Eventide of a Jedi

I

The blue lightsabers clash in perfect harmony as if there were some underlying rhythm in the fight. Every move was executed with master precision that only the Force could provide, an ability to know your opponent's moves before she made them. The sabers lock and I look into the calm brown eyes of my master before using the Force to twist her wrist back and force her to drop her weapon. The lightsaber slides from her hand, but before I could strike my blow the Jedi Master had dropped to the floor and grabbed her weapon before coming up behind me. She strikes with quick and precise jabs, putting me on the defense until I counter her attacks with brute force. I alternate my aggressive blows with Force pushes, both of which my master gracefully dodges. I continue fighting her with forceful slashes and powerful swings, yet she evades with great ease and simplicity. I grunt in frustration and jump at her, preparing to use all my strength to bring my saber down against hers. But at the last second her blue blade switches off and I cannot stop my momentum. Instead, I tumble forward and twist my ankle, resulting in my face falling flat onto the floor.

The training chamber is silent for a moment, and I could imagine the smirk on my master's face. I hear her walk toward me as I peel myself from the floor and smooth my robes, trying to retain some dignity after that embarrassing defeat.

"Septima, my padawan," the twi'lek woman says, crossing her arms, "once again you lose because you fight with passion, and not the calmness of a Jedi. You must be patient, wait for your opponent's weakness, instead of foolishly trying to force your way through an impenetrable defense."

"I know, Master Secura."

"If you know, then why do you continue to make the same mistakes? You have a strong connection to the Force, you have the qualities of a warrior, yet you still do not refine your skills nor exercise the discipline of a Jedi. You have a great power, my padawan, yet it will mean nothing if you do not treat it with the respect it deserves."

"I understand."

"Good, now we better be getting to that meeting. I don't know why I obliged to have a duel with you, these distractions of yours always seem to cause us to be late to something," the twi'lek woman says, shaking her head. Yet I saw the faint smile on her lips and knew her annoyance was all in jest.

"I suppose you just enjoy my company too much," I say, walking side by side with my master as we make our way to the briefing room.

Master Secura grunts, giving me an incredulous look. "I would say there is nothing that tests my patience more than being in your company."

I laugh. "Oh, I could say the same about you as well."

We continue through the grand halls of the temple, filling the time with friendly banter and trivial conversation. Master Aayla Secura was my closest friend, but I also respected her greatly as a Jedi Master and member of the High Council. She was a powerful warrior, but also a wise woman who embodied what it meant to be a Jedi. As a Jedi, it was forbidden for me to form attachments, yet the way I felt toward Aayla was that of deep familial love. My parents were killed when I was an infant, and, like many Jedi, my master was the closest thing to family I had ever had. Of course, I had been warned against having such emotions by the Jedi my entire life, and yet my human consciousness could not help but to consider Aayla something like a sister, and to consider the other Jedi as close friends.

We enter the briefing room where Masters Windu and Kenobi wait with their hands clasped behind their backs, illuminated by the harsh blue light of the holoprojection. "Greetings Master Secura, Padawan Searsha," Mace Windu says, nodding to us. "A situation has arisen on the planet New Holstice, as the Mandalorian Protectors have engaged Republic forces. As you know, the Mandalorian Protectors are a radicalized group comprised of Mandalorian police officers, the splinter group Death Watch, and of course BL-series Battle Legionnaire droids. Now, this group has gained reputation among CIS leaders of being able to conquer enemies in a month--enemies that would take at least a month for battle droids alone to defeat. We are dealing with a highly skilled shock force here, and we are sending you to New Holstice to deal with these terrorists."

The holoprojection zooms in on the image of the planet where all areas occupied by the Mandalorian Protectors were highlighted in red. "We believe that if you can drive out these forces, the Republic can gain control of the planet once again. As far as we know, there are no orbital threats, and all the fighting will be done on the surface. It will not be an easy battle, but as a vital Republic hospital world, we need sole control of New Holstice."

The image flickers back into the projector, and Master Windu hands my master a datapad with the necessary intelligence for this mission. "While you and your men retake New Holstice, Master Kenobi will be investigating a possible Mandalorian Protectors base on a moon in the Geonosian system. May the Force be with you all."

"And with you as well," we echo back to Master Windu and to each other. We leave the room and head to the hangar, ready to set out immediately. As Jedi we carried everything we needed with us at all times and acquired no unnecessary possessions. Master Secura had dropped her friendly demeanor from earlier and became the calm, collected general we all respected. We solemnly march in sync to the hangar where we were to meet Commander Bly and the other troops, both of us beginning to prepare mentally for battle. It was in these moments before duty we cleared our heads of everything but the task at hand. People were going to die, both comrades and enemies, and there would be no time to mourn until the battle was won. As Jedi, we went into battle with no attachments, no passion or emotion. We were here to clear the Mandalorian Protectors from New Holstice at any cost, and to kill without emotion or vengeance.

Yet as I tried to calm my mind, I felt a strange stirring in the Force. I shoot a glance at my master but she seemed unbothered and unconcerned. Perhaps I was imagining things, but still there was a nagging in my mind, as if something, or someone, was trying to call out to me. We enter the hangar and the doors close behind us, separating us from the hallowed halls of the Jedi Temple, and for the first time I feel very distant from the protection of the Force.