Lala:  Yes, Zekkie is here!! [face_love]

Kazzy: The voices? Well, they go away. :-D Don't worry. You'll be guessing at what I'm doing. It doesn't make sense until you look back at it then you say "Wow. I never would have thought of it… But it works!!" :-D Trust me, you'll be guessing. I have read some of the stuff from before all the movies. It wasn't that great. TTT is one of the best? :-O I think I'm going to be picky now…

Disclaimer: Not mine… No matter how much I wish it… Not mine…


Chapter 4


Mara's throat felt tight and a prickly sort of burning sensation left her with the general feeling of helplessness. Even though her breathing was shallow, it felt as if flaming vibro-knives were being driven down her trachea and into her lungs.

She drew another ragged breath.

Suddenly, a high scream split the thick, smoky air as a small, dark haired form thudded to the ground before her.

Mara blinked.

A gigantic explosion of bright light, more brilliant than a white-blue giant going supernova, rent the area and brought her to her knees. The light pressed sharply against her eyes.

She shielded her face.

The unnatural brightness was painful.

The pain in her throat was forgotten in the face of the new danger.

The light began dimming ever so faintly.

Mara blacked out.

~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~

Zekk groaned as he rolled over. The fall had only made him… "lose focus".

It just made me lose my focus. Zekk pursed his lips. Yes, that was the way to put it. He rose up on his knees, then thumped back down to the ground. The beautiful, red-haired lady crouched down next to him; her back to him,

**Umm…. Djai? What did you just do?**

**I sent out an explosion of Force light!** Djai's tone was a queer combination of hyper, delight, and strangely enough, smugness. **I think I made an impression on her too!**

**No, no. That was a blaster bolt.**

**Huh?**

**Ne're mind.**

~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~

Mara Jade's eyes were tightly shut as the conversation took place in her head.

Terrific. Now I'm hearing voices. Wouldn't Skywalker just love this.

She raised her head warily and cracked open one eye. Discovering that the bright light had disappeared completely, she fully opened both of her jade colored eyes.

No one was shooting.

She twisted and grabbed all three of her blasters, then expertly swapped out their power packs.

Placing one in its thigh holster, she placed another in her arm holster and held the last one loosely in her right hand.

"Are you alright?" a small, soft voice asked from behind her.

It will be soft and cuddly. Do I shoot first or do I find out who it is? Shoot.

Mara hefted her blaster once then spun around to bring her blaster to bear on a… small humanoid child? She dropped the blaster as though it were made from molten metal.

Mara felt as though she were drowning, suffocating, lost as she looked into his small face.

The green eyes were so like her own and yet, so different. The face was so familiar, but … she knew she'd never seen it before.

"Who are you?" Mara whispered.

Zekk's eyebrows hit the edge of his bangs. Figuratively speaking of course.

"Zekk Soulwalker?" He gave a nervous, cheesy grin. "Are… You all right ma'am?"

~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~

Tanyr Kas shuddered as the tentative bond was suddenly broken. He fell backwards on his bed.

Force, why'd this have to be so difficult? Get through to the stubborn lady; show her the truth, and then your job's done! That's it!

Tanyr groaned and covered his face with his hands.

Why can't I convince myself??

Someone pounded on his door.

"Kcas! Kcas!"

Tanyr waved a hand as he manipulated the door pad using the Force. "Come in." he called loudly, and then sighed. What was it this time?

"Kcas!" a short Rodian came running in. "Kcas! What'da we do? WHAT DO WE DO?!"

He looked at Tanyr wildly. "KCAS!!" he shook him. "KCAS!!! WE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED!!"

The tall pirate's dark blue eyes flashed open as he leapt to his feet. "Calm down will you?!" Tanyr grabbed his lightsaber and Force pinned his second in command against the far wall. As he stood in the door he turned and pointed a finger at him. "Not a word. Understood?"

The now glassy-eyed Rodian nodded his head. Tanyr turned and started to run as soon as he reached the main corridors.

He slid into the bridge door, almost falling over his feet as he caught sight of the view port.

"What in the?!..."