Disclaimer: I do not own "Star Wars: The Old Republic" or any part of the "Star Wars" franchise. No profit is being made from this story.
Author's Note: For anyone wondering why the various alien species are written in capitals (i.e. Zabrak), that happens in every Star Wars book I've read so it just seemed right.
In the Jedi Temple on Tython, in one of the Temple's many training rooms, Kory stood almost perfectly still as she concentrated on the exercise her Master had set her.
It had been over a year now since she had arrived at Tython to be trained as a Jedi after her escape from the Sith Academy on Korriban. Physically she had not changed much. She was still fair-skinned, small and slight, although her muscles were noticeably more toned thanks to regular intensive training, and her red hair was still worn chin length. Internally however she felt more in touch with the Force than ever. Away from the harsh oppression of the Sith and among people who encouraged her compassionate nature rather than condemn it as a weakness she had come into her own. Determined to make the most of her good fortune she had dedicated herself to study and training. Such as the test she was attempting now.
Scattered on the floor around her were ten plain clay vases each with a number painted on it. The object of the test was to arrange the vases on a shelf in the correct order without breaking any of them. The catch; she had to do so using only the Force and while wearing the same sort of eye shield that Jedi initiates wore in blast deflection training while learning to use the Force to guide them rather than relying on their eyesight. Also the test had to be completed in a time limit of two minutes.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself she let the Force flow through her and at once she knew the precise location of each of the vases. Reaching out mentally she lifted them from the floor and quickly but carefully began to place them on the shelf. Everything went smoothly until the last vase. As it floated through the air she felt it start to wobble. Resisting the sudden urge to panic she maintained a calm focus and the wobbling ceased. A second later and the vase joined its fellows on the shelf.
"Splendid work my Padawan. You completed the test even quicker than last time."
"Thank you Master" Kory replied as she removed the eye shield. Jedi Master Crysta Lamis nodded at her. The Master was a Mirialan woman with pale yellow skin and the geometric facial tattoos common to her people. She wore the typical robes of a Jedi, with her hood drawn up to conceal her dark hair.
"One more test and then you can get some rest" said Crysta. "Wait here."
She left and returned a moment later with a small cage which she set on the floor. Inside it was a Tython jewel bird. It had bright sparkling blue plumage, long tail feathers and a curved black beak.
"I found this little fellow while I was patrolling the perimeter" Crysta explained as she opened the cage. "He's fortunate that a local predator didn't find him first."
The bird hopped out and now Kory could see that one of its rounded wings was dragging along the floor, clearly injured. She understood then what her Master intended.
"You want me to heal him" she said.
"That's right."
Kory crouched down next to the clearly afraid jewel bird as it flapped its wings in a futile attempt to fly away. She was filled with pity for the poor creature and silently resolved to do everything she could to help it.
"There there, don't be afraid" she said soothingly. "It's okay, I only want to help."
Her gentle tone seemed to calm the bird as it settled down and stood still. Taking care not to make any sudden moves that would frighten it she reached out and placed her hands over its injured wing.
She closed her eyes and once again opened herself to the Force. This time however she focused the flow of positive, life-giving energy through her own body down through her arms to her hands and then from her into the bird. As she did so she visualised the energy as a warm, gold light.
After a moment she opened her eyes to see that the jewel bird was fully healed. It cooed softly as it fluttered into the air and landed on one of the vases.
"Well done" said Crysta with a proud smile. "You are making excellent progress my Padawan. Very soon now there will be nothing more for me to teach you."
Kory was shocked. She knew her training had been going well but she had had no idea that her Master's opinion of her was that high.
"Thank you Master. I, I'm honoured by your words but I don't think my progress is that far."
"It is good to be humble but I mean what I say" replied Crysta. "You have come a long way since you arrived here and I believe you will soon be ready for the Trials. For now though that's enough training for today. You should take some time to rest while I take our feathered friend a suitable distance away and let him go."
"Let's hope he can stay out of trouble this time" said Kory with an amused smile.
"Indeed."
Kory left the training room and headed down the Temple's corridors to the cantina. There she enjoyed a light meal and took some time to converse with some of the other Padawans she had befriended. Like her they all wore the simple plain attire of apprentices and had training sabres strapped to their backs.
"Wow, you got all ten in the right order without one break" said Garal Missa, a Chagrian male. "That's amazing. I can't even get half of that in order within the time limit."
"I'd be happy to help you practise" she offered.
"Thanks. I'd appreciate that."
Just then the door opened and in walked Alan Ward, a human Padawan with short blond hair and deep blue eyes. He looked around the room impassively until his gaze fell upon their table. At once his eyes darkened and his neutral expression became a glare. He quickly masked it but all of them had seen it. Looking away from them he strode into the cantina and took a seat at a table as far away from them as possible.
Kory couldn't help feeling a stab of sadness at that. When she had first arrived on Tython Master Syo Bakarn had warned her that while discrimination against fellow students was not permitted among the Order, he could not speak for every Jedi. For the most part she had been fully accepted by everyone at the Temple despite her past as a Sith Acolyte. Indeed, her warm smile and kind nature had earned her many friends.
Unfortunately there had been several exceptions. Some of the students here had been at best suspicious and at worst openly contemptuous of the girl with the Imperial accent and Ward was one of them. They hadn't taken direct action against her (the Masters would never stand for that), but it still stung when she felt hostile glares burning into her back or overheard some of the things they said about her.
Its like the saying goes, a chalarax can't change its spots.
Once a Sith, always a Sith.
She turned on the people she grew up serving. Why should we expect loyalty from her?
I'm keeping my eyes on her. When she betrays us I'll be ready.
Garal must have noticed a change in her expression because he said, "hey don't let that guy upset you Kory. We all know that you're a great person and a true friend."
The others all offered their support as well.
She smiled. "Thanks guys."