Seris held her golden-yellow lightsaber in a traditional Makashi salute stance. Across from her stood a older woman, her dark-brown hair tied back and her violet lightsaber humming steadily at her side.
The stranger had introduced herself as the Sword of the Jedi, a title that seemed almost arrogant until one considered the extraordinary presence radiating from her. Even through the simulation, Seris could sense something unusual.
This woman was powerful, very powerful, not simply in the sense of possessing a strong connection to the Force, although that was immediately apparent. There was also something about her bearing, the controlled stillness of her movements, and the almost effortless confidence with which she held her weapon.
She stood like someone who had survived countless battles and no longer needed to prove she belonged on a battlefield. Yet what troubled Seris most was the strange familiarity she felt when reaching toward the woman's presence, because it reminded her of Anakin.
Not exactly, of course. Anakin's connection to the Force was extraordinary, a brilliant and often limitless presence in the Force that sometimes reminded Seris of a star struggling to contain its own energy.
This woman's presence was different, it was more restrained and carefully directed, but beneath that discipline lay a familiar strength. And Seris found that strange.
Seris adjusted her grip on her curved lightsaber hilt, studying the woman's stance. Why does she remind me of Anakin?
Across the battlefield, Jaina Solo watched the young Sephi-Echani Jedi with equal interest. Her brown eyes moved briefly toward Seris's hands, then followed the position of her feet and the angle of her weapon.
"You're an unusual one," Jaina remarked.
Seris raised an eyebrow. "Am I?"
"Your opening stance is Makashi, but your balance suggests you're preparing to move into another form. Your grip is also different from what I'd expect." Jaina tilted her head slightly. "And unless I'm mistaken, you've incorporated principles from Echani martial arts into your lightsaber technique."
Seris felt a spark of genuine surprise. "You're familiar with Echani combat?"
"Enough to recognize it." Jaina smiled faintly.
"I've fought alongside Echani, trained against Mandalorians, and learned from people who considered the traditional Jedi forms little more than starting points. You'd be surprised how much different combat disciplines have in common."
Seris returned the smile. "My father once told me that fighting is a conversation. Every movement communicates something about your intentions, your personality, and what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve victory."
"Your father sounds like a wise man."
"He is and I love him very much."
"Then I'll try to make this a conversation worth having." Jaina then raised her violet lightsaber into a ready position.
Seris adjusted her stance. "I look forward to it."
High above the simulated battlefield, within the observation chamber overlooking the dome, I leaned forward against the railing. "This should be interesting."
Anakin stood beside me, his arms folded across his chest as he examined the projected environment. "Interesting? Cain, that woman is giving me a strange feeling."
I turned toward him. I wonder, Cain he feel his connection to her through just a echo of a memory from how I remembered her? "What kind of feeling?"
He frowned, apparently struggling to find the right words. "I'm not sure. It's almost like I've met her before, except I know I haven't."
Well, that's certainly interesting. I kept my expression neutral. "Perhaps you're recognizing something about her fighting style."
"No, it's not that. I haven't even seen her fight yet." Anakin glanced toward the holographic woman. "There's something about her presence. It's familiar, but I can't figure out why."
I looked back toward the battlefield. Well, she is your granddaughter, technically. The thought almost made me laugh. There were so many things I wanted to tell him about the Skywalker family, but I couldn't exactly explain that the woman standing before Seris was a descendant from a future that might never exist. Especially when that same future involved Anakin becoming one of the most feared Sith Lords in galactic history.
Derren approached from behind us. "Well, whatever she is, she doesn't look particularly worried."
"She shouldn't be," I replied.
Derren glanced toward me. "Why?"
"Because she's very good."
"How good?"
I smiled.
"Let's just say Seris is going to learn quite a bit."
Master Shaak Ti, who had joined us near the observation railing, studied the holographic stranger with considerable interest. "Her stance is rather conservative for someone claiming such an extraordinary title."
I nodded. "That's part of what makes her dangerous."
Shaak Ti looked toward me. "Please explain Cain."
"She doesn't waste movement. She'll only use as much strength as she needs, and she won't commit to an attack unless she believes the exchange favors her."
Plo Koon folded his hands within his sleeves. "Then she sounds like an exceptionally disciplined swordswoman."
"That would be one way of describing her." I said.
Depa Billaba, still recovering from her own remarkable encounter with Kanan Jarrus, stepped closer to the observation railing. "I suspect we're about to witness something considerably different from my demonstration."
Josa grinned from behind the control station. "Oh, absolutely. I've been waiting to test this profile. Not even Serra Keto could beat her, no matter how many times she tried."
Luminara regarded the display skeptically. "And how faithfully can this machine reproduce the abilities of a historical combatant?"
"Faithfully enough to make someone regret underestimating it," Josa replied.
I chuckled, and within the dome, a faint tone sounded across the ruined battlefield. Seris narrowed her eyes.
Jaina raised her lightsaber, and then she moved. The older Jedi crossed the distance between them with astonishing speed, her violet blade sweeping toward Seris's right shoulder in a clean diagonal strike.
Seris barely had time to adjust her weapon before the two blades collided. A sharp crack echoed across the battlefield. She redirected the attack outward, shifting her leading foot to create an opening for a counterstrike.
Jaina was already moving. Her violet lightsaber rotated beneath Seris's guard, forcing the younger Jedi to withdraw her weapon before immediately attacking again from the opposite direction.
Seris responded with a precise Makashi parry and a quick thrust toward her opponent's exposed shoulder. Jaina twisted aside, and their lightsabers met again, and again.
Within the first few seconds, the two women exchanged more than a dozen strikes, their movements so fluid that the gold and violet blades appeared as intersecting streaks of light.
Seris felt her excitement rising. She's fast, and not merely fast because of Force enhancement. Her timing was exceptional. Every movement carried purpose, and every defensive maneuver flowed naturally into another attack.
Jaina didn't waste energy with unnecessary flourishes or exaggerated movements. She seemed to know precisely how much distance she needed to evade a strike and how little effort was required to redirect an opposing blade, and Seris recognized that quality.
Master Shaak Ti had spent years teaching her that true mastery wasn't simply about performing a technique perfectly. It was about understanding when that technique was necessary.
Jaina stepped forward, delivering a rapid sequence of thrusts that forced Seris to retreat two paces. The younger Jedi suddenly rotated her wrist, caught the violet blade against the outside edge of her own, and redirected it toward the ground.
She immediately countered with a sharp upward cut. But Jaina leaned backward, allowing the golden blade to pass within centimeters of her face. Then she smiled. "That was excellent."
Seris's eyes narrowed. " Why thank you."
"But you're telegraphing your transitions." Jaina said.
Before Seris could respond, Jaina stepped inside her guard and struck toward her abdomen. Seris barely intercepted the attack. The impact sent a sharp vibration through her training suit. She retreated, breathing more heavily than before.
Telegraphing?
Jaina lowered her blade slightly. "Your individual techniques are exceptional. Makashi, Soresu, Ataru, and elements of Djem So, if I'm reading you correctly."
Seris blinked. She can identify all of those from a few exchanges?
"But you're making one mistake."
"And that is?"
"You're treating each transition as a separate decision." Jaina adjusted her stance.
"A good opponent won't wait for you to finish changing forms."
Seris considered those words.
She had been praised repeatedly for her ability to combine lightsaber disciplines, and she'd spent years developing a fighting style that incorporated everything from traditional Jedi forms to Echani and Teräs Käsi techniques. At first it was to be better then Cain who was better and to the point he was being mentored by Mace Windu of all people. Then Anakin Came and Derren showed that he was talented. So she spent the years refining her techniques instead of trying to learn new ones. And finally she felt like she caught up to Anakin and Cain. But this woman had identified a weakness within seconds.
Instead of being discouraged Seris found it interesting. Seris smiled. "Then perhaps you should show me how to correct it."
Jaina returned the expression. "Gladly." She attacked again, but This time, Seris didn't retreat. She met the violet lightsaber directly, their weapons colliding with enough force to send a small shock wave across the battle field.
Jaina attempted to redirect her guard, but Seris anticipated the movement and shifted her stance before the attack fully developed. For several seconds, the two women exchanged precise strikes at an extraordinary pace.
Jaina attacked high, and Seris countered low.
The older Jedi rotated her weapon into a compact defensive circle, while Seris stepped to the side and attempted to exploit the movement with a sharp thrust toward her ribs.
Jaina intercepted it, and their lightsabers locked. For a moment, they stood almost face-to-face.
"Now that's better," Jaina said.
Seris smiled. "Thank you."
Then the younger Jedi abruptly broke the bind, leaped backward, and launched herself toward the shattered remains of a nearby building, and Jaina followed without hesitation.
The ruined battlefield transformed into a maze of broken walls, collapsed walkways, and shattered military structures as Seris and Jaina accelerated through the debris. Both women transitioned into Ataru, Form IV, allowing the Force to amplify their speed, agility, and acrobatic movements.
Seris sprang onto a broken support beam, balanced briefly upon its narrow surface, and launched herself toward Jaina with a sweeping overhead strike.
The older Jedi met her in midair, their blades collided in a flash of gold and violet. For an instant, both seemed suspended above the ruined battlefield, their Force-enhanced movements carrying them through an exchange that would have been impossible for ordinary combatants.
Jaina twisted her body, deflecting Seris's attack toward the side before bringing her weapon around in a rapid horizontal arc.
Seris folded backward, narrowly avoiding the lightsaber strike. She landed upon a fractured wall, used the surface as a springboard, and launched herself into another attack before Jaina could regain her footing.
Jaina's violet lightsaber flashed upward. Another collision cascading across the broken stone.
Seris immediately followed with a descending strike, but Jaina shifted her weight and allowed the younger Jedi's momentum to carry her past.
Before Seris could land, Jaina extended her free hand, a controlled Force push struck her from the side. The training suit tightened across Seris's torso as the simulation applied directional pressure.
She twisted in midair, using the Force to stabilize herself before landing in a crouch upon the remains of an overturned military transport.
Her boots scraped against the damaged hull, with Jaina landed several meters away. " Not bad, not bad at all young Jeid."
Seris rose. "You're not bad yourself, no that's a lie, your amazing."
The older Jedi laughed. "Careful now. Compliments might make me careless."
Seris smirked. "Yeah right maybe if you were another firned of mine, but your a lot more disciplined then he is."
Anakin sneezed a moment later.
Before Seris could think further, Jaina stepped forward. The wrecked transport shuddered beneath her feet as she launched herself toward Seris. Both Jedi moved simultaneously.
Seris leaped from the transport, rotating through the air with her golden blade held close to her body. Jaina met her with a violet slash aimed at the narrow opening beneath her guard.
Seris intercepted it and immediately redirected the attack, rotating into a second strike that forced Jaina to alter her trajectory. They landed on opposite ends of a collapsed walkway. Then charged again.
The exchange that followed was breathtaking. Jaina attacked with the precision of an experienced warrior, turning every movement into an opportunity to control distance and balance. Seris countered with exceptional flexibility, shifting her footing and using subtle adjustments of her shoulders to conceal the direction of her next attack.
The golden and violet lightsabers blurred together as they exchanged rapid combinations, moving along the shattered walkway without either surrendering the initiative.
At one point, Seris vaulted over Jaina's head, attempting to strike from above. Jaina pivoted beneath her and brought her blade upward in a reverse grip. Seris barely managed to intercept the attack before landing behind her opponent. Jaina spun. Their blades collided again.
The sheer speed of their movements forced the simulation's projectors to increase their refresh rate, while several of the environmental fields adjusted automatically to compensate for the rapid changes in position.
From the observation platform, Anakin leaned forward with an enormous grin. "Now that's a duel, look at Seris go!"
Derren stared at the display. "I didn't know Seris could move that quickly?"
"Force enhancement," Plo Koon replied. "Although their control is extraordinary."
Shaak Ti watched with unmistakable pride. "Seris has always possessed a remarkable aptitude for Ataru. Her Echani training gives her an excellent understanding of balance, allowing her to transition between aerial movement and close combat without losing her orientation."
Depa nodded. "Yet the other woman seems to be matching her effortlessly."
I folded my arms. "That's because she has considerably more combat experience."
Anakin glanced toward me. "Are you saying Seris is outmatched?"
"In experience? Absolutely."
"But she's holding her own."
"She is that's true. But there's a difference between surviving an exchange and controlling it."
On the battlefield, Jaina suddenly accelerated. She stepped onto a sloping piece of wreckage, used the elevated surface to change her angle, and launched herself toward Seris with a powerful descending strike.
Seris intercepted it. Their blades locked, and Jaina briefly gained the leverage of the higher position. Seris shifted her feet, attempting to neutralize the pressure, but Jaina was already rotating her weapon into another attack.
The golden lightsaber flashed upward, as a violet light followed. Seris ducked beneath the strike, twisted around Jaina's flank, and attempted to cut toward her exposed side.
Jaina countered without looking. Her lightsaber moved behind her shoulder, intercepting the attack at an angle that forced Seris to withdraw. She then kicked backward, striking Seris's thigh.
Seris stumbled but recovered immediately. She's reading me, Seris realized.
Jaina wasn't simply reacting to her movements. She was anticipating the decisions behind them. And the more Seris fought, the more the program appeared to understand how she thought.
Seris smiled despite the situation. Good. She wanted an opponent who could challenge her. Someone who could expose mistakes that ordinary sparring partners missed.
Master Shaak Ti had often told her that talent could become a dangerous burden when it prevented someone from recognizing their weaknesses. Seris even saw that most with Anakin and Cain. Both were so talented, but Anakin was to quick to jump into things, and Cain was to cautious to ask for help or do everything by himself.
Seris had never forgotten that lesson, and now she intended to learn as much as possible. She extended her awareness through the Force, allowing her senses to expand beyond the immediate exchange.
The ruined battlefield became a complex arrangement of movement, pressure, and possibility. She could feel the direction of the wind, the shifting resistance beneath her boots, and the subtle changes in Jaina's movements, that's when she attacked.
Her golden lightsaber flashed through a sequence of Ataru strikes, each one flowing more smoothly into the next.
Jaina intercepted the first, and then the second, while the third forced her to retreat.
Seris pursued, using a brief Force-assisted leap to close the distance before delivering a rapid combination aimed at Jaina's shoulders and lower guard.
Jaina appeared genuinely impressed. "Now you're learning."
Seris grinned. "I've had excellent teachers."
"I can tell." Jaina rotated her blade, intercepting a final overhead strike before stepping backward.
The two women separated briefly. They were breathing harder now, their weapons humming steadily as they regarded one another across the ruined walkway.
Jaina rolled her shoulders. "You're very talented, and I can tell you put countless hours and even years into your technique, Seris."
"Thank you."
"But talent, and training will only take you so far."
Seris tilted her head. "And what takes you the rest of the way?"
Jaina smiled. "Experience, seeing the wider galaxy and learning from those you cross. Not just in combat but in life. Never stop learning and growing." She adjusted her grip. "Let's see how well you handle pressure."
Jaina's next attack was entirely different. The fluid acrobatics of Ataru disappeared, replaced by a firm, aggressive stance that Seris immediately recognized. Form V. Djem So.
Jaina advanced with a powerful overhead strike. Seris raised her blade to intercept it. The impact traveled through her arms, forcing her to bend her knees and reinforce her stance with the Force.
Before she could counter, Jaina delivered another heavy blow, and then another. Each strike carried substantial physical force, but none was clumsy or uncontrolled.
Jaina was using Djem So exactly as its best practitioners intended, turning defensive contact into opportunities for immediate, overwhelming counterattacks.
Seris adjusted her stance and transitioned into Makashi. Her golden lightsaber shifted into a refined one-handed grip, the curved hilt allowing her to perform exceptionally precise blade movements. Rather than meeting Jaina's strength directly, Seris began redirecting each strike with small, controlled parries.
When Jaina attacked high. Seris deflected the weapon outward, stepping into position for a thrust.
Jaina withdrew before the attack could connect. A second strike followed, aimed toward Seris's left shoulder. She intercepted it with a slight rotation of her wrist and immediately attempted a riposte toward Jaina's chest, but Jaina twisted aside.
The two women moved across the shattered walkway, exchanging attacks so quickly that their weapons appeared to form a continuous ribbon of violet and gold.
Seris maintained the elegant movement of Makashi. Jaina answered with the powerful, direct counterstrikes of Djem So. But neither surrendered ground willingly. From the observation platform, I found myself staring in genuine admiration.
Damn. I'd seen plenty of extraordinary lightsaber duels in my previous life, both in films and games. But watching two talented Force users, and duelist exchange attacks at this level was something else entirely.
It reminded me of the Duel of the Fates on Naboo. Not because the fighting styles were identical, but because of the speed, precision, and sheer intensity of the exchange.
Every strike carried intent. Every defensive movement had consequences. And neither woman could afford a moment of carelessness.
Shaak Ti remained focused on the duel. "Seris is doing exceptionally well. Her parries are becoming more efficient, and she's learned to use her opponent's momentum rather than resisting it."
Depa nodded. "But her opponent is beginning to recognize the pattern."
She's right, I saw it too. Jaina's attacks were gradually becoming less predictable.
Instead of delivering heavy strikes along conventional lines, she began changing the angle of her blade at the last moment, forcing Seris to adjust her defenses after committing to a parry.
Seris reacted brilliantly. But the margin for error was shrinking. Within the simulation, Jaina pressed forward, delivering three consecutive strikes that forced Seris toward the edge of the damaged walkway.
Seris responded with a rapid series of Makashi thrusts, attempting to disrupt her opponent's advance.
Jaina deflected each one, the their blades locked. For a moment, the two women stood almost face-to-face. "Your parries are excellent," Jaina said. "But you're becoming predictable."
Before Seris could respond, Jaina abruptly shifted her weight and struck downward. The sudden change nearly broke through the younger woman's guard.
Seris twisted aside, allowing the violet blade to pass dangerously close to her shoulder before countering with a precise thrust.
Jaina stepped backward, the attack missed by centimeters.
Seris exhaled sharply. She's right. Her defensive technique was excellent, but she was relying too heavily on it.
Jaina had recognized the pattern and was now deliberately forcing her into exchanges that favored the older woman's experience.
Seris lowered her center of gravity. Then I need to change the conversation. Seris adjusted her stance, allowing her golden blade to settle closer to her body.
Jaina narrowed her eyes, then they moved simultaneously.
Seris abandoned the familiar rhythm of her previous parries, using a short Makashi deflection to create an opening before shifting into an unexpected Djem So counterstrike.
Jaina intercepted it, but Seris was already moving again. She rotated her weapon into a compact defensive circle, allowing the next attack to pass before stepping inside her opponent's guard.
Her golden lightsaber flashed toward Jaina's ribs. For the first time, the older woman was forced into a hurried retreat.
The tip of Seris's weapon passed close enough to leave a faint scoring mark across the projected armor.
Jaina looked down and then smiled. "Now that's more like it."
Seris straightened, breathing heavily. "I'm glad you approve."
Jaina raised her violet blade. "But now you've made things interesting." Jaina's expression changed, as her stance shifted. And the atmosphere of the duel became considerably more dangerous.
Jaina took a slow breath, allowing the tip of her violet blade to lower until it pointed toward the broken duracrete.
For several seconds, she seemed almost relaxed. Then her stance changed. The balance of her body shifted forward, her shoulders settling into a posture that was considerably more aggressive than anything she'd displayed before.
Seris immediately recognized that something was different. This wasn't Djem So. Nor was it the acrobatic movement of Ataru or the measured precision of Makashi.
The older woman's next movements were sharper, more unpredictable, and carried a controlled ferocity that made seris instinctively tighten her grip. Form VII.
Seris's eyes narrowed. That's Juyo.
She'd studied the fundamentals of the seventh form under Master Shaak Ti, although her instructor had always emphasized the extraordinary discipline required to prevent its aggression from overwhelming the practitioner's judgment.
Cain, meanwhile, had developed his own understanding of Vaapad through his training with Masters Windu and Billaba.
But Juyo was different.
Where Vaapad attempted to channel the dangerous intensity of Form VII through a disciplined understanding of one's inner darkness, Juyo embraced the form's fierce, relentless offensive nature without necessarily drawing upon the dark side.
And Jaina was using it with frightening control. "Ready?" Jaina asked.
Seris adjusted her stance. "Whenever you are."
Jaina attacked. The violet lightsaber descended in a devastating diagonal strike that forced Seris to intercept with both hands on her hilt. The impact drove a sharp pulse of feedback through her training suit, sending pain through her shoulders.
She barely recovered before Jaina's second strike came from the opposite direction. Seris redirected it. A third attack followed immediately, and then a fourth.
Jaina's movements became increasingly aggressive, her blade cutting through the air in patterns that seemed almost chaotic until Seris recognized the intelligence behind them.
There was no wasted anger in those attacks. Every strike was deliberate. Every movement was calculated to disrupt her balance, break her defensive rhythm, or force her into a position where the next attack would be more difficult to resist.
Seris retreated. Her golden lightsaber moved in a continuous defensive circle as she attempted to contain the assault.
Jaina pressed forward relentlessly, she struck from above, forcing Seris to raise her guard, then immediately rotated into a low attack aimed at her legs.
Seris leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the violet blade. She landed on the broken surface of the walkway, but Jaina was already closing the distance.
Another powerful strike slammed against her defense. Seris felt the muscles in her arms strain. She's stronger than she looks. It wasn't simply physical strength. Jaina was reinforcing her attacks through the Force, using precisely timed bursts of power to increase the impact without sacrificing control.
Seris attempted to answer with a quick Makashi thrust, but Jaina knocked it aside. Then the older Jedi stepped forward and delivered a powerful horizontal strike that forced Seris to twist her entire body to avoid being struck.
The violet blade passed close enough to trigger a warning pulse along the side of her training suit.
Seris grimaced. That was too close.
She attempted to create distance with a Force-assisted jump, but Jaina anticipated the movement and followed her into the air.
Their blades collided above the ruined battlefield. Seris blocked the first strike. The second forced her to rotate awkwardly. The third struck her guard with enough force to send her tumbling toward a damaged support platform.
She landed heavily, rolled across the surface, and came up on one knee. Jaina landed several meters away, her violet blade humming steadily.
"You're relying too much on your defense."
Seris rose slowly. "And you're becoming rather aggressive."
Jaina smiled. "That's the point." She then advanced again. "Your parries are excellent, but you can't remain defensive forever. Eventually, someone will force you into a position where your choices become limited." Seris met her next attack with a sharp block.
"Then I suppose I'll have to make better choices." Seris said.
Their blades clashed again. From the observation platform, Shaak Ti leaned forward "She's applying extraordinary pressure."
Depa nodded. "Form VII. A particularly aggressive interpretation, but she isn't surrendering control to her emotions."
Yoda watched silently for several seconds. "Purposeful, her aggression is. Anger, it does not require."
Luminara appeared deeply interested despite her earlier skepticism. "That degree of control is remarkable. Even highly experienced duelists can struggle to maintain discipline while using such an aggressive form."
I nodded. "That's what makes her dangerous."
Anakin folded his arms. "Seris is still holding her ground."
"Yes," I replied. "But she's being pushed toward the limits of her current technique."
Derren glanced toward the readings. "How much longer can she keep that up?"
Josa examined the display. "Her physical condition is still within acceptable parameters, but the feedback load is increasing. She's taking more defensive impacts than I'd like." She frowned. "Her arms are going to be sore tomorrow."
Anakin watched the battlefield. "Then she needs to stop blocking and start moving."
I smiled faintly. "Have faith."
Anakin smirked. " I do have faith."
And sure enough, Seris was already adapting. Within the simulation, Jaina's next attack came from above. Instead of meeting it directly, Seris shifted sideways, allowing the violet blade to pass near her shoulder before rotating into a quick counterstrike.
Jaina intercepted it, but the exchange forced her to interrupt her offensive sequence. Seris took advantage of the moment. She stepped forward with a sharp thrust, then immediately transitioned into an Echani-inspired sweeping movement designed to disrupt Jaina's footing.
The older Jedi adjusted her stance, and their blades locked. For a moment, neither moved. Jaina abruptly broke the bind and delivered another sequence of powerful strikes.
Seris managed to intercept the first two, then the third forced her backward. The fourth struck her defensive guard with enough force to make her knees buckle. And he fifth came directly toward her exposed shoulder.
For an instant, Seris recognized that she wouldn't be able to reposition her lightsaber quickly enough.
No! Her mind raced. She could retreat, but Jaina would follow. She could attempt a telekinetic push, but the older Jedi was already within striking distance. Or...
Seris released her left hand from the lightsaber hilt. She extended her palm. And drew upon a technique she expressed on Dathomir. As golden energy gathered around her fingers. The Force surged through her body, not as a violent expression of hatred or fear, but as a focused current of discipline and righteous determination.
Then brilliant golden-yellow lightning erupted from her outstretched hand.
The sudden explosion of golden light illuminated the entire battlefield. Crackling arcs of Electric Judgment surged toward Jaina, forcing the older Jedi to abandon her attack and immediately raise her violet lightsaber.
The lightning collided with the blade. A brilliant flash of gold and purple illuminated the shattered walkway as the simulated energy dispersed across the weapon's containment field.
Jaina braced herself, her boots scraping against the damaged duracrete. For the first time since the duel began, she was forced entirely onto the defensive. "Well," she said through gritted teeth, "that's certainly unexpected."
Seris maintained her stance, golden lightning streaming from her extended palm. The technique demanded extraordinary concentration. Unlike the dark-side lightning associated with Sith Lords, Electric Judgment required her to remain emotionally centered while channeling powerful electrical energy through the Force.
She'd studied the technique under the supervision of Master Plo Koon, and although she could manifest it reliably, sustaining the ability during intense combat was still difficult. Her arm trembled slightly as she increased the pressure.
Jaina's violet lightsaber became a barrier of light between them, absorbing and redirecting the incoming energy. The two women remained locked in a dangerous stalemate. Neither could advance without exposing herself.
Neither wanted to withdraw. From the observation platform, Plo Koon straightened.
"Electric Judgment."
Shaak Ti nodded, unmistakable pride in her expression. "Yes, when we went to Dathomir she used that technique and held off Mother Talzin in Cain's test. She's improved considerably."
Depa looked toward her. " That is amazing, Seris can already maintain that technique while engaged in combat?"
"Only recently," Shaak Ti admitted. "Her control has developed remarkably quickly."
I smiled. "She's always been a fast learner."
Luminara studied the golden lightning with concern. "Such a technique should not be taught to a youngling. Its resemblance to Sith lightning is troubling."
Plo Koon turned toward her. "Resemblance does not necessarily indicate identical intent or application, Master Unduli. Seris has trained extensively to use the technique without anger or malice."
"And yet it remains dangerous."
"Of course," I replied. "So does a lightsaber."
Luminara didn't appear entirely satisfied, but her attention returned to the duel.
Yoda watched the simulated lightning carefully. "Powerful, it is. Discipline, it requires."
Anakin looked at her. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Within the dome, Seris felt the strain beginning to spread through her arm. She can't hold this forever, she thought. But neither could she. Jaina's lightsaber remained steady, its violet blade surrounded by a corona of golden sparks.
Jaina glanced toward Seris. "An impressive technique, but you're committing too much attention to maintaining it."
Seris frowned. "What?"
Jaina shifted her footing. "You've forgotten something important."
Before Seris could react, Jaina extended her free hand. A powerful telekinetic push struck her directly in the chest. Seris felt an enormous pressure slam against her torso, throwing her backward across the shattered walkway.
Her concentration broke, and the golden lightning vanished. She twisted in midair, attempting to stabilize herself through the Force, but the impact had caught her completely off guard.
She struck the ground hard, rolled several meters, and finally stopped beside a broken section of debrief. For a moment, she remained on her back, struggling to catch her breath.
That hurt. She stared upward at the clouds. Then, despite herself, she started laughing. Oh, that was clever.
Jaina approached slowly, her violet blade still active. "Are you all right?"
Seris pushed herself onto one elbow. "I believe so."
"Good." Jaina stopped several paces away. "You were concentrating so intensely on maintaining your attack that you forgot I still had another hand."
Seris chuckled weakly. "An embarrassing oversight."
"One I've made myself." Jaina offered a faint smile. "Usually just before someone knocked me across a room."
Seris accepted the criticism without argument. She could already imagine Master Shaak Ti making a similar observation after one of their training sessions. Don't become so absorbed in your technique that you forget the opponent standing in front of you.
It was a lesson she'd heard countless times. Apparently, she still needed to learn it properly. Seris rose carefully, wincing as the suit's simulated impact feedback faded from her chest. She retrieved her lightsaber and settled into a defensive stance.
Jaina regarded her for several seconds. Then, to Seris's surprise, she deactivated her violet blade.
Seris lowered her own weapon slightly. "Are we finished?"
Jaina smiled. "Not quite." She clipped her lightsaber to her belt. Seris felt the older woman's stance change. Her hands rose into a compact fighting guard, her feet settling into a position that had nothing to do with traditional lightsaber combat.
The movement was subtle, but Seris recognized it immediately. Hand-to-hand combat. Her silver-gray eyes brightened. A slow smile crossed her face. "Oh, now this is interesting." She deactivated her golden lightsaber.
From the observation platform, Josa glanced down at the readings. "Wait." She leaned closer. "That's not part of the standard saber sequence."
I looked toward the display. "What?"
Josa's eyes widened. "The combat profile is transitioning into its secondary martial-arts database, but that's not programmed for this setting." She began grinning. "Oh, this is going to be good."
Derren leaned forward. "They're putting away their lightsabers?"
Anakin laughed. "Looks like it, time for Seris to do what she is best at."
I stared at the screen, then slowly smiled. Oh, this is perfect. Because there was something very important about Jaina Solo that none of the others knew. In Legends, Jaina had deliberately sought training from Boba Fett and the Mandalorians to prepare herself for fighting Darth Caedus.
She'd learned techniques designed specifically to counter Jedi, including practical close-quarters combat, unconventional attacks, and methods that exploited the habits of Force-sensitive opponents.
And now she was facing Seris. A prodigy of Echani martial arts and Teräs Käsi, trained since childhood to treat physical combat as an extension of communication and perception. This might actually be even more interesting than their lightsaber duel.
Seris adjusted her stance, the familiar weight of her lightsaber now resting against her belt. For a brief moment, she studied Jaina with renewed interest.
Jaina held her hands at chest level, one slightly forward and the other positioned near her ribs. Her elbows remained close to her body, and her feet were separated just enough to allow rapid changes in direction.
It wasn't an Echani stance. At least, not entirely.
Seris recognized elements of several martial disciplines, but the combination was unfamiliar. Her opponent's guard was compact and practical, designed to protect vulnerable areas while allowing rapid counterattacks at extremely close distances.
Interesting. Seris raised her own hands. Her movements were considerably more fluid, her shoulders relaxed and her weight carefully distributed between both feet.
She adopted a traditional Echani opening stance, modified by the Teräs Käsi techniques she'd learned over the years.
Jaina glanced at her posture. "Now that's a familiar sight."
Seris smiled. "Good. Then let's see what you have to say."
Jaina moved first. She crossed the distance with a sudden burst of speed, delivering a short, direct strike toward Seris's upper chest.
Seris shifted sideways, redirecting the blow with her forearm. Jaina immediately followed with a second attack. Seris intercepted it, rotated her wrist, and attempted to catch the older woman's arm in a joint lock. But Jaina didn't allow the hold to develop.
She withdrew her arm, stepped inward, and drove a compact strike toward Seris's abdomen. The younger Jedi twisted her hips, allowing the attack to glance against her side before answering with a rapid combination of palm strikes.
Jaina deflected the first, and avoided the second. The third forced her to shift backward. Then Seris swept her leg toward Jaina's supporting ankle. The older woman hopped over the attempt, rotated her body, and responded with a short kick aimed at Seris's knee.
Seris withdrew her leg just in time.
Both women separated. Jaina then advanced again.This time, her attacks were considerably more aggressive. She used quick combinations of punches, low kicks, elbows, and sudden changes in distance to prevent Seris from settling into her preferred rhythm.
Seris responded with the fluid precision of an Echani practitioner. She redirected rather than resisted, catching incoming strikes against her forearms and shifting her body just enough to allow the attacks to pass.
Whenever Jaina overextended, Seris attempted to exploit the opening. But the Jaina rarely committed herself fully. Her techniques were compact, practical, and designed to keep her opponent constantly reacting.
Seris recognized the distinction almost immediately. She's not trying to win a contest of forms. Jaina stepped inward, delivering a short elbow strike toward her shoulder.
Seris intercepted it with her forearm. Jaina immediately hooked her leg behind Seris's ankle, attempting to disrupt her balance.
Seris pivoted out of the trap. She caught Jaina's wrist, turned beneath the arm, and attempted to throw her across her hip.
Jaina planted her foot and shifted her weight before the throw could develop. Then she used her free hand to strike toward Seris's ribs.
Seris released the attempted hold and retreated. She's trying to make me commit to a technique. She changed her approach.
Instead of responding to each attack independently, she began using her Echani training to interpret Jaina's intentions through the smallest movements.
The tension in her shoulders. The angle of her hips. The distribution of her weight. Every detail communicated something.
Seris had spent years studying those moments. Now she used them.
Jaina threw a rapid combination toward her upper body. Seris deflected the first strike, slipped beneath the second, and stepped into the older woman's guard.
Her palm struck Jaina's shoulder. A second attack followed toward her ribs. Jaina managed to block it, but Seris was already turning. Her leg swept behind the older woman's knee, forcing Jaina to shift her balance. Seris attempted to finish the exchange with a controlled throw.
For a fraction of a second, it appeared successful. Then Jaina did something unexpected. Instead of resisting, she allowed her balance to break, used the momentum to rotate toward Seris, and drove a short forearm strike into the younger woman's upper arm.
Seris loosened her grip instinctively. Jaina slipped free. The two separated again. Both were breathing more heavily.
Jaina rubbed her shoulder. "That was clever."
Seris smiled. "Thank you."
"But you were already thinking about the throw before you'd secured control."
Seris frowned slightly. "You're saying I rushed?"
"I'm saying you saw an opportunity and assumed it would remain open."
Jaina raised her hands again. "Against a predictable opponent, that's enough. Against someone who's survived a few ugly fights, it can get you hurt."
Seris considered the observation. Then she nodded. "Fair."
From the observation platform, Shaak Ti watched with increasing interest. "Her technique is being challenged in ways conventional sparring rarely achieves."
Depa nodded. "That older woman isn't attempting to demonstrate a particular martial art. She's exploiting whatever proves effective."
Anakin folded his arms. "Some of those movements look Mandalorian."
I glanced toward him. "Good eye."
Derren leaned closer. "How can you tell?"
"Because Bo-Katan used a similar technique on me during training," Anakin answered.
He grimaced at the memory. "I couldn't move my shoulder properly for two days."
Plo Koon gave an amused hum. "An effective lesson, then."
Shaak Ti turned toward me. "Mandalorian training?"
I nodded. "Part of her reconstructed background involves instruction from several exceptionally skilled Mandalorian warriors."
Seris's Master looked back toward the dome. "Then this is an excellent opportunity for her to test the techniques she's learned."
"That's what I was hoping."
Within the simulation, Jaina and Seris resumed their exchange. The pace increased. Seris struck with a rapid combination of palm attacks, attempting to force Jaina into a defensive posture. Jaina intercepted the first two strikes before stepping inward and driving a short punch toward Seris's torso.
Seris twisted aside, catching the wrist and attempting to redirect the force into a throw. Jaina rotated her shoulder, preventing the lock.
Then she struck with her knee. Seris barely managed to absorb the impact against her thigh before retaliating with a swift palm strike toward Jaina's jaw.
Jaina withdrew her head, the strike missed by centimeters. Jaina attempted another elbow.
Seris blocked it. Their forearms collided sharply as both women continued exchanging strikes at a pace that would've overwhelmed most unenhanced combatants. Yet neither was using the Force to throw the other aside.
Their physical enhancement remained controlled, allowing technique, timing, and balance to determine the outcome. For several moments, the two appeared evenly matched. Seris possessed extraordinary natural talent and years of rigorous martial training.
Jaina possessed something that couldn't be taught quite so easily. Experience. She understood how to fight someone who was technically superior in a particular discipline. She knew how to turn a clean exchange into an ugly one. And she knew how to make an opponent pay for expecting a fair contest. Jaina shifted her footing.
Seris noticed the movement and prepared to counter. But the older Jedi was already changing her angle.
She stepped toward the younger woman's leading foot, using a quick feint to draw Seris's attention upward.
Seris raised her guar, but it was too late. Jaina drove her boot down hard against Seris's foot. The impact pinned it momentarily against the broken duracrete. Pain shot through Seris's leg, and her balance faltered.
Before she could recover, Jaina twisted her hips and drove a powerful elbow across the younger Jedi's face. The strike connected. A sharp pulse of feedback exploded across Seris's jaw, sending her staggering sideways.
Her vision blurred. The ground seemed to tilt beneath her. Damn it! Seris felt herself falling. But even as her balance failed, her mind continued moving her will not giving up. Her right hand shot upward. She caught Jaina beneath the chin with a compact palm strike, forcing the older woman's head backward.
Jaina's eyes widened.
Seris immediately followed with a precise strike toward the side of her neck, targeting a vulnerable pressure point with the controlled accuracy of Teräs Käsi. Jaina recoiled, and Seris used the last of her momentum to drive a short punch into Jaina's upper chest.
She landed three strikes, in less than two seconds. Jaina staggered backward, one hand instinctively rising toward her neck.
Seris attempted to regain her footing. But her pinned leg had already lost its balance, and the impact to her jaw left her disoriented. She fell onto her side. Her shoulder struck the ground, and she rolled onto her back with a pained grunt.
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Jaina dropped onto one knee, breathing heavily as she recovered from the unexpected counterattack.
From the observation platform, Josa stared at the readings.
"Oh, that was beautiful." Anakin winced. "And that looked painful."
"It was," Derren replied. "Even from here."
I watched Seris attempt to push herself upright before deciding against it. She lost. But what an extraordinary performance.
Jaina remained on one knee for several seconds, her breathing gradually slowing. Then she looked toward Seris. A genuine smile crossed her face. "Well fought."
Seris laughed weakly. "I think you won that one."
"Perhaps." Jaina rubbed her neck. "But you made sure I wouldn't walk away feeling particularly victorious."
Seris smiled. "That was the intention."
The older Jedi chuckled. Seris finally managed to sit upright, one hand resting against her bruised jaw. She looked toward Jaina with sincere admiration. "Well fought, Sword of the Jedi. Your techniques were extraordinary."
Jaina's expression softened. "And yours was brilliant, Seris Velor." She rose carefully. "You have exceptional instincts, and your understanding of combat is far beyond what I'd normally expect from someone your age."
Seris inclined her head. "Thank you."
"But don't mistake talent for mastery. You have a tendency to become comfortable once you've identified your opponent's fighting style."
Seris considered that. "You're right."
"You'll meet people who refuse to fight the way you expect. Some will be less skilled than you, but considerably more dangerous because they aren't interested in playing by your rules."
Jaina smiled. "And occasionally, you'll meet someone who's simply had more time to make mistakes."
Seris laughed softly. "Then I'll have to keep learning."
"Exactly."
Then Seris looked at her for a moment longer. "You remind me of someone."
Jaina tilted her head. "Who?"
Seris's smile became distant. "Someone who understood that strength meant very little if you had nothing worth protecting."
Jaina's expression softened. "I think I'd like to meet that person."
"Perhaps you will."
Jaina looked toward the simulated horizon. Then something unusual happened. Her gaze shifted. Not toward Seris, but upward. Toward a point beyond the boundaries of the projected environment. From the observation platform, I felt a strange sensation crawl along the back of my neck.
Because Jaina seemed to be looking directly at us. More specifically...At Anakin.
He went completely still beside me. "Cain."
I glanced toward him. "Yeah ?"
"She's lookingright at me."
I studied the projection. Jaina's brown eyes remained fixed on a point that corresponded almost perfectly with Anakin's position beyond the observation barrier. But that should be impossible. The programs weren't supposed to possess awareness of the external observation chamber beyond what the control system specifically supplied.
Josa frowned. "That's odd."
I immediately turned toward her. "What is?"
"The program is responding to something outside its assigned interaction parameters."
Anakin took a slow step closer to the railing. He couldn't explain why, but the woman's gaze felt personal. There was something in her expression. A strange tenderness. And perhaps a faint trace of longing. As though she were looking at someone she'd known all her life but hadn't seen in years.
Then Jaina blinked. Her attention returned to Seris. A small smile appeared. "Until next time, Seris."
Seris bowed her head. "I look forward to it."
Jaina returned the gesture. "May the Force be with you."
The simulation began to dissolve. The broken battlefield fragmented into countless particles of violet and blue light, while the ruined structures faded from existence.
The distant fires vanished, the clouds disappeared, and the familiar interior of the training dome gradually returned.
Jaina Solo was gone. The display above Josa's terminal flashed.
COMBAT TRIAL COMPLETE
RESULT: DEFEAT
Josa stared at the results before letting out an impressed whistle. "Well, would you look at that."
Plo Koon inclined his head. "An extraordinary performance."
Depa nodded. "Indeed. She may have lost, but her ability to adapt under pressure was remarkable."
Shaak Ti smiled with unmistakable pride."Well done, Seris."
Yoda tapped his cane softly. "Much potential, she has. Much still to learn, as well."
I looked toward the dome, where Seris was slowly rising onto one knee.
Then I started walking. "Excuse me, Masters."
By the time I reached the dome, Seris had managed to sit upright. Her silver-white hair had come loose from its usual arrangement, and a faint bruise was beginning to form along her jaw.
The training suit's feedback systems had deactivated, but she was clearly still feeling the consequences of the final exchange.
I crouched beside her. "Hey you."
She looked up. "Hey you."
I smiled. "How are you feeling?"
Seris considered the question. Then she sighed dramatically. "Josa was right."
I raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"I didn't die." She touched her jaw. "But my ego is barely alive."
I burst into laughter. Seris gave me an offended look. "Cain."
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
"Your right not even slightly."
She rolled her eyes, although the corners of her mouth twitched.
I extended my hand. "Come on, Princess."
She accepted it, allowing me to help her rise. The moment she stood, she winced slightly. I steadied her with a hand against her back. "Seriously, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. A little sore, but nothing serious." She glanced toward the observation platform. "That woman was incredible."
"She was, but you were amazing."
"I thought I'd figured out her fighting style, but every time I adjusted, she changed something else."
I nodded. "That's what experience looks like."
Seris looked toward me. "Do you think I could beat her?"
I considered the question carefully. "Yes."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
"Yes. Just not today." She huffed. I smiled. "But eventually? Absolutely. You have the talent, the discipline, and the determination. What you need now is experience against opponents who don't fight the way you're accustomed to."
Seris lowered her gaze. "Master Shaak Ti tells me something similar."
"That's because she's a very wise woman."
"She is."
I placed my hand gently against her cheek, being careful not to touch the developing bruise. "You were amazing, Seris."
Her silver-gray eyes returned to mine. "Even though I lost?"
"Especially because you lost."
She frowned but I smiled. "You fought someone far more experienced than you, adapted to techniques you'd never encountered, and nearly knocked her unconscious after she'd already gained the advantage."
I chuckled. "That last counterattack was beautiful, by the way."
Seris smiled shyly. "Thank you."
"I'm serious. I'm proud of you." A faint blush spread across her cheeks. Through our bond, I felt a warm rush of affection accompanied by the lingering embarrassment of her defeat.
Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. I returned the embrace without hesitation. For several moments, we stood quietly within the now-empty training dome. Her forehead rested against my shoulder, and I felt her gradually relax.
You really mean that?" she asked softly.
"Every word."
She tightened her arms slightly. "Then I suppose losing wasn't completely terrible."
"That's the spirit."
Unfortunately, we'd forgotten one important detail. We weren't alone.
"Cain."
I slowly turned. Luminara stood several paces away, watching us with an expression of unmistakable concern. Beside her stood Plo Koon and Shaak Ti, while Master Fay had joined the gathering during the latter portion of Seris's demonstration.
The ancient Jedi Master's presence was calm and serene, although I could sense a faint trace of amusement within her.
Luminara looked between Seris and me. "Are you two in a relationship?"
Seris stiffened. I blinked. Well, that didn't take long. I opened my mouth, but Luminara was already turning toward Plo Koon.
"Master Koon, Master Ti, you allow your Padawans to engage in romantic relationships?"
Plo regarded her calmly.
"Yes."
The answer came so readily that even I looked surprised.
Luminara's brow furrowed. "You permit attachments?"
"Our Praxeum does not prohibit relationships, Master Unduli."
She looked toward Shaak Ti. "And you approve of your Padawan becoming romantically involved with another student?"
Shaak Ti smiled faintly. "I approve of Seris learning to understand her feelings rather than pretending they do not exist."
Luminara appeared thoroughly unconvinced.
Plo Koon turned toward me. "Although I confess, Cain, I wasn't aware your relationship had become official."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Ah. Yes, Master. It's fairly recent." Seris's blush deepened.
Plo inclined his head. "I see." For a brief moment, his expression seemed to soften beneath his breathing mask. "Then I am pleased that you have found happiness together."
"Thank you, Master."
Luminara looked genuinely troubled.
"Master Koon, I must object. The danger of attachment has been demonstrated throughout Jedi history. Surely you understand what you're encouraging."
"Of course I understand the danger," Plo replied.
"Then why permit it?"
"Because the existence of danger does not necessarily justify denying every opportunity for joy, companionship, or family."
Luminara turned toward me. "Cain, surely you understand why the Code discourages such relationships."
"I understand the reasoning behind the rule, Master. I simply don't agree with the conclusion." I gently released Seris, although I kept one hand resting against hers. "We're not members of the Coruscant Order anymore. Like the Corellian Green Jedi, our Praxeum allows relationships and marriage, whether between members of the Order or with people outside it."
Luminara shook her head. "This is a mistake."
"Perhaps some relationships will become mistakes," I acknowledged. "People are complicated. Love can make them selfish, frightened, or possessive if they aren't careful."
I looked toward Seris. "But it can also give them courage, understanding, and a reason to become better." She squeezed my hand. I continued. "We don't teach our students to cling to someone so desperately that they're willing to destroy everything to keep them. We teach them to recognize the difference between loving another person and believing they own that person's future."
Luminara regarded me silently. "That's an admirable distinction," she finally replied. "But one I fear will prove considerably more difficult to maintain than you imagine."
"Probably," I admitted. "That's why we have Masters who can help us understand it."
Yaddle stepped forward. "No, Luminara. A mistake, their choice is not merely because different from ours it may be."
Luminara turned. "Master Yaddle?"
"Disagree, we may. Caution, we may offer. But respect their wishes, we must." Yaddle looked toward Seris and me. "Judge their path by fear alone, we should not."
Yoda remained quiet for several seconds. Then he spoke. "Attachment and compassion, the same they are not. Yet love and possessiveness, confused they often become." He regarded me carefully. "Understand the difference, you must."
I bowed my head. "That's what we're trying to learn, Grand Master."
Yoda nodded. "Then learn it well."
Master Fay smiled gently. "Love is not the absence of discipline, Luminara. It is sometimes the greatest test of it."
The Mirialan Master looked between the senior Jedi, clearly dissatisfied, but she chose not to continue the argument.
I was grateful. Unfortunately, someone else had apparently decided the moment was too peaceful.
"Well, congratulations, you two!"
I turned. Derren was leaning against the observation railing with an enormous grin. Anakin stood beside him, already looking as though he knew something terrible was about to happen.
Derren spread his arms dramatically. "Especially you, Ice Princess! You finally managed to get Cain to date you!"
Seris slowly turned toward him. Her smile vanished. "Derren."
He continued, apparently determined to ignore the warning in her voice. "Seriously, though. I'm impressed. What kind of Dathomirian witchcraft did you use on him?"
Anakin took one look at Seris's expression. Then he quietly stepped away from Derren.
I did the same.
Derren glanced between us. "What?"
Seris smiled. It was a beautiful and a very dangerous smile. "Nothing, Derren. Nothing at all."
I winced. Oh, he's dead.
Seris disappeared into the adjoining changing room while Josa began resetting the simulation's environmental systems.
Derren, apparently convinced he'd survived the moment, continued grinning. "I still can't believe it. Years of watching you two dance around each other, and you finally made it official."
Anakin shook his head. "You really don't know when to stop talking."
"What? I'm happy for them!"
"That's not what I'm worried about."
Derren frowned. "Then what..."
Seris emerged wearing her traditional Jedi robes, her silver-white hair tied back into a loose braid. The bruise along her jaw had already begun fading beneath the effects of a minor healing technique.
She approached us with a pleasant expression. "Derren?"
He smiled. "Yes, Ice princess?"
"Would you come here for a moment?"
I looked away. Anakin slowly backed toward the control station.
Derren hesitated. "Why?"
"I wanted to thank you for your congratulations."
He looked suspicious. "Really?"
"Of course."
Derren took one cautious step forward, and Seris moved. Before he could react, she caught his wrist, rotated beneath his arm, and twisted his balance with a movement so smooth that he barely registered what had happened.
A moment later, Derren found himself bent forward with one arm trapped behind his back. Seris applied a controlled nerve pinch near his shoulder.
"AH! SERIS!"
She smiled pleasantly. "Yes, Derren?"
"My shoulder!"
"I'm aware."
"That hurts!"
"Oh! does it now?"
"YES! Will you please stop?"
But she increased the pressure slightly.
Derren immediately surrendered. "I GIVE! I GIVE! I'm sorry I was wrong to say that!"
Seris released him. He stumbled backward, clutching his shoulder and glaring at her. "You're insane!"
She folded her arms. "And you're irritating."
Anakin burst into laughter. I covered my mouth, trying unsuccessfully to maintain a dignified expression.
Even Depa was smiling.
Seris looked toward the dome. "Since you seem to have so much energy, Derren, perhaps you should demonstrate what you've learned."
Derren blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Get in there and show us what you've got."
He rubbed his shoulder. "After you nearly dislocated my arm?"
"Oh, don't exaggerate. If I'd wanted to dislocate it, you'd know."
Seris turned toward the Josa. "Can he go next?"
"Absolutely! The system's ready for another participant."
I considered the available programs. Actually, there was someone I'd been meaning to test against Derren. Someone whose personality might challenge him in ways the others couldn't. I smiled. "Sure. I've got a particular opponent in mind."
Derren immediately narrowed his eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
I shrugged. "No reason."
"Cain your scaring me."
"Trust me Derren."
"That has never made me feel better."
Anakin stepped forward. "What about me? When do I get a turn?"
I glanced toward him. "I've already prepared something for you, Anakin. But Derren's next."
Anakin sighed. "Fine. But whatever you have planned, it had better be good."
I smiled faintly. Oh, it will be. Derren looked between us before shaking his head.
"All right. Fine. I'll do it." He pointed toward Seris. "But I'm getting you back for that."
Seris smiled sweetly. "I look forward to it."
Derren disappeared into the changing room, grumbling about unreasonable friends and dangerous women. Several minutes later, he returned wearing the fitted interface suit beneath his Jedi robes.
He retrieved his lightsaber and approached the dome. Master Kuro had taught Derren well, but despite his exceptional natural talent, he possessed one persistent weakness. He was entirely too comfortable relying upon that talent.
He'd mastered techniques that took ordinary Jedi years to understand, including Force Cloak and Battle Meditation, yet he rarely displayed the determination to push himself as hard as Anakin or Seris.
Not because he lacked ambition. He simply didn't believe he needed to prove anything. Well, let's see what happens when he meets someone who believes the exact opposite.
Josa activated the synchronization system of the simulation. "Ready, Derren?"
He sighed. "As I'll ever be."
I scrolled through the program list until I found the file I wanted, and I selected it.
Anakin glanced toward the monitor. "Who did you choose?"
"You'll see."
Derren stood in the center of the dome, rolling his shoulders as the interface completed its calibration. "Can we get started before I change my mind?"
I chuckled. "Josa, activate the program."
She grinned. "Initiating simulation."
The training chamber vanished. Derren found himself standing upon an ancient stone courtyard surrounded by dense jungle.
Towering trees rose around the clearing, their enormous roots pushing through cracks in the weathered stone. Thick vines hung from ancient structures, while distant animal calls echoed beneath the humid canopy.
Several massive pyramidal temples rose above the surrounding vegetation, their dark stone walls covered in strange geometric carvings.
The air was warm and heavy with moisture. Derren looked around. "Well, this is different." He crouched briefly, touching the ancient stone beneath his boots. Then he looked toward the nearest temple. "Some kind of ancient Jedi ruin?"
A voice answered from above. "Not exactly, my friend."
Derren looked up. A tall figure was descending the broad stone staircase leading from the temple entrance. The man possessed an athletic, powerful frame, standing approximately six feet three inches tall, with broad shoulders and the confident posture of a highly trained warrior. His features were strikingly handsome, with a sharp, angular jawline, pronounced cheekbones, and fair skin. Pitch-black hair fell to his shoulders, framing piercing slate-gray eyes that regarded Derren with an expression of amused curiosity.
A diagonal scar ran across his right cheek.
He wore traditional Jedi garments, consisting of a lightweight tan tunic beneath flowing brown robes, with a lightsaber hanging from his belt. There was nothing particularly sinister about his appearance. Yet the way he carried himself suggested someone who possessed absolute confidence in his abilities.
The man reached the bottom of the staircase and smiled. "Well, hello there, my fellow Padawan."
Derren blinked. "Hello?"
The stranger looked him over. "Interesting robes. And I don't recognize you."
Derren remained silent. The man's smile widened. "Where are my manners? I'm Exar Kun. I hope we can have a good duel."
Derren's eyes widened. "Wait. What?"
From the observation platform, Anakin immediately straightened. "Hold on. Is that...?"
Depa leaned closer. "Exar Kun?"
Plo Koon regarded the projected figure thoughtfully. "An extraordinary choice."
Yoda's ears tilted forward. "Interesting. Great potential, young Talvos possesses. Yet little motivation, he has to fully explore it. Exar Kun, as interesting choice."
Plo inclined his head. "Indeed. Something tells me this will be a particularly informative duel."
Shaak Ti folded her arms. "You're testing his pride."
I smiled. "Among other things."
Within the simulation, Derren stared at the stranger standing before him. Exar Kun? He knew the name. Everyone who studied the Great Sith War knew the name. The fallen Jedi who became one of the most notorious Dark Lords in galactic history.
The warrior whose ambition and pursuit of forbidden knowledge had brought devastation to the Republic. But something didn't make sense. This man wasn't dressed as a Sith. His presence didn't feel corrupted, and he'd introduced himself as a Padawan.
Wait a minute. Derren's eyes narrowed. Is this Exar Kun before he fell to the dark side?
The stranger tilted his head. "Is something wrong?"
Derren hesitated. "No. I was just surprised."
"Surprised by what?"
"Your name."
Kun laughed. "Ah, well. I suppose it's only natural. Master Vodo says I have a habit of making an impression." He placed one hand against his lightsaber. "Although he also says I should learn a little humility."
Derren smiled faintly. "Sounds familiar."
Kun raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Nothing important."
The ancient Padawan chuckled. "Fair enough." He unclipped his lightsaber. "Well, since we're here, shall we begin?" A brilliant blue-white blade erupted from the hilt, illuminating his handsome features. Kun raised the weapon confidently. "Before we start, though, I should probably know your name."
Derren straightened and unclipped his own lightsaber. A pure white blade ignited, its pale radiance contrasting against Kun's blue-white weapon. "My name is Derren Talvos."
He bowed respectfully. "It's nice to meet you, Exar Kun."
Kun studied the white blade with visible fascination. "A white lightsaber?" His smile widened. "And a Padawan wielding it, no less." He adjusted his stance, excitement beginning to shine in his gray eyes. "This should be an interesting duel."
Derren returned the smile. "I certainly hope so."
Kun chuckled before raising his weapon into a confident opening guard. "Just so you know, Derren Talvos, I happen to be the best swordsman among Master Vodo's students. Maybe even the whole order. " His expression became openly challenging. "And I don't plan to lose."
Derren tightened his grip on his white lightsaber. The familiar excitement of facing a powerful opponent stirred within him, gradually replacing his earlier reluctance.
He stepped forward, settling into his own Ataru stance. "Well, Exar Kun..." Derren smiled. "Neither do I."