[ What Amidala says makes sense. All of it does. Everyone that Rex has ever come to know understands what it means to stand for something greater than yourself, whether it's the unyielding arm of the GAR, the nobility and terrifying capability of the Jedi or, of course, the unmoving visage of the Queen. There's a certain comfort in that, in serving something greater than yourself. Rex has always gleaned a quiet satisfaction from it and has suspected that others do as well.

There's a part of him that's aware, too, that he should greet the idea of being free from war with relief. And a part of him does. He gleans no joy from sending his men into certain death, no satisfaction out of making difficult decisions that could mean life or death for tens, dozens, even hundreds of souls.

But he likes being a soldier. He's good at it. And he's never been anything else. He doesn't think he'd be much good at being anything else.

He doesn't say that. ]

For the most part, [ he agrees instead. ] That's always been what we were fighting for anyway.

[ Maybe to ask is to ask too much but, suddenly, he finds that he wants to know. He hesitates, but pushes forwards anyway. ] But hasn't it been strange for you? Maintaining a position in political office is something that can be done in peacetime and wartime alike - [ unlike being a soldier ] - but I can only imagine that the two are incredibly different.

[ Does she like it? Or does she, like himself, find herself rudderless in an unfamiliar sea? ]