Wonderful, slightly longer new chapter and lots more about to come out!
Okay, so—I lied! Sorry, I thought we'd get to Ahsoka, but we didn't. And ErinKenobi2893—I'm so sorry. You leave me such an amazing review and look what I did. Just look below. And believe it or not, it gets worse. Since Obi-Wan/Anakin feud is basically what is driving this story, I couldn't get rid of it even if I tried! I promise they will never actually hate each other like in the movie, though. They'll make up, eventually…
Look below for replies to all the fantastic reviews! And keep leaving them, cuz they really do help my writing! Thanks readers!
Chapter 11
A line of emotionless, battle-scarred faces marched out and stood in formation in front of Anakin, saluting in unison and standing at attention.
The Jedi ran his gaze along the line, looking closely at each face before saying anything. At first glance, the clone legion appeared to be like any other. Their strict discipline ensured that their formations revealed no signs of weakness, and Anakin was certain they would follow any order put to them.
A closer look, however, revealed appalling details about Krell's soldiers. A darkened face showed grief that had been hidden away permanently. Untreated wounds to another face were swollen and harsh-looking, distorting his expression. One soldier's shoulder was crooked, as if it had been injured, recently enough to avoid being checked up on the medical examinations. Another appeared to be on the verge of passing out where he stood, for no reason that could be certified by looking at him.
Listlessness appeared on nearly all of them. There was no spirit in these men. They were lost. Anakin had felt that way before, but he wasn't sure how to help them.
Pain in the troop's eyes echoed mistrust and betrayal of the General they were forced to obey unquestioningly, even if against their morals or compassion would have led them to do otherwise. It echoed Anakin's own. He had followed many a leader into a battle that should never have been fought. He'd killed people who had turned out to be innocent while under the command of another. It was part of being a soldier.
But Anakin had not been bred and cultured to follow orders—he'd always been the rebel. However, now was not the time to teach that to the clones—now was the time to earn their trust. Trust that he knew would be difficult to obtain. And could not be rushed. And he had thirty hours.
"Evening, gentlemen," he announced at last. "I'm General Skywalker."
He didn't know what to say next. He needed something; something that would get them to think. So far, the clones had barely acknowledged him, and if they had it was only with fear and disgust.
"What do they need to hear?" he wondered, more and more worried about this assignment. He had to say something. So he opened his mouth and prayed it would be the right thing, pacing up and down the line of soldiers as he spoke.
"Pull off your gloves. Look down at your hands," he ordered. "All of you."
The clones looked bewildered for a moment, and then looked down at their hands.
"Now look at one of your brother's hands, one of them who's sitting next to you. If someone just looked at your hands, they might not tell any two of you apart. But when you look closely, comparing with each other, you see that each of your hands is shaped completely different."
The clones looked up in astonishment. Anakin gave them a wobbly smile. They had never looked closely at their own hands before.
"Now look even closer," he ordered, his eyes ablaze. "See the lines on your hands, the creases, and grooves. We all have them," he held out his own flesh hand, so they could see, "but each of you has a distinct pattern that's different from any being in the universe. It doesn't stop with the fingerprints. Your whole hand is covered in a totally unique design."
He stooped down just enough to look each one of them directly in the eye, one by one, walking down the line. "No one of you," he said confidently, "has a pattern that looks anything like someone else's, whether they're your brother or a Jedi or some person out on the street. And beyond even what you can see, there are microscopic, intricate patterns in your skin that make you even more unique than you or I could ever imagine."
The clones examined their own hands like little children who had never done it before. Anakin pressed his lips together and stood back, watching them with his arms folded across his chest.
"You are dismissed," he told them, although he doubted all of them actually heard. His voice had grown shaky and his head spun. "Go think about that—for awhile. Get some rest. When you're done, report to the meds."
Completely opposed to their simultaneous, monotonous responses from earlier, each of the clones responded with a distant, "yes, sir… " here and there, as they thought of it, continuing to stare at their hands as they left, one by one.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan appeared in the hangar and walked over to him, watching the strangely-behaving clones in bewilderment. "What are they doing?" he exclaimed, confused.
Anakin frowned and cleared his throat, not wanting to explain. He'd been under the impression his former Master had already left for Machibo. "It's called self-examination, Master," he replied curtly. "You've taught me about that many times."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "I don't think what they're doing is typically what that word is used for. I suppose—if you meant it literally… "
"I gave them a lesson—my mother taught me," Anakin informed him. He was going to say more, but he stopped. He just wanted to get away, get away from Obi-Wan and his optimistic, aggravating self.
Obi-Wan watched him closely, obviously trying to hide his surprise at the fact that his former apprentice had actually spoken to him. "You haven't talked about your mother since you were nineteen," he remarked.
Anakin's expression darkened. "You're keeping track?" he snapped.
Obi-Wan huffed. "No! I'm only making a general observation. Can I do that?"
"Who would stop you," Anakin muttered, rubbing his temples and beginning to edge away.
"I was going to compliment you on something, but you probably wouldn't care what I had to say."
Anakin stopped midstride. His face wrinkled up in confusion. "About my mother?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan waited a moment, but Anakin was silent, so he continued. "You—ah, used to be rather dependent on her memory…" already, he was feeling painfully awkward, but he ploughed through. "It often distracted you. I know that, knowing her as well as you did before you joined the Jedi, it must have been difficult for you to let go of your attachment."
Anakin's face changed into some unreadable expression.
"But you have apparently reached the place of being able to use her memories as a guide, rather than being swayed by them. That is a great achievement, Ana—"
He felt a crack as Anakin whirled around, nearly knocking him down with a punch to the jaw. Obi-Wan stumbled back and stared in shock for a moment, rubbing the bruised area almost mechanically. The young man in front of him slowly turned around and left, leaving a glaring, frightful presence behind.
"Anakin?" he finally managed to yell, but his old Padawan didn't turn around.
Furious, but unsure of what to do, Obi-Wan stood rooted in place for several more moments. Anakin left via the turbolift. "Anakin!"
"Good for him," Mace Windu said flatly, without turning around.
"Ahm, I beg your pardon? What did I do wrong?" Obi-Wan exclaimed defensively, taken aback.
Mace faced him, his face a deep puzzle, more complicated than it was normally, letting out a small sigh. He looked burdened, more than Obi-Wan had ever seen him.
Mace started to say something in reply, but stopped. "Maybe you'd better talk with Master Yoda about this when you return," he said finally.
Obi-Wan raised a concerned eyebrow. All the Jedi were acting strangely, then. It wasn't just Anakin. Although—maybe it was just the way he interpreted it.
He bowed slightly and turned to leave. "Thank you anyway," he muttered.
Replies to Reviewers:
.5851—Yep (: More on that next chapter, coming out tomorrow probably. And Ahsoka may or may not be found in chapter 13…
scottusa1—Well, they're not really trading. Anakin, as usual, is trying to do it all. *smirk* how d'ya like his unconventional troop-training methods?
Son of Whitebeard—lol now there's an idea! Can't confirm or deny that possibility right now, though!
ErinKenobi2893—Krell totally did have it coming. It was years ago when I started this story and I really, really just wanted to give him a good knock on the head, so hey! I did! And OF COURSE Obi-Wan would solve everything in a few minutes so then we wouldn't have a story *grin grin* sorry! Heheheh no those are very helpful Palpy suggestions. I might use the Hoth one. Very ironic. Yes, I need some heroic action from one or both of the ladies. I think I have it figured out but it's still a little hazy 'cause I want some real stuff from Padmé before the story is over. And—SPOILER ALERT: Obi-Wan will duel Sidious. Because that's just too awesome to resist!
