa, holding out the mug. 

“Thank you, ad’ika.” He murmured with a smile. Cody curled into the space beside him, dragging a blanket over himself. 

“He's gonna fall asleep where he sits if he isn't careful.” Cody chuckled, watching Rex drowsily advance his army of tooka cats across the carpet. Hunter, Bly and Ponds carefully calculated their next move, muttering to one another as they stared at their own force of porgs and fathiers. Boil and Waxer moved some of the blocks to create little barricades for the toys to hide behind. The game got ever more convoluted and complex as the minutes drifted by, until the peaceful chatter was broken up by Fox and Wolffe drifting in from the kitchen. 

“Lunch!” Wolffe clapped his hands together and Fox quickly wiped a bit of icing from his face.

“Been sneaking sweets?” Alpha hefted Rex onto his hip and Rex squealed happily. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Fox grinned, and Alpha gave him a soft slap to the back of his head as he walked past.

“Alright, fine,” Fox grumbled, dropping into a chair beside Cody. “I may have had a couple of cookies.” 

Alpha settled Rex in his lap and began tearing apart a warm piece of bread, setting the little bits on the table so Rex could feed himself. “Then you can’t have any later. You’ll get a stomach ache.” 

Fox shrugged as he picked up his spoon, exchanging a mischievous glance with Boil and Waxer. “Worth it.”

The silence that settled over the table was peaceful and content. Everyone had their share of filling stew, sitting warmly in their bellies with the fresh bread. Once the last of them had finished eating, Bly and Ponds washed the dishes while Boil and Waxer dried them. To Cody’s surprise and delight, Hunter had become invested in one of the holodramas that Fives had left for them, and he would ask for it whenever he felt confident enough to speak up. He was sitting on the sofa, curled into a blanket and looking slightly bewildered as he held onto a stuffed porg that Wrecker had gotten for him. Cody sank down beside him.

“Want to watch more of the drama?” He asked, leaning down and picking up his stuffed fathier. Admittedly, most of them were too old to need comfort items the way Rex did, but it was nice to be thought of just the same. He could picture how excited Tup and Fives had been when they picked it out at the shops. Cody wrapped a blanket around himself and tucked the fathier into it neatly, patting its soft head. Hunter shrugged, watching Alpha pace around the edges of the room trying to get Rex to sleep. Cody picked up the discarded datapad and projected the next episode at a lower volume.

“What’re you going to call your friend?” Cody set the pad aside and nodded toward the porg. 

“Wrecker is going to insist it have a name,” Hunter rolled his eyes. “He has a tooka doll he made himself, it’s called Lula.” 

“Rex mentioned it once or twice.” Cody nodded. “Do you have anything in mind yet, or would you like some help?” 

Hunter looked down at the stuffed animal. “It’s soft,” he ran his fingers through the fluff. “And weighted toward the bottom.” 

Cody nodded approvingly. “The weighted ones, or the slightly weighted ones are always nice to hold.” He gestured to the fathier. “This one has beans in its toes.” 

“Speck.” Hunter decided after a moment.

“Because of the spot on its eye?” 

Hunter nodded. “What are you going to call yours?”

“I gotta keep with the theme,” He shrugged. “I’ll need to call him FT. Now VT has vode.” 

“They can be uh…fluff squadron.” Hunter snickered, and Cody grinned. 

“Careful, if the others hear you say that, it’ll become a real thing.” 

“What's a thing?” Fox crammed himself in between the two of them. 

“I was just helping Hunter name his porg.”

“What did you name it?” He asked curiously, looking down at the fluffy toy. 

“Speck. And Cody's is called FT.”

“Forming a squadron?” Wolffe grinned. 

“Naturally.” Cody settled himself comfortably. 

“Then I guess we're all going to name them that way,” Fox leaned down and plucked his massif off the carpet. “Right, MT?” He patted the toy on its head. 

Bly and Ponds trailed into the room, chattering happily as they munched on the remains of a couple cookies. Rex pattered in a moment later, giggling mischievously as he threw himself at Fox. 

“Avoiding bath time, Rex’ika?” Fox pulled him into his lap with a grin. 

“Don't wanna bath!” Rex chirped happily, twining his little arms around Fox’s neck. 

“Buir thinks you should,” Fox hugged him close. “Cause it'll help you get all relaxed for your nap.” 

“Don't wanna nap.” Rex nuzzled into his neck. 

“Not tired even a little?” Fox tried. 

“No. Never sleepy,” Rex insisted. “Don't have bad dreams if don't sleep.”

“You've been having bad dreams?” Cody asked worriedly. 

“Lots of big stuff.” Rex mumbled around his fingers. “Dogma. Umbara.” Rex shuddered. “Geonosis. Echo.”

Fox ran a hand through his hair and shushed him quietly. 

“Makes sense we wouldn't know,” Fox met Cody’s eye over Rex’s tiny shoulder. “Since he's been sleeping with buir, we wouldn't be able to hear anything with the door closed.” 

“Lucky the generals have been nice enough to let us use their rooms while they're away.” Cody agreed. He and Fox had enjoyed sleeping in a bed instead of on the floor with the others. 

“But that doesn't excuse the fact that you've been hiding the bad dreams from us, vod’ika.” Fox patted Rex on the back. 

“Buir helps,” Rex defended himself half-heartedly. 

“But we can help too,” Fox reminded gently. “So don't feel like you can't come get one of us if you need to, vod.” 

Rex hid his face in Fox’s neck and hummed. “Don't wanna make vod clean up bed.” 

“You know that isn't an issue,” Cody reminded him quietly. “We don't care about that, besides, your body is young, vod. It's bound to happen more often when you're like this. Fox and I, Wolffe, any of the other vode…we don't care. We're just glad when you ask for help, vod’ika.” 

Alpha strolled into the room, sleeves rolled up and a frown on his face. “There you are, Rex'ika. Don't run off like that, verd’ika. It isn't safe. What if your brothers weren't around? Something could have happened to you and I wouldn't have known.” 

Rex whined quietly. 

“I'm not mad, cyar'ika,” Alpha gently took him from Fox. “I just need you to know that you're far too small to wander off on your own.” Alpha dropped a kiss to Rex’s dirty curls. “Now let's go get you all clean, hmm?” 

Hunter had been watching the exchange curiously, a little frown on his face. As Alpha carried Rex from the room, Fox turned to face him with a sigh. “Alright, spill.” 

Hunter's expression shut down as Bly and Ponds skittered into the room, chasing Boil and Waxer with makeshift swords made of discarded wrapping paper. 

“Dunno what you mean.” Hunter subtly gestured to Boil and Boil jumped onto the armchair, cackling as he and Waxer gained the upper hand. 

“Bantha osiik.” Cody carefully wrapped his blanket higher around his shoulders. “You can't hide, vod.”

“Yeah,” Fox grinned softly. “We're professional ori'vode. It's in the job description.”

“What is?” Wolffe sat down at their feet, facing the sofa with his back against the coffee table. “Who do I have to fight and/or talk to?” 

Fox rolled his eyes. “Look, kid,” he patted Hunter on the shoulder. “We know your batch hasn't always had it easy when it comes to vode like us. But we wanna make amends for that. Like it or not, as long as you're like this, you're stuck with us.”

“And longer, if you’ll have us,” Cody piped in. “Hunter, whatever's bothering you won't do any good if you keep it locked down so tight.”

“And we're not karking likely to quit bothering you until you tell us.” Wolffe gave him a crooked grin. “That's what having ori’vode means, kid. People who care about your health and well-being, and bother the osiik outta you if you don't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I gotta feeling that as squad leader, that role falls to you more often than not. And that means nobody does that for you. As the leader, it's your job to be impervious to pain, emotion, and anything else that makes you look weak, right?” Wolffe held Hunter’s gaze until he got a reluctant nod. 

“Well, force knows that nobody knows that feeling better than the three of us.” Cody and Fox nodded.

“But,” Wolffe took a deep breath. “We had to learn the hard way that even squad leaders need someone to talk to.” His face turned grim with memories. 

“Can't be the listener for your men if nobody is listening to you.” Fox parroted something he'd once heard Alpha say. 

Hunter nibbled at his bottom lip nervously, hugging his stuffed porg close. “I dunno.” He mumbled. “You regs always have a funny way of looking at things.” He admitted. “Echo says the same thing sometimes.”

“And he's right.” Cody nodded. 

“Why do you say it's funny?” Fox asked, cocking his head. 

“Just. It is.” Hunter shrugged. “You say we're vode, but couldn't have been more different of an experience for us on Kamino. From start to finish everything was a game for us, survival games from the beginning with Nala Se. For you lot it was far less….death on the line. Least as far as training goes.” Hunter gripped the porg tighter. “We may have been squad mates but Nala Se didn't emphasize teamwork like Alpha and the others. You regs, you're taught from the time you're decanted that your batch mates are the only ones to depend on, and the difference between life and death. I somehow doubt your training involved surgical experimentation, shock collars, and maniacal death mazes designed to test your enhancements.” He didn't miss the badly concealed glances of anger the regs shared. “Point is, once we were out, I was the only listener my squad had. And I was happy to do it as long as they needed. My perception of squad leader is far different than yours, and it has everything to do with training and the difference in how we were taught to think.” 

“Nala Se pit you against the others, and it in turn pit some of us against you, and vice versa.” Wolffe spoke slowly, a frown on his face. “But I think all of us, regs or not, are benefitting from unlearning a lot of what we were taught on Kamino. At least in terms of…how to be…human?” He looked to Fox and Cody. 

“Damn right,” Cody spoke up. “We're names, not numbers. We're humans, not the mindless canon fodder the Senate seems to think we are. And we're definitely not whatever bantha karking osiik Nala Se says we are.”

“Rex says you boys met Cut. Just look at him,” Cody mustered an only slightly pained smile. “He's proof that we're more than anyone seems to think we are. A trooper with a family. A damn good one, from what Rex told me. He knew we were capable of more than one directive, and he found something more than we ever knew was possible. I know none of us have anything close that, and most of us won't make it out of this kriffing war…but we make do. We form our own family, we care about each other, and we try our damn best to keep our heads above water. But none of that's possible if you're not able to find a vod and be honest with him about whatever kriffing nightmares are swirling around in that head of yours.” 

“Doesn't have to be a vod,” Wolffe broke in wearily. “Could be a general. I dunno where I'd be in all this without General Koon.” 

“Or Alpha.” Fox agreed with a tired smile. 

“Rex,” Cody mumbled with a sigh. “And you lot.”

“Does any of this make sense, kid?” Fox draped an arm around Hunter’s skinny frame. 

Hunter leaned into him tiredly. “Yeah. Just a lot to think about.” 

“Fair enough.” Wolffe nodded. “But before we stop pestering you, what was going on earlier?”

Hunter his his face in Speck’s soft fabric and sighed. “Embarrassing.”

“Look, it won't always be easy to share your feelings,” Cody sighed. “But I can promise once you do, your head will be clear and you can go on with your business without feeling so heavy.” 

“Just. Never had anyone care so much before.” Hunter admitted, muffled by the blanket and the stuffed porg. “When Alpha was talking to Rex about not wandering off alone. He wasn't just regurgitating protocols. He genuinely meant it. It was just…” he struggled. 

“You wanted that too,” Wolffe said gently. “We all feel it from time to time. No shame in that. It isn't like we've exactly had anyone before beside ourselves. But I know for a fact, Alpha is really just an oversized mother porg.” He snickered. “He will smother you with concern if you let him, vod.” 

Fox and Cody laughed quietly. 

“What are you laughing at?” Alpha appeared as if summoned, a sleepy and damp haired Rex in his arms. 

“Nothing buir,” Wolffe pushed to his feet. “I'm making tea, anyone want some?” 

“Yeah, maybe.” Fox jostled Hunter gently. “What about you, vod'ika?” 

Hunter peeked out of his knees. “Um, please.” Wolffe grinned at him easily. 

“Right, I'll just put the kettle on, then.”

Alpha sank easily into the armchair. “If you advance the tooka cats by a klik, they'll have an advantage on the fathiers from the left side.” 

Bly and Ponds looked at one another with feral grins. “Prepare for surrender, vode!” 

Waxer and Boil scrambled, hurriedly building more blockades with the building blocks. “Not a chance!” Waxer panicked. Boil backed the fathiers up hastily. “Damn it, we're losing ground!”

“What, ad’ika?” Rex insistently patted at Alpha’s cheek. 

“Hungry.”

“I'll get him something,” Cody stood and stretched, reverently placing his fathier on the sofa. “Watch my spot, FT.”

Cody bumped shoulders affectionately with Wolffe as he made for the fridge. “Rex is hungry.”

“There's melioruun cubes on the top shelf. Some pureéd slices on the middle shelf. Bantha milk is in the door, and I think there's a bit of honey in the cupboard with the bread. Otherwise there's not much he'd be able to eat. Seems most food is too rich for him when he's in this body.” 

Cody perused the fridge contents. “Noticed that, too. Hate seeing him reduced to eating bread and fruit, but at least we can supplement him with the milk.”

“Besides nutritional drinks, that's the only thing Kix and Coric seemed satisfied with. It's got the highest content of fat and calories to keep him going.” 

Cody pulled out the pureéd fruit and the carafe of milk. “Just a snack. He doesn't need much if he's gonna nap soon anyway.” 

“Don't forget to heat the milk this time.”

“I know, trust me.” He set the supplies on the counter. “I do not want another tantrum on my hands.” 

Wolffe reached into the cabinet and pulled out one of the clean cups. “Lucky he likes these, and that the general had the sense to visit the Jetii creche-master for the supplies. Otherwise we wouldn't have known what to do.” 

Cody took the sippy cup and set it beside the bowl of fruit, then dumped the milk into a pan and set it on the stove to warm. “Yeah.” He hummed. “Lucky.”

“Vod'ika,” Cody held out the bowl and spoon to Alpha. “I brought you some fruit puree and milk.” Rex greedily took the cup from Cody’s hands. “Now you won't go to sleep with an empty belly.” 

Waxer and Boil had curled themselves into the other armchair, settling on a children's holodrama about a family of porgs. Cody settled himself down beside Hunter and once again wrapped himself in his blanket, watching lazily as Alpha spoon-fed Rex little bites of fruit mash. After about half an hour Rex was too sleepy to keep eating, and Alpha carted him off to tuck him into bed. Fox took Rex’s empty spot when Alpha came back, sitting at Alpha's side comfortably and turning his attention to the children's show. 

“Did you have a nice Life Day, Kot’ika?” 

“Are natborns always this relaxed?” He dropped his head onto Alpha's shoulder. 

Alpha patted his back softly. “I can't say. But it is nice, isn't it?”

Cody nodded slowly. “Maybe, if we get back to normal, we should give the boys some more downtime. Make things a bit easier if we can. I want them all to feel like this, even if it's just for a second.”

“It's nice to think about,” Alpha agreed. “But you and I both know that if the Jedi find a way to fix this mess, it'll be right back to the front.”

Cody sighed heavily. “I know. But it would be nice to get them some more leave. Even if I know that's impossible at this point.”