Shadows of Tomorrow

Chapter 36 - A Fight From the Shadows

Theseus never thought he was going to end up teaching battle strategies like this someday. He and Caleb are sitting in the living room of his mother's apartment as he talks to the boy about strategies.

It's weird that technically Caleb is his padawan-brother too now, since he was briefly Athea's padawan. Not to mention he'd still be a bit like a brother regardless, since his mother is raising him. He never thought one day he might end up looking at someone as a younger sibling, but that's unquestionably how he's starting to see the boy. It's been several weeks since he became a padawan, after all, and spending time helping him is a good excuse to get out of Obi-Wan's apartment.

Even now, Theseus doesn't really feel comfortable hanging out with his master, and it hurts. Things have changed, and he's learned well after Mortis that they're past normal.

Just then, Theseus' comm beeps. It's Obi-Wan. "Yes, Master?" he replies immediately.

"I need you to meet me back at our apartment immediately. There's a situation," Obi-Wan explains. Always another situation, it seems.

"On my way, Master," Theseus assures, disconnecting the call and turning to Caleb. "I guess I have to go."

"Just when we were getting started," he agrees, sounding mildly disappointed.

"More like just when we were getting to the more... interesting stuff."

"Honestly, I'm not sure I'd call any of this interesting, exactly," Caleb mumbles under his breath as Theseus heads for the door.

"Well, don't worry, you'll appreciate it a lot more eventually," he calls over his shoulder as he slips out into the hall, and then sprints for the apartment. What could possibly have happened this time?

Obi-Wan is waiting outside when he arrives. "A group of rebels on Onderon contacted the Council, requesting assistance in overthrowing the Separatist government on the planet."

"Isn't that like... something we technically aren't allowed to get involved in?" Theseus queries with a frown.

"Openly, yes," agrees Obi-Wan, "The Republic will not send assistance as long as the monarch is loyal to the Separatists. Anakin suggested to the Council that we go there to train the rebels on how to fight."

Why does he sound so doubtful? "And they agreed?" he deduces.

Obi-Wan nods. "I'm going with him to observe how this new strategy will work. You should come as well." For whatever reason, there's a note in his voice that implies he's not pleased with this, and Theseus isn't even sure why. It sounds like a strategy that – if used on a larger scale – could work to bring the war to a much faster end. Finally.

Then why does he sound so skeptical? Or is because it's Anakin's idea? A surge of bitterness rises inside of him at the thought. After the Hardeen incident, and seeing how little anyone, not even Obi-Wan, respects Anakin, Theseus doesn't even find the thought surprising. But it definitely does make him more than a little angry.

"When do we leave?" he asks instead, because that's a far easier question to deal with.

"As soon as Anakin is ready to go."

***

Ahsoka is radiating a strange amount of excitement as she, Theseus, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Rex all fly overhead the Onderon forest. Theseus throws a questioning glance her direction. There's no way she could be that excited for a mission like this, unless he's missing something. She seems to understand what it is he's asking.

"Lux will be there," she tells him a low voice.

Wait, Lux?! Oh. Oh. Eagerness and a slight flare of annoyance or maybe even jealousy run through Theseus at the same moment. He wasn't exactly friends with Lux – they didn't know each other long enough for that – but at the same time they weren't exactly not either. Still, Ahsoka's current excitement reminds him all over again about how she obviously feels towards Lux, even if he knows they were friends too, so it's not like that's the only reason she's looking forward to seeing him again. It probably wouldn't be bothering him so much if he wasn't feeling so... irritated and emotionally drained with his life, in general, right now, he supposes.