She couldn't believe it! Since before she could remember, she had been using the Force. Being able to swim with the dangerous animals on Kamino was attributed to her 'talent'. Being able to read people so easily was because she had subconsciously been using the only thing she feared. Having that ability meant connections. Jedi connections, connections she did not want. For her whole life, he dad had warned her of Jedi. He had told her to be careful and to keep up a strong mind barrier. She had gotten good at keeping her feelings to herself, good at blocking her thoughts. It all made sense. But she didn't want to be a Jedi.

"Hey, Miriam." Zekk's deep voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah?" She turned her eyes toward his handsome form.

"Are you gonna stay here? Or come with me?" He replaced the post- flight checklist in its slot and questioned her with his bright green eyes.

"I don't want to go, but It's got to be better than staying cooped up on this hunk of junk," she said the last part just to annoy Zekk.

"She's beautiful and you know it!" He exclaimed, but smiled anyway. He had been hoping she would come. It would be good for her. Side by side, they exited the ship. Miriam held her head high, although she was a bit apprehensive. At the base of the ramp, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker welcomed Zekk with open arms.

"Welcome back, Zekk." Luke clapped him on the shoulder.
"Good to see you." Mara agreed.

"Good to be back, masters. Um, Master Luke, this is Miriam. Miriam, Master Luke and Master Mara Jade."

"Nice to meet you," she said politely, much to the pleasure of Zekk.

"Welcome to Ossus." Mara Jade shook her hand.

"Miriam, will you be O.K. with staying with Master Mara Jade while the Council debriefs me?" he asked her quietly to where the Jedi Masters couldn't hear.

"Just for you, Zekk," she sarcastically answered.

"Thanks." He would take what he could get. To Mara, he asked, "Will you allow Miriam to accompany you until I'm finished debriefing?"

"Sure, Zekk. Come with me, Miriam." She smiled kindly at the , understanding the anxiety she could feel coming from the .

"Catch you later," Zekk called as he followed Luke.

Miriam felt a little uneasy about being left alone with the Jedi Master. Not allowing the older woman to pick up on her feelings, she followed Mara to the gym.

"I'm sorry I can't actually spend time with you, but I promised my apprentice, Jaina, I'd spar with her."

"Oh, it's quite alright, Master Jedi. I'll be fine watching you." She sat casually on a bench right inside the large room. Mara shed her robes and walked to meet the young woman in the middle of the room. The looked about Miriam's age. She was short and petite, but slender and her hair was bulled back in a neat ponytail. Grinning at Mara, she took a fighting stance. 'This must be Jaina,' she thought to herself. As she watched the duel, her thoughts drifted to Zekk. She wished he would get back soon.

As she turned her attention back to the action, she saw Mara get beneath Jaina's defense and grab her arm. Twisting and jerking suddenly, the older woman flipped Jaina over her back and onto the padded floor. The two made their way over to the bench and each downed a bottle of water.

"That was some nice maneuvering out there," Miriam stated.

"Thanks. I don't believe I know you." She held her hand out. "I'm Jaina."

"Nice to meet you," she hesitated as she shook the hand she offered, "I'm Miriam."

"What are you doing at the Jedi Academy?"

"Zekk is giving me a ride, and he needed to stop here."

"Zekk?" The change was palpable. It wasn't really a dark feeling like hatred, but more of a sadness or regret.

"You know him," she more stated than asked. "He's talked about you in some of his stories."

"Really? I'm not very surprised." She wiped her face with a towel as she settled beside Miriam. Mara had walked over to the restroom so the s were alone.

"Why not?" The way this Jedi was talking had Miriam curious.

"We go back a long way. Grew up at the Academy together. We, uh, kinda had a thing going. I was crushing on him and he claimed he was in love with me. When I ran into trouble with the Dark Side, we had already been apart, but he just left. At the time, I was angry with him. Now I realize it was to keep himself away from that temptation that had already claimed him once before. It was a wise decision and I've forgiven him. But it has never really been the same between us. I've moved on with my life. Jag and I are very happy together, but Zekk just never seemed to get over it."

"Why did you break up in he first place?" Suddenly, she was very interested in knowing this information.

"With the war beginning and everything, we thought it would be better if we didn't have that complication."

"Oh." She sensed Zekk, because he was the only familiar person on this planet. She felt a wave of sadness and attraction from him. She knew right away that he was still in love with Jaina. "You know, he still loves you."

"I know. But I don't feel the same for him anymore. I love Jag and that is that."

"It seems to me that you're being a little insensitive. Maybe you should talk to him, explain gently what you told me." She shifted on the bench to face Jaina.

"But it's not that easy. He was my first love, and I still care for him, as a friend and first love. That memory will never fade away. The thing is, we are too different. I love to fly and I'm a fighter. No offense, but he's not a great pilot and we don't even see each other that much." The young woman brushed some brown strands behind her ear. "Plus, I feel that would be applying a conductor to a broken wire. Not a good idea. He needs to move on. Put me behind him. There will be another for him. When she comes along, she will be even better suited for him than I was."

Before Miriam could reply, Zekk walked in. "Well, I see you two have met."

"Yes," Miriam spoke up. "We've had a little heart-to-heart."

"You see?" he asked, smiling. "The Jedi aren't that bad."

"Good morning, Zekk. How'd your mission go?" Jaina chirped in, being friendly.

"Successful. And I'm alive. Nothing more I could ask for."

"I hear you," the two old friends shared a laugh.

"We need to catch up sometime, Jaya." He used her old nickname eliciting a snarl from Jaina.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Don't call me that! My name is Jaina." Despite the harsh words, her tone had a playful edge.

"At least once more, as always, Jaya." He grinned as she growled. "Anyway, I came to grab, Miriam. Master Luke wants to talk to you."

"Nice meeting you, Jaina." She said as she headed out with Zekk.

"You, too. Have a good time."

"Thanks." Miriam and Zekk walked along the hall.

"Miriam, are you still open to being tested and maybe train?"

"I guess." she replied reluctantly. "But nothing garunteed about the training. I'll decide after I'm tested and met with Master Luke."

"Good enough," he grinned at her as they walked down the corridor.