Chapter 20 – A difficult Decision

It was a lot easier to write this chapter than I thought. I only write about thirty-fifty minutes a day now, thanks to my schoolwork. I was planning on updating a lot later, but… Well, this chapter is finished, so I can just as well upload it.

Danger is brewing and Barriss makes a tough decision about what to do.

Hope you enjoy.

;-

Barriss Offee entered the Halls of Healing. A few days had passed since she had last been there. She had spent the last couple of recovering from the ordeal she had gone through on Drongar.

She had been meditating a lot more than she usually did. Her master had joined her whenever she was able. Unfortunately, Luminara had been busier than normal. A large amount of Jedi were all out fighting battles somewhere in the Galaxy. As a result, there was a bit of a shortage of teachers in the Temple. So, Jedi like Luminara were almost constantly occupied.

The thought saddened her a bit. Jedi were never meant to fight in wars. The Order was suffering greatly under this war. She appeared to be one of the few Jedi to actually notice. She sighed and checked the records of the Halls of Healing. Barriss quickly found what she was looking for and began making her way towards the room.

Apart from the meditating, she had also spend a lot of times in the Archives, brushing up on her medical knowledge. Studying the various applications of medicine and healing with the Force made her feel more at ease. If possible, she would try to avoid more battles. She was planning on continuing her medical studies and later join the Circle of Healers. The idea was a lot more appealing to her than fighting large scale battles across the Galaxy.

She arrived at the room and went inside. One of the senior healers, a human woman, was inside along with her friend Nyla Sonter. The Twi'Lek smiled when she saw Barriss enter the room. "Hey Barriss." She greeted her friend with a smile.

Barriss smiled back at her. "Hello Nyla." She replied. "Good morning Master." She then greeted the Healer.

"Good morning Padawan Offee." The Healer replied. "You are here to assist Padawan Sonter when needed, I take it?" She asked.

"That's right Master." Barriss replied with a nod. "If that is alright with you, that is."

The Healer nodded back. "Of course." She said. "In cases such as this even Jedi can sometimes use a hand." She looked over at Nyla again. "Well then Padawan Sonter, shall we begin?" The Healer asked her.

Nyla looked over at Barriss, a slightly worried look on her face. After an encouraging smile from Barriss, she turned back to the Healer. "Y-yes, let's get started." She said.

;-

Almost an hour later they were done with the exercises. Nyla had done quite well. A few of the more intense physical exercises had taken her a bit more effort, but she had been able to complete them all.

"You did well, Padawan Sonter." The Healer said as she entered a few notes on her datapad. "If you continue to rest well and take it easy for the rest of the week, you will be allowed to return to your own quarters. We may also clear you for light duties if you feel up to it." The Healer said with a smile.

Nyla smiled when she heard that. "Thank you, Master." She replied. "That's great to hear." The sense of relief in her voice was obvious to hear.

The Healer nodded and turned to Barriss. "Padawan Offee, could you take Padawan Sonter back to her room for now?" She asked.

Barriss nodded. "Of course Master." She replied.

"Thank you." The Healer said. "Have a good day, you two." She said as she began making her way out of the room.

"Thank you Master, you too." Nyla replied.

"Come on Nyla, let's go." Barriss said after the Healer had left. Nyla looked at her and nodded.

;-

A few minutes later they were back in Nyla's room in the Halls of Healing. Nyla sighed deeply as she laid back down in the bed. "I hate to admit it, but that made me more tired than I thought it would." She said in a slightly tired voice.

Barriss chuckled a bit. "You did hear what the Healer just told you, right?" She asked. "You still have to take it easy for a couple of days."

"I know, I know." Nyla replied as she sighed. "I'll do my best to rest. It'll be great to finally get out of here. I've been in here long enough."

Barriss smiled at her. "That's the spirit." She said. "Just a few more days and you'll be back in your own quarters. Shortly after that, I'm sure that you can do light duties again."

Nyla smiled back at Barriss, but that smile faded quickly. "What do you think will happen to me after that?" She asked softly. "My master was killed when we were captured. Do you think that someone else will want to continue teaching me?"

Barriss took a deep breath. She could sense the worry in her voice. "Don't worry too much about that, Nyla." She replied kindly. "From what Naria and Alyva told me, I can tell that you're a very skilled Jedi. I'm sure that there will be someone willing to complete your training."

"Thanks Barriss," Nyla said with a smile. "that really helps." She wanted to say something more, but yawned instead.

Barriss laughed a bit at that. "Maybe you should go and take a nap." She suggested to her obviously sleepy friend.

For a second Nyla looked like she wanted to object, but another yawn quickly changed her mind. "Yeah, maybe I should." She replied.

"Alright then," Barriss said. "I'll leave you to get some rest." Nyla nodded sleepily and rested her head against the pillow. They said a quick goodbye and Barriss left the room.

;-

Luminara Unduli sat in her quarters, reading through some disturbing new intelligence that the Republic had just received. This could mean a great deal of trouble in the Republic didn't act. The events that happened before must not be repeated. Those poor people had suffered enough already.

She looked up as she sensed her Padawan enter the hall where their quarters were located. Barriss had gone to visit and her friend Nyla in the Halls of Healing. She was glad for both girls. Nyla had really needed a friend to help her through her nightmare. Barriss, even though she hadn't realized it herself, also needed someone else to see her through her own troubles. Whether it's struggling to recover from wounds and torture or recovering from the Dark Side, it was easier when someone helped you.

Luminara was glad that Barriss had found friendship in Nyla and her friends. A couple members of the Council had preferred to see her locked up again. She had been worried that, especially after the incident with those other Padawans, Barriss would be completely rejected by the rest of the Jedi Order. Meeting Nyla and her friends had done a lot to help her.

Barriss entered their quarters a few minutes later. "Hello Master." Barriss greeted her as she sat down next to her Master.

"Hello Barriss," Luminara replied. "How did your friend do with her exercises?" She asked.

A small smile spread on Barriss' face. "It went very well." She replied. "If she manages to rest for a couple more days, she will be allowed to return to her own quarters."

Luminara nodded. "That's good to hear, Barriss." She said with relief in her voice. She recalled the horrible condition that the Twi'lek had been in when they rescued her from the base. It was good that the girl had already recovered that much.

"What she's now concerned about is finding someone willing to complete her training." Barriss continued. "But as I told her, I'm sure that she will find a Master that will help her. She's very strong and highly skilled. She deserves to become a Jedi Knight."

Luminara nodded in agreement. "Then I'm sure she will find someone." She replied. Her attention turned back to the information she had received.

Barriss could sense that her Master was occupied with something else. That she was worried about something severely. "Did something happen, Master?" She asked.

Luminara looked at her Padawan. "The Council and the Senate have received some disturbing information from the governor of Kiros, Roshti." She answered. "He and his people have uncovered a new Separatist plot against his people. They are planning on invading Kiros again."

A look of horror appeared on Barriss' face. She could immediately see the horrified expression that Ahsoka had on her face when the two of them had discussed that mission. Her friend had been so worried about her people. Ahsoka had been really distraught at what had happened to them. She had really needed someone to talk to after being on Zygerria and freeing her people from them.

Barriss had listened intently to her friends story. It had horrified her as well. She knew about the slave empire of the Zygerrians, but to hear about it in such detail filled her with disgust. To this day, she still couldn't understand why the Jedi hadn't taken action against that planet yet. Ahsoka had really needed her support that day and she had given it.

Barriss knew what would happen in the Separatists had their way again. The people of Kiros would suffer unmeasurably again. If Ahsoka had still been with the Order, Barriss knew that her friend wouldn't hesitate a single moment to travel to Kiros to help her people.

But Ahsoka was no longer a part of the Order. "Would she even know about the danger before it's too late?" Barriss asked herself. "Maybe there is something I can do instead." She wondered. The Force instantly swirled around her, pushing her to that decision.

Luminara could tell that her Padawan was in deep thought, wondering about something. "What's on your mind, Barriss?" She asked, hoping to see if she could help Barriss make the right decision.

Barriss looked at her Master. "It's just…" She replied. "I just know that Ahsoka would've instantly travelled there the moment she heard about this. She wouldn't have hesitated a single moment to help her people. She would have gone to save them, just like a Jedi should."

Luminara could sense the hidden question in her words. "You're wondering if you should go there, aren't you?" She asked her Padawan.

"I'm not sure." Barriss replied slowly. "I'm not sure what to do."

"Whenever a Jedi seeks an answer, the Force can guide us." Luminara said. "You know exactly what to do." Barriss looked at her, somewhat surprised, but she nodded a moment later. Luminara got up. "I have another class to teach. I trust that you will do the right thing." She told her Padawan with a smile. Barriss smiled back and Luminara left their quarters.

Shortly after her Master left the room, Barriss sat down to meditate. "Luminara is right, the Force will show me the right way. I just have to trust in it, like I used to." She thought as she opened herself to the Force.

;-

Sometime later

Barriss entered the Council Chambers and bowed nervously. She had no idea how the Council would react to her request. "Especially since it's the exact opposite of what I requested not too long ago." She thought a bit worriedly. She could feel the eyes of the members of the Jedi Council on her. It did not improve her mood at all.

"Padawan Offee," Master Yoda greeted her. "Something to ask of us, you have?" He asked her.

Barriss nodded slowly. "Yes Master, I do." She replied. "I heard about the situation on Kiros and I wanted to know if Jedi will be sent there. If so, I want to join those Jedi." She somehow managed to keep her voice calm.

She could sense a number of mixed emotions amongst the Council. Their faces showed that they were surprised by her question.

"A group of Jedi are indeed going to Kiros." Master Ki-Adi Mundi answered her. "However, I'm afraid I do not understand your request to join this mission. A couple of days ago you requested to be cleared from combat assignments for a while. So why do you want to join this mission?" He asked her.

"I know what I requested a few days ago, Masters." Barriss said. "But…" She paused a moment. "I spoke a long time with Ahsoka after she had returned from rescuing her people from Zyggeria. I can still remember how upset she was about what had happened to the people of Kiros." Barriss shook her head. "I want to help prevent such a horrible thing from happening again."

Kit Fisto looked at her. "You realize that this mission will include heavy fighting?" He asked her un his usual compassionate voice. "If the reports Govorner Roshti sent us are true, the Separatists are launching a serious offensive against Kiros. Are you certain that you can handle the fighting?"

Barriss nodded. "I believe I can, Master Fisto." She replied. "This will be different from other battles I've been in recently, so I'm quite convinced that I can handle it."

Stass-Allie was a bit curious about her statement. "In what way do you believe that this battle will be different?" She asked.

Barriss looked at her. "Other battles were about capturing certain areas or destroying an enemy base, even securing some valuable resources. These battles are always very violent because there are, unfortunately, a lot more people that care more about their wealth than the lives of others." She replied. "This battle will be about protecting innocent people and saving them from terrible fate. That is what being a Jedi is all about. So I feel confident that I will be able to handle myself during that battle."

A few members of the Council looked at each other. There was a great deal of truth to her words, they couldn't deny that. This war gave those with greedy hearts a lot of opportunities to hoard vast amounts of wealth.

"What you say is true, Padawan Offee." Plo Koon said. "However, I can sense that there is more to it than that." Barriss looked down. Plo Koon looked at her a moment. "It has something to do with Ahsoka, doesn't it?" He asked knowingly.

Barriss was a bit surprised that he figured it out so easily. She nodded slowly. "Yes Master, that's true." She replied. "I feel that helping her people is one way I can make up my failures to her."

Plo Koon looked at her thoughtfully, although it was impossible for her to tell what he was thinking.

The moment of silence unnerved her somewhat. She had no idea what the members of the Council were thinking. Eventually, it was Master Yoda that broke the silence.

"In charge of the mission to Kiros, Master Shaak Ti is." Master Yoda said to her. "Her decision, it will be."

Barriss looked at the Togrutan Jedi. "Master Ti, may I join you on the mission?" She asked respectfully, trying to keep her voice neutral. She wasn't really sure how Shaak Ti felt about her. She knew that a few members of the Jedi Council were against her reinstatement as a Padawan, but she didn't know who they were. She just hoped that Shaak Ti would give her the chance she asked for.

Shaak Ti studied the Mirialan for a minute. The expression on her face did not revealing anything. A short moment later, she finally replied. "Very well, Padawan Offee. I will accept your offer to assist us. I suggest you go now and prepare. We'll be departing in about four hours. I'm expecting you in the Temple hangar in three hours." Shaak Ti told her, much to the surprise of several other members of the Council.

Barriss was also surprised by her answer. "Thank you, Master." She replied as she nodded her head respectfully. "I will do my best not to let you down." She bowed before the Council. "I will leave now to prepare. I will see you in the Hangar later, Master Ti." She said as she turned around and left the Council chambers.

After the doors closed behind her, Mace Windu turned to Shaak Ti. "Shaak, are you certain that it is a good idea to have her join you on this mission?" He asked concerned.

Shaak Ti looked at him. She recalled that Mace was originally against letting Barriss remain a Padawan. "I believe that I am making the right decision." She replied calmly. "I could sense that she has made a lot of progress in recovering from the Dark Side. She may not admit it, or even know it herself, but she's looking for a chance to proof that she can be trusted again." She looked around the room. "She wants to proof it, not just to others, but to herself as well. As Jedi, we should give her that chance."

Shaak Ti looked around the room again, seeing if someone would disagree with her. It used to be normal in the Jedi Order, to give someone who suffered from the Dark Side a chance to recover. If they showed regret for their actions, other Jedi would help them return to the Light and save them from the madness of the Dark Side. If they did not give Barriss a chance to redeem herself now, in Shaak Ti's eyes, they wouldn't deserve to call themselves members of the Jedi Council.

After a short moment, it was Master Yoda who broke the silence. "Agree with Shaak Ti, I do." He said. "Give Padawan Offee the chance she needs, we will." The other members of the Council nodded in agreement.

;-

A few hours later

Barriss entered the Temple hangar. She had packed everything she needed for the mission and was now ready to leave. Luminara had supported her decision of joining the mission. Knowing that her Master agreed with her gave her the last bit of courage she needed to see this through.

Shaak Ti walked up to her. "Padawan Offee, I'm glad that you have joined us." She said.

Barriss bowed. "Thank you Master." She replied. She was glad that she had joined herself too. Shaak Ti signaled a few clones to take care of her luggage and then walked off to finish the last things for their departure.

Barriss looked around the hangar. She saw the other Padawans that would be on the mission as well. There were two human guys and a Twi'lek girl she didn't recognize. There was another one, a human girl, who she hadn't met before, but she did know who it was, Padawan Jana Starr.

She had seen the blonde girl a few times before in the Temple. Ahsoka had told her enough about the girl. Apparently, Jana had wanted to become Anakin's Padawan. When Ahsoka became his Padawan, Jana was incredibly upset. She felt herself superior to Ahsoka, believed that she wasn't good enough to be Anakin's student. So, in her jealousy, she had been bullying Ahsoka for a few years. Jana did not like Ahsoka at all.

Jana looked over at her. Judging from the look she gave her, Barriss could tell that Jana wasn't very pleased with her either.

Still, Barriss couldn't help but wonder a moment. She and Luminara shared such a strong bond as Master and Padawan. Jana constantly wished that she had a different Master. She knew that the human Padawan had been picked by someone, but still she wanted to be Anakin's Padawan. "How can she ever fully connect with her Master that way?" She asked herself. Barriss felt sorry for whoever had to teach that girl.

She was snapped out of her thought as she sensed someone else walk up to her. She looked up and saw a dark-haired human male walk up to her. He was a few years older than her. Something about him was incredibly familiar.

"Barriss, is that really you?" He asked her with a big smile. "By the Force, it's been years." He said as he laughed.

His laugh called forth an old memory. She saw herself as a youngling, with a group other younglings talking about the future. "James?" She asked surprised. He nodded back eagerly. Barriss laughed as well and couldn't resist giving her old friend a hug.

James Dahn was one of her old clan mates and closest friends. They and the others in their clan had been the closest of friends all those years ago. Everyone in their clan had been close with each other and supported each other. Those years had been great.

"I heard that you had become a Healer after all, haven't you?" James asked her with a big smile. Barriss chuckled and nodded. "Ha! We told you that, didn't we? We told you that you would become a Healer. It was perfect for you."

Barriss smiled as she recalled that. She had often helped her clan mates with small wounds, like cuts and training saber burns, with her Force Healing abilities. They had constantly told her that she would eventually become a Healer. At that time, she hadn't been certain. Now, being a Healer was truly what she wanted.

"Yep, you guys were right." She replied with a smile. "Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since we last saw each other."

James nodded. "Yeah, no kidding." He said. "I'm just glad to finally have some good news about someone from our old clan." From the tone of his voice, Barriss could tell determine that a few of her old clan members had not been so fortunate in the war. "Anyway…"

James was interrupted by Shaak Ti telling them to board the transport. It was time for them to leave.

"Come on, let's go." James suggested. "We can talk more later, it's a long flight to Kiros."

Barriss nodded in return. "Alright." She replied and they boarded the transport.

;-

That's the end of this chapter.

Barriss is off to Kiros to help defend the people against the Separatists. Little does she know, her suspicion about Ahsoka is correct. She would immediately go to help her people and she is. In the next chapter, Barriss and Ahsoka will meet again.

Jana Starr is an OC I already introduced in Tale of a Togruta, she was based on an OC from a different story from another author. This story wasn't updated in a long time and I can't remember what it was called. There's more about in her Tale of a Togruta. Most importantly, she doesn't like Ahsoka and she's kind of a pain. I'm sure you can imagine how things will end.

James Dahn is a new OC of mine, an old clan mate of Barriss. He will play a role in the upcoming battle. Note, there are no love things between him and Barriss. They are just old friends. I'm not sure if he will participate in later chapters, that remains to be seen. More about him will come in the next chapter.

The next update will be for Tale of a Togruta, probably two-three weeks. After that, the updates will be at the same time (seeing as the events take place at the same time). So, updates may be a bit slower then.

Until next time.