Chapter 26 – Seminar on Naboo

A little note first about this double update. Updating took me quite a while because I was extremely busy with work. It didn't leave me very inspired to write. Which is why, unfortunately, these chapters are a bit shorter than I'd hoped. I just got immensely stuck every time, which is why I'm uploading them now as they are at the moment. The following chapters will be longer again.

Hope you enjoy.

;-

Barriss smiled as she walked through the halls of the massive center where the medical seminar was being held. She had arrived on Naboo two days ago. She had spent the day she was there to pick up some supplies for her stay and take some time to rest and meditate. It had been a welcome break after the past weeks, just a day to spend the way she wanted to.

Yesterday had been filled with attending a couple of the lectures that were being given that day by various medical professors and doctors who had handled rare or unusual cases. For her it had been a fascinating way to spend her time.

Today, she intended to visit the demonstration halls. There weren't as many interesting lectures scheduled, but there was a large hall filled with displays of new products, so that was her destination now.

;-

Barriss walked around the displays with a large smile on her face. This hall she was currently is was used to display all kinds of new and improved medical instruments. There were a lot of company researching and creating all kinds of products and they were all being displayed here.

Just from looking around quickly, she could tell that she would be here for a little while. "Perhaps even come back tomorrow," she thought slightly amused. There were a lot of things to look at, from simple types of medicine to the larger scanning machines. "I'd better make a list of several things and contact Master Che in the evening." With that in mind, she continued through the hall.

One of the displays suddenly caught her attention. One of the larger medical companies had new types of medical scanners on display. The Order was already using scanners made by this company, so Barriss made a point of checking them out. She had a lot of experience with them already, so she knew how they operated.

"Hello miss, can I help you with something?" One of the assistants working at the display asked her.

"Ah, yes, thank you," Barriss replied. "I've used one of the previous versions of this scanner model a lot. Could you tell me what the changes are on this new model?"

"Certainly miss," the woman replied. "There have been some basic changes to the interface and storage modules, as well as improved connections with your main medical base. But the real and most noteworthy improvements are to the scanning systems." The woman explained as she briefly showed several options on the display model.

"The scanner has been upgraded to be able to provide more thorough examinations as well as improved result analysis to make is easier to determine the patient's condition." She continued to explain the improvements of the new scanner while Barriss looked through the menus and comparisons of the scanners data compared to the older model.

After about ten minutes of discussing the new model, Barriss had ordered two of them for the Order try out and compare. Master Che had told her that she could place orders if she believed the items could be beneficial to the Circle of Healers. These new scanners could come in handy.

;-

Barriss had spent the entire morning and a part of the afternoon at the demonstration hall. She had brought along some information about other new devices, including a new type of bacta tank. Now she was on her way back to her hotel room. She wanted to contact the circle of healers about her finds and see what they thought about it.

As she passed through the main hall, she was suddenly stopped by two people. "Excuse me miss, can I ask you a few questions?" a female voice asked.

Barriss stopped and turned around. The voice belonged to a female Pantoran with blue skin holding a microphone and a male Human holding a holorecorder. "Reporters," She quickly identified them. "Sure, that's alright," she replied.

"Thank you," the Pantoran reporter said with a smile. "I just wanted to ask you a few things about the seminar." She studied Barriss for a moment. "You look familiar. Wait a minute, aren't you Jedi Barriss Offee?"

Barriss nodded. "Yes, that's me," she replied.

"What brings a Jedi here to this seminar?" the reported asked in surprise.

Barriss smiled at that question, she had expected something else from the reporter. "Apart from being a Padawan, I'm also a healer," she replied. "I have Force healing abilities and I've been studying medicine for a very long time."

"Yes, I remember hearing so," the reporter replied. "One of my colleagues saw you rescue that little girl several weeks ago. So your interest for healing brought you here?"

Barriss nodded. "That's right. I was reading up on some information when I came across the announcement of this seminar," she explained. "I informed the head of the Circle of Healers, Master Vokara Che, about it and she asked me if I could go here. I gladly accepted, because it seemed really fascinating to me."

"So you came here to see if your Order could benefit from any of the new developments?" the reporter asked.

Barriss nodded again. "That was the idea," she replied. "There all always constant improvements when it comes to the development of medicine and medical instruments, so it's well worth it to keep up with new developments." She smiled. "I've already placed an order for two new types of scanners that might be helpful and I'm planning to discuss a few other products with the Circle of Healers later."

The reported smiled as well. "Well then, it seems you've succeeded here at the seminar," she said.

Barriss chuckled a bit. "I guess you can say that," she replied. "I've also greatly enjoyed attending the lectures yesterday. The cases that were discussed there were very interesting. I feel like I learned a lot myself as well."

"It's good to hear that this seminar has been helpful to the Jedi Order," the reporter said. "Thank you for your time, Padawan Offee."

"Of course, anytime," Barriss replied and the two reporters left. She was slightly relieved that they wanted to ask her about the convention and not something about the events that happened some time before. She smiled slightly and started making her way back to the hotel she was staying at.

;-

As Barriss walked through the streets of Theed, the capital of Naboo, she took her time to look around. It was a beautiful city and the stories she had heard about the planet were turning out to be true. "I'd definitely like to return here someday. Perhaps I can suggest it to Master Unduli next time we go on a meditative retreat," she thought with a smile. "The Force certainly feels peaceful around here."

She was walking through one of the commercial squares when she suddenly became aware of a familiar presence in the Force. It confused her quite a bit, because as far as she knew, no other Jedi from the Order was supposed to be on Naboo. She looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

A short distance away from her, at a small café, she suddenly spotted a familiar pair of blue and white montrals. At that moment, Ahsoka turned around to look in her direction. She spotted her and smiled. Barriss smiled back and made her way over there.

"Ahsoka, it's great to see you again," Barriss said when she reached her friend.

Ahsoka smiled and stood up. "It's great to see you too, Barriss," Ahsoka replied as she pulled her friend into a hug. "What are you doing on Naboo?" she asked.

Barriss smiled as she pulled back from the hug. Ahsoka gestured at the table she was just sitting at and they both sat down. "I read about a medical seminar being held here on Naboo. After discussing it with Master Che, she asked me to go there and see if there was anything useful for the Order," she explained to her friend.

Ahsoka smiled at her again. "Well, that sounds like the perfect assignment for you," she replied. "Was it any good?"

Barriss nodded. "I thought it was really interesting. There were a lot of experienced doctors giving lectures," she replied. "A lot of companies were also demonstrating new medical instruments and medicine. I already ordered two new scanners and I was planning on contacting Master Che later to discuss a few other things."

"They're lucky to have you then," Ahsoka said. "I'm sure you'll be a great part of the Circle of Healers one day."

"Thank you Ahsoka," Barriss replied with a smile. "I'll do my best. But what brings you to Naboo?" she asked. She could instantly see Ahsoka's lekku darken a little by the question.

"Well," Ahsoka began before someone walked up to their table.

"Padawan Offee, it's nice to see you again," a familiar voice said. Barriss looked up and quickly identified the speaker as Lux Bonteri.

"Senator Bonteri, it's good to see you again as well," she replied. Lux sat down next to Ahsoka with two drinks he had obviously just picked up. "So Ahsoka Is here with Lux Bonteri, hmm?" she thought amused. "The two of you are here together?" she asked Ahsoka.

Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, that's right. We're here on a little vacation," she replied. "We both had a busy time before this, so when Lux contacted me about taking a vacation I agreed immediately."

Lux smiled as well. "I really needed a vacation and I was very glad that Ahsoka could come with me," he added. "We've been having a great time so far."

"We sure have," Ahsoka said with a smile. "Naboo is an amazing planet."

Barriss nodded. "It sure is. I hope I'll be able to come back here some other time as well," she replied. "So what have the two of you been up to on Naboo? I'd imagine that there are a lot of great places to visit."

"There sure are," Ahsoka said. "After we'd gotten some supplies and things yesterday, we took a long walk around the area where we're staying, following by a picnic at one of the lakes. It was great, just spending time together." She smiled at Lux as she said that, her lekku darkening just a tad. He smiled back at her, a slight blush present on his face as well.

Barriss noticed the exchange of smiles and could sense a slight sense of naughtiness in the both of them. Being trained in healing, it wasn't difficult for her to figure out what they had obviously gotten up to. It gave her a good opportunity to tease her friend. "So I guess that I will be calling you misses Bonteri soon," she said with a smirk, greatly enjoying the looks on their faces. "And I guess you'll be starting a family soon too, hmm?"

Barriss couldn't help but laugh at the shocked expressions on their faces. Both Ahsoka and Lux were blushing madly. "You too look so cute together," she added with a smile.

"Oh, shut up Barriss," Ahsoka said after a short moment. "You know that I can sense your feelings as well, right? I can sense jealousy in you. I'm sure you'd love to have a little picnic with some by the lakes too, hmm?" She now smirked at Barriss.

Now Barriss blushed at her friend's words and it was time for Ahsoka and Lux to laugh. "I don't have the Force, but I think you're right," Lux commented.

Barriss shook her head with amusement. "All joking aside, I'm glad you're happy together," she told the two. "You deserve to be happy Ahsoka, especially after everything that happened."

Ahsoka gave her a look that she couldn't really place. "Barriss, you're not still blaming yourself, are you?" she asked her friend.

Barriss hesitated for a moment. "Ahsoka, I…"

"Barriss, don't," Ahsoka interrupted her. "What happened was not your fault. Stop blaming yourself for what happened."

"Alright, thank you Ahsoka," Barriss replied with a smile.

"Anytime Barriss," Ahsoka said with a smile. "So how have things been going for you back in the Temple?"

"Things have been going pretty well thankfully," Barriss replied. "I did have a mission during which the Dark Side affected me a bit again, but I was able to pull through that nicely with the help of master Unduli and Nyla and my other new friends."

"Nyla?" Lux asked. "Do you mean Nyla Sonter? That Twi'Lek Padawan who was with us before that mess on Feluxia? How is she doing right now? She looked awful when you got us out from there."

Barriss nodded and gave a sad sigh. "Yeah, she was in a pretty bad shape. But, thankfully, she's already recovered nicely," she replied. "The healers are running her through some physical tests now. If she passes them all, and I'm confident that she will, she'll be cleared for some light duties again. After that, I'm sure it won't be long before she can fully continue her training and find a new master."

Barriss smiled. "I met a few of her friends after we got back to the Temple. We became good friends as well and we all helped her get through this difficult time," she said.

"It's good to hear that she recovered," Lux replied. "What they did to her was just brutal and unnecessary. Some Separatists are too cruel."

Ahsoka shivered a bit, remembering some past events. "Yeah, you're definitely right about that Lux," she said. "But I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you Barriss," she added as she looked back at her friend.

"Thanks Ahsoka, I'm really glad with the way things worked out as well," Barriss replied. "It wasn't easy in the beginning, but I won't let myself get discouraged so easily."

"That's good to hear, Barriss," Ahsoka said with a smile. "I'm expecting you to visit me on Shili one day as a Jedi Knight. Maybe with a Padawan?"

Barriss laughed a bit. "I'll do my best," she replied. "Speaking of Shili, how is your family doing?"

"Everyone's doing great," Ahsoka said happily. "In fact, my family has grown by one. I have a little sister now."

"Really?" Barriss asked in surprise.

Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, that's right," she replied. "Her name is Aisha. While I was working on the preparations for the Kiros invasion, I felt someone calling for help. I investigated further and found her hiding from some sleemo that wanted to sell her into slavery."

"What? That's awful," Barriss said in shock.

"I know, she had just lost her parents. That monster killed her mother and kidnapped her," Ahsoka continued. "Thankfully, I was able to save her from him. She stayed with my parents while I went to Kiros and when I came back, my mother told me that she and dad wanted to adopt her. She's part of the family now."

"That's nice to hear," Barriss replied. "I hope to meet her someday."

"I'm sure you will one day," Ahsoka said with smile.

Barriss smiled before she noticed a chrono on the square. "It was great to see the both of you, but unfortunately I need to get going if I still want to contact the Temple today," she told them.

"Oh, I see," Ahsoka replied. "I guess you still have to do that."

"Perhaps we can meet up tomorrow or something if you'd like?" Lux suggested.

"I'd like that, but I'm afraid I can't," Barriss replied. "I'm supposed to fly back to Coruscant tonight. I might go back to that seminar after I contact Master Che, but I'll be returning to the Temple afterwards."

"That's too bad, it would have been nice to spend some time with you," Ahsoka said a little saddened.

"Don't worry Ahsoka, I'm sure that we'll see each other again somewhere," Barriss replied as she gained a smirk. "I'm sure that the two of you will have enough fun together."

Both Ahsoka and Lux blushed a bit at her words, but then Ahsoka smirked back at her. "I'm sure we will," she said back. They all got up and Ahsoka moved over to Barriss. "It was wonderful to see you Barriss, take care of yourself," she said as she hugged her friend.

Barriss smiled and returned the hug. "It was great to see you as well, Ahsoka," she replied as they separated again. "It was nice to see you as well, Senator Bonteri," she added as she turned to Lux and shook his hand.

"Likewise," Lux replied. "And just call me Lux."

Barriss nodded. "Alright, I will. Enjoy the rest of your vacation you two," She said. "And don't worry, I won't tell Anakin what you got up to."

Ahsoka laughed a bit and shook her head. "Thanks Barriss, have a safe trip back," she replied amused. They said their last goodbyes and Barriss left the two alone. With some amused thoughts of what those two would get up to, she returned to her hotel.

;-

I'm ending this chapter here.

In the next chapter Barriss will be back on Coruscant. She'll discuss some more things with Master Che and work with the new gear she brought back. After that she'll spend more time with Nyla and her friends, because Nyla will be allowed to do some (light) sparring again. I hope it'll be a longer chapter.

I'm not sure which one of my stories I'll update next. It might be Ahsoka's or else Rebirth of Light.

Until next time.