Some people fall into depression to get over some bad situations. Some people build ice walls around them. And some just merge with the crowd, trying to drown their anguish in commune.

Tanya

:_:

Ben sat on a table in the corner of the mess, sipping from a huge mug of caf.

"Hello, Jedi kid."

His eyes slowly rose from the blackish liquid in his mug to a friendly face of Twi'lek GA officer.

Ben's brow lashed up as he didn't recognize the man speaking. "Hello?"

Twi'lek grinned and sipped his own caf. "I've heard some rumors about you."

He was in his middle age, according to the lines in his face and his weathered but optimistic expression.

"Oh," Ben's eyes dropped down again. "Did you?"

Twi'lek reached out, pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat on it. "I've heard you fought on the GA side during the Second Civil War."

"I did in the beginning. Then I joined the Jedi side."

Twi'lek grimaced. "Ah, yes. The Jedi side."

"Where did you fought?" Ben asked without a genuine interest.

"I was with the Confederacy. I was born on Fondor."

"But you are now back in the GA, right?"

"Yes. I liked Niathal's approach. Straight and military."

Ben smoothened his hair blankly. "What about Caedus?"

"Solo?" Twi'lek snorted. "I never thought of him as a real element of the war. For me, he was just a very ambitious troublemaker. Until Kashyyyk."

Ben flinched. "Kashyyyk was bad."

"Yes, Kashyyyk was bad."

"What then?"

"I thought of Solo as of a really resolute troublemaker. He had to go."

"Did you rejoin the Confederacy? Or helped the Hapans?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I was a GA soldier. I followed the GA. I was just discontented. That had nothing to do with my work."

Ben nodded. "I understand. Work first."

Twi'lek smiled at him. "It's hard to believe a kid like you understands this. You'll do a good commader, son."

Ben sighed. "Maybe. Once I'll make up with… everything. I'm stirring up myself." He set the mug aside and slipped from the table he turned to the Twi'lek and shook hands with him. "I didn't introduce myself. Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker."

Twi'lek nodded. "I thought so. Captain Zaabda. Klan Zaabda."

"It was nice to meet you, Captain."

"Same to you, Jedi Skywalker."

"Just… Ben, okay?"

"Okay, Ben."

"See you later, Captain."

Ben was out of the mess in a flash, striding toward his cabin.

"This is no Academy, Skywalker," he muttered to himself. "Now, this is a battlefield."

He found himself unwittingly smoothing down his hair again and grinned.

"And whose fault is this?"