Star Wars: A Thing Of Beauty

The Last Drop

The Republic had just staved off a very short but intense Separatist attack on the temple. They flew in with bombers and hit really hard. It wasn't much of a battle, but a scare tactic to keep them on their toes and kill some of the scouts that patrol around the perimeter of the temple in the jungle.
Shara'Dune is in the command room of the Jedi temple on Felucia, where she is looking at the maps of several battlefields that grow every day. The battle for Felucia had been dragging on for too long, and the results of this campaign are starting to seem too little for this to all be worth it. The hustle and bustle was constant, not just in the command room but throughout the temple, repairs needing to be made and reinforcements moving back and forth. She wonders how Riyarra could handle this over the last three years...
Shara steps away from the map table and moves over to the window, staring out at the sky, contemplating the current situation, what the next move should be. The stress is a very heavy burden to bare, and one she wasn't ready for... Riyarra died so suddenly, and with the constant fighting, she doesn't even have time to mourn. Even worse, Shara is worried about her padawan, who will soon go on to complete her people's unique trials of the force. He wants to be just like her, like an Insularis, at least in spirit. But she can't go with him when he leaves and these trials are very dangerous. Interrupting her thoughts, though, is a clone trooper that entered the room. Shara turns to face the trooper across the room from her. His armour is marked by patterns that resembled some kind of reptile, and on his shaven head, on the side, has a snake tattoo.
"My lady, general Mundi is on the communicator," The clone says, standing behind Shara. "He has urgent news..."

"Alright, I'll talk to him," She says, sighing. "See what he needs now. Best not keep the council waiting."

The clone troopers leaves with Shara hastily and they meet Ki-Adi-Mundi in a hallway in the temple lined with windows on one side and multiple potted plants Shara set up. Plants that aren't native to Felucia and therefore look very unique compared to the normal wildlife. Shara takes a deep breath before speaking.
"Master Mundi!" She said with a warm smile, and her hands behind her back. "Is everything in order for the next mission?"

"I am afraid not." The old Jedi says in a tone which reveals to Shara that something very bad has happened. "There is one great issue at hand..."

"Well, what's the bad news then?" Shara asked, crossing her arms. "Its best we get to it right away. Maybe Jinang could handle it - I'm actually quite busy right now."

"Well, that's just it." Mundi says coldly. "My padawan Jinang Iang has been killed in action, slain in the Separatist air strike."

Mundi spoke so calmly with no hesitation, with no hint of emotions in his tone. He didn't know Jinang for too long, but he was responsible for that padawan, and he's saying Jinang died and doesn't seem to feel anything at all. The hallway fell silent after those words. The clone trooper looked at Shara, with shock on his face. Shara is clenching her fists, and trying very, very hard not to break down.

"Excuse me, master?" Shara says, her voice shaken. "J-Jinang is dead? Where is his body? Do you know for certain? How am I going to tell Kal this? ..."

"I am afraid that we have searched for him as well as we could afford." Mundi says, remaining shockingly calm. "He was vaporized in an explosion. All that remained were his lightsabers."

"That wasn't even two hours ago...!" Shara answered, trying with all of her might not tto lose it. Tears welling up in her eyes. "You couldn't have searched hard enough. He could still be out there..."

"I have done all that I am able." The cold old Jedi says sternly. "We do not have the time nor the resources to keep searching. Jinang Iang is gone and we must now move on. I will give you a moment to collect yourself and then we must proceed with the next mission."

Shara watches Ki-Adi-Mundi walk off, and then she excuses the clone. So he left the hallway, and then there was dead silence. Shara had relaxed her hands. She tries taking deep breaths, attempting to contain herself. The pots began to shake, and the plants within them began to grow. In a moment, Shara suddenly released all her anger, with a scream that was heard throughout the area of the temple. Ki-Adi-Mundi hears her crying out in anguish and stopped for a second, but keeps moving on. Shara hits the stone wall with both fists, cracking a couple of bricks. Some of the plants broke through their pots as they continued to increase in size, their roots and leaves sprawling out all around. Shara brushes her hair out of her face with her hand, and she clutches her horns with anger.
"I failed you, Riyarra..." Shara says, tears pouring from her eyes. Remembering how she promised her friend she'd look after Jinang. Remembering how she told that boy she'd always be there for him... "I failed... Riyarra... I'm so sorry... I'm so - so - so - so sorry, Riyarra..."

In the forested mountains of Toola, a frozen planet on the opposite side of the Galaxy as Felucia, the Republic is setting out after successfully eliminating all Separatist operations in the system. On the bridge of the Venator flagship is the Jedi master Yamato Izanami, a green, half Twi'lek, half Togruta woman with a pair of leaf-patterned Lekku draped over her shoulders and another, short, squat pair on top of her head that stand upright like horns. She is wearing winterized Jedi armor and is standing beside admiral Wilhuff Tarkin, a very tall, human man who is also donned in winterized gear.
"A very successful campaign, master Jedi." Admiral Tarkin says, looking out the window with his hands behind his back. "It was a pleasure working with you."

"Thank you, admiral." She answered formally. "Might I ask, what will you do now? Since you're tour of duty is finished?"

"I believe I will go to Eriadu, my home planet." Tarkin answered casually, his tone orderly and sophisticated. "There is trouble in the frontier systems. I might be needed there to restore order. And where will you go?"

"I will go where the order needs me." She says, not really knowing the answer. "Though, some Jedi I knew as younglings have perished on Felucia, and my apprentice must be struggling... I might request a transfer to that area, to clean things up."

"What troublesome place." Tarkin says. "I wish you luck on that endeavor, master Jedi."

"Thank you, admiral." Yamato said, before bowing head slightly. "Now, I must excuse myself. I believe a bath is in order after a long, dirty fight..."

Yamato was sent to investigate and keep a close eye on admiral Tarkin, and emphasized the word "dirty" as a means of pointing out that she's onto him. When Sheev Palpatine was revealed to be the grand master of the plot to eradicate the Jedi, the following investigation saw evidence that Wilhuff Tarkin was directly involved in the evil plan. But there was not nearly enough proof to bring to the higher Republic authorities and they wanted to be very sure before accusing someone as powerful of Tarkin without undeniable proof. However, Yamato is going to report straight to grand master Yoda with what she found. And then, she is going straight to Felucia to comfort her padawan, Shara'Dune.

Credits:
Did you enjoy this chapter? A large part of it was written by little_maker.04 on Instagram! Shara'Dune, Kal'Agur and the Ash Warriors belong to him as well and he's been a huge help with writing this story in general! :D