fandomhigh | The Art of War, Week #10 [Period 3, Monday]

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The Art of War, Week #10 [Period 3, Monday]

"Congratulations, you've made it all the way to week ten," Ghanima said dryly from her perch on the desk. "So far, many of our discussions seem to have focused on physical engagements of force, mostly because many of you are all familiar with tactics in a military sense."

"While I am as much a fan of armed combat as the next Fremen, however, it is it necessary to learn how to apply the tactical ideas you are learning outside a battlefield."

"Last week, we tried to measure cost against outcome when weighing the human element," Ghanima remarked. "Today, we focus completely on the human component, and turn our tactical prowess to that most dreaded tactical engagement of all - relationships."

"Each of you has a slip on your desk with an assignment. You must try and follow the directions to the best of your abilities, using the tactical ideas we have discussed in your negotiations. You are not limited to your classmates for this exercise, and indeed, I shall award extra credit for each successful 'mission' you undertake. I will do my best to listen to radio and chart your progress, but you will be expected to report on your varying levels of success next week."

"Yes, boys and girls, you are going on dates. Get what you want out of the other person, without giving too much ground. Try not to end the world while you are at it."

[OOC: OCD is up, go forth!]

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Ben lingered for a bit after classes. "Master Atreides?"

"Yes, Mr. Skywalker?" Ghanima replied, smiling at him. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to apologize for missing last week's class," he said. "Is there anything I need to do to make up for it?"

"Last week we talked about making choices," Ghanima answered, pulling out her notes from the previous class. "We looked at chapter eight, especially the passage saying; 'There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed,' and tried to place it in the context of knowing which battles should be fought, and which ones should not."

"I had assigned you to the group that had to decide between helping an ally during war, or letting them fall to buy time to marshal forces for your own defense. Jania was also in that group, if you want to talk to her."

She held out her notations, in case he wanted to browse them for himself. "May I inquire as to why you were gone?"

Ben was inwardly cringing. Roads that must not be followed... He had some experience with that recently.

"My mother was killed," he said quietly.

"My condolences," Ghanima replied equally quietly. "I know something of losing a parent."

She studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Ben, I want you to answer me honestly. Are you up for this assignment? If you say no, I will not think less of you."

Ben was silent for a moment, mulling it over. "It's one I need to learn," he said finally.

"It's one everyone needs to learn," she agreed, "but that's not what I asked. I asked if you are capable of undertaking it right now."

She held up a hand to forestall any protests. "I am not offering you a blanket pass," she said firmly. "If you cannot complete it at this time, we can either come up with an alternate assignment, or you can do it at a later date. But a good general knows better than to try and push her troops past their limit."

"So I will ask you again; are you able to participate?"

He met her eyes, then shook his head. "Not this week."

Ghanima nodded once. "Thank you, Ben. I appreciate your honesty."

"Get last week's notes from your classmates," she said briskly. "I am usually in and out of my office all week if you have any questions about the previous lesson or need anything, and I am always available to my students."

She returned his gaze, unflinching. "I will not lie to you, Mr. Skywalker. It does not get 'better', but I can promise you it will eventually get easier."

"I keep hearing that," Ben said. "Maybe after we've found her killer."

Ghanima snorted in a most un-ladylike fashion. "That's not when it get easier, Ben," she said dryly. "That's when it gets satisfying."

"Although as your teacher, I should be advocating justice and all that, I suppose," she said, a small half-smile in apology. "My universe is simply a bit more... direct... than most, when it comes to vendetta and kanly."

"I'll take satisfying," Ben said. "Easier seems a bit like a betrayal." He shrugged. "If I told my grandfather about this he'd blather on about revenge and hate and the dark side and I don't care."

"Dark side?" Ghanima looked at him, puzzled. "What on earth does darkness have to do with revenge?"

"When a Jedi feeds into his hate, very, very bad things happen," Ben said.

"When anyone, with any kind of intelligence or power, allows hate to completely cloud their mind, bad things happen," Ghani replied. "But there is absolutely nothing wrong with the very human emotions of rage or revenge, and assuming that it's automatically wrong for everyone is simply short-sighted."

"And if your grandfather tries to make you feel badly about that, you can send him to me."

"I'm not exactly talking to him right now," Ben said. "I don't need his lectures."

"No," she agreed, "you don't. I'm sure he means well," and he had damned well better mean well, "but as a sentient, you have a right to your anger and your grief."

"To lose that would be to lose that which keeps us human, and brings balance to those of us with power."

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering," Ben recited.

Ghanima looked at Ben as if he'd lost his mind. "Tell me that's a joke," she said faintly. "Is that what that Mr. Solo of yours has been teaching you?"

She'd kill him. Slowly. With a dull blade.

"You talked to Jacen?" That was not a happy look on his face.

Any normal standards of parent-teacher confidentiality went out the window at the look on Ben's face.

"If by 'talking to him' you mean that I insinuated he should remove himself from my office, then yes, I spoke with him." Ghanima said briskly. "We agreed that you were an outstanding pupil, and then I do believe I made him distinctly uncomfortable."

"Which I must admit, I enjoyed."

That got her a smile. "Not many people make him uncomfortable."

"I'm afraid I was a bit sharp with him," she admitted. "I dislike being patronized or lied to in my own office, and I told him so. Not the most professional moment of my teaching career, but I suppose I shall recover."

"Should I not have spoken to him at all?" Ghanima asked, concerned. "If not, I do apologize."

"I'm his apprentice," Ben said. "He wanted to know what I'm learning here."

It took special effort to sound that neutral.

The Art of War, Week #10 [Period 3, Monday]

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