Jeana finished fastening the shoulder catch on her armor. Her mother handed Jeana's dance clothes to the droid that maintained the locker room. The two of them walked out into the training hall, side by side. "So I showed her the power of the Dark Side. In a good way," Jeana finished saying.
"That wasn't what I had in mind when I said to take what was yours."
"What did you have in mind?"
Her mother glanced at her. Except for her eyes, the lights in the room seemed to dim as she said, "Strike a little fear into Miss Graha's heart, to remind her to do the right thing." The effect faded. Her mother grinned. "I never learned that mind trick the Jedi use. A little fear goes a long way instead."
"I thought about it. It still seemed like a cheat. I figured that with the other judges I wouldn't have to." Jeana sighed. "I'm going to miss that last spotlight."
"That's where I was going. Why'd you do it?"
"Duh. Because me and Adri are friends." She paused. "We're both dancers, but dancing is her life. If she's the principal in the recital, next year she goes to school on Lyrio and becomes the most famous dancer in the Empire. If I'm the principal, it's one last, beautiful hurrah before I go to Korriban and become the most famous warrior in the Empire."
Her mother nodded. There was a silence between them; Jeana left one last part out. It was because it was her way. Jeana didn't want to sound like some noble sage teaching a lesson.
They reached the middle of hall. Jeana greeted her sparring partners. Her mother gave them instructions on today's exercise. They would circle her, like a serpent, fighting her from all sides, and she would have to fight her way out.
Jeana smiled. "You always have the most fun ideas, mom."
"If it's not mine, I borrow or steal from the best."
"Isn't that beg, borrow, or steal?"
"Sith don't beg."
"Right."
They started to fan out. Her partners fired up their armor and tested their weapons. Every single one looked nervous. Her mother tossed her the lightsaber. "Fire it up all the way," she said. "You're ready." They moaned. They'd be spending time with the medical droids after this one.
Jeana caught the lightsaber with one hand and turned it on in one move. She flourished the blade around her. Her smile looked happy, beautiful and terrifying in the saber's red light.
Her mother said, "Music." Music from the recital filled the training hall. The other warriors didn't get it. They looked at one another, assuming the worst.
Jeana felt like she could fly. She bowed to them, and the dance began.