"Commander, may I speak with you?" Her question caught the attention of the clone in armor painted green camouflage. "Sure thing," leading him over to the door she opened it again and this time didn't even bother to hide her annoyance from the Jedi Master. "Here is what I purpose Master Windu, allow Padawan Ream to remain here but deploy the squadron. Otherwise, she may very well return here in worse condition than she is currently in." She saw the clone beside her look confusedly at the two Jedi before saying. "My men can be ready to move out within the hour."
"Young one, I'm afraid this will not do, so do what you can to prepare Padawan Ream to leave." At this she merely crossed her arms, then headed for the doors, winding through the temple easily before coming to a sleek door, as well as one she knew quite well. Pressing one of the buttons she waited for less than a moment before, "my young friend, good to see you it is, enter." Slipping in silently she sat down on one of the two-round seats throughout the room resting her chin on her arm and her arm on her knee.
She'd known the small Jedi Master since she had first come to the temple when she could barely speak Galactic Basic and he was the only one who could understand her when she spoke. He had been kind to her and she had befriended him before she even knew she had wanted to be a healer for the Order.
Looking up she met the wise green eyes of Grand Master Yoda, "troubled, you are young one." Nodding she glanced down, "Master Windu wants to send Padawan Ream back into the fight." She saw the small head of the ancient Master tilt, "under your care, Grace Ream is. Know what is best for her, do you?" Sighing, "I know that if she returns to battle, she may suffer further injuries. And that I cannot allow that," a small giggle rose into the air.
"Confident and stubborn you are, young one, much you have learned from your Master and friend." A small smile split her face and she shrugged, "remain here the young Jedi will. Speak with Master Windu on this, personally, I will." Rising to her feet she thanked the Jedi Master and placed one hand over her closed fist bowing, "thank you, Master Yoda." Before being shooed off by the Grand Masters cane, "return to your duties young Ara, much to do, for us both, there, is."
"Yes Master," walking of the room she turned back to smile at the small Jedi who pointed at her with his cane, "visit me more often, you will. Miss our little talks, I do." With a small nod she left the door sliding closed behind her she walked back to the medical bay. Her shoulders back and her face confident and content, as she passed the first few doors seeing that the clone commandos had clearly left along with Master Windu. She moved past the silver door, slipped into her room sitting down and pulling off the two silver cylinders on her waist.
Her lightsabers, a year in a half ago she had gone with Ashoka and four other younglings to the planet of Illium, just within the unknown region of the galaxy. That was the day she had taken part in the Gathering, a trial for Jedi younglings on the path to becoming a Padawan, both Ashoka and herself plunging deep into the caves of ice to find their crystals. Ashoka having to cross a bridge of ice to find hers as she forged deeper into the caves, worry forming in her mind.
Darkness crawled in around her, she couldn't see anything, and in her frustration sat down clutching at the sleeves of the thick coat, shivering in the cold cave. But in her fear, her mind cleared and she shifted crossing her legs setting her hands loosely laying across her knees, her eyes closing. Letting the Force guide her path, she felt a pulse close by, warm, friendly. Rising she kept her eyes closed, lightly running her fingers over the icy wall freezing when she felt the pulse again. Her eyes opened she saw two gleaming blue crystals embedded deep in the wall before her.
Joy raced through her veins as she pressed her hands against the ice bowing her head and thrusting her hands into the gleaming wall. It shattered and she heard the crystals sing, the familiar melody of her people calling to her as she closed her hands around them and raced back out towards the temple entrance. Seeing the ice crawling down a gap barely taller than a mouse droid left between the wall and the group, her pace quickened and she dropped sliding under with not a moment to spare. Stopping she rose to her feet and smiled at her friend who was holding a green-tinted crystal in her hand. But as she opened her mouth to congratulate her a beeping brought her out of the memory, "Ara where are you, you promised to meet me for sparring practice."
Shaking her head she pressed her comlink, "Ashoka, I know I'm headed there, got held up." Clipping her sabers to her waist she pulled off her outer robe leaving just her white tunic, black leggings, and her boots. Racing out of the room she was about to leave the door when her Master came in, "slow down Ara."
"Sorry Master, I'm going to go meet with Ashoka, she got back from Felucia earlier today." A small chuckle shook her Master's shoulders, "well then, don't keep your friend waiting, just don't crash into anything." She nodded and grinned, "yes Master." Before running past the Twi'lek woman and heading for the courtyard.
Her feet fairly flew as she ran into the courtyard, coming to a stop just before she would have run into the Torgruta. "Sorry I'm late," her friend only smiled and asked, "still up for sparring?" She let out a taunting giggle, "the question is, are you ready to lose?" She quickly adjusted her sabers allowing her to not have to worry about accidentally cutting her friend's arm off, palming them into a form 2 stance.
As she did this a green blade sprang into existence held in a reverse grip, her own sabers hummed as she ignited the blades. They both stood there two friends who had known each other for so long, surprising the other was extremely difficult. Then Ashoka raced forward and she locked her sabers with the green blade.
It wasn't as much a fight as it was a dance, two girls playing out of and into a rhythm while trying to disarm the other. Ashoka's flexibility allowing for a much easier fight than her own. She'd never been exemplary in lightsaber combat, but Ashoka was easily the best in their class. This was painfully obvious when she was knocked down her sabers flying from her hands, Ashoka's glowing green blade at her chest. "Master Skywalker has apparently taught you even more about how to fight," she said dryly accepting the hand out held to her, pulling her back to her feet.
"Well you learn pretty quick when blaster bolts are flying at your face," she winced at the idea. She'd seen first hand far too many times the damage a blaster could wreck on an organic body. "You alright, I didn't think I hit you too hard," waving a hand she said, "nothings hurt except my reputation. But that's no secret," this got a laugh out of her friend. She extended her hand bringing her sabers back to her hands clipping then to her belt. "So do you know where you're being sent next?"
Just on cue the comlink on Ashoka's wrist lit up and started beeping, "Ashoka where are you?" The eye-roll Ashoka gave was hilarious as she activated her comlink, "what is it Master, has something gone wrong?"
"Yeah Snips, something is wrong you are supposed to be in the hanger so that we can go route the seppies who are amassing near Dorem." She met Ashoka's gaze mouthing, "Snips, really?" Only to receive a glare in return, "I'm on my way Master." Sadness crept into her mind, her friend had only just gotten back today and now she was leaving. It wasn't her fault this war sucked up almost all the Jedi's time, but she missed the days before it had started. "Well," she said giving her friend a tight hug, "stay safe, please." Her last word a plea to the Torgruta, "I'll do my best," then when they parted ways and Aralia headed deeper into the temple knocking on a plain-looking door.