Endeavor [Complete]

VIII

"Try it again, I'm turning up the difficulty level," Master Jiron said, messing with the controls for the training droid Ava was facing.

"W-what? Harder?" Ava stammered nervously.

"You're much more talented than you give yourself credit for little one, you can handle it," he told her, and then powered up the droid. Ava gulped, and readied her training saber as the training droid raised its own.

It ran at her, and attacked aggressively. Not quite prepared, she jumped back to a defensive position.

"Focus," her Master reminded from his position on the sidelines. Arms crossed across his chest, watching her actions with a calm, but attentive air.

"Okay, okay, focus," Ava whispered to herself, shifting her stance, blocking the blows. It backed her into a corner, but from that position, she was able to go on the offensive, advancing, fighting faster.

"Ava!" came the excited voice of Michael. Ava spun around to see the tall, lanky boy running to the training arena.

"What is i-?" her question was cut off when the training saber of the droid smacked her side, knocking her sideways, and she landed hard on the floor of the training area.

"Don't let distractions get to you," Master Jiron said. His expression remained passive, but there was a glint of something in his eyes. Amusement?

"Everything's a lesson," Ava muttered to herself as she sat up, wincing, and rubbing her leg and shoulder where she had landed.

"Sorry," Michael said sheepishly, holding out a hand to help her up. "I have something to tell you." Ava glanced back at Master Jiron, and he gave her a small nod.

"We'll pick this up again later this afternoon," he said.

"Thank you Master," Ava said with a grateful grin.

"Before you go, a quick word," he said. Ava nodded, and Jiron pulled her aside.

"What is it Master?"

"I'm just warning you, my little Padawan." He glanced up where Michael sat, waiting. "You know attachment is forbidden. It's too dangerous for Jedi. Even just friends can be a danger, enemies will take advantage of compassion and love."

"Are you saying... Michael? No, I, he would never get in the way. We're friends, but we know our duty to the Jedi comes first," Ava stammered.

"I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong, just be careful," he said solemnly. He turned and walked towards the temple. As soon as his back was turned towards them, before she had time to even think about the warning, Michael grabbed Ava's hand, and pulled her to a nearby patch of trees, and they sat together underneath them.

"I'm going with Master Krie on a mission from the council!" he announced, his ice blue eyes shining with excitement, a huge smile spreading across his features.

"Really? That's awesome!" Ava said, genuinely happy for him. Still, there was that tiny bit of jealousy inside that he got to go somewhere before her. "Where to? What's will you be doing?" Ava asked eagerly.

"A tiny agricultural planet in the mid-rim, Nakadia. They had a huge, devastating earthquake that impacted many little towns there. They requested relief efforts from the Republic, so the Republic is sending a ship with supplies, and needed someone to accompany it and assist in the relief effort, and the Jedi were perfect for the job. The council appointed me and Master Krie to go."

"That's great! What species lives there?"

"I don't think there's any native sentient species, the towns we'll visiting to help out are populated by humans who immigrated there mainly."