(no subject)

[burnsbright]

No. No, 'Anakin Skywalker is gone now' isn't a good reason to send me there! What if he came back? I'd have to try to kill him somehow.

And even if he never showed up, you have his child there. No, I wouldn't try to do anything to him until I knew if he took after his father. But it burns to think he even exists.

The place itself doesn't sound bad. Better than Mandalore. Anywhere with a breathable atmosphere and no Empire is. But panthacs aren't the "perfect daemon for Scout". You know if they were Earth animals every other person in that game would have one?

Decide what to do with knightsoflegend before anything else.

Comments

[wynn]

We wish you well in your decision, whatever it may be, Sir Scout.

[burnsbright]

Ah -

Thank you, sir Wynn. I hope I can come back - fewer ethical issues. But we'll have to see.

[wynn]

Facing difficult moral dilemmas is how we grow and come to know what we believe in.

[burnsbright]

If a decision can be made, perhaps. It's not my Order's way to... to assassinate. [yeah she doesn't soft-shoe herself, she knows that's what she's thinking about] But it is to resist - his kind, and to kill them in battle.

He's much stronger than I am, and... I've always been weak enough to need to find ways that might not seem fair.

[wynn]

You fear you would have to compromise your morality in order to save the lives he would inevitably take?

[burnsbright]

My Order's morality, mine... The Knights and Masters spoke about how doing even the objectively right thing with the wrong motives, in the wrong state of mind, could taint them.

And I... my state of mind is not correct.

[wynn]

And you have no one else to pass this burden to?

[burnsbright]

My Order is dead, or nearly. Those who are left are scattered now - ones like Master Solace who tried to organize and resist are gone. The Traitor knows how we think, how we act. Running and hiding isn't... how we are supposed to be.

I would have thought he hadn't paid that close attention, but I've been wrong about a lot of things about him.

[wynn]

A plight I've actually faced before. A member of our own Knighthood, who came to see us as the enemy, tried to slaughter our number...

It became personal for all involved, but that didn't change the necessity of what had to be done.

[burnsbright]

...I wasn't aware of that. How long ago?

[wynn]

Almost a century now. There are a handful of Knights who were here at the time, who remember. But it isn't a part of our history that any who lived through it care to discuss, as you might imagine.

[burnsbright]

[Very dry.]

So I imagine that if I'd turned around instead of leaving, when I met you and said my Order was destroyed by our greatest Knight, you'd have frowned.

[wynn]

You would have seen, perhaps, that I understood your concerns about finding yourself reliving the experience.

[singleconstant]

If I said "don't be hasty" would you think it patronizing? Especially in a place like that, people aren't always what they seem.

[burnsbright]

I - no, I understand that.

But this is different.

[singleconstant]

[he smiles a little, very briefly, and it doesn't seem very genuine either.]

Different because it's personal?

[burnsbright]

Because I know what happened, and what would happen. I know how he walks, how he holds his head, how he fights.

[singleconstant]

People change.

[he doesn't know too much, really, because actual meta would just be unfair he's just being himself. Which is irritating.]

Do you think you have a chance?

[burnsbright]

For the worse, in this case.

He's got reach and muscle, and he's fast, and he has a fantastic cheat. Sloppier than me, but he can afford that. If I could get under his reach into close range - but it's not something I could count on.

[singleconstant]

You play to your strengths, not his. There's always a weakness. [he shrugs.] Not necessarily physical, but--

You, dear, seem like a very resourceful young lady. I'm sure you'll manage.

[years ago, he would have tried to stop her, said that killing was never an answer. But now is not then.]

[burnsbright]

I don't know his weaknesses. He murdered dozens of people more skilled at combat than I'll ever be. So I'd have to find another way.

[She seems stricken more than anticipatory.]

[singleconstant]

[he falls silent, and his faintly amused expression barely changes, but his eyes darken.]

Time, and patience, dear. They are always your allies.

[burnsbright]

And opportunity. I know. But it's such a good cheat... I'd have to have a good plan.

Explosives are usually a good start, but he's survived worse. And... collateral. I don't want anyone else there.

Find a mine shaft, maybe. Explore it completely and lure him there. Release dinkos or small combat droids to distract him and occupy his danger sense. Gas everything. Have traps set up in the floor to slow him down. Collapse the mine's supports.

That's probably not enough.

[There are tears on her face, but her voice is even, her expression is blank. Imperfect Jedi discipline.]

[singleconstant]

[he realizes he's struck too close, and closes himself up. He can't help her, not really. So it's better not to react.]

Sounds more like a machine than a man.

[burnsbright]

[When Scout swipes her sleeve across her cheek the only sign is a little redness in her eyes, which soon fades. She is very good at not looking like she's been crying.]

He's legendary for surviving attempts on his life. Even ones that claim other Jedi. I guess we know why, now.