Chapter: 18 Strength through Passion

"It is depravation that prompts insurmountable curiosity."

Reunited through conflict! After unraveling a harrowing conspiracy, Anna and Elsa have survived the Separatist invasion of Manaan. Accompanied by Jedi Master Yelena and their rescued allies, the sisters begin their return to Coruscant. With the battle over, tensions still run high as each Padawan comes to terms with internal conflicts.

The aromatic smell of fresh conditioner was pleasing to Elsa's senses. It was a blessing to finally be free of the stench of saltwater. Her skin had smoothened and her hair had been cleansed of sand granules. If it wasn't for all of the artillery equipment and heavily armed personnel, the Venator-class star destroyer would've made for an excellent hotel. Its amenities were upgraded to the highest tiers of service, and it was easy to relax if one didn't consider an impending Separatist attack. After enduring two separate invasions, it was hard for Elsa not to think of the worst case scenario. Still, it was nice to see so many servants of the Republic hard at work maintaining the ship.

"Padawan Dellian," Commander Wolffe greeted her from an observation platform. "You're looking well."

"Nothing some bacta supplements and a good shower couldn't fix," she answered.

He guided her down a stairwell and said, "I'm surprised you didn't need more after all you'd been through."

"During the mission, I was injected with kolto to treat an infection. I'm sure the healing properties are still in my bloodstream." Upon mentioning kolto, its whereabouts crossed Elsa's mind. "Speaking of which...Commander, were your forces able to stop the droids from getting the rest of the kolto offworld?"

"Take a look for yourself." Wolffe gestured to an array of canisters being loaded on to hovercrates. They were double-checked by clone technicians before being sealed with the Republic emblem.

Elsa couldn't help but grimace. "With all due respect, isn't that kolto property of Manaan? The Separatists were extracting that straight from Selkath waters."

"While those means may be true," Wolffe replied. "The facility from which the kolto was harvested was technically an old Republic one."

"But it was no longer in commission," Elsa intoned. "The Republic hadn't been involved with Manaan for hundreds...thousands of years until returning now."

"We had orders to secure the kolto, Padawan." Wolffe's welcoming tone became sterner.

"Whose orders?" Elsa asked. "Master Plo's?"

"The Supreme Chancellor's," Wolffe corrected before motioning for Elsa to enter a lounge. "Now please, relax. You've been through so much already. We'll be back on Coruscant before you know it."

Up until that point, Elsa had done nothing but marvel over the ship's wonders. After Wolffe's closing statements, the calming lounge was merely a blur to her. As she stepped into the room, she thought about how Chancellor Palpatine could override a Jedi's word. She considered how his orders seemed final and how he held the entire Grand Army of the Republic in his hands.

"There she is!" Master Chaki bleated and snapped her back into the moment. The Selkath was looking healthier as he reclined on a couch. "Yelena, dear. This Padawan of yours is a powerhouse." While her master and Nelani nodded in agreement, Elsa noticed Anna rolling her eyes from the furthest seat.

"Please," Elsa said. "None of that is really necessary. I'll have you know that while I was cowering in a coral reef, it was Anna who saved me. She's the powerhouse here." Elsa felt a twinge of relief when Anna slightly smirked. Chaki joyously shimmied over to make room for Elsa and pat the cushion beside him. "It's alright," she said and paced about the room.

"Elsa?" Yelena worried. "What's troubling you?"

"Did you know that Chancellor Palpatine ordered the 104th clone battalion to secure the stolen kolto? I talked to Commander Wolffe about it and he was acting like it wasn't stealing from the Selkath."

"It's a dicy subject," Chaki huffed. "The kolto was taken from a former Republic facility."

"But it was abandoned," Elsa quickly countered.

"Still, it does complicate things." Yelena added to Elsa's stress. "Think deeper, my apprentice. Kolto was once thought to be obsolete compared to bacta. But now it turns out that the Separatists wanted it? Imagine if Manaan's public found out about such a thing. Especially its spacer population. They just made peace over a common enemy, but the rediscovery of kolto's uses could lead to an exploitation of the planet's natural resource."

While Elsa bit the inside of her lip, she really wanted to rip her hair out. With a deep breath, she chose to respond calmly instead. "But isn't that exactly what the Republic is doing by taking the kolto?" she proposed.

"Well they only took some of it, Elsa." Nelani interjected. "It sounds like the chancellor is only securing what the Separatists were trying to take in an effort to protect the people of Manaan from being exploited. Master Yelena is right."

Of course, Elsa's crasser...more stressful voice spoke from within. Even the timid Duros is on their side. It's three on one. If Anna sides with me, I'll do a Wookie roar so I can add it to my list of things that'll never happen.

"Come on, sis." Anna inevitably joined in the debate. "They extracted kolto from the sea. Did you see how massive Manaan's oceans are? They have plenty of the stuff. They're not gonna miss forty-something canisters that they didn't even know about."

"If I may," Nelani added.

No you may not, Elsa thought but didn't say.

"Perhaps you're judging the chancellor too harshly," the Duros suggested. "Our Republic is not a dictatorship. He was voted in, so clearly the thousands of systems he represents trust him to uphold their values. Chancellor Palpatine is gonna make mistakes, but we all do. We have to trust our elected officials to see us through and can't be questioning them. What if we questioned the Jedi Council every step of the way?"

Elsa had to fight to conceal her rising frustration. Normally she believed that knowledge was knowledge and that it could be learned from anyone. But there was something about hearing someone as inexperienced as Nelani that was truly irking to Elsa. The Duros was explaining democracy to Elsa as if she didn't know day from night. She spoke so blindly and her comparison to the Jedi Council was unnecessary, for Palpatine was the subject. Despite her stress, Elsa couldn't stay mad at Nelani. She was able to understand that her fellow Padawan was merely contributing the extent of her knowledge on politics, which unfortunately was almost nothing. After listening to the political intellects of senators like Padmé Amidala and Ryx Finc, Elsa found others to be less knowledgable on the subject. She thought about the kolto predicament and related it to words Ryx had once spoken.

"The Galactic Senate plays with planets and our resources in the name of freedom. It's true, the Republic stepped in to help Avinaria rebuild after our civil war, but it wasn't long before they took advantage of our natural resources."

Elsa sighed deeply as the words still resonated with her. While she struggled to find a counter to make her fellow Jedi see her point, she recalled something else Ryx had told her.

"In time you'll learn that others don't always stand by you when you speak your mind. But, you'll also see that you can stand stronger alone and even find like-minded strangers."

She was willing to wait for like-minded people or take the matter of change into her own hands. What mattered to her was that she'd spoken her mind and knew where she stood. "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," she said before taking the seat beside Chaki.

"You'd make a fine Consular, you would." the Selkath admitted.

"Oh yeah?" Elsa inquired.

"For sure!" he proclaimed. "Just like your master and I. You've got deep sense of commitment to the communities around you and your Force abilities are remarkable. And I'm not trying to flatter you either. I mean it."

"Is a Consular what you were alluding to when we sat out that battle?" Elsa asked.

Chaki smiled. "Indeed I was. You have the makings to be a fine Jedi Consular. Have any trials under your belt?" Elsa kept the conversation respectful to Anna's presence and simply nodded. "I expected nothing less," Chaki admired. "Well when you become a knight, I strongly recommend you follow the way of the Consular. You could be a real juggernaut in the realm of Jedi diplomacy. Better than Yelena ever was!"

Elsa's master leaned in with wild eyes. "Excuse me?" she jeered. "I know you're not referring to what I think you are."

Chaki gave Elsa an oafish nudge. "We were both knights back in the day, lass. Fledgling Consulars sent to broker the peace between a nasty band of Arthurian senators. What could go wrong?" Chaki could barely contain his cackles while even Yelena was grinning. Elsa and Nelani slid closer for the story while Anna kept to herself. Chaki wrapped his arm around Elsa and pointed to Yelena. "So your master here says in all her youthful elegance, 'Hey! Let's invite them all to dinner where we can talk things over.' Because you know...Consulars."

"Naturally," Elsa snickered.

"First of all," Yelena jested. "I'm still youthful, I don't know what you're talking about. Second, I am not the one who messed up. I roasted a delicious nuna for the senators." She jabbed a finger at Chaki. "This genius set the table with silverware."

The Selkath covered his snout while struggling not to snicker. "I don't get it," Nelani admitted. "What's wrong with utensils."

Elsa's heart sank as she slowly realized what would transpire. "Oh no," she gasped.

"Oh yes," Yelena said. "You see, Nelani...there's a reason Arthurians wear gloves. Their taste buds are in their hands, so when they eat-" Yelena mimed taking off gloves. "They only do so with their hands."

"They'd find utensils to be quite...insulting." Chaki uttered while cringing.

Yelena could hardly keep herself from laughing. "So you can imagine my shock, when I get out of the kitchen and see Chaki guiding the Arthurians over to the table. And he goes 'This is how we Jedi do things!' with as much bravado as possible." Elsa and Nelani watched as their masters busted out laughing in remembrance. "The Arthurians were livid!"

Chaki spoke through his wheezes. "They contacted the council and called for our executions!"

It was the hardest Elsa had ever seen her master laugh. "By the Force," she reminisced. "It took Master Qui-gon months to quell the hostilities we'd stirred. Now he was a legendary Consular. Master of the great Obi-wan Kenobi."

"Of course!" Elsa gasped as a smile stretched across her lips. "That explains why Master Kenobi's such a brilliant negotiator himself. He's a Consular!"

"On the contrary," Chaki chortled. "Kenobi's a Jedi Guardian. Much like his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker."

Elsa pinched the bridge of her nose and sulked. "This is so confusing," she said. "Those two seem nothing alike."

An older man's voice caught everyone's attention over the intercom. "This is Admiral Coburn," he announced. "We've just exited hyperspace and are beginning our descent towards Coruscant."

"Finally," Anna murmured as the rest of the group quieted. Noticing Anna's somberness, Elsa took it upon herself to check on her. She slid into the seat beside her sister and Anna instantly huffed before averting her eyes.

"You-..." Elsa stuttered. "I-..." She noticed Anna's healed complexion and smiled. "I see the Bacta worked wonders."

"And yet...I'm still hurting," Anna whispered.

"I don't understand," Elsa admitted. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine."

Elsa stared Anna down. "Honestly, sis. Has anyone in the history of the universe ever actually meant it when they said those words? If you can't count on your sister, who can you count on?"

With a resigned sigh, Anna eyed the doorway. "Let's take a walk."

"Absolutely," Elsa assured and stepped off with her. She considered what Master Plo had told her back on Manaan, yet still persisted to help Anna. While he insisted that she let her figure things out on her own, Elsa could not understand what would be wrong with merely listening. Despite their strict doctrine, the Jedi were seen as extremely compassionate entities to those they protected. In this moment, Elsa saw her actions as an effort to protect her sister.

They found a secluded observation deck which overlooked the Venator's steady descent. Anna leaned over the railing and frowned deeply. "Ever find it hard to stop thinking about someone?" Anna asked.

"Sometimes," Elsa answered. She leaned beside Anna and considered the question. "I think about who our parents might've been or-"

Anna's brows furrowed and she swatted the air in front of them. "No not like that. Like-...UGH!" She grit her teeth in an attempt to explain it. "I don't know...they just always seem to be on your mind. When they talk, you feel all fuzzy. When you think about them, it sorta leaves this tingly, I guess...sickening sensation in your stomach. But it's good though. You want more of that person. Like you want to be alone with them. And then to touch that person...it's like a lightsaber igniting in your chest like BZZZZT!"

Elsa wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Anna. I can't say I've ever felt that."

"Seriously?" Anna blurted. "You're the older sister. You're supposed to be wiser and you have zero idea of what I'm talking about?" Elsa's shrug only frustrated Anna further. "I just-...here. We have time, so let me show you." Anna took Elsa by the hand and led her to an alternative lounge.

"Greetings, Padawans," a protocol droid said after pouring refreshments for a pair of clone technicians. "Might I fix you some freshly squeezed meiloorun juice?"

"No thanks," Anna replied much to Elsa's dismay. "But can you switch the holoscreen to the Stargaze Network and find the holodrama, Celeste?"

"Not a problem," the droid obliged while Anna waited impatiently. Her eyes widened as the screen flashed "Celeste" in sparkly font.

"Okay, sis." Anna said. "Check this out."

A wondrous garden appeared behind the titular font. "What planet does this take place on?" Elsa asked.

"Naboo," Anna grumbled. "Just watch."

An elegant woman sat amidst blossoming flowers as her sapphire dress glistened in the moonlight. Her short, jet black curls brushed against her ebony skin as she took in the sights. Suddenly, a one-eyed man emerged from the shadows.

Elsa gasped. "Is that an assassin?"

"No," Anna groaned. "That's Garren, her ex husband."

"Why's he missing an eye?"

"He got shot in season three, now shush!"

Elsa bit her tongue but couldn't resist. "...What season is this?"

Anna was about to pull her hair out. "Fourteen," she answered grumpily.

Garren wrapped his arms around the woman's waist and buried his face in her neck. "Celeste," he whispered before kissing her.

"Garren," she uttered dramatically before planting a passionate kiss on his lips.

"Gross," Elsa whispered.

"They're just kissing," Anna said.

"More like eating each other's faces," Elsa remarked.

"I thought I'd lost you," Celeste said. "When I heard the Separatists had bombed your camp, I feared the worst."

"Oh Celeste," Garren insisted. "Nothing can ever keep me from you. Not even an orbital bombardment. I love you."

As the characters embraced each other under the stars, Anna heard Elsa rejoicing. "See?" Anna conferred. "That's the feeling I'm talking about. The-" As Anna turned, she realized the only thing Elsa was happy about was finally getting a cup of meiloorun juice from the droid.

"I'm glad you like this show," Elsa answered. "But in all honesty, I don't quite get the appeal myself. Perhaps there's a reason we Jedi aren't allowed to have romantic attachments as others are. Maybe it'd make more sense to an outsider."

"Yeah," Anna sighed. "Maybe." She considered her sister's input and wondered how different she might have been. She recounted what exactly she felt about Erik or what she thought of Hans in her dying moments underwater. Was it love? she asked herself. Is that the word I've been missing this entire time? Is it as easy to throw around as Celeste does in this holodrama? While Elsa sipped away on her beverage, Anna continued to watch the show for clues.

"This is goodbye, Celeste." Garren spoke softly. "I'm returning to the front.

Celeste seemed unfazed as Anna clung to the edge of her seat. "If I cannot receive your full commitment," she said. "Then you never deserved me from the start."

"But Celeste!" Garren yelped.

"No," she proudly retorted. "There's a reason you're my ex and I was a fool to think otherwise. This

is goodbye, Garren."

"Where will you go?" Garren asked.

"It doesn't matter where I go," Celeste answered. "What I say...how I think...when I move. None of that is your concern any longer. I am a free spirit, and I will step forward with love. I

will love again and I will find someone who loves me just the same."

As the screen faded to black accompanied by an empowering soundtrack, Elsa couldn't help but snicker. "I'm sorry," she admitted. "It was just kind of...cheesy?" Anna glared at her. "Okay, maybe not the best word for it. But I feel like we could've written better."

"Well maybe I think it's a nice escape from things," Anna snapped. "Maybe I need a little cheesy or maybe it helps make sense of our crazy world. Maybe I wish our lives were something people tuned into weekly to see whatever crazy shenanigans we were up to. But that's not how real life works and it was a mistake to think you could help me sort out my feelings."

Anna stormed out and left her sister to sulk. "Smooth, Else." Elsa told herself. "Nice going," she berated herself before sipping meiloorun juice.

It was a relief for the Padawans touchdown on a planet without an ocean in sight. Coruscant's familiar, bustling cityscape was welcoming to the eyes as they departed from the Venator. Elsa and Anna sat on opposite sides of the temple transport, leaving Chaki baffled at their behavior. "You get used to it," Yelena muttered while Nelani tried to coax a conversation out of the sisters.

"It's so good to be home," Nelani told Elsa.

"Yeah," Elsa uttered while peering out of her viewport. She caught a glimpse of clone troopers unloading the recovered kolto canisters and passing them off to Republic officials.

"I'm sure that stuff will be in good hands," Nelani assured.

Elsa tried her best to accept what the young Duros was trying to tell her. She wanted to trust the Republic as much as her fellow Jedi did. Meanwhile, Anna was trying to make sense of what it meant to really love. If it was as glorified as Celeste made it appear, why would the Jedi forbid it? Perhaps it was the complexity of it all that confused even the mightiest of masters. Just seeing Erik with someone else threw Anna into such an emotional whirlwind. She hated being at the mercy of her feelings, but curiosity kept her from shutting them out. Suddenly, as the ship hovered towards the Jedi temple...a familiar, yet unbelievable sight caught Anna's attention. It was enough to snap her free of any conflicting thoughts as she climbed over her peers for a better look. Chaki and Yelena were befuddled as Anna leaned over the driver's seat to examine the viewport.

"Wait," Anna said and squinted her eyes. "Is that...Can it really be?"

Though expressionless behind his mask, Master Plo's tone made him appear comical. "Perhaps it is," he jested and dipped the speeder downward. Elsa and Yelena tried to shift Anna's flailing legs to get a better look for themselves. When they finally did, they peered down at a familiar silhouette. To Elsa, it was a figure she'd seen too often from a distance. He'd occasionally guided her in passing and always believed in her. To Yelena, he was one of her oldest friends...bound with her through a shared homeworld and knowledge of the Force. For Anna, he was her beloved mentor.

"Mattias!" Anna cheered and wildly waved from the center console. "I've got to get down there."

"Settle down, young one." Plo said. "I'll land us momentarily and-"

Anna fiddled with the speeder's sunroof controls while observing her master. He seemed just as confused as the craft's passengers, yet Anna persisted. "Can't you just be patient?" Yelena asked but it was too late.

Anna opened the sunroof, pulled herself out, and eagerly front-flipped towards the Jedi Temple. Master Chaki could be heard bellowing "Maniac!" before Anna stuck the landing.

"Master!" Anna rejoiced and launched herself at him.

Mattias' arms stiffened as he partially blocked her embrace. "Easy, Anna. Still recovering. Easy!...Yeouch!"

Anna cringed as Mattias winced and hurriedly backed up. "Sorry!" she admitted. "I'm just so happy to see you alive and just..." As Anna closed in, Mattias braced for another heavy hug. Instead, she gently fell against his chest and said, "I missed you."

Mattias smiled softly and pat her on the back. "You know, I really missed you too." he said. "Nice jump, by the way. How was Manaan?"

"Mission accomplished," Anna said confidently as the parked speeder's passengers exited behind her.

"As long as you don't count losing your lightsaber," Yelena added.

Anna hurriedly twirled the hilt for all to see. "But I got it back," she defended.

Mattias smirked. "In my book, that's all that matters." Yelena's initial, flustered glare faded as she too was joyful to see Mattias. She offered her hand and he merrily pulled her in for a delicate embrace. "I told you to trust the doctors," he chuckled. He winked at Elsa from over her master's shoulder. "I'm now ninety-nine percent man, and one percent machine," he joked and jabbed a thumb at his back. "But thanks to cybernetics, I'm ready to get back-" He nearly tripped while stepping forward. "-into action."

"I'm going to get Chaki and Nelani debriefed," Master Plo interrupted. "Congratulations to you women on a job well done."

"Thank you for everything!" Nelani hollered from behind her master.

"May the Force be with you!" Chaki added before pointing at Elsa. "And don't forget, lass! Look into being a Consular. There's no fight like the one that never happens!"

"See that Selkath?" Anna snickered. "Now he lost his lightsaber."

"But his was taken because he was kidnapped," Elsa quipped. "Care to share what happened to yours?"

Mattias raised a brow and glanced down at his apprentice. Anna flinched but inevitably obliged. "I wagered it in a game of Dejarik against a Force-sensitive Quarren who turned out to be in league with the Separatists and ultimately led to an invasion of Manaan."

Mattias paused to take in the bizarre explanation before snorting profusely. "That genuinely sounds like something only you would do. I'd love to hear more."

Yelena's patience was wearing thin as Mattias continued to support Anna's reckless behavior. She gave Elsa a nudge and said, "We'd best give you two some time to catch up. Elsa, let's look into that dream you had from your flight to Manaan."

The shades were dimmed as Yelena and Elsa knelt on respective cushions. The small, yet humble grand master before them was often sought to interpret visions. His ears quivered as he slowly craned his neck. His squinted eyes examined Yelena first before focusing on Elsa. "A dream you wish to understand?" he asked.

"That is correct, Master Yoda." Yelena spoke calmly.

"Thought here for mindfulness, after such a perilous mission you were." He returned all of his attention to Elsa and she gulped. "See through you, I can." The statement did nothing for her anxiety as her posture tightened. "Much fear I sense in you. Why?"

"I'm afraid of what you'll tell me," Elsa admitted. "Visions aren't always good. Sometimes they're warnings."

"Many outcomes, visions can have. Symbols they can stand for. Emotions they will represent. Fear them, you must not. Approach the answer, and find it you will."

"What's your plan, Master Yoda?" Yelena asked.

Yoda shut his eyes to think for a moment. He stretched out a clawed hand and grumbled while channeling the Force. "Delve deep into the memory, we will. Master Yelena...create a conduit for the Padawan, we must. Elsa...recall the dream, you shall."

"Okay then," Elsa answered worriedly and shut her eyes. The trio meditated as Elsa recounted as many details as she could. She focused on the dream as vividly as it had come to her. Through Yelena and Yoda's combined channeling, they were able to experience the same sensations she was, and even amplify them. "I'm back on the planet," Elsa whispered.

"It's freezing," Yelena identified. "Snow everywhere."

"Hoth, perhaps?" Yoda suggested. "An old memory this could be?"

"I don't think so," Elsa considered. "Maybe it's Aren?"

Yelena stiffened at the mention and Yoda sensed her angst. "Unfamiliar, the world seems to you. Deeper, you must look."

Elsa tightened her shut eyes and focused on her senses. She remembered trudging through the snow and ascending the steps of an ancient structure. "Oh," Yelena gasped. "What are we seeing? It looks like a fortress?"

"A temple, it could be."

Once again, Elsa experienced the blinding and brilliant light at the top of the spire. "My vision doesn't go any further," Elsa panicked. "I can't see anything else!"

"Breathe, apprentice." Yelena intoned. "Steady your mind." Elsa took a deep breath as Yoda and Yelena cleansed her vision through the Force. "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me." Yelena chanted. "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me."

"One with the Force I am, and with me the Force is." Yoda said.

Elsa completed the trifecta after calming herself and said, "I am one with the Force and the Force is with me."

Through their combined abilities, an image formed beyond the light source. It was an ancient emblem carved into an icy wall, which depicted a mighty wave. The vision ended as all three Jedi awakened from their trances. Elsa was the only one out of breath as she asked, "What was that?"

"Some sort of crest," Yelena spoke swiftly and reached for her utility belt. She withdrew a piece of parchment, unclipped a stencil, and began sketching before the image vanished from memory. When she was finished, she held up the mysterious symbol for the others to see. "It appears oceanic in nature, yet the location we saw it on was frozen over."

"Could it be symbolic?" Elsa asked as she and Yelena turned to Yoda.

He hummed deeply in thought. "Believe this to be a planet, I do. Though the symbol...recognize it, I do not. See this vision as a guide, you must. To the archives, you must go. Investigate the symbol, and find the planet you will. Only make sense then, the vision shall."

"Thank you, Master Yoda," Elsa and Yelena said in unison before bowing.

"That was so exhilarating," Elsa admitted while making for the door. "The capabilities of the Force never cease to astound me. And now we have a lead."

Her master was almost out when Yoda beckoned to her. "Master Yelena," he called. "A word in private, may I have?"

Yelena clenched her fists and noticed Elsa's confusion. "Of course," she answered. "Padawan, I'll meet you at the archives." Being no stranger to the typical abandonment, Elsa casually walked away. Yelena entered once more as Yoda stared her down less pleasantly. "What is it, master?" she asked.

"Sense fear in you as well, I do." Yoda said. "Struggling to conceal a truth, hm?"

Yelena sighed and shook her head. "You know I can't tell her," she lamented. "Neither of them can know."

Yoda nodded solemnly. "Concealing the pain, you are. Inflicting wounds upon yourself, it is."

"She's bound to go to her homeworld when she's knight," Yelena said. "I won't be able to stop her from learning the truth then, but I can prevent it now. She's still my student."

"Student...or prisoner?"

Yelena pursed her lips. "With all due respect, Master Yoda, that is unfair. We are forbidden from all attachments, including familial ones."

"Yet guilty you feel for shrouding the truth," Yoda said. "If liberated we are from attachment, so too from emotion we must be."

"But that's-" Yoda glared at her until she bit back her jeer. Yelena let herself calm down before answering. "It's just harder than normal sometimes. I don't know how Master Mattias does it."

"Make peace with yourself you must," Yoda intoned. "Unfair it is, to compare Mattias' experience to your own."

Yelena raised a brow and sat beside Yoda. "How do you figure?" she inquired.

"Both from Aren you and Mattias hail. But Northuldra specifically, you are. Fear what Elsa will become, you do. Accept that she is Aren, you must...but not that she is her father or mother. Show Elsa compassion, for we are what they grow beyond."

Yelena froze as a dark trauma pried at her within. She heard the snapping of trees of wild spray of laserfire. The crackle of an inferno spreading as flamethrowers swayed over Northuldra tents. Screams brought a numbness to her ears as she recalled reaching out for a lifeless child in the snow. Yelena stopped a tear from escaping her eye and simply answered, "Is that all?" Yoda just peered up at her as if she could answer her own question. "Thank you, Master. Good day." With a deep breath, Yelena stormed out of the chamber and left Yoda hanging his head.

"And then...kaboom!" Anna exclaimed and flailed her arms across the temple verandah. "Assault craft bursting in air...waves splashing against platforms...the city itself collapsing!"

Mattias chuckled from a nearby bench as his Padawan acted out the battle of Manaan. "What'd it feel like to be in the war for an instant?" he asked.

"It was so unpredictable, but that's what made it challenging." Anna said. "To fight back alongside others against that kind of tyranny...there was nothing quite like it."

"Well there's never been a war like this," Mattias replied. "But how did you feel on the battlefield?"

"Honestly?" Anna considered. "Right at home."

Mattias flashed a pensive smirk as he struggled to stand. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear," he said. Anna rushed to his side and helped him up. "Now I know you just got home, but would you be up to accomplish two tasks in one fell swoop?"

"I suppose it depends on what you have in mind," Anna mumbled. "Do you need me to help you out of chairs?"

Mattias humored her with a cackle and followed up with a swift shake of his head. "While you were out on Manaan, I was cooped up in the temple medbay. I'm still easing back into things, but I might have a way to show you some more military action and keep up your training for the Corellian Cup tryouts."

Anna didn't hesitate to boldly clap her hands and stand ready. "What are we waiting for?" she asked. "Let's go!"

"That's the spirit," Mattias lauded. "Sort out whatever you need and we'll leave this evening." As Anna prepared to set off, Mattias placed a hand on her shoulder. "And one more thing..." He handed her the device she'd given him. "Please take this addictive game away from me before I jump back in. It's served its purpose."

Anna smiled and said, "Jawa Crossing always does."

As she reentered the temple, Anna contemplated what she'd do with the extra time. For her, packing would be extremely minimal and therefore easy. She looked forward to having Mattias mentor her again and was excited to figure out how she'd be training for the Corellian Cup. Then again, she considered her experience on Manaan as a form of "on the job training" for the event. As thoughts of the future swirled in her mind, so too did her heart's yearnings. They crept in like unwelcome guests scrounging about where she least expected them. She wanted to forget Erik, and in turn found herself headed for the Jedi Archives. She entered its pristine aisles not to seek knowledge, but to find the man she'd...in a way...imprisoned there.

She wandered across the tiles as her footsteps echoed across the tranquil chambers. Suddenly, another pair of boots was thrice as loud as hers. Hans tromped down an aisle with a trio of younglings in tow. The children were green-skinned Mirialans, each with their own set of unique facial tattoos. With a deepening glower and tired glare, Hans lazily pointed towards the highest shelf in the aisle.

"There you go, kiddos." he muttered. "The Lothal Atlas." The younglings all froze with blank stares until Hans lost his patience. "What?"

"But Master Hans," one of the girls stuttered. "We can't reach it. Our Force abilities aren't that strong yet."

"Can you please get it for us?" asked the boy next to her.

The trio's combined, incessant, stretched out "Pleeease" was enough to make Hans want to flip a table.

"Fine!" he growled as the children cheered. Anna couldn't help but giggle from afar as Hans Force-pulled the holobook to him. He had to focus intently on it considering the text's elevation. His eyes twitched stressfully as the children chanted his name to cheer him on. "Quiet!" he barked.

As he did so, Madame Jocasta emerged from around the corner. "Hans," she intoned with widened eyes. "Mind your volume."

Hans' nostrils flared as he rose to defend himself. "But they were-" Jocasta stared him down into silence until he scoffed.

"Ummm, excuse me?" the third Mirialan called.

Hans slowly turned with a fraudulent grin. "Yes, you precious little angel?"

"We're still waiting on our holobook," the child demanded with a snap of her fingers. "Hurry up."

Hans looked as though he'd spontaneously combust, but he managed to call the book to him. "Here you go," he hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh we don't want it," one of the Mirialans said. "We just wanted to look at it. You can put it back."

"Bye!" said one of the others before they scurried off.

Hans squeezed the book in his hands as if willing to set it ablaze. He hyperventilated until a gentle hand touched his. "Younglings," Anna said in an effort to calm him down. "Annoying, huh?"

"Anna," Hans uttered as his shoulders relaxed. "I...you..." She snickered as he bumbled about. "Those weren't younglings," he growled while putting the book back. "They were more like little womp rats."

"How have you been?" Anna asked.

"Doing my time," Hans answered, yet detected more. "Why?"

Anna bit her lip and checked around the aisle. When she eyed other Jedi browsing nearby, she leaned in. "Is there anywhere here we can talk privately?"

Hans felt he typically possessed the upper hand in their conversations. Though he agreed to speak with her, he was busting his mind over what she planned on telling him. "Follow me," he whispered and led her to the second level.

On their way up, Anna peered over the balcony and observed the rows of countless tables. Perhaps it was the Force tethering her to her sister, but Anna noticed Elsa researching alongside Yelena. At that same time, Elsa looked up and spotted Anna ascending with Hans. Her brows furrowed above her judgmental gaze. Anna retaliated by mouthing the word "What?" before continuing on. Elsa merely rolled her eyes and returned to her studies.

"This is one of our storage rooms," Hans said and snapped Anna back into the moment. "Seal the door behind you." As Anna did so, Hans activated a dim, indigo light. Rows of shelving housed varieties of holobooks and actual bindings. "Pardon the smell, but that's history for you." Anna cleared her throat, but Hans placed his finger on her lips before she spoke. "Before you say anything," he said. "Before you ask for any favors, I just want you to know I'm almost out of here. These archives might be a dream come true for someone like your sister, but not for me. I am almost free of this monotonous drudgery and then I'll be back to what I do best. I did what I had to do to protect you, but don't make me go through this again. That's all."

While Anna listened to him, she tried to understand how she felt about his finger pressed to her lips. It was gentle, intimate and offered the kind of touch a Jedi seldom received. His finger fled her lips and she exhaled for the first time since he started pleading. "Hans," she whispered breathily. "I don't need any favors from you."

"You don't?" he asked.

Anna struggled to find the words as if going against years of mental programming. Consistent doctrine pressed against her willpower as her lip quivered. "I...appreciate you," she said. Hans' brows relaxed and he leaned against the nearest shelf. "You may not want to sacrifice your freedom for me again, but I'd do it for you. You...um...mean something to me."

"Anna," Hans worried with a stern glare. "What are you getting at?"

Sweat trickled down Anna's temple as she stiffened. She feared speaking the wrong words or giving off an impression that'd get her expelled. Then again, Hans had helped her break rules in the past, so she had to trust herself. "Can I confide in you?" she asked.

Hans pondered for a moment but gave her a nod. "Sure, Anna."

"This is gonna sound crazy."

"After working in this boredom," Hans said. "I love crazy."

Anna's heart thundered as she willed herself to speak on. "There was an instance on my latest mission where I thought I was going to die, but in those moments...I thought of you. I imagined having conversations like this one, but all the time. What I'm trying to say Hans, is that I missed you." Anna recomposed herself before continuing. "But it wasn't like missing my master during his surgery, or my sister when she lost. It was different, and I'm honestly still trying to figure it out." The frustration caught up with Anna as she loathed showing weakness. She tugged a her Padawan braid and shut her eyes. "I'm sorry. I know it's a lot but-"

"Anna," Hans answered soothingly. She looked up at him as he smiled. "Maybe we could figure those feelings out together. I...missed you too."

It was as if sparks ignited within Anna all over again. She hardly felt her heel propel her towards Hans as she embraced him. Though cautious at first, he wrapped his arms around her and dipped his head. The depravation of such physical contact only made them pull each other closer. While she was nervous, Anna looked up at Hans to find him gazing down at her. They froze in that moment, unsure if anything else was supposed to emerge from their interaction.

The jingling of the outside wall panel pulled Anna and Hans back into reality. "I thought Jocasta said this was open?" a Jedi technician uttered from the other side. "Come on, let's go get the passcode."

Hans and Anna remained silent while slowly slipping out of their embrace. They shared a brief chuckle before Hans unlocked the door. Once he made sure the area was clear, he snuck Anna out as they hid in one of the aisles. "That was too close," he whispered.

"We're no strangers to sneaking about," Anna insisted and Hans nudged her.

They playfully shoved one another until Hans rested his eyes on her. "Want to spar tonight?" he asked.

Anna sighed. "I'm actually taking another assignment with my master. But I look forward to seeing you again when you get out of here."

"I'll be waiting," Hans said. "If I'm not on an assignment myself."

"Well maybe I'll be on one with you," Anna teased. "But until then, this is goodbye. I'm returning to the front." she said dramatically.

Hans snorted at her overacted flair. "Where'd you get those cheesy lines from? A holodrama?"

Anna laughed nervously as she made for the exit. "Pshhh no...maybe...um...yes?" He could say whatever he wanted to about holodramas, Anna thought. They helped me talk to him and that's enough for me.

With her bag packed and preparations made, Anna set off from her dormitory to meet Mattias in the hangar. The evening sun was setting across the temple windows and a pair of shadows danced behind Anna. She stopped in her tracks and turned to see Tori and Surk approaching. "Anna," Tori called.

"No insulting names this time," Anna scoffed. "I'm impressed."

"I want a rematch," the Pantoran demanded.

"Can't you see I'm going somewhere?"

"Prove that you can still best me."

"Yeah, Anna." Surk jeered.

Anna groaned and furiously set her bags down. "Look," she intoned. "I'm just gonna settle this right here, right now. Surk, you're not even worth my time." The Zabrak gasped at her response. "And Tori, face it. Face every blatant fact that's been smacking you in the face since we were kids. It doesn't matter who your master is or what you think you've learned. It doesn't matter what you believe you're capable of. I've gone to places you haven't seen, downed foes that would've crushed you, and unraveled mysteries you could never understand." Each of Anna's words only made Tori's fists tighten. "You will never be better than me. Accept it. I'm over this petty nonsense."

For once, Tori didn't respond to Anna's insult. She silently watched as Anna departed with her bags. "Tori?" Surk worried. "You okay?"

The Pantoran stormed off and left her bulky companion to trail behind. When he eventually caught up with her, she was in the dojo activating an entire group of dueling droids. She sparked up her blue lightsaber as an array of white blades ignited from the droids. Surk watched as his friend furiously dueled the training machines.

Tori's strikes were relentless as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Pathetic," Anna's past insult came back to haunt her and made Tori angrily impale a droid. "Maybe you can help me out. I'm looking for Tori and Surk, I'm supposed to give them free tickets to that new show on the Holonet: Coruscant's Dumbest. "Any idea where I can find them? It's okay if you don't." Tori loosed a vicious screech and slashed another droid to pieces. "Aren't you tired, Tori? Cause it must be extremely exhausting to live at your level of miserable." Tori brutally kicked the final droid and repeatedly struck it with her lightsaber. She remembered how Anna insulted her culture when they were younglings in Brith Clan. "Says the girl with stupid lines on her face. What? Are you gonna cry now?"

"You will never be better than me."

"Shut up!" Tori screamed to her own mind as she dug her saber into the decimated droid. As she knelt before her carnage a familiar shadow loomed over her. It was far too big to even be Surk as she looked towards it. Her racing heart sank as she gazed upon her mentor and rushed to compose herself. There was no hiding her disheveled hair and teary eyes. "Master Krell," she whimpered.

"Get up," he said sternly.

"I can't-"

"I said...get up!" Krell's authoritative voice startled even Surk from a distance.

Tori rose as Krell examined the ravaged training droids. "Is this about that Padawan?" he asked. "The Dellian girl?" Though Tori nodded, Krell sensed she feared her feelings and pointed at Surk. "Leave us," he ordered.

When it was only the two of them, Tori still struggled to speak. She focused on what she was feeling and finally said, "I...hate her."

A grin snuck across the Besalisk's face as he wrapped one of his arms around her. It was the most he'd ever touched her before and Tori slowly felt reassured. "Good," Krell answered. "Now, you can be properly trained."