fandomhigh | Battlefield Tactics, Thursday

"Millenia ago, about one point five thousand Greeks took on an army of 300,000 at a place called Thermopylae," Kerrigan began. "It's one of the most famous battles of this planet's history, although you'll probably hear it trumphed up to be three hundred against 800,000, or whatever other figure people have pulled out of their asses that day."

She stood in front of a large pass, nearly unending cliff faces sticking far out into the sky on either side of her. "They'd started with a significantly bigger force, at about seven thousand, but it was obvious they were fucked either way. Holding the pass meant the rest of their army had time to retreat, and try more fruitful battles. In the end, they beat the guys back at Salamis, but not before pretty much everyone in the pass got killed."

She twisted a smile at the students gathered. "I get there's not three hundred of you, let alone one point five thousand," she said, "But sometimes you have to know how to keep the doors shut. This time, your enemies won't be armed with guns, just spears and swords and arrows, all that old shit. Safeties are on, but if you get 'mortally wounded', the Danger Shop is going to give you a red glow so you know you have to depart."

With that, she turned. "Find a good partner," she said, dryly, "You'll live longer."

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"That's why we wear boots," Ben said very solemnly.

"Think we have a chance of living through this?" Leia asked just as solemnly.

Ben was about to make an Ewok joke, then remembered that Leia would have no idea what he was talking about, so he laughed instead. "This is kind of what I do," he said modestly. Ish.

...for a Skywalker?

"Face hopeless odds against overwhelming forces?" Leia asked.

"Sometimes without a weapon," Ben added with a nod.

What a nice, normal childhood he had.

"Please tell me you had some fun growing up," Leia said, having the same line of thought.

"This is fun," Ben said.

"Until your aunt accidentally shoots you with a holographic arrow," Leia said, letting a practice arrow fly. It went where she wanted, more or less. More less than more, but close enough.

Ben laughed again. "Oh, if I had a credit for every time that happened--"

"Don't tempt me to do it on purpose," Leia said sweetly.

He stuck his tongue out at her. "To your favorite nephew?"

Only nephew.

"Are there more of you I don't know about?" Leia asked, brandishing an unstrung arrow at him.

"Well, no," Ben said. "It made the competition easier."

"You probably wouldn't tell me even if you did have half a dozen siblings," Leia accused, making a face.

"Depends on if it was relevant," Ben said.

"We have different ideas of relevant," Leia said, tapping him with the arrow. For a moment, she was tempted to bring up Anakin, but decided in the middle of class, and a battle at that, was not the place to do it.

"I think our assignment is coming," Ben said, tilting his head to listen.

That might just have been him trying to change the subject, though.

Leia nocked an arrow. "Ready as I'll ever be," she said.

Battlefield Tactics, Thursday

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