The a small portion of the hangar deck of the *Terminus* was cleared.
Clone troopers formed a loose perimeter, rifles set to low-yield stun. The hum of power cells filled the chamber.
Ahsoka looked from the clones to Dagon, confusion written plainly across her face.
"Teacher… why are they aiming at me?"
"Because," Dagon replied evenly, clasping his hands behind his back, "you want to go to war."
She straightened. "I do."
"Good. Then today, war comes to you."
The clones shifted slightly, disciplined but clearly curious.
Commander Blam stepped forward. "General, parameters?"
"Non-lethal stun rounds only. Variable rhythm. No predictable firing patterns. Rotate shooters every thirty seconds also have medic on standby just in case to avoid over exhaustion."
Ahsoka blinked. "Wait—what?"
Dagon met her gaze calmly.
"You asked how we almost lost on Geonosis."
Her montrals twitched slightly.
"This," he continued, "is how."
He gestured, and the deck lights dimmed to simulate dust-obscured visibility.
"On Geonosis, there was no elegant duel. No single opponent. Only crossfire. Hundreds of angles. No pause."
He stepped closer to her.
"You will not focus on blocking. You will focus on awareness."
"I can deflect blaster bolts," she protested.
"I know."
A pause.
"But can you sense the one you don't see?"
Silence.
Commander Enok tilted his helmet slightly. "Ready, General."
Dagon walked to the edge of the deck.
"Ahsoka."
"Yes, Teacher?"
"Rule one. Do not try to win."
She frowned. "Then what am I doing?"
"Surviving."
Before she could respond—
"Begin."
The first stun bolt cracked through the air.
Ahsoka deflected it easily.
The second came from behind.
She twisted, barely catching it.
Then three more fired from staggered angles.
Within seconds, blue arcs flashed across the chamber.
She moved fast—faster than most younglings ever could—but the clones adjusted, spreading their spacing, firing at uneven intervals.
Dagon's voice cut through the noise.
"Don't chase the bolt. Feel the intent."
A stun blast clipped her shoulder.
She stumbled.
The clones immediately ceased fire.
Dagon raised a hand.
"Continue."
Ahsoka shot him an incredulous look but reset her stance.
The firing resumed—more chaotic now.
Two bolts grazed her side. One struck her thigh. She gritted her teeth.
"Too rigid," Dagon called. "You're thinking about where the next shot will be."
Another hit.
She dropped to one knee.
"Stop!" Commander Blam barked instinctively.
Dagon lowered his hand slowly.
The chamber went quiet.
Ahsoka breathed heavily, irritation flashing in her eyes.
"I would've handled that better with droids," she muttered.
"No," Dagon corrected calmly. "You would have tried to charge."
She hesitated.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
"In the arena, I survived because I stopped fighting like a duelist."
Her breathing steadied slightly.
"You felt overwhelmed," he continued. "Good. Remember that feeling. That is the moment most Jedi fall."
She looked up at him.
"So what do I do?"
"You widen your awareness. You stop being the center of the battlefield."
He tapped lightly against her forehead.
"You become the battlefield."
A pause.
Behind them, the clones exchanged glances. The General's methods were unusual—but effective.
Dagon straightened.
"Again. Increase tempo."
Ahsoka's eyes widened. "Again?!"
He allowed the faintest hint of dry humor into his tone.
"You said you wanted to go to war."
She stood, rolling her shoulders despite the lingering sting of the stun impacts.
"Fine," she muttered. "But when I beat them—"
"You won't."
Her jaw dropped.
"Not today."
The clones resumed firing.
This time, Ahsoka didn't chase the bolts.
She closed her eyes for half a second.
And when she moved again, it was different.
More fluid.
Less reactive.
From the observation platform, Ethan's photoreceptors glowed faintly.
"Statistically," the droid remarked quietly to Dagon, "this will either build exceptional combat resilience… or inspire mild resentment."
Dagon folded his arms.
"She'll thank me later."
Ahsoka deflected three bolts in a clean arc—then still took one to the back.
She yelped.
Dagon did not move.
Because this lesson wasn't about power.
It was about surviving long enough to use it.