DISCLAIMER: I don't own Star Wars or any of it's characters in it's vast galaxy far, far away. But I love them (George Lucas: "I know.") and wish to play in their Cantinas. Enjoy. Reviews are greatly welcome.

Somehow they had all survived. She didn't know how, but they had. Malachor V had been destroyed along with Sion and Kreia. In her final moments Kreia had revealed that the Disciple was in love with the Exile, but she had already known that. The Exile cared for Disciple, but it was Atton who had been with her from the beginning. He had been her first companion five years ago when she had first found him in that holding cell. She had awoken in a kolto tank on a planet that was deserted. The only life they were able to find turned out to be an old Jedi woman, Kreia, the Exile herself and Atton. Later she would learn he had followed Revan during the Jedi Wars. He helped to break the Jedi and turn them to the dark side. He had even killed a woman- a Jedi. She had actually died to save him. After that he left the service of the Sith and became a wanderer with a penchant for Pazaak. Whoever he had been paled in comparison to the man who now traveled with her. For the past four years he had been training as a Jedi Sentinel and had even taught her a thing or two about blocking unwanted mind reading and tricks. His sarcastic sense of humor brought light to the darkness of space and his loyalty to her seemed to know no bounds.

In fact all of her companions held the same loyalty. Those left of the Jedi Council had told her she inspired loyalty in people for reasons they did not know and it scared them. Loyalty so complete it was almost as if she controlled her companions in a way. She was a wound in the Force that fed off the death that had lain in the wake of their journey. Others- the Sith- had learned from her ability, but it slowly destroyed them as they sought to devour the galaxy and all the Force Sensitives. They then told her that she didn't truly feel the Force. It was just the death she had caused that gave her power and that she couldn't feel at all. They were wrong. She found her strength grow with every life and world they saved. And she felt love for her companions- none more so than Atton. Before her death Kreia had also told her of Atton's love for her. She kept it to herself; for now was not the time. There was more that needed to be done and a threat that continued to grow in the Outer Rim.

" We've arrived in Nar Shadaa." came a soft voice over the comm. It was Bao-Dur. Clipping her lightsaber to her belt she stood from the corner next to the hyperdrive. The click of it helped her to keep the others from feeling her thoughts. Patting T3-M4 on the head as she passed, she turned the corridor and exited the Ebon Hawk. Atton already stood on the landing pad. He grinned at her as she came down the ramp.

"Good to be back. Not fighting for our lives, but just here to relax."

The Exile smiled " I'm sure we can find a few Twi'lek women to show you a good time again."

" No thank you." he paused for a moment, "Actually, thank you. I never did thank you. If you hadn't of had that premonition and set the mines in the Cantina, I probably wouldn't be here."

The Exile nodded, her smile fading as her mind wandered to her previous thoughts. Suddenly she felt a warm touch on her shoulder and she realized Atton was very close.

" Ariane? Where'd you go there?" He was so very close and his face held a pleading..... a yearning.

" I....." she began before quickly closing her mind and feelings off from him as a loud bang behind her has her reeling around.

" Don't you think you're carrying on a little much. It's not always about rules." Mira walked down the ramp shouldering a humongous dufflebag only half the size of the one that had hit the landing pad seconds earlier. " Besides it's not really an issue anymore. Bounty hunting just doesn't feel the same now that I'm a Jedi, so end of discussion."

Disciple was close behind carrying an equally large duffle. " What's in this thing?" he grunted as he swung it from his shoulder and prepared to throw it next to it's counterpart.

" All those mines and explosives we picked up along the way." Mira replied dropping her duffle like a bag of bricks and checking her wrist bound rocket launcher that had been jostled under the heavy load. Disciple stopped midswing and decided instead to place it gingerly at the bottom of the ramp.

Ariane allowed a small laugh to escape her and Disciple looked up at her with a smile.

" How long are we stayin' on this rock?" Atton groaned loudly from behind her.

"At least a few days." Disciple replied. Ariane felt his hand on her shoulder in a supportive gesture. " Don't you have some unfinished business with Vogga the Hutt?"

Ariane saw Atton's eyes hone in on Disciple's hand, but he quickly looked away and sighed.

" Well, I'll be at the Cantina- minus the psychopathic Twi'lek's. I deserve some jima and a couple rounds of Pazaak after all this." He turned and disappeared down the docking ramp.

" Look......" Mira began, " I never got to thank you. For showing me the Force...... Nar Shadaa.... you know?"

" Watch over Nar Shadaa." Ariane told her. "We'll need Jedi for the future. You know enough to teach others."

" You think so."

" You have come so far."

" And you have so much farther to go. Wish I could.......... but I know that......" Mira seemed to be having trouble getting the words out. Ariane knew it was because she was fighting back tears. Something she never thought she would witness from the ex bounty hunter. " Well, watch your back and......."

" May the Force be with you." Ariane finished for her. Mira's mouth twitched into a small, sad smile and with a nod she turned and also disappeared down the docking ramp.

" She will miss you greatly, Master." Visas appeared from out of the Ebon Hawk.

" I know. I can feel that from her."

" So do I." Disciple said, confusion in his voice.

" We all seem to have formed a Force Bond together. Your teachings, Master, have brought us all together in this way."

" Isn't that a little impossible for all of us to be bonded in this way?" Disciple asked.

" Hmmm. Yes. But then we have seen many impossible things from our friend and teacher."

" Maybe it will help you while you are apart to stay close and keep you all together. I need you all to stay united and watch out for certain worlds...... and each other."

The blind Miraluka paused for a moment before bowing her head and reentering the ship.

" I will watch out for you." Disciple whispered, his hand once again grasping her shoulder. She had wondered when he would make his feelings known.

" No one can come with me. This you know. Revan left all those she loved behind and so must I." Disciple's hand fell to his side. " I need you on Dantooine. Help rebuild the enclave. Maybe by doing this we can rebuild the Order. There are a few Jedi Master's in hiding. I am sure they will seek you out once the Enclave holds students again. Bao-Dur will help you...... as will Visas. She will remain with you on Dantooine."

"Ariane."

" I really need you on Dantooine." He turned her to face him.

" I know and I will go where you ask." he spoke softly, "but I need you to know that....."

" I know." Ariane whispered.

Disciple nodded and sighed. " We are Jedi and a Jedi's life is sacrifice. Maybe it shouldn't be that way. Maybe that's what leads to the arrogance and indifference that destroyed the Council." He paused for a moment. " You love him. It strengthens you."

" I love you all. It is all of you that strengthen me."

Disciple smiled. " Yes, but Atton moreso than the rest. You glow more when you are with him."

" Thank you for your understanding." She pulled Disciple into an embrace. "Thank you so much, my friend."

Disciple gave a groan "Why couldn't I have become a scoundrel and gone to Peragus?" They laughed.

" Levity. Nice." a floating black and grey droid said in a curt voice, " but we have business to attend to."

" Yes GO-TO. Let's go see a Hutt about some fuel."