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This story happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. It is already over. Nothing can be done to change it.
But here is a strange thing: few of the younglings need comfort. It is instead the younglings who offer comfort to their elders. Across the Republic—in words or pheromones, in magnetic pulses, tentacle-braids, or mental telepathy—the message from the younglings is the same: Don’t worry. It’ll be all right. Anakin and Obi-Wan will be there any minute.
A pair of starfighters. Jedi starfighters. Only two. Two is enough. Two is enough because the adults are wrong, and their younglings are right. Though this is the end of the age of heroes, it has saved its best for last.
I have never cried more over a moment in a book than I do over these few lines.
This is Obi-Wan Kenobi: A phenomenal pilot who doesn’t like to fly. A devastating warrior who’d rather not fight. A negotiator without peer who frankly prefers to sit alone in a quiet cave and meditate. Jedi Master. General in the Grand Army of the Republic. Member of the Jedi Council. And yet, inside, he feels like he’s none of these things.
Because his real fear, in a universe where even stars can die, is that being the best will never be quite good enough.
Anxiety as a constant undercurrent in Anakin's thoughts
This, then, is Obi-Wan and Anakin: They are closer than friends. Closer than brothers. Though Obi-Wan is sixteen standard years Anakin’s elder, they have become men together. Neither can imagine life without the other. The war has forged their two lives into one.
Maybe one of my favorite observations re: Obi-Wan and Anakin's bond, the depth of which is missing from the film entirely.
“Anticipation—” “Is distraction. I know. And I know that hope is as hollow as fear.”
Interesting perspective on hope and fear
This is Obi-Wan Kenobi in the light: As he is prodded onto the bridge along with Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine, he has no need to look around to see the banks of control consoles tended by terrified Neimoidians. He doesn’t have to turn his head to count the droidekas and super battle droids, or to gauge the positions of the brutal droid bodyguards. He doesn’t bother to raise his eyes to meet the cold yellow stare fixed on him through a skull-mask of armorplast. He doesn’t even need to reach into the Force. He has already let the Force reach into him.
Interesting idea that being a Jedi is being a conduit for the will of the Force + giving the self/autonomy over temporarily to its influence
Why is meaningless; it is an echo of the past, or a whisper from the future. All that matters, for this infinite now, is what, and where, and who.
He is all these things, but most important, he is still Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is why he can simply stand. Why he can simply wait. He has no need to attack, or to defend. There will be battle here, but he is perfectly at ease, perfectly content to let the battle start when it will start, and let it end when it will end. Just as he will let himself live, or let himself die. This is how a great Jedi makes war.
Rather than 'goes to war' or 'goes into battle,' does 'makes war' suggest directly cause or responsibility?
“That will not happen. I am in control here.” The reply came through Obi-Wan’s lips, but it was not truly Obi-Wan who spoke. Obi-Wan was not in control; he had no need for control. He had the Force. It was the Force that spoke through him. Grievous stalked forward. Obi-Wan saw death in the cold yellow stare through the skull-mask’s eyeholes, and it meant nothing to him at all. There was no death. There was only the Force.
Interesting take on how a Jedi serves the will of the Force. Here, literally?
There was a time when Mace Windu had feared the power of the dark; there was a time when he had feared the darkness in himself. But the Clone Wars had given him a gift of understanding: on a world called Haruun Kal, he had faced his darkness and had learned that the power of darkness is not to be feared. He had learned that it is fear that gives the darkness power. He was not afraid.
Ugh he's the best
