Chapter 38 – Surprising Matches
I finally got around to finishing this chapter. Life has been busy. Despite the fact that I've only seen my office in person 3 times since last march, the workload doesn't decrease. Things are very busy again these months, but hopefully in a few weeks it should get a little quieter again.
On with the chapter. Hope you enjoy.
;-
Barriss Offee enjoyed a later breakfast than usual. The exhaustion from the day before had hit her harder than she had been expecting. Besides that, Scout had apparently also managed to turn off her alarm. A considerate and compassionate thought on her part, but perhaps not the best time for such a gesture.
When she had checked her datapad, there had been a few messages waiting for her. Most had been from Master Vokara Che, to see if she was available to help the other healers today. The healer had thankfully been understanding when Barriss had mentioned her Padawan's injuries. She was heading their way as soon as she finished up her breakfast. She would check on Scout's wound and then join the other Healers.
Another message had been from her former Master Luminara Unduli. The older Mirialan wanted to make sure that she and Scout were both alright. She had contacted Luminara over the comms and they had briefly discussed what had happened. Luminara was relieved to hear of her safety, but she had expressed her concerns for Scout's injuries. She had assured her former Master that Scout was well and that she just needed to rest now. She would be fine then. After briefly discussing the battle, they decided to meet in person at another time to discuss it further in detail.
The last message had been from her family. Both her mother and sister had been immensely relieved that she was alright. Like Luminara, they expressed their concerns for Scout, but were glad that she wasn't seriously harmed. They hoped to see her and her Padawan again in person, as soon as everything on Coruscant returned to normal again. She liked that idea herself as well. But unfortunately, it seemed like it might be a little while.
Finishing up her breakfast, she decided to settle into a short meditation session. For some strange reason, she felt rather unbalanced. During her sleep, there had been… something. There were sensations lingering in her mind. She had felt such things before. They came with nightmares. She was no stranger to those, some of the worst having been from her struggle against the Dark Side and the brain worms earlier in the war. She knew how it felt personally and she had seen it plenty of times in others during her duties as a Healer.
This was different. She had no recollection of the nightmare. Whatever it was, she knew it was something horrifying. She just didn't know what it was. She couldn't deny some frustration at this. The sensations were so dark, but she just couldn't place them. Perhaps a later, deeper meditation could provide her with more answers, but she didn't have the time for it now.
Finishing up her brief meditation, she moved over to the living room of their quarters. Scout was on the couch, reading through some reports about the damage on Coruscant. "Hi Master, are you well? You were up later than usual," she greeted her, some concern flickering from her through the Force.
Barriss gave a light smile. "Hello Padawan. I'm fine, don't worry. Just the exhaustion from yesterday catching up to me. Also, I seemed to have missed my alarm," she added with a slight tease. Her smile grew a bit larger as she noticed Scout blush a bit. She walked up and set down next to her Padawan. "Have you heard anything about your classes for today, Scout? Master Che had sent me a message and from its tone, just about every available Jedi is being called to action because of this invasion."
Scout nodded. "Yeah," she paused. "All of them are cancelled for at least a few days. Everything is just really chaotic now." She held up her datapad and showed the roster for her classes. It was just empty.
Barriss sighed. "This war was bad enough already. Now it has hit this close to home. I imagine everything will be quite messy for a little while still," she replied. "I expect my duties as a Healer will keep me quite occupied as well. I would have suggested that instead of your classes, the two of us could have done more studying and practice with the Force, but I'm afraid that there will be little time for that."
Scout smiled lightly at that, glad that her Master was looking out for her. "Don't worry Master, I understand. I don't think we've seen such a chaotic situation as this in years. Just about everyone is going to be busy for a while."
"Indeed. I suppose I should be thankful that I am not a member of the Jedi Council. Their meetings are probably hell at the moment," Barriss commented dryly, earning herself happy laugh from her Padawan. "Did you already think of a way to spend this unexpected free time?"
"Yes, I did," Scout answered. She had been thinking of something. At her Master's nod, she continued. "The Archives are still open, so I thought that, seeing as I can't do much physical activities because of this wound, I can look up more of the Force lessons we've been practicing instead and study them. If I have questions, I can save them and we can discuss them together later when you have the time."
Barriss smiled. "Sounds like you've got it all planned out," she replied. "Just make sure you don't overwork yourself. I know you really enjoy studying the Force now, but you do need to rest and heal. Speaking of which, let's head over to the Halls of Healing. I'll check to see how your wound is doing and then I'll see what Master Che needs me to do."
Scout nodded. "Alright Master," she said and they both got up. She then followed her Master out of their quarters.
;-
As they walked through the halls of the Jedi Temple, they suddenly came across a crowd of people. Unsure of what to make from the disturbance, Barriss moved to check it out with Scout right behind her. To her surprise, she spotted Ahsoka and her sister Aisha in the middle of the hall. Anakin Skywalker was by their side as well. That part wasn't surprising to her at all.
The trio was apparently stopped by a Human Padawan, Jana Starr. Barriss had inquired about the Human before, after she had seen her mess with Ahsoka. She was apparently jealous of Ahsoka and had always seen her as some form of rival. Her jealousy had only increased when Ahsoka had been assigned as Anakin's Padawan. She couldn't really understand it. It most definitely wasn't a way for Jedi to act.
The Human Padawan always seemed to mess with Ahsoka, trying to pull the dumbest stunts. She was no stranger herself to being bullied, but the ones that had previously messed with her had all grown out of it. Some had even apologized to her when they both met as Padawans. Jana, on the other hand, had apparently not changed at all, judging from the way she was harassing Ahsoka yet again.
The Human had some choice words for Ahsoka when she learned that Aisha was Ahsoka's sister and Padawan. The way she was insulting a younger girl she had only just met was most definitely not becoming of a Jedi.
"She's a Jedi too, right?" She heard Aisha ask with some hesitance.
"Of course I am! A real Jedi! Unlike that failure there!" Jana commented before anyone else could, pointing harshly at Ahsoka.
"Well, she's part of the Jedi Order," Ahsoka replied drily. "Any reason you asked?"
"Uhm…" Aisha hesitated. "It's just that… she feels… less than the others here." She shrugged. "I can tell everyone here is pretty strong, but she just sticks out in a lesser way. I don't know what else to call it."
Barriss was a little stunned by her response, as were plenty of others around her. There was a mixture of disbelief and amusement echoing through the hall. Anger was pulsing as well, as Jana raged quite a bit.
"Rather unbecoming remarks from a supposed Jedi," Ahsoka stated dryly, before looking around the hall. "Why don't we just stop all the yelling and settle this a different way?" she suggested. "Petro, would you like to have a sparring match with my sister?"
"Uhm, alright, Padawan Tano," Petro replied as he began making his way to them.
Barriss could tell he was rather surprised, but it was quickly being overtaken by a sense of excitement. She knew that Petro had been part of the group that Ahsoka had taken to Ilum on their Gathering. That had gone quite sideways and they had come face to face with Grievous. Their group had seen Ahsoka face off against the cyborg monster and it had obviously left a great impression on them. Sparring with someone trained by Ahsoka was obviously an exciting idea to him. Aisha also seemed excited by the prospect of dueling him.
Anakin was quick to offer her his lightsaber to use. It was clear that he wanted to see what Ahsoka's sister was capable off. There was a mixture of emotions radiating around them, but everyone seemed at least curious to see how this would go. Or perhaps it was just a welcome distraction from the chaos of recent events and the fallout.
Petro opened the match with a simple attack to feel Aisha out. She blocked it easily, making it clear that he shouldn't take it that easy on her. The fight picked up quickly after that. Petro attacked with more strength, but Aisha kept up with him. At one point she flipped it around on him, going on the offensive herself, but Petro turned it around again.
Suddenly during the fight, Aisha jumped back from Petro and deactivated Anakin's lightsaber. She held it in her hands and looked it over a bit.
Petro looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked concerned.
From the sidelines, Jana was quick to comment. "Giving up already?" She laughed mockingly. "Guess we shouldn't be surprised from someone taught by a failure like Tano."
"No," Aisha replied, casually copying Ahsoka's way of ignoring the annoying Human girl. "it's just that this lightsaber doesn't really do it for me. It doesn't feel right in my hands. No offense," she said as she threw it back at Anakin who caught it easily. She turned her attention back to Petro.
The young Human initiate was staring at her, unsure. "But, then what are you going to do now?" he asked, nodding at his ignited lightsaber in his hands.
Aisha briefly looked at Ahsoka. Her older sister smiled and gave her a nod. Aisha smiled and turned back to Petro. "I'll just use my own!" she said as she trust out her right hand towards the bag she had set aside before the match.
Everyone watched as Aisha pulled her own lightsabers to her hand. Barriss was surprised when she ignited them as a saberstaff. She was certain that the younger girl had crafted two separate lightsabers like Ahsoka had. "Did she make two combinable sabers?" she thought. She watched Aisha twirl the saberstaff around effortlessly. This was definitely her own lightsaber.
Aisha attacked Petro with a fluid combo of attacks, forcing him on the defensive. Her moves were measured and controlled. It was very obvious that she had trained a lot with Ahsoka. She recognized several moves from her own studies, but there were strikes that were unfamiliar to her. "A custom style?" she wondered.
"She pretty strong!" Scout commented next to her. "And she's using that double saber so well!"
Petro managed to dodge one of her attacks and counterattacked, but Aisha caught him off guard again by separating her saberstaff into two separate lightsabers. She quickly struck back at him with a different series of combo's.
"She knows Jar'Kai too? That's really impressive!" Scout said next to her. She agreed with her Padawan. Ahsoka was clearly an excellent teacher and Aisha a great student.
They watched as the fight picked up. Aisha was apparently intending to end it quickly now, judging from the fierce combination attacks she was launching against Petro. She moved into a fast and wild looking combo, at the end of which she was able to knock Petro's lightsaber out of his hand.
Petro locked at her in stunned surprise for a moment, before giving the signal to end the spar like they had been taught. She recognized the signal and deactivated her blades. She clipped them back to her belt while Petro called his own lightsaber back.
"You're a lot stronger than I thought," Petro admitted. "But it was Padawan Tano who taught you, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
Aisha smiled at that. "You're really strong too! That's why I knew I had to win quickly. Otherwise I'm sure you would have beaten me instead. This was fun, I don't really have an opportunity to spar against other people."
Ahsoka walked up to the two of them. "You both did great. And nice work with that combo Aisha. You were right, separating your blades at the end of it really paid off," she said, earning herself a smile from Aisha.
"A fluke, little more than that." A voice said from a bit away.
Ahsoka looked over and saw who said it. "Do you have something to say, Eeth Koth?" she asked him. The Zabrak Council member was looking at them with a face twisted in distaste.
He frowned at the two Togruta. "Some untrained girl cannot beat a trained Jedi youngling. Her amateurish way of handling a lightsaber just confounded him. It's nothing more than that," he stated dismissively.
Barriss was admittedly shocked by the Jedi Master's words. What kind of way was that to degrade a young girl? There was no cause for such a harsh rebuke. And it certainly wasn't in any way appropriate for a Jedi Master to do. Ahsoka definitely seemed irritated by his words.
"While it is true that our new form is not yet fully completed, Aisha has certainly demonstrated its strengths," Ahsoka replied calmly.
"New form?" Eeth Koth asked unamused. "The Jedi Order already has its lightsaber forms. There aren't other forms to be studied. The Order's knowledge is complete."
Ahsoka looked at the Zabrak Master and frowned. "So what? The Jedi Order has a monopoly on the Force and all knowledge associated with It? Did someone think to inform the Sith? Because I think that they missed that little memo," she replied in a slightly mocking tone. "The way of this Order is the only right way? Sounds a little like an ultimatum to me. Now let me think, what group was it again that dealt in absolutes?" She paused theatrically, tapping her chin in thought. "Oh yes, I remember! The Sith! They dealt in absolutes."
Barriss felt the ripples in the Force around her. Ahsoka's words obviously struck some cords in many of the Jedi around them. She just wasn't sure in what way. Still, she didn't sense any outright hostility towards Ahsoka. Were others agreeing with her?
The only person who's feelings were clear was Anakin Skywalker. He seemed to rather enjoy watching his former Padawan talk down to a member of the Jedi Council.
Ahsoka looked back at the Zabrack. "The Order doesn't have a monopoly on the Force. You're not the only ones that walk in the Light Side of the Force. There are more ways to use the Force for good. And there is more to the Light that the Order appears to have forgotten. You denounce emotions and attachments, but in reuniting with my family, I have gained much greater insight in the Light side."
"Such things have no place in the Jedi Code!" Koth scoffed in disapproval. "It is not the Jedi way!"
Ahsoka tilted her head and looked at him. "Oh, but fighting in a war as Generals and Commanders is?" she asked. "Sending young children to command armies and take planets is? Departing after the battle and leaving the people to deal with the aftermath of the battle is?" She leveled him with an intense glare. "Sacrificing Padawans so you can be seen as loyal servants of the Senate is the Jedi way?" She failed to keep a hint of venom out of her voice.
"You think you know better than the Order?! Our way has been around for centuries. It is the only proper way for Jedi to be. The record speaks for itself," Koth replied.
"Have you taken a moment to look outside recently, Eeth Koth?" she asked him. "In case you're not aware, just two scheming Sith have managed to plunge the entire Galaxy into a chaotic war right under your noses. The whole Jedi Order has been forced into fighting it for the Senate, leaving all manner of criminals and lowlifes free to cause chaos and suffering wherever they want. And the public opinion of the Jedi has never been lower. Don't you think that maybe it's time to reevaluate the Code you so blindly cling to?"
"You think that you, a failed Padawan, knows better than the Order?" Koth asked in mild outrage. "Whatever absurd ideas you think you have, they fail in comparison to the Jedi Code."
A few years ago, Barriss figured that she would have instantly agreed with him. Now, however, she couldn't deny that Ahsoka had a few very, very good points. They were somewhat similar to her own personal doubts about the Code. She wasn't sure what to make of it now. Maybe she could find time later to discuss it with Ahsoka in person and in private.
Ahsoka opened her mouth to reply to Eeth Koth, but paused. She seemed to have concluded that words would not get through to him. "If you truly feel that the current way of the Jedi is the only and right way, how about you demonstrate?" she asked him. She took a few steps away from her sister and called one of her own lightsabers to her hand, inviting the Zabrak Master to demonstrate his 'right' way.
Koth merely scoffed at her and drew his own blade. He ignited the green blade and took a stance.
Ahsoka resisted the urge to shake her head. The idea of proving her wrong and humiliating her in front of the Order seemed too tempting to him. Hardly becoming of a Jedi Master of the High Council.
"Tell me, Eeth Koth, do you remember the code to the construction of a lightsaber?" she asked him. He chose not to respond. "The crystal is the heart of the blade that connects the Jedi to the blade, to the Force," she said before igniting the cyan blade. "The heart of this blade was given to me by the man I love. Can you overcome that, Eeth Koth?" she asked as she moved into her own stance.
Barriss listened to her words and her mind flashed back to the aftermath of the battle on Felucia. Herself handing Ahsoka that broken locket with the piece of shrapnel lodged into it. A locket that had been given to her by her boyfriend Lux Bonteri. She was curious to see this match play out. Ahsoka seemed a great deal stronger than she was before. She stood in an opening stance, lightsaber ignited, waiting for Eeth Koth to strike.
Quickly growing annoyed with the Togruta in front of him, Eeth Koth moved to charge at her and put a quick end to the nonsense she was spewing, her blasphemy about the sacred Jedi Code. He would demonstrate the truth to her.
As soon as Koth took a step forward, Ahsoka rushed him with a swift and powerful opening strike. The Jedi Master was visibly caught off-guard and struggled to block her strike. She didn't hesitate a moment and moved into a disarming strike, aiming to end this before it even started. The Zabrak was barely able to pull his lightsaber out of the way and step back. Ahsoka didn't give him a chance to recover and she was on him instantly again.
It was clear to everyone that Ahsoka had the upper hand. Koth narrowly avoided a powerful counterattack and he moved back from the Togruta giving him such a hard time.
Ahsoka observed the Zabrak Master a moment, before she decided to up the ante to bring this to an end. She moved her lightsaber to her left hand and then used the Force to call another saber to her right hand. She drew more on the Force and ignited her second saber, the white blade shining brightly in her hand.
Barriss was stunned at the sight of the white blade. Those were incredibly rare. She knew that much. She had never seen one before herself. Everyone around her was stunned as well. No one seemed to know what to make of it. Still… the white blade seemed to really suit Ahsoka well.
"Were did you get that crystal?!" Eeth Koth asked in surprise. He himself had never seen such a crystal before. There was no reason this girl should have a blade like this, radiating with Light.
"This one?" Ahsoka replied as she held the blade in front of her a moment. "It's my crystal. The one that I found in the crystal caves of Ilum during my Gathering when I was younger." She moved her hand back to a neutral position. "As I learned more about the Force and the nature of the Light Side, I found a greater peace and depth to my meditations. And while meditating on all that I have learned and how I have grown, my crystals changed to reflect this." She flipped the blade around to her preferred reverse hold. "The heart of a lightsaber is connected to the Jedi and reflects their nature. So I wonder, what does this say about me?"
She again didn't receive an answer from the Zabrak. She moved into an opening stance of what Barriss assumed was their new form. It certainly was unfamiliar to her.
Eeth Koth moved back into a stance as well, but he seemed hesitant to attack first again. Unwilling to let this take up much more of their time, Ahsoka decided to take the initiative now. She charged him with a powerful double swipe and the fight was back on.
Everyone watched in a mixture of shock and fascination as Ahsoka quickly gained the upper hand in this match. Despite being a Jedi Master, Eeth Koth seemed to be overwhelmed by Ahsoka's attacks. Her style looked aggressive, but very controlled at the same time.
"Master?" Scout spoke up next to her. "What kind of style is Ahsoka using? I can't place it."
"Neither can I, Scout," Barriss answered truthfully. While she could recognize some parts of her moves, the rest was unfamiliar to her.
"That does not surprise me. After all, it is not a style of the Jedi," a calm voice said next to her.
Barriss looked to her side and was surprised to see Jedi Master Shaak Ti standing next to her. The Togruta Master was looking the match with quite some interest. "You are familiar with her moves, Master Ti?" she asked.
"I recognize some of her moves, yes," Shaak Ti answered. "They are from our people's traditional fighting styles, the ones practiced by the royal guards. I spent some time studying them when I was a Padawan. I wanted to try and combine them with our lightsaber forms, but I did not succeed. My own Master talked me out of continuing after I suffered an accident while training." She watched as Ahsoka kept on the offensive against Eeth Koth. "However, it seems that Ahsoka has succeeded where I failed. I wonder if Master Koth will be able to handle her."
Barriss was a little stunned, the Togruta Master had a small but quite mischievous smirk on her normally serene face. Was she expecting Master Koth to lose this fight to Ahsoka? She had seen the warriors of Shili fight herself. They were powerful, there's no denying that. If Ahsoka has combined that strength with her original Jedi training…
"I remember Ahsoka mentioning to me that she was studying their styles," Barriss said as she turned back to watch the fight. Eeth koth was really struggling against Ahsoka now. Her new Jar'Kai style was obviously powerful and the Zabrak Master was hard pressed to keep up. Ahsoka's assault kept on for a short while longer, before Eeth Koth apparently had enough. He tried to Push Ahsoka away with the Force, but she met his attack with her own Force Push.
"If the Jedi way really is the only right way…" Ahsoka said as their Pushes collided, "then why can't you overcome me?"
Shock overtook the hall as Ahsoka send Eeth Koth flying. The Zabrak Master was looking at her in disbelief. Barriss was certain that her expression was something similar. Her friend had just taken down a Master of the Jedi Council. She knew Ahsoka was strong, but she didn't expect her to be capable of that.
"I think that I've made my point," Ahsoka stated calmly as she put her lightsabers away. She turned around and began to walk back towards her sister, but the sound of a lightsaber igniting made her pause.
Barriss saw Jana Starr charge towards Ahsoka with a lightsaber that was clearly at full power. She was aiming to seriously hurt or even kill Ahsoka! Before anyone else could act, Ahsoka reached into the Force and grabbed the Human Padawan, restraining her in the air. She used the Force to rip the lightsaber out of her hands and then pinned her down on the floor, keeping the pressure of the Force on her to prevent the Human girl from getting up.
"What were you even trying to do?!" Ahsoka asked angrily. "Do you ever think about your actions? About the consequences?!"
"Ahsoka, I believe this is quite enough. Release her please," Master Shaak Ti said as she walked up to them.
Ahsoka turned to look at the Togruta master. "I'm afraid it's not that simple, Master Ti," she replied, ignoring Jana's angry rants.
"And why is that?" Shaak asked her. Some concern filled her. There was an edge in the Force to this situation. There was more to it than she knew now.
"I'm sure that you recognize this," Ahsoka replied as she took out some kind of necklace she was wearing under her clothes. She held it up for the Jedi Master to see.
Shaak Ti's eyes widened as she took in the necklace. She knew what it meant, what it signified. She was also aware of the fact that Shili was currently looking at potentially joining the Republic. This incident could have some very significant consequences. "Padawan Starr, be silent!" she ordered hastily, quieting the Human girl. She then turned her attention back to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka looked Shaak Ti in the eyes. "Assuming that the Order handles this appropriately, I'm willing to keep this quiet. There shouldn't be any reason to let this incident disturb the potential political relationship between Shili and the Republic," she told the Jedi Master.
Shaak Ti nodded slowly. "The Council will see to that. You have my word," she replied, hoping that it would be enough for the younger Togruta. Her personal word was probably better than giving her the word of the Council, considering what had happened between Ahsoka and the Council.
"Very well then," Ahsoka said, easing up on her Force hold on Jana. The Human girl sat upright and was about to say something, but a stern look from Shaak Ti made her actually hold her tongue.
"Come on Aisha, our sisters are waiting for us. Let's not keep them waiting any longer," Ahsoka said to her sister as she walked up to her. Aisha nodded and picked up her bag again. She put her lightsabers away again and the two Togruta sisters began to walk out of the hall.
Barriss watched as they left. Ahsoka was clearly a lot stronger then she remembered her friend being. Her skills had grown considerably. From the shock and surprise echoing around her, it was obvious that no one here had expected her to beat a Council member. A lot of the others around them were talking amongst themselves about what they had just witnessed and Ahsoka's words about the Order and the Code.
She would have argued against Ahsoka's words in the past, but after these years of war and everything they've all been through, she didn't find herself rejecting those words immediately. Instead, she found herself wondering about the truth behind her words. She knew her own family now as well. Was there more to the Force that the Order doesn't know or has forgotten? She wouldn't immediately rebuke it. There were undoubtedly still many mysteries left in the Force that the Order didn't know about.
She then spotted Anakin Skywalker walking up to Master Shaak Ti. "Master Ti? What's going on?" he asked her. "Is there something special about that necklace?" He looked at Jana Starr still sitting on the floor. She obviously wanted to comment, but Shaak Ti cut her off with a quick rebuke.
"You would be wise to remain silent, Padawan Starr. You have no idea how serious this situation is," Shaak stated. "You should consider yourself fortunate that Ahsoka never took much offence to your immature bullying. If she was less forgiving, she would have demanded your execution now and we would have been powerless to deny her."
Her words shocked the rest of the Jedi around her, especially Jana. The Togruta she always had been bullying could have demanded her life and the Jedi Council would have been unable to stop that?
Anakin was utterly confused as well. "What do you mean, Master Ti?" he asked. "How could she do that? Is it linked to that necklace?"
Shaak nodded slowly. "That amulet is known as a Heart of Nature. They are only worn by the members of the royal family of Shili. It is a symbol of their family," Shaak Ti explained to the others around.
Anakin frowned at her words. "But then, why is Ahsoka wearing one?" he asked confused. Shaak Ti gave him a look. "What? No. Do you mean that… Ahsoka is…"
"Only members of the royal family are allowed to wear such an amulet. So, it would appear that Ahsoka has reached quite the new position in life," Shaak replied. She looked at Jana Starr still sitting on the floor. "You just attempted to murder a princess of Shili. Such an offense by Shili laws is punishable by death. Under normal circumstances, this would be worse enough. However, Shili is looking to potentially join the Republic now. To have a Republic Jedi attempt to murder a princess of Shili, this could have easily ruined those negotiations before they had even started and ruined any further chances of a good relationship between Shili and the Republic."
She paused a moment before addressing the girl again. "I suggest you return to your quarters now and remain there. The Council will decide on a punishment for your actions later." With that, she dismissed her. Shaak Ti looked around the hall. "I believe we all have other matters to attend to now," she told everyone. A gentle nudge to remind everyone to carry on with their day, despite of the 'show' they just witnessed. She didn't doubt that all everything that had been said and done here would be talked over quite a bit. She wondered what it could lead to. The Force felt like it was subtly shifting in all sorts of different ways. It was a curious sensation.
Barriss watched the Togruta Master walk away in shock. Ahsoka, a princess of Shili? How and when? She knew that Ahsoka was getting close with Senator Bonteri of Onderon, so she would have expected her to potentially have more influence on Onderon, but a princess of her home planet? How many more surprises were in store for her this day?
Next to her, Scout also seemed a little overwhelmed by everything that had happened and all that was said. She gently nudged her shoulder. "Come on, Scout. Let's continue on," she told her Padawan. Scout looked up to her, unsure of what to say. "We'll take some time to discuss all of this later, I promise. For now, we're expected in the Halls of Healing."
Scout nodded. "Alright Master," she replied shortly. She had not been expecting something like this today. Or ever. Her friend Ahsoka had actually mopped the floor with a member of the Jedi Council. A Padawan that had left the Order had defeated a Jedi Master and made some very pointed remarks about the Order and the Jedi Code. Her words were harsh, but Scout felt that there was some truth to them. She wondered how her Master felt about it? Especially now that she knows her family. She really hoped they'd have some quiet time to talk it all through later. For now, she followed Barriss as she lead the way to the Halls of Healing.
;-
That's the end of this chapter.
The largest part of it was the same of my latest chapter for Tale of a Togruta, but from Barriss' perspective. That was always my idea with these two stories. Events as seen from both Ahsoka and Barriss. Eventually I'll just make 1 story, a sequel, so that everything happens in that one. But, we're not there just yet.
I'll be doing another chapter for Gift of Light first. For Tale of a Togruta and A Mirialan's Story I do have the next plotlines planned out, but I just need to piece it all together a bit more. I don't want to rush it and make mistakes. And with my wild thoughts, I might also write out a few smaller one shots in-between (already have 7 of them listed in a small document, as well as a small 3ish chapter separate story). Too many ideas, too little time.
Until next time.