Joza could feel everything happening in slow motion. The saber point just inches away from her back, the pain subsiding, Master Heber on the hill starting to come down. She moved without thinking. Rolling out and away from Medea, she leapt into the air and did a round kick into Medea nose. Joza looked around quickly for her saber, it was out of reach for the time being.
She stomped her foot on Medea's toes and punched her again in the nose. Then punched her in the stomach twice. She grabbed Medea behind the neck and pulled her head down, bringing her knee up into the woman's face all the while keeping a hand on the arm with the lightsaber. Medea reeled under Joza's attacks and stumbled backwards after Joza released her grip on her neck.
Joza gasped for air as she felt an invisible hand suddenly take a hold of her throat and hoist her into the air. Joza choked and coughed as she felt her life being suffocated out of her. She ignited her saber and threw it at the Sith. Medea ducked out of the way but in doing so, lost visual contact with Joza. Joza summoned her saber back charged the Sith Woman. Medea backpedaled rapidly and found herself against the wall of the old building. Joza force-pushed Medea through the wall. Medea feel into the floor and rolled quickly to her feet racing to the door only to find a grey lightsaber in her face.
"Netoa was my twin sister. If not even she could turn me to the Dark Side what made you think that you could? She was flesh and blood, you are a stranger."Medea went to use her force-lightening. As the hand came up, Joza cut it off. She took a step back and with a scream of pure emotions, plunged the saber into Medea throat. She pulled it back out and turned, walking away to the stream. Joza turned off her lightsaber and put it back on her belt. She cupped her hands together and reached into the stream, bringing up water to wash her face. She drank greedily from the water and stood up, shaking her head and looking up at the sky.
Forgive yourself, Joza. That's all you need to do now.Grepa stopped as she heard the voice. Joza noticed.
"My sister Netoa. She was a Sith and I used the Dark Side to kill her. That's why I've been acting so strangely. I was fighting a battle inside of myself."
Joza looked at Grepa, suddenly very hungry and very tired. Grepa came and put her hands on the young woman's shoulders. She could feel it now. Joza's spirit was burning brighter than ever, there wasn't even shadows inside of her now. The Twi'lek said nothing, just pulled Joza in the direction of the rest of the Jedi.
Sichi saw Grepa and Joza coming and yelled a welcome to the returning heroes. Joza grinned and broke into a run and swooped her friend up into a bear hug. Sichi noticed that Joza seemed stronger in the Force...balanced. She also noticed that she didn't ask where Alre, Ralo and the others were. She just seemed to know.Grepa made her way over to Gahimlakit, and Lele Keji and stood quietly with them. All around them, Jedi healers scurried back and forth between people making sure that they were ready for the ships that were slowly starting to appear in the sky. Glay Hoca, a Theelin Jedi Master joined after a short while.
"Our numbers were greatly decimated by this thought bomb. Out of the Council, Heber and Gahim plus myself are all that are left."
Keji blinked. One little stupid thought bomb killed seven-tenths of the people who were on the planet and that was just the Jedi. His padawan was sitting talking to Sichi, who was now masterless. Who would knight the padawan's that had shown themselves worthy of being a knight? Grepa sensed what he was thinking.
"Right now, we don't have time. But soon, we will be back at the temple on Coruscant. Once there, Masters will be appointed to the Council as the Order heals the more immediate wounds. In the meantime, there are four members of the Council. Lele Keji, consider yourself one of the Council."
Keji nodded slowly. At least he wouldn't have to take on another apprentice then.
Four Months Later on Coruscant.
Joza was sitting quietly in the library, helping catalogue the events of the Battle of Ruusan. She jumped when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. It was one of the younger students.
"Joza, the Council says that they want to talk to you right away. You need go, right now."
Joza nodded and headed quickly to the chambers. As she approached the doors they opened, admitting a slightly nervous Miwe. She bowed to the Council.
"You wished to speak with me, Masters?"
Master Keji spoke.
"Yes. It concerns your advancement in the Jedi Ranks, in light of the Battle of Ruusan."
Joza remained silent. Master Grepa spoke up.
"Over the past nine years, you have been apprenticed to Master Lele Keji. Co-apprentice with Anshi. We feel that during that time of apprenticeship, coupled with your experiences in the war and your successful resistance to the Dark Side, you have learned more than what most adults learn in their entire lifetimes."
Joza blinked. She wasn't sure of what she was hearing.
"Therefore we feel that because of this, that it is time for you to no longer be an apprentice," Keji said.
"Joza Miwe, it is hereby decreed by the Jedi Council that you are no longer a Padawan. You are now a full Jedi Knight, effective immediately. This makes you the youngest person in the history of the Jedi ever to advance to this rank. You should proud of yourself. You did it," Heber eyes were soft on the last comment.
Joza didn't know what to say. So she just grinned and bowed to her master's.
"You may go now. One of us will find you later and fill you in on your first assignment."
"May the Force be with you."
Joza bowed to the Council again and walked out of the chamber. She paused as she reached the bottom of the staircase and looked up along the railing. She smiled at the memory of time that she, Anshi, Alre, Ralo and Sichi had all climbed up to the top in the middle of the night and had slid all the way down to the bottom. They had always been a bad bunch, getting into mischief and trouble every day of their lives.
Such memories were now bittersweet. Only Sichi and her remained from their little gang. She didn't even know if Anshi was still alive or not. She headed out onto one of the balconies to watch the sun go down. As she watched, she could feel so many things washing over her. All of them memories. Her fear from the first she had fought a Sith. The death of her sister by her hand. The loss of her fellow apprentice and brother in every sense. One thing remained though...her.Joza was one with the Force now and always would be. She looked back inside and noticed Master Heber watching her. When Joza noticed that she was there, the Master walked onto the balcony with her. She moved until she was standing beside Joza, and place a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I don't suppose you'll be looking for an apprentice?"
Joza shook her head. That part would wait five or six years.
"I'm going to be heading to Dantooine to look for Force-sensitive people. I'd like for you to come."
Joza just nodded.
"I think if you became any sadder, the sky would start to rain in sympathy. I can understand that you miss Anshi and the others, but don't let it beat you anymore. It's been four months."
"I know. Where do you think Anshi might be?"
Heber sighed.
"It's hard telling with the slave trade. I have a feeling though that it was the will of the Force for him to leave the Jedi. And that someday, his descendants will return to the Jedi Order."
"You think they'll come back when the Jedi need them the most?"
"Maybe. We can never know for certain however."
Joza nodded. The two woman went back to watching the last of the days' light vanish in a blaze of golden glory.
Meanwhile, in a Sith palace, unknown and unfelt by the Jedi, the Sith began to change...