Kiros loomed in front of me. My head pounded, there was so much to do. Too much. The Rebel attack, while didn't kill too many of my men, had caused a substantial amount of damage to my ships. With the Orion gone, I was down a dreadnought so my Pleione and Scorpio were overcrowded. My other dreadnoughts: Ursa Major and Minor were loitering around Mandalore, no doubt wondering why it was taking me so long. The quotes my engineers sent me for all the star fighters and transports were overwhelming. It seemed like my plan was falling apart at the seams before it could even be put in place. I took a deep breath and looked at the reports again. I contacted Ursa Major and Minor, letting them know that Mandalore would have to wait. Meanwhile, I sent them to Zygeria to destroy the planet and free the slaves. I would have liked to free them myself but I couldn't be everywhere at once. Next, I sent my head engineers to the nearest developed planet for space ship repairs.

I clicked my way into the hangar, my uniform hugging my form comfortingly, my heels announcing my presence. I had missed my silk blouse and stockings and the familiar weight of my medals hanging on my velvet jacket during my furlough from space. I flexed my leather clad fingers and clasped my hands behind my back. My tired men snapped to attention, standing in neat rows despite their dingy armor. I looked at them from under my cap, tilted at regulation angle. I praised them for a job well done and announced that we were going to stay on Kiros for a month for recuperation. I allowed for a cheer before dismissing them.

I sat alone on my command chair. Running a manicured hand along the arm rest, as familiar as my uniform but I felt unsatisfied. I was back on Kiros, my plan had stalled. I felt like I was taking steps back what could I do? I needed Ren for Mandalore and now I had to put everything on hold.

The governor had contacted his healer and should arrive any time now. I pulled off my gloves and stood up. I tucked the leather gloves into my pocket and straightened my skirt before heading towards the med bay. I walked into the cold wing without hesitation. The harsh white light assaulted my retinas from all angles, reflecting from the polished linoleum and the white washed walls. I walked in each room, visiting all my injured men and speaking to the med droids before seeing Ren. I composed myself before walking into the spartan room. The only color was the splash of black hair. Ben's skin was waxy and as white as the linens he slept on. I took off my cap and tossed it on the bed as I sat at the visitor's chair.

"Wake up," I commanded. Ben opened his eyes immediately, he wasn't asleep at all. "No pity for the injured? That's cold Artemis." I crossed my legs in annoyance. "None. You'll be transported to Kiros today." He gave me a look of mild curiosity. "That's it? No questions?" I frowned. Ben let out a harsh bark of a laugh that made me want to wince. "What does my opinion matter? You're going to move me anyways." I clenched a fist. "It's for your own good. I found a healer." Ben huffed out a laugh. "Modern medicine couldn't bring back my legs, what makes you think a quack can?" I threw my hands up. "I don't have any choice! This is the last resort." Ben darkened. "Once I'm not useful to you anymore, what will happen?" I bit my lip. "That's what I thought," he said turning away. "It's not too bad, I've had a lot to think about."

"About what?" I asked cautiously. Ben gave me a lopsided smile. "I can be a poet." I stared at him horror.

"Paralyzed I am.

I can't feel my toes at all.

Darkness and despair.

Good eh?" he raised his brows. I stood and snatched up my cap from the bed. "That was awful, I need to talk to that healer as fast as possible. Cease all poetry attempts please! That was terrible!" I pointed an elegant finger at him. "I mean it!"

xxxx

In a only a few hours, I stood in the city's main hospital. The groans of sick Togrutas and injured troopers droned in the background, setting my teeth on edge. I paced with the ever vigilant Captain Durge at my side. "Roshti! Where is she?" I snapped, my boots echoing in the foyer. Sunlight streamed in the large windows but it did little to alleviate my tension.

"Here," a high but mature voice answered. I whipped around. A middle aged Togruta greeted me with arms crossed under her long blue and striped lekku. "I am Asha," her deep blue eyes met mine. I nodded. "Let's see him then," I led the way into the room where Ren was staying. She frowned looking him up and down. She spread her fingers over him and I shifted uneasily. "I'm not a quack," she smiled at me. "Forgive me but I only believe in results," I said stiffly. She shrugged, "I understand."

Asha continued examining him as I stood, controlling my fidgeting by clasping my hands behind my back. Shortly she dropped her hands. "I don't have the strength to heal him here. There is just too much damage."

"What do you mean?" I practically snarled.

"I can heal through the Force but I have to take him somewhere where the Force is exceptionally strong." I wanted to smash through the woman's preternatural calm. With my fist.

"Where?" I demanded.

"Luckily enough, here but on the other side of the planet." She folded her slender hands in front of her. I heaved a breath of discouraged air. Asha put an understanding hand on my shoulder and I froze, fighting the instinct to fling her hand off. "We can get through this together." I nodded, not trusting my voice.

xxxxxx

We took a transporter to the other side of the planet, deep into the jungle. It took a lot of arguing, cajoling, wheedling, and ultimately ordering Durge but he finally agreed to leave with only another trooper. He wanted to bring more but we needed to move quickly and the men needed to recuperate. Besides, I argued that Asha was a Force user and if she really wanted to kill me, she would have tried earlier. Besides, I still had my anti Force weapon. I kept it on me always.

A few hours of travel passed with Ren still unconscious to the world and I made small talk with Asha. I caught her looking at me several times. "Is there something displeasing about my appearance?" I asked at last.

"You remind me of someone. A few people actually." She gave me a sad smile. "You remind me of someone I consider my father. You're as smart and intuitive as Obi Wan but determined and aggressive as Anakin."

"They sound like people you respect. So why are you helping us? You wouldn't be going through all this for a pair of strangers just because I remind you of your father. What's in it for you?" I asked suspiciously.

Asha smiled. "Nothing." I kept staring, Durge picked up on my tension and like a shark sensing blood he immediately came to my side.

Asha seemed to wrestle with something. I kept quiet, letting her decide. Eventually she admitted, "I know Ben. I knew his father. I even knew his grandfather, Anakin. He was a brother to me," she said quietly.

I relaxed. I understood family, even if not related by blood, they mattered. "Family doesn't end with blood," I said. She nodded. "I owe it to his grandfather. Once a long time ago, I let him down. I won't fail him again, not when I can help it." I understood but still didn't trust her, "What happened?"

Asha's eyes unfocused. She shook her head, her long montrals swaying. "It's a tragic story full of tragic characters. Not now, now is the time to heal Ben." I huffed impatiently and glared at Durge when he had the audacity to chuckle. The transport stopped in front of an overgrown temple. The vestiges of glory were covered in vines and small shrubs growing tenaciously in the cracks between the great stones that make up the building. Strange symbols were etched into the ground and into the sides of the building. I waited for Durge to leap out and scan the area. Asha leaped down gracefully and I took it as my cue to follow. I put a hand out and stepped out once I felt my glove make contact with Durge's strong hand. He escorted me to the temple as the other trooper followed, pushing the gurney with an unconscious Ben on it.

Asha made Durge and the other trooper arrange Ben onto the ground. They aligned his arms and legs with the ley lines onto the ground. Asha shooed them out after he was in place and called me in.

"We need to purify him.'' She handed me a cloth and a bowl of warm water. "Wait, why me?" I backed away. She advanced, holding out the items insistently. "Only those with Force abilities can participate, the soldiers will interfere with the flow of the Force." I still refused to take them from her. "I don't have any."

"Yes you do. Just a hint but it's there. You may not be able to weaponize it but according to the reports, you manage just fine." I finally took the bowl and cloth from her. "Haven't you ever wondered why you were able to make the right decisions practically every time? Why your plans seem to fall perfectly in place? Why you became the Scourge of the Galaxy, the Huntress of the Empire?"

"I've worked hard, I earned those titles," I raised my voice. I saw Durge turn and stalk towards the temple. With a wave of her hand, the doors slammed shut, leaving me with Asha,

"Lady Tarkin! Are you alright?!" Heavy fists banged on the door. "I'm fine, Durge! It's nothing, let me speak with Asha alone!" I fought to keep my voice from shaking. The banging continued now with added kicks. "Stop that racket!" My annoyance winning over my fear. I heard the men stop and confer behind the door. I turned to Asha again. "You have worked for your position Admiral, no doubt about it, but the Force has given you an edge. You have done well. Most people have done less with more." I scowled at her but Ben let out a groggy murmur turning my attention.

"We must be quick," Asha warned and we went to work cleaning him with fragrant water, rubbing herbs into his skin. Once done, Asha ushered me outside and I was forced to leave Ben behind. The Troopers leapt up once they saw me.

"Milady, we have a situation." Durge said grimly. He told me that the city was under attack, we were followed by the Rebels evidently. "Ironically, you are safest here." I nodded looking at Durge intently. An ARC trooper was an elite commando with advanced technical training and specialties. "Durge, I want you to take this trooper and a battalion of troopers to take the Kiroans out of the battle zone. Lead them somewhere safe and defend them."

I held up a hand stopping their protests. "I'm safe here. I trust Asha," I found myself saying. "I will direct the battle from here. I have my com and the transport. I need you to take the speeders and go."

Captain Durge crossed his arms. "Is this a command, Admiral?"

I nodded. "Effective immediately." The men saluted and moved out. I watched as they used the speeders to leave. Once again, I was alone.