The cave was not hard to find, it might have been five years before but war and nessecity had seen it blasted out of the rock and the entrance clearly shown. The two Jedi could feel the force strong within this cave, it made Ellsia shiver. They entered the caves and were not that bothered by the kinrath though that still had to fight a couple on the way through. They could hear voices and Caitlyn put her fingers to her lips indicating that they should activate their stealth generators. They snuck up to where the mercenaries were chatting and laughing, except one lone woman who seemed to be communicating on a comlink.

There was a shiver in the air as Caitlyn approached the captured Master Vrook and proceeded to talk to him, he did not seem all that surprised to be talking to thin air and by the look on his face Ellsia could see he was not happy.

"Wait, do you smell that?"

It was one of the mercenaries, "Haha," drawled his companion who seemed more interested in the datapad in front of him then the conversation.

"No seriously," the merc was standing now, sniffing the air,

"Smells like engine grease and...whisky?"

Although they had their generators on Ellsia could tell that both Disciple and Caitlyn were looking at Atton as well, she could practically feel the sheepish look on his face.

This got the other mercs attention and three or four of them stood, "Fan out, and find the source...I smell a rat!"

Ellsia stumbled backwards and narrowly missed being stepped on, she held her breath until the three of them passed.

Suddenly Caitlyn could be seen and she walked right up the the lone woman mercenary.

"What the hell is she doing?"

The woman jumped and then glared at her,

"I suggest you go back to your precious Khoonda or you'll be joining the old man we found sniffing around."

"I highly doubt that Master Vrook was sniffing around," Caitlyn snapped, Ellsia hit herself with her hand,

"Dammit Caitlyn you'll get us captured!"

If the woman heard her tugging through the force she chose to ignore it.

"A Jedi eh?" a smile spread over the mercenary's face, "Well that'll get us a better price from the exchange."

Caitlyn raised her hand calmly and looked at the woman, "You will release Master Vrook."

"I-What! that's a Jedi trick, men get her!"

Obviously this woman had been trained against force persuade, Ellsia sighed and stood up, turning off her generator.

"There are more of them! kill those three and take the Jedi!"

Ellsia could see that Disciple had been holding Atton back as they both turned off their stealth, Atton smacked the younger mans hand away and glared at him before joining the fight.

It didn't last long, Ellsia sighed, she was so sick of death, it seemed to follow her wherever she went.

"It makes you think..." muttered Atton as Caitlyn released the older Jedi,

"About what?"

"What they were drinking to make them think they could take on two Jedi..."

"I am not a jedi," murmered Ellsia but she was beginning to believe it less and less.

"Maybe because they captured Vrook so easily they thought it'd be a cinch this time too."

Ellsia smiled, "If you haven't figured it out by now Atton, Master Vrook let them catch him, they didn't even know he was a Jedi until Caitlyn said anything."

Vrook looked at her a glint of recognition in his eye,

"That's right and now the attack on Khoonda will begin without delay, that was always the way with you act first ask questions when everyone's dead."

Caitlyn blushed, "I'm sorry, I thought I was trying to help..."

"I know you were trying to do the right thing but don't expect any thanks from me, if you really want to help I suggest you find the administrator."

And with that he left them on their own, "Same old Vrook," sighed Ellsia.

They had just exited the cave when they were set upon by another band of mercenaries, they were out numbered three to one.

"So you're the Jedi i've been told about, it's always the pretty ones isn't it?"

"Your words mean nothing," Caitlyn said her face was calm but her eyes were turbulent.

"What about these ones? Join my cause, or die."

No one spoke and Caitlyn narrowed her eyes at him, the leader of the Mercenaries.

"Very well, but i'm sure we could have had lots of...fun."

"If you mean by fun, me breaking your nose, yeah I would have enjoyed that!"

It was out of Ellsia's mouth before she could stop herself, she could see Atton was impressed but Caitlyn was looking at her with an impatient look.

"You're not helping," she whispered.

"Kill them," He yawned and walked away.

"See what I mean?" asked Atton after they finished wiping out the mercs.

"About what?" asked Ellsia,

"About the whole drinking before taking on a Jedi thing cos I tell ya, drinking sure gives you courage."

She smiled impishly at him, "Yes, i'm sure you'd know."

He glared at her as they headed back to Khoonda to seek out the administrator.

They were ready, using the skills of both T3-M4 and Bao-Dur they managed to fortify Khoonda's defenses, fixing the broken med droid and reactivating the turrets. Caitlyn had contributed in her own way, rallying the spirits of the men and women around her, it was something she did as easily as breathing.

"Ell, Disciple, I'd like you to go back to the Ebon Hawk and man the turrets in case anyone gets too close."

Ellsia nodded and touched Caitlyn's arm,

"Be careful."

The Exile grinned and winked at her,

"Aren't I always?"

It was quite inspiring to watch her, doing this, being a leader, she was in her element and it was as if she was unstoppable.

The two of them hurried back to the Ebon Hawk but it seemed that their vigil was not needed, Atton, Bao-Dur and T3 were back within an hour spouting victory. Ellsia was kind of relieved to not have been there, she had, had enough killing for one day. Caitlyn returned two hours later having spent much of it with Vrook, she seemed distracted and went straight to see Kreia.

Ellsia was ready to go but it seemed that would not be for a while so she just wandered aimlessly around the ship, after about ten mintues she noticed Disciple watching her.

"What?"

He smiled slightly, "Oh nothing, I just find it intriguing that a Jedi is actually bored."

"Well if you haven't noticed there isn't exactly alot to do around here," she replied sarcastically.

"Why don't you try meditating? it centers oneself and passes the time."

"Meditating? It's been a while."

"Come, join me, I try to treasure these moments."

She sat down beside him her legs crossed and breathed deep...

When she came out of it they were already in space and she was alone, she went to find someone and found that she was ravishingly hungry.

"How long was I meditating?" She asked herself aloud.

"It'd be going on 21 hours now," came a voice from behind her, Ellsia jumped and spun to face Bao-Dur.

"The General didn't want us to disturb you, she knew you had a lot on your mind."

She nodded and looked around,

"Where are we headed?"

"I'm not actually sure, I think Atton came in and told me at some point but I was so busy repairing the ship that I hardly noticed."

He looked at the ship around him, "Whoever did these repairs had only a basic knowledge of what they were doing, some of the work is quite interesting."

She watched him and smiled, it was in these moments that she had always loved to see him, in his element at work, repairing something or creating something else. He noticed her gaze and smiled that half smile again, the one she had seen so many times before but could not read.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Why don't you carry a lightsaber anymore?"

She flinched at that word as if he had struck her.

"I-am no longer worthy to carry the weapon of a Jedi," she replied softly.

"But you are," was his is the same soft tone, "You have the force, the power to help change things around you, your lightsaber is a symbol of that power and connection. It is who you are."

It was true, when she threw her lightsaber into that bottomless abyss she felt as if she had ripped out her heart and thrown that too.

"If I am worthy it will come back to me," and for the first time she honestly believed the words.

"That lightsaber is gone," he said shaking his head, "It was a symbol of the person you were and you cannot get it back, but I could help you build another if you like. I have an idea of how they work."

"Oh, just an idea?" she asked raising an eyebrow,

"Well, I observed many jedi with their lightsabers but they never let me take them apart to get a better understanding, I know all the parts you will need though."

He looked at her closely,

"If it's what you want, I will help you Ell."

To tell the truth she had never thought of it before, building another lightsaber, but as she thought about it she warmed to the idea.

She nodded and smiled slightly.

"Yes, I think its time."

Authors Note: Yay two long chapters, I'm hoping to add more real soon, I'm really getting into this!