A/N: Sorry about the long wait!

Chapter 6: Turning point

With the aid of Vergere's tears, Crystallia recovered quickly. With Jacen nursing her health all that remained was to regain her weight back. The haunted look still shimmered in her eyes, but whenever he was there that familiar optimistic spark blazed to life. It was a week to the event and Jacen could sense the restlessness in Nom Anor and the cautious glances Vergere would send his way.

The old bird knew something and it would be something that he wouldn't like. But he would deal with it when it came. Right now, it was about getting his girlfriend's healthy enough so when the timing for the escape arrived she would be ready. Lying next to Crystallia on her bed, he let the conviction of his decision fill him. Wiping the damp cloth slowly down her scarred arm, he watched as those eyes studied the healing arm.

Resting his hand on her wrist, Jacen leaned toward her face. Crystallia moved her face upwards allowing for their lips to make contact once more. Jacen felt the brief hesitancy before caving in allowing blissful existence drown him once more. Deepening the kiss, he moved his body to loom over hers as a small arm snaked up his shoulders keeping him in place.

Pulling away he felt her hot breath panting. Feeling an intoxicating urge wind up in him, Jacen lowered his lips to trail down her cheek and chin to rest on her neck.

"J-Jacen," stuttered Crystallia.

Jacen pulled back and smiled softly at the flushed face of the girl, "I want to do this."

"Jacen…"

Bending down, he rubbed his nose lightly against hers, "I've missed you…and during those long night I realized something...that...I love you…"

Instead of seeing those orbs fill up with that blinding brightness, they sunk into deep ocean black. Doubt dragged the strings of the Force around him but Jacen assumed that it was all tied to her fragile state of mind. "It's not your fault."

"It is-" Before she could say more, Jacen cut her off by sealing his lips over hers. His passion shoved all the doubt he sensed and he couldn't help but smirk when he felt her hands grip him tighter. One of his hands began to travel downwards and pulled her leg slightly upwards.

Crystallia broke the kiss, panting heavier with glazed over eyes. "Jacen!"

Jacen kissed her moist cheeks, a thought of why she was crying flashed in his mind.

"W-we…I…you" But her fractured soft words were lost in the confusion of guilt and pleasure.

Thankfully, a cough broke the setting before it went any further. Jacen pulled back seating himself at the foot of the bed with Crystallia pulling away from him, propping herself up against the wall. In the doorway Nom Anor held a smug look on his face while Vergere looked deeply disappointed with her gray colored feathers plastered to her skull.

"I hope we are not intruding on anything."

Jacen was about to respond but Crystallia beat him to the punch. "No sir, we were actually just finishing."

"Oh?" Nom Anor cocked an eyebrow. "Finishing?"

Crystallia slide out of bed and bowed, "Yes. I have done what you have asked of me, Master." She could feel the confusion building in Jacen but she had do this. It was the only way. In her isolation, Crystallia realized what must be done in order to protect her love. "Jacen has bedded me multiple times."

Jacen felt his mouth drop open and was about to protest when Crystallia raised her head and locked cold eyes on Jacen. The cold stare stunned him into silence.

"So that was what you two were doing in these meetings." Everyone could sense how much Nom Anor wanted to laugh, but he only continued to widen a grin.

"It seems in our time apart, Jacen has fallen for me," whispered the woman without missing a single beat to betray her guilt.

Nom Anor waved his hand towards himself motioning for Crystallia to come to him. "And his loyalty." Crystallia moved towards her master, who surprisingly laid a hand on her shoulder, "Now, you must go to the shaper and see if you have conceived a child."

Crystallia bowed slightly and left, not once looking behind her. Nom Anor halted his grin into a halfway smile at the stunned face of Jacen. "With the prospect of a family, I doubt you will be willing to leave anytime soon. Especially if Crystallia and the child's lives are at stake."

Comprehension dawned on Jacen's face manifesting itself in pure hatred. "You-"

Nom Anor turned, "Now, now, let's not lose our temper. You did this all yourself, even though Crystallia' seduction skills were less than mediocre. Oh well, the mission was accomplished." Shrugging, the Vong let out a chuckle, "Welcome to your new family, boy." With that said, Nom Anor turned to leave and report his news to the War Master with a bounce to his step.

Jacen could only sit frozen in his spot, his vision darkening by the moment with hatred. Part of him was still in shock, not knowing what was going on. But that dark serpent knew very well what was happening and it was laughing in the back of his mind.

Jacen had been played a fool.

Vergere's voice pierced his mind, "Tell me you-"

"I don't want to hear it right now!" growled Jacen, fists clenching at his robe to prevent the rage that wanted to focus in on his teacher. How easy would it be to just vent out all his anger on her fragile body? "My species is known to have a fragile neck…"

Vergere sensed the darkness trembling underneath her student's body. It was the same presence of what she encountered deep underground when she had told Jacen the secret of the Jedi. She knew of the dangers, but her student needed her help. Stepping in front of him, black eyes soaked in the squeezed eyes and the tiny river of blood that seeped from his bitten lip. "Take a walk, Jacen."

Brown eyes lifted up slowly, staring down at her. "Wh-"

"Take a walk. Ponder over what you have learned today before rushing off to do something you will regret."

"But-"

"No buts Jacen. You need a clear a mind."

Jacen sighed, knowing that he wouldn't be going anywhere with this conversation. And in a strange way now that he glanced around, the room seemed too small and he could still smell Crystallia in the room.

Nodding, he wove past his mentor and marched out into the darkness of the tunnel. Vergere sighed, sending a wave of gratitude to the Force for surviving the event. She knew that Jacen was powerful and did not want a repeat of events in this small room. Frowning, she narrowed her black eyes, whiskers twitching in contemplation. From Jacen's reaction, she knew that not all of what Crystallia said was truth. Feet pattering quickly on the ground, it took the small alien only a few minutes to find herself in front of the medical ward. Pushing aside the long green vines, she waved her hand signaling the medic to leave the room. Sitting on a long moss covered table, Crystallia swung her legs back and forth.

Her brown eyes shot upwards at the new occupant. Vergere's whiskers twitched as she made herself over to the girl. Flexing her fingers, the small alien's eyes narrowed into slits like a sheet of obsidian. "Congratulations you have undermined everything."

"I didn't mean to."

Vergere scoffed, "Come now, child. We both know that is a lie through and through."

Anger flashed on the young woman's face but Vergere held up her hand. A darkness overtook the mocking edge of her tone, "Enough. I will not play games with you. I know that you lied to Nom Anor. It was clear as day with Jacen's reaction that you two did nothing of the sort. I just want to know why so I can fix this mess."

Crystallia frowned and folded her arms across her chest, "And re-indoctrinate him, no. I won't let him become some mindless slave."

"The road that Jacen walks is of his own choosing."

"Yeah but full of your's and Nom Anor's persuasion. You two are the only ones he's allowed to talk to and listen to. Who'd you think he would follow?"

"You."

A shock look fell over Crystallia's face, "Wh-what?

Feathers shimmered in a mirage of colors. It was like talking to a child, much like Jacen was in the beginning. They were fearful but did not take into consideration the repercussions of their actions or their surroundings. "Jacen cares for you and during your absence he was depressed. I could sense that he wanted to protect you and when you returned was dead set on freeing you from this place."

Crystallia felt her eyes begin to burn. Quickly glancing downwards, she fought to keep a neutral face. "I see. So everything he decides now centers around me."

"Yes," whispered the small alien.

The young woman smiled a bittersweet smile. "Funny, I was doing the same thing."

Vergere's black eyes blinked as she tilted her head to the side. "Oh."

Hugging herself, Crystallia gazed at the floor with a distant look. "When I was in…confinement…I made a decision that I wouldn't let Jacen become like me, some scared slave that had lost all her fight against these invaders. Then I heard about the ceremony and how Nom Anor wanted Jacen to kill a Jedi. That's when I formulated a plan. I would free Jacen from myself so he only had to think about himself and get out before they truly broke him. And the only way to do such an act was to lie about being pregnant."

Vergere felt a twinge of sorrow for the girl. Her love for Jacen signaled a drastic sacrifice and could very well mean the end of her. "You know Nom Anor will find out the truth."

"But by then Jacen will be long gone."

"And how did you come to this conclusion?"

"I overheard one of the shapers talking about how he's been taking care of a ship for Anor. I can tell you where it is if you promise to look out after Jacen."

Vergere smiled softly, "And what makes you think I would look out after him in his best interests?"

Crystallia glanced up and locked eyes with the alien, "Because I know that you have invested a lot in Jacen and to see him become some pawn for the Vong would hurt you more than I did."

A chuckle vibrated the feathers into an amused orange state, "Very well, little one. But what of you?"

A resigned look befell the young face, "Don't worry about me."

Vergere nodded. She could hear the long –dead confident voice of a law enforcer emerging from the grave. "Then tell me of this ship?"

---------------------------------------

A/N: R&R and onto the next chappie!