Quantum Entanglement: Howzer and Aurelia

23. Passion and Perspective

"I agree with you, Gobi! We are on the same team! But you have seen the ruthlessness of the Empire, and we have to weigh the risks versus the rewards!" Cham said vehemently, feeling his temperature rising. 

"If we do not make a clear statement, the Imperial presence here will continue to grow. They must be stopped before they become too powerful!" Gobi responded, baring his teeth in frustration. 

"They are already too powerful; direct resistance is only going to cause more needless death. Can't you see that? From what's happened already?" Cham sighed, rubbing his knobby forehead in his hands. "We have to consider the best tactics for the long run."

"The longer we wait, the longer we go back and forth in weak-minded indecision, the deeper their roots grow here. You should have never let the Republic settle in."

"You seem to forget that they helped us recover Lessu, as well as a variety of other villages, and also helped us to rid our planet of the Separatists, at great cost to their own!" 

"And then they got quite comfortable and changed into the Empire overnight!" Gobi spat, pacing back and forth. The meeting room was cramped already, but the overbearing presence of two passionate Twi'lek males in conflict made it feel infinitesimally small. Howzer stood in the corner, helmet at his hip, mouth firmly shut in patient respect. He was no stranger to these sorts of "discussions", but the frequency and intensity had grown as of late. 

"Listen, brother," Cham began again, quieter now in a tone that extended a diplomatic olive branch, "I will continue to fight for a free Ryloth as long as I live. We are stronger when we are unified. Let's not be broken apart by strategic differences."

"You are the one refusing to do what's needed," Gobi answered, disappointment and sadness in his voice. "Let us hope the desire for peace does not come at the cost of our freedom." And with that, he exited the room, accompanied by a glowering female accomplice. Cham let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. Eleni approached from the shadows, placing a gentle hand on his arm. 

"You are doing the right thing, my love," she said softly, taking his hands in hers and pressing her forehead to his. "You carry the weight of the planet on your shoulders." The tenderness and intimacy in her words and touch made Howzer feel a sense of yearning that surprised him in its potency. 

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore," Cham confessed, closing his eyes and nestling closer. "It was so much simpler when we could just be warriors. Now I must be a diplomat as well, and it seems that no one is able to be satisfied."

"You can't make everyone happy," Eleni pointed out, pulling back to look him in the eye. "But you can continue to fight for the freedom of our people." She traced a hand up his arm, bringing it to rest on his shoulder, and tilted her head to lean in for a kiss. Howzer looked away, still noticing Cham's shoulders relax out of the corner of his eye. They separated, and Eleni leaned toward his ear, whispering none too quietly, "Besides, you make me happy, if that counts for anything."

Cham smiled, observing her with unmistakable adoration. "I don't deserve you, my love," he said in a stronger voice, "Hera doesn't know what an incredible mother she has." The two touched foreheads once again, enjoying a quiet moment once again, before heading for the door, with a helmeted Howzer trailing behind. 

* * * 

The evening found Howzer and Aurelia relaxing in the same way they had for the last number of weeks since she had begun her medic job. The barracks were bare-bones as far as comfort, so Aurelia's apartment became their place of rest and connection. They'd venture out into nature on a regular basis, as the weather allowed, walking and talking together, but when the duties of life began to weigh heavily, simple evenings wrapped up together on her couch, watching the sky grow dark, were the pastime of choice.