Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Orbit of Vorzyd V, Vorzyd System

Vorzyd Sector

The Harbinger was a beautiful ship. Scout watched as Master Skywalker lingered under the viewports–a rare, unguarded expression gracing his face as he trailed his gloved fingers along each and every shiny and flat surface of his flagship’s bridge. The surfaces Scout had slaved away every night since her assignment to memorise and learn, until she could draw their internal circuitry on the back of her hand.

After all, her master was going to be the Anakin Skywalker. How could she have not heard of his seemingly defining characteristic?

Whenever and wherever military types crossed paths—in battle, in briefings, in small talk with a drink in whatever mess hall, or even the occasional civilian bar. Even the Jedi who fought on the front lines talked about him, too. Everyone who relied on the massive Republic warships knew that their odds of survival had increased because Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker liked to muck about with machines—when he wasn’t busy being the scourge of the Separatists.

So Scout learned to keep up. The long-range scanning station, comms, helm, tactical, atmospherics, and everything else that kept Harbinger lumbering along and fighting. And yet, no matter how much she tried, she knew she would never understand Master Skywalker’s love for his machines. She doubted anybody would.

Oblivious to his audience, to the urgency of their mission, the Jedi Knight communed in leisurely silence with the newly commissioned cruiser. As though they shared a telepathic conversation– as if the ship were whispering secrets in his ear.

Anakin Skywalker loves machines as if they were living, breathing creatures.

She knew this. She knew this because each and every component was pristine and spotless; no blaster burns, no scorch marks from shorted wiring, no war wounds at all. And Anakin Skywalker could only ever regard all of it with this subdued, rueful smile. One nearly wishful.

Because Anakin Skywalker had a pristine, spotless cruiser before. His very first. The very first command he ever received following his ascension to Jedi Knight.

Resolute.

And on Resolute’s very first major engagement, she was shot and torn apart. The very moment Anakin Skywalker departed his first flagship to battle on the crystal grounds of Christophsis, the Separatists struck like a viper and made him pay dearly.

Firsts... were important. Scout knew this. Resolute must’ve felt like tangible proof that he was truly a Jedi Knight–a Jedi General–more so than any ceremonious Knighting or removal of Padawan braid. And he failed that responsibility.

Scout knew this because she knew that feeling all too well. After all, Master Skywalker was tangible proof that she truly was a Jedi Padawan–more so than any dumb tournament. She felt a tiny prickle of fright. No, no, no. Don't think about that, don’t think like that. I’ve prepared for this, fought for this.

Besides, once assigned to this man she had made her own private and personal vow quite apart from the public oaths she’d sworn in the Jedi Temple.

I will not be the Padawan who gets the Chosen One killed.

Even more so after everything he’s done for me.

“Unpleasant thoughts, Commander?”

If it wasn’t for the shiver that ran through her body beforehand, Scout might’ve just leapt out of her skin at Admiral Yularen’s sudden comment. Her precognition was the only Force ability she had any pride in, but the Admiral somehow had a way of sneaking up on her every time. No, not just her; the man was not unlike a cat, slinking around, which she supposed kept the crew on their toes in every waking hour.

He took her startled silence as its own answer, “A word of advice, Commander. If even I can infer your thoughts from mere conjecture, then your mind is most certainly laid bare to the General.”

Scout stared at Master Skywalker. If the Jedi Knight did indeed, then he never showed it.

“...Is there anything I must relay to the General, Admiral sir?” she asked.

“What do you suppose it will be?” Admiral Yularen looked down at her, an eyebrow raised.

Scout observed the quiet hustle of the datapits, then at the fleet of Horgo Shive just a scant few million klicks away. The Siege of Vorzyd V was in a deadlock, with the Separatist Havoc Squadron stubbornly refusing to sally out from the range of Vorzyd’s ground-to-orbit batteries.

After a brief scuffle on Nam Chorios, their battle group was ordered to pin down Havoc Squadron while High General Rancisis led the assault on Columex. Scout had heard that it was much the same for other elements of the Open Circle, with General Kenobi’s half besieging Sy Myrth in order to hold the entire Triellus Trade Route hostage. The strategy was simple; deprive the Separatists of their numerical superiority by pinning down as many of their fleet assets as possible by positioning their inferior numbers in strategically critical locations.

It worked, as last she heard, the joint Sector Fleets outnumbered the Separatists–a true statistical anomaly. On the other hand, Scout couldn’t help but notice that it was the Open Circle Fleet that had been sidelined to this menial–albeit crucial–task. If she had to hazard a guess, Scout would say Republic High Command depended on Columex as a badly needed victory, and couldn’t risk the Jedi Command taking credit.

Regardless, after their objective had been completed, Governor-General Renau soon gave the order to assault the Vorzyd System directly. But to Scout’s buried, traitorous relief, it appeared that Horgo Shive had learned his lesson from his defeat at Vjun. Now, the Muun commander refused to leave the umbrella of Vorzyd’s orbital defences, and after the terrifying reminder of what GTO artillery could accomplish at Salvara, Admiral Yularen wasn’t willing to risk approaching either. To make matters worse, Havoc Squadron and the Vorzyd System Defence Fleet had taken to forming a battle lattice that hugged the hemisphere of the planet. Whenever Admiral Yularen tried to manoeuvre around and prod for a weakpoint, the battle lattice would shadow them.

It was a stalemate.

Scout hoped a Republic victory at Columex would soon arrive, prompting Horgo Shive and Vorzyd to surrender. The battle must be over by now.

And now, Admiral Yularen had news for the General. Scout could only think of two reasons why, and a quick quiver from the Force told her she was correct.

“Either we assault Vorzyd immediately,” she started, “Or we are to withdraw.”

Admiral Yularen crossed his arms, “A Jedi’s funny feeling?”

“No sir–” Scout started, before thinking better of it, “Well... maybe a little.”

The Admiral regarded her with leonine eyes, “That may be beyond me, but try not to undersell yourself, Commander. Know your strengths, you’ll find yourself walking far. Come, let’s take this to the General.”

It was obvious Master Skywalker was expectant, from the tight smile he flicked at them. Anakin Skywalker was notoriously impatient, even more so when it was self-inflicted. As the commanding Jedi General of the battle group, even Admiral Yularen had to defer to him–and thus there was nothing stopping him from ordering an all out assault on the enemy positions.

Nothing, other than the fact that they were facing a Separatist battle lattice. The same tactic Anakin Skywalker had suffered greatly at the hands of, twice now. Obviously, Horgo Shive knew that too. Internally, a small part of Scout hoped his hesitation was also a symptom of their personal exchange only a scant few weeks ago.

“We have an incoming transmission from Horgo Shive’s flagship,” the Admiral informed bluntly.

Her stomach leapt. Incoming transmission? Does that mean he’s surrendering?

Master Skywalker shot her a brief glare, and Scout crushed her internal monologue just as swiftly.

“Let’s hear it,” the Jedi Knight replied calmly,

“Put it through, Lieutenant!” Yularen called.

Lieutenant Avrey, their resident chief comms officer, hastily saluted and fiddled with her console, prompting a holographic bust of a Muun commander to burst out of the forward dashboard. Horgo Shive sported an impossibly smug, self-satisfied smile that immediately tossed her hopes into doubt.

“Good day, General Skywalker,” The Muun commander spoke in a tone that suggested he was a victor speaking to the vanquished, “You must have received the news by now. The Republic Senate had just extended an offer of ceasefire to the Confederacy. All fighting in the Near Perlemian is to end, effective immediately. I suggest we bring this affair to an end, and that you comply with your government’s wishes by lifting your blockade.”

With an effort Scout smoothed her expression into uncaring blandness, mirroring her Master’s similarly emotionless expression. It was at this point that Scout wished she possessed Ahsoka’s empathic talents, so that she could peer into Master Skywalker’s impenetrable poise for even a moment.

General Anakin Skywalker turned to face Admiral Yularen, and for a brief moment Scout felt like an intruder upon the silent conversation the two men shared.

Master Skywalker released an imperceptibly small breath, and turned back to their enemy, “We will begin withdrawing our forces. No in-system shipping will be molested from my men from this point onwards, you have my word.”

“...Let me ask you this, Master Jedi,” Horgo Shive leaned forward, holding his chin with spindly fingers, “Do you believe your Senate’s vision of peace is attainable?”

“No,” Master Skywalker’s answer was swift and blunt, “Not against you Separatists.”

“Enlightening as always, you mystics,” Shive chuckled, before haphazardly cutting the connection.

Master Skywalker’s shoulders lifted, and plunged down in an explosive sigh, “So we lost.”

“The lack of communications is concerning, and suggests great disarray,” Admiral Yularen noted, “But our scoutships have been reporting signs of emergency jumps into nearby systems from the direction of Columex. I am afraid you may be correct, General.”

We lost. The greatest–largest–fleet in the history of the Republic lost against the Separatists.

“Still, peace?” her Master muttered, “I must speak to the Council on this.”

“I will send a request for orders,” Admiral Yularen whirled around and marched back towards the Battle Room, with Master Skywalker close on his tail.

“Tallisibeth,” said her Master, not even looking over his shoulder–as if in an afterthought, “How many times do I have to tell you? Our thoughts create our reality. Cut it out.”

Her cheeks burned in shame, hating how her Master always seemed to be able to sense her true feelings. Was it the same for Ahsoka? Scout was doubtful–Master Kenobi probably wasn’t as... inclement as Master Skywalker. A confused sense of envy rose in her. Would she prefer Obi-Wan Kenobi as her master?

...I think. Scout cannot recall an instance in which she had ever been wrong before, but decided that the real world was much more complicated than the childish adventures her clan had in the safety of the Temple.

“–Join Master Kenobi on Onderon,” she heard Master Plo Koon say as she tuned back into the conversation.

“Do you believe that is wise, Plo?” Master Saesee Tiin furrowed his leathery brows.

“I am unable to elaborate without complete confidence,” the Kel Dor stressed.

Master Kenobi shared a meaningful look with Master Tiin, before clearing his throat, “I concur with Master Plo. If his suspicions are true, then there is merit in him attending the summit.”

“And these suspicions cannot be disclosed here?” Master Windu crossed his arms.

“Not when it can potentially decide the outcome of the summit,” Master Tiin refused gruffly.

Hearing the taciturn Master Tiin backing his fellow Jedi Masters with such a severe statement visibly piqued the interests of more than a handful, as did Scout’s burning curiosity. Considering how some nearby clone officers were perhaps involuntarily leaning closer to the conversation, however, Scout could understand why Master Plo was unwilling to speak. They weren’t in the confines of the Temple; over half of the attending Jedi were–like her and Master Skywalker–in the middle of prying ears and eyes. Whether it be in the Battle Rooms of warships or planetary command posts.

“In that case,” Master Gallia mused, “You can bring me up to speed later. Privately.”

Master Skywalker edged forward, as if in anticipation to speak, but reined himself in a split second later. Maybe he’s a little self-conscious? There were more than a handful of Jedi Knights at the table–but only Master Skywalker ever butted into a conversation between Masters. Not even Rees Alrix dared to draw attention to herself, despite her endless victories in the southern front.

On the other hand, that wasn’t like Master Skywalker at all.

“If that is all...” Master Windu started.

“Wait–!” that spurred Master Skywalker into action, “With your permission, I would request that my Padawan and myself join Obi-Wan on Onderon.”

Scout snapped her head around in surprise. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.

“A reason, you have?” Master Yoda folded his hands atop the pommel of his cane.

“Well...” her Master drew out, “Let’s just say that with the Perlemian cooling down, I won’t be of much... use, anymore.”

“We can transfer you to another front if you wish, Skywalker,” Master Piell suggested, “Perhaps the south?”

Knight Alrix’s lips thinned, “With all due respect, I do not need Skywalker of all peoplechallenging my command. Rather than him, I’d prefer a hundred more warships.”

Gratefulness and indignation tussled for control over Anakin Skywalker’s expression as coughed, “As... as Obi-Wan kindly reminded me, I have a Padawan now, and a responsibility for her education. Being on Onderon–away from the war–will do both Tallisibeth and Ahsoka some time away from the war. Jedi were supposed to be diplomats and peacekeepers, right? The summit will give them a chance to pivot away from soldiery and command.”

“I must say, that is well put, Anakin,” Master Kenobi drawled, a small smirk gracing his lips, “If only all of your ideas could be this sound.”

“Hey! I have my moments,” he protested, “Besides, if anything my presence will only reinforce the peace effort, right?”

The Hero With No Fear, supporting the peace negotiations? The HoloNet will have a field day with that information.

“Skywalker has a point,” Master Kit Fisto pointed out, “Two Jedi Masters and Anakin Skywalker? That might just be enough to pull the Order back into relevance.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” Master Gallia said, “I believe this is enough for today... Skywalker, stay behind. I would speak to you.”

As the attending Jedi departed, the Battle Room dimmed once more as the blue glow dozens of holograms winked out of existence. Master Kenobi spared her a half-apologetic, half-reassuring look, as if saying ‘thanks for putting up with him’ before disappearing with an excitable Ahsoka in tow, who was clearly looking forward to their reunification. Scout would be lying if she said she wasn’t eager to talk with someone her age again too. Well, the clones were her age... but that was like saying Kel Dorians counted their years the same way Twi’leks do.

“Skywalker,” Master Gallia began once the rest were gone, “Master Yoda would have allowed it, but I am not so easily convinced. I will only sanction this on two conditions.”

Master Skywalker straightened, “I’m all ears, Master.”

“First, obey Master Kenobi and Master Plo,” she ordered in such a severe tone Scout could only wince, “The galaxy’s eyes will be on Onderon, and I don’t want your add ill repute of troublemaking to the list of things that can go wrong. Second–and this goes for you too, Padawan–keep a close eye on both our friends and enemies. Do not allow anybody, even those who would claim to be our allies, to disrupt the proceedings. If you must get rid of them, do so, discreetly.”

“Loud and clear, Master Gallia,” Master Skywalker grinned, “You can count on us. If you would allow me to ask...”

“Well?” the Jedi Master raised an eyebrow.

He wetted his lips, “Will this peace initiative actually succeed?”

Master Adi Gallia scoffed derisively, “Of course not. Were you listening at all, Skywalker? Watch for both friends and enemies. There is no shortage of both who are trying outrageously hard to be funny. I find it pitiable.”

Scout really wanted to see her Master’s expression then, but in the darkness of the Battle Room she could no longer pierce through the shade crossing his face. Not for the first time–and definitely not the last–she once again envied Ahsoka’s empathic abilities.

“I see,” Master Skywalker said softly, “Thank you, Master.”

He moved to cut the connection, fingers hovering over toggle–when Master Gallia stopped him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“One more thing, Skywalker.”

Both master and Padawan froze, slowly deciphering the odd tone as they met the Jedi Master’s stare. It was then, when Scout, at a single glance, realised the great ravine that lay between normal Jedi and a member of the High Council. She felt the weight of Master Gallia’s stare, and grazed an agelessness and unfathomable depth of knowledge behind her cobalt eyes.

Oh, there was no shortage of discourse and speculation about the Councilmembers in the Jedi Temple. After all, they were famous, renowned Masters of great stature the likes of Master Yoda, Master Windu, and Master Plo. Yet, Scout realised with a clarity that there was never much mention about the unassuming Councilmembers; for every word of admiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi, there was no mention of Adi Gallia or Even Piell. It was as if they were ghosts–nothing more than beings who occupied a chair.

What was the difference between them and any other Jedi Master?

And Scout finally understood that symptom of anonymity, when she wracked her brain to Nine Hells and back and still came up short on who Jedi Master Adi Gallia was. Because for all the Tholothian looked the age of Master Aayla Secura or even Anakin Skywalker himself, Scout knew in her gut that she was anything but. Tholothians were ageless.

In Master Yoda’s eyes, you saw the weight of uncountable aeons, of history then came and went from living memory, left only in dusty scrolls and hidden archives. That was his knowledge and wisdom; that of centuries of experience, observing the galaxy change around him while he remained timeless.

Master Gallia’s was different. Her’s was a piercing gaze that saw right through you, that could dig out your darkest secrets. Her’s was the knowledge that’d bades you to ask not ‘how much does she know?’ but ‘how did she find out?’ Maybe, just maybe, the rumours that Master Gallia was the kingpin of a galaxy-spanning intelligence network wasn’t as much of a myth as any self-respecting Jedi would like to admit. Maybe the Bothans weren’t so great a loss, after all...

Councilmembers were Councilmembers for a reason, Scout reminded herself coldly. There was an even greater rift between Councilmember and Jedi Master than Jedi Master and Jedi Knight.

“Yes, Master?”

Scout knew she was not the only one, because she swore a hint of trepidation crossed the Chosen One’s voice.

“Look out for our dear Senators, will you?” Master Gallia asked sweetly, “Onderon is an infamously dangerous planet after all. Keep close to them... ah, but not too close. I’m certain you can manage.”

Though Master Adi Gallia continued to smile kindly, her eyes spoke a most un-Jedi-like language of warning. Anakin Skywalker stiffened up like a boy who had his hand caught in the cookie jar, as if divine retribution to smote him right then and there.

“I... I understand, Master,” the Chosen One bowed his head, “I will keep them safe. Master Kenobi and Master Plo will be present as well, so I believe there will be no threats at all.”

Master Gallia narrowed her eyes, hair tendrils swaying laxly, “That is exactly what I fear, Skywalker. Master Kenobi and Master Plo are far too lenient and forgiving. Stay on your toes, because I am not.”

And just like that, the Jedi Master came and left like a thunderous whirlwind, leaving the two Jedi alone in the middle of dozens of officers respectfully pretending they didn’t just hear the Chosen One get his dignity carved out with a spoon.

“...Tallisibeth.”

Scout flinched, “Yes, Master!”

Master Skywalker pivoted on a heel and marched out, “I’m keeping your secret, so how about you keep mine?”

“What secret?”

“Just what I like to hear,” Anakin Skywalker chirped, though Scout could not tell if it was forced.

Well, she was only half-lying in any case. I hope.