Having never been in the position of being so sensitive and attuned to the Force that she automatically picks up on those around her, it doesn't occur to Anderson to think that might be the reason he'd learned. Typically, she has to concentrate to get anything meaningful, and she's stopped trying with Rex now that they're removed from active threats.
But she's still good at reading people in general, can see something of the effect. She really wasn't looking for accolades, but the truth is, she's spent her whole life sacrificing for others with very little recognition, and she's transparently flustered to have it addressed so directly, needlessly tucking some hair behind an ear. It's such an innocuous question about her background, who she is, but there's something in her that's been waiting years to speak, the words spilling out in an unchecked stream.
"We predate the Empire. I'm from a metropolis the size of most planets' continents called Mega-City One. Judges are taken in as kids, usually orphans, and we spend our entire lives learning to become the law in the city."
Anderson stands as she talks and starts taking her gear off, both physically uncomfortable and feeling like she needs a physical manifestation of her departure. "We're literally judges, not just law enforcement. I sentence perpetrators as I see them. There's so much violent crime in the Megs, we barely touch it; Judges only take on the worst cases. We live communally, we don't have families--"
She's pulling out an almost absurd array of high-tech weaponry that she's depositing on a nearby console. Extra ammo, grenades, smoke bombs, a short vibroblade...
"--We have nothing to lose, and we have absolute authority. For most people, we're boogeymen, but we're also the only protection they have." Anderson pauses, glancing over at him again. In a tighter voice, "When the Empire came in, probably most Judges didn't even notice. There's not a lot of psychics, and we're the only ones they were interested in using. But I noticed. Because before, I had complete discretion over how I use my abilities, and what the sentences were."
She sets down her Lawgiver, a comically large and weighty handgun, with a final thunk on top of the rest, and then she detaches her badge and adds it to the pile with a muted intensity of emotion she can't begin to pick apart.
"I didn't sign up to play the Emperor's puppet," she finishes with palpable disgust. Without pride, fingers curled and knuckles clenched: "I'm the most powerful psychic they've ever seen on the force. I knew there was going to be a day when I couldn't let them use me anymore. That day just happened to be today.
no subject
But she's still good at reading people in general, can see something of the effect. She really wasn't looking for accolades, but the truth is, she's spent her whole life sacrificing for others with very little recognition, and she's transparently flustered to have it addressed so directly, needlessly tucking some hair behind an ear. It's such an innocuous question about her background, who she is, but there's something in her that's been waiting years to speak, the words spilling out in an unchecked stream.
"We predate the Empire. I'm from a metropolis the size of most planets' continents called Mega-City One. Judges are taken in as kids, usually orphans, and we spend our entire lives learning to become the law in the city."
Anderson stands as she talks and starts taking her gear off, both physically uncomfortable and feeling like she needs a physical manifestation of her departure. "We're literally judges, not just law enforcement. I sentence perpetrators as I see them. There's so much violent crime in the Megs, we barely touch it; Judges only take on the worst cases. We live communally, we don't have families--"
She's pulling out an almost absurd array of high-tech weaponry that she's depositing on a nearby console. Extra ammo, grenades, smoke bombs, a short vibroblade...
"--We have nothing to lose, and we have absolute authority. For most people, we're boogeymen, but we're also the only protection they have." Anderson pauses, glancing over at him again. In a tighter voice, "When the Empire came in, probably most Judges didn't even notice. There's not a lot of psychics, and we're the only ones they were interested in using. But I noticed. Because before, I had complete discretion over how I use my abilities, and what the sentences were."
She sets down her Lawgiver, a comically large and weighty handgun, with a final thunk on top of the rest, and then she detaches her badge and adds it to the pile with a muted intensity of emotion she can't begin to pick apart.
"I didn't sign up to play the Emperor's puppet," she finishes with palpable disgust. Without pride, fingers curled and knuckles clenched: "I'm the most powerful psychic they've ever seen on the force. I knew there was going to be a day when I couldn't let them use me anymore. That day just happened to be today.
"Lucky you."