The air was harsh and cold upon Ahsokas face. She couldn't help but wonder if the the planet herself was trying to attack the 'invader' in any way it can. It wouldn't be surprising, considering the reaction she received from those all around her.

She had been woken early in the morning by one of the acolytes in the temple. He had arrived to take her to the training grounds where she will be taught by a man called Hosek Raan. It didn't take long for her to makp e her way to the grounds, the acolytes polite enough to avoid staring at her... unique features. That politeness was nowhere to be found here.

The grounds were nothing more than barren grounds that encompassed dust and several viewing stands for any watchers around each square. The grounds had been divided up into squares, more than she could count if she had the time to. Most were empty upon inspection but some were being used by trainees, either in full groups of 30 or just several pairs of warriors, sparring with either lightsaber or other tools in hand.

It was impressive to say the least. These people could outmatch the Jedi if they wanted to, Ahsoka thought. Stop it! You're suppose to be fighting for peace. Though, these people don't look like they want peace. She mentally groaned at the thought.

None of the trainees around her were discreet in their gaze. Some looked at her with curiosity whilst others, unfortunately, in disgust. She was the first to arrive in her group, left to her own devices as she waited for their arrival. It felt like ages until the first of the group started to arrive, surprised at the sight of her. From then on it became a routine for every new attendee to simply watch for several seconds before resuming what they had set out to do. She noticed that they all wore similar training gear, brown leather worn into white and grey robes, short sleeved and designed for practicality. Now she was forced to stand alone and pretend that she wasn't aware of their stares as they chatted in groups amongst themselves. It was a weird feeling, never before having felt such stares simply because of how she looked. Ahsoka wasn't sure what to make of it.

The trainees started to stiffen Ahsoka realised, their eyes drawn to something behind her. A voice broke out, his voice tinged with an artificial boom.

"Everyone get in line, now! If anyone is not in line by the time I get there, you will be running around the training grounds until I see limbs fall off!"

Ahsoka turned to face this voice, ignoring the panicked scrambling of the other trainees around her. The man was smaller than what she initially thought, probably only a couple of inches taller than Ahsoka. It was clear however, that he didn't need the height to be intimidating.

The man had the look of madness and death. Near half of his body and face was covered with cybernetics, a dull grey in colour. His entire right side had been replaced with robotic parts, his right arm in particular had been replaced with a human shaped design. The right side of of his chest and shoulder had been replaced as well, left bare in contrast to his simple black tunic. the only untouched part of his head was the left side of his face, his entire nose and mouth covered. Scarred tissue had slightly edged past his mask and onto his brown shaded skin. What space was left of his bald head was covered with strange symbols, cult like in design, tattooed over his head and cheek.

He was intense, radiating both power and an aura of intimidation around his very being. His left eye, yellow in colour, with his right eye covered with a yellow slit. Ahsoka quickly realised that his eye was trained solely on her.

"Saedrin! Get your brother in line now or you'll both be running!" He warned, his eyes not once leaving Ahsoka, who was quickly becoming the only one to have not fallen in line.

It wasn't like Ahsoka was deliberately trying to be defiant or annoy the man, but she wanted to see what footing the two were on. That and she didn't want him to think he can treat her like dirt.

It was that reason why she had straightened herself at his approach, alone now in the square and with the man now mere inches from her face.

"You're strong Jedi, I can tell," He notes, studying her "Good. You'll need to be with these lot."

His voice, artificial but still retaining hints of humanity, was but a whisper. He spoke with humour, as if the idea of his group turning on her apparently a pleasant thought.

"Know that I shall treat you fairly, like anyone else. Though they will say I am unfair." He chuckled, a harsh and bitter sound escaping his lips, which is silenced quickly.

"I warn you Jedi, if you try anything that endangers my students, then I will end it. Permanently."

His eye is intense with its glare, waiting to see her reaction.

"I understand." Ahsoka replies, holding the mans gaze.

He nods once and then motions for Ahsoka to get in line. She obliged. Ahsoka kept her head high and her back straight as she walked to the end of the line, ignoring the stares from the rest of the students.

"To those that don't know me, I am Battle Master Hosek Raan. I will teach you how to wage war, to wage war with honour and to face those who have none."

Ahsoka realised then how these strange people seemed to have a proficiency in battle. They were trained specifically with war in mind, whilst Jedi were peacekeepers who were trained to defend themselves if needed. It was a worrying thought, if she couldn't help bring peace between these people and the Republic.

"We have a Jedi among us, Ahsoka Tano is her name. Step forth child and face us." He spoke bluntly, Ahsoka realising that he wanted to get the fact she was a Jedi out of the way.

"Students, this Jedi was part of the force that we fought in first contact. She was a Commander of the Galactic Republic." Raan was doing this deliberately she knew, he wanted them angry. He wanted them to hate.

"Some of you will now face her in combat, to know what it is like facing an experienced warrior. Del Fin, pick four others and get ready to fight." Raan ignored the surprised stare of Ahsoka, pretending to be oblivious.

Wonderful, Ahsoka thought, he wants to punish me.

"Does anyone want to help Jedi Tano defend herself?" Raan asked, knowing the outcome.

Ahsoka watched as no one from the line stepped forward to aid her. She turned then, feeling the presence of the five students armed with wooden training swords awaiting her.

A movement from the line caught the edge of her sight, Ahsoka immediately turning to see who had caused it. A tall boy, easily taller than Ahsoka and everyone else, took a step forward. Ahsoka could see on his face, youthful and surprisingly innocent in contrast to the others, the need to help her. The Padawan began to hope before a hand tugged on the boys arm, the hand belonging to a boy standing next to him, and through a stare alone he brought the giant back in line. His guilty expression was obvious but he stayed still after that. Ahsokas hope sank.

She turned back to face her new training partners.

"Do I have a weapon?" She asked, fearing the answer.

"Yes," Raan said, a smile obvious even behind his mask, "though you'll need to get it from your new friends. Begin!"

They came at her with speed and anger. The one called Del Fin lead the way, his short stylised black hair flowing past him, aiming low for her feet whilst another went high. Ahsoka rolled to the left of Del Fin before executing a series of fast punches directly into his ribs, knocking the air out from his body. Before she could take his training weapon however, Ahsoka felt her right leg buckle from a precise strike to her knee. Not allowing herself to lose the initiative, Ahsoka turns in a low arc before wrapping her left leg on the female attackers outstretched arm and pulls. The girl quickly loses her footing and is flipped past Ahsoka and into the path of a male student, causing both to crash to the ground with a huff.

Grabbing the girls weapon, Ahsoka just barely is able to block the incoming overhead strike from a muscular girl, the power of the blow sending vibrations into Ahsokas hand. Blocking several quick strikes from all directions from the warrior, Ahsoka realised that whilst she doesn't have the power advantage, she easily takes the speed advantage. The Padawan stepped into the next strike, avoiding it due to her close proximity, before quickly hitting pinpoint strikes into the girls chest. A leg sweep took the girl off her feet, though Ahsoka soon found herself surrounded by the other students and soon found herself defending herself from all sides.

Ahsoka knew that it was a losing battle, she was surrounded and being attacked from all sides and was growing tired from having to constantly change directions. The climax came courtesy of Del Fin. The student, with a dirty grin on his face, uses the force to whip dust directly into Ahsokas face, blinding her and leaving her as easy prey for the swift and numerous strikes from the other students. Ahsoka fell to her knees, weakly defending herself as best she could from their vicious assault. A full on strike to her face drew blood.

Enough of this!

Ahsoka, angry and in pain, violently pushed her attackers away with the force. The students as if thrown by a large breeze fell to the ground sharply, several steps away. They quickly started to get back up to attack once again before a lone voice echoed across the grounds.

"Enough! This sparring session is over." Raan called out, his voice loud and in no mood for discussion.

Ahsoka spat blood out of her mouth, her breath shaky as she spoke. "You teach your students to pull dirty tricks? I thought you said you would wage war honourably?" She was fuming as she cautiously got back to her feet.

Raan was absolute in his words. "You of all people should know that not everyone will be honourable in battle. You should have prepared yourself to deal with it." Del Fin, only just getting up to go his feet had a toothy grin on his face, something that Raan quickly got rid of.

"You think you were clever boy?" Raan spoke as he rounded on the arrogant student, "You had a five against one advantage as well as having weapons whilst the Jedi had none of her own. Yet she has beaten you still. Only a dirty trick granted you victory."

Del Fin spoke in anger, his voice melodic despite this. "So? You said it yourself Master Raan, sometimes you should take out the enemy," he hammered the last word out, gaze pointedly at Ahsoka, "dirty."

Raan was not amused. "Dirty tactics are used depending on the right situation and the enemy. They are not used because of you and your fellow students lack of ability." He was staring daggers at the boy, Del Fin shrinking upon every word and the rest of the class grimacing from the sides.

"You've proven nothing but your own lack of skill. What would your brother think of you now?"

Raan walked away, ignoring the shocked and angry look that Del Fin was giving him.

He turned to the rest of the class.

"Ahsoka Tano will run five laps around the entire training grounds for her failures and mistakes." Ahsoka grimaced at the thought. I'm getting punished for being ganged up on.

"The others will run ten laps for their mistakes. Let this be a reminder of what failure brings."

Well, Ahsoka thought with a smirk, it could have been worst.

"Everyone else, get a sparring partner and

begin one on one combat." Raan walked to Ahsoka, ignoring the stares and moans of the other students upon his announcement.

"Go to the medical officer to get checked out before you start your laps girl. Back the way you came, first door on the right."

Ahsoka merely nodded and started to walk away, still catching her breath from the beating her body had taken.

"Girl, you did good. But keep an eye on your right side. When you're alone, fight alone. There won't be anyone there to watch your flanks."

Ahsoka nodded, feeling a mixture of pride and sadness from his words before walking away from the training grounds.