Chapter 3: Dantooine, Torch Nebula

"Where did you set course to?" Eilis asked Bastila when she felt the adrenaline rush of battle begin to fade. Her real hand shook as she released the yoke and she rubbed it against her thigh.

"Dantooine. There's a Jedi Enclave there where we can find refuge."

"Refuge?" said Carth as he stood in the cockpit doorway. "We can't stop anywhere! After what Malak did to Taris…"

"The Sith would think twice about attacking Dantooine," insisted Bastila in a haughty tone. "There are several powerful Jedi there. We'll be safe."

"There is no such thing as safe," whispered Eilis. "My father told me that. Safety is an illusion that makes one unaware of the danger."

She then frowned at the console and unbuckled her safety harness to get a better look.

"Droyk! The starboard shields are gone and the rear are only running at sixty percent. Not to mention the port one's aren't running at full power either."

"Circuitry in the turret's fried," reported Canderous as he appeared behind Carth, the Republic soldier's expression darkening at the presence of the Mandalorian at his back.

"Looks like that landing on Dantooine is needed," said Eilis, turning the chair so she could look at Carth. "Otherwise I'd agree with your 'keep moving' idea, flyboy. But we've got to get repairs."

Carth sighed at that.

"Alright. Sorry for shouting. It's just not easy to witness the destruction of a planet."

Eilis frowned at she remembered his own homeworld had been bombarded by the Sith then she recalled the cries she'd heard whilst flying.

"Oh Force! Mission!"

Eilis sprang from her seat and pushed past the two men, rushing through the ship in search of the young Twi'lek. She finally found her in the port dormitory, curled into a fetal ball on one of the bunks. Zaalbar sat beside her, a paw on her shoulder and a mournful expression on his furry face.

He then looked up at Eilis' entrance and said, "No matter what I try, it doesn't comfort her."

"Oh, Mission." The smuggler dropped to her knees beside the bunk the teenager lay on and laid a gentle hand on her arm. Dark eyes opened and peered at her through a haze of almost palpable sadness. "I'm so sorry."

"E-Eilis?"

Mission lifted her head slightly then lowered it again, her lekku twisted tightly about her neck. She then bit her lower lip and muttered, "It's gone. It's all gone…"

"I know," whispered Eilis, stroking the Twi'lek's arm. She then looked at Zaalbar, who stood up and moved away, and she took the Wookiee's place on the bunk. Cautiously she reached out and began to stroke Mission's forehead. Her mother had once told her something about only a very trusted person or a lover could touch a Twi'lek's lekku and she was cautious about laying her hands on Mission's. She had no idea how much the young Twi'lek trusted her – or if she was remembering her mother's words correctly.

Mission's entire body twitched with a sob and she was suddenly in Eilis' arms, crying into her shoulder. The smuggler hugged the teenager close and rubbed her back, one of her hands eventually moving up to stroke the side of one of her blue lekku. She whispered calming words to her in Twi'leki and waited for the sobs to subside.

When they did, Mission pulled away from her and sat hiccoughing for a moment. Eilis stroked the back of the Twi'lek's hand and saw Zaalbar sit down behind her out of the corner of her eye. The smuggler moved back then and the big Wookiee engulfed the little Twi'lek in a furry hug.

"Th-thank you," stammered Mission, peering out at Eilis from within Zaalbar's embrace.

Eilis smiled and clasped both of the teenager's hands in her own, looking directly into her eyes as she spoke.

"You're a part of this crew now, Mission. That makes us…well, I guess that makes us kind of a family. And, y'know, family's are there for each other no matter what."

Mission nodded then sank back into Zaalbar's embrace, burying her face in the fur on his upper arm. Eilis patted the Wookiee's arm then rose to leave, running into Carth in the doorway. She glanced behind her then gently pushed him out into the corridor, leaving the pair in the port dormitory alone.

Once there, she looked up at him and asked, "Want something?"

"Was wondering where you went," he replied. Then he smiled and said, "That was a nice thing you said to her."

Eilis shrugged helplessly and said, "It was all I could think to say. I mean, what else could I say? Tell her everything would be okay? The only home she really knew just got battered into dust!"

Carth frowned and looked down at the floor panels between them.

"I know how that feels."

"Carth…"

"I'm going to go see what I can do with the shields," he said suddenly, moving away from her. She was suddenly aware that her hands had been on his chest through their entire conversation and her cheeks flushed in reaction. Mentally she scolded herself for such a schoolgirl reaction before going after him.

"No, wait," she said, reaching out to grasp his arm. "Lemme take care of them. I'm the tech here, remember?"

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Do your job, flyboy," she replied with a small smirk as she moved past him. "Fly."

Carth turned to watch her as she walked down the corridor, his eyes straying slightly towards her leather-clad backside. He then shook his head and headed towards the cockpit.

------

"So the Princess has gone to meet with the old men?"

"Supposedly," yawned Eilis. She stretched both arms above her head, fingers interlocked, leaning back in the co-pilot's chair and started to bring them down when a large hand caught her right arm. Tilting her head back, she glared up at Canderous, who was frowning at her arm.

"We got a problem?"

"You never answered me," he said, releasing her arm.

Eilis frowned and sat silent for a moment then replied, "It's a droid arm."

"That's an odd false limb. If I'm not mistaken you have to be pretty poor to not get a synthetic replacement."

"I lost it during a smuggling job when I was twenty. My father and I were loading high explosives when one of the bantha brain's we'd paid to help threw a cigarra butt amongst them." She shrugged and continued, "My father threw himself on top of me before the explosion went off. I lost my arm, he lost his life protecting me."

"And the bantha?"

Eilis shuddered slightly, gripping her right arm in remembrance.

"He was in our ship during the explosion and ran off afterwards. The local authorities never found him and they tried to arrest me when they found out what we were smuggling. As you can tell, they didn't succeed. And you can't really get a synthetic arm if you tell them the reason you lost it was because you were smuggling high explosives and they went ka-blooey. I know, I tried."

"Quite the tale," said Canderous. He then turned as Carth entered the cockpit and said, "Republic."

"Ordo," said Carth shortly.

Canderous snorted then said to Eilis, "We'll talk later." With that he was gone, leaving the pilot and smuggler alone in the cockpit.

"What did he want?" asked Carth after a moment, leaning his shoulder against the wall.

"He was asking about my arm," replied Eilis, shifting in her seat. "Nothing major." She then turned the chair towards him and frowned at him.

"You look troubled, Carth."

He frowned now and growled, "Not another interrogation."

"What are you getting so upset about!" she demanded, rising from her seat. "All I did was make an observation! Ugh! You infuriating man!"

She tried to storm past him but he grabbed her shoulders, keeping her from moving past.

"What!" she snapped, blue eyes flashing towards him.

"Look!" he said, frowning down at her. "I'm sorry." He sighed and ran a hand back through his hair. "It seems like every time we try and talk, we end up arguing."

"So it seems," said Eilis, reaching up to brush an errant lock of hair behind her ear. She then smirked and added, "Though its always your fault."

"My…oh no, sister, you're not blaming all of this on me."

"It's true."

Carth frowned at her then shook his head, saying, "You're an impossible woman."

Eilis just smiled at him then scuffed the toe of her boot on the floor panels of the cockpit. "Um…about that interrogation…"

"What about it?" asked Carth, his tone suddenly shifting back to annoyed.

"Carth, I just want to know more about you. C'mon. I'll answer anything you ask me!"

He looked at her for a moment then sighed, muttering, "You always seem to get everything out of me no matter how hard I resist."

Eilis smiled.

"It's my womanly charms. So tell! Anything at all!"

It's something, alright, thought the pilot. Then he ran a hand back through his hair and said, "Y'know, five years ago Revan and Malak were the heroes of the Republic. They'd put the Mandalorians on the run and I…I was proud to serve in their fleet."

"Then they turned on us. We never expected them – our heroes – to turn on us. But it wasn't them turning that really hurt; it was the men that went with them, good men who joined their cause and betrayed the Republic without a backwards glance." He clenched his fists and spat, "All of them – Revan, Malak, the Sith – they deserve to die. And the traitors deserve worse."

Eilis looked up at him for a long moment then said, "You say that with such hatred."

Carth sighed and said, "Yeah. When I think about all those men that went to them, I see just one face: Saul Karath."

"Admiral Saul Karath? Isn't he the head of Malak's fleet?"

"That's him. He was my commanding officer, my mentor, my…friend. He taught me everything about being a soldier and I looked up to him." He shook his head and continued, "He approached me before he left too. Told me the Republic was on the losing side and that I should start thinking of my survival. I didn't know then but now I realize he was trying to recruit me into the Sith. Back then…it seemed impossible. He'd led the Republic to so many victories against the Mandalorians when things looked the worst."

"I argued with him and he left…after that I never saw him again. Then that traitor not only joined the Sith, he gave them the codes to bypass our scanners. I woke up to find Saul's fleet bombing Telos, our ships on the ground wiped out before my eyes. That was when I knew what had happened."

He shook with anger at himself and muttered, "I could have stopped it."

Eilis laid a hand gingerly on his arm. She then looked up into his face and asked, "Do you really believe that, Carth?"

"I-I don't know. I might have killed him, he might have killed me. But…I've followed his trail ever since then, hoping…hoping I'd get the chance to make him regret what he's done."

"Carth, I…I don't know what to say." She shook her head, saying, " 'I'm sorry' just seems so hollow."

"There's more but…I…"

Eilis slipped her fingers over his lips and said, "I understand." She then smiled and grabbed his hand, saying, "C'mon. It does neither of us any good to stay cooped up in this ship. Let's go get some air."

Carth nodded and followed her, his hand still clasped in hers. He felt part of him warm at the contact with her but another part hated himself for allowing it. What would she think of him?

She's dead, hissed a voice in his head.

But I'm still here, thought Carth as Eilis led him down the ramp into the Jedi Enclave's landing zone.

------

"So you are the one who rescued Bastila," said one of the four Jedi Master's, this one the Twi'lek. "I am Master Zhar."

"Um, hi," said Eilis, not quite knowing what to do with herself in the presence of these four. She was just a smuggler, what the heck was she doing here! Her gaze flicked to Bastila and she wondered what the hell the Jedi had gotten her into.

"These are Masters Vrook and Vandar," she heard the Twi'lek say and followed his motioning hand. Her eyes first fell on an older human who looked at her with dislike in his eyes and then on a small, olive colored alien. She didn't recognize the species but he seemed trustworthy and he wasn't looking at her like she was bantha fodder.

Zhar pointed at the older dark human who stood on the other side of Vandar and finished, "And this is Master Dorak, the chronicler of our academy."

Eilis nodded to all of them then scuffed the sole of her right boot on the floor, earning an exasperated look from Bastila that she ignored.

"What exactly is this about?" she asked, eying the four Master's suspiciously.

"Bastila tells us you have visions, Miss O'Bren," replied Vandar.

Eilis' gaze darted to Bastila then back to the Master's. How did they know that! She hadn't told anyone about those strange dreams about Jedi!

"I sense confusion in you, young one," said the small Master. "Perhaps you did not know Bastila shared these dreams with you?"

"What!" exploded Eilis. "How? How is that possible?"

"A strong bond you and Bastila have, obviously forged when you saved her life."

"Oh, so she finally admitted it, eh?"

Bastila blushed as the older woman looked smugly towards her. Then Vrook spoke up, saying, "Be careful, child. Pride leads to the Dark Side."

"I'm no Jedi," said Eilis, bristling slightly at being called 'child'.

"But you are strong in the Force," said Zhar.

"Master Zhar speaks out of turn," said Vrook, frowning at the Twi'lek who stared right back. "We need undeniable proof of her affinity to the Force before we even consider training her!"

"Hmm, think about this we shall then," mused Vandar. "You may return to your ship, young one. We shall call you when we have finished."

"Alright," said Eilis, turning to walk out. As she exited the chamber, she wondered why Vandar calling her 'young one' didn't annoy her. Generally people calling her things like that made her fighting mad but somehow when the little alien did it, it seemed…right.

"Eilis!"

The smuggler turned and found Bastila jogging up to her just before she reached the door to head back out into the Enclave. She knew Carth was standing right beyond it and at the moment all she wanted was to grab him and go for a walk again. The one she'd dragged him on the day before had seemed to relax both of them and right now her brain was in such shambles that she needed it.

"What was said in this room does not leave it," she dimly heard Bastila say. "Do you understand?"

Eilis frowned then growled, "Damn secretive Jedi," and turned to leave. But the younger woman's hand on her arm stayed her momentarily.

"Eilis…"

"Fine, I'll keep your damn secrets!" spat Eilis, jerking her arm away from the brunette. "Now leave me alone. I need to clear my head."

"Very well," said Bastila, allowing the older woman to move away.

Eilis slapped the door panel and rushed through it the moment there was space, taking quick brisk steps away from the chamber that caused so much confusion in her. Carth pushed himself off the wall when he saw her and grabbed her wrist, halting her momentum and tugging her towards him. He frowned at her then looked up at Bastila in the doorway before glancing back down.

"What happened in there?" he asked.

"I was told not to discuss it," growled Eilis, her ire telling Carth that she wasn't too agreeable with the idea.

"Right." He frowned towards Bastila, who gave him a helpless look. Turning away from her, he placed a hand on the small of Eilis' back and steered her towards the open courtyard of the Enclave. "You don't look too happy with that."

"I'm not. Jedi are the most secretive bastard's in the galaxy and I don't fancy becoming one of them."

"Becoming one…what are you talking about?"

Eilis smiled wryly and said, "Whoops. There went one of those things I wasn't supposed to talk about."

Carth gaped at her for a moment then laughed, causing two Padawan's walking by to look at them oddly. He then looked down at her with amusement in his brown eyes and said, "You're something else, beautiful."

"Mmm, don't I know it." She then grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the exit to the outside of the Enclave. "C'mon, flyboy, I need a walk to clear my head."

"You sure you want company?"

"Well I need somebody to help me beat back the kathhounds, don't I?"

"Oh, so that's what I'm for…"

Eilis laughed and he found himself smiling as she continued to tug him towards the outside.

------

"Ugh…"

"You look like you've seen a ghost," commented ?xml:namespace prefix st1 ns "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" / Mission as Eilis staggered into the common area of the Ebon Hawk.

Carth looked up from where he'd been sifting through a datapad and hurriedly stood, motioning the smuggler to his chair. As she sank into it with a moan, he said, "I'll get you some caffa. You look like you could use it."

"You're an angel," muttered Eilis, her fingers rubbing into her temple to try and dissuade the pounding headache she had. It faded slightly and she let her arms fall into her lap. Her droid arm clanged lightly against the metal between the chair and it's counterpart and she remembered that she hadn't changed out of the sleeveless shirt and baggy pants she'd slept in yet.

Carth returned then and pressed a steaming mug into her hands, which she took gratefully. She swallowed some of it and grimaced, saying, "Remind me to fix that thing. It makes horrid caffa."

He smiled then crouched beside her chair, his eyes worried.

"Want to talk about it?"

Eilis frowned and twisted the mug in her hands, her mechanical fingers clattering on its sides. She then shook her head slightly and muttered, "I'd rather just forget it all," before downing the rest of the mug's contents. "Gah!"

She looked at Carth then and found him with a closed expression on his face and sighed.

"Carth…"

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it," he said softly. "I'm just…worried about you."

The smuggler smiled and reached out to pat his hand, saying, "Oh, don't worry about little ole' me, flyboy. I was making the Corellian Run when I was sixteen, remember?"

"And you called me a kid?" said Mission to Carth, her lekku twitching.

Carth groaned and Eilis smiled before slipping out of the chair to stretch. She then looked down at him and asked, "Where is everybody?"

"Bastila ran off to the Council this morning after waking up looking about as worse for wear as you, Zaalbar is off getting food as far as any of us know and the Mandalorian is in the swoop hangar."

Eilis sighed and said, "He has a name, Carth."

"Right." He ran a hand back through his hair and said, "By the way, Bastila mentioned something about you meeting with the Council again today."

"Great. What wonderful news to wake up to."

Carth smiled grimly in agreement then said, "Get dressed and I'll walk you over. That make you feel better?"

"'Course it does, flyboy," purred Eilis, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek. He blushed slightly in response and she smirked as she walked back towards the port dormitory that the women on the ship had claimed. Behind her, she heard Mission giggling hysterically and Carth stammering something in response to a comment she made.

Oh, how much fun it was to mess with the poor pilot…

------

"Bastila has told us that you shared a dream last night," said Vandar the moment she stopped in the center of the chamber. "A dream of Revan and Malak within the ancient ruins on this planet."

Eilis' eyes flicked towards the Jedi standing nearby and she asked, "What about it?"

"The ruins nearby are a mystery to us," said Dorak. "We've suspected them to be burial mounds but it seems they may be more due to Revan and Malak's interest in them."

"They were searching for something," said Eilis, the dream replaying itself in her mind. But for some reason it felt…it felt almost like a memory rather than a dream. "Something that would get them exiled for their actions." She then shook the dream back into the depths of her mind and asked, "Is that all?"

"I fear not, young one," said Vandar, causing the smuggler's blood to turn to ice. "We have come to a decision on our precious discussion."

"Have you now?"

"Indeed," said Zhar. "We have decided we must train you as a Jedi."

The words struck Eilis like a raging Wookiee and she frowned.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked, her temper rising slightly.

"There is always a choice," said Vandar. He then pointed a tiny, clawed hand at her and continued, "But what if you can make a difference, hmm? Would you be able to live with yourself if you knew you could have changed things?"

Eilis chuckled and smile at the little alien, crossing her arms under her breasts.

"Why, Master Vandar…blackmail from a Jedi? I am impressed."

Vandar smiled back at her while Vrook practically exploded beside him.

"You see! She is insolent! We surely cannot train one such as that!"

"It will be hard, yes," said Zhar, raising a hand as Vrook whirled towards him. "But if she is willing to try, I feel she will be successful."

Bastila looked towards Eilis and the smuggler saw the hope that she'd accept in the younger woman's blue-gray eyes.

I will not do this at her will!

Then she thought of all the people on Taris, people who a Jedi who was willing to help them might have been able to save.

She thought of Mission, who she hadn't been able to protect from the destruction of her homeworld.

But the thought that cemented it was Carth. She thought of his sworn revenge on Saul Karath and knew somewhere in her gut that by learning to be a Jedi she would really help him. And she wanted nothing more than to help him in any way she could…

"I'll do it," she said softly, looking directly at Vandar as she said it. The little Master smiled in return and inclined his head.

Dorak spoke up then, saying, "Traditionally we do not accept adults for training. You are a special case, however."

Oh joy, thought Eilis.

"You and Bastila share a powerful connection," said Zhar. "You should learn to rely on it."

Eilis nearly scoffed at that but held herself back as Vandar spoke again.

"Whatever dangers lie ahead, we cannot ignore the fact that destiny brought you and Bastila here."

"Okay. So, uh, about this bond…"

"It is a powerful link," explained Vandar. "Together, perhaps, you may be able to put a stop to Malak and the Sith."

Eilis' eyes widened and she saw Bastila's do the same. That was quite the weight to throw on their shoulders out of nowhere.

"The way of the Light is long and difficult," said Vrook, looking into her eyes. "Are you ready for such hardship?"

"Yes."

Vandar nodded and said, "We will begin your training tomorrow. Until then, young one."

------

Eilis walked slowly into the open courtyard after leaving the Master's and sank down onto the short wall that surrounded the great tree in the center of the area. She ran a shaking left hand over her face then looked down at her right hand.

Will this make things more difficult? she thought, staring at her gloved hand. My not having both arms made of flesh? Are there any Jedi that have false limbs?

"Are you alright?"

The smuggler looked up and found Bastila standing a few feet away, a look of concern on her face. She frowned at her for a moment then shook her head and said, "Fine. It's just…"

"Overwhelming?" offered Bastila.

"Yes." Eilis looked around them and said, "I never in my life believed I'd be sitting in a Jedi Enclave, let alone be told I could be trained. I mean, a smuggler isn't your usual Jedi, is it?"

"There are some that have been something besides a Jedi," said the younger woman, sitting down beside her. "But they are rare."

"Heh. Figures."

Eilis shook her head then rose and stretched a few kinks out of her back. She then looked down at the Jedi and said, "I'm heading back to the Hawk."

"Very well."

The smuggler stood there for a moment then started to walk off, only to stop when Bastila called out her name.

"Eilis."

"Yeah?"

"You cannot tell the others."

"Now, see," said Eilis, not turning to face the other woman, "that's where I don't agree with the Jedi. All the secretive droyk."

"It is for protection," said Bastila.

"Like not feeling emotions?" shot Eilis, turning to frown at her.

"Yes."

"Another thing I don't agree with. Emotions are what make us human – or Twi'lek or whatever. To deny them is…wrong."

"Those come with being a Jedi," said Bastila, feeling fear well up within her that she quickly smothered.

Eilis shrugged and smiled slightly.

"Guess I won't make a good Jedi then," she said. "'Cause I refuse to stop feeling."

She turned and walked off before Bastila could say another word, leaving the young Jedi sitting in the open courtyard. The brunette sighed and shook her head, thinking, I have indeed stumbled into a mynock's nest.

------

Eilis.

"Sonovamynock!" shouted Eilis, nearly falling out of the co-pilot's chair. Beside her, Carth leaned over and kept her from falling completely onto the floor by grabbing her arm.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Somebody's in my head," growled Eilis in reply.

Forgive me, she heard Bastila 'say' in her head. But the Council wishes to begin your training.

Great, thought Eilis.

Indeed.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

"Eilis?" She heard Carth's worried voice. "Eilis, answer me!"

"Sorry," she muttered. "Had an uninvited visitor."

Carth frowned at her then said, "I don't like this."

"What, Bastila being in my head? Or this entire thing?"

"This entire thing." He shook his head and added, "There's something odd going on."

"On that we agree," said Eilis, rubbing her temples.

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I. But if doing this means I can do more to help, then I'm going to do it."

Carth sighed and shook his head then looked at her.

"Just…just don't change, alright?" He smiled slightly and added, "I kinda like having you around."

"Aww," said Eilis, smiling and reaching out to brush her fingers at the two strands of hair that were perpetually hanging over his forehead. "The big bad pilot likes me."

" 'Big bad?' "

"Yup," she confirmed with a smile. She then said, "Don't worry, Carth. I don't intend to change for anyone, ever. Not even the Jedi."

He smiled in return and said, "Glad to hear it."

Eilis rose then and stretched before saying, "Guess I'd better get going then before Bastila actually comes after me. And wouldn't that be fun?"

Carth chuckled and watched as she left the cockpit, hearing her have a short talk with Mission before she left. Standing, he looked out the windows of the cockpit and watched her walk across the landing area towards the Enclave entrance. A small silver circle followed her and he smiled.

Her having AT with her made him feel a little better about her agreeing to the Jedi training. It meant she had something she knew with her.

Even though he wished he were the one going with her.

Sitting back down with a sigh, he began to check through the freighter's systems to see which still needed repairs in an attempt to keep his mind off the smuggler.

------

"Now place the lens within the casing…there we are. A perfect lightsabre."

Eilis smiled and turned to look at Zhar, who was standing behind her. "It still needs a crystal," she said, flicking the power switch on and off idly. "Otherwise it's useless."

"And for that you should go and speak to Master Dorak," said the Twi'lek. He took the incomplete hilt from her and placed it back on the workbench amongst the spare parts still littering it. "When you receive your crystal, return to me and we shall see if you can install it properly."

Though part of her rankled at the fact that he seemed to think she was inept with technology, she bowed and said, "Very well, Master."

With that she went to seek out the other Master and found him sitting in the central courtyard on a bench. She sank down beside him and watched the great tree in the center for a moment before speaking.

"Master Zhar sent me to find you, Master."

"Ah," said Dorak. "You are constructing your lightsabre now, are you not, Apprentice?"

"Yes, Master."

The older man nodded to himself then began to speak.

"Then I will tell you of the classes that all Jedi fall into: Guardian, Sentinel, and Consular. Guardian's are fighters, focusing their time more on the skills of combat. Sentinel's ferret out injustice and deceit around them. Consular's are peacemakers and problem-solvers. They focus more on their mental skills."

"We all have watched you," he continued, "throughout your training. I think I know what class you are meant for but it is yours to choose, Apprentice. I do, however, have a few questions for you."

Eilis nodded and waited.

"A woman and her child are beset by a desperate looking group of thugs. They are menacing her with their weapons and she is screaming for help. What do you do?"

"Step between the thugs and the woman," she answered without hesitation. "Allow her to escape."

"And if the thugs attack you then?"

Eilis shrugged. "Then I have no choice but to retaliate. They may be desperate but that's no reason to attack a helpless woman."

"Interesting," said Dorak. "Now, you encounter a Dark Jedi allied with the Sith. There is a pause in the combat. What do you do?"

"Strike. Incapacitate him then attempt to talk to him."

"Why not speak to him amidst the combat?"

"Talking during combat takes your mind away from the fight," explained Eilis, remembering when her father had taught her this. "There are some that banter during battle in an attempt to keep their opponent off guard. To prevent this, incapacitate your opponent."

Dorak frowned at her then nodded.

"My final question. There is a locked door and your goal is on the other side. What do you do?"

Eilis smirked and answered like a smuggler would.

"I pick the lock."

"And if the lock cannot be picked?"

"Plant a mine and run."

The Jedi Master looked at her for a long moment then said, "You will make a most strange Jedi, Apprentice. And a born Guardian, I think. If you agree, of course."

Eilis grinned and inclined her head.

"Thank you, Master. And I do agree."

Dorak handed her a deep blue crystal then and she cradled it in her hands, blue eyes caught in the sunlight that reflected off the sharp edges. She almost felt as though the crystal had a life of its own.

"Return to Master Zhar, Apprentice. Your lightsabre, I believe, needs finishing."

Eilis stood quickly and bowed before walking briskly back to where Zhar stood by the workbench. He nodded as she held up the blue crystal then watched over her shoulder as she installed it in the lightsabre hilt.

She fitted the hilt back together and brushed her thumb over the switch that would ignite the blade. It crackled and flared to life but something was wrong with the blade; it flickered and fizzed slightly near where it extended from the hilt. Frowning, she turned it back off and opened the hilt again, leaning down over the crystal setting. Noticing a slight tilt where one shouldn't be, she gave it a nudge and heard a dull clink as it fell into its correct place.

Smiling, she refitted the hilt together and thumbed the switch. With a snap-hiss the sapphire blade came to life and she grinned with pride.

Though during the sabre's construction, it had almost felt like she had built one before.

Switching off the sabre, she handed it to Zhar, who studied it for a moment before igniting it himself. The blue glow from the blade made odd shadows on his skin.

"Fine work, Apprentice," he said as he powered the blade off and returned it to her. She smiled and clipped the sabre to the belt of the robes she'd been forced into during her training. Once they left the planet, she swore she was getting her leather pants back.

AT suddenly popped up from where he'd been powered down on the workbench and bobbed excitedly around her shoulders.

"Beep bop bip!"

Eilis laughed and said, "Yes, AT, I have a lightsabre too now."

"Beep bop!"

"Though I don't think I'm a Jedi yet." She looked at Zhar and asked, "Am I correct, Master?"

The Twi'lek nodded and said, "You have one final trial as an apprentice." He nodded towards the cylinder on her belt and continued, "Your lightsabre will identify you as a Jedi and with that title comes great honor as well as enemies. The Sith will hunt you for this and you will have to prove yourself against foes who wield a lightsabre as well."

"For every Jedi, the Dark Side poses a great threat. It is always present. You must come to understand this."

I understand that lesson well enough already, thought Eilis to herself. She'd met some scum in her time and she'd also run into some that could only be described as evil. It wasn't only Jedi that had to fear the Dark Side.

"There is a sacred grove nearby that we have used on occasion for meditation. It has become tainted and the wildlife in the area seem to have gone mad."

"The kathhounds, you mean?"

Zhar frowned and she quickly explained her walks on the outer edge of the Enclave. She did not mention Carth accompanying her upon them, however. Somehow she didn't get the feeling that would go over too well…

"Indeed," said Zhar finally. "You must go there and discover what is tainting the area. It is to the south and you will know it when you see it."

------

Eilis strode towards the landing area where the Ebon Hawk was with AT bobbing along behind her, wondering who she should ask to come with her.

Carth didn't like Jedi as it was and she didn't want to drag him into a quest they'd put her on.

Canderous was a possibility though Carth might follow them fearing the Mandalorian would turn on her.

She didn't want to drag Mission into this, as she knew the teenager was quite happily exploring the Enclave with Zaalbar.

Bastila was still with the Master's discussing whatever Jedi discussed.

Which only left T3. AT was already accompanying her so why not bring another droid along?

Striding up the ramp into the Hawk, she went searching for the droid and found him in the engine room making repairs to the hyperdrive.

"Hey, T3. How're the repairs coming?"

"Beep bop brip."

"That sounds good. Say, want to come with me for a bit?"

"Breep?"

"Yes, you, silly." She then frowned and looked around, noticing that she didn't hear the sound of Canderous in the swoop hangar fixing his blaster or the taping of keys from the cockpit. "Where is everyone?"

"Bip bop breep beep bop bip bip boop."

Eilis blinked at that.

"Okay, Mission and Zaalbar going exploring I understand. But since when did Carth and Canderous get along enough to even stand within three feet of each other without me around?"

"Bip bop."

"Yeah, I don't know either. I just hope they don't kill each other."

"Breep," agreed AT, bumping against her shoulder.

"So, you coming, Tee?"

The silver droid gave an affirmative whistle and Eilis grinned.

"Alright. But first c'mere. You're going to need some weaponry and armor if we run into any kathhounds."

"Brrr."

Half an hour later, Eilis and the two droid's exited the Enclave and started towards the direction of the grove. Before they completely left the grounds, a man standing nearby ran up and grabbed her left arm in a hard grip.

"Master Jedi!"

"I'm no Master," said Eilis, her eyes on his hand. "And please unhand me."

"Oh! Forgive me, I'm…I'm not myself."

"Brooo," said AT.

"Hush, you," admonished Eilis, nudging him with her shoulder. Then she turned to the man and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"My…my daughter was killed by Mandalorians. They raided our home and she stood up to them! Them and their damn Duros henchmen! You have to do something!"

"Beep brop," commented T3, causing Eilis to blink. She stared at the droid for a moment then inclined her head towards the man, saying, "I will do what I can, sir."

"Thank you!" cried the man, clasping her hands before running off. "Thank you!"

Eilis watched him go then spun towards the small astromech droid.

"What did you mean it was already done?"

"Beep bop bip breep!"

She blinked then snarled, "Those stupid nerfherders! C'mon, you two. After we get done with what the Master's want me to do, we're going to go hunt those two down and if they're still alive…"

"Bip?" commented AT.

"No, I'm not going to kill them," replied Eilis as she stormed towards the grove. "But I am going to make them wish they dead."

"Beep brrr," commented T3 to the rotund droid, hanging back behind Eilis.

"Broop," replied AT, motioning in the air in what might be construed as a shrug.

The two droid's then followed the apprentice Jedi further away from the Enclave, easily fending off what kathhounds attacked them. Eilis ripped through them like a whirlwind, acting out her annoyance at the two men upon the kathhounds. Because of this, by the time they arrived at the grove, she was fairly calm again.

Stepping around a tall pillar that might once have been part of a building, she found herself looking down at a meditating Cathar woman. Eilis vaguely remembered her mother telling her about them, that they were a proud people. Though she hadn't mentioned anything about them being Jedi as this Cathar obviously was by the cylinder on her belt.

She felt the self-hatred running off the woman like a waterfall and knew then that this was what was causing the taint in the area. But what did the Master's want her to do about it?

Surely they didn't want her to kill her… Did they?

The Cathar's yellow eyes snapped open suddenly and AT gave a beep of warning at the same instant the Force did. An instant later the woman was up, her lightsabre flaring to life as she leapt at Eilis. The smuggler rolled backwards and caught the leaping Cathar with her feet, sending her sailing over her. As she rolled onto her feet, she ripped her sabre from her belt and ignited it with a snap-hiss.

The Cathar charged at her with a howl and she blocked her lightsabre, parrying the energy blade away. She lashed out with her own blade and struck the tattered orange robes the woman wore, only burning the topmost part of them. The other blue blade came back and she danced out of its way.

They continued fighting in this manner for a while, Eilis only defending and the Cathar following her, her attacks filled with anger. Then T3 darted forward when the other woman's back was towards him and shocked her leg with a stun ray Eilis had equipped him with.

The Cathar's leg collapsed underneath her and the smuggler wrenched the woman's lightsabre from her hand with the Force.

"You…" began the Cathar, "you are strong. Stronger than me, even in my darkness. Why have you invaded my grove?"

"Master Zhar sent me," replied Eilis. "He said there was a…taint…here. It was you."

"Yes. But why do you hesitate? I am defeated and unarmed – strike me down. I am the taint here. This is my place, my place of dark power."

"Not for all the brandy on Corellia," swore Eilis. She clipped her lightsaber back to her belt and extended the Cathar's lightsabre towards her. "I've met plenty of bad people in my life and you're not one."

"I slew my Master!" exploded the Cathar. "Is that not enough? I gave into anger! But…it was not enough. I was defeated by you so easily." She shook her head, the trails of hair from her topknot swaying. Then she lifted her yellow eyes and asked, "What do you want of me?"

"Let it go."

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me," said Eilis, dropping to one knee. She still held the Cathar's lightsabre out towards her. "Let go of your anger. It was surely an accident, wasn't it?" Then she shrugged and said, "Or you can take this sabre and we can continue fighting. Though I assure you, I have no urge to kill you."

She then laughed and said, "And it wasn't me that beat you. It was my little droid. Now, c'mon. You've got to move on with life. That's the only way you can survive."

The Cathar looked at her for a long moment then gingerly took her lightsabre. She looked at it in her hand then said, "You go about it strangely but somehow your words make sense."

"Of course they do," said Eilis, offering the Cathar her hand to pull her up. "I'm Eilis, by the way."

"Juhani," said the Cathar. She then looked in the direction of the Enclave and asked, "Will the Master's truly forgive me for what I've done?"

"I promise they will. If you want, though, I can walk back with you."

"You…you would not be ashamed to be seen with me?"

"Why would I be ashamed?" asked Eilis. "You made a mistake. That's all. Everyone ought to get a chance to clear up their mistakes. And here's yours."

"I suppose you are right."

"'Course I am."

"Beep bop!"

Eilis sighed and said, "We'll go find those two nerfherders later, AT." She then smiled at Juhani, who returned it nervously. "I just made a promise. And I'm going to keep it."

"Thank you," breathed Juhani as they began to walk towards the Enclave, the two droid's trailing behind them.

"You're welcome," replied Eilis, a feeling of content circling within her. She'd felt horrid since the destruction of Taris, knowing that she could do nothing to save Zelka and the Beks and the Outcasts.

But now that feeling was a little less prominent.

------

"YOU STUPID NERFHERDERS! YOU…YOU…YOU RANKWEED SUCKING MURGLAK'S! HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE!"

Juhani blinked and peered out into the landing area were a single ship was docked. Sitting on plasteel cylinders not far from its ramp were two men, one recognizable as a Mandalorian and the other a regular human. Both were injured and being cared for by one of the Enclave's healers yet were both smiling to themselves at the sight in front of them.

Pacing in front of the cylinders was Eilis, the woman who had pulled Juhani out of her dark hole and brought her back to the Enclave. The Master's had forgiven her and she had been surprised to discover that her own Master had been testing her and was not truly dead. Injured, yes, but not dead. And very proud her student had returned, though she herself had left to go train others.

Though it had taken the woman pacing in front of two men and cursing in at least seven different languages to return the Cathar to the Light.

"Is she done yet?" asked Canderous, leaning slightly towards the pilot.

"Not yet," replied Carth. After being talked into going exploring for some 'fun' with the Mandalorian and ending up getting rid of the Mandalorians that had been harassing the settlers, he found himself a bit more comfortable in his company. They still weren't friends – and likely never would be – but they seemed to understand each other better now.

"Hey, beautiful!"

Eilis paused in her pacing and Juhani frowned. The human was a Jedi, was she not? Surely she was not going against the Order's rules…

"Go jump off a cliff, flyboy!"

With that she spun and started to stalk off, which prompted Carth to follow her. Juhani ducked back behind the doorway so she wouldn't be spotted.

"Oh, c'mon, beautiful! We're just a little bruised! Not like we're dead or anything."

"You're lucky I don't kill you for that stunt, Onasi! What were you two thinking!"

"Hey," said Carth, "he charged in first after we found them. What was I supposed to do, let him go it alone? You'd have hung me from my heels."

"Damn right, I would have!"

Eilis huffed then shook her head, saying, "Just…just don't do something like that again. Either of you. When T3 told me you two knew about them and had gone out on your own, I feared the worst."

"Hey, no worries, beautiful. We're still here."

"You not being here is just what I'm afraid of!" The smuggler shook her head and Juhani peered around the doorway to see tears in her eyes. "I've gotten used to having you around, you big lug."

"Ow! Damnit, punch me with your other arm!"

Eilis laughed and punched Carth's arm again with her right hand. He winced and backed away from her, rubbing where she'd hit.

"Aww, did I hurt the big bad pilot's man feelings?"

"My…I'll show you hurt, sister. C'mere."

"Wha…oh, no, Carth, not…don't you dare tickle me, Onasi! ONASI!"

Juhani blinked and watched with a mix of amusement and awe as the human chased Eilis around the landing area until she fled into the ship. The man paused on the ramp at something the Mandalorian said and laughed before disappearing inside as well.

The Cathar shook her head and began to walk back into the Enclave depths, her thoughts on the very strange Jedi that had rescued her.

------

"Family argument: concluded. Murder: solved. Dark taint: turned back to the Light. Escaped droid and um…very attached owner: fixed."

Eilis looked at Carth as they walked towards the ruins that she had seen Revan and Malak within in her dream and asked, "Did I miss anything?"

"The raiders?"

"You and Canderous did that."

"Well, that counts, doesn't it?"

Eilis glared at him and Carth shrugged. Ahead of them, Bastila called out, "Here is the entrance!"

The other two hurried to catch up with her and the smuggler gasped.

"It's exactly like my dream…"

She started to step forward but Carth's hand on her arm stopped her. Turning towards him, she saw concern in his brown eyes.

"Be careful," he said, glancing towards the ruins. "We've got no idea what's in there."

"Careful is my middle name, flyboy," said Eilis with a smirk. She then strode forward and gingerly reached out her right hand towards the door. Her gloved droid hand ran over the odd sigils on the door and abruptly she heard something within move.

The door opened as she took a nervous step back and revealed the darkness of the ruins within. Looking back over her shoulder at Carth and Bastila, she drew her lightsabre and ignited it. The blue light from the blade gave her enough light to see by as she slowly made her way into the ruins.

I'm walking in Revan and Malak's footsteps, she thought as she moved further into the ruins. But what is here – or was here – that they were looking for?

Another door loomed in front of her and she ran her fingers over it again, causing it to slid open. There was a series of metallic clicks from within the next room and she saw a flash of silver metal in the light of her sabre.

"There's a droid in here," she said as she stepped in.

The droid made noises she'd never heard a droid – or anything else – make in her life and she shook her head.

"I…I'm sorry. I don't understand."

Another unfamiliar language came from the droid and she looked at Bastila, who shook her head.

"I don't recognize it," said the brunette.

"It seems to understand us though," commented Carth. "It keeps switching languages."

"I can reproduce any of the languages spoken by the slaves of the Builders."

Eilis wrinkled her nose and said, "That's ancient Selkath. But why would a droid on Dantooine speak Selkath?"

"Communication was vital to ensure that the slaves constructed this temple according to the wishes of the Builders. But you are not of the slave species. You are like the one's who came before."

"It must meant Revan and Malak," said Bastila.

"Gee, y'think?" said Carth sarcastically.

Eilis ignored the both of them and asked the droid, "Are you some type of guardian?"

"I am the Overseer. The Builders programmed me to enforce discipline amongst the slaves while this monument to the power of the Star Forge was constructed. At project completion, the slaves were executed and I was programmed to serve should a Builder return in search of knowledge of the Star Forge."

"The Star Forge must have been what they were looking for," mused Eilis. "What is the Star Forge?"

"The Star Forge is the glory of the Builders, the apex of the Infinite Empire. It is a machine of invincible might, a tool of unstoppable conquest."

"Okay. What does it do?"

The droid repeated itself and Bastila said, "The droid does not seem to be programmed with the knowledge we seek."

"Maybe that's how they amassed a fleet so quickly," said Carth. "I've never recognized any of the ships in their armada."

"You mean this Star Forge might be a factory?"

"Exactly."

Eilis frowned then asked the droid, "How long have you been here?"

"My chronological circuits have marked over ten revolutions of this system's outermost planet since the Builders left."

Bastila gasped, "That's more than 20,000 years! If this is true, then…"

"This empire is over 5,000 years older than the Republic," finished Eilis, staring at the droid.

"There must be a mistake in its calculations," insisted the other Jedi.

"There is no mistake. The Builders constructed my circuitry using the technology of the Star Forge itself. My calculations are infallible."

"Hmm. What were the Builders like?"

"The Builder's are the great masters of the galaxy, the conquerors of all worlds, the rulers of the Infinite Empire and the creators of the Star Forge."

Eilis frowned then turned towards Bastila, asking, "Weren't the Hutt's a dominant force before the Republic? I remember one I worked for mentioning that in some long rant once."

"Yes," replied the younger woman. "But they did not build an empire. I know of no species that would fit this information, at all."

"Then these Builders must be extinct," said Carth.

"Yes," agreed Bastila. "Yet there are no records of their existence. Or this Star Forge."

The droid rattled suddenly and spoke, "Now that the slaves are gone, my purpose is to aid those who seek knowledge of the Star Forge if they are worthy. The one's who came before you; the one's like you – not Builders, not slaves – sought knowledge of the Star Forge. They proved themselves worthy. They discovered the secrets of the Star Forge locked beyond the door behind me. Other's came who came failed to unlock the secrets and paid the ultimate price."

"Others?" whispered Eilis. Then she noticed a figure crumpled to her left and went to it, turning it over. A glint of silver near its waist caught her attention and she gasped.

"Bastila! It's a Jedi!"

"It must be Nemo," said the brunette as she walked over, referring to the other Jedi the Master's had sent here. She leaned down to peer at the man's shattered face, trying to recognize what remained. "Poor Nemo."

Eilis unclipped the man's lightsabre from his belt and thumbed the switch. Something clicked hollowly inside and she shook her head.

"Whatever happened, it broke his lightsaber," she said before tucking the sabre into her robes. She then looked at the droid and asked, "Did you kill him?"

"I am not programmed for combat. The temple's own protections will destroy the unworthy if they fail in their quest for knowledge. Now it is your time. Enter the doors to the east and the west. Within them those who understand the will of the Builders can unlock their secrets and open the doors. Those who fail will be destroyed by the power of the temple itself."

"What a cheerful droid," muttered Carth, eying the two doors suspiciously.

"Mmm," said Eilis, walking towards the east door. She then looked at the other two and said, "Guess we'd better go in if we're going to find out what Revan and Malak wanted here."

The door slid open at the touch of her fingertips and she peered inside, holding her lightsabre out in front of her. As Carth came through the door it slammed shut and lights came on within the chamber.

Eilis barely avoided a stream of laser fire coming from across the room and pulled Carth with her as she dived out of the way. Bastila went the other way, deflecting bolts back at the droid that was firing at them.

"Oof!"

"Sorry," muttered the smuggler, grinning sheepishly down at Carth. Then she realized she was lying on top of him and blushed, hurriedly getting up.

"Hey, no rush, beautiful," he said as he rolled to his feet, drawing his blaster's and firing at the droid. "I don't mind being a cushion."

Eilis blushed again then reached into her robe, digging a plasma grenade out of one of her pockets. Carth frowned at her and asked, "What are you going to do with that?"

"Distract it," she replied, arming the grenade. As she hurled it towards the droid, she leapt up and charged at it, ignoring her companion's surprised cries.

The droid's weapon turned towards her but then the plasma grenade went off, blocking its vision momentarily. And when it could see again, all that was visible was a blue energy blade coming straight for what could be called its head.

Eilis shouted wordlessly as the droid's head rolled away then cut her sabre back to slice through two of its legs. It collapsed and she drove the blade down into its control cluster, effectively demolishing it.

"That was a brash move!" exclaimed Bastila.

"Maybe," said Eilis, grinning. "But it worked."

Bastila frowned at that, which caused Carth to chuckle softly despite the fact that he wanted to shake the smuggler and demand she never do something like that again.

Eilis then noticed an ancient console near the back of the room and started towards it. It powered on the moment her fingers touched it and she frowned at the words that popped onto the screen. Tapping on the console's keys only got it to hum at her and she finally just kicked it.

As she hopped on one foot, she saw the earlier words come across the screen in ancient Selkath.

IDENTIFY THE THREE PRIMARY DEATH-GIVING SEED WORLD TYPES

She thought for a moment then typed the three in Selkath. There was a pause then another message filled the screen.

BREAKING DEATH SEAL

The console shut down after that and all three of them heard a door within the ruins open.

"What did you do?" asked Bastila as they headed towards the door, which was open again.

"I answered its question," replied Eilis as she went around the Overseer to the other door. As she stepped in, she added, "Simple as that."

There was a click suddenly from her right and she yelled, "Get down!"

Fire blossomed from a flamethrower just two feet away and she threw her right arm in front of her face as she fell backwards. The lights came on a second later and she heard Carth curse at the sight of another droid.

Tugging off the still burning outer robe and her glove, Eilis rolled to her feet and grabbed her lightsabre, igniting it. She shook her droid arm to make sure it still worked then glanced down to see what the damage was. Small chunks of her armor had been slagged off, which left holes down to the original arm.

Snarling, she flicked her wrist sharply, causing part of her forearm to snap away from the rest of her arm, revealing a flamethrower.

"Move!" she bellowed at Bastila, who was slashing at the droid with her lightsaber. The brunette looked up and dived out of the way seconds before Eilis let loose with her flamethrower.

"Let's see how you like it!" she shouted, watching as the fire engulfed the droid. Then she flicked her wrist, causing her arm to snap back together, and rushed forward.

Bastila came in from the other side and their lightsabres lashed out at it in a light show of blue and yellow, punctuated by the occasional red blaster bolt from Carth.

The droid finally fell under the onslaught and Eilis gave it a swift kick, cursing vehemently in Selkath at it. Then she stalked over to the console and ended up kicking this one as well to get it to work. She spent a minute answering its question then the sound of another door opening within the ruins came to their ears. And this one sounded like it was the one behind the Overseer droid.

When they entered the main room they found the door open and walked through, heading down to the next door. Eilis paused as she reached out to touch the door and shuddered, turning her face away from it.

Carth frowned and took a step towards her, saying, "Eilis?"

"I'm okay," she whispered. She turned back to the door and looked at it for a long moment before saying in a hushed voice, "It just…it just feels like if we go beyond this door, nothing will ever be the same."

"Then again," she said as she ran her now uncovered droid fingers over the door to open it, "when does anything stay the same?"

Carth and Bastila couldn't help but notice she spoke in a slightly bitter tone.

In the center of the room now revealed was a black tripod, three sections of it folded upwards. It reminded Eilis of a flower waiting to bloom.

As they walked towards it, there was a click and the three sections folded back. A holographic image came to life from the center of the tripod and Eilis gasped.

"It's a map," she breathed, reaching out to touch one of the planets. "That's Kashyyyk. And Manaan. And this one here is Tatooine. But what is this one?"

"It looks like Korriban," said Bastila, stepping forward to take a closer look at the map.

Carth frowned at the map and asked, "What does it mean?"

Eilis frowned as she began to enter the map data into her datapad.

"Maybe," she began, "maybe we have to visit all these world's. And look! Look at this section here. There's an entire sector missing."

"Maybe that's where this Star Forge is," said Carth.

"Maybe," muttered Eilis as she continued to enter in the data. She then frowned and said, "What I don't understand is why I had a dream…vision…whatever…of Revan and Malak coming here. I mean, I'm just a smuggler!"

Bastila frowned at her for that.

"You're a Jedi now," she said.

Eilis shrugged as she punched the last of the data in and slipped her datapad back into her robes. She immediately missed the slot on her old belt. The datapad's weight made her lean slightly to the right to compensate when it was in her robe pockets.

"We should go and inform the Master's," said Bastila. "Finding this Star Forge may be the key to stopping the Sith once and for all."

"That's quite a supposition," said Carth as they turned to leave. "What if you're wrong?"

"And if I'm right? We cannot ignore this."

"Yeah, well, I'm with Eilis. I'd like to know why she's getting visions of Dark Lord's – former and current."

"That is none of your concern, Carth," said Bastila sharply.

"None of my…! Now see here, sister! You're as close-mouthed as the rest of the Jedi here. I know something's up and I'm going to find out one way or another! 'Cause if there's one thing I don't like, it's being left out of the loop."

"Left out?"

"Yeah, it's starting to irritate me. For one thing, what are these Master's of yours thinking?"

"What do you mean, Carth?" asked Eilis, causing him to turn towards her.

"Look, you're a neophyte Padawan. And what do they do? Send you half-trained into a deadly situation. Doesn't any of this strike you as strange?"

"It does," replied Eilis. "But what other choice do we have?"

"We can blast out of here right now and leave the Jedi behind us!"

"And leave the galaxy to fend for itself against the Sith?" She shook her head, strands of dark hair escaping from her tail and falling over her eyes. "I can't do that, Carth. After…after Taris I can't – I won't – allow the Sith to do that to another world if I can help it. And what we're doing might just keep them from doing that!"

He stared at her for a moment then nodded, running a hand back through his hair.

"Alright, Eilis. But I still say we're being stringed along."

"Then we'll just have to cut the strings when we find them, won't we?" said Eilis with a smirk, not catching the look of horror on Bastila's face at the thought. "I don't like being stringed along anymore than you do, flyboy."

"We should really return to the Enclave," said Bastila in a strained voice.

Eilis nodded and led the way from the ruins, unmindful of Bastila's thought that already she might be falling.

Again.

------

As they got ready to leave Dantooine a few days later on the mission to find the other maps to lead to the Star Forge, Mission surprised Eilis as she worked to repair Nemo's lightsabre.

"El! Look what me and Zaalbar found in the caves!"

Eilis looked up and yelped as a leather bag dropped in front of her, nearly on top of the lightsabre hilt. She turned to frown at Mission, who grinned sheepishly at her. Behind the Twi'lek, Zaalbar shook his furry head and chuckled softly.

From her elbow, AT floated up and extended one of his arms, latching the three small claws on the end on the edge of the bag. He bobbed backwards and the contents of the bag spilled onto the Ebon Hawk's workbench.

"Brip!" cried AT as several crystals spilled onto the bench.

Eilis gaped at them then picked up one that was obviously a yellow color crystal. She then looked at the blue Twi'lek and Wookiee and asked, "Where did you find these?"

"Deep within a cave," replied Zaalbar. "Mission remembered you mentioning something about being able to insert other crystals into your sabre to make it stronger. So we collected as many as we could find."

"Wow," said Eilis, turning the yellow crystal in her hands. "This is a great find, you two."

Mission beamed at that and said, "Glad you can use them, El. C'mon, Big Z! Let's go get something to eat."

The two disappeared and Eilis reached into the bag, pulling out a handful of crystals. A few she would have to cut rough edges off but beyond that all of them appeared usable.

"Well," she said to AT, who was scanning a milky white crystal, "looks like I'd better get this other sabre working. Is there another blue crystal in there?"

AT's photoreceptor flashed and he floated forward, using his arm to shift through the bag as she continued to work on the sabre. His affirmative beep made her grin.

"Great."

She then felt the Hawk's engines rumble to life and smiled.

"Looks like we're off on a real whirlwind adventure this time, AT."

"Beep bop."

She chuckled and nodded, bending her head over the sabre again.

"Yeah. And with good friends."

Author's Note

Planet galaxy locations found on http/www.kolumbus.fi/antti.lusila/starwars/galaxymap.html