Temperance

En'Oat. POV.

Though we achieved victory today, the bodies of the clones that fell in battle today woke me to the realities of war. For every droid we destroyed, 2 clones were destroyed. We were completely outmatched in this battle.

"They all fought well." Commander Wolffe spoke from beside me. I watched the gathering of the remaining clones, already tents were put up to shelter the wounded and medics running around helping them.

"This is far different then I imagined it." I eyed a group of clones sitting around a radio. They all had their heads down. "I don't understand how we could have been so wrong." I got a sigh as a response. Fortifications were already being put up, and pallets were being loaded off.

"The Republic has deemed this mission, a failure." I heard Master Plo speak from behind me. I turned around to see him stomping to the both of us. "The Senate, has requested we return to space to wait for additional forces." He placed his hands on his hips and eyed the both of us.

"That's it?" I looked at him weirdly and he nodded slowly. "All of these men die, just for us to leave?"

"It is the will of the Council as well." Master Plo placed a hand on my shoulder. "We will return. I promise you, Padawan." I stepped back from his hand and walked away to the medical tent.

Plo Koon. POV.

En'Oat walking away was an understandable reaction. Though frustrated a lesson can be learned from this event.

"Do you want me to speak to him General?" Wolffe asked uneasily.

"I will give him time to clear his head. I will speak to him later." He nodded and went to walk off but stopped.

"Do we know who gave us the wrong information?" He asked with a side eye, I sighed again and shook my head.

"The Senate has sought fit to keep the identity of the informant a secret in case of retaliation." He looked confused.

"From the Clones, Sir?" I just shook my head again and turned to stare at him fully.

"From the Jedi, Commander."

"I don't understand."

"Revenge is not the way of the Jedi, but there are many who died on the first landing. Many of them had friends. Many have already left the Order." I edged on and he just nodded.

"Understood, Sir."

"Your men did well. Have them rest for the next two days. Then we leave the planet." He snapped into salute and walked off.

This mission had been an utter failure. We had better understanding of the planet and the droids stationed on it, but at what cost? I looked around and only saw defeat. The Stark Hyperspace War was a remembrance noting is guaranteed.

I breathed in deep and exhaled.

I approached my Padawan

En'Oat. POV.

I helped ease the pain of a fallen clone getting shrapnel removed with the force.

Force healing, a skill I was not well versed in, or had much talent in. I saw the potential of saving lives and tried to learn. I was unsuccessful. So now, I act as a painkiller rather than a lifesaver.

"I was unaware you knew force healing." I could hear Master Plo from behind me. An echo of 'General' filled the tent.

"I lack the skill, to do much with it." I mumbled and returned to focusing on the fallen clone.

"Still, you prevail." He said and waited for me to finish before saying anything else.

The procedure took a couple minutes, and I was tired.

"Is there something you need, Master?" I stood up and looked him in the eye.

"Only to talk." I gestured for us to go out of the tent, and I agreed with him. The tent only got more crowded. I nodded and he led me out, far from the remaining clones. "What do you see Padawan." We were several paces away from the main camp and I just looked around.

"Sand?" I asked him and he just chuckled.

"Yes, but what do you see when you look at the troops?" I opened my mouth in a big O. I looked to clones and saw grime on their army, staining it the color of copper and brown from the sand. I could feel their anguish, at the loss of their brothers and the regret of not saving them. Yet they didn't show on their face. All of them having the same feelings yet they kept it bottled up. The death of their brothers who they couldn't mourn.

"Death?" I looked at him and he just nodded with his hand to his chin.

"How does this make you feel?"

"A Jedi does not rely on emotion." I quickly responded, and he just nodded at my answer.

"You are right." He then pulled out his lightsaber and gripped it in front of him. "I have lived a long life, many wars, and battles. I have seen many of my friend die before me." He looked out to the horizon. "A Jedi does not cling to sorry." He then glanced at me, before looking at the tent. "We accept it." I looked down at my feet. How could I accept this? "Sorrow is a part of life." He pointed to a group of clones laughing at the radio. "As well as joy." He went into his pocket and grabbed a beaded necklace. "There are gifts to be found everywhere, even in death and sorrow…" He put the necklace back into his pocket and pulled out a small pendant. It looked like a tooth. "Strange gifts." He put it into my hand and closed it. "We accept this, we learn, and we go on." I looked down at the pendant and I could spot some Shiyriiwook letters. One of the languages spoken by the Wookie's. "My master's, then mine, now yours." I looked back at him, and he just patted my shoulder, while looking at the camp.

"What does it say?"

"Temperance." I looked at him, waiting for an explanation. He just walked away.

"A story for another time, perhaps." I stood there frozen; did he make another joke?

"Tell it now!" I ran after him.

The following events that would occur, brought a smile on the faces of the troops as they watched a padawan helplessly chase his master.