Chapter 4 – A new assignment
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Barriss Offee smiled. Her time in the Halls of healing hadn't been as dull as she had expected. The fact that she had been attacked by those padawans had quickly spread through the entire Temple. Surprisingly, it had increased her reputation quite a bit. Everyone had heard how she had been able to resist the Dark Side even in such a difficult situation. As a result, a lot of younglings and a number of other padawans had visited her in the medbay hoping to learn a few things from her.
Thankfully her injuries hadn't been too severe. Thanks to the advanced health care in the Temple and her own healing abilities, most of her wounds had already healed. Her wrist was still a little sore, but it should be completely better in a few days at most. It was no longer necessary for her to stay under observation in the medbay and she had been allowed to leave. Barriss went to her quarters to freshen up. After three days of lying in the medbay she really needed a shower.
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After she left her quarters Barriss went to the Temple's cafeteria to eat something else than hospital food for a change. As she was eating her food she felt a presence approach her. "Good day, padawan Offee." She looked up to see Master Plo Koon standing in front on her. "Are you feeling any better?" She nodded. "Yes, thank you Master Koon. I'm feeling much better." She replied. Master Plo nodded as well. "That is good to hear." He said. "I've been meaning to ask. I heard that you suspected that Senator Bonteri might know more about Ahsoka. Did you get a chance to confirm this?" he asked. Barriss smiled. "Yes master, I went to see Senator Bonteri just before… before those padawans attacked me in the training rooms." She replied. "He told me that he had spoken to Ahsoka before I came to see him. He didn't tell me where she had gone, but he did say that she looked very happy." Master Plo smiled under his mask. Barriss couldn't see it, but she did sense that his mood changed for the better. "That is good to know, thank you padawan Offee." He gave a slight bow and walked away. Barriss finished her meal and left the cafeteria.
Barriss was on her way back to her quarters when a voice called to her. "Barriss, hold up." She turned around and saw her master heading towards her. "Hello Master, I was just looking for you." Barriss said as Luminara reached her. Luminara smiled. "Good timing, I was looking for you as well." She said. "How are you feeling?" Barriss smiled. "I'm feeling a lot better Master, thank you." She replied. "That is good to hear Barriss." Luminara began. "I was on my way to the Council chambers. We'll be send on an assignment soon, the briefing is now. Can you attend it now or do you want me to fill you in later?" she asked. Barriss was a little apprehensive about going on another mission. She thought about her answer for a moment. "No, I can attend the briefing Master." Luminara looked relieved. "Alright then, shall we?" she asked. Barriss nodded. Luminara placed her arm around Barriss' shoulder and they went to the Council chambers.
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Luminara and Barriss stood in the Council Chambers listening to the description of their new assignment. Barriss couldn't help but feeling a little bit nervous being in the presence of the Jedi Council. However, she could tell that the Council acted somewhat different towards her. Their opinion of her apparently increased after the attack. "Guess good things can sometimes come from bad things…" Barriss thought.
"You and your troops will go to the planet Ryloth. The Separatists have fiercely attacked the planet before, but now, it's finally under Republic control and the attacks have ceased." Master Windu explained. "However, the planet is still in a bad condition. The constant fighting have done tremendous damage. You will help the local population to rebuild and repair the damage done during the conflicts." "A rebuilding mission? Thank the Force." Barriss thought to herself. She sighed a bit, letting out some nervousness. Master Yoda noticed this. "Relieved are you, Padawan Offee?" he asked in his signature, teasing tone of voice. Barriss was a little startled. "Uhm, yes Master Yoda." She replied nervously. "I was expecting a eh…, different, kind of mission." Master Yoda nodded. "A foolish decision on our part it would be, to send you on a fighting mission, considering all that has happened." He said. Barriss smiled. "Thank you Master."
Luminara smiled, Barriss seemed to be doing much better already. "When will we be leaving?" she asked the Council. "Tonight," Master Mundi replied. "The troops in the hangers are preparing the ships now. They will be loaded up with different kinds of supplies so you can help the population. You will arrive tomorrow in the afternoon. The people are expecting you and are preparing for your arrival." Luminara nodded. "Very well then, if that is all then we will prepare for our departure." Master Yoda nodded. "Yes, dismissed you are. May the Force be with you." Both Luminara and Barriss gave a respectful bow and left the room.
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"Are you alright Barriss?" Luminara asked her padawan as they walked back to their quarters. Barriss looked at her Master and gave a light smile. "Yes Master, I'm fine. I'm just relieved that we don't have to fight again just yet." She shook her head. "I'm not sure if I can handle that this soon…" Luminara smiled back. "I understand Barriss. I'm getting pretty tired of all of the fighting myself." They arrived at their quarters. "I'm going to check in with the troops, I'll see you later Barriss." Luminara said. Barriss nodded. "Alright Master, I'll begin packing my things." She replied. Luminara nodded back and walked away.
Barriss entered her quarters. She looked around for a moment. There wasn't that much for her to pack, just her clothes, a number of books and a few of the other essentials Jedi were allowed to possess. She did took special care to pack the pictures of her and Ahsoka so they wouldn't get damaged. It didn't matter to Barriss whether she was allowed to bring or possess them, the pictures gave her support, especially in this difficult time.
It took her only a few minutes to pack everything she needed. After checking she had everything she put her bags aside. She looked at the chrono, there was still some time left before they had to depart. Barriss decided to meditate until they had to leave.
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Luminara stood at the bridge of her cruiser. Captain Gree had just filled her in on the flight plan. So far they were on schedule. They were scheduled to arrive in less than three hours. "Very well, thank you Captain." She replied to Gree. "You're welcome General." He said. Luminara could sense he was still curious about something. "Is something wrong Captain?" she asked. He was a little bit taken aback. "Uhm, well General… I'm just a bit curious about commander Offee." He replied. Luminara sighed. Barriss had withdrawn to her quarters on the ship for the largest duration of the flight. "Barriss is still rather nervous and worried after everything that happened." Luminara explained to Gree. "She just needs some time to find herself again. She'll be fine." She smiled. Gree nodded. "I understand General." Luminara nodded back. "Alright then Captain, I'll be in my quarters. Please inform me when we are ready to exit hyperspace." She said. "Yes General." Gree replied. Luminara left the bridge and headed towards her own quarters. She stopped at Barriss' quarters to check up on her. She could sense that Barriss was in deep meditation so Luminara didn't bother her.
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Barriss sighed as she sat in her quarters onboard their flagship. When they boarded the ship yesterday she could feel numerous uneasy stares burning in her back. After they had finished boarding and the briefing she had withdrawn to her quarters. The Temple bombing had also killed multiple clone soldiers. She had a feeling that she was going to receive a lot more stares. She sighed again and tried to clear her mind. Meditating helped her get through this difficult time, so she spend most of her free time trying to meditate.
A shiver crept along her spine. The Dark Side was still swirling around her, trying to claim her again. She couldn't help but smile. It's seductive pull was weaker this time. She could feel the Light side growing stronger inside of her, pushing away the Darkness. She still had a ways to go, but she was moving in the right direction.
A few hours passed as Barriss meditated. A strange beeping brought her back to the present. She opened her eyes and looked around. The sound originated from her comlink on the desk. Barriss stretched out her arm and called it in her hand. "Barriss here." She said as she answered the call. "Barriss, it's Luminara" Her Master's voice sounded through the intercom. "We will exit hyperspace in about fifteen minutes. Can you come up to the bridge?" "Yes Master, I'll be there momentarily." She replied. She deactivated the comlink and headed up to the bridge.
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Luminara stood on the bridge looking at a monitor displaying their course. They had made good time with the flight and would be arriving soon. The doors behind her opened and Barriss entered the bridge. "Hello Barriss, how are you holding up?" Luminara asked as Barriss moved next to her. "I'm doing fine Master, thank you." She replied. "General, Commander, we will exit hyperspace in three minutes and begin our landing sequence in fifteen minutes." Captain Gree informed them. Luminara nodded. "Thank you Captain, we will go and prepare to disembark." she replied. Both Luminara and Barriss left the bridge.
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Luminara and Barriss were walking down the ship's ramp. They had just arrived on Ryloth. Their ship had landed just outside the main capital. All around them their troopers were unloading the supplies they had brought with them. Gree and a number of other troopers were talking with the local Twi'leks who were overseeing the operations in the city. They were discussing where all of the supplies were supposed to go.
Luminara and Barriss were both greeted by Cham Syndulla, the Twi'lek freedom-fighter whom had fought besides Master Windu during the battle of Ryloth. "Good day Jedi, welcome to Ryloth. We're pleased to have you here." His welcome was warm and it was very obvious that he meant what he said. "I am Cham Syndulla. Senator Orn Free Taa has placed me in charge with rebuilding the planet." "Thank you for your warm welcome." Luminara said. "I am Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and this is my padawan Barriss Offee." She noticed a few glances from others as she said Barriss' name. "We are here to help you rebuild this city and others areas of your planet that were damaged during the struggles." She continued. Cham Syndulla nodded. "That is most fortunate for us. Thank you Master Unduli." He gestured towards a nearby holoprojecter and they walked towards it. "Right now we are working on several large reconstruction projects in the city. Residency areas over here, a school there and the main political center in this area." He explained as he pointed as several areas on the map. "But this is currently our most pressing concern. This is the second-largest hospital on the planet. It's heavily damaged right now and there are still a lot of injured from all of the fighting." He sighed. "Unfortunately there are still a number of droid platoons functioning in the wilds and a number of old Separatist traps and mines are still operational as well. Because of this more people are being wounded. Most of these new patients are all being redirected to the other hospital in the city. The staff is under great pressure and we really need to get the other hospital back up and running." He explained. Luminara studied the map thoughtfully. "Alright then, we'll have most of our troops work with you on rebuilding the hospital first. I will help there as well." She said. Barriss turned to her Master. "Master, allow me to help the patients in the hospital. I believe that I can be of most help there." Luminara looked at her padawan and nodded. "Very well Barriss. I do believe that that is the best idea." Cham Syndulla looked at the two Jedi. "Alright, Master Unduli, I will join you on the transports there. They will take us to the damaged hospital." He explained, gesturing at a group of speeders. "Padawan Offee, those medical transports can take you to the working hospital. Are you sure you can be of help there?" he asked. Barriss nodded and smiled. "I have a full medical training and Force-healing abilities. I will do whatever I can." Cham Syndulla looked glad to hear that. "I hope you can help, our hospital staff really needs some assistance." Luminara turned to her padawan. "Alright Barriss, I will see you later. May be Force be with you." Barriss nodded. "And with you Master." She replied. They both went their separate ways in order to aid the population of Ryloth.
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That's the end of this chapter. I don't really know anything else to add…
I'm going to update my stories at the same time now. They will both meet soon so I want to have both sides of the story 'happen' at the same time. So, I will first write two chapters before I'm going to update.
Next chapters will probably be larger so I don't really know how long it will take me to write them.
Until next time.
