CHAPTER 10

SPARRING COMBAT PRACTICE

As Ahsoka, Jacen, and Jaina arrived in the Sparring Arena, Master Kyle Katarn was waiting for them.

"You're late." Master Katarn scolded.

"Sorry, Master." Ahsoka apologized. "I—"

Kyle raised his hand. Ahsoka could sense the annoyance in Jacen and Jaina's faces.

"Nevertheless, Knight Tano." He said. "The Council is here to observe your lightsaber sparring skills."

He turned to Jaina and Jacen. "Padawan Jacen and Jaina Solo, you're both assigned to oppose her."

"But—" Jacen started to protest.

"The Council insisted." Kyle interrupted. "Now, let us be clear. I don't want accidents happening in this match, again." He glared pointedly at Jacen. "Are we clear, padawan Solo?" He asked.

Jacen looked down. "Yes, Master."

"Um, what does he mean, 'again'?" Ahsoka whispered to Jaina.

"One time during a sparring match," Jaina explained quietly. "Jacen accidentally cut off Tenel's hand."

"What?" Ahsoka asked as if she'd misheard.

"Yeah," Jaina said. "It happened."

Kyle Katarn made them go to the center of the arena. Once the three of them were at the center of the arena, they could see the members of the Council on the Head box, observing.

Ahsoka stood at the center. Jacen took his position at one end of the arena, Jaina was at the other end. Kyle Katarn stood below the Council.

"The main goal in this Sparring match," Kyle announced. "Is to disarm your opponent. Only to disarm. Now, begin!" He called.

Jacen and Jaina activated their lightsabers and charged. Ahsoka grabbed her lightsabers and in reverse grip, block their strike just in time.

"I swear if you cut my hand off—" Ahsoka told Jacen as she blocked their strike.

"Don't worry," Jacen promised. "I'll be careful."

She returned their strike. Jaina jabbed first and she easily blocked her strike. Jacen was aiming for her feet, but jumped out of the way and kicked him in the chest sending him a few yards away. She turned to Jaina. Ahsoka slashed and stroked her lightsabers and almost disarmed Jaina, when Jacen flew out of nowhere and attempted an overhead strike which she easily blocked with her Shoto saber.

Suddenly, the ground shook and they began to rise twenty five feet from the floor. Rounded platforms rose from the arena floor, about three feet in diameter.

"This time, you can use the Force to your own advantage." Kyle ordered. "Only to your own advantage!"

Jacen ran beside his sister and together they jumped and did an overhead strike. Ahsoka parried their strike with her lightsabers, did a back flip somersault and landed on another platform.

As Ahsoka, Jacen and Jaina sparred; a boy about sixteen entered the arena and stood beside Master Katarn.

"Oh, great," Jacen grumbled quietly as he parried a strike. "He's here."

"Who?" Ahsoka asked as she jumped to avoid Jaina's blade.

"His Bigheadedness," Jaina muttered. "Jaden Korr." She nearly stumbled off the platform.

"I'll start hating him later after I disarm you." Ahsoka said, as she sidestepped.

"Not if we disarm you first," Jaina said. "Master." She teased as she slashed at Ahsoka's side.

Ahsoka parried her strike. "Don't call me that!" And with that, she thrust harder. Jaina barely parried her strikes. Jacen was trying to distract her by jabbing at her blind side which she parried with her Shoto saber. She kicked him again and he landed farther. She somersaulted forward and landed behind Jaina.

"You're mine." Ahsoka noted as she clipped her Shoto back to her belt. She trust and jabbed at her repeatedly. Jaina nearly fell from the platform. She made her thrust faster making it almost impossible to block, that's when Jaina lost her footing and she stumbled, losing her grip on her lightsaber as it fell to the floor.

Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber as she helped Jaina up. "Thanks." She said.

Suddenly, Ahsoka felt Jacen's presence behind as he tried another attempt to do an overhead strike. She activated her lightsaber and parried his strike.

"Not bad." Ahsoka said as their lightsabers met.

Jaina grabbed her lightsaber with the Force, stood at a platform at the edge of the arena and watched Ahsoka and Jacen in sparring combat.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Jacen exchanged thrusts and parries.

Jacen jabbed, but Ahsoka parried his attack, did a back flip and landed a few yards away, letting him come after her.

Finally, Jacen made his mistake. He tried to jab her stomach, and Ahsoka parried, locked her saber hilt in his and twisted. Jacen dropped his lightsaber.

Ahsoka momentarily pointed her lightsaber at Jacen, and then she smirked, put it down and clipped it back to her belt.

The platforms descended back down.

"Very well played, Knight Tano," Kyle commented, as she, Jacen and Jaina walked toward his direction. "Padawans Solo."

"Thank you, Master Katarn." Ahsoka bowed, so did Jacen and Jaina.

"However, you sparred with padawans." Kyle said. "We also need to see you battle your own size."

Ahsoka frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Knight Korr." Kyle turned to Jaden Korr, who was standing a few steps behind him.

"Master?" Jaden straightened.

"This time," Kyle continued. "You're going to oppose her."

At first, Jaden was stunned. Then he nodded and walked over to Ahsoka. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. I'll go easy on you." He winked and walked towards the center of the arena.

Ahsoka glared at his direction. She was starting to dislike him. Jaina leaned over. "Destroy him." She whispered.

"For the sake of our sanity," Jacen agreed. "Please."

Ahsoka gave the Solos a mischievous smile. "Don't worry, I got this." She promised and then walked to the center.

The platforms rose from the arena floor again. Only this time, the heights were uneven. Some are higher than others.

"Disarm your opponent." Kyle instructed.

Jaden wielded his lightsaber. It glowed with green energy. Ahsoka did the same, and held her lightsaber in reverse shin grip.

Their lightsabers met in midair. Jaden sliced sideways, Ahsoka leaped back and kicked him in the chest. He stumbled back and landed down in another platform. Ahsoka leaped from her a higher platform and was about sliced downward, but Jaden parried her attack and kicked her in the abdomen. She flew backward and landed on another platform.

Jaden got up, jumped and lashed out while Ahsoka was still down. But she was unbelievably fast. She dodged, parried his attacks and stood back up.

"Wow," Jaden said, as he parried an attack. "For a girl, you're unbelievably fast."

"Believe it!" Ahsoka said, as she slashed.

"Well," Jaden said, as he nearly avoided the lightsaber from cutting off his arm. "I doubt you could even manage to disarm me, Sweetheart."

That comment made Ahsoka angry, he could just seriously finish him off, and all their problems will be over. She can sense Jacen and Jaina's thoughts saying, Come on, come on! Destroy him!

Ahsoka kicked him in the chest so hard, that his lightsaber got knocked off his hand and flew nearly at the edge of the arena. Ahsoka then leaped from her platform, got hold of Jaden's lightsaber with the use of the Force, and landed on top of him with both lightsabers wielded and pointed to his neck.

Ahsoka laughed easily. "You were saying?" She asked innocently.

Jaden stiffened. He was very aware of the lightsabers at his throat.

In the distance, Kyle Katarn clapped his hands. "Well done, Knight Tano."

"I gotta admit," Jaden said, as he was careful not to move. "You're good. Actually, better than I expected, Sweetheart." He admitted.

Ahsoka got off him, deactivated the lightsabers and helped him stand. "Don't call me Sweetheart." She grumbled as she hit his lightsaber hilt at his chest hard, and walked towards Master Katarn.

The Council, who was observing above the arena, kept nodding their heads.

"Knight Tano," Kyle Katarn spoke up. "You have displayed precocious lightsaber sparring techniques. The reverse shien technique is difficult to master and yet you've managed it. It is most impressive."

"Your master has taught you well." Luke complimented.

"You will resume with a briefing tomorrow." Shaak said. "You have the rest of the afternoon off."

"Thank you, Masters." Ahsoka bowed.