The morning found Marr asleep in the huge bed wrapped in golden sheets. Half way to being awake, he reached over, for Cleo. He remembered last night and he smiled, whispering her name before he even opened his eyes.

"Cleo…"

The silence and the empty bed made him open his eyes. The first thing he saw was the note on her pillow with the ring on top of it. A bad feeling wiped away the smile off his face, and the happiness from his eyes. He took the note and the ring, sitting up. Slowly he placed the ring on the night table beside him and unfolded the piece of paper expecting the worst. "Ari, My Lord…Last night you asked me to marry you and as I told you, nothing in this world would make me happier than to be your wife, but you interrupted me, you didn't let me finish. I can't be your wife…Signing the marriage certificate would be like signing your death sentence. I can't do that! I love you more than you think, and even if right now you hate me for what I have done, nothing in this world will change the way I feel for you. I hope that one day you will understand…Please do not call me, follow me or try in any way to contact me…Leaving you is the hardest thing I have ever done…You have no idea how much I wish circumstances were different. Good bye, my love. Always yours, Cleo." The second he finished reading, he crumpled the paper in his hand. Nothing could have prepared him for that. He was angry and clouds in different shades of red were dancing around him.

"Noooo!" his scream was heard in the whole stronghold, followed by the sound of broken glass. In his anger, through the force, he lifted the bench at the foot of the bed and smashed it against the windows. There was nothing but anger and pain in the gold eyes that Cleo loved so much. Marr sat in the middle of the bed without moving, without being able to understand, for a while. Next he got dressed and went in his meditation chamber. The darkness, the cold, was his territory, it was where he belonged. Marr felt like all life in him just left his body. He felt dead, with nothing good left in him. All the love that filled his heart, Cleo took with her when she left, living just an empty, cold body behind. Hours and hours he had tried to understand why she left. How could she do what she did if she loved him? The hours passed, one after another and soon days went by. Long, dark days spent in isolation made him even angrier. He was hurting inside and out. More than just once he touched the aurodium tag and closed his fist around it, tempted to just pull it off. The touch on his skin, in the middle of his chest was burning him. He remembered feeling her tiny hand touch him and every time a moan of pain left from his chest. Cleo's memory, her scent, her touch, they were so fresh and alive in his mind, they hurt him every time. Pain and anger took over him.

"Xander…You look worried…" he heard Clarisse behind him and turned right away to face her. He was absorbed in his own thoughts and didn't notice her coming into the office.

"I am," he admitted, and looked at the black and red rug. "Marr has not answered my calls…It is not like him. We have not missed each other calls in thirty years…Ever! Something is wrong. And then there is this message from Minster Beniko…" he added and showed Clarisse the recording.

"So it's started…" she whispered, looking at Xander, scared. "Cleo has not answered my calls either…It is not unusual for her to go into a deep silence, but you are right…Something feels off…If she only would answer so I can warn her!" said Clarisse and touched his arm. "You want to go?"

Xander lifted his head the same instant and looked into her honey eyes. There was love, concern, and willingness to do anything.

"We still have another day from our honeymoon…I do not want to lose…" he tried to object at her idea.

"Honeymoon is supposed to be happy…None of us is happy right now when our friends are in trouble. We are needed, I can feel it…"

Xander pulled her closer in his arms and let out a deep sigh.

"I am the luckiest man in the world!" he whispered and Clarisse smiled, looking in his eyes.

"Yeah…You are…Almost as lucky as me," she added, and Xander's kiss interrupted her same instant.

"When do you want to go?" came his question next, after they both got their breath back.

"As soon as we can…I feel that we should have gone days ago" answered Clarisse and in less than an hour they were taking off Ulton.

Cleo looked outside, to the white and bright planet in the distance, Hoth. She had been flying for a day, nonstop, she couldn't stop. She was afraid that if she stopped, she would change her mind and go back. More tears started to run down her cheeks and she let them, absently just looking at the big, round snow ball in front of her, drifting in space.

"Marr…" her whisper hurt her ears, his name pained her, and she gathered her legs, wrapping her arms around them. What have I done? I miss him so much…I love him. I can't kill him…It is better this way, even if this pain is going to kill me. She sat there for hours, remembering the time they spent together. Every memory of him was a punishment, bringing more pain, more tears, and making her body ache. The holoterminal had been ringing, but she was determined not to answer. At regular intervals of time her C2 brought her food and water. She couldn't eat, but the water was all right. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Marr, sleeping in the oversized bed that they shared and she wanted to go back. She was convinced that if she did go back, he would forgive her…But there was no point in going back, that was why she left in first place. Cleo knew that if she had stayed with him, sooner or later he would have convinced her to marry him, to kill him…Her steps sounded sinister in the quiet ship. She couldn't sleep, or eat, just cry and hurt. After what it seemed like an eternity, she finally checked the date on the control panel. Four days? That is it? How am I going to live the rest of my life like this? Marr…Ari…Stars, I miss him so much! With a heavy, deep sigh she walked to the holoterminal, feeling like the weight of the whole world was on her shoulders. There were over thirty messages waiting for her and she checked to see who they were from. She was hoping at least one was from Marr, but his frequency wasn't there. He didn't call…He hates me. I hate me for what I have done to him, to us…I asked him not to call me, what do I expect? Since when does he care about that? He always ignored and went through everything to get to me…Not this time. Is it possible that I hurt him so badly that he hates me, or even worse, is trying to forget me? Risse and Theron really want to talk to me… Cleo called Theron first and he answered after the first ring, like he was waiting for her call.

"Captain! Finally…You had me worried…" he started, but flying plasma bolts all around him make him stop and duck in front of the holo.

"Theron, where in the stars are you? What is going on?" asked Cleo surprised at all the fighting around him.

"Nice of you to ask…I am on Ziost. I was thinking that you might be getting bored…You look like crap! Is everything all right?" he asked suddenly in a few moments of apparent silence.

"Thanks!" answered Cleo with her usual sarcasm. "What is going on there?"

"Well, our friend, the Emperor showed up. You feel like taking a shot at him?"

The Emperor…So I was right to leave Marr…So soon…I hope he is not there!

"Where is this Ziost?" she asked, not recognizing the name.

"A skip and a jump from Dromund Kaas…Where are you?" asked Theron, and Cleo's heart skipped a few beats. Dromund Kaas…Home…No, his home, not mine!

"Near Hoth…" she answered after a few seconds.

"It would take you awhile to get here…If you are willing to give us a hand," added Theron quickly and again ducked some bullets.

"When you say 'us', who are you talking about?" she asked and she saw Lana Beniko joining Theron. "Lana!"

"Yes, Captain, it is me…We have found some clues on Alderaan and we just followed…It brought us here."

"I see…Have you informed everyone else? Are you getting reinforcements?" continued Cleo with questions hoping to find out what she really wanted to know.

"We have informed the Supreme Chancellor and Darth Hellix, since Darth Marr is impossible to reach. Reinforcements unfortunately are out of discussion…" said Lana next and she parried some bolts with her lightsaber while Theron took a few shots in the same direction. Cleo found herself relieved that Marr was not there, but worried that he was unreachable.

"So no reinforcements…" concluded Cleo.

"No. The Emperor is mind controlling people here, turning them against the others…He seems to have a preference for soldiers and force users…So reinforcements would work against us," explained Lana next.

"How come you two are not controlled?"

"I can shield myself, and Theron…He is not any of the above I guess…"

"Are you in Captain?" insisted Theron.

Cleo hesitated a few seconds, then she made her decision. "Send me the coordinates. I will get there as soon as I can."

"You got it! And Captain…I appreciate it!" added Theron and after Cleo nodded to both of them, she terminated the communication.

She rushed to her chair and after she got the coordinates, she jumped in hyperspace and let the autopilot to take over, unlike when she ran from Marr and flew the ship herself. So this is it? Is this his vision, coming alive? I did what I supposed to do. I am not his wife and he is not going to die! If we both make it out all right, maybe…Maybe there is still a chance…If he is ever going to forgive me. Cleo went and took a shower next and even started to eat a nutrition bar. She looked at the bar and her mind went to the last dinner she had with Marr. Even if she was hungry, she just couldn't continue to eat and threw the half bar across the room. Darn it! I can't call Risse…She is probably going to try and convince me to go back…She is for sure with him. I can't take the chance. I can't face him now…Maybe after all this is over… With the one tiny spec of hope that she still has a chance with Marr, Cleo started to prepare herself for the fight ahead. She needed to think of something else, to take her mind away from him, and maybe get a nap. Being unhappy was exhausting.

"Where is he?" asked Xander as soon as he saw Vonn, Marr's faithful assistant.

"Lord Hellix, My Lady..." he saluted them respectfully as they started to walk towards the gold area of Marr's stronghold. "He is been in his mediation chamber…"

"For how long?" insisted Xander even if somehow he already knew the answer.

"Days…Since Lady Cleopathra left…" came his answer and Clarisse looked at him.

"When did she leave?"

"The night of Life Day…She left in the middle of the night…Ever since, Lord Marr is been in his meditation chamber. He would only come out for a few hours at night…He has not slept or eaten anything in days…" he added with a sad tone and Clarisse looked at Xander, worried.

They both stopped in front of the double doors and after Vonn saluted them again, he left. Xander could feel his friend's emotions through the closed doors, and so could Clarisse. They exchanged a quick look and Xander opened them and they both walked in. They saw him right away standing between the two fires. He looked like a statue.

"Marr…" spoke first Xander while he and Clarisse were getting closer and closer.

He didn't answer, just lifted his head and nodded in their direction with a look that made Clarisse stop for a second. He looked terrifying.

"You had us worried…You have not been answering my calls."

"What is the matter?" Marr asked and his voice sent chills on Clarisse's back.

"What happened?" she asked him this time touching his arm. She felt his pain the same instant, even more than before.

"You were right…" he whispered, looking at his sister. "I was a fool to believe that she would love me enough to…"

"No. Stop right there! Did she tell you why?" stopped him Clarisse quickly.

"She was too busy running away in the middle of night, while I was asleep!" Marr answered and his eyes glowed with anger.

Clarisse took in a deep breath and decided in a second to tell him the truth. His pain was too much to endure for anyone, she couldn't let him suffer like that.

"She left because she loves you…She loves you more than…" she started, but Marr interrupted her.

"Does this look like love to you?" his voice thundered in the silent room.

"Marr, just listen to me! Cleo is convinced that if she marries you, you would die…Your vision…You told her that in your vision, she is your wife and that you will be killed by the Emperor…She is convinced that if she isn't your wife, you will live…Your vision will not come true," explained Clarisse.

"That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard!" he opposed right away. "She does not believe in my vision…"

"But she knows you do. "

This time, Marr took a few seconds to reflect and suddenly everything made sense. Her note came back into his mind and her words were now clear. She had left him because she was afraid that by staying with him, he would die. She had sacrificed her love for his life… Clarisse and Xander looked at each other while Marr paced in silence. They could both feel his emotions, the changes inside him.

"My vision is supposed to come true years from now…She is older when I die and she kills the Emperor…" he thought out loud.

"Have you told her that?" asked Xander this time.

"No…She does not believe in it…I did not think that I should…"

The silence covered them again while Marr continued to pace. In his mind, he went over everything, from her reaction on Xander and Clarisse's wedding day, to every detail, every conversation they had. He had been convinced that she didn't loved him enough to commit, but the true was that she loved him way beyond that, enough to condemn herself to misery, if that was what would keep him alive. An unexpected wave of warmth, love and tenderness washed over him. Cleo…My love…You should have just talked to me, nothing of this would have happened…She must be in so much pain herself…I have to find her! I have to fix this! Marr turned around suddenly, facing Clarisse and Xander.

"Where is she?" he asked them.

"I don't know…She is not answering my calls…" answered Clarisse, looking down.

"Have you told her to stay away from Ziost?" asked Xander next.

'I did not have a chance…"

"Oh no! She is in danger…We have to…" Clarisse started to get agitated and Xander pulled her in his arms to calm her down.

"Marr…Since you have not answered your calls, there have been things happening…On Ziost…"

"Let's talk and walk," Marr invited them, and all three walked out of his meditation chamber.

In only a few minutes, he was up to date with everything and rushed to the holoterminal. He sorted through the messages and stopped at one of them, it was from his agent. He played the message that left them looking at each other in silence.

"It is a payback for peace…And a trap for all of us…"spoke Xander, and he took a few steps.

Suddenly they saw Marr starting to type something in the holoterminal and screens started to light up, one after another. He was looking for something and it all looked like entry logs.

"What is all this?" asked Xander and came closer.

"When I upgraded Cleo's ship, I made sure I had access…I can tell where the ship is, what the speed is, trajectory, even scan for life forms on board…" he tried to explain while concentrating to read the data on the screens.

"She is going to kill you when she finds out."

Marr glanced to Clarisse and a timid smile appeared on his face. "That would mean that your vision won't come true, so I am good with whatever the consequences are. I am sure she will understand."

In only a few more seconds, he had full access to the information he wanted and read it out loud.

"She is near Hoth…Drifting…Far and safe from Ziost."

A sudden relief filled the room, while he called her for the first time. Xander and Clarisse held their breath with Marr while the tones came, one after another, with no answer.

"I was expecting that…" said Marr with sadness in his voice and hit the button that terminated the connection.

'You look exhausted…When is the last time you ate?" Clarisse asked him.

"I do not remember, but I have no time for…"

"Yes, you do!" Xander interrupted him and Clarisse looked at her husband, surprised by the tone in his voice. "We are going to have dinner, then you will sleep and I will not accept any of your excuses. We need a plan and I need you in your best shape. If Cleo lands on Ziost, you need to be the Marr I know. Right now, you could not save a fly!"

Marr looked at his friend and next he called a servant, ordering dinner for the three of them, none of them knowing that at that moment Cleo was engaging the hyperspace drive to get to Ziost as fast as she could.

The next morning found Marr asleep on the sofa, on the other side of the room in the spacious bedroom. He couldn't make himself to even touch the bed that he shared with Cleo. He got ready for the new day, knowing already that it wouldn't be an easy one. Before he exited the bedroom, he stopped one more time and looked back, at the bed covered in golden sheets.

"Cleo…" he whispered and next rushed to the quick travel point.

Once aboard Xander's ship, on their way to Ziost, Marr went again to the holoterminal and extracted the data from Cleo's ship.

"No!" Clarisse and Xander looked at him at the same time surprised.

"What is it?"

"She is already on Ziost…According to this data, she engaged the hyper drive minutes after I checked last night… There will be some change in plans. We have to get her off that planet first…" Marr started to talk while he was pacing in front of the holoterminal. Suddenly, he stopped and made a call. Marr stood tall with his hands behind his back, just as his usual self. Clarisse could feel the power exuding from him, and she knew that he was back to normal, and determined to get Cleo back. Minister Lana Beniko answered the call after a few rings and quickly saluted everyone.

"Minister Beniko, I need an update," Marr's hissed voice filled the room. There was not a request, he was not asking for a favor, it was an order and Lana brought everyone up to date with all events.

"We were lucky that Captain D'arc has joined us earlier today. Because of her, we got back a few people from his control. Electricity seems to work. Just as we speak, she is with Theron on top of The People's Tower, they are trying to recover more." Lana concluded all the events to that minute.

"Is there a way to get in touch with the Captain?" asked Xander, looking at Clarisse. She stopped breathing when she heard the reference to the tower she had seen in her vision.

"Her personal holo, I would guess…" answered Lana confused.

"We will be there shortly."

"Shield yourselves! We cannot afford to have any of you under the Emperor's influence. We have already started evacuating the ones not affected yet."

"Good. Marr out."

"May the force serve you well," saluted Lana and the connection was terminated the same second.

"We have about one hour. Captain's ship is docked on the orbital station," added Xander after checking his search. Images from Ziost were flickering on the screen that Xander had pulled up. They could see the destruction.

Cleo and Theron fought their way up on top of the tower and while he made the adjustments to the main power control panel, Cleo was shooting anyone trying to approach them.

"That should do ...It's our last chance, let's hope it works," said Theron, closing the panel and deploying the shield for both of them.

"It better…We have company ," answered Cleo, motioning towards the door and the massive group of controlled soldiers led by what appeared to be a Sith.

Plasma bolts started to fly around the same instant and Cleo rolled, taking cover behind one of the crates stacked on the roof. Theron joined her, and hit the switch. The same second the electric discharge filled the air, the sky and the soldiers were falling faster that they could have imagined.

"I am impressed!" they both heard the Sith, still standing , seeming unaffected by everything around him.

"I guess he is special…" was Theron next to talk and he started to shoot at him.

With one flick of his wrist, the Sith threw Theron against the panel behind him, concentrating his attention on Cleo. She shielded herself and increasing the power on her blasters to maximum, she started to fire at him. The door to the rooftop opened suddenly and Lana came running with her lightsaber out, humming, while she jumped and twisted in the air. Instead of landing on her feet and hitting the Sith, her trajectory changed and she hit the same panel as Theron, joining him on the floor. Cleo's little hope for help was gone and all she could do was to continue firing at him.

"You have a strong mind…" she heard him say, and stopped her fire for a second.

"Surprised that I am not your average dummy?" she asked with sarcasm, getting ready for a new round.

"Your efforts are useless. I already have all of you where I want…"

She saw the opening in his defense and she took the shot in an instant, making sure her blaster was back on regular power. The Sith fell on his knees, and the clouds around his head dissipated while Lana and Theron were recovering and got back on their feet.

"You got him…" said Theron surprised, approaching the Sith that was laying on the ground moaning in pain.

Cleo got out from her cover and looked around just I time to see some of the soldiers coming back into their senses.

"Oh, crap! We have to get out. Now!" she rushed to Theron and Lana and grabbed each with one arm, trying to drag them to the door. They both looked at her confused, but then they looked around at the recovering soldiers and started to run on their own, following Cleo. The recovering soldiers were back under the control, and the red clouds around their heads reappeared. They all heard the sinister laugh filling the air while they made it to the door and locked it from the inside.

"It was a good try…" said Theron and looked at the two women.

"Evacuation it is! We have to get as many as we can off world…" was Lana's turn and they all jumped down. In less than a minute they were on speeders toward the shuttle station.

"One of the stations is not answering…Everyone else got their evacuation orders." Theron let them know through their comms, and Cleo asked right away.

"Which one?"

"The farthest one, to the west side, and the quick travel system is down" confirmed Lana.

"I am on it. You two do what you have to do, I will go there…Just send me the coordinates" said Cleo and separated from them, accelerating her speeder.

"Be careful, Captain!" Cleo heard Lana in her comm and she smiled.

"When this is over, drinks are on me!" was Theron next and this time Cleo had to answer.

"Then go and start making them! I want ice in mine…" added Cleo and switched into maximum speed, while avoiding bullets fired in her direction.

The dust was making it hard to see clear ahead, but Cleo was not slowing down. She knew that every second made a difference between life and death. The few scratches she got started to sting and the sand hitting her skin was not making it any better. The air was harder to breathe, and with the speed she was going she found herself having a hard time. Cleo checked the coordinates as soon as she got them, and she figured she should be there in a few minutes. There was no time to waste and taking a deep breath she clenched her jaw and continued to go. I have no idea how this place looked before, but now it's terrible. All this sand and dust…I don't want to see any for a while! When did I get shot in my shoulder? I didn't even notice until now…Oh well…At least this sand stopped the bleeding she thought and going around some boulders she finally saw in the distance the shuttle station. Five minutes later she was already helping with the evacuation. That station was near some sort of munition depot and controlled soldiers were firing at the civilians and anyone that was trying to get in the shuttles. Cleo got in a good spot, behind a container, and when she saw the ladder, her eyes lit up. She climbed on top of the container and started to fire back at the attackers. Right away she drew the fire on her, clearing the shuttle pad and people started to board the shuttles. When the first shuttle took flight she smiled, satisfied. The second shuttle followed only seconds later, but was shut down and crashed in a terrifying explosion. She was distracted and didn't even see the missile that hit the container near her. The power of the explosion threw her in the air and she tumbled down in the sand and dust. The pain in her right arm and leg made her realize she was injured and she could not even fire her blaster anymore. I am not going to die here, darn it! I have to make it…I have to see Ari again…I have to! she thought and that gave her the strength to get up. Limping, she made it back to the shuttle pad. She refused help, seeing others injured worse than her. With the one blaster in her left hand, she continued to help with the evacuation.

As soon as Xander's small ship entered the air space of Ziost, all of them shielded their minds. Thomas and Xander were flying the ship while Marr and Clarisse were trying to locate Cleo.

"I am calling Minister Beniko. She has to know!" said Marr and he dialed right away her frequency.

"Darth Marr…" she answered and tilted her head in sign of respect.

"What is the situation? We are here."

"Do not land! We are evacuating…" she stopped them right away.

"Where is Captain D'arc?" asked Marr next and saw Lana hesitating.

"She went to one of the shuttle stations to help with the evacuation…We did not hear back from her…"

"Give me the coordinates!" The short order left no room for objections and she sent him the information right away.

"If you are going, be ready to take off right away…It is bad down there…It is nothing more that we can do," she added before Marr terminated the connection.

"Here" said Marr a few seconds later handing the coordinated to Xander.

"We are near…We should see it soon…" he said and continued to descend.

In only seconds Clarisse took a sharp breath in. Everything was exactly the way she saw it in her vision, all the destruction, all the fear and pain. Xander looked at her, trying to give her some much needed strength.

"There!" Thomas was pointing a little to their right, and Xander steered the ship lower and to the right.

"Thomas, do not land. Hoover and stay as low as you can, ready to take of in seconds."

Xander instructed his assistant while walking to the exit with Marr and Clarisse. The second they opened the hatch and lowered the ramp, they had a full view of what was happening. Just like in her vision, Clarisse saw the Jedi looking man force chocking Cleo while controlled soldiers were firing to the people trying to get into the shuttle. She started to shake, but Xander grabbed her arm the next second.

"Clara, we need you…Shield us and we will get her back…"

Clarisse nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Get lower, Thomas…" they both heard Marr and looked at him. He was getting ready to jump, while Cleo was dangling couple of feet above the ground. As soon as the ship was low enough he jumped and Clarisse shielded him instantly. Marr pulled his lightsaber while he was still in the air and before he landed right beside Cleo he literally sliced the controlled Jedi in half. She was released the same second and hit the ground almost at the same time with him.

"Marr…" she whispered in shock.

"Hello, kitten!"