The halls blurred through her vision as she headed for the communications center, the familiar columns and windows casing shadows and beams of light to cut across the floor of the temple. She was heading towards the library when her comlink began to beep.
The small device affixed to her sleeve allowed communication between any person within its range and since the war had begun, it had become as much of a part of her wardrobe as the white tunics she wore. But none the less it did not mean she enjoyed the constant beeping it emitted and she quickly deactivated the device and moved to continue walking towards the library.
Once the Clone Wars had broken out, her days had been spent tending to the wounded Jedi who had returned from the battles raging around the galaxy. In between attending to her studies and trying to find time for herself. She had just passed the communication center and rounded the corner when she heard a small sniffle, as though someone was crying, trying to stay silent even if they weren't completely succeeding.
Turning her head, she saw a Twi'lek girl, sitting behind one of the pillars, her head bowed, and her pale green skin shiny with tears. Walking over she sat down, "what is wrong?" The girl's head shot up and she murmured, "nothing Master." Smiling softly, she took the girl's hand and tilted her head to look her in the eye. With the movement her Padawan braid slipped free of the bun she had pulled her hair into, becoming visible to the young Twi'lek. The simple braid woven with strands of silver and silka beads. "I'm no Master, my name's Aralia. What's yours?"
"Ayan," while the girl answered Aralia focused on the little girl. She had never been able to describe the sensation that followed, her best attempt had been that she could sense discord in a person's body. It had always come naturally and she sensed pain, "well Ayan," she said releasing her hand, "what's wrong?" At this, the girl looked sheepish and dropped her head again. "I was practicing what Master Sin Dralic was showing us but..." the girl pulled aside her sleeve showing a swollen wrist. "I didn't do it right," rising to her feet she helped the girl up and said. "Well, I can help with that."
"Laanam you are supposed with Master Yoda hurry along." Aralia's eyes caught the dark green ones of the young Torgruta as she opened the doors to the medical bay. Her blue skin streaked with white causing her to stand out whenever she tried to hide in this wing of the temple. But even as she tried to be stern, a small smile crept across her face. The little Torgruta reminded her of herself before she was apprenticed to her Master. Anxiously awaiting the day when she would be chosen by one of the older Jedi for training.
Watching the girl race off she saw her joined by a Nautolan boy and a Mirialan girl. Telac and Fano, were just like her and her friends, Ashoka and Bariss. Even down to the pair already planning to become Jedi Knights whereas Laanam wanted to be a healer. She led the girl through to doors but sat down instead on two chairs taking the girl's hand in both of hers.
Closing her eyes, she allowed everything to melt away, everything but the power that called to her. Energy flowed through her passing from her to the young girl, but slowly she opened her eyes and glanced downward. The swelling was gone and she saw the smile on the girl's face, but the expression quickly faded as panicked footfalls came thudding from the outside. Rising to her feet she led the girl to a side door whispering instructions to find her room and to try not to use her hand before closing the smaller door and racing over to the door.
The massive double doors opened quickly and for the first time since the Battle of Geonosis her stomach lurched. A clone commando came racing in with a girl on a stretcher. Meeting the visor of the clone she immediately called for, "Master Che!" Taking the girl from the commando she placed her hand against the girl's chest demanding, "what happened?!" Because when she looked down again, her stomach clenched.
"She held off that separatist scum Ventress while the rest of us evaced to the gunship." Looking up she saw her Master running over and she nodded easily knowing she was far out of her depth. But as her Master left, she nearly stumbled, seeing what was left of the girl's leg in her mind. For the Sith Assassin had severed not only the girl's skin but the girl's leg at the knee.
"Ara!" Her Master's voice snapped her back into the moment and she turned to follow when she heard the clone speak, "wait you're not just going to take the General!" Whipping around she said, "yes we can and we will commando. You have done your part now let us do ours." A hand locked around her wrist and she looked up her neck craning to look into the clone's visor only to meet a pair of brown eyes.
"Commando let go of my arm," she said slowly before pulling herself free and seeing the symbol painted in red on the clone's shoulder. "If you are a medic you would indeed understand the need for haste." She then placed two fingers against the man's brow saying softly, "now rest." She caught him barely as he fell and cursed under her breath about clones and their seemingly endless stubbornness and left the clone in a corner.
Sprinting off she ducked into one of the side rooms immediately coming to her place at her Master's side. Catching a glimpse of the Twi'lek woman she placed a hand on her shoulder and closed her eyes. Her training coming back to her in a moment as the Force bound them in a trance, and she allowed her strength to flow from her.
It may have lasted a moment; it might have lasted longer but soon she was resting in her room her head spinning. But she couldn't sleep, even if Padawan Ream, the girl who had been brought in and was now few rooms over had long since been stabilized. Yet rest eluded her, her mind wandering back to her old passion from her years as a youngling and soon she found herself before a holo-table. Her blood raced and her hands danced over the controls as she worked. A smile split her face as the day and night passed before she crawled into her bunk exhausted, but satisfied.