Chapter 4 – On To The Next

"You did well to control your initial bout of anger Anakin. And you understood that Jarven was just the first of many, and that you'd best end the duel quickly," Obi Wan was saying. "Clearly, Jarven was no match for you, but there were still many valuable lessons for you to learn in facing him."

"Yes, Master."

Everyone kept talking about some great lesson he and Jarven should have learned. He hadn't learned anything except that he almost lost to an inferior opponent because his mind was elsewhere.

"Exactly Padawan," Obi-Wan said.

Anakin was about to say something to Obi-Wan about intruding on his thoughts again when he noticed that Mace Windu was quietly talking to Jarven in the corner of the Great Hall. Anakin had always thought of Mace Windu as formidable, intimidating even, but never…tender. The way he spoke to Jarven made Anakin think different. The boy's eyes held more spark than they had after the duel, and he moved to the side of the Great Hall to stand with the Council.

I wouldn't want to stay around all these people if I lost, Anakin thought. Maybe I can learn something from Jarven after all.

"Padawan, you next opponent is here," Obi-Wan said tapping Anankin lightly on the shoulder.

Anakin turned and stared at Juda-Non. Anakin knew Juda-Non from some of his classes. Juda-Non wasn't so much a he or a she, but an it. Juda-Non's body was blob-like, with very little definition that would lead one to believe that this shape was in any way permanent. In fact, Anakin had heard that Slivins, the race of beings Juda-Non belonged to, could morph their bodies at will. Anakin had never seen Juda-Non do this, but he made a mental note of it anyway. That kind of ability could make for a wicked surprise in a duel.

"Onokin Skywolker," Juda-Non said in rolling Basic. Something about the Slivin, no matter how well they learned Basic, the A sound still escaped them.

"Juda-Non. I'm happy to see you."

Anakin realized he meant it. Juda-Non had always been nice to him, something he couldn't say for a lot of other students at the Temple. Plus, Anakin's connection to the Force allowed him to sense many things about other beings. What he sensed from Juda-Non was pure light. Juda-Non was a good soul. Juda-Non was at peace.

"Juda-Non, your lightsaber please," Mace Windu spoke again, now that Jarven was standing with the other Jedi Council members. And once again an apprentice's lightsaber was deftly plucked from their hands and returned in the same fashion.

"Begin," Mace Windu commanded.

Anakin had actually fought Juda-Non once before, and as they bowed to each other, or what Anakin took for a bow from Juda-Non's strange body, Anakin tried to call up memories of their previous duel. Very little came back to him, and he noticed that nothing much was happening in the moment. Juda-Non was just standing, shimmering saber held low and to the side. As Anakin focused on Juda-Non's presence in the Force, he felt the attack coming. And spun away. Juda-Non's lightsaber slashed through the space where Anakin had been. Anakin's face broke out in a wide grin as he remembered his previous duel with Juda-Non. Juda-Non always attacked. It was the Padawan's greatest flaw. Calm at any other moment, when Juda-Non was threatened physically, Juda-Non attacked. Master Plo Koon had taken Juda-Non for his Padawan, in an atttempt to temper this attacking style. It was said that Plo Koon himself very rarely adopted a defensive approach when engaged in physical combat. Yet, he had ascended to a place high on the Jedi Council. For that reason many on the Council felt he was the best to train Juda-Non. Anakin could see that the training hadn't quite taken hold yet. Juda-Non came in on Anakin's left, but instead of swinging his lightsaber Anakin somersaulted over his attacker's head, landed, and spun around quickly, swinging the lightsaber expertly. Juda-Non rolled out of the way, barely avoiding Anakin's blade. Anakin pounced quickly, swinging his lightsaber at different points on Juda-Non's body. Juda-Non kept backing off and looked clumsy trying to defend rather than attack. Anakin smiled inwardly. Having Obi-Wan as a Master did have its benefits. Obi-Wan was one of the best Jedi at this multi-point attack style. It took great speed to accomplish, which Obi-Wan possessed. But it also took a willingness to give up the offensive at a moment's notice to retreat to a more defensive style of fighting. And Obi-Wan was very much a defensive duelist. So this style allowed Obi-Wan to attack but still hold fast to the principles of defensive fighting that he so cherished. Anakin had always been too impatient for victory to accept a style that required patience and a willingness to fight for a longer period of time. Yet, at this moment, Anakin could see the benefits of such a fighting style. Against an opponent that only felt comfortable attacking, Obi-Wan's defensive style actually looked…aggressive. The more attacking fighter expended far more energy, and in their general haste to not be put on the defensive, that attacker would inevitably make a mistake that would allow a defensive stroke to become an offensive maneuver. Every time Anakin stepped back and took the time to actually reflect on his Master's skills, he had to admit that Obi-Wan was an impressive Jedi.

"In certain situations, defense can be your best way to attack an opponent."

It was a statement Obi-Wan had made to Anakin many times, but now Anakin understood. And with that understanding he felt the Force flow through him as it rarely had before. Juda-Non didn't stand a chance. Anakin kept teasing and testing each point on Juda-Non's body. Juda-Non's frustration at being put on the defensive was visible, and something that the apprentice clearly meant to change. Crouching down to stab at Anakin's midsection, Juda-Non looked to have regained the upper hand when Anakin sidestepped and his lightsaber went wide. Or so Juda-Non thought. Actually, the maneuver would have been a sound one if Anakin had been fighting differently. Fighting how Anakin normally fought. But out of a defensive style, Anakin was better balanced than Juda-Non, and the wide swing carried Anakin with it to the point where he was spun around and looking down at Juda-Non who had been thrown off balance and now lay sprawled on the ground. Anakin called Juda-Non's fallen lightsaber to his hand and looked at the Masters on the far side of the room.

"Ended it is," Master Yoda said. "Skilled you were Padawan Skywalker."

"Thank you Master Yoda," Anakin said, practically beaming with pride. It was rare that Yoda gave out compliments, particularly to him.

"And you will learn greatly from your failure today Juda-Non, for now you understand more fully the folly of impatience and blind attack," Plo Koon's artificial sounding voice exclaimed coming through his breathing mask.

"Yes, Moster," Juda-Non said, calm again, without a trace of having just lost a duel in a somewhat embarrassing manner. "Thank you Anakin for providing me with this valuable lesson. As always I am left to marvel at your exceptional skill." Juda-Non said all this warmly while bowing to Anakin.

"Ah…thanks," was all Anakin say in response. Juda-Non was a good being indeed. Anakin wouldn't have been that gracious in defeat, nor that receptive of his Master's criticism among such distinguished company, and he knew it. He was learning a lot today, just as Obi-Wan said he would. He just wasn't sure if he liked all the lessons.