I crouched low to the ground, staying just below the tallest weeds. I needed to keep in my sight the ancient, crumbling ruins on the other side of the clearing. There my target or targets lay hidden from the rest of the world. If I hadn't noticed their ship crossing hastily through the early morning sky two days ago on my daily rounds they would have gone unknown.

I had tracked them over those two days, not finding a trace of them and feeling more and more worthless as each hour droned on. I was afraid that if I didn't find them they would end up attacking my people. I couldn't have that. I wouldn't! Not while I was still alive and able to kick.

I'd almost given up hope when, just this afternoon, my tracker had picked up a faint signal from a small and unmarked ship. I had followed it and it had led me here. The ruins were the perfect place to hide out in. No one but a few hotshot teenagers came out to them. They were unsafe, and a lot of people claimed them to be haunted by vengeful soldiers' spirits.

As I got closer to the ruins my heart began to pound like crazy. I was nervous. There was no telling who or what I was about to ambush, or if anyone was even here. If there was people then there was a small chance that they could be gentle folk who had ran out of fuel early on their trip, but I was willing to bet my life that they were either sent here by Sith Sidieous himself or part of the Confederacy. Just what my father needed. An attack while our nation was weak. We would be crushed. I had to do all that I could to stop that from happening.

I reached the beginning of the ruins and pulled my blaster from its holster. I held it firmly in my hand and silently inched my way forward. My highly trained eyes scanned the area before me. I was looking for the slightest sign of life or movement. Anything that would give them away. Sadly there was nothing to be seen or heard. Whoever was here (or had been here) was being extremely cautious. I felt almost blind as I plunged myself deeper into my unfamiliar surroundings. It was something that didn't sit too well with me.

I was about halfway through when I thought about giving up on my search. There was no way that they were here if they were part of the Confederacy. If their main objective was my father and my people then they would have set out by now to carry their evil deeds. I was running on my stubborn pride, but it was starting to wear thin. I was hungry and tired, and wasn't sure how much longer I could go on.

Because my mind was more focused on my sore body and dented pride, I didn't notice the sizeable rock that lay I my path. My foot made contact with the rock and I fell forward onto my knees. My blaster flew from my hands as I put them out to brace my fall. I felt a fierce pain race through my legs and opened my mouth to cry out, but stopped the noise from escaping. A faint buzzing was coming from behind. A buzz like that from a drawn lightsaber.

I turned my head around and saw a young Jedi a few inches from me. His lightsaber was on and at the ready. He was no older than me and his face still had some of its boyish cuteness. His hair was short and the single braid behind his ear moved slightly in the breeze. His dark eyes (so much older than they should be) gazed down at me intensely. A tremor flowed down my body as I found that I could not tear away from them.

"Anakin, put your lightsaber away. She can do us no harm, "a voice said from the front of me. I swung my head around and found another Jedi a few years then the one behind me. His jaw was strong with just a hint of a beard, and his brown eyes were kind. In his hand was my blaster.

"We can not be so sure, master. " Anakin raised his lightsaber. I cried out, afraid of what he might do to me.

"Do as I say, Anakin," the older Jedi said. Anakin glared furiously at me for a moment and then turned off his lightsaber. I sighed with relief.

"Are you okay?" the Jedi asked me. I tried to tell him, yes, but my mouth wouldn't work. It was dry like a shriveled up bug, and I had to settle with giving him a nod. I rose from my knees slowly and the pain was like that of hell. I gritted my teeth and tried not to let my discomfort show. I didn't want to appear weak along with being clumsy.

"Anakin, don't be rude. Help her." Anakin made no move to do so. The older Jedi shook his head, clearly disappointed. He stepped toward me and held my arm as I made my way over the nearest wall. "I am so sorry. He isn't one of the politest padawans."

"Th-that's fine," I croaked out. "I'll be okay."

"Sure? Good. Here's your blaster." I took it from him and mumbled my thanks."And by the way my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Anakin Skywalker." Anakin just barely glimpsed my way.

"Hello. I'm Delcesca Fillblade. Are you the two Jedi sent here to speak with my father, Pryor Fillblade?" I asked, rubbing my sore knees. The pain was dulling into a pulsing throb. The bruises were going to look horrible. Just a few more to add to the twenty or so that already covered my body.

"Yes, we are." Obi-Wan said.

"That's great. He'll be happy to speak with you. He's be itching to tell you the information that he stole from that Confederacy battleship."

"And we are excited to be getting it, but I believe it is unwise to be talking of such things in a place like this. Who knows what might be repeated to unfriendly ears, " Obi-Wan said. My ears began to turn a little red. I was embarrassed. I didn't like this Jedi telling me something I should have known. My father would be so disappointed if he found out that I was being so careless.

"I'm sorry, but I'm just...well...I have a bad habit of not being able to close my mouth on certain matters."

"Perfectly fine," Obi-Wan reassured me.

"Um...if you don't mind me asking, what took so long? We were expecting you weeks ago." Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged a knowing look. I knew by it that they weren't going to tell me, at least not here. Maybe that was best.

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter." I said mostly to break the sudden quiet."The most important thing is that you're here. We should be setting off. If we start now then we can get there by late nightfall. "

"You should rest." Obi-Wan said.

"No, I've been away from home for too long. My father and sisters must be worried about me. I want to get back as soon as possible."I started back the way I came.

"If you think that's best," Obi-Wan said, running over to help me as I limped. He hissed at Anakin to help, and reluctantly he walked over and did.

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