Captain Rex," Obi-wan said to Anakin as they strode down the corridor toward main ops. They had been called to the bridge to take an incoming transmission from Masters Yoda and Windu. It had been marked as high priority, otherwise, it would've been cataloged into a report to be read later by both Anakin and Obi-wan.
Anakin rolled his eyes. It wasn't so much they had a disagreement, as Anakin didn't want to hear what Rex had to say. Anakin didn't disagree with the fact that Rex didn't know what he was talking about. He just couldn't bring himself to let Ahsoka be in harms way, if he could prevent it. "We just see things differently."
Obi-wan nodded his head thoughtfully and rubbed his chin. Anakin was prone to emotional outbursts and attachment. Yet another sign that Obi-wan's training had been insufficient. Obi-wan took all the credit for this lacking. Although he wasn't Anakin's master anymore, he still felt the need to try to show him the error in his ways. To suggest alternative strategies for the training of Ahsoka.
"You have to let her get her hands dirty," Obi-wan said in a quiet and respectful manner, trying not to stir up Anakin's emotions any further. "I let you lead things before you were a knight. I think I did a fine job in teaching you how to handle the troops. It shows in your ability to get the performance out of them that you want. That takes a general who is respected."
"You did what you thought best," Anakin said trying to keep his voice from seething with anger, although it was hard to do. "I am going to do what I think best now. The war wasn't like this when I was a padawan. There is so much more going on now. So many more chances for padawans to come into harms way."
Obi-wan shook his head and clucked in his throat. "I seem to remember flying across Geonosis with a padawan learner and some clone troopers. Also fighting with a Sith Lord who had twice the skill he did. Where you not that padawan?"
Anakin shook his head. It seemed so long ago, such a different time. The war had become so complicated now. "Of course it was me," Anakin said sighing and clenching his mechanical hand inside it's protective glove. Obi-wan had not feared for Anakin and therefore Anakin had learned the hard way not to take on those who had superior skill. "Okay, so I let her lead and she fails miserably, what then? She ends up with mechanical pieces like I have?" Anakin held up his hand for Obi-wan to see. It had to be a terrible reminder to his former master of the failure on Geonosis.
"You cannot focus on what might happen. Live in what the force wants from you now," Obi-wan reminded and looked away from Anakin's gloved hand. He was sounding like Qui-gon more and more these days. Perhaps it was something that came with age. If only the wise master had been around to give Obi-wan the knowledge he needed to deal with Anakin. Still Obi-wan had taken Anakin's training on and he was responsible for the continued imparting of wisdom. "She will be fine."
Up ahead, standing next to the doors to the bridge were Rex and Cody. They both had their helmets on. Anakin couldn't help wondering what kind of conversation they were having. He knew that Rex was probably filling Cody in on the disagreement they had over Ahsoka. Cody was probably giving advice on the best way to deal with a jedi. Clones were able to hold a conversation with no gestures or movement of their body. A skill born of their need to speak to each other without Kaminoian involvement. Anakin envied them and their ability to get away and speak to each other in private. Something he didn't get the luxury of doing very often. Not that he had all that many people to talk to, except her.
"Generals," Cody said when they approached and he and Rex snapped to attention. They were magnificent to watch when they were showing their training, Anakin had to admit. Although he hated the inspection process, he wished he got a chance to see the clones do precision drill more often. It was beautiful to see.
"Cody," Obi-wan nodded towards the clone on his left and then acknowledged the clone to his right. "Rex."
"Good afternoon General Kenobi," Rex said precisely. Anakin wondered what kind of faces he was making under that helmet. He was sure they were all directed at him and some of them probably weren't nice.
"Rex," Anakin said. "If we could have a moment for a private discussion."
"I believe you are needed for the conference," Rex said nodding towards the bridge doors. He wasn't going to make this easy for Anakin. He wanted to make sure his point was taken seriously. That would be the only reason he was putting off talking to Anakin. The transmission would not begin until Anakin and Obi-wan were present and Rex knew it.
"Afterwards then," Anakin said and clicked the button to open the doors. They slid apart with a quiet shush and they entered the bridge which was teaming with activity and noise. Reports were being given and tactical displays were shimmering and appearing and then disappearing above consoles all over the bridge. The clones were very efficient, which was what they were trained to be. They had several fronts to manage all at one time. It could be overwhelming.
"We've patched you through on the main holoprojector," a clone who was wearing a bridge crew uniform stated. Anakin wasn't sure he knew this clone particularly. He didn't know as many on the bridge as he would've liked. He had enough trouble keeping up with all the infantry troops he had to lead into battle.
"Thank you," Obi-wan said politely. If there was one thing Anakin wished to learn from Obi-wan and his leadership abilities, it was his constant ability to be polite and kind to those who were serving under him. Obi-wan didn't snap orders and always asked the clones to do something instead of telling them what he wanted done. He had a way with his men.
Anakin had tried to strike this balance with his troops, but in the heat of battle, his emotions became heated and he started snapping orders as quickly as he could. Calming himself during the battle to hear what the force had to say was becoming a top priority for him. He had been working on it recently during some of the combat missions. Jedi never stopped learning and Anakin would master this skill.
"Master Windu," Obi-wan said and bowed as the holoprojection shimmered to life.
"Master Yoda," Anakin said greeting the second holoprojection. Anakin noted the green master peering at him like he was staring into his soul. Something which always unnerved Anakin, ever since he'd been a small child in the council chamber being tested by the masters. When Yoda had proclaimed he wasn't fit to train.
"Good to see you both, it is," Yoda said in his distinct tone. "News we have of a new priority for your fleet."
Yoda deferred to Master Windu with a kurt nod. "A new shipyard has been spotted. It is being used to make most of the Separatist fleet." Mace explained.
Anakin's eyebrows raised as he heard the news. A chance to hit the Seps where they lived. He could feel the excitement rising inside of him. Then he began to regret telling Obi-wan he would consider Ahsoka leading the troops. This was going to be a hard assignment. Only the most skilled flyers would be needed to infiltrate and lay charges to the facility. His mind was racing a mile a minute as he thought of all the things he would need to prepare for the mission.
"Where will we be going?" Obi-wan asked in an even tone. Anakin noted that Obi-wan didn't get wrapped up in the details until the mission was completely explained. Another thing Anakin should be working on. He was always one step ahead of himself when considering strategy.
"The drive yards are located in the outer rim," Mace stated and his shimmering holoprojection pushed a button. They two jedi masters were replaced with a map of the region. "Hypori."
Anakin looked at Obi-wan and then back at the detailed map of the sector. "The Arkanis Sector?" Anakin finally asked after studying the map and scratching his chin. "That planet isn't inhabitated."
"We have intel which tells us they are using it as a major droid factory," Mace stated in his business like tone. "They are also deploying large groups of droid fighters from this area."
"The key," Yoda added, "will be to destroy the factory itself. Bring the enemy to it's knees, this could."
Anakin considered carefully the information which he was presented with by the masters. This would be a multiple
front raid. He would have no choice, but to put Ahsoka into action.
"Consider strategy, you must," Yoda continued. "Comm us when closer to the system you reach and a strategy you have."
"Thank you master," Obi-wan said and clicked the switch off. He turned to Anakin and gave him a grim look. "This is going to take all the guidance of the force we can muster."
"It's going to mean Ahsoka is going to be on her own," Anakin said grimly. His insides were boiling with fear. Not just for Ahsoka, but what would happen to him when something went wrong with her.
"She is tougher than you know," Obi-wan said reassuringly. "Let go Anakin."
The Practice
Obi-wan's words rang through his mind as he sat cross legged on his bunk trying to meditate and relieve some of the tension from his body. Plus he needed to come up with a strategy for Hypori. It wasn't something which was going to solve itself. The problem was, he couldn't stop thinking about what his former master had said. To let go. He couldn't. There were some things he couldn't let go. One, letting his newly named padawan become an orange spot on the battlefield, and his wife. These were the two things in his life which meant the most to him in this place and in this time.
Anakin had said it in his mind so many times...his wife. He wondered now what