They had been left alone for several hours. Amira had fallen asleep next Ewan; her head resting on her folded arms on the side of his bed. He reached out and gently stroked the back of her head. "Amira." His voice was barely a whisper, but it woke her instantly.

"I'm here." She raised her head up and looked at him. His color was worse. "How are you doing?"

"Never better."

She took his wrist and located his pulse point. It was weak. She thought about lying to him, but he was a physician and just as aware of his condition as she was. "Your heart is failing."

His eyes met hers. "I know."

Frustrated and angry she turned away from him crossed the room. "Help me E; help me think of something, anything to give you more time."

"There is nothing."

On the verge of tears she roamed the room looking for a way to buy him more time. She pulled open drawers and cabinets. "I cannot accept that."

"Amira." His voice stopped her searching. He reached out to her and she returned to his side. He gripped her hand. "I did this; my arrogance; my greed brought me to this point. With all my heart I wish I could have kept you out of it."

"I have to do something. I can't sit here and wait for you to die."

"As long as I have known you, you've been fixing things." He reached up and caressed her cheek. "You can't fix this."

Amira looked up at the ceiling failing miserably to blink back the tears. Then suddenly, she squeezed his hand and smiled down at him. "Maybe I can do something. Wait just a minute."

He laughed weakly. "I'm not going anywhere."

Amira took a quick look around the room and again at the ceiling. The look he saw in her eyes scared him. "Whatever you're thinking, don't, these are dangerous people Amira. If you defy them it won't matter who you are."

She walked back over to him and leaned down kissing him softly. "I can't do anything for you medically, but I can try and let the good guys know where we are."

"How are you going to do that?"

She was already across the room and climbing up on to a high shelf unit. "I am going to find a terminal and send a message."

"Amira it's too dangerous; no one is going to engage the Separatist fleet to rescue two people."

As she reached the top she placed her hands against the ceiling tile and shoved. "I know someone who might. I was able to send a message to General Kenobi before your psycho girl friend shot me."

"Not funny."

The tile slid aside easily and with minimal effort she hoisted herself up into the overhead ducting. She peered over the edge and smiled at him. "You know it was funny; I'll be right back."

"Please be careful", he called after her, but she was already gone, intent on her purpose.

There wasn't much room in the overhead bulkheads and she had no idea where she was going. All she needed was an empty room with a terminal and few seconds to send the message.

The first few rooms she tried were crawling with one type of droid or another and she began to grow frustrated that it was taking so long. She moved forward again, stopped and quietly moved a ceiling tile and peered down. The room was empty and she lowered herself down. The lights came on automatically and a small terminal stood in the far corner.

Hoping she had not triggered a motion sensing device that would bring a ship full of battle droids bearing down on her, she brought up the terminal and composed a short message.

Separatist droid repair frigate, we're alive, one wounded, time is running out.

She sent it directly to General Kenobi and closed the terminal. There was no need to identify her self in the message; she was certain he would know who it was from. She just hoped there was something he could do.

As she pulled herself back up into the ceiling and replaced the tile she grew anxious, knowing once her message was discovered, there would be repercussions. It didn't matter. Sending word that they needed help was the only chance Ewan had.

When she arrived at the room and dropped through the ceiling. He was not alone.

Asajj Ventress was waiting for her. "Commander, thank you for joining us; it seems you've been busy. I hope you enjoyed your excursion."

She glanced at Ewan. "Are you ok?"

"Fine."

Asajj looked up at the opening in the ceiling at back at Amira. "Just what exactly did you hope to accomplish? I thought we had an understanding about trying to escape?"

"I wasn't trying to escape."

"Then what commander; you may as well tell me, I'll find out anyway."

Amira defiantly crossed her arms. "I needed to stretch my legs."

Ventress was not amused and with no more than a flick of her hand and a push through the Force, sent Amira careening into the nearest wall.

Trimorri's frightened voice called out. "Amira!"

She pulled herself into a sitting position and wiped the blood from her nose. "I'm ok E."

Ventress loomed over her. "I may have orders to keep you alive, but don't think for a minute I won't kill you if you defy me again." She turned her attention to Trimorri. "Or him."

Trimorri began to gasp for air. His hands went to his throat attempting to pull away the invisible grip.

Amira bolted up and raced forward. "E, what is it?" She glared at Ventress "What are you doing? Let him go!"

Ventress simply smiled and continued choking him.

"You're killing him. Let him go!"

"Are you going to behave yourself Commander?"

"Yes, just stop this", Amira pleaded.

Ventress released Trimorri and walked towards the door and without looking back warned. "Try to stay out of trouble so I don't have to explain your untimely deaths."

Amira cradled his head and tried to calm him. "She's gone. Take deep even breaths."

Trimorri struggled to control his breathing. She took his hand. "Hang on E, please. Don't leave me here alone."