Ok, everyone, time for the next chapter! We're going to have a bit of tears in this one, so be prepared! As I said last chap, we're diving in deeper to how badly Embo was affected by his childhood experiences, so without further ado…

DISCLAIMERS!

The author does not own Star Wars yadda yadda yadda… only the OCs and the plot blah blah blah…

"LET'S GET ON WITH IT! YOU'VE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES BY NOW!"

Sheesh, Bane, calm down...

"When you find yourself alone and hurting,

Nearly total strangers will offer their advice

And help and encouragement."

~ Jill Charlotte Stanford

"Time doesn't heal emotional pain,

You need to learn to let go."

~ Roy T. Bennett

Embo tossed and turned in his sleep, whimpers escaping him. The whimpers escalated into soft sounds of distress, and then grew louder, and louder, until they became cries of terror!

In the quarters next to Embo's, Kit Fisto woke with a start, hearing the Kyuzo's distress. In a flash, the Nautolan was out of bed, and went to Embo's quarters, hurrying to the Kyuzo's side when he saw the state he was in.

The Kyuzo's emotional upheaval was causing random objects to fly violently through the air, and he had, by this time, curled up in a tight ball, quaking with fear as he slept.

"Embo… Embo! Wake up!" Kit urged, putting a hand on Embo's shoulder, gently shaking him. "Embo, you're in the Jedi Temple! You're safe!"

Suddenly, the Kyuzo woke up with a loud gasp, jerking violently! His golden yellow eyes were wide open, glowing, as he stared at nothing while breathing rapidly. By this time, Mace Windu and Plo-Koon had come into the room, after being woken up by Embo's fearful cries.

Kit, not wanting to see Embo looking so lost and afraid, sat down next to the bed, and took the Kyuzo into his arms, holding the quaking Bounty Hunter to hs chest, and rubbing soothing circles into his back. The effect was immediate.

At first, Embo struggled in the Nautolan's grip, but gave up a minute later with a keening wail of fear, curling into the comforting embrace and burying his face in Kit's shoulder as hoarse, desperate sobs tore themselves from him, causing his already-shaking form to tremble even more violently. Kit could feel his shoulder growing wet with the Kyuzo's tears, and did his best to comfort him.

"Shh… it's alright… you're safe… you're going to be ok…" Kit was shocked to find tears forming in his own eyes, as the Kyuzo clung to him, desperate for the comfort he had denied himself for so long. "I've got you… I'm here for you… you're going to be ok… we're going to help you…"

Slowly, Embo stopped shaking, his sobs quieting to soft whimpers, and the flying objects went back to their proper places. Then, after a few more minutes, the Kyuzo fell asleep, going limp in the Nautolan's arms. It was only then that the other two Jedi Masters dared to get closer.

"When he said he experienced nightmares… I hadn't thought it was like… that," Mace said, his voice a barely-audible whisper. Plo just nodded, too shocked to speak.

The situation was more serious than they imagined.

They needed help.

An emergency Council meeting was called together first thing in the morning, many of the members still half-asleep with mugs of hot caf to wake themselves up. Once everyone was semi-awake, Kit started off the meeting.

"I know that at least some of you were awakened by a disturbance last night, which is the reason I have called us together at this early hour…" Master Fisto took in a deep breath, the memories of last night still fresh in his mind. "It was Embo. When I went into his quarters to check on him, he was having a nightmare… the one he told us about."

The others were all wide awake now, as Kit went on to describe the whole ordeal. When he finally finished, he let his head fall into his hands.

"The worst part is, he still doesn't fully trust us yet… and it will most likely be a challenge to earn his trust." He then looked over at Obi-Wan. "You've encountered him before… do you know anyone he might be closer to?"

"Yes… there are a few other Bounty Hunters he is friends with…" Obi-Wan said slowly, stroking his beard in contemplation. "Unfortunately, we aren't exactly on good terms with most of them. Cad Bane, for instance."

"Which ones are we on good terms with?" Mace asked, and Kenobi looked over.

"Well, there's the Iridonian woman, Sugi. She helped save Ahsoka and those younglings; from how they interacted on Felucia, she and Embo are quite close," Obi-Wan said, remembering how Sugi had acted directly after Hondo had shot at Embo with a tank. "I believe she's still close to him… I've kept in contact with her, after he vanished."

"Bring her up on the comm., please. She's our best bet at helping Embo," Mace requested, and Kenobi went over to where a holo-comm. Platform was rising in the center of the room. Once he had put in the number, there was a tense wait, before a hologram of the Zabrak woman materialized.

:General Kenobi, this is a surprise:

she said, her voice warmly accented. :What can I do for the Jedi Council? Younglings need rescue again?:

"No, it's something much more complicated, ma'am," Mace said, bringing Sugi's attention upon himself. "To be frank, you friend Embo is here at the Temple, and we need you to help us help him."

:What?!: Sugi exclaimed, eyes wide. :What happened to him?!:

"We'll explain more once you arrive," Windu said, noting her determination, "For now, let's just say he needs someone he trusts…"

Whoa! That was shorter than I thought it would be when I wrote it on paper! Well, next chapter, Sugi arrives at the Jedi Temple! What will she find? And how is Embo doing, after his rough night? STAY TUNED!