-From the perspective of Barriss-

  We had been waiting and waiting outside of the cil room with master, and I was getting annoyed with the seemingly endless waiting. I sighed and asked master in a bored tone.

  -What are we waiting for master?

  I asked trying to aeutral towards the situation, but it was too obvious how bored I was at the moment, so I gave up oempt halfway.

  Luminara looked at me with a sideway gnce, quickly pierg through my shallow ad figuring out the real reason for my question. I rarely succeeded in lying to her, and even then, I had this feeling that she simply let it slide while clearly knowing that I lied.

  It was kind of annoying in all hoy, also a bit scary, but it is what it is.

  She answered with patienbsp;

  -When you grow older you will find waiting while doing nothing is a good opportunity to rex your mind aate. Why don't you do so, instead of hoping for some senseless excitement? How will you bee a jedi knight and a sur if you are so inpatient.

  I rolled my eyes tired with the forthing argument already.

  -You know that I want to bee a guardian...

  -Stop, rolling your eyes, girl. It's unsightly, and we are not in private, your as disrespect your teacher as well. Also... the way you embarrassed me iionally in front of the senator... if we didn't have a bigger problem than that, I would have punished you for that little act of yours.

  I felt a wry smile appear on my face... as I looked aside with disfort. Ugh... it seems she knows that too...

  -Now, you go there, sit dowo the wall, and reflect over your as that might have led to the defamation of the jedi order...

  I wao roll my eyes but mao stop the a just before it happened. Still, I couldn't help, but whisper while turning around silently.

  -As if anything I do, could disrespect the jedi order any further...

  The words slipped from my mouth, just like that, and I was too te to realize this mistake... I felt a cold gre pierg into my back, and I immediately regretted my stupidity. I literally ran to the wall and sat down to meditate in the perfect lotus position I could muster. However, the gre didn't let up, I felt a few chills run over my spine... Uh-hu... she is extremely pissed ht now... Why did I have to run my stupid mouth...

  Master was quite hard to anger... almost impossible, but if you did, she would literally hold a grudge for years... She is going to tease me with this so much that I was already disheartened from the very thought. I should probably just go up to her and say that I am sorry... but then, I will disrespect her order to meditate. I guess, I will have to do it after I have meditated.

  With my resolve made, I closed my eyes and began to focus on clearing my mind from excessive thoughts. With my attention occupied my awareness of time became loose. This led to me being spooked when the door suddenly swung open.

  I jolted bato my awareness, and current sense of body and motion as my hearth skipped a beat or two with the disruption of my early meditative state. It was a simir seo being forcefully awoken when you were just about to fall asleep. That meant, I retty much disgruntled, instead of being rexed by the meditation, I was further annoyed by it...

  The following words have made my grumpy state even worse.

  Master and Lily must have talked about something, while I was trying to calm myself, from the side effects of disturbed meditation. My hearth was still rag crazily, there was a reason why people only meditated in their rooms, or meditation chambers after all... they were meant to be quiet and peaceful, just like the library.

  A few minutes went by, when I finally mao calm down my nerves. I heard light and silent steps closing on my position. The only reason I was able to hear it was because they were already o me. Master must have sneaked up on me, while I wasn't aware.

  With that thought in mind, I looked up while opening my eyes. What I saw air of glowing yellow eyes and a face covered in shadows, behind it's back were two raising spiky wings.

  There was a moment of frozen surprise... then I instinctively pushed myself backwards from my sitting position, only to be almost immediately stopped by the wall behind me...

  I was scared from the terrifying sight. It was still in the middle of the night, and the corridors, were only dimly lit. My logical mind, slowly caught up to my fear, and the shadowy figure, now took up the form of Lily.

  The golden eyes, blinked, with a fused expression, as she looked behind herself. She didn't even realize that she was the reason I got scared so much... I released the hilt of my lightsaber, which I was grabbing on my belt instinctively. It was a good thing, but I also realized something... If she was really a threat at that moment, I would be dead, as I got so scared, I fot to ignite my bde. H-how stupid end, that would have been... Hehe...

  I stood up slowly, putting my right hand over my chest trying to hide my hammeri that was literally shaking my entire body with every beat. I looked around in the corridor, as the sudden burst of adrenalin began to leave my blood stream, as I realized there wasn't ahreat.

  -Ugh... where is my master?

  I asked in a somewhat shaky and fused voice...

  I heard the creepy crag sound, that indicated Lily's movement. At least I was getting used to that part... She turned bae, with a totally bnk face, and stated like a frig droid.

  -Oh, she went back to her room. She said you will take care of the rest.

  -I... what?

  She leaned her head to the side, while looking at me with that creepy emotionless fabsp;

  -Ugh... did she say anything else?

  -No.

  I leaned against the wall, while hiding my fa my palms. OH GREAT! I should have known, that she wasn't going to let that remark slide so easily... Now I have to take care of Lily, and by the way what did she mean by taking care of her?

  -What did the cil decide, I mean, what am I supposed to do with you?

  Her, eyes lightened with uanding clearing away the fusion lingering around her presence.

  -Your master, said that I was not to leave your presence, and the cil ordered for me to remain in the iemple area, wherever that is...

  -The... iemple? That must have meant, that you were accepted for further training!

  Now it seems, that I was babysitting a new youngling... Even if she wasn't really that young, how was she even accepted? She is probably around my age, eh whatever, if the high cil says it, who am I to point out their disregard towards their own rules. I should have known that it won't bind them, like it binds anyone else.

  Those who make the rules are not necessarily expected to follow them. It was the most basisaid principle of the Republid therefore the jedi order too.

  I bet master is currently drinking the wine I brought for her, while dropping the troubles in my p... Sigh, damn... I kind of deserve it to be ho. I shouldn't have pushed her buttons so much today... It's just, I feel like nothing goes as I imagined, or pnned for.

  I shook myself out of this self-iupor. On a sudden whim, I grabbed onto the left hand of Lily. She didn't rea any obvious way, except a blink. I began to walk, but she didn't budge at first. Sheesh she is a handful...

  -Let's go, I will take you to my room...

  -I am hungry.

  -... Really now? e to think of it, when was the st time I ate anything?

  It turns out that I am quite hungry too.

  -Okay, we will go to the mess-hall first. What do you like to eat?

  -I like sandwiches.

  -That's good then, at this hour, we won't get to uch else anyway. The cooking droids are already on power save mode, and they are on their charging stations to be ready for tomorrow. Don't you worry though... for those who arrive back to the temple, in ungodly hours, they always leave some cold trays out. We don't have to sleep with ay belly at least.

  With that expnation, I pulled her hand one more time, and she finally decided to follow me without aance. Why do I feel like I've got a little sister to take care of all of a sudden... Well, she might as well be like that, since she is with the temple now. We are all brothers and sisters here, at least on paper.

  The reality is a bit more plicated I am afraid. As in a big family like this, you will have people you like, and people, you don't get along with. Well... in my case, I don't really get along with that many people. They find my presence burdensome, just as I find theirs, just because I am not tent to blindly follow all of the jedi scriptures and didn't lie about it, or shy away from questioning it openly.

  I remind them of questions, they are not brave enough to speak out, but also bother their thoughts too... So instead of taking up the ce, they tend to ignore, or lecture me. Hypocrites, tend to flock together, did you know that? A bunch of hypocrites work together very effectively, until someoh a bit of hoy eheir circle. Then, they will effectiveness will begin to crumble which usually ends in the newer, either learning to appreciate hypocrisy and joining their lines, or being excluded from the bunbsp;

  And while iion is a y for culturally different people to successfully miogether, like jedi does. If that iion, turns ho people into delusional hypocrites trying to avoid the slightest possibility of fag their own weakhen I say, it is a failure aer to be not part of it at all.

  Then again... here at least I have the possibility to help people who . I bet, that is the same reason why master Luminara stayed here too. After all, she knows all of this, better than me, however... I 't really five her for not doing anything against it. Aside from drinking wihat is, but I 't really say that to her...

  She lost so many friends on Geonosis, and she tries her best to act light-hearted around me. Even so, I sense her ess to be more of an act than genuine peacefulness.

  I thought back to the words I said to her... She robably feeling terrible because so many of them threw their life's away willingly on Geonosis, and all that for nothing. The war broke out, anyway, while the order suffered a decisive loss to their number and to its ego. Even if the battle on Geonosis, was a win, the results were needlessly devastating. All of us are suffering because of that tactical mistake, but nobody dares to say it out loud, as it would question the mi of the whole order.

  From most jedi perspective, dying while trying to uphold peace is a noble death. However, it wasn't necessary. Master Luminara described the whole battle to me, and that they could have brought in the e army from the very beginning, but they were relut to use it. Evehey all knew, and all felt it that they could not win against endless numbers of droids. Even if they captured or killed Dooku, that wouldn't guarahat the droids would be stopped. They hoped for a miracle to happen while shouldering the fate of the entire gaxy.

  The only reason, why I know these things so well, is because Luminara tends to trust me at least ten times more after a few gsses of wine. I always listen to her stories, as they are very ho with good observations. She also o tell it to someone, and she 't tell it to other jedi knights for the exact reason why I 't handle most padawan's presence... Except Ahsoka, and a few more at times.

  Anyway, we have arrived at the teen.

  -I will make some sandwiches for you too... then we will bring it to my room. It is ly allowed to do that usually, but si's your first day here, we will have a proper excuse for it. Whatever they ask, say that it was your idea, and we will get away with it for now. They 't expect you to know all the rules right away.

  - I uand.

  Answered the girl, while looking at me, with those yellow eyes. She o learn how to smile, and quickly or I will have trouble falling asleep.

  About twenty mier, I made a bunch of sandwiches and brought them bay room, on a tray. We didn't meet with anyone on the way to my room, aher in the teen. It was not a on thing to arrive back at the temple in these hours, not even in the middle of a war.

  The eemple seemed to be asleep right now, as we walked through the dimly lit corridors. It was kind of eery, but the thought that this robably the safest p the entire universe was deeply seeped into my mi. Lily was standing beside me right now, while eyeing the food oray.

  -We are here, this is my room... Could you open the door, since I am holding the tray right now?

  She nodded, and walked to the door, then turned bae with a questioning gre.

  -Just push the rge green buttht there. Padawan's are not allowed the eheir room's door. Only knights and higher ranked are allowed to do so. It's not like anyone would actually barge into your room without knog at least. People here are polite to the very bone.

  Just as I said those words, she pushed the button, and the door opened revealing the deeply gring Master Windu standing in the middle of my room.

  My jaw hit the ground, or at least the tray I was currently holding, while I blinked in rapid succession. Lily also, blinked and looked at the familiar figure in the room holding a bundle of clothes ly folded. These were normal jedi clothes, probably brought for Lily, I quickly realized.

  Even so, the sudden, aremely out of character appearance of the obnoxious master has shocked me to the core. And why was he inside my room?

  He stepped forward, only sparing a disapproving g me holding a tray of food.

  Ah, shoot...

  -Master Luminara, have said, that she entrusted you to her padawan. Therefore, I came to your room Barriss Offee, I see that your bad habits are still very much alive, seeing ying food to your quarters.

  I would never have imagihat Master Windu would be in my room, how could I have foreseen something like that...

  -I ugh...

  It was hard to find any excuse in this type of situation. Then I heard Lily speak.

  -It was my idea.

  One of the eyebrows of Windu rose mogly, while he turned bae.

  -I doubt that to be true, but even so you should have told her the rules, as you are no doubt aware of them. Regardless of that, take these cloths, there is also a provided sleepwear among them. Padawan Offee will no doubt describe the basic rules to you. Rest now, and tomorroill meet iraining room, I want to uand your capabilities and current skill levels.

  -Until then, good night.

  -Good night.

  Said Lily.

  -Good night to you, Master Windu.

  I waved after him, as he left the room, while giving Lily the clothes. As I said that, he froze end turned back slightly.

  -Your master will know about ying food to your room. he less, good night Padawan Offee.

  Curse you demon! Curse you! I am going to be chewed out once more... I am seriously about to ow...

  Even so, I nodded silently and skipped into my room finally getting a wall between me and Master Windu. I could take a breather at st, uh... I put dowray and looked at Lily who was standing in the door, holding the clothes.

  -e inside, already, a... then we will ge and sleep... I already see that tomorrow will be quite a long day, at least for me.

  -Yes, thank you.

  -It's... nothing.

  I walked to one of the walls, and pushed a few buttons on a sole that was built into the wall. Soon a hideable bed stretched out from the wall its legs raising up from the floor, eg to the one person sleeping ptform. It quickly assembled itself and I turned around smiling at Lily.

  I saw her eyes, looking at the bed with curiosity.

  -Haha, I k. These teological things are always loved by newers. It's not different with you either. In most rooms, there are three beds like this, mine is already set up, since I live here normally. Only when we go out for longer mission, do we disassemble it.

  -It is not really unusual for friends to e over and sleep in the same room, until we are all girls that is... Tomorrow you will get your own room, si is a bother to wake up the caretaker, he is a grumpy old fellow.

  I sat down on my bed while looking at Lily, who was eating one of the sandwiches silently. She sat down on a chair pext to the table.

  -Whatever... leave one for me at least. I will make your bed while you are at it. There are spare pillows and bs over here. I also ged my clothes to my sleepwear while Lily ate most of the food. Leavih only one sandwich. I didn't mind, since I wasn't that hungry anymore, not after what Windu just said.

  I also ate my share.

  -Whie is the sleepwear from all these clothes?

  Asked Lily all of a sudden.

  I turned back to her while pointing at the one. Well, jedi's clothes were all like pajamas in a sense, I don't bme her for being fused about this.

  -You put your current clothes in that basket over there, and they will be ed and stored for you... not that you will use them often, but it's still your stuff so, they won't throw it arobably. You ever have enough clothes to be used on undercover missions after all.

  Now get that thing off of you and ge.

  She nodded and disected the magic locks just behind her ned her lower back. With that, the skintight bck cloth parted on her bad was easily pulled off and pced into the basket. Now she was standing in the room in a sport bra while flipping her wings in annoyanbsp;

  I wao avert my eyes but couldn't help it as my gaze always wandered back to her. About half of her body was covered in that weird carapace, it was growing in a way that it drew mystical forms in thin and thicker lines around her back. It reminded me of the war tattoos belonging to primitive abinal tribe-based cultures.

  I smirked good naturedly.

  -Must be a chore, to get dressed with those things on your back.

  She answered without a pause. She wasn't troubled by being stared at... She didn't even blink.

  -It was, but since I came here things have gotten a lot easier, there are clothes that are patible with me.

  -Good for you.

  She pulled off her boots and pants in a more old-fashioned ut them in the basket too. Theurned around standing in her simple bderwear and I was shocked by what I saw...

  There was a terrifying scar, a huge burn injury over her stomach. The skin color was a light red there, very different from her white skin, which could be seen at pces that were not covered with purple carapace. The injury was already healed, but it was distinctly visible even if it had healed. How was she alive after that injury? It would literally cut her into two... or almost... Also, the burn was reminding me of lightsaber injuries... but it was wider, not as as a lightsaber would make, and probably much more painful.

  I remembered her healing ability, and that she said she wouldn't be alive without them... Now I likely see what she meant by that. Pirl, she must have suffered a lot.

  I felt bad for her...

  In the end, I had to help her pull up the upper part of her sleepwear... Sihis one was not made with magic locks on the back... We will have to ask for a few small adjustments tomorrow...

  Eventually we mao get into bed and quickly fell asleep. It was a long and tiresome day, which eventually ended quite peacefully.