Callista kept running as best as she could with the injuries she had. She could feel others behind her, catching up to her as she continued to head towards Ainar's ship.

She made it to the clearing ahead, but found her path cut off. Two other adepts stood there, grinning as they ignited their blades in unison. She stopped in her tracks and ignited her lightsabers, but the time the two bought was enough for the others behind her to catch up.

"Ohhh, this is going to be fun," one of the two in front of her said as they closed in.

"You're going to beg for a quick death by the time we're through," the second said as he brought his blade up. "Are you prepared to die, little one?"

"Only a fool speaks of absolutes before the facts are made clear," a voice came out of the darkness behind the two, causing them to spin around where they stood...

...to see a blue silver blade appear from the shadows.

"Its him!"

"As one, son," Steffan Karrde said as he and Dilan lunged into the group, both of them taking the two out at the same time before the rest of the adepts behind Callista came charging in.

She spun on her heel and immediately bisected one of her assailants, Dilan coming in neatly next to her to take on one that meant to surprise her from the left.

When she looked to see Master Karrde, she was astonished at the speed in which her teacher was moving. He had always given her an equal level in their sparring, but the way in which he fought told her just why her teacher was one of the greater swordsmen in the Order.

When all was said and done, just mere moments after the two had arrived there, the remaining adepts were either struck down or fleeing into the wilderness.

"Are you alright," Steffan asked as he put his lightsaber back on his belt and walked over to where Dilan was helping Callista.

"I've seen better days, master," Callista said wearily as she thanked Dilan for the support. "Master Ainar is still in the temple."

"Rest easy," Steffan said as he looked at Dilan. "Take her to the ship. I'll go find him."

------

Ainar struggled, limping through the forest, his suit was in pieces, burned and charred, his eye stung and the overwhelming pain of the leaves and brushes scraping his sore skin almost made him pass out...and he wanted to throw up...

The realization that he just murdered that Sith...even though he had killed people in battle, he...he killed an unarmed man...a man unable to defend himself.

He shuddered as he continued on his trek, the ship was close...he needed to hurry.

He picked up the pace, burying his anger and pain deep down, as he ran like the wind, not thinking as he focused solely on getting to the ship..

He didn't see Steffan there until he ran right into him, they both collapsed straight to the ground.

Steffan rolled away and got up on his knees, laying his hand on Ainar's chest.

"My god…"

Ainar fought to keep his eyes open as he looked up at his lifetime friend...then the world swirled into nonexistance and he finally could sleep…

-----

The extent of her injuries finally caught up with her as Dilan helped her onto the ship. She stumbled, her unsteady steps causing her to bump into a bulkhead. Sliding down it, she drew her knees up, and buried her face in the remains of her robe.

The tears came now, and there was no holding them back. She didn't care about what others thought right now. Her sobs echoed through the corridors of the ship, making Dilan feel helpless. Dropping to his knees beside her, he pulled her quivering form into his arms, offering what solace he could. He knew it wasn't much.

Her head came up, and she looked past him, like he wasn't even there. He nudged her gently. "Callista, What is it? What's wrong?" She didn't hear him, she only stared at the wall, as if she was looking through it.

She scrambled to her feet, rushing from the ship. What she saw made her stop short. No….please, NO… Master Karrde entered the clearing just then, Ainar's limp body in his arms. Dilan started to as a question, but stopped. He didn't react fast enough as Callista ran toward Ainar.

His clothing was torn and charred, his skin red and angry-looking from the burns. She dropped to her knees as Steffan laid him gently on the grass. Her tears fell across his hot skin, causing it to steam.

Even in her weakened state, she was doing her best to heal him, for it was he who had saved her life. It was all Dilan could do to gently pull her away with out injuring her further.

Steffan rose, carrying Ainar to the Valiant, while Dilan led Callista back aboard the shuttle. He laid her light body down on one of the bunks, smoothing the hair away from her bruised face. The extent of her injuries surprised him, for in scanning her through the Force, he discovered massive internal injuries. By any right, she should be dead.

She tossed restlessly, sensing Ainar's pain. Dilan gently placed his hand on her bruised forehead, his eyes glistening. Her movements stilled as she slipped into the healing trance. It was the best her could do for her until they returned to Cataan.

"How is she?" Steffan asked when he commed Dilan's shuttle after he had secured Ainar in the medical bunk on Valiant.

"Her injuries are worse than we first thought," Dilan told him as they started to lift off together. Steffan was roughly familiar with Valiant's controls, but he was able to bring the ship up along an exit vector.

"We'll contact Master Azad and have her meet us at the house," Steffan said as they finished their course preparations. "Ainar is in about the same condition... perhaps worse from the burns he sustained. But I think he'll be able to recover from most of those well."

---------------------------

"My lord."

Bane turned to see Amrond kneeling on the stone floor. "Speak."

"The number that remained on Korriban have been destroyed," Amrond said as he kept his head low.

"Karrde?"

"Along with his son and another, my lord," his warrior told him. "They were able to retrieve the girl that had arrived there."

"I told him that it was a dangerous undertaking, one that he wasn't fully prepared for yet," Bane said as he turned again to look at the snowfall that was coming in through the window. The climate on Rhen Var was one that Bane found appealing. "Is everything ready?"

"Very soon, my lord."

"Excellent."

-------------------

Images, sounds, sensations...all in once overwhelmed Ainar's thoughts as he lay in the medbunk, he twisted and turned...tears strolled down his face as he lived the final moment of his battle with the Sith over, and over again.

And every time, it hurt more...

He could see Arie, Steffan, Cal, Morgen, Bryn...all standing around him, shaking their hands...their dissapointment clear.

He snapped to awareness and looked around, he was covered in sweat and tears...the pain wasn't as bad, as IV's were connected to his arms, devices showing his life signs...machines beeped, and his head hurt from it all.

And as the feeling of dread crept up his spine...he knew this was just the beginning, the beginning of something worse.

------------------

The room seemed to tilt around her as she opened her eyes for the first time in days. Of course, that was only her mind, as she found herself to be flat on her back. Her whole body felt like it was one giant bruise.

As she turned her head, she noticed Manna sleeping in a chair next to her. Her friend and teacher looked exhausted, lines of worry creasing her face even in sleep. The Force was there once more, surrounding her. Reaching into the Force, she gently prodded her.

Manna's head came up in surprise, and she rose gently wrapping Callista in a hug. Her face shone with joy for an instant before she turned her attention to the room's other occupant. His skin glistened from a dip in a bacta tank, and his burns were fading.

Though his body was healing, Callista shuddered when she touched him through the Force. His sense was alien to her. She could still feel him as she had known him before, but he would never be the same again. His spirit had darkened considerably, and she struggled to keep her reaction in check. It was as if someone had snuffed out his bright presence and replaced it with a smoldering ember.

Touching his mind one last time, she withdrew herself. She did not know what had happened to cause him to change so dramatically, but she knew that it was something he must deal with in his own time. And she had her own demons to confront.

She still did not know what had possessed her to go off across the galaxy, and right into the Sith stronghold. She might never know, but there were things from her battle on Corellia that had nudged her in that direction. She had gone into it knowing that she may not come out alive, yet she had still gone.

-------

Manna slipped out of the room, and found Steffan. "Callista is awake, but she's still weak. I know you want to talk to her, but keep it short if you can, she needs her rest." Steffan nodded, then asked, "And what of Master Algeron?" Manna shook her head. "His wounds are healing, but he has yet to wake…"

Nodding, Steffan followed her back to the room, pausing to lay his hands on Ainar's shoulder as he passed. Callista had glanced up when they had entered, but now she turned her back to him, and he could see her shoulders shaking as she cried silently. She was ashamed.

"Now, now," Steffan said as he pulled her into a hug. "It's okay, Callista."

"Master, I'm so..."

"You couldn't know what was going to take place," Steffan said as he held her there. "But we'll talk about it at length later, okay."

Callista nodded softly and looked over at Ainar's form lying there. "What about Master Algeron?"

Steffan looked in that direction and lowered his head a bit. "He's going to need extra attention. It'll take some time for him to recover, I feel. But you need to rest right now. You've been through quite an ordeal and you're still recovering from it physically. When you're better, we've set up quarters for you."

"Where exactly are we, master?" Callista asked as she looked around the room.

"Its a medical facility that supports most of the townships in the area," he told her as he laid her back down. "Master Azad has been taking care of the both of you. Now, rest."

-------------

Chris Tien Jinn was waiting in the hallway when Steffan came back out and started to walk with her towards the turbolift.

"Is he as bad as I'm feeling from him," she finally asked when the lift started moving.

"I don't want to assume just yet," Steffan told her as they stood there. "Hardly any adepts or warriors were left there on Korriban. They've moved to a different location. We need to inform the watchmen to be more cautious."

"Agreed." Chris Tien said as the lift reached the ground level.

-----

Four days had passed since the arrival back on Cataan. Callista was still recovering from her injuries, but she was well enough that Staffan had her moved from the med center. She still was brough tt tears when she thought about what had happened on Korriban.

She spent a better part of the day in meditation, but calm still eluded her.… A gentle knock came at the door to her room, and she looked up to find Steffan in the doorway.

"Still concerned?" he asked as he stood there.

She nodded. "I honestly can't figure out why I headed there, but I felt drawn.." She shrugged, and scooted over as he came and sat next to her.

"I warned you, Callista," Steffan said as he walked into the room. "I knew you didn't have the skills needed for something like this. Now, you know why I said it."

She couldn't look at him for a minute. "I know... I just..." She paused. "I felt that that was the only way I could find the answers I was looking for..."

"And did you find them?" he asked as he looked at her.

"Only some..." She turned to face him again. She looked like she was waiting for a reprimand.

"You know you went against the better judgment of some of the council members," Steffan stated as he stood up. "There should be atonement, but it won't happen now...not here."

He looked out the window of the simple room. "But I do ask if you have learned something from this."

She looked down, thinking. "It goes back to what you said before...'Not everyone is meant to be a warrior'.

"Exactly," he told her. "If you had voiced your concerns to me, we might have been able to find a way to get those answers."

He sighed as he kept looking outside. "As I also told you, I believe your skills will be sorely needed."

She sighed, mostly at her own stubbornness. "What do you want me to do?"

"For now, rest," he told her. "Some of us will be returning to Coruscant, but the majority will remain here and on Chandrilla. I need you to continue in your medical studies for the moment when you feel ready to proceed."

"What about the Council, should I speak with them?"

He shook his head. "We've not spoken about the situation yet. There have been...more urgent...matters that have required our attention."

He didn't even have to say it, she knew what he was talking about. She shuddered as she remembered the feeling she had gotten from Ainar that day. "And my 'punishment'?"

"Aye, that too," Steffan said, knowing her thoughts.

"For the moment, the consensus is a sort of 'probation'," he told her. "I ask, though, that you don't take it personally...we still need you, Callista."

She glanced up at him. "Probation? What's that mean?"

"You're restricted on your travel. To be more precise, you're grounded here in Edmonton." Steffan told her. "It won't be for long, however. I feel that we'll all be called up later."

Her face fell at that announcement. "What about my Healer training?"

"You will continue that here," he said. "Master Azhad is staying here and I have already securied copies of General Dinn's journals for you."

She nodded. "How's the situation with the Senate?"

That brought another sigh out of him as he turned around. "General Dinn and I present our thoughts before the Advisory Council. Senator Kaen'lya and a few others walked out of the meeting."

"The Bothans?"

"They've never waivered on their desire for mobile suit technology," he told her. "Ainar discovered that Darth Bane captured an armed prototype...the Bothans may be involved with him."

"Bane?" Even though her voice was low, the shock was clear. "How is he mixed up in all this?"

"The answer to that question eludes me," he told her. "But the fact that he iis/i involved concerns me."

She nodded at that. "You said you had copies of Master Dinn's journals for me?"

He pulled a set of datapads out of his vest and handed them to her.

Smiling, she set them next to her. "They'll keep me busy for a while..." She rose and bowed solemnly to him. "Fair morning, Master Karrde."

"And to you...you're still welcome at the house when you need a break."

"Thank you."

-----

The next week seemed to pass very slowly. She knew that the Council had every right to restrict her travel after what she had done, and for that she was not mad. She just hated being cooped up.

She spent a great deal of her time wandering to village of Edmonton. It was very peaceful and calming. The natural beauty of Edmonton was tangible in the Force, and it provided her focus to continue her studies.

Arie's journals were definitely not light reading. They were filled with numerous experiences, as well as myriad healing techniques that Callista had never even heard of. Must be specific abilities of the Phoenix, she thought.

There were however, some techniques that she could learn from Arie's journals. These she practiced until she had mastered them as best she could. Many of them helped to speed her own recovery.