"Youngling Derran Talvos, please step forward." Master Windu said.
Derren looks at us with a bright smile on his face. "Guess it's my turn. Wish me luck, guys."
Anakin smiled. "Good luck, Derren, even though you don't need it."
I patted Derren on his back. "I know you're gonna do great."
Seris didn't look at Derren. "I expect you to pass with flying colors."
Derren only smiled. "Thanks Ice princess. I won't let you down."
Seris with her back still to Derren, smiled in secret.
Derren stood tall, face composed but hands flexing slightly. He wasn't sure what he would face, but he would face it straight on, just like everything else.
Derren entered through the doorway. He was then surrounded by darkness. Moments later, he found himself in a crumbling Jedi temple. He looked around, but no one was there. He used his lightsaber'S white light to navigate the dim hallways. As he walked down the long hallway, he called out to see if anyone was there. His saber light cut through shadows as four figures ran toward him, Initiates and Padawans all coughing, one limping.
"Knight Talvos. The Sith are attacking." One youngling said.
When Derren looked at himself in a broken reflection, he saw the new him. He was taller, with muscles, and looked older.
"What do we do?" One of the younglings asked in a fearful tone.
Then, suddenly, a hooded individual appeared from the shadows. It was a man, as far as Derren could tell. He couldn't make out the face, but the figure's eyes were glowing yellow. Then a red lightsaber ignited.
The children shook in fear. "That's him, he's the Sith."
Derren readied his saber the white lightsaber igniting, and lighting the hallway. "Get behind me and run."
The younglings proceeded to run. One of them, with a limp, was having a harder time.
Derren rushed in to draw more time for the younglings to get away. He attacked, but his opponent was faster. All of Derren's strikes were deflected or parried with ease. Then his opponent drove him back with his quick strikes.
Derren took several hits to his shoulders and arms. Then his opponent kicked him into the grand hall. The younglings were cowering behind a pillar.
Derren was already out of breath and wondering what to do. When he saw the younglings, he just smiled. "Don't worry, younglings, everything is alright. I got him right where I want him."
Thats when the mysterious figure walked forward. "You shouldn't lie to the children. Especially to yourself."
Derren grunted standing up. "I'm not lying. I got you where I want you. Derren then uses the Force to push the figure over the edge of the walkway. But the figure doesn't fall off. Instead he walked forward.
Derren pushed harder in the Force, but the figure didn't move back a inch, only forward.
"Is this really the best that you got?" The figure said. "Your friends took this more seriously, and they put up a better fight. Well before I cut them down that is."
Derren eyes widened. "Your lying?"
The shadowy figures yellow glowing eyes. Then he threw four light sabers. All of them belonging to one of Derren's friends. Derren clutches one of the lightsabers.
"You know it was Anakin and Cain that fought the hardest. They were true duelists. Seris was hard to pin down. But after I killed Cain she was easier. Now Barriss, she was pathetic. She died protecting those younglings, just like you are doing."
The mysterious figure stopped walking forward. "But you? Your pathetic. You don't take anything seriously, even though your have the power to do something. Maybe if you were with your friends they might have lived."
That's when Derren started laughing. "Hahahaha. Now I know your lying."
The mysterious just stood there red lightsaber illuminating his figure. "What?"
Derren with a wide smile on his face stood up igniting Anakin's indigo lightsaber. "I know your lying. Anakin and Cain together are unbeatable. They would have made sure to take you down with them. That's just how petty they are about losing. And Seris that ice princess. If she was fighting with those two you would had no chance. And Barriss."
Derren paused for a moment remembering Cain's words to him. "It's fine to be calm and relaxed. Your the best at it. But there are times when you need to focus and take things seriously. I believe when your serious you could do anything you want."
"Barriss was not pathetic. She did what a Jedi is supposed to do, and protect those who can't protect themselves."
Derren ran to the figure and began to slash at the figure. The two exchanged a flurry of slashes and blocks. Derren was attacking me fiercely, but his attacks made no headway. The figure moved and pushed Derren back to a pillar. The younglings were able to run towards the temple exist. The figure saw them running while holding Derren against a pillar.
"You fought so hard and for what? To let them escape while you die. You know after I'm done with you I'm just going after them anyway."
Derren just smiled through the pain. "No you not. Your coming with me."
"Oh and where is that? To the grave?"
"Yes." Derren then enhanced his legs strength with the Force, and pushed of the giant pillar. Sending him, and the figure flying off the walkway of the temple. As the two fell off the walkway. Derren smiled having a sense of peace in his spirit.
Then Derran fell to his knees, sweat on his face, and breathing heavy. When Derren looked up in front of him, he saw a woman. Master An'ya Kuro.
"Master Kuro." Derren recognized the Jedi master.
She would instruct him from time to time. She would instruct him in saber forms, while also testing his resolve under pressuring situations. Some masters said he was to young to go through such training. But Derren would keep going back to be taught by her. Two have form a bond over time close to master and padawan. Kuro seeing Derren as a true genius, that she wanted to help guide.
Kuro nodded. "Youngling Derren. It is good to see you again. And It's good to see you know when to be serious."
Derren showed a rare expression of doubt. "Did I make the right decision master?" He asked.
Kuro paused a moment before responding. Then she plucked his forehead.
"Oow." He said. "What was that for master.?"
"Its for making that face boy." She said.
"I understand the trial could be scary for one so young. But I didn't think it would shake you up that much. I know your much stronger willed then that."
Derren only looked down. "I just wanted to make sure I made the perfect decision, like Cain or Seris would have done."
"You keep saying crazy things." Kuro said in a stern motherly voice. "I know I said I wanted you to take things more seriously, but doubting yourself is not what I meant. Listen young one there are no perfect decisions in anything. In our case only human ones. If you feel like you can't do anything to beat the enemy. Then focus on doing what you can."
In a rare smile that very few have ever seen from the Jedi Master. "You did well with what you could do. You prioritize the lives of others even at the sacrifice of your own. In my eyes you passed your trial young one."
Derren smiled brightly. "Thank you master. I aim to please."
Kuro then smacked him aside his. "Wipe that smile off your face young one, and get going." She said pointing to the glowing door.
"Ow." Why do you and Seris keep using violence against me." Derren said rubbing his head.
"Who do you think taught her those techniques?"
"It was you." Derren said, pointing a finger at the Kuro. She then flicked his forehead again.
"What did I tell you about pointing. Now go young one."
Derren bowed and left the master in the Dark room.
In the hidden chamber silence lingered for nearly a full minute.
Then Master Plo Koon spoke first.
"He has learned how to take things serious, and even be a shield in the rear, to protect others."
Adi Gallia added, "His instincts are sharp. But it's his heart that makes him strong."
Master Yaddle, blinking slowly, added: "He worried more about others then himself, dangerous that can be, but he is trust worthy."
Windu, after a long pause, finally said, "His talents are hidden but… he will have a bright future as a future leader of the order. If he is guided properly."
Fay simply said: "He is gifted, and kind. He will be a guardian of the light from the darkness."
Derran returned to the others. Having a sad expression with tears running down face. We all rushed to him except me. I could feel his true emotion in our link. Seris spoke first.
"Derren what happened are you okay". She said in a rare display of emotion towards him.
"It was so horrible Seris, you should have seen me." Seris placed a hand on his shoulder. "We are here for you, I promise."
"You should have seen me. I was so cool." He said with a shit eating grin on his face.
Then Seris expression changed. Her sad expression turn stoic and calm. She then grabbed him and placed him in a guillotine hold. Derren Struggled and flailed, while Seris was calm and composed. Then when Derren, stopped moving. She got up and dusted her robe off.
"Glad to see your still the same Derren. Now it's my turn."