A/N: Oh my God! An update in less than two months! IT'S A MIRACLE! (And it also came very near to not happening when I was unable to get this chapter to load properly on the correct computer . . . grrr.) As always, thank you thank you thank you to everyone who reviewed! It's like giving money to one of those scary Santas who stand outside malls during the holidays! It makes me update sooner, as you can plainly see.



I apologize for this chapter also being insanely long and having a looooot of talking in it, but my girls need to start figuring out what's going on so the story can progress. Besides, I tried my hardest to make it entertaining, so give it a read. But beware . . . we are developing more of a plot even as I type . . .



Enjoy!



(Soundtrack: Os Quindos de Ya Ya, Clubbed to Death, and Anakin's Theme)











THIRTEEN







The three girls stared at one another, openly astonished.



"Danielle! Kristae!" The two turned at Obi-Wan's worried tone. "What are you--" He stopped short as he caught sight of Annie and said morosely, "Oh. I see."



Annie's eyes went wide as she stared at the shockingly young and corporeal Jedi. "Oh my God, Obi-Wan . . . you're alive!"



He stared at her. "Is there any reason I shouldn't be?"



Annie stared at him for a little while, then she gave him a breathless smile. "Oh, no. None at all. It's just . . . the last time I saw you . . ." She trailed off, then without further warning threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug, balloons and cotton candy and all. He was too stunned to do anything but take it, and when she drew back she was smiling stupidly. "Sorry. It's just . . . good to be able to touch you."



Krista snickered evilly at the expression on the young Jedi's face. "Okaaaay," he replied, obviously deciding to just take it in stride. "Let me guess--you know these two young ladies from some mysterious past life."



Annie glanced at Danielle and Krista, and identical smiles blossomed on all their faces. "I suppose you could say that," she agreed.



"Well, may I extend to you the hospitality of the Jedi Temple? Our room could always hold one more person."



Danielle stared at him like he'd gone mad. "You're offering to let someone stay with us?"



He shrugged, looking both pleased with himself and world-weary. "Well, I knew you were going to invite her anyway and I wouldn't be able to say no, so I figured I might as well pretend it's happening on my own terms."



"Smart man," Annie said, impressed.



A shout from up front distracted them. "Hey, Annie!" Dru called. "Get up here and tell these people we're not crazy!"



Annie rolled her eyes. "Sorry, guys, I guess we have to catch up later. Dru calls." She started to leave, then paused and said, "Here, guys, have one!" and happily gave them a balloon each, even a bemused Obi-Wan. Giving them a little wave, she departed, trailing balloons after her, to where her own Jedi waited.



Danielle and Krista exchanged glances, then turned to follow Obi and Qui to their own Council debriefing.



********************************************************************************



Later, in the apartment, after the various debriefings and negotiations were through, the three girls sat around the table exchanging stories. Annie had changed into cleaner and more comfortable Temple attire and deposited her balloons in the living room for Gumbi to play with, but she still munched happily on her sugary confection. Danielle, who lived in a constant state of hunger, was munching contentedly on a bag of pretzel-like snacks as Krista, booted feet propped on the table, sank her teeth into a juicy apple.



The conversation had yet to take a serious turn.



"I still can't believe you were a diva!"



Annie gave a brilliant smile and fluttered her lashes with practiced ease. "Yeah, like you're one to talk, Ms. Jedi! And Krista the handmaiden--I'm still not used to that idea."



"And it looks like we've all had run-ins with unusual villains for Star Wars. We saw the guy in the Temple first, then those black ops dudes--they said something about 'sending us back where we belong'." Krista shook her apple for emphasis. "That sounds a lot like that guy on Tatooine, with all his knowing who you are crud. It's all getting kinda creepy."



Danielle was the most concerned of the three. "Guys, this is serious. Remember how we had trouble thinking about how we got here, Krista? And before you showed up, it didn't even occur to me to try. But now that Annie's here, I remember it nearly perfectly." She sighed. "It stands to reason that when we find Laura, we'll remember everything."



"Excuse me?" Annie said tentatively. When they both looked at her, she sighed. "It's just . . . you said 'when' like it's a sure thing, and I didn't know--"



Krista shrugged. "Well, we've all found each other. Stands to reason Laura will show up in a few days. Besides, she's always late."



"Maybe," Annie said slowly. "But it's a big galaxy. The fact that we found each other is . . . well, really, really lucky. And wasn't it a few months before Krista showed up, Danielle?"



"Only two for me," Krista said when Danielle nodded.



"Then, when I showed up, how long had you been with Danielle?"



"Just over a month."



Annie tilted her head to the side. "What I'm saying is that even if Laura does show up, we have no idea when that will be. It could be today, tomorrow . . . or ten years from now. We might not even still be alive then."



Krista stared at her, alarmed. "Why shouldn't we be?"



"Come on." She made an emphatic gesture with her cotton candy. "I've barely escaped with my life so many times I've lost track, and now you guys and this latest attack--you can't tell me you aren't starting to get worried."



"I didn't really think about any of it having to do with our being here," Danielle said at last. "I never really linked the two. But I guess this makes one thing clear: it's time we started trying to figure this whole mess out. Just surviving isn't enough anymore; we need to try and find out what, exactly, is going on."



"How are we supposed to do that?" Krista demanded. "We still barely fit in here as it is. We don't know where to look for this kind of thing or who we could even trust to ask. Besides, these necklaces, just like us, are from Earth. Why would anyone here know anything about them?"



"But are they?" Danielle asked. When Krista and Annie just stared at her, she tugged hers free and presented it for inspection. "Look. The picture on my necklace? It's the symbol of the Jedi. Where did I first end up in Star Wars?" She waved around herself, sending a few pretzels scattering. Gumbi, who had recently entered, instantly swooped down and ate them. "The Jedi Temple. And I *am* a Jedi here. Makes sense, doesn't it?"



Annie looked at her own necklace in surprise. "Mine is a sun . . . and I ended up on Tatooine, as a native. That's pretty appropriate."



"And my flower sent me to Naboo as a handmaiden," Krista agreed. "We all had lives and pasts made for us--even you, Danielle. No one we've met so far knew *who* you are, but they found you unconscious in the street. Maybe you really are someone here, and we just don't know who yet."



"Okay, so we all have pasts and a place according to our necklaces," Annie said slowly. "And when I was in the Imperial Base, on Tatooine, that scary guy grabbed my necklace and ripped it off--and that was what sent me back in time. When I woke up, I was in this time instead of the future. Which was really confusing for a while."



"And," Danielle added, "the necklaces are what give us our abilities. Unless I'm touching or wearing mine, I'm not a Jedi. And Krista isn't exactly a Jedi, but she has some skills, too."



Annie looked surprised. "So is that why I can see the future? Because of the necklace?"



"It's starting to look like everything is because of these," Krista said, examining hers critically. "I mean, Laura giving them to us is the last clear thing I can remember. Stands to reason they're why we're here in the first place."



"Magic necklaces," Danielle said, having trouble not laughing. "Well, that's just typical."



"Magic necklaces found by Laura, no less," Annie grinned, finishing off the last of her cotton candy. "Why doesn't it surprise me that this whole mess is her fault?"



As Annie sadly discarded the stick her candy had been on, Danielle chuckled. "You know, I bet she's not even here. She's probably at home, sitting at Panera and eating, oblivious to the fact that the three of us had disappeared."



Krista reached into the bowl for another apple. "That does sound like something Laura would do. Funny ol' world, idn it?" She offered her fruit to Annie with a serpentine smile. "Apple?"



As Annie reached out and accepted it, grinning evilly, the opening of the door forestalled any further conversation. "Hello, ladies," Qui-Gon said cheerfully, leading the way. "We've returned from our meeting with the council, and--" Seeing Annie, he stopped short. "Oh," he said, surprised. "Another one?"



Krista smirked at the wariness in his tone. "Qui-Gon, meet Annie," she introduced them. "She'll be staying with us . . . for a while. Obi-Wan invited her," she added out of sheer maliciousness. When Qui-Gon turned to look at his apprentice in surprise, Obi threw up his hands in frustration.



Trying to prevent any potential badness, Danielle spoke before anyone else could. "So, how did the report go? What does the Council have to say?"



Obi-Wan looked annoyed. Slouching down into a chair, he put his chin in his hands as Qui-Gon spoke calmly. "We need to be cautious and alert. Obviously these people are trained professionals and until we know who they are and what they want, you two especially should always be on your guard."



"Basically," Obi-Wan summarized, "nothing. They don't know what's going on any more than we do."



Danielle and Krista exchanged worried glances. "The Jedi Council doesn't know any more than we do?" Danielle said at last. "Does that bother anyone else?"



"Me for one," Obi-Wan agreed. "This isn't like them. When we told them our report, they all looked surprised to hear it, and they clearly didn't even know what to say at first. Yoda especially looked troubled."



"I don't know," Qui-Gon said thoughtfully. "I think this is all just more to do with the recent political unrest in the Senate. The speeders they were using were extremely new--someone very wealthy must be backing them. I definitely think we should look at the various political groups."



Obi-Wan stood. "And, having said that, I'm going to go change into something slightly less dirty and grab something to eat. I'll be back in a bit."



He exited with a wave. Qui-Gon, standing, nodded at them formally. "I also have some small matters to attend to," he said calmly. "I need to speak to Master Yoda. I trust you'll be all right, Danielle?"



She smiled. "Of course. Take care, Qui."



"And yourself." He, too, departed, leaving the three girls alone in the kitchen.



In the wake of their departure, Danielle looked thoughtful. "I'm mostly confused, but I bet Qui-Gon's right. This is about the right time for us to start having troubles in the Senate and such. They must be starting plans to target all the Jedi."



"No."



They both looked at Annie in surprise as she raised her head, expression uncharacteristically grim. "This isn't happening because of unrest in the Senate," she said calmly. "It's us."



For a moment there was silence. Danielle went slowly pale and Krista's eyes widened incredulously. "Us?" she asked, surprised.



Annie shot them a sloe-eyed glance. "Yes. I was out on Tatooine--just about as far from Coruscant and galactic politics as it's possible to be--and I met the same bad guys . . . people . . . whatever out there." She shook her head. "The only common link I can find is the three of us."



"What's so important about the three of us?" Krista asked, surprised. Danielle said nothing, her expression thoughtful.



"Don't you see?" Annie said, her voice growing more urgent. "We're not here because of some coincidence or joke. We're here for a *reason*. Just because we don't know what it is yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Someone out there brought us here, and now they're either trying to collect us or someone else is trying to stop us."



Danielle met her eyes clearly, beginning to understand, as Krista folded her arms in denial. "Maybe all that's true, but why bring *us* here in the first place? What makes us different from anyone else?"



"Well, here Danielle is a Jedi, and from what you've told me, she can do stuff even other Jedi can't. I see the future when it's really important. Krista--Danielle told me you're telekinetic."



"Only some of the time," Krista muttered.



"I'm guessing that's why these people want us," Danielle picked up the narrative. "But what are we supposed to be doing?"



No one had the answer to that. At least, not a practical answer, at any rate.



"I think the first thing we should do is try to find Laura," Krista said at last. "We may have found each other on our own, but Annie had some good points earlier. We can't afford to wait very much longer--and who knows where she could be? Besides," she affected a pout, "I miss my big buddy."



"I agree," Danielle said decisively. "Finding Laura should be our priority, and then we need to figure out how we got here and how we get home."



"That's a great plan," Annie said, "but we don't have any idea where she is. It could take forever to find her, and we don't even know where to start."



Krista raised her hand. "Everyone who thinks she's in Buffy?"



Danielle snorted in spite of herself and Annie looked amused. "That wouldn't be fair," she pointed out. "The rest of us are here, so she probably is too."



"I showed up on Naboo," Krista said thoughtfully. "Danielle, you were here, and Annie was on Tatooine. What do those three places have in common?"



"They're all in Star Wars," Annie said, unhelpfully.



"Thank you, Annie, I think we knew that," Danielle said drily. "But at least that tells us the odds are pretty good Laura's here in Star Wars with us, so we can rule out everywhere else like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, et cetera. What else?"



Krista shrugged. "People knew who we were, except for you, and we fit in well enough after a while."



"I've been in a lot of mortal peril," Annie said drily. "What about you guys?"



Danielle shook her head. "I wasn't really in any trouble until--until Krista showed up," she said, remembering. "Then it just went downhill from there." She paused thoughtfully. "Isn't that always the case?"



"I wasn't in any trouble except for the whole evil Prince business," Krista added. "So that kinda rules that out."



"Not necessarily," Annie said, obviously thinking hard. "I think that the amount of peril isn't a factor by itself--I think it just has to do with the place where we showed up, and that's what's important."



"Wait a minute," Danielle said. "The places we showed up--we'd heard of all of them. They were all in the movies."



"That's right!" Krista exclaimed. "Whoa, does that mean Star Wars only exists to the extent that it was displayed in the movies, or maybe in George Lucas' mind?"



"Well, not the movie option, because I've certainly been places and met people that weren't in the movies," Annie said drily. "Not to mention sung some really un-Star Wars-y songs."



Krista's eyes grew huge. "Do you suppose our being here is corrupting Star Wars? Like, making it more like our world?"



Everyone thought about this for a moment, then Danielle shook her head. "Okay, we're getting off topic. So we all showed up in places we'd heard of. That's got to be pretty important. What other places have we heard of?"



They looked at each other. "Endor," Krista finally came up with, and Annie supplied, "Yavin?"

"So not much," Danielle said, "unless the novels count, and has anybody seen anything so far to prove that?"



"Uh, I never read any of those," Krista said apologetically, and Annie added, "Me neither."



Danielle gave a huff of annoyance. "Laura's the only other one who has, and she's who we're trying to find. I guess we could search those places?"



"Who's Laura?"



The cheerful voice startled all of them, and they looked up to see Obi-Wan come in, looking freshly scrubbed. "Well met, ladies," he said cheerfully. "Are we all getting caught up?"



"Y-yes," Danielle stammered, hoping he hadn't heard too much.



"That's good. Who's this Laura person you were talking about?"



They all exchanged panicky glances. "She's . . . just an old friend of ours," Danielle said. "Of Annie's. From Tatooine. We figured since we're all here . . . it would be nice to meet up with her too."



"That's good," Obi-Wan said pleasantly. "Do you know how to reach her?"



"No," Danielle replied, relieved that he seemed to have bought the story. "That's what we were talking about."



The door opened, and again they all turned. To their great surprise, Qui-Gon strolled in, followed by two very familiar Jedi, who looked both exhausted and slightly annoyed. "Dru! Wes!" Annie exclaimed happily. "How are you?"



"Fine, thanks," Dru replied, beaming. She turned to Obi-Wan. "We've already introduced ourselves to your master, but I don't believe we've met you before. I'm Knight Dru Parsival, and this is my partner, Knight Wesley Roberts."



"I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi," he returned, bowing in greeting. There was a bit more of that, then Wes and Dru exchanged a glance. "We're here to see Annie, actually," Wes confessed. "We'd planned to offer to let her stay with us--well, with Dru, actually--but it seems she's already found a home."



"I'm going to be staying here, yes," Annie admitted. "Thanks for the offer, Dru."



"Anytime, girl," Dru said cheerfully. "You saved all our hides back there, several times over. I've never seen anything like it before. I'd planned to get dibs on the prophet, but it looks like I missed my chance."



"How'd your debriefing go?" Annie asked.



Dru made a face. "Blech. We were told in no uncertain terms how very badly we messed up, how idiotic it was to get on Ixian's bad side, and how foolish the amount of time we spent romping around the carnival was, blah blah blah. We were interrogated endlessly about you, then, at last, congratulated on having escaped with the information we sought and our lives. Last but not least, we were told to go clean up and pack, because we've been reassigned."



Annie's jaw dropped. "Already? You just got back!"



"Funny, that's what we said," Wes said drily.



"Seems there's no rest for the wicked," Dru shrugged. "Anyway, we only get tonight to rest. We ship out tomorrow."



"Whatever for?" Annie asked, surprised.



"Apparently we're a little short on Knights at the moment, and there are several problems that need seeing to," Dru explained cheerfully. "There's a bit of a diplomatic hullabulloo on a little planet called Postel, out in the Outer Rim, and they want Wes to go watch over that. I'm being sent to a little waterworld a few sectors over. There's been some sort of confusion about a Master from the Council visiting and making certain requests the Council never had any intention of making, and they think it's best to send someone personally to smooth over the rough edges. So, yay for me! I get to go."



"Bummer," Annie said with feeling.



"I was hoping you could predict what was going to happen, spare me the trouble of going," Dru said playfully.



Qui-Gon frowned. "Predict . . . ?"



Dru blinked. "Oh, didn't I tell you? Our little friend is a bit of a prophet. She saved Wes' and my lives back on Tatooine twice over, then yet more in the carnival snafu. Quite a gift, really. The Council is intrigued."



Qui-Gon stared at Annie, who squirmed under his gaze. "I imagine," he said in surprise.



Obi-Wan looked at Dru thoughtfully. "So what exactly is this little planet you're being sent to?"



She waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, I can never remember its name. Something like . . . Cammo? Carmichael?" Her face screwed up in concentration, she continued to mumble and tick nonsensical names off on her fingers. "Cameo, Camisole, Contamination . . ."



Danielle's stomach flipped over. "Kamino?" she said quietly.

"That's the one!" Dru said happily. "Kamino! Little waterworld, big flying fish thingies, cloners, you know." She stopped and looked at Danielle. "I'm sorry, have we been introduced?"



"I'm Danielle," she said, "a kind of leech-on of Qui-Gon's. This," she gestured at an innocently beaming Krista, "is Kristae, a Nubian handmaiden."



"'Allo!" Krista said cheerfully.



"So you're going to Kamino," Danielle said. "That's . . . very interesting." She turned and gave meaningful looks to Annie and Krista.



It was unnecessary. Annie, her eyes huge with sudden knowledge, drew a deep breath. "This might seem slightly unexpected," she said slowly, "but . . . can I go with you?"



Dru stared at her blankly. "I beg your pardon?"



"I want to go with you. To Kamino."



"Why?"



This stumped Annie for a moment. "Just to get out a bit," she finally offered, rather feebly. "I'm a Tatooine girl, you know. I've always wanted to see so much water in one place."



That did it. Dru grinned hugely. "I hear ya, girl. Okay . . . I was told the mission was low maintenance, very little possibility of trouble. I'll need to clear it with the Council, but as far as I'm concerned, you're free to join me."



Annie decided to press her luck. "And Krista, too?"



Their exclamations were simultaneous. "What?"



"For . . . superior numbers," Annie said slowly, looking meaningfully at Krista. "Besides, you've always wanted to see Kamino." She paused, very deliberately. "Haven't you, Krista?"



Krista was confused, but she wasn't stupid. "Uh . . . that's right. Kamino. Woo yeah." She shot a wobbly smile at Dru, who was clearly equally confused. Abruptly, she frowned again. "Wait a minute. I have to testify, at the Prince's trial. I can't be gone for that!"



"We won't be gone that long," Annie said hastily. "It's still three weeks before the preliminary proceedings begin in the courtroom. You should be back in plenty of time."



Krista looked slightly miffed to lose this excuse. "Oh. Okay then. Looks like I'm going to Kamino." She paused, then glanced at Dru. "If that's all right with you, of course."



Dru shrugged, the motion setting her long black robes rippling. "That's no trouble, I guess. I can get a ship that holds three, and a handmaiden usually knows how to take care of herself."



"Damn straight," Krista said proudly.



"Well, that settles it then," Dru said after a pause. "Remember, we leave in the morning, so you'll need to pack your things and be ready. I'll clear it with the Council, and I need my beauty sleep, so unless I contact you again assume everything's all right. Until tomorrow, my friends." She bowed formally, then she and Wes departed.



Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were staring at them. "You're . . . leaving?" Obi-Wan said, surprised. "But, Annie . . . you've just arrived."



"I know," she said, glancing at them all sadly. "But this is . . . we need to do this."



"Do we?" Krista said, plainly still confused.



"Yes," Danielle agreed quietly. Her gaze was equally sorrowful as she looked at her friends. "But you'll come back as soon as possible, and you know where I'll be waiting."



The two Jedi exchanged glances. "Well, it's your decision, of course," Qui-Gon said diplomatically. "If you truly are going to rise early on the morrow, you'd best get to bed now. Annie--"



"I'll sleep on the couch," Danielle immediately offered. "Annie can share the bed with Krista."



"Very well," Qui-Gon said. "I'll see you ladies in the morning."



Clearly troubled by these abrupt new decisions, he and Obi-Wan made their farewells and departed.











Later that evening, when their flatmates were asleep, the three girls met quietly on the balcony.



"First of all," Krista said immediately, "please explain why exactly I'm going to Kamino."



"Don't you remember what we were talking about?" Danielle asked. "We all showed up in important places we'd heard about. Kamino is another one of those, and there can't be too many others. There's a really strong possibility Laura's there."



Krista blinked. "So we're going there to try and look for her? What do you suppose Dru will think of that?"

"Dru's a nice person," Annie said. "She'll let us bring her back with us."



Krista shook her head. "But if we both go, we're leaving Danielle here by herself. The bad guys obviously know they can find her here, and if we leave . . ."



"I'm pretty good at taking care of myself," Danielle said. "Besides, I have Obi and Qui. They're pretty useful in a fight."



"And that's another thing," Annie pointed out. "They know Danielle's here, but not that we're going to Kamino, so if they attack, it'll probably be Danielle."



Krista stared at them. "You're using her as *bait*? Okay, that may work in movies, but in real life it's just stupid. What if she's killed? Or captured?"



"You keep forgetting that this isn't real life," Danielle said irritably. "This is a movie. And I'll be fine, I promise."



"Can't promise something like that," Krista said sharply. "It's just . . . splitting up seems like a really bad idea for some reason. Together we stand, you know?"



"But for all of us to be together we need Laura," Annie reminded her. "It's not like we're never coming back. We're going, getting her, and coming straight back. Then we can figure out all of this. Savvy?" She grinned.



"All right," Krista said skeptically. "It just seems . . . to me . . ."



"Shhh," Danielle whispered suddenly, cutting her off. "Wait."



There was a pause as Annie and Krista stood frozen while Danielle moved slowly to the edge of the balcony and looked over. At last, Annie whispered, "What is it?"



"There's someone down there," Danielle breathed.



The other two girls joined her with equal caution, peering downward. "Are you sure?" Krista whispered.



Danielle looked irritated. "Yes, I'm sure."



She pointed, and the others followed the line of her arm to see a soft flicker of motion in the shadows, almost too brief to see.



"It's probably a Jedi," Krista whispered.



Danielle frowned, then closed her eyes and stretched out with her senses, reaching downward. After only a moment they snapped back open again, and there was mingled fear and rage in them. "That's no Jedi," she hissed.



Annie paled. "But what--?"



Krista, however, raised a fiery glance and headed purposefully toward the two sleeping Jedi within the apartment. "I'll go get--"



"No!" The other two girls stared at Danielle in shock, realizing how horrified she suddenly looked. "No, you can't do that!"



"Why?" Annie asked. "Danielle, what's going on?"



Danielle ripped off the cloak she'd been wearing to ward off the night's chill, revealing the lightsaber that was clipped to her belt at all times. "I'll explain later. For now, be quiet," she said officiously. "Don't let him know we're here. And *don't* wake up Qui and Obi."



"What are you doing?" Krista asked in astonishment.



"I'm going down there," she replied, and without further ado she vaulted over the edge of the balcony and dropped soundlessly to the shadows below.



"Danielle!" Krista cried in a strangled whisper. "Why, that stupid, pompous little--!" When Annie simply stared in astonishment, she struggled out of her jacket. "Come on!" she whispered.



"What are *you* doing?" Annie asked.



"Going after her, duh! She's going to get herself killed!"



"But she's a Jedi! The drop is too long for us. It'll break our legs!"



Krista gripped her pendant fiercely. "Not necessarily."



Annie stared at her. "What do you mean by--hey!" She tried to free her hand when Krista grabbed it, to no avail. "What do you think--KRISTA!"



This last verged dangerously on a shriek as Krista, still clamped firmly onto her hand, got up on the wall and jumped over, dragging an unwilling Annie with her.



There wasn't enough time to feel fear or doubt. Clutching Annie's hand in one hand and her pendant in the other, Krista closed her eyes and concentrated . . . and instead of the brutal impact that should have heralded their landing, she felt the rush of air slow, grow almost nonexistent . . . then stop completely.



Their toes gently met the earth, and Krista and Annie pulled their hands free and stared at each other.



Then, without further ado, they took off after Danielle.



Since she was trying to stalk her prey soundlessly, she wasn't far ahead, and as soon as they realized they were near they slowed to a silent pace and caught up.



Danielle was creeping along the shadows, disengaged hilt gripped in her hand, all her concentration focused on her prey. She never even noticed the other two girls sneaking up behind her until Annie reached out and touched her hesitantly on the shoulder.



The sudden touch from behind her was too much for Danielle; with a shriek, she whirled to face her supposed attackers, and Krista and Annie leapt back with twin cries of shock.



For a moment everybody froze; then, ahead of them, the shadowy figure suddenly broke into a sprint, and they all took off in pursuit.



It was clear from the beginning they were fighting a losing battle. None of the three girls were in bad shape, but neither did they have anywhere near the speed of their prey, who quickly left them behind as he scrambled through foliage and skidded around ponds and fountains, clearly heading for the garden wall. When it became clear that he was going to get away, Danielle, desperate, scooped up a rock and hurled it at him. It shattered into the garden wall just as he vaulted over the top, black robes flickering as he vanished from sight.



Gasping and panting, they all stared at where the other had disappeared. "Dammit," Krista cursed, frustration dripping from her words. "He got away."



"Not just yet," Danielle gritted. "Follow me!" She took off at a sharp angle to the right, leaping right over a low copse of bushes and heading for the nearest gate. Annie and Krista followed as best they could.



They reached the gate at a dead sprint, and Danielle used the Force to throw it open with her mind before she reached it. The three girls shot through, not bothering to shut the gate behind them, and emerged onto a walkway that diverged onto two separate paths. Unhesitating, Danielle launched herself down the left path which led to a nearby building, the same direction the other had gone.



The walkway was little more than a thin strip of metal, unbound by handrails, that stretched impossibly high above the seemingly bottomless drop below. The three girls traversed it without fear, barreling along it at dangerous speeds in pursuit of the other.



They'd just reached the building when, from above them, they heard the shriek of engines and looked up in time to see a black fighter shoot into the distance. "Hurry!" Danielle cried, and the three burst into the building, which turned out to be another hangar bay where numerous ships were parked.

Danielle sprinted across the room to the nearest, threw herself inside, then used the Force to get it running. Krista slid into the driver's seat and took off as Annie was still landing in the back, and the three rocketed out of the nearest entrance and into the night.



For all her recklessness, Krista drove incredibly swiftly, and within a matter of moments they were clear of the Temple and shooting into the night sky. "Where'd he go?" she yelled, slowing indecisively.



Danielle reached out to the Force, concentrated, and could feel nothing. As soon as she opened her mouth to tell Krista it was pointless, Annie said in a very strange voice, "Go up and over the roof of that building, arc hard into the alley on the other side, then take the first turn right." When they both just looked at her, she barked, "Now!"



Krista slammed the accelerator and the little speeder shot forward. Per Annie's instructions, she arced up over the roof of said building and into the alley, then made a sharp right--only to nearly collide with the dark craft they'd been chasing.



Krista didn't need any further instructions to follow the craft. Face grim, she kept as close on its tail as she could until Annie gasped a warning at the same time Danielle cried, "Swerve right!"



Krista yanked the steering mechanism to the right and the ship rolled to the side just as a hail of projectiles released from the back of the craft ahead of them and sliced through the air where they'd been moments ago.



"He's firing on us!" Danielle yelled helpfully, and Krista shouted, "I noticed!"



Rolling back behind the other fighter, Krista was unprepared for the other to jerk right, forcing her to nearly smack into the wall of a nearby skyscraper in order to follow.



"This guy really knows what he's doing," she panted, managing to get back on course and continue her pursuit. "If he doesn't land soon, he's going to lose me!"



As if in answer to her statement, the craft suddenly dropped three levels lower than the three girls were flying; then, before Krista had time to adjust, turned the opposite direction and disappeared down an adjacent street. Krista eventually managed to follow, but when she pulled into the street, the other had vanished.



"No!" Krista howled, beating on the steering wheel in frustration. "Where'd he go?"



Annie tensed up suddenly, her eyes clouding over, and then with a little shudder she returned to herself. "Two right turns from here, he'll pull into an abandoned hangar bay," she informed a stunned Krista. "We can catch him if you go now."



Krista didn't need telling twice. Kicking the speeder into gear again, she arced in the indicated direction, turned right, and immediately pulled into the hangar bay, settling the small speeder on the ground.



Danielle and Annie leapt out before the ship even finished powering down, and Krista was right behind them. They could see the empty ship some distance to their right, but there was no sign of its driver. There was, however, a tunnel leading further within the building, the only possible escape route, and the three girls ran toward it as one.



Through the doorway the light instantly began to fade, and the girls almost immediately found themselves plunged into total darkness. Danielle stopped running first, and Krista, lacking eyesight keen enough to see in the dark, smacked into her from behind. Annie slowed, eyes wide, as she tried to penetrate the absolute blackness. "Okay, this isn't cool."



"Danielle, can you sense him?" Krista asked, voice betraying her fear.



Danielle, eyes closed and all senses extended, didn't bother to answer. She stepped forward, tension vibrating from her, her heartbeat hammering in her ears so loudly it was difficult to concentrate. She took one wary step . . . another . . . then froze. For a moment she stood motionless, feeling the air crackle around her, then slowly raised her lightsaber and ignited it, opening her eyes as well. The brilliant blue glow cut through the darkness, illuminating the area a few meters around her, and giving Annie and Krista an eerie view of her determined face and a faint gleam from her dark hair.



From her left there was a faint rustle, and she pivoted immediately to face it. "I know you're there," she said, fighting to keep her voice from shaking. "I can feel you. We won't allow you to escape."



There was a strange rasping noise, then an incredibly deep voice said, "Leave this place, Jedi. I have work to do here."



Danielle stepped forward once more, extending her blade slightly, and its glow stretched to outline faintly the dark robes of another figure, directly ahead of her. The picture she painted should have been ridiculous: a bespectacled teenage girl in pyjamas facing a shadowy figure of nightmare. Something in her stance, however, made no allowances for humor. "Never."



For a moment there was no response; then, they heard an eerily familiar snap-hiss, and a crimson lightsaber distorted the blackness.



Annie drew in a breath of horror as Krista stumbled backward, speechless. Danielle held her ground, lightsaber unwavering in her grasp, even as she knew she'd never been more terrified in her life. "I won't let you go free, Sith," she said quietly.



"Then you leave me no choice, Jedi." The other figure stepped forward, and now Danielle could see the outline of his dark clothing fully, dark eyes gleaming from within the shadows of his hood. Slowly he extended his lightsaber until the crackling red blade touched Danielle's azure, emitting a shower of sparks. They stood like that for a moment, swords and gazes locked; then the Sith moved, and Danielle did as well.



For the two girls watching, the outcome of the battle inevitable. Danielle had grace and the Force, but she'd only been training a few months. Her opponent had clearly studied swordplay far longer than that. Their movements were eerie to behold, the searing brightness of the swords vivid against the darkness and hands and faces gleaming in the reflected light, but the course of the battle was still easy enough to follow.



The Sith moved his blade, almost lazily, and Danielle hastily parried; a feint, then a thrust she had to leap back to avoid. She tried to mount an attack of her own, beginning a beat-lunge combination, but the Sith swirled to the side and slipped under her guard, lightsaber drawing a hissing line through the sleeve of her nightshirt as she cried out in surprise.



So it went, each exchange of blows resulting in some slight injury or humiliation to Danielle, until the Sith neatly cut a lock of her hair on a backhanded swing. Annie and Krista realized simultaneously that he was merely toying with her, extending the battle for some unknown purpose of his own.



Danielle fought well and she fought bravely, never breaking the Sith's gaze and never backing away from him, until the Sith clearly became tired of his game. At the end of a long series of parries he suddenly lunged forward, slashing his lightsaber downward, and Danielle screamed as the blade drew a searing line of fire down her arm. As she doubled over in agony, out of nowhere he lanced outward with one booted foot and knocked Danielle's lightsaber from her hand, disarming her effortlessly. As she gasped and lunged for it, the Sith extended a hand and a wave of Force rippled out from it, slamming into Danielle and sending her sprawling.



As she lay on the floor, waves of pain crashing over her while she struggled to rise on her uninjured arm, the Sith walked slowly over to her and looked down. As Danielle stared up at him, wide eyed with fear and the realization that she was about to die, he raised his lightsaber--



--and whirled in time to parry the sudden blow that came from behind him, blade crackling from the impact.



Before Danielle even had time to fully see what had happened the Sith was moving again, sword flashing as he engaged his new opponent. She sat up and peered around him to see Annie, her face alight with anger and fear for her friend, holding the lightsaber in a confident grip. As she countered the Sith's attacks, her feet moved with the ease and her wrist moved with the swiftness three years of fencing on Earth had given her.



Despite her skill, she did not have the Force, and it was clear she wouldn't last even as long as Danielle had. The moment she faltered, however, Krista was behind the Sith with an abandoned bit of pipe she'd found dropped on the floor and clocked him neatly on the head, sending him staggering away in shock.



Regaining his balance, the Sith stood in amazement, staring at the three girls as Danielle struggled to her feet and Annie and Krista menaced him with their makeshift weapons. "You get the hell away from us," Krista growled, even as the pipe shook in her hands. "And don't ever come back!"



For a moment he hesitated, clearly weighing his options, then disengaged his lightsaber and vanished into the shadowy depths of the building. Within seconds he had completely disappeared from view.



This time there was no thought of chasing him. Krista dropped her pipe and lunged, grabbing Danielle in time to keep her from hitting the floor as her knees gave way beneath her. Supporting her larger friend with difficulty, Krista asked frantically, "Oh my god, Danielle, are you all right? We have to get you back to the Temple, you have to see a healer--"



"No!" Gritting her teeth against the pain and humiliated by the tears of agony and frustration forming in her eyes, Danielle pulled free of Krista's supportive grip. "We can't see a healer at the Temple. I'll stop at a clinic on the way home."



The other two girls looked at her like she was insane. "Okay, Danielle, this has gone far enough," Krista said angrily. "You've been acting like a madwoman tonight--chasing after that Sith all by yourself, following him in the speeder, challenging him to a duel . . . and you wouldn't allow us to take you to a healer at the temple! What is going on?"



Danielle stood there, eyes closed, holding a hand to her temple. At last, voice unsteady, she whispered, "This can't be happening."



"Danielle!" Annie moved to join Krista at her side. "What's the matter?"



Danielle opened her eyes, and her expression was bleak. "I saw who it was," she whispered.



The other two girls exchanged strange looks. "And?" Annie said slowly.



Danielle held out her hand, and Annie returned her lightsaber. "You two saved my life," she said quietly. When they both refused to be diverted, she turned and looked away, the hand that gripped her lightsaber white-knuckled with strain. When she spoke, her voice was eerily calm, and the words unmistakable.



"It was Darth Maul."





********************************************************************************





Outside the public clinic, the three girls wearily returned to their speeder, Danielle unconsciously rubbing the long bandage on her arm.



"But how could it have been him?" Krista asked for the fourth time. "How could he have been here? Or in the Jedi Temple? Someone would have sensed him, surely."



"Don't you remember?" Danielle asked savagely. "In the Phantom Menace, nobody would even believe the Sith still existed. If someone thought they sensed him, they'd just shrug it off as their imagination . . . if they sensed it all. The Dark Side clouds their vision, remember?"



"Okay," Annie said tentatively, "I know you guys might be mad at me for this, but I don't know why you're so upset. Even if the events of the movie happen . . . I've been there. It's not so bad. And, hey! The good guys win, you know."



Danielle whirled, her eyes burning. "Don't you see, Annie? We're *in* Star Wars? We aren't going to get to just skip into the future when the war's about to be won. We're going to have to live through everything in between. The fall of the republic, Anakin's fall to the dark side . . . the Jedi Purge . . ." Her throat closed unexpectedly. "This galaxy is going to be hell on earth for about thirty years, and we're gonna get to live through it."



"Everything we love is going to be destroyed," Krista added. "And everyone we know is going to die. If Darth Maul is here . . ." She shook her head fiercely. "It can't be too long before the Trade Federation blockades Naboo and takes over Theed. That's *my* planet, Annie. I . . . I don't think I could handle that. And then . . ." To her disgust she felt tears forming in her eyes. "And then Qui-Gon will die." She looked back at her friends and her expression was hopeless. "We do all remember who kills him?"



Suddenly her earlier actions were more readily understandable. "That's why you wouldn't let me wake up Obi and Qui," Krista said quietly. "Because you know that if they face him--" She blanched.



Annie shook her head. "But we're here. Surely that's not all going to happen."



"Why not?" Danielle continued to walk, tension radiating from her. "What have we really changed by being here? People know who we are, sure, and we might have made a few little changes, but basically everything is still happening the same way it did in the movies, and we're not strong enough to stop it. And it won't just be Qui-Gon that will die. *Everybody* dies. The Purge . . . Vader kills them all, Annie. All the children I see everyday in the creche . . . all the masters . . . your Wes and Dru will die, you know, maybe even at Geonosis or sooner . . . *Obi-Wan* . . ."



Annie was clearly shaken by this. "I hadn't realized," she said at last.



"It's okay," Krista said wearily. "You were in the future, and none of that mattered to you. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were already dead then, so you're used to that. We've gotten a little attached to them, and everybody else."



"I understand," Annie said quietly. "But what can we do?"

"Find Laura," Danielle said without turning. "Bring her back here. When she's here, we'll remember everything. And we're obviously meant to all be together, so maybe when she's here we'll know what we're supposed to do. While you're gone I'll do everything I can to research our necklaces and try to keep the events of the Phantom Menace from taking place."



Krista walked up to her side and put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Danielle. There's got to be a reason we're here. There *has* to be something we can do. We won't let Obi and Qui die."



Danielle hesitated only a moment before turning to meet her eyes. "We'll try."





********************************************************************************





Their departure the next morning was unusually solemn.



Dru showed up just after dawn to pick up her two charges, who were waiting with their meager luggage in the hall, then waited while they said their goodbyes.



Krista hugged Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, surprising them both with her strange sincerity and lingering tellingly over Qui-Gon. Annie shook their hands with equal reserve, startling Obi-Wan with how long she remained looking at him afterward. Then both girls moved to embrace Danielle.



"Be back soon," Danielle whispered. "And take care of yourselves. Try not to do anything stupid, all right?"



Krista managed a grin. "What, us? When have we ever done anything stupid?"



"You be careful too," Annie said sternly. "Don't take any unnecessary risks. You're a Jedi, but you're not fully trained yet, and you're not immortal." At Danielle's expression, she hardened her voice. "I mean it, Danielle."



"I know." She stepped back. "I will."



In the silence, Krista suddenly spoke up. "Come on, everybody, lighten up. We're all rarin' to go on this trip, right? I mean I for one have *always* wanted to go to Kamino." She grinned at Annie widely, who smiled in response. "And we'll be back soon."



Annie picked up the spirit. "That's right. And if anything nasty comes after us, we can whup it. I've done my share of that so far on this little . . . adventure. Quest. Thing." She beamed, proud of that statement, as Krista and Danielle rolled their eyes.



"Well, then," Dru said cheerily, "let's get moving, ladies. It's a bit of a flight to Kamino, and we don't want to be late! There's a hurricane predicted to move in a few hours after our scheduled departure, and I think we want to be gone for that."



Krista paled, then shot Annie a far less pleasant look. "That must be one of the things I've always wanted to see about Kamino," she growled, and Annie shrugged sheepishly.



"Take care, Krista, Annie," Qui-Gon said. "We'll see you when you return."



"Au revoir!"Annie said cheerfully; then, as Danielle stood watching with dark eyes, they hoisted their bags and followed Dru down the corridor and into the unknown.