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Post #1288911

Author
CWBorne
Parent topic
Star Wars Episode III: Broken Forces
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1288911/action/topic#1288911
Date created
14-Jul-2019, 5:32 PM

Cut to a large Republic war memorial atop a series of short buildings in the area. Vast digital grave markers dot the landscape, each with a series of names. Walking around, Ben spots a figure standing by himself. He makes his way over to him, realizing its Anakin looking at the marker in front of him, listing the dead from a particular battle. Kenobi provides the context, noting its casualties from the battle of Coruscant years before. He asks Nik if he’s been coming here regularly. The younger man shrugs, “Not as much as I should.”

Neither man is sure how to initially break the silence that follows at first. Obi-Wan begins to ask how he is, but Skywalker gently cuts him off, apologizing for his earlier outburst, and he’ll send a formal apology to Organa soon. Kenobi tells him its a good gesture, even if the latter has probably heard worse at most Senate hearings. Anakin has a small grin at that, however the lightness of the moment passes and the awkward silence returns.

Without every directly looking at him, its Nik that surprises Ben with a question; asking how he felt when he was promoted to the rank of general. The older man pauses, and answers that it was significant, but that he was most surprised at how much an honor it felt, given that before the war, he never thought he’d be that high in the ranks of the Republic army.

Skywalker manages a quick grin. “When I became a Captain, the first thought I had was “Better enjoy the enthusiastic salutes now, because all these grunts are gonna hate you soon”.” He adds that he’s sure there were a few that probably did, but they respected the orders and believed him when they needed to most. “It didn’t matter how many more the Republic gave me to lead, once I had that, everything else just fell into place.”

The younger man’s smile turns wistful, internally recalling an earlier, warmer time. Obi-Wan seemingly picks up on this and voices the obvious query and inquires if something’s changed. His mood turns noticeably bemused when asking if he’s lost any authority with them.

Nik’s head snaps towards Obi-Wan’s direction and he immediately says that that’s never changed, only adding that he does have to give a certain motivation from time to time. He explains that there’s something else that he can’t stop thinking about and he’s not sure if things changed recently or that they’ve been like that for a lot time and that he never noticed until now. At Kenobi’s small encouragement, Anakin details the matter specifically.

“There used to be a time Ben when I could look at one of the soldiers underneath me and know exactly what they were afraid of. Most of them were scared of dying, especially when the Coalition was taking everything in sight. There were a few others that I just needed one glance at to figure they’d be the ones who would be shaking when the number of targets got high enough. Afraid to die, afraid to kill, that was most of them.”

Anakin eyes are cast downward now, with all the bits of the yearning are gone, replaced by a quietly disturbed stillness to his face. “There’s something else there now. Before the tours, before missions its like nothing can get to them. As soon as its done though, everything’s… different. They all wish they could go home, I know they do. But so many of them… they’re scared to say it. I can look straight in their eyes, see they don’t want be out there anymore, and yet they can’t tell me that, not even the ones I could probably do without. So they just keep going, day after day.”

Nik rubs his hand over his face and gazes at his old friend. He lets out the thought that has been so deeply gnawing at him. “And I keep telling myself that this’ll be done soon, next operation has to be the last one. But there’s always more, always. These people need to be home Ben… I just don’t know if I can get them there.”

They’re heavy words for Ben to take in, however he does soon come to an response. He tells him he understands Anakin’s stituation. At that Nik is hopeful, taking a deep breath in anticipation of his mentor’s next words.

Ben tells him that the fears within others are difficult things for any of them to face, that their link to the Force, and its ability to conquer that fear is not something easily given to others. “But the trust in that, the kind that you have, doesn’t just stay within you; it connects to those around and brings the same to them. A wise Jedi knows to let Force flow through them. The wisest one shares that faith to others.”

Skywalker’s face is rigid, but his eyes subtly reveal quiet disappointment at that answer and Nik manages a few faux nods of agreement as his old friend finishes. Kenobi says that the younger man’s accomplishments as both a General and a Knight also have greater significance to his soldiers than he himself realizes. “They may not know the title, but they do have a Darth Vader to lead them. And that makes all the difference.”

They’re words that have Anakin quietly agreeing afterward, but its a subdued concurrence on his part, only unnoticed by his mentor because of Nik’s forced display of relief. He thanks Ben for his reassurance, and says he’ll think about what he’s said. Before the conversation can continue, Obi-Wan’s comlink goes off with a message from Bail Organa, telling him of one last necessary briefing before his departure. The former answers that he understands and says he’ll be there soon.

He once again tells Skywalker that he should never doubt his capacity as a leader and that as good as Skywalker has been at war, he knows that he’ll be even better in peace time.

This time, Anakin’s small smile is genuine. “I hope so.”