having recently re-read the Republic Commando books for the fiftieth time (but the first time as a proper adult), amongst many other things that jumped out at me this time, I've been pondering the Many Failings of Kal Skirataā¢ - and one thing that kept me awake the other night was the realisation that...it takes Kal ages between adopting Ordo and the rest of his brothers, right??
So I went back and did the math. Kal adopts Ordo in True Colours, soon after rescuing Vau on Mygeeto, at 471 days after the Battle of Geonosis (ABG). An excerpt from the scene below:
"I never adopted you formally," Skirata said. It had been bothering him in recent days, ever since he began to think of the war as having a definite timescale. "Any of you."
"Does that matter?"
Skirata now felt that it did. No Mando'ad would nitpick over the bond between him and his boys, and as far as the Republic was concerned clones didn't even qualify as people, but his plans to give them a decent future had now become very, very specific.
[...]
"Yes," he said. He reached to grasp Ordo's hand and recited the short, no-frills gai bal manda - "name and soul," all it took to unpick history and give a child a new parentage. Mandalorians were habitual adopters. Bloodlines were just medical detail. "Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad, Ordo."
Ordo stared at their clasped hands for a moment. He had a crushing grip. "I've been your son since the day you first saved my life, Buir."
"I think you boys did the saving," Skirata said. "I don't want to imagine where I'd be without you."
Skirata was now busy hating himself for not doing this before, not making the ultimate commitment, and he fretted about his five other Nulls scattered around the galaxy.
And having re-read this section in detail, it now baffles me even further that it takes him - wait for it - ANOTHER YEAR AND ~THREE MONTHS to adopt the other five Nulls??
Yes, that's correct. Kal adopts the other five Nulls in Order 66, in the scene where they all come together 'on screen' for the first time, which is set 940 days ABG. That is 469 days after he formally adopted Ordo.
At the time KT wrote these books, according to Legends, one standard year is 368 days, with 12 months of 30 days each. If I've crunched correctly, Kal adopts the other five Nulls roughly fifteen and a half months later than Ordo.
And OHHHH:
The meal was as much a rare celebration as a meeting, and the Nulls even had a few glasses of Chandrilan wine. "I should have done this many years ago, adi'ke." Skirata raised his glass. "Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad - Mereel, Jaing, Kom'rk, A'den, Prudii. There. It's formal, legal. You're my sons and heirs."
"And we won't bankrupt you," Jaing muttered.
"Not with the amount you're skimming, ner vod," Mereel said raising his glass in return. "Thank you, Buir'ika. An honor."
At least one cause for guilt had been lifted from Ordo's shoulders. He was no longer the only Null formally adopted by Skirata. It was a legal detail, nothing more, but Ordo didn't want to be singled out as the favorite. He already felt he had a far easier time than his brothers.
what do you MEAN you just went on and forgot to do it, despite seeing them and speaking to them regularly for over a year, Kal?! yikes
Reading this back again, all I could think was - poor Ordo. It's explicitly stated here that he had been feeling and still feels guilty. Imagine living with the knowledge that your father had only formally adopted you, and not the other five of your closest brothers, for OVER A YEAR- (I will keep yelling it I'm not over it)
When they all make jokes about him being the Number One Son. When they all tease him for being the favourite. How do you think this knowledge affected Ordoās relationship with his brothers?? Not wanting to mention it?? Do you think he ever did?? How do you think they reacted if they knew he was already adopted prior to this??
Not to mention, how does Kal not see this as something that might cause an issue for Ordo?? With how much he loves him??
I find their reactions interesting, because if they didn't know, they play it very cool. I'm leaning towards they did know, Ordo didn't just sit on this knowledge for over a year, maybe couldn't - because otherwise, why is no one asking why Kal left him out of the list? Why is their only reaction calm pleasantries?
Possibly because they don't care about formal adoption that much - it's worth noting Ordo's reaction is also to kind of brush it all away: "I've been your son since the day you first saved my life, Buir."
(I think it also opens up a bigger discussion about Ordo's role within his brothers as...almost a shield between Kal and his brothers, able to take the brunt of Kal's...manipulations to spare them the same attention - I wonder if they don't care as much about their adoptive status because it doesn't mean nearly as much to them as it does to Kal, because Kal doesn't rule them as much as he'd like to think he does. Itās interesting how Ordo is both uncomfortable with the position as Number One Son but also sees itsā¦strategic value?? He states earlier in the scene that he'll swap drafts with Kom'rk because it's "his turn" to explore the Outer Rim, but as far as we know, he never actually does this - despite missing each other dearly, often, do the other Nulls willingly take missions that get themĀ awayĀ fromĀ Kal? Which is why Ordo is almost never shown being anywhere that Kal isn't? Also the irony that so many people laugh at Maze for being a highly trained ARC being "wasted" in an office job, but Ordo also as far as we see never does anything flashier, nothing that couldn't be handled by a less superior officer, nothing that's far from Kal's side...)
ANYWAY
Iām just baffled as to how Kal didnāt think immediately after adopting Ordo āand nowĀ theĀ otherĀ fiveā - my man, what took you so long?? If you love them all as you say you do??
Bringing this back actually because AND ANOTHER THING - on my sixtieth? reread? the second I finish ImpCom I go back and restart the series from the start again so I have lost count it slapped me in the face that at the end of True Colours, in the scene where Kad is being passed around Besanyās apartment, Kal finally adopts Omega Squad.
Once again, let me emphasise, before the rest of the Nulls.
548 days ABG, 392 days prior. Again, over a year.
*points at the sign*
At the very least, he formally adopts Darman, and comments to the room, āTime I adopted you all.ā (Unclear if he then does follow through, but of course it would be Darman, because heās the one needing the most salve in that moment an he has no other way of offering emotional intimacy without admitting heās the reason itās all fucked)
And yet? It slips his mind for another year before deciding itās time to bestow this honour upon his first ever sons? The ones he spends most of the books trying to tell us are his pride and joy and the first places in his heart?
Once again I will not be convinced that Kal didnāt do what he did in the order he did not because he had genuine intentions, not wholly - Iām sure in the moments he felt his actions were meaningful and from a place of genuine care and nothing else - but because it served some emotional manipulation purpose for him.
In the first instance, travelling to rescue Vau and Ordo seems to be feeling insecure and scared about everything? Here, have a dad! Iāll never leave you! Insecurities soothed. In the second instance, Darman seems hesitant around Kad, Etain is clearly upset, and Kal has a guilty conscience moment about the fact he orchestrated the whole situation to be this way? Here, be my son! Isnāt that a good enough apology? Kal starts to see his precious Nulls get a bit antsy about the space and concern his biological daughter was taking up in his brain? Adopted, all of you! Now have some Chandrilan wine and headbutt an ensign, Ordo, your stress is lifted, you and your brothers are all equal now!
Itās yet another case of Kal Skirataās meanings and words not aligning with his actions. Intentional or not (and I donāt think it is, but that doesnāt mean it isnāt harmful in itself), it is truly baffling the way he manages to say that he loves these sons of his equally and yet also exerts control on how and when. Not even getting into Etain
I cannot express with enough vigor how absolutely insane it STILL IS TO ME ... to see the very specific Clone Wars Anakin in real life action and I don't just mean getting to see Hayden in the costume.
Y'know how CW Anakin was flirty? In the flicks, we went from pining Padawan to mature married Jedi. The CW has a version of Anakin we hadn't seen in live action and in that first GIF, with the smart a$$ mouth and cavalier smile AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY almost non chalantly but still expertly batting away a blaster shot, I saw/see animated CW Anakin come to life and it's just such a specific set of feelings that go with that. I SO appreciate the privilege of watching Hayden get to be this version of Anakin.
ā Star Wars Atlas (2009) - Galactic Regions
ā Interesting notes: Ā Location of many notable planets, the layers of galatic regions
ā This is a selection of maps showing the sectors of Star Warsā galaxy, radiating outward from the center. Ā While no longer strictly canon (as of April 25, 2014) it still gives a good idea of what planets are where. Ā It can be especially helpful if you want to find a planet thatās nowhere near Coruscant to strand your characters on or if you want to find a more densely populated world near the center of everything! Ā Or if you just want to know how close a specific planet is to the center of the galaxy.
ā¦ Deep Core:Ā Ā
Byss
(Note: Ā The Deep Core did not hold as many notable worlds as the Core Worlds/Galactic Core/the Core, it had a massive black hole at the center which made hyperspace travel difficult and it was extremely densely packed with stars that had tremendous gravitational pull.)
ā¦ The Core: Ā
So in Imperial Commando, Niner says that he hasn't spoken to Fi in nearly two years, and that bothered me a little. (Well, more than a little.) I just find it a little strange that we know that Skirata personally takes the time to check up on the hundred or so commandos he trained, yet he can't find time to arrange anything between Fi and Omega and make sure that Omega gets to check up on Fi. It also makes me wonder whether Omega ever asked to communicate with Fi directly (even just to record a message for him or something,) because it seems like they would so *what happened and why didn't they.* Basically I'm wondering how to square Omega being so tight-knit and caring about each other with the fact that they don't actually interact with Fi for almost two years once he's on Mandalore, and I find it difficult to believe that at no point during those two years did they have even 5 minutes to talk to him. My instinct here is to ask why Skirata might find it beneficial to keep Fi and Omega apart, and I can't tell if I'm unfairly on an anti-Skirata kick here, but maybe he sees their separation as something that will help establish Kyrimorut via Omega's dependence on him as the "keeper" of Fi? (I know this is very rambly and I apologize but I want your thoughts here!)
Hi! Again, you don't have to apologize for rambling. I'm not exactly free of sin myself here, and I don't mind, anyway.
So I was thinking about this, and I checked, and you're right that in IC Niner and Darman both comment that they haven't seen Fi in a couple years. Darman even goes one further and acts relieved that he's able to talk to Fi now, which sort of implies he wasnāt able to before:
Which surprised me a bit, because I remembered this part in Order 66 (that I had to go back and find to make sure I wasnāt imagining things), where Darman mentions that Fi left them messages sometimes:
Granted, leaving messages isnāt really the same thing as being able to talk. Itās still something. Itās less clear if theyāre able to respond, but them receiving texts from a dead man apparently isnāt a security issue, so I feel like they must have a secure enough method of communication that they might be able to reply too, at least sometimes.
And I mean, at the very least, they should have been able to use Jusik as a messenger, since heās noted to have been updating Omega on Fiās condition this whole time, and they are able to talk to him.
Itās likely KT just forgot, and she sort of went off the rails with characterization continuity in IC anyway, but I agree with you that itās strange if she shifted to the idea that Omega never got to talk to Fi. I mean, canonically it didnāt happen. They did have some form of communication as per the above. But it would be very strange.
But since it didnāt, and in order to square it with Darman and Ninerās comments in IC, Iād bet that communication coming from Fi has been exceptionally sparse and thin on substantial topics, and doesnāt feel emotionally satisfying. Theyāve gotten updates, but they havenāt talked. If you only saw someone you love for barely ten minutes over a year ago and barely exchanged hellos, will you count that as āseeingā them within the last two years, or will you count the time instead based on the last time you saw them where you were also able to spend quality time with them? (Holy cow, that sentence.)
Thatās the best explanation I could come up with, anyway.
As for the rest, I agree that it doesnāt really fit with Kalās MO, either, except in the way that Kal tends to forget about people having relationships that donāt involve him. I donāt feel like heād deliberately cut Fi off, not even in that way he does where he tells himself he has a good reason for it. Heās too proud of Omega as a concept. Rather, I think itās more likely this is similar to the way he doesnāt ever really think about the Nulls talking to and missing each other in a way that doesn't involve him, so he probably just doesnāt even think about whether Omega are talking to each other or not. Not even in the vein of wondering how Fiās doing. Not deliberately malicious, but just a consequence of his own self-centeredness. Being fair to him, though, while he is someone Fi respects and looks up to, and while his advice would carry a lot of weight with Fi, Skirataās not actually responsible for Fiās recovery. Heās not a medical professional, and unlike Parja he hasnāt tried to insert himself as a medical authority in Fiās life regardless. If heās keeping his nose out of it unless specifically requested, thatās not wrong of him (though a check-in probably wouldnāt really be amiss, Iām pretty sure it just literally has not occurred to him).
So I wouldnāt really place the blame for this at his feet. If I were to try to come up with an in-universe rationale for this, Iād probably say that it looks a lot like Fiās self-isolating.
Whoever is helping him with his recovery should be encouraging him to reach out to people who care about him, but either theyāre not, which isnāt great, or they are but Fiās dodging the issue, which isnāt exactly something they can help. Lead a horse to water and all that, and they canāt make Fi utilize his support network. Unfortunately, I do think itās very likely Fi would dodge communicating with Omega every chance he gets. He likes to pretend things that upset him arenāt happening, and with his own struggles with his self-worth, I can see him neglecting to communicate with his squad. It might make things too real for him, it might make him wonder why heāsĀ āwasting their timeā, and he might even be resentful of them sometimes. The rest of Omega isnāt in a situation to apply force to the situation either, not until Atin makes it to Mandalore (after which, we rarely see Fi anywhere without him, so).
This was interesting to think about. Let me know your thoughts?
Oooh I didnāt even think about Fi self-isolating, but thatās a very good point.
Itās like when Omega thinks theyāre maybe half an hour away from dying at the beginning of Triple Zero, and Niner starts getting really honest and straightforward about how he feels--openly calling KalĀ ābuirā andĀ making sure Fi knows that he only gives him a hard time as a mechanism to destress and that it doesnāt mean anything--and Fiās internal reaction to all that is š. Heās kind of thrown off balance and has to recalibrate for a second to properly activate his Humor Coping Mechanism because Ninerās reactions made the situation too real for him to be comfortable dealing with it in that way.
Fi canāt rewind the clock and have the exact same interactions with Omega that he did before, (and obviously not in the same context,) so while sending texts is one thing, actually video chatting with Omega is completely different. Darman, Atin, and Niner are going to say whatever theyāre going to say-- their reactions are not something Fi can control or ignore, and it might hit him in the face with the reality of what heās going through and kick up a bunch of emotional stuff heās struggling to work through (or hasnāt even started to work through yet.) So now that you bring that up, I can definitely see why Fi might want to avoid actually talking to Omega because no matter how much he misses them, heās also pulled in another painful direction by virtue of whatās happened and who he is.
I actually didnāt remember that Fi had sent Omega any messages at all! The fact that the content is mostly about Parja makes me wonder if Fi is trying to use aĀ ālook, I got exactly what I wanted! everythingās great!ā strategy to both reassure Omega and throw up a smoke screen so he can avoid talking about things heād rather not talk about/openly deal with, especially not via text. (I donāt blame him honestly.) Then thereās also not wanting to bother them/worry them with anything serious, which I also understand, and could be because he wants Omega to stay focused on whateverās on their plate at the moment combined with a side of Fiās self-worth issues. (Fi is also probably worried that it could stress Niner out even more and that the weight of all the stuff he has to worry about will knock like a year or two off Ninerās life, lol.)
Love this interpretation of Fi's character and behaviour; I also found it jarring for KT to say in ImpComm that they'd not spoken to Fi in two years, when in O66 Dar mentioned snatches of conversation and messages back and forth - as you said, it would simply be strange for them to know their brother is alive, witness the start of his healing, but never speak to him once he's doing better, even disregarding the fact they served together for half the war.
One other element to this to consider, separate from his own internalised emotional issues, is that by virtue of his presence on Kyrimorut Fi knows about Kad, about Ko Sai, about all the dealings going on at Kyrimorut that Kal (at the point in O66 that Darman mentions speaking to Fi) has not come clean to Omega about. Poor Fi is probably terrified to open his mouth and reveal something prematurely, especially considering I doubt he had much contact with Etain after she left, so wouldn't have any idea if she had told Darman about the pregnancy yet, and could only ask Kal or the Nulls what was going on outside Kyrimorut. I can't imagine being essentially stuck on a planet lightyears away from your closest brothers, surrounded by evidence of secrecy and witnessing events like Kad's birth, and being unable to say anything to them. This ties in with what you said above, about not wanting to bother them/worry them with anything serious so they can stay focused on whateverās on their plate - but also folded into this, alongside the guilt of perhaps getting to live the life he spoke of so often whilst they do not, of sitting out the remainder of the war, is probably a certain feeling of guilt for knowing things of great significance that they don't, yet.
This happens in ImpComm, when he brings up the Jedi on Kyrimorut to Darman and puts his foot in things. Imagine if he'd told Darman about Kad before Etain or Kal did? How differently those confrontations would have played out? Poor Fi, trapped with all this information and no way to tell anyone about it.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
NEW CHAPTER OF OBSCURE RAREPAIR POLYAMORY FIC UP :D
This one took way too long to write and I had to pull in somebody to help me cut it down from 6.3k words (it ended up 5.3k... what can you do?). Uh anyway. Have sexual tension with a sprinkle of kink - CHECK WARNINGS.
Next chapter contains 4k words of just porn. Have to feed the three people actually reading this thing who have stuck w me despite how much plot this PWP grew. I love each of you individually, thank you (:
Reputation (Taylorās Version) this, Reputation (Taylorās Version) that, Iāve been here refreshing AO3 for new chapters of Attrition Tactics and Up For The Annealing on a daily basis for mONTHS
For Kyrimorut's eventual discovery in the unwritten ImpComm book, what I'd like to see is that it actually doesn't have much to do with the Jedi, but is the culmination of small mistakes and threads coming together into something big enough to finally trip the alarm. Something bigger could get Imperial attention, they open an investigation, and it's only then that they begin to piece together reports that had been ignored, things that didn't add up, financial anomalies, and cases that were closed without appropriate closure. The Nulls' financial 'adventures' have seemed relatively convenient and without consequence so far, so I'm wondering if KT had planned for that to go somewhere (or for some character flaws to crop up) to make some of the Nulls seem less...invulnerable I suppose? I think it could be an interesting contributing factor to Kyrimorut being discovered, along with whatever Darman is planning, the presence of the Imperial garrison on Mandalore, ~ JeDi ~, logistical breadcrumbs for some alphabet soup agency to follow, and ignorance of/failure to understand something crucial in the civilian world (as if that's not a massively complicated and diverse thing in itself, lol.)
I have no idea what KT was planning of course, but I think by having multiple things contribute to Kyrimorut's discovery, you have the opportunity to sort of portray how even if you have one person who is officially responsible in a buck-stops-here kind of way, there are still things that a lot of people with different responsibilities could've done differently to help the situation, so there's room for improvement and learning across the board and you're not just pointing at *one person* and saying "yeah you're the one who fucked this whole thing, get out." It sounds boring when I describe it like that but I think if you execute it properly, it can be a compelling look at something going wrong and how various characters react to that and understand their role in what's happening-- more compelling than, like, one person being plucked from the frozen section of CoruFresh by the ISB and induced to divulge the location of Kyrimorut via force magic.
Sorry this is super long but I wanted to know what you were thinking for why Kyrimorut is eventually discovered in the unfinished book, and how that can fit in with established themes in the other books or evolve them to portray new ones!
I find it funny when people apologize to me for long anything. Friend, you are perfectly fine, I promise :) I really like your ask.
I also don't think it sounds boring at all! I agree, actually. Small missteps made along the way leading to a complete collapse sounds like a perfect sort of low point in the story, where the survivors all have to individually come to terms with their own failures, go on their own mini-journeys to heal and overcome and shift their perspectives, regroup and re-solidify their bonds, and come back better if not exactly stronger? Especially in a multi-POV series like RepComm, that sort of thing would be perfect, normally. Classic heroine's journey, refracted in a thousand ways across a cracked mirror. I love it.
...more compelling than, like, one person being plucked from the frozen section of CoruFresh by the ISB and induced to divulge the location of Kyrimorut via force magic.
Well-worded, lol. I also agree with you!
The thing is, is I think there's a difference between what I think KT was going to do, what I personally think would have made the most sense for the story and the characters, and what I think would just be the most cathartic thing and the thing I most want to see happen. It's difficult to talk about them in the same breath, but since you asked, I'll try!
...this is very kal skirata critical guys be warned
Ideally, if the book hadn't included Kal Skirata in the way it did, your presentation here would have been just about perfect. I also think it makes the most sense! A thousand small flaws in the wall that bring it all toppling down, and it offers significant room for growth and the spotlight to just about everyone. It's wonderful. There is definitely plenty there that could be used to assign everyone a whole crack of their own, from whatās been mentioned previously about supply lines, to the fact they have two ex-government employees hanging around who are probably listed as kidnapped/jail-broken, the fact Jilka never actually volunteered to be there, the fact Kyrimorut is just going to keep getting bigger and bigger and the garrison is right there, Komārk and Jaingās unease with being locked out leading to them making a few mistakes when they try to get back in, someone on Mandalore rats them out because Kal trusted the wrong person just because they wore the same kind of helmet he did, Isabet Reau comes back with a Vengeance, one of the deserters isnāt actually (and they are pissed everyone here took off and left all their brothers behind), Redeās whole...deal.
Thereās plenty to work with!
Since Kal Skirata as he is does exist, however, I'm sorry to say that what you said here - you're not just pointing at *one person* and saying "yeah you're the one who fucked this whole thing, get out." - is actually kind of what I do want XD and also the thing that would absolutely have never happened.
The thing is, is that we know the other characters are already aware of their own flaws, willing to work to overcome them, and willing to own up when they fuck up. This is established in the story, with one glaring exception that changes the whole game. The only one who doesn't have to eat their own shit in the whole series in a way that could actually get them called out on their nonsense in a not-fun way is Kal.
And, I mean, sure, the whole thing with Darman, right? Except I refuse to actually accept that as a scenario where Kal "owned up to his mistakes". To me, it was a more extreme example of that thing he does where he "owns up" by blurting out shit like "it's because I'm such a terrible father" which is NOT an apology, or even a sincere admission of fault. It has never been.
Okay, hear me out.
The only one who left that confrontation feeling better was Kal. Kal got what he wanted, which was catharsis for his guilty feelings, and all without even having to admit to every aspect of his sins (what a bargain!). He walked out of there satisfied and vindicated that he was Doing Better By His Boys, even as he left Darman - the one he harmed, the one he was supposedly apologizing to, the one whose benefit this conversation was supposedly for - rattled and horrified and so guilty he immediately tried to bury all the misgivings he still had rather than deal with them. Darman got nothing from that conversation. It gave him zero closure, because Kal didn't actually answer him.
And the beating Kal was so determined to let Darman have? Who was that actually for? Who left that interaction with some degree of closure? Because it sure as hell wasnāt Darman. Kal decided letting Darman hurt him was a good way to pay his dues (which is tremendously fucked up in its own ways, but we already know Kal doesnāt have the healthiest way of conceptulatizing his relationships), and he barred intervention from onlookers deliberately so he could go about paying them with no regard for how it was going to impact Darman.
Look, he basically used Darman as a tool to salve his own guilty conscience at the same time he was supposedly meant to be doing better by him. As much as I like seeing Kal finally get punched in the face, Kal wanted it too much, and it hurt Darman too much, because Darman's not the kind of man who would ever be satisfied or okay with harming the people he loves out of anger for any reason. He knows itās unacceptable, and he spends the rest of the series twisting himself up in knots every time he thinks of it, and too guilty to ever hold Kal accountable for anything again, even for things Kal deserves. Thatās not healthy.
So that wasn't Kal owning up to his mistakes. That was Kal wanting to get on with paying his ticket so he could go right back to reckless driving.
Anyway.
So what I would really like to see if I have a choice, is a scenario where Kal actually has to pay up for real, when it's not easy for him, when itās not on his terms, when it doesn't make him feel better. Where things are fucked up so spectacularly that there is no wiggling out of accepting his fair share of the blame, and he's not going to get pats on the head to make it all better afterward.
And since Kal in the story is so big on hobbling everyone around him by limiting their information and running everything through himself and hoarding secrets and refusing to clearly relay his intentions so people can get on with things without his direct input, so insecure that he has to make himself the indispensable lynch-pin to the family and coincidentally the single point of failure...
Let him.
Let him be that.
And then when that single point of failure that is himself, does, in fact fail, when everything falls apart around his ears, when he's gotten his own people killed in a way that can't be handwaved away, when they're scattered and hurting and when he has fucked up, have him have to eat that. Have his mistake be so awful no one's willing to cut him slack anymore. Have it be so awful there's no way he can make it so the people he harmed have to be the ones reassuring him. Strand him with Vau in the aftermath, maybe, and just him, and cut off from everyone he's got in an emotional stranglehold who might feel obligated to soothe him. Have him have to live with his faults dripping out of Vau's mouth and no way to hide.
Strand the clan in bits and pieces but primarily and most importantly without Kal, and have it be a long time before they're able to re-establish communication with him. Give them long enough to realize exactly what Kal did, not just the mistakes that broke their home, but the damage across a lifetime. Give them time to really feel it.
In this case, you can have characters wounded, or cut off from their usual support systems. Let the Nulls be shaken and scattered, have their usual frequencies, their unusual frequencies, be unreliable, tapped, have them not know how deeply they've been had, and have it take a hell of a lot of time before they can get their feet back under them and regroup. Let them be scattered, but Laseema know how to survive losing everything, how to live with nothing, dragging Kom'rk along behind her. Jilka snapping at a destroyed Fi because she's stressed, okay, and not a soft person by nature, and Fi almost feels like he's home. (Let Fi still have Atin, though, and Corr - don't leave him alone again.) Prudii hurt and alone with a wounded brother Null - A'den maybe, or Jaing, and they have never been hurt this badly before - who won't wake up, sick with terror and fear, getting them somewhere safe but not trusting the hospitals, not knowing who to call, who to trust, for the first time in his life not knowing what to do. But Ny is there too, or Parja, or both, and she has an idea. On and on like that. Ordo alone, maybe, and how that wrecks him - and then how he figures out how to keep going anyway. Solve the problem. Get his clan back. Piece by piece.
Have them have to rely on each other. Trust themselves. Solve each others' problems. Have them build those bonds together and be stronger for it. And when Kal's brought back into the fold in what feels like a lifetime later for all of them, have them not need him.
And if he's forgiven, if he stays, if he gets to rebuild his relationship with his children, that's all dependent on how he handles no longer being their everything.
Let's take a moment to appreciate how much of a badass Aayla is, and acknowledge how dirty TCW did my girl š¤
Hella strong will power, strong enough to resist the pheromones of a Falleen.
She breaks the mold for twi'lek women, a race that treats their women shitty and to be submissive and helpless.
She can handle herself, especially since she's underestimated.
She defeated Aurra Sing when Aurra was a fallen jedi. In this fight, Aayla sees what she would have become in Aurra if she had completley fallen to the dark side.
She can literally make herself disappear.
She's a little chaotic like her dad, with the force choking and what not.
She's super loving and compassionate, from cute animals to encouraging future female twi'lek jedi.
There's so much I could write about this amazing character, from her struggle with the dark side to her legendary fighting style.
It's upsetting, because of the limited amount of screen time on tcw, people don't truly know who she is. What's even more frustrating is that I know people would love the shit out of her, but instead, tcw fanbase loves a copy made from her.(No hate, but let's be honest, y'all know who I'm talking about.)
STAR WARS APPRECIATION WEEK 2022
Day 9: Favourite TV Show ā Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 - 2020)
āIf thereās one thing Iāve learned from you, Master, itās that following direct orders isnāt always the best way to solve a problem.ā
Sometimes I feel like the tragedy of people who say they like Kal Skirata fundamentally donāt understand him as a character. Kal is a hugely interesting, arguably tragic figure of the Republic Commando series. Heās a martyr, to the point of self destruction. Heās obsessed with the idea of being the best father, to the point of going through so many extremes to embody this ideaĀ of what a father should be, regardless of the consequences.Ā
The damage that was done to him, and the damage he inflicts on himself, are all tied to an inability to grow beyond the trauma of war, and the (arguable) parental abuse of his adoptive father who rescued him. He chased away every single person who ever cared about him because of his self destructive tendencies. because of his inability to listen. Because of his unwillingness to change and take outside input.
His wife left him and took their children with herĀ becauseĀ he wanted to take his sons, who were only 6 and 8 at the time, to the front lines of a war zone to raise them āthe mando way.ā He says thisĀ in the books. Itās not something extrapolated from the text, he says it.
His response to criticism is violence. His response to examining his past failures is to verbally beat someone else down. His response to someone acting outside of what he deems as acceptable is violence, whether verbal, emotional, or physical depending on who it is.
He loves so aggressively and explosively becauseĀ violence is the only thing thatās been a true constant throughout his life. He has an obsessive need for control. He has an obsession with upholding a ātrue mandalorian idealā of what a mandalorian should be, but not what they actually are.
And it bothers me to see people write Kal as someone whoās justĀ a doting father, who wouldĀ be accepting of anything and everything ā¦ because he wouldnāt be. he canātĀ be, becauseĀ of his trauma. Because of the fundamental points in his life that caused him the greatest suffering are times when he is without control. And the books go out of their way to coddle, excuse, forgive, explain Kalās motives and actions, but theyāre still very much symptomatic of a man who needs to exercise extreme control on everyone and everything around him or heāll fall apart ā¦ and that control is what causes everything toĀ fall apart towards the end, and causes himĀ to fall apart.
And it does the character, and it does the Nulls, a huge disservice, when people write Kal this way. Especially because people treat the Nulls as if they would include Kal in everything personal and private that they do, when because of the above, and in the books themselves, itās actually shown that they ā¦ donāt. That they found ways around including him, especially when itās personal. Especially when itās private.
They donāt just go around Kal. they go around Ordo, because Ordo is always around Kal. They cut out one of their own closest brothers specifically to avoid sharing with Kal, and Kal comments on this. And it hurts KalĀ to know they do it, but he doesnātĀ confront them directly about it, despite the way he is. To be clear, cutting Ordo out to them may as well be the same as cutting off their own arm, but they still do it. They still did it.
These schisms in their character arcs, these personality flaws, these issues are all so integral to defining what their relationships are like, how they relate to one another, whyĀ Kal acts the way he does. Leaving it out because itās inconvenient to acknowledge is ā¦ sad.Ā Itās a hurdle Kal isnāt fully aware he needs to jump in order to better his relationship with his sons, and itās a hurdle the Nulls arenāt willing to bring up because Kal is metaphorically untouchable to them. Itās a huge point of contention between them, and ā¦ idk. I understand why people avoid it, but I really wish they ā¦ didnāt, or wouldnāt.
āOnly on a planet such as Coruscant, with no forests left, no mountains unleveled, no streams left to run their own course, could the Force have become so clouded.ā
having recently re-read the Republic Commando books for the fiftieth time (but the first time as a proper adult), amongst many other things that jumped out at me this time, I've been pondering the Many Failings of Kal Skirataā¢ - and one thing that kept me awake the other night was the realisation that...it takes Kal ages between adopting Ordo and the rest of his brothers, right??
So I went back and did the math. Kal adopts Ordo in True Colours, soon after rescuing Vau on Mygeeto, at 471 days after the Battle of Geonosis (ABG). An excerpt from the scene below:
"I never adopted you formally," Skirata said. It had been bothering him in recent days, ever since he began to think of the war as having a definite timescale. "Any of you."
"Does that matter?"
Skirata now felt that it did. No Mando'ad would nitpick over the bond between him and his boys, and as far as the Republic was concerned clones didn't even qualify as people, but his plans to give them a decent future had now become very, very specific.
[...]
"Yes," he said. He reached to grasp Ordo's hand and recited the short, no-frills gai bal manda - "name and soul," all it took to unpick history and give a child a new parentage. Mandalorians were habitual adopters. Bloodlines were just medical detail. "Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad, Ordo."
Ordo stared at their clasped hands for a moment. He had a crushing grip. "I've been your son since the day you first saved my life, Buir."
"I think you boys did the saving," Skirata said. "I don't want to imagine where I'd be without you."
Skirata was now busy hating himself for not doing this before, not making the ultimate commitment, and he fretted about his five other Nulls scattered around the galaxy.
And having re-read this section in detail, it now baffles me even further that it takes him - wait for it - ANOTHER YEAR AND ~THREE MONTHS to adopt the other five Nulls??
Yes, that's correct. Kal adopts the other five Nulls in Order 66, in the scene where they all come together 'on screen' for the first time, which is set 940 days ABG. That is 469 days after he formally adopted Ordo.
At the time KT wrote these books, according to Legends, one standard year is 368 days, with 12 months of 30 days each. If I've crunched correctly, Kal adopts the other five Nulls roughly fifteen and a half months later than Ordo.
And OHHHH:
The meal was as much a rare celebration as a meeting, and the Nulls even had a few glasses of Chandrilan wine. "I should have done this many years ago, adi'ke." Skirata raised his glass. "Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad - Mereel, Jaing, Kom'rk, A'den, Prudii. There. It's formal, legal. You're my sons and heirs."
"And we won't bankrupt you," Jaing muttered.
"Not with the amount you're skimming, ner vod," Mereel said raising his glass in return. "Thank you, Buir'ika. An honor."
At least one cause for guilt had been lifted from Ordo's shoulders. He was no longer the only Null formally adopted by Skirata. It was a legal detail, nothing more, but Ordo didn't want to be singled out as the favorite. He already felt he had a far easier time than his brothers.
what do you MEAN you just went on and forgot to do it, despite seeing them and speaking to them regularly for over a year, Kal?! yikes
Reading this back again, all I could think was - poor Ordo. It's explicitly stated here that he had been feeling and still feels guilty. Imagine living with the knowledge that your father had only formally adopted you, and not the other five of your closest brothers, for OVER A YEAR- (I will keep yelling it I'm not over it)
When they all make jokes about him being the Number One Son. When they all tease him for being the favourite. How do you think this knowledge affected Ordoās relationship with his brothers?? Not wanting to mention it?? Do you think he ever did?? How do you think they reacted if they knew he was already adopted prior to this??
Not to mention, how does Kal not see this as something that might cause an issue for Ordo?? With how much he loves him??
I find their reactions interesting, because if they didn't know, they play it very cool. I'm leaning towards they did know, Ordo didn't just sit on this knowledge for over a year, maybe couldn't - because otherwise, why is no one asking why Kal left him out of the list? Why is their only reaction calm pleasantries?
Possibly because they don't care about formal adoption that much - it's worth noting Ordo's reaction is also to kind of brush it all away: "I've been your son since the day you first saved my life, Buir."
(I think it also opens up a bigger discussion about Ordo's role within his brothers as...almost a shield between Kal and his brothers, able to take the brunt of Kal's...manipulations to spare them the same attention - I wonder if they don't care as much about their adoptive status because it doesn't mean nearly as much to them as it does to Kal, because Kal doesn't rule them as much as he'd like to think he does. Itās interesting how Ordo is both uncomfortable with the position as Number One Son but also sees itsā¦strategic value?? He states earlier in the scene that he'll swap drafts with Kom'rk because it's "his turn" to explore the Outer Rim, but as far as we know, he never actually does this - despite missing each other dearly, often, do the other Nulls willingly take missions that get themĀ awayĀ fromĀ Kal? Which is why Ordo is almost never shown being anywhere that Kal isn't? Also the irony that so many people laugh at Maze for being a highly trained ARC being "wasted" in an office job, but Ordo also as far as we see never does anything flashier, nothing that couldn't be handled by a less superior officer, nothing that's far from Kal's side...)
ANYWAY
Iām just baffled as to how Kal didnāt think immediately after adopting Ordo āand nowĀ theĀ otherĀ fiveā - my man, what took you so long?? If you love them all as you say you do??
I donāt own the copyright to this, others own the show. All I have is this saaaad little computer and a sketch pad. ^-^ Please donāt sue! I donāt need anymore stress!
lol this story contains slash! Donāt like donāt read. Rated M. AragornxLegolas. lemon. Lololol ^-^ NO FLAMES OR I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY STABBITY SPORK OF Death! -__-
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