[D3 MA, Cole's] Mind Games

[Niall Organa]

Niall chuckled softly, folding his arms across his chest. "Can I ask what it is between the two of you? Old... semi-friends? Rivals? Something along those lines, I assume."

[Cole Ormont]

Cole pushes a hand through his curls, "she's... honest. I like that. She's also self-centred, prideful, impulsive, and very, very angry at the galaxy. I'd like to help her, once I work out how."

[Niall Organa]

Niall frowned, his forehead creasing lightly. "And she's a Jedi in training, isn't she? I met a Sith the other day that seemed to have all of those characteristics." His frown deepened. "Has she always been like that, as long as you've known her?"

[Cole Ormont]

Cole experiences an unexpected pang of defensiveness, and his brow begins to furrow as well. "She is in Jedi training, and she's worked hard to better herself. She's seventeen. Give her a few years to learn some discipline before condemning her to the Dark Side."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips pressed together. "I lack both the right and the expertise to condemn anyone to the Dark Side." He said, his tone even. "Especially someone like Ashla who I barely know."

He looked off into the middle distance, frowning slightly.

[Cole Ormont]

"Sorry, Captain, that was uncalled for. Somehow I think she'll be okay. Once she can see that the galaxy isn't conspiring against her."

[Niall Organa]

Niall came back. "Yes. That is rather like a teenager, as I recall." His lips twitched. "I was just reminding someone that Jedi are people too."

After a moment, though, he frowned again. "That Sith that I said those characteristics also seemed to apply to... that wasn't entirely concern for Ashla, you know. It was also wondering about the Sith. I know she's killed before, but besides that, she seemed like a fairly ordinary teenage girl. At least, of a particularly moody variety. It made me wonder, a bit."

[Cole Ormont]

"Layne?" Cole cocks an eyebrow slightly.

With a sigh, "it makes you wonder if the Sith aren't just people too? You and I were born in the Republic, in privilege too. But we could have just as easily been born on the other side. I could have been decanting Imperial soldiers from kolto tanks. You could have had those natural leadership skills turned towards Imperial manoeuvres."

He hopes he doesn't sound overly harsh, "we dehumanise the other side precisely so we don't go looking too close and finding ourselves asking if the people we've been responsible for killing have families who will mourn them."

Swallowing, Cole's pale silvery eyes catch on the Captain's steel ones. "I went into the medical corps because I couldn't be responsible for that kind of death. But as long as I am a soldier, I'm still complicit."

[Niall Organa]

Niall chuckled softly. "Yes, Layne. I take it you've met her? She does make an impression."

"Perhaps. Yes and no." Niall said, his tone gently thoughtful. "But the values of the Republic and the Empire are so different. If I were born in the Empire, would I be the same person? I hardly think so. It's not the banner that I'm fighting for, it's the idea, after all, and that's more than just a change of color."

He sighed. "I do hope for peace, a lasting one. Perhaps the Empire will find that they enjoy it as much as we do."

[Cole Ormont]

"You mentioned her yesterday."

Cole's brow furrowed more deeply now, "no, no, you wouldn't be the same." He shakes his head, realising he isn't expressing himself well, and starting to question the wisdom of doing so to a superior officer.

"Are our values really so different? Don't we ultimately want the same thing? To defend our way of life from an enemy painted in shades of radicalism?"

[Niall Organa]

"Yes." Niall's lips twitched, and he spread his hands. "I realize that sounds like a very pat answer, but I'm not just basing it on our view of them. I'm basing it on their view of them. Of the Sith that I've spoken to, two of the most reasonable ones said that anything more than a temporary peace is impossible, because it's incompatible with their beliefs. One of those thought the same about the Republic, but..." He shook his head.

"So no, we can't want the same thing, not when their way of life, taken from their own lips, is incompatible with peace. I want peace, but not a temporary one." Niall sighed. "Perhaps if more of them were like Remmi."

[Cole Ormont]

Cole runs a hand through his hair, brings his hands together, and touches his index fingers to his lips thoughtfully. "Don't get me wrong. We want the same thing. But beliefs are just that. They can be powerful, but they can be changed."

Letting his hands fall, "if I believe that people are essentially the same; that they want to be safe and fed, purposeful and productive; then I can also believe that peace is not just possible, but that perhaps integration can be as well."

[Niall Organa]

"Mmmm." Niall grimaced. "Sith have held their beliefs for a long time. And while the Jedi serve the Republic, more or less, the Empire serves the Sith."

His lips twitched. "That is not disagreement, mind. I'm merely pointing out the obstacles we face."

[Cole Ormont]

Sighing softly and running a hand through his curls, "hopefully not insurmountable."