A little chapter just to let you know that I'm still around. Just haven't had much time for this story lately. I hope you enjoy :D

Disclaimer : Nothing here is mine accept Keira and my ideas. Right...

Chapter 11 : Jedi Princess

After finishing his second round with the swoop bike, Carth Onasi is beginning to believe that he might just actually win this race. His fear of dying on the track now replaced with confidence. You can do this old man. His score now displayed across the announcing board. BEKS 28.6

Not permitted in or near the pits, Keira, Mission and Big Z watch from the top of the crowded stands. From the very beginning, Keira had argued that she didn't approve of Carth being the one to race. Although it did make complete sense why he should be the one to do it. He after all is a pilot and Keira has no experience driving a swoop bike. Why would she?

Mission sticks out her tongue and begins to 'boo' at a Vulkar member who has just crushed Carth's score. The new time to beat now displayed high for everyone to see VULKARS 24.8. "Aww man! This blows. Carth could have won this with just racing two of his heats. Now he has to go a third time."

Keira studies the 'time' to beat up on the announcing board. "What do you think his chances are?"

Mission pauses from her 'booing' and gives her scoundrel friend a lop sided smile. "Not good. But he's got the Bek bike. And we both know it's got certain advantages."

"Yeah...I guess your right."

Carth grins as he steers his bike to the starting line once more. The captain stretches his arms in-front of him and gives his wrists a good shake. No pressure. Relax. The start light flashes and he takes off. Not missing one platform, he makes every jump and uses the accelerator each time. Got to beat 24.8. Get 24.7 or 24.6. Just beat his time.

Lights on the wall flicker in his sight as he speeds down the track. His memory is working over time trying to remember exactly where each piece of wreckage is, exactly when to hit the little red button that will launch him forward at double the speed. Two piles of wreckage, that means the next jump is now. He hits the button. The bike speeds up, it's engine thunders and he is sent hurtling pass the finish line.

The crowd jumps in excitement cheering the Beks. Keira stands on her seat in order to see the score. BEKS 23.5 She expects to see Carth returning with the swoop bike. Expects to see him be congratulated by the mechanics.

Expects to see him.

"Somethings wrong. Where is he?" Keira eyes scan the pit and then the track.

"I can't see him." Mission stretches herself high and stands on her tippy toes trying to see over the bobbing heads of the spectators.

"Oh Force!" Keira bolts down the walkway and heads for the pits. She bursts past the guards of the entrance to the swoop bike area and darts down the track.

Ahead she can see flames, lots of flames. Her heart rate quickens as she picks up her speed. "Carth! Carth! Oh Force..." She closes in on the wreckage and notices the pilot pulling himself out of the pile of burning metal.

"Carth!" He doesn't seem to hear her.

The dazed captain pulls himself from the wreckage and stands. He can feel his back burning. Hastily he rips the jacket off and tosses it aside. Falling to one knee he attempts to remove his helmet. So hard to breath. The captain wheezes as the smell of burning plastic fills his senses.

Finally, he manages to remove his head gear and takes in a deep breath. Now on both knees, he winces as the pain of the crash slowly starts to take affect. Forcing his eyes to open, he notices someone running down the track shouting his name. He attempts to stand, but is doubled over by the pain coursing throughout his body.

"Force. Carth." Keira kneels down beside him. She holds the pilots face in her hands. "Are you alright?"

He winces and grits his teeth together in an attempt to hold back the searing pain. "I. . . I'm not sure. . . Think I might have. . . Breathing. . . So hard to breath." His own body weight begins to take a toll on him and he falls to his side.

Keira removes her jacket and rests it under his head. "I need to check you for serious enjuries."

She drags her hands along his scalp and neck and checks her fingers. No blood. She feels his shoulders and back. Nothing seems to be broken. Feeling his ribs lightly with her finger tips, she finds a problem. A broken rib. Somehow she just knows that it has punchured his lung.

Then suddenly, the strangest thing happens. Her hands hover just above his chest. She begins taking slow even breaths. Her hands tingle.

"Feels like cool water." She says out loud while closing her eyes. Something feels so right, so natural.

Keira continues to breath slowly. Then she feels it. The cool water sensation makes its way from her center and stretches out to her finger tips. She can feel it flow through her veins.

She opens her eyes just as she feels the water reach her finger tips. A light blue glow surrounds her hands and then she gently rests them above her comrades chest. After a few moments of concentration, the pilots breathing regulates and he falls into a deep sleep.

Keira holds her hands out in front of her, looking at them like they were some alien object she had never seen before. She turns them left to right. "How. . . How did I. . . What did I. . . ?"

"Keira! Keira! Oh Force! Is he ok? I mean is he. . . Don't let him be. . ." Mission runs towards Keira and quickly makes her way to Carths side. She covers her mouth in shock, the worst of thoughts coming to mind.

"No. . . He's ok. I think. Z, can you and Mish stay here with him. I will go get a medic and see what's going on with Bastila."

Mission stares up at Keira horrified. "What?!"

"Don't worry. He'll be fine. I won't be long." Keira darts off back towards the pits as Mission and Big Z are left behind wondering what is going on.

Thick black smoke hide the brilliant bright glow of the stars as Carth looks to the night sky. Out of breath, he bends over resting his palms on his knees. He attempts to take a few breaths. The smoke, the smell of sulfur and burning flesh make it almost impossible to breath.

Again he darts off running. His feet hitting the ground hard as he makes his way to what use to be a familiar place. These streets, this city, these people almost seem unidentifiable to him. Everything is so different. Everything is burning. Everything.

Keira watches as the pilot mumbles and stirs in his sleep. His body is covered in a cold sweat. Lightly, she finger combs his hair trying to sooth him. She is hoping that maybe at least in this state that he will sleep peacefully.

The captains eyes dart open. He attempts to sit, but a sudden rush of pain hits him. Carth falls back to the mattress clenching his naked chest. Keira steadies him and urges him to stay still.

"Hey, hey. Take it easy. It's ok." She continues to allow her hand to run through his hair.

Carth eyes his surroundings, studying the walls and the ceiling. "Are we..." He holds his side realizing that talking will be difficult. "Are we still at the Bek base?"

The little scoundrel smiles warmly. "Yes." She hands him a glass of water from the side table. "You have to take it easy. You were seriously hurt back there."

Carth accepts the glass of water and drinks it quickly. "Hurt. . ." Realization settles in. "Hurt. Right. I remember." He sighs.

"You were very lucky. Another few seconds and you might have. . ."

"Died. I know." Again, he clutches his side.

Keira stops playing with his hair and sits back in her chair. He should be dead. How did I...? He doesn't need to know.

"For what it's worth, thank-you." Carth squeezes her hand lightly. "How long have I been here?"

"One day. Oh and you won the race Carth." She smiles brightly and rests her elbows on the edge of the mattress. "Although, things after that didn't go smoothly. I managed to get Bastila out of there."

Carth's eyes widen at this new knowledge. "What? Really? Well...where is she then? Is she alright?"

"Hey, hey. I said take it easy. You need to rest. And don't worry. She's fine. Her, Mish and Big Z are all back at the apartment." She pats the top of his hands with her palm lightly. "Everyone is safe and Ok. Now rest."

Feeling relieved, the captain sighs heavily as if trying to push out the stress. "Yeah I got one question though?"

Keira shifts her wait in her chair. "What's that?"

Carth lifts the sheets a few inches off of his body and stares under them. "Where the hell are all my clothes?"

Bastila meditates in the main area of the apartment. Her mind going over recent events. Things about Keira bother her. Why did she seem so talented in many things. Fighting, languages, mechanics, computer. And now this new revelation. Healing. How?

Although Keira never told her about how she healed Carth. Bastila knows. Being Jedi has it certain priveledges, one being able to enter the minds of others.

As the young Padawan continues to meditate, the apartment door opens.