George rules…I don't. Nano is mine…Domie belongs to Deb….other than that…it's all George.

Cienanos

Domie sat down at the table and began shuffling through her datapads while muttering to herself. Kenobi and I just sat there looking expectantly at her while patiently waiting for her to find what she needed. I saw her blond friend Gabe out of the corner of my eye and nudged Kenobi. He waved the boy over.

"Morning!" he said cheerfully as he sat down. "Domie, what are you looking for?"

"Oh! Gabe! When did you get here? Oh…never mind. My notes from the library. Remember, I was looking through them last night while you were in my quarters?"

My eyebrows shot up. Now this was interesting. "Uh…say again Domie?"

Kenobi smirked besides me, "I think we have a budding romance happening here, Nano."

Gabe, force love him, looked confused and blissfully ignorant about what we were saying. Domie, on the other hand, caught our meaning immediately.

"Oh for Force sake! There is not! And even if there where, it wouldn't be the first romance occurring around here," she said looking significantly between Kenobi and myself.

Kenobi looked shocked and I just burst out laughing. "Don't be ridiculous Domie! Me and Kenobi…Sith spit…talk about strange couples." Kenobi began to laugh also.

"Besides, everyone knows that it's Kenobi and Siri that will end up being a couple," I added wickedly. Ah…there was that all too familiar blush of his.

"Nano, Siri and I are just friend."

"So far…" I muttered.

"HERE IT IS!" Domie shouted. Heads all over the common area snapped in our direction.

"Domie," I hissed. "Maybe a little bit louder next time. I don't think the people on Alderaan heard you."

"Sorry," she whispered. "Here it is. I think I might have a clue as to what your artifact is. You see here, according to these texts, Lohen was once part of the Runik Civilization. It was one of their outposts."

"Of course!" Kenobi cried. He turned to me, "The Runik civilization existed during the dawn of the Republic. They had several outposts scattered along what was then the edge of Republic space. They were known as a just and civilized people. They stressed justice and knowledge above all else."

Domie continued, "They became a stabilizing force in the galaxy while the Republic was forming. They provided technology, medicine, culture, and countless other pieces of knowledge to others. They believed that it was their duty to help less advanced cultures grow and thrive. Some say it was the presence of this older civilization, this stabilizing force, that allowed the Republic grow during its early years."

Gabe looked at Domie confused, "Okay, so if they were so important and so advanced why didn't they survive? I mean what happened?"

"And why don't people know about them now?" I added.

Kenobi shrugged, "They fell victim to what many great civilizations fall victim to…infighting, corruption, and of course, external forces."

I looked at him surprised, "You mean they were attacked after all that they had done for these other civilizations?" I shuddered to myself. "I hope the Republic didn't have anything to do with it."

Kenobi shook his head, "No, not directly. But remember, this was a time when the Sith were strong. If I remember correctly, the Sith wanted Runik technology and they would stop at nothing to get it. You see, the Runiks provided a great deal of their technology to the Republic, but not all of it. They were afraid that some of their most advanced work might fall into Sith hands."

"So what happened to the Runiks?" Gabe asked.

Domie visibly shuddered, "The civilization fell. Slowly, the Sith took over Runik worlds. They enslaved the people and hunted down anyone who had knowledge of Runik technology. In short, they slaughtered them."

We all sat there trying to absorb the information that Domie and Kenobi had provided us. Finally, I had to speak, "Okay, so Lohen was an outpost. That would explain my dreams. But what is on the holo cube? I haven't been able to activate it."

Domie shrugged, "Gabe, your better at technology than I am. What do you think?"

Gabe pulled some fruit out of his pocket and began to munch thoughtfully. "Well, I looked it over. The only thing that I can tell so far is that it doesn't activate like other holo cubes. It's almost like you need a key to open it – or activate it."

Kenobi frowned, "But that still doesn't prevent it from affecting Nano. And why does it only affect her? I was there when she found it. I haven't had any strange visions or dreams."

"You aren't as smart as me?" I added helpfully.

Kenobi responded by throwing a piece of his bread at me. "In your dreams Nano!"

"Kenobi!" I responded doing my best to look shocked. "Don't you know that the only things in my dreams are Sith and people from an ancient civilization."

Gabe snorted. "Anyway," I added as I pushed myself up. "Whatever this is, we aren't going to solve it over breakfast. I don't know about you, but if I'm for my lessons, Master Siron will be very grumpy."

We all cleaned up our dishes and headed our separate ways. My mind was running at the speed of light as I headed down the corridor. What did it all mean…?

I winced as I tried to deflect another lightsaber blow. Sweat dampened my forehead as I heard my master say, "Again!"

I assumed a classic defensive position and awaited his next attack. I tried my hardest to concentrate but my body was weary and I could barely keep my position. He lunged forward and swung with his lightsaber. I managed to deflect him but the blow sent me backpedaling. I was not able to regain my balance and I crashed to the flow. My deactivated lightsaber clattered to the floor next to me. I blinked dumbly and tried to refocus my attention. What was wrong! I was failing basic maneuvers I had perfected when I was twelve.

I looked up to see my master striding forward with deep concern on his face. He squatted next to me.

"Nano, are you ill?" he asked, gently touching my cheek. I shook my head, unable to answer him verbally and control the floodgates of emotion building inside me.

His eyes searched my face, trying to read my soul. "What is it child?" He hadn't called me that in a long time...I took a deep breath and shook my head.

"I don't know. I'm so tired. I can't sleep at night; I can't concentrate during the day. I…I feel panicked all the time…as if something is rushing towards me and I know I can't fight it. Master, I don't know what to do." I had spoken barely above a whisper but I knew that he had heard everything I had said. I just sat there looking at the floor hoping it would all just go away. I heard the soft rustling of his robes as I felt him take me in his arms. He held me like a father holds his child, I felt the floodgates open and began to cry, silently at first but then in loud sobs. All the pain transferred to me by the dreams began to come out.

He sat there and held me close to him until I stopped. Then he brushed my hair out of my face and kissed me gently on the forehead, "Don't worry my child…we will find an answer. We will make it all better." Somehow, I knew we would.

I spent the next two days "resting" in the infirmary. The healers ran me through another battery of tests to see if there was something physical causing my condition. My master stayed by my side, reading through the research that Domie had provided. He had asked Jocasta Nu to assist Domie with additional research in the hopes that the two would find some indication of the importance of the holo cube. He would only be persuaded to leave if someone else was there to keep me company. Usually, Domie, Gabe, or Kenobi would show up and relieve him so he could get some sleep. I knew that he was worried despite the reassuring words he had spoken two days before. I wondered if he was getting any sleep and asked Kenobi about it late one evening when he came to visit me.

"He's not getting any rest is he?" I asked.

Kenobi looked at the floor. This was a good indication that he was trying to formulate a diplomatic answer. "Well, I know he is sleeping."

"Just not enough," I replied, reading into Kenobi's answer.

"He's worried Nano."

"I know, but he needs rest too. Here, give him one of these history texts Domie brought me."

Kenobi looked shocked, "Domie expects you to research in your condition?"

"No…she thought they would be 'fun' reading…you know…to relax me."

Kenobi chuckled softly, "Did it work?"

"Well…one put me to sleep. You don't get much more relaxed than that. I threw another against a wall…that was relaxing. Other than that…no." I sighed. "You know…it's times like these…laying here…hooked to force knows what monitors…that make me long for a simpler life."

"Really! For some reason, I can't see you living a simpler life."

"Oh…I can. Traveling across the galaxy…smuggling Spice and Death sticks."

"NANO!"

"Working as a mercenary…you know…simple."

"Well, supposed it would be too much to ask for you to settle down."

"Please Kenobi! The Council has already forbid me to procreate. Can you imagine five or six little Nanos running around?"

Kenobi snorted, "Can you imagine five or six little Nanos at the Temple? Master Yoda would finally retire!"

I smiled at the thought. "But instead, here I am…surrounded by medical droids, healers and dreaming of dead Sith…at least I hope they are dead."

"Nano…the Sith have been gone for many years now."

"Kenobi, I have always believed that true evil never dies. It simply changes form."

"Hey, well at least you have me," he said with a wicked grin.

"Not helping, Kenobi, not helping."

"Nano…"

"What?"

"Go to sleep."