~Yula POV~
Despite the frigid temperatures, there was dust and ash everywhere from the steadily breaking down factory. Immediately I recognized the material being created and formed there. It was Frigidurium, a heat trapping metal. It was everywhere on Pantora. Houses, buildings, every vessel made for extended travel on the planet, and it was widely used by the Republic for their equipment used on cold planets.

The workers coming in and out of the building, waking up the clouded streets, laying homeless against the buildings. They were all bundled in ripped jackets and pants, cupping their hands over their mouths for some warmth. Coughing and rushing inside to get some shelter from the unforgiving gusts of wind.

"What happened here?" Cira muttered quietly under her breath.

"The Republic happened," I looked Cira in the eye,"We did this."

Before they could get the vote, we sprang right back to Pantora as quickly as we could. I piloted while Cira rang the 4 Representatives up on the Holo.

"Representatives. Before you vote, there is one option nobody has exercised," She stated rather mysteriously and calmly, despite the clock ticking.

The woman wearing a dress crossed her arms and walked forward,"Go on." 

"Table and vote for another day. Come to Corasaunt. Plead your case to the Senate. Trust me, the Republic would not want it to be public knowledge that your Moons are suffering for the Republic's profit. You can use this to your advantage." Her voice remained cool and business-like. She almost transformed into some sort of masterminded, politician. Is this how she rose through the ranks so fast?

The four desperate Representative's glowing holos turned to one another before they all nodded their heads in unison.

"Very well. We'll escort you back. Have your Pilots contact us so we can rendezvous at their convenience," then she smiled hopefully,"Good luck to you all." Then she hung up.

        It didn't take long to figure out that the Republic was milking these moons for all they've got so they can benefit from Pantora and it's resources. But Pantora itself, the supposed image the public will always see, is gleaming with money, resources, and a masterful illusion of success. I believe it's an effort to make them loyal. And hide their dirty doings from the public. Little did they know, it was very close to backfiring tremendously.

        We met their pilots at their hanger, then began the escort back to Corasaunt. We knew we couldn't help here, but we could try to get higher-ups like Chief Strategist Kabel Laboris to help. He'd always been reasonable, and hopefully unaware of this. Though, I doubted it.

"Cira, why would the Republic do something like this?" I asked in bewilderment once we hit hyperspace.

She thought for a moment before carefully replying,"In times of war, there's little choice. But that doesn't make it right and we're going to fight to make it change for these moons."

I shook my head. Her answer wasn't enough for me. "Why are we fighting? I mean, the Republic is clearly as awful as the Seperatists when they want to be."

She looked over abruptly and gave me the sort of "watch what you say" look that I'm used to. Then she gave up and just sighed,"Has nobody really ever told you the origins of this war?"

"Nope."

"I'll give you the full story at home." Her voice was filled with guilt, and I could sense it as much. The Republic has a lot to feel guilty about. And the Jedi do too.

Our return to the Temple was as usual. We ditched our supplies and then went to train. The same lightsaber forms, the same simulations, and the same failures. Though I will say, the failures have been less frequent. I'm getting stronger, faster, smarter about everything. Too bad I only feel exhausted and lost all the time.

"Yula, you need to dig deeper!" Cira said as she brought her saber over my head. I blocked it, but couldn't stand another blow like that.

"What do you think I'm doing right now?!" I shot back, fueled by frustration.

"Then why are you losing!" She replied as she kept bearing her weight and strength on her saber. I was a lot shorter, and on the defense, so I was holding my saber up above my to hold hers back. There was so much pressure, the light and dark green hues of our sabers created pink sparks and emitted an ear splitting screech.

"Just shut up already!" I yelled angrily as I closed my eyes and felt her saber leave mine abruptly. When I opened my eyes, I didn't even know or understand what I'd done just then. Cira was laying on her back about 30 feet in front of me, her saber several feet to her left, laying on the ground smoking.

She sat up and propped her hands behind her, then stood up, wobbling at first. She quickly regained her balance and called her saber to her. It flew back to her hands, then to it's spot on her belt. I stood there motionless, awaiting a lecture or something that most Jedi would do to insubordinate padawans. But I forget sometimes that Cira wasn't most Jedi.

"Good. Do that more often." She had a proud smile on her face.

"Do what?"

"Believe in yourself," She put a hand on my shoulder as we walked back,"You may not realize it, but you have a connection to the Force that most won't even see."

I knew she was talking about the battle meditation that I couldn't for the life of me replicate.

But I'd get there.

Before we could leave the training arena, we were greeted by armed Clone Troopers dressed in Red and White armor.

"General Lorus. Commander Gafomaar. You are suspect in the murder of the four Pantoran Moon Representatives," the leader said, his hand over his blaster.

"You're both under arrest."

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~END OF PART II~