16:20 Hours (4:20 PM)
The intercom had just sounded and classes were done today for the 10-13 years old crowd. After hitting the age of 10 as a youngling, their mandatory classes only went on from 7-3 instead of 7-5 like the younger ones. This gave them ample time to practice lightsaber forms and combat to learn how to defend themselves and these classes were always taught by Cin Drallig as he had mastered all 6 forms of saber combat that the Jedi taught. There were also classes that taught particular gifted individuals in healing arts to hone their craft by volunteering at the Galactic Hospital in the Republic's heart of Coruscant or the temple, the latter being most often. These were the two most prominent ones that were encouraged by the order but there were multiple like ancient history, runes, archaeology and many more.
On this particular day inside of the sparring arena which was a spacious area with a semi viewing area surrounding the large sparring area, a 13 year old Wookie female was currently engaged in a fierce duel with a 11 year old boy.
Bringing his saber up and then twisting back down, he held the training saber to one side as he held a certain grace to himself.
"C'mon, Kyungi. You can do better than that…'' the boy taunted.
Kyungi said something in Shyriiwook as the boy barked back, "Then why am I tired? You're also tired!"
Kyungi then swiftly pressed the advantage as she shifted into form VI which the Wookie was proficient in. Using her natural brute strength combined with a rather aggressive form to press an advantage. She swung down hard on the boy as his windswept black hair flopped around and he brought his training saber up in a defensive position. Kyungi used her weight to press further into the lock as the human boy then used the force to speed out and jab forward at her unguarded side. Kyungi easily brought her saber up to parry it to the side then brought her saber sideways and the boy had just barely defended before Kyungi quickly kicked him in the gut then bringing the training saber right up to his neck, stopping mere centimeters from his neck.
The boy panted to catch his breath as he said, "O-O-Oh my…" coughing, "Kyungi reminded me not to anger a Wookie in the future, yea?"
Kyungi gave him a response that sounded playfully boastful but happy.
"You were going easy on me? Pffttt… I doubt that. I have your fur soaking in sweat."
Kyungi was indeed drenched in sweat as well.
She barked back something in Shyriiwook and the boy said, "Fine Fine. You beat me. I'll get you next time! You only beat me cause you're older." laughing afterwards.
She said something along the lines of 'sure sure.' before reaching out a hand to help pull up the boy and he happily accepted. Getting to his feet, Kyungi knelt down and brought her forehead up to his as she roared a battlecry to him. The boy smiled back as a familiar human man was applauding, "Very good job both of you, Kyungi and Jao."
Pointing at the Wookie, "Kyungi, remember to control your anger when using Form VI: natural brute strength from being a Wookie and Niman compliment each other beautifully but your anger could potentially overwhelm you. Remember that."
Kyungi roared in response to him.
"And you, Jao. I can see you already favor Form 2 and 3: Makashi and Soresu. I applaud you for learning both simultaneously for being so young but your footwork was sloppy when using Makashi and your ability to switch flawlessly between the two needs work. Otherwise, your Soresu is coming along very nicely."
Facing towards the ensemble of 10-13 years old, "Remember class, practice your forms and come to me if you have any questions. I'd be more than happy to answer them and guide you." smirking towards the class, "Class is dismissed."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jao gave Kyungi a pat on the back, their white training attire having some scorch marks but mostly untouched. He'd smile, "So what's the score now? 2-3? By the force… seems you pulled ahead. I'll tie it up again, don't you worry Kyun." giving her a cheeky smile.
Kyungi merely barked back as she punched him on the shoulder as he slightly recoiled back, "You said age had nothing to do with you being better?" looking somewhat confused.
She shrugged as she'd bare her teeth at him before laughing and walking off.
"Haha. very funny Kyungi." rolling his eyes with a stupid smile as he stood there.
"YOOO! Jao, you did amazing against Kyungi! She's like one of the most promising Jedi younglings." an unknown boy's voice came from behind him.
Turning around to see a slightly older boy with light brownish hair behind him, running up to him, Jao would smile widely as he shouted, "HEY ANAKIN! WHAT'S UP!"
The two boys fist bumped each other before Anakin said, "Your fighting style reminds me of Obi Wan's, my master."
Remembering that Anakin, despite only being a youngling, already had a master assigned to him but wouldn't become an actual Padawan until he had completed the trials and obtained his crystal. He knew about Anakin being the Chosen one as did every Youngling but couldn't care less about it. They were friends.
"I've always wanted to meet Knight Kenobi! Didn't he defeat a sith lord?"
Nodding his head rapidly, "UHHH YEA! He's the BEST master ever!"
They caught up a bit before Anakin said, "I gotta go now though! I am going to see the Chancellor!"
Jao looked slightly confused as he thought.
"Wasn't the Chancellor like a busy man?"
He mulled it over for a few seconds before responding, "Doesn't the Chancellor have many things to do or stuff?"
Thinking about it as he cupped his chin, "Hmmm… you're probably right but he said like… anytimes fine for him if I wanna see him."
Pointing at him, "Hooow… about. Instead of boring ol' mister chancellor dude… you and me practice together instead!"
Anakin seemingly thought long and hard before being brought out of his thoughts by a female voice saying, "Why? So can Anakin beat you?"
Turning around to face whoever said that, Jao would smile widely as he barked back, "EY! ME AND ANI ARE TIED 3-3, BARRISS!"
Barriss was also 11 years old now and like most humanoid young girls her age, was going through puberty. She was wearing her normal all black attire but slightly bigger to fit with her changing body. Her voice was on the stage to lose its squeakiness but still retained the childlike innocence in her voice.
Anakin shrugged as Barriss joined the duo before a smug grin crept up to his face, "I meeeaaaan… she's not wrong Jao… I am the… ya know… chosen one?"
Jao blew a raspberry with his lips before saying, "Then how about it, Chosen One. Let's end the tie right here and now," then a serious but goofy smile appeared, "For all the Purrgil Gummies."
Anakin gave him a bright smile, "Oh you're ON! Going to make you give me your purrgil gummies all next week!"
Although before the boys could get into a duel, another voice rang out, one filled with arrogance, "How about you fight a REAL jedi inside of little kids, Jao."
Jao recognized that voice because he and Barriss had practically been his target for bullying for the past 5 years. It was none other than Desmond Ferrix. Desmond had buzzed blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He was slightly taller now, reigning in at 5'6 or 1.67m and wore the robes of a padawan with a singular braid going down his face. Tepav wasn't currently with him as he was offworld with his master. Despite his getup, Jao knew Desmond hadn't had a master chosen for him despite already having his lightsaber made.
Groaning, "By the force…. Desmond, don't you have anything better to do than picking on so-called 'little kids'?"
"Oh plenty," a smug smile on his face, "But I thought now since you are finally old enough to spar, I'd put you in your place."
Anakin piped up, "Jao would SOOOO kick your behind, Desmond Freak."
Looking back at Anakin, "Then he should have no problem if I use my REAL lightsaber in a duel against his training saber, no?" seemingly goading Jao into a fight.
"YEA! He'd still KICK YOUR BUTT!" Barriss decided to pipe in as well.
Haughtily laughing to himself, "Still hanging out with the lonely alien and the chosen freak as well. Gosh Jao… Here I thought you were just a young, dumb kid who was misguided." crossing his arms as he was seemingly looking down on him.
Jao wanted to bark something back but decided to hold his tongue. Make him think he was getting hurt by it.
He tutted his lips, "Ooooo are you at a loss for words?" igniting his saber which shone a brilliant orange, "So how about it, Jao. You and me, 1. On. 1."
[Dual of Fates, Two steps from hell mix by Samuel Kim is highly recommended when the fight commences to get the full experience.]
The two stood opposite sides of the sparring arena as they were now both equipped in white sparring attire. Cin Drallig was in the center as this had gathered a rather large crowd of younglings and the eye of the Jedi Battlemaster.
"This will be a friendly fight." almost like he was directing towards both of the boys, "This will be a fight between Jao Ren Paul and Desmond Ferrix. First one to disarm the other is the victor." looking at both boys as he raised one of his hands, "3. 2. 1… BEGIN!" as he stepped back.
Desmond rushed Jao as he got into position, quickly catching the younger boy off guard but in time enough to bring his saber to deflect the blow as he staggered back. Although Jao had no time to recover as he managed to quickly advance towards him again and struck another blow and Jao, like last time, barely managed to connect with his saber.
Realizing Desmond had forced him into Soresu, Jao needed space so he could switch stances and so he decided as Desmond struck down again, he connected and held his blade in a lock with the 14 year old boy before using the force to slightly shove Desmond back and using the force to propel himself backwards. Realigning his feet, he finally could switch to Makashi as he walked towards Desmond.
Desmond bringing his blade in a wide arc as he spun, Jao quickly yet very gracefully sidestepped the attack before not realizing he'd fallen into Desmond's trap. As Jao went to strike Desmond to register a hit, he flowed out of the way mid-air before propelling himself downward hard onto Jao as Jao quickly brought his other hand on the saber and dug his feet in the ground as the heavy blow connected, blades locking again. Pushing him with the force, he shoved the older boy off him before crouching down, stepping to the side and jabbing into Desmond's gut. This attack would've killed him if he wasn't using a training saber.
Jao was getting tired as he hadn't realized how ferocious of a fighter Desmond was. This was his first time dueling him and Desmond clearly was a better fighter. He had better strength and speed to his step and knew he had to use Desmond's arrogance to his downfall.
Jao hadn't had a moment to analyze Desmond's fighting style but getting a few seconds away to do so made him realize he was using Djem So. A very aggressive fighting style.
Desmond pushed the advantage again as he jumped with the force and with a spinning flourish, brought his saber down hard onto Jao again before striking again with a side swipe to his saber which Jao jumped back and blocked with the saber before taking a jab towards Desmond and connecting it on his right shoulder.
Jao jumped back again but further this time and said, "So- S-So… f-far I am winning Desmond… Only about-... about time until you lose…" goading Desmond into being more aggressive so then in turn, losing control.
Desmond merely grunted in response as his face was angry and charged towards Jao as he force pushed him back hard into the side of the wall before slashing in an arc at Jao. Jao had the wind knocked out of his sails because of the ferocious and somewhat dirty move he'd pull and because of this, he was barely able to bring his saber up to block the attack.
Cin Drallig realizing how angry Desmond was and how he wasn't thinking rationally, he yelled, "DESMOND STOP! STOP NOW BE-"
It was too late. Desmond had batted away the saber from Jao's right hand before Jao felt his right arm become slightly lighter now.
Adrenaline pumping through his body, Jao Ren didn't have time to register it until he saw Desmond about to finish him off and brought up his lightsaber but was only greeted with a bleeding stump from where his right hand was. Shock and utter horror filled his eyes as tears quickly came as he screamed in desperation and pain. He quickly brought his arms up to defend himself from a potential killing blow but no such thing came.
Cin Drallig, in the horror of what had transpired, had sent a VERY powerful force push at Desmond and shouted, 'E-NOUGH! DESMOND!" as he held him in place.
Jao merely looked up from everything then back to his missing right hand and everything soon went black for him.
Barris and Anakin had quickly hauled ass towards Jao as Barriss could feel… she could feel Jao drifting further and further away. It horrified her.
Barriss was traumatized as she looked on to her best friend. The one person who had treated her as a friend. No, as an equal for 11 years. No eleven year old should have to experience such a traumatic event and here she was now, watching her best friend die in front of her.
Barriss was in a trance-like trauma state before she felt something grip her and yelled, "JAOOO!"
"BARRISS HELP HIM! JAO TOLD ME YOU WERE PRACTICING HEALING! SAVE HIM, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN!" Anakin screamed as he already told off his outer robe to wrap around his stump.
Barriss seemed to come back to her senses as she snapped back into reality and quickly got onto her hands and knees. She took off Anakin's outer robe that was hastily wrapped to attempt to stem the bleeding and reached deep into the force as a green energy coalesced around her hands and was sent into Jao's bleeding stump.
Her thoughts and focus was solely on saving her friend as she dug deeper and deeper in the force.
"You're not dying on me. Please don't leave me alone Jao please… I need you… I- I need you Jao…"
Surprising to Anakin, whilst she hadn't learned enough yet to completely stop the bleeding, she was just barely managing to stem it temporarily. Although without proper Jedi healing and medical, Jao would die soon.
Barriss kept at it for quite awhile, expending any and all energy and power she had within her tiny 11 year old body to keep her friend from bleeding out before she felt a hand on her shoulder as a calm but kind voice rang out, "Reach out with me. Let the force guide you, not your emotions, young Barriss."
Barriss looked up in surprise to see Jedi Master Luminara Unduli by her side. The fellow Mirialan Master was reaching out through the force as she managed to quickly stem the external bleeding with Barriss.
"We are lucky that I was passing by when the commotion had gone down." a thin smile appeared, "I will take it from here, young Barriss but your aptitude for the healing arts is impressive." as several other healers came over with a stretcher and loaded Jao onto it a few minutes later.
1 ½ months later…
Brightness. Brightness was the only thing that pierced through the pitch black after what felt like an eternity. Jao was terrified in his last thoughts as he felt his consciousness slowly slip away. Though before he passed out, he heard the words,
"You're not dying on me. Please don't leave me alone Jao please… I need you… I- I need you Jao…"
In his head.
He slowly blinked his eyes open as the pain in his head soon came on set. The pain was searing and horrible as a voice softly echoed, "Jao Ren Paul? You are finally conscious. Thank the force."
Turning to face the voice, still trying to get his bearings, "Am- Am I d-dead…?"
The serene voice chuckled calmly, "No, no. Fortunately you were able to be rushed to the healing halls just in time."
Finding the light searing and annoying, he'd rubbed his eyes as he felt like he couldn't open his eyes. Rapidly blinking his eyes, they would soon slowly adjust to the white walls and bright lights of the Jedi Healing Halls. To his right, he saw a Mon Calamari woman seated next to him. Her skin was blue as her webbed hands messed with a datapad.
"T-Then…" bringing up his right hand, he'd notice a prosthetic where his real right hand would be. Tears welled up in his eyes before he muttered, "D-Does this m-mean I-I won't b-be able to be a j-jedi no longer…".
While prosthetics nowadays were highly advanced and practically indistinguishable from a normal hand, one with the force couldn't flow it through a prosthetic. This meant they were halfway cut off from the force in a way.
The Mon Calamarian grimaced before saying, "The council were first adamant about letting you go back home but Knight Kor Rezla was adamant about you staying. With your hand gone Jao, you're halfway cut off through the force. It'll be much harder to train with that disability."
"Then I'll train harder, better! Faster even! I promise to be a better jedi just please…" begging at this point, "Please let me be a jedi…"
She smiled, "Like I said Jao, Knight Kor Rezla asked for you to stay and the council have agreed to it as long as he trains you when you become of age and complete your final steps."
Jao leaned back in relief as he muttered, "Good… I like Knight Rezla… I will be the best Jedi for him!" a weak smile reappearing on his face now.
The Calamarian laughed in response.
At this point Jao felt a heavy weight on his left arm now as he saw a hump in the blankets and slowly dragged them away which revealed a sleeping Barriss clutching hard onto his arm. It was clear to Jao she had cried as there were heavy circles and strains on her face.
"Thank that little friend of yours. If she hadn't temporarily stemmed the bleeding from your missing hand." looking serious as her face darken, "You'd be dead."
A speeder. It felt like his heart had been hit by a speeder as he felt the gravity of his situation.
"I'd be dead if Barriss didn't save me… That-... That was her voice I heard." he thought.
Just as he was thinking this, he felt her stir from slumber as she drowsily looked up at Jao.
"It's wakey time, Barriss." he joked dryly.
Barriss didn't say anything as she reached up and practically sat herself on his lap as she wrapped Jao tightly in the tightest hug he'd ever received. For the first time ever since being friends, Jao felt Barriss's emotions through the force: he felt her immense relief. She wept tears of joy.
Remembering the cause of this unfortunate circumstance, he'd ask, "W-What happened to Desmond…?"
The Mon Calamarian's facial expression faltered as she sighed. Looking down for a bit before her eyes met his, Jao would hear words he'd never thought he'd hear.
"Desmond Ferrix has been expelled from the Jedi Order."
A/N: WOWIE! That has to be the longest chapter I've typed! I just don't like unnecessary cliffhangers or prolongation! Originally I was gonna have that big lead up fight between Kyungi and Jao but that would be more appropriate if it was Desmond instead. Desmond has also been expelled for this and many other past reasons! Wonder if he'll appear again...
So Jao has lost his hand (Definitely didn't get that from another future Jedi's injury) but looks like he knows who his Master is going to be! Another thing is that I gave a reason, besides Mirialan trains Mirialan, of why Luminara would be interested in Barriss since Luminara herself is a healer as well!
Anyways, like always, If you enjoy the story so far, like and follow! We are at the halfway point in the Childhood Arc of Barriss and Jao and I have a good idea on how to write the 3 year time period before the Clone Wars for them! Thanks for reading!