Dead Man Walking

[Nekoinu]

“Your daughter is doing quite well in the program. She may even come to surpass you.” On the other end of the holocall was Enna Saxon, scorned widow of the old regime. The death of Palpatine did not mean the death of war itself.

Vanito took a breath and then coughed. His earlier battle had done more damage to him than he had anticipated. Rest would do him well, he knew it, but duty called. He couldn't afford to show weakness to her.

“That is all I could ever hope for,” Vanito muttered. He was growing older and more crippled. Skill had brought him this far, but he feared that it would not be enough. Skill that he was unable to pass down to his daughter due to this circumstance.

“My condolences that you were unable to be there for your wife’s passing. You know that I understand the feeling of losing your partner, of being unable to prevent it.”

It wasn’t the same. His wife. Karlotta had deserved better. All of the so-called Arcadian scholars couldn’t cure her illness. And their people, the Mandalorians, Clan Cadera, Clan Saxon. Nobody had the answer. Karlotta hadn’t been killed like Tiber Saxon. Tiber could have -

“But we press on,” Enna announced, “The cause needs us to.”

Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum.

Vanito wished he could recall how exactly she used to say it, down to every detail. It had been too long, though, and her voice was becoming hazy. Sometimes he even imagined her as having pupils but that was insensible, so far from the truth.

“Are you ready to continue serving the cause?” Enna continued.

The crushgaunts were cranking due to the intense, involuntary grip of his fists. Vanito released them and lifted his head back up to Enna Saxon. He could still remember his daughter’s voice, and he could hear it again soon if he just did enough.

“Send me to the next objective,” Vanito answered before donning his helmet for the last time.