Ellsia entered the makeshift tent that Bao-Dur had been occupying for the past three days, he was sitting bent over a desk very intent on something. She moved around to the side a bit and noticed that it was an arm, a mechanical one that he was building himself. He strapped on his protective glasses and Ellsia looked away as a shower of sparks ignited the air, within seconds she heard a low buzzing sound and a light click. She opened her eyes to see the arm attached to her friends shoulder, he was moving it up and down and flexing his fingers, he seemed quite pleased with himself.
"Not too bad, if I do say so myself," he said to the remote which clicked and buzzed happily.
"It's amazing," breathed Ellsia and watched as he jumped, he had been so focused on his work he had not noticed her come in. There was an awkward silence as they both looked at the arm, the static throwing shadows around the tent.
"You did that yourself?" she asked trying to bridge the gap between them.
"Yes, it's taken me three days of constant work but I haven't really had much else to occupy me."
"You're looking much better Bao-Dur," she added after another silence ensued.
"So are you, as I recall the last time I saw you, you couldn't walk without the aid of that young soldier."
"Yes, he was kind enough to stay with me and keep me company."
Again silence, neither of them could draw their eyes away from the artifical arm and the reality it represented.
"I'm sorry I didn't come and see you sooner..."
"I don't mind, I rather liked the time to myself, i've had alot to think about..."
He regarded her, a curious expression on his face, "Ell.." but he hesitated.
Her heart leapt to her throat.
"You don't regret that-I saved you do you?" she asked, half afraid of the answer.
"No, never, it's just that-" he sighed, "I heard you, when you came to me. I heard your crying and I felt your tears, through all the pain that was what hurt me the most and I was so afraid that I would never see you again. Afraid i'd never get to say goodbye..."
His words touched her and made her feel that if she died at that very moment at least she would know she had a true friend.
"Oh Bao-Dur, I was so scared I was going to lose you, I thought I had lost touch with the force but then when I saw you lying there like-"
like you were dead
She couldn't bring herself to say it,
"And when I touched you it just roared through me, like something inside was begging to be let out."
He smiled slightly still flexing the fingers experimentally, "I know, I felt it. I think it was me, calling to you, asking for help."
"I'd do anything for you Bao-Dur," she replied softly and he nodded, it was enough for now, they had both confessed more then they dared. Jerosh entered the tent and saluted her,
"Captain, you're wanted for a briefing, General Ackard has arrived."
"Thank you Jerosh I shall be right there."
The young man looked at them quizzically before he left, Ellsia turned back to the Zabrak.
"Do you-remember anything?" she asked tentatively not wanting to be rude.
He shook his head and frowned, "All I remember is laying a mine but something set it off before I could get far enough out of range, then you found me."
"Fair enough," She hesitated not wanting to leave him, it seemed they had closed the chasm but there was still something on his mind.
"Bao-Dur, you can always talk to me, you know that right? you can tell me anything."
He had that funny look on his face again, a kind of half smile. He only nodded but it was enough.
Dantooine...
It had been the beginning as-
No, not now, not yet!
Her thoughts warred within her as they descended through the planets atmosphere, it had been nearly eleven years since she had set foot on the planets surface. She had never returned to confront the council as Caitlyn had, then again at that time... It was too painful and shameful to think about but something Kreia had said made her strong enough to mask her apprehension.
Hiding from your fears does not make you stronger, confronting them does...
But the thought did not comfort her and her face became more and more grim as they approached the surface.
"It has been a while..." murmered Caitlyn in her ear, causing her to jump, "Going on eleven years."
Ellsia nodded, her hands were fists and her nails dug into her palms.
"You coming?"
Again she nodded but said nothing, taking a deep breath she followed the others out of the ship, Bao-Dur and Kreia opting to stay behind. A young woman met them and explained that they should probably see the administrator. They were lead to Khoonda, a small military base that housed the administrator and many of the soldiers, they noticed that there was not much security and many of the soldiers lazed about.
"If this place was attacked none of them would stand a chance!" Ellsia muttered and Caitlyn seemed to agree.
Administrator Adare greeted them warmly, she seemed to know that Caitlyn was a Jedi.
"A mutual friend, let's call him Vrook, has gone missing."
She explained that he had gone to the old Jedi Conclave and had not returned.
Caitlyn reassured her that he would be found and returned, there were things she wanted to ask him about the holorecording.
"You're insane," Ellsia said as they headed automatically towards the Conclave,
"Of all the Jedi you choose to find first you choose Vrook! he is the biggest most pompous-"
She did not finish her raving as Caitlyn butt in,
"-Nonetheless, he was at my trial and therefore he would know what they were on about."
"And you think you're going to get answers from him?" The young girl snorted, "Did you ever have him for a teacher?" Caitlyn looked at her and she smiled impishly, "Heh, good luck, you think Kreia is cryptic? trying to understand what he says is like trying to understand Selkath laws."
Atton was suddenly overcome with a bout of violent coughing and Ellsia smiled slightly, she was glad someone thought it was funny.
"I understand Ell, but he was there and he will know."
"Alright," sighed the younger woman "But don't say I didn't warn you."
As they got closer to the Compound Ellsia fell furthur and further back, she did not want to see the ruins of the place that had been her home for ten years, the ruins she helped to create... She shook her head and steeled herself catching up to Caitlyn and Atton as they rounded the corner to the compound, it was quite different to when she had last seen it, creeping vines covered the crumbling walls and the roof was missing. The exile was looking at it with as much sadness and regret as she was, she knew their expressions must mirror one another.
"Administrator Adare said he was last seen headed for the sublevels, so I suggest we look there first."
Ellsia nodded but still had to force herself to put one foot in front of the other, it was as if an invisible barrier was trying to keep her at bay, knowing what she had done... They entered the sublevels and were immediately set upon by a group of Laigreks, Ellsia hated the stupid things and without thinking used force push to keep them off her. The insect flew into the wall with such force that it's insides were turned to jelly and its body crushed to a pulp. Caitlyn and Atton stared at her mouths open.
She started to panic, her body was tingling, alive with the force.
"No!"
Caitlyn touched her arm, "It's ok Ell, you are allowed to use the force to protect yourself, you're a jedi remember?"
"No I'm not!"
She cried fiercely her voice echoing off the walls, Caitlyn recoiled as if she had been slapped.
"Look," she added, softer this time, "It's not that I don't want to use it to protect myself it's that-"
"I don't want to use it to hurt anyone else!"
But these words were left unsaid and the Exile did not force the issue.
She could feel the force growing within her now, pleading for her to use it, poking and jabbing at her subconscious until she thought she would ram her head into a wall just to make it stop. She wondered if Caitlyn felt the same way knowing that the exile had given up the force long ago, yet now she used it again, why? Surely it would drive her crazy after such a long time without using it? They approached the end of the sublevels without much more trouble and entered the old library-or what had been the library.
They young woman closed her eyes and remembered, she remembered studying in this room with her Jedi companions, she remembered coming here in her leisure time just for a quick read... All that was gone now and in it's place stood a sad, empty room. Well, mostly empty.
A young man stood in the center of the room and bowed as they approached.
Caitlyn and Ellsia smiled, Atton only rolled his eyes and scowled.
He introduced himself as The Disciple and he was studying the Jedi.
Ellsia liked him, he seemed kind and he was definately alot smarter then Atton, the older man knew it too.
She also thought he was quite handsome and blushed when he bowed to her in turn.
"May I ask why you have come?"
"We are looking for-someone" she finished lamely, even though he seemed nice enough there was no way to tell if he was the enemy.
"Someone?" he asked an eyebrow raised, "A Jedi perhaps?"
"Perhaps," slotted in Caitlyn, "And if we were?"
He looked from Ellsia to Caitlyn and smiled, "Then I'd like to come along with you, it is my duty to the Republic."
"Now just wait a second buddy-" began Atton but one look from Caitlyn shut him up.
"If you can aid us in our search then we would be honoured to have you along."
"The honour is all mine," He smiled and looked at Ellsia who blushed again.
"Oh please," Snorted Atton.
It was then they noticed the bodies, mercenaries, and by the looks of it killed with a lightsaber.
The datapad by the bodies indicated that should they find any Jedi they were to head for the Kinrath Caves south of Khoonda.
"A little convienient don't you think?" asked Atton, "That we find this guy and then we find the information we need?"
"Can't you give anyone the benefit of the doubt Atton?" asked Caitlyn slightly annoyed her green eyes frowning.
"Not when it comes to convienience."
"Nevertheless it is where we must go so let us do so."
Author Note: Yeah, I know what your thinking 'but Disciple loves the exile' well ya gotta have a love triangle somewhere and Exile would kill me if I took Atton away from her. Don't worry, it's only to advance the storyline, you'll like it I promise! ;)