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THE DIM lights of the war room cast long shadows across the holomap, its blue glow reflecting off the faces of the Jedi gathered around it. Anakin stood with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the holographic display of the Separatist fleet formations. His brow furrowed in frustration as the tactical briefing droned on.
It had been hours, and still, they couldn't find a clear path to victory. No matter which way they shifted their forces, the Separatists seemed one step ahead, their blockade nearly impenetrable.
Aruna watched him from across the table, sensing the storm of emotions swirling just beneath the surface. Anakin had always been a natural on the battlefield, but in moments like this—when the solution wasn't obvious—his impatience often got the better of him. She could see it in the way his hands clenched into fists, the way his jaw tightened.
"You're missing something," she said suddenly, cutting through the monotonous hum of the tactical droid giving the report. Anakin looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with a mix of irritation and curiosity.
"I know that, Aruna," he replied, his voice clipped. "The question is, what?"
The others in the room turned their attention to Aruna, but she ignored them, stepping closer to the holomap. She studied the formations for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration.
"Here," she pointed to a gap in the Separatist fleet's outer line. It was subtle, but she could see it—a weakness, small, but exploitable. "If you send a small strike force through this opening, you could break their defenses from the inside. They've left this flank vulnerable because they're expecting a full frontal assault."
Anakin's eyes followed her hand as she traced the path, his frown deepening. He tilted his head slightly, considering her suggestion.
"It's risky," he muttered, though his tone had softened. "If we don't time it perfectly, we could get boxed in, and there's no guarantee it'll work."
"Since when do you play it safe?" Aruna shot back, her lips curling into a slight smirk. "You're Anakin Skywalker, right? I thought you liked impossible odds."
His eyes narrowed at her teasing, but a flicker of amusement danced across his features. "You think you know me so well, huh?"
She shrugged, stepping even closer, their faces just inches apart now. The tension between them was palpable, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. "I've been watching you long enough to know when you're overthinking things," she said quietly, her voice low but steady. "Sometimes, you need to trust your instincts."
Anakin held her gaze, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the room seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them standing there in the soft glow of the holomap.
"And what do your instincts tell you?" he asked, his voice soft but edged with something more—something that made the air between them feel electric.
Aruna's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't back down. Instead, she let her smirk widen, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "That I'm right," she said simply, her voice carrying a playful challenge.
