Chapter III

"Bastard!", she cries out.

"There is no emotion, there is Peace", the Sith keeps on mocking her.

"I bet that's the only line of the Code you managed to learn, so they just had to throw you out!"

"Silence, Jedi! You know nothing of my training! Not all Sith were once part of your pissy order."

She jumps up, ready to go at Tama, but immediately loses her green lightsaber to him.

He is laughing and calling for his men to come closer.

"How many gains in a single day...", he concludes in self-achievement. "We got the stupid ASEK, killed an even more stupid Jedi, I got rid of that bore Averal... always seemed a bit of a threat... and, what is maybe the most interesting part of it, got myself a Jedi slave."

"Isn't master going to love me", he adds ironically.

One of his men smiles in approval. "You're the smartest Sith master up to now." He sounds just a little bit dull. "You sure know how to live your life!"

Tama looks at him suspiciously, then returns an arrogant smile. "And apparently, I'm the only one having personal talks with his lackeys."

A couple of men grin at Illeanna meaningfully and tend to come even closer than Tama has ordered. A sharp tilt of his head in their direction and a devastatingly cold gaze tells them that wouldn't be too smart.

"Let's use this little time we've left to get away safely. Unless someone else gets in our way, I'm carrying the ASEK; you two", and he nods at two of the taller men, "will be carrying her."

"Carry me?! You won't be getting away with the kit as long as I live!"

"Calling death upon yourself for the sake of this?", he snorts and points pettily at the package on the ground. "I don't think that is what I'll be giving to you."

She stares at his wide gray eyes. She knows she is feeling hatred, but she cannot help it. She is willing to give up on her mind completely, if only she can make his brain explode. Sadly, it is not working. She tries with her Force powers again, but they are weakened and, as before, only seem to work on the soldiers.

"What have you taught me in these five years?!", her thoughts scream. "Helpless! I am totally helpless and incapable!"

She starts feeling dizzy and it is too late to react when she realizes it is Darth Tama's doing. She falls over in exhaustion, completely drained.

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"Young Deiron, reunited with the Force, he has."

"..."

"And... master Eol's padawan, Illeanna?"

"She is alive. But this bond we used to share... it has faded significantly."

"Far away, she is. Taken her with them, the Sith have."
"Distant, she is."

"Could it be possible... that..."

"No, I give my word, she would never!"

"You cannot guarantee that, master Eol. You know you could only give your word that you wish she never..."
"Even the best Jedi knew no better than to fail us, and she is not even among the best."

"I have watched her training; I know the way she is! She would... never..."

"I trust in master Eol's judgment. As the Council requested at the time, I have accompanied the girl on her quests on several occasions. She is nothing alike the hearty, self-headed young ones that usually bear some talent to them. But the Force is still very strong within her. I noticed her being more silent than the rest... but sincere when she speaks and... good at heart."
"Illeanna is the last padawan I think would betray us."

"..."

"Then she must be passing through the worst right now..."

"..."

"That, she is... In pain, she is."

"May the Force lead her to us again."

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Illeanna wakes up in the dark. Her arms are shackled to a metal machinery and she can feel no energy in her legs to know whether they are shackled, too. She has been stripped of all clothes but underwear and her hair is braided and sticky with some gel. Her whole body is aching.

The ship door opens. Light pierces through and falls upon her. A figure she has grown familiar with appears in the light.

"Darth Tama", she spits out weakly.