Chapter 5 – Halfway There
"I have underestimated you Master. I won't say that I like defensive fighting any more than I did before, but now at least I see the benefits of it."
"Then this day has already been a success," Obi-Wan said. "You will continue to learn that defense does not mean weak. Defense does not mean afraid. Defense does not mean no desire to win."
"I think I'm beginning to understand that Master. Still, it is hard to change what I am."
"Few truer words have ever been spoken before Padawan. But remember many tests are yet to come. The principles you learn to apply to lightsaber combat need not remain exclusive to such combat. A lightsaber is merely an instrument. You wield it only as well as you wield yourself."
"Yes, Master."
Many times Anakin would have said that just out of reflex. But this time he felt he had learned something. He was glad that Obi-Wan had kind words for him. As much as Anakin hated to admit it, Obi-Wan's approval mattered, perhaps more than anything else.
"Unfortunately, we do not have time to continue our conversation. Your next opponent is here."
Obi-Wan said this in a voice that Anakin had only heard him use for a select few, like Master Yoda. Obi-Wan's voice held the deepest respect and affection. Anakin turned to face the Jedi who could garner such respect from Obi-Wan Kenobi, and came face to face with Shera Xasserz. Anakin nearly fell over. Shera Xasserz was beautiful. She had lovely peach colored skin that only made her gray eyes that much more powerful. She was tall, as tall as Anakin, which was saying something since he was already taller than Obi-Wan. She had a sleek, athletic body that was covered completely by a tight black outfit made out of Ustum. Ustum was a living organism that over generations continually merged with dead ancestors, and regenerated to the point of becoming a large entity. Ustum had no shape, other than the shape they decided to take on at the moment, and after returning from one of her first missions as a full Jedi Knight, Shera had worn the Ustum body suit. Apparently, something had gone wrong with this Ustum's regenerative powers, and it would have died if Shera hadn't struck up a bargain. In exchange for the Ustum forming her a body suit (the Ustum was extremely tough and therefore could withstand a blaster bolt), Shera would help to keep the Ustum alive through her power to heal with the Force. The Ustum and Shera Xasserz had become the perfect symbiotic pair. The only place on her body that the Ustum suit didn't cover was her head, which was adorned in a ceremonial hairstyle in honor of Shera's long dead homeworld.
"Well, thank goodness. Obi-Wan Kenobi. And here I thought it would only be Mace's ugly face I would have to stare at today," Shera exclaimed with a smile.
"Is that a compliment or a jab Shera? As usual, it's hard to tell," Obi-Wan responded in turn.
"It is as with many things my friend."
"What you make of it," Obi-Wan finished Shera's favorite quote for her.
Anakin just stared at his Master. It always took his brain awhile to catch up when Obi-Wan did unexpected things. Obi-Wan being this friendly with someone else was definitely unexpected. Did Anakin even really know Obi-Wan? Sometimes he wondered.
"And this must be the apprentice you speak so highly of. Hello, I am Shera Xasserz."
Anakin had to look around to see who she was talking to and then realized that her hand was outstretched in a gesture of greeting. Obi-Wan had spoken highly of him. Anakin was sure that this woman had made a mistake.
"Ah, hi. I'm Anakin Skywalker."
"Of course you are," Shera said very matter of fact.
"If we are all done with the greetings, perhaps we could get back to the serious matter of Tunan-Ra," Mace Windu said from across the Hall, but Anakin could tell that there was a slight smile on Mace's face.
Who is this woman?
She could make Obi-Wan seem fun and Mace Windu smile. Anakin would have to find out more about her when this was all over. When he had won.
"Of course Master Windu," Shera said as she bowed respectfully, and just like that the atmosphere of the whole room changed.
Shera was deeply serious and focused; Anakin could feel her drawing the Force to herself. It was strange. She was far weaker than Anakin would have thought based on the way she'd just affected the room. Strange indeed. Shera bowed, a long, slow bow, in Anakin's direction. Then she withdrew her lightsaber and pushed a button to lower the power. Then she activated the saber. Green light sprang to brilliant life. Anakin ignited his own saber, a cool blue that seemed to shrink back from the power of the green light coming from Shera's lightsaber. Something else Anakin had never seen before. Which only made him wonder more about this Jedi Knight. She was not what she seemed. She was also, standing perfectly still. Anakin could tell that if he didn't attack first they would be standing here for a very long time. So he tried a brief feint to get the duel going. And Shera met the feint and spun out, twirling her lightsaber as she did. Anakin moved in closer, struck high and leapt to get a swing in from above. Shera met that blow and moved gracefully out of the way. For several moments it went like this. Anakin half-heartedly attacking and Shera meeting the attacks with a grace that almost conveyed disinterest. It was becoming clear to Anakin that this bout would be nothing like his duel with Juda-Non. Then he remembered why. Shera Xasserz was perhaps the most pacifist of all Jedi in the entire Order. Having seen her homeworld devastated by civil war and constant aggression, it was as if she had become the exact opposite of that doomed world in an attempt to somehow balance out the nature of existence itself. Her pacifist stance made her an expert negotiator, and Anakin could also sense that the inner peace she possessed had given her amazing control over the Force. That was why she also had the type of healing powers usually reserved for Jedi healers. Shera was graceful with a lightsaber, yet clearly she hated to wield it. Only at this moment did Anakin realize how unpleasant this moment must be for her. For her to agree to this (all the participants were selected by the Council, but anyone, except the Padawan's own Master, could refuse to fight) was very special indeed.
More questions to be asked later.
So, Anakin knew that she wouldn't attack him, only defend. Which meant he had to go on the attack. And attack he did. Someone on the other side of the Hall, Jarven, whistled in awe as Anakin and Shera danced around the Hall with a precision that had been sorely missing from the two previous duels. Anakin was clearly more powerful, and a better fighter, but he still couldn't land a winning blow on Shera. Suddenly, Shera leapt high into the air and came down with her lightsaber pointed straight at Anakin's head. Anakin rolled out of harm's way, came up, and realizing his mistake flipped the lightsaber to his left hand to catch the quick strike Shera was trying to land. It was a great move, and one that would have worked if not for Anakin's ability to use his left hand to wield a lightsaber. Clearly, Shera expected the contest to be ended by her maneuver, because she had a look of remorse on her face; the look of someone who regrets having had to try and hurt another living being. Anakin came out twirling and spinning, switching his lightsaber from left hand to right hand. He was dueling with one hand now, a technique that Obi-Wan usually frowned upon, but in this moment appeared like the right technique to employ. Shera was expending much more energy to deflect Anakin's strikes than she had a few moments ago. He still couldn't land a winning blow though. He'd never seen anyone this graceful with a lightsaber before. Yet, he also knew that this contest was almost over. He could feel Shera weakening through the Force, and now fully understood what conviction this Jedi possessed. Though the smart move would have been for her to switch to a more offensive strategy, Anakin could see that she was willing to die (if they're lightsabers had been at full power) rather than approach him aggressively. It was a conviction Anakin wasn't sure he had, about anything, and it was why, Anakin knew, Shera was so respected. She was the purest form of a Jedi's purpose. Defense and peace above all else. Anakin drove his lightsaber at Shera's legs. She jumped to avoid the blow and Anakin spun quickly to meet her on the way down. His lightsaber crashed into hers with such power that her arms buckled and her lightsaber went clattering to the ground. Anakin raised a hand and called the lightsaber to him.
"You are a fine fighter Anakin Skywalker. Many others would have become frustrated by my ability to defend for so long, and made a mistake because of their frustration. But you remained calm and used superior skill rather than superior anger. I am quite impressed."
Shera Xasserz bowed once to Anakin, bowed toward the Council, smiled at Obi-Wan and walked swiftly through the door of the Great Hall. Anakin felt no joy in his victory. He'd almost wanted her to win. To prove that defense without attack truly was the answer. But he had won, which meant that defense alone could not triumph.
"Her conviction is admirable but you see the flaw," Obi-Wan was saying behind Anakin. "Just as defense can become offense based on the situation or opponent, sometimes the best defense is a good offense. We as living beings and Jedi Knights must strive to never be at extremes to the point of total inflexibility. Extreme passivity at the wrong time can be just as damaging as extreme aggression. Our goal as Jedi Knights is to listen to the will of the Force and allow it to guide us as to the best course of action in a given situation."
"Sadly, that is an area where Shera lacks the necessary conviction," Mace Windu said breaking into Obi-Wan's conversation with Anakin.
"You must always remember this Padawan," Obi-Wan spoke again, completely unfazed by Mace's interruption.
"Yes, Master." Anakin wasn't sure he could take in all the vital lessons of the day. But he was trying.