A/N: Here is another chapter! YAY! Please review if you are even bothering to read this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

Chapter 9

Carth could feel her slipping away...she was giving up. Carth screamed for Jolee, as he rushed to inject another Kolto pouch into her arm. Jolee ran in and looked at the screen, he looked grim. He grabbed some life support packs and quickly injected her with them. Her life signs continued to drop.

" Carth, go find Juhani! Bring her here immediately!" Jolee yelled. Carth was reluctant to let go of Hayley's hand," What are you waiting for! Go!"

Carth let go of her hand and rushed to the starboard quarters. He ran smack into Juhani. Her tail hung low and her face was drooped with sadness.

" I know, I felt it through the Force. We don't have much time! Hurry!" They both rushed to the Medbay.

Juhani entered the room and immediately kneeled down. Carth returned to Hayley's side and gripped her hand. He closed his eyes. Jolee looked at both of them and then knelt down next to Juhani.

Juhani became one with the Force instantly. She looked around and could not find Hayley anywhere in it. The Force flowed through her as she continued her search. She had to find her.

Jolee tried to tap into Hayley's mind through the Force, but to no avail. It seemed that there was a barrier blocking his passage to her mind. Hayley's subconcious was taking control of her. Jolee focused harder and harder to enter her subconcious, but was continuely rejected. She always was so stubborn.

Carth sqeezed Hayley's hand. He wasn't going to let her go. As he closed his eyes, he suddenly saw frightening images. Many were of the Dark Lord Revan. Others were of destruction on worlds, and people screaming and dying. Then everything went dark...in the darkness he could make out a figure falling. Before he even thought it, he reached out and grabbed it's hand.

The darkness was finally consuming her. She continued to fall...further...and further. Then out of nowhere a hand grabbed her own and she stopped falling. She stopped worrying...the pain altogether stopped. It was like light was bringing her back up. The light warmed her like being in the sun. It dryed her tears, and didn't let go.

She was finally brought out of the darkness, and found herself on the shore of Rakata. The sun warming her, the waves lapping up against the shore...it was all so...so peaceful. She fell asleep.

Jolee was jarred out of his thoughts by the sudden stop of the alarm. She had stablized! Juhani was already on her feet and examining the monitor as well. Jolee noticed Carth leaning beside Hayley, her hand wrapped by Carth's. His eyes were closed but his eyebrows showed deep determination.

"Juhani, does everything check out?" Jolee asked afraid of the answer.

"It's amazing! Her wounds are healing at an incredible pace...I don't know what you did, Jolee. But it sure did do the trick..." Juhani said amazed.

"I didn't do anything." They both looked at Carth." I've heard of rare instances where this happens, but I've never actually witnessed it." Jolee pushed Carth out of his unconcious state.

Carth rubbed his head gingerly. His eyes held dark shadows under them. He then realized where he was.

"Is she going to be alright?" Carth asked. He looked very tired.

"I don't know how you did it, my boy, but you saved her! She's going to be OK! She's not fighting the medicine anymore! Her wounds are healing, and everything is checking out good!" Jolee smiled.

"I did...I did what? I'm real tired all of a sudden." Carth was in shock.

Jolee escorted him back to his quarters and explained what had conspired.

"What did you see when your mind linked to hers?" Jolee questioned.

"At first I saw the Dark Lord, death, and desruction. Then there was literally nothing. It was dark and I couldn't see a thing. I kinda, just...felt her presence. I reached out to her and grabbed her hand. Then I started feeling real tired as I held onto her. That was about the time you woke me up." Carth said sleepily.

" What you did...saved her life. The darkness represented her giving up, letting go. When you grabbed her hand, she automatically drew strength from you. The connection that you two have was so strong that she didn't even think about what she was doing." Jolee explained.

"So she took some of my strength...because she loved me? Does that mean that we have a bond?" Carth asked hopefully.

"Perhaps...but it is rare indeed, to form such a bond. Especially if you aren't Force sensitive. Anyway, you should get some rest. What you just did took a tremendous toll on your body and mind. If you'll excuse me..." Jolee left the room to go check on Hayley's condition.

Carth sat alone in the port quarters. His mind was racing, trying to understand what exactly had just happened. The images would not fade from his mind. The images of death, destruction...Revan. If this is what she sees when she falls asleep, it's no wonder she tosses and turns all night.

Hayley woke up and realized that it had all been just a dream. Or a vision. It was quiet in the Medbay, except for the soft beeping of the monitor that was attached to Hayley. She ached all over, and could barely breath. She could now use the Force to Heal herself. She calmed herself, and closed her eyes.

The Force wrapped her in a calming blanket of serenity and peace. Her wounds began to heal, and her breathing steadied. She was alive. There was one thing that she couldn't shake from her mind...the light. The light that had saved her, pulled her out from beneath the pull of darkness.

"Good to see you awake, Beautiful. I thought we were going to lose you there for a moment." Carth's gentle voice spoke to her as she struggled to sit up." Whoa, relax. You have just gone through some rough moments. Rest...I promise I won't let anything hurt you."

Hayley looked into his eyes. They held strength and love. Hayley used the Force to pull her hand up and brush the few strands of hair out of Carth's eyes. He smiled warmly. She tried to smile back, but was too weak to do it. Her hand fell back down to it's place beside her. She trusted him...but can he trust me? I can't even trust myself.

"Jolee says that you're recovering at a remarkable speed, and that it shouldn't be too long until you'll be able to walk." Hayley nodded and then fell into a light sleep.

Carth remained with her for the rest of the night. He never once let go of her hand. She tossed and turned, as always. Then she laid still. A single tear fell from her eyes. Carth brushed it away gently. He tried to protect her, but how would he be able to protect her from something he couldn't fight? How would he be able to protect her from...herself?

The night seemed to go on forever. Silence filled the Medbay, except for quiet snores that came from Carth. He had fallen asleep holding her hand in a tender grasp. Sunshine radiated from several windows on the ship. The Ebon Hawk silently landed on the sandy beach, on the Rakata planet. Birds quietly chirped, and fish silently swam in the cool water.

The door to the Medbay opened, and the light danced across Carth's face as he groaned and woke up. He stretched, and then looked towards the figure in the door. His eyes weren't adjusted to the light, so all he could make out was the outline of the person.

It was Jolee.

"Wake up, my boy, the council would like to have a word with you." Carth looked down at Hayley sleeping." Do not worry. She is going to be taken to the emergency Medlab here at the temple. They will be able to do far more there, than I can here. She's in good hands, Carth. The council's waiting, so get a move on, sonny!"

"Do you happen to know what the council wants, exactly? Because I'd really like to know if I'm gonna be thrown to the wolves...before I actually am." Carth said as he got up. Hayley's grip tightened, she opened her eyes slightly.

"Where...are...you going?" She said in a strained voice.

"Shhh...I'll be right back. I promise." Carth said reasuringly.

"That...wasn't what...I asked." She smiled weakly.

"See, Jolee? I told you she would recover quickly. She's already arguing with me..." Carth said.

Hayley closed her eyes, and a cylinder fell off the shelf and hit Carth in the head. She again smiled with a sinister look.

"Ouch! Hey, why'd you do that...oh, I get it. Point made. I'm going to see the council..." Carth gave in.

Hayley opened her mouth to protest...but Carth left the room. I wonder why he's going to the council? That's odd...

"You want me to what!" Carth's voice boomed in the Council Hall.

"Commander, calm down! It is merely a request! We just wish that you would see some reason." Vandar's voice matched Carth's in volume.

"Like hell it is! You want to take me away from her, don't you? Why can't you just leave us alone?" Carth started to calm down.

"What we want is to make sure she has no distractions, at the moment. She has gone through a lot..." Vandar said calmly.

"We all have! Before I leave though, I have a question for you." Vandar nodded," You let her asscociate with the others frequently, but when I want to talk or be with her you never allow it. What do you hold against me?"

"Commander Onasi, you must understand that we harbor no feelings of resentment towards you...or your companions. It is just that she has such...emotions...whenever she is around you. You must also remember that she once was Revan...well, let's just say we don't wish to repeat the past. The more she is around you, the more emotions come with her. Revan is strong and determined, but she is also proud and brash. All we are asking is that you take a break, so to speak. Go back to the Military, they could really use the assistance of an excellent Republic officer, like yourself." Vandar explained.

"How do you think that Hayley is going to react to all this?" He said as he contemplated his next move. Talking to the council was a lot like playing chess...you have to be careful or they'll checkmate you.

"Revan will go along with our wishes once she sees what we are trying to accomplish." Vandar countered.

"And what, may I ask, are you trying to accomplish?" Carth questioned.

"Forgive us, but we must attend to other things at the moment." Vandar looked to the other members.

The other members nodded their agreement. Jolee stepped forward into the center of the room, and stood firmly next to Carth. His eyes held a fierce determination.

"The boy deserves an explanation! You should at least explain to him why you are doing what you are!" Carth looked bewildered.

"Master Bindo! You know we can not allow him to know what is happening! It will put him in danger, as it will Revan, as well!" Vrook almost screamed it at Jolee. The members started to leave...Jolee blocked their path.

"Is it in our power to deny him the truth? It is his descision to want to know what is happening! If he asks, are we not able to give him a straight answer? The boy must know now...before it is too late." Jolee stood fast.

Vandar stepped between Vrook and Jolee. He raised his hand in a gesture to the center of the room. The members followed him back to their previous seats in the hall.

"Master Bindo is right. If the Commander wishes to know what is happening, and he knows the risks, we must comply with his wishes." He turned to Carth." Do you wish to know, Commander?"

"Yes I do, Masters." Carth said calmly.

"Very well..." Vrook began." Do you recall the time when you found out about the bond between Bastila and Revan?"

"Yes, the bond was formed when..." A look of comprehension dawned on Carth's face,"...when Bastila saved her life.

"Correct. We fear that a bond was formed between yourself and her when you somehow managed to save her life. This bond can be very lethal...to the both of you."

"How so?"

"If one of you feels pain, the other will feel it too. So if one falls to the darkside..."

"She won't fall." Carth said confidently.

"We weren't suggesting she would be the one to fall. We were impying that you might be the one to fall." Vandar said.

"I don't understand...I'm not even a Jedi." Carth stated.

"The bond that was created between you two has made you Force-sensitive, Commander. That is why we did not wish to tell you. We hoped that if you didn't know about it...it wouldn't affect your life. Now that you know, we aren't sure if we can safely ignore this dilemma. what we are trying to say, Commander, is that we would like you to be trained by one of the Masters."

Carth looked absolutely shocked. His jaw almost dropped to the floor. The news was startling, but somehow not unexpected. All of it would easily explain the reason she Called to him, the reason he had been able to save her...when others could not.

"I accept the offer, Masters." Carth said quietly.

"Good to hear. By doing so, though, you must resign as Commander. You must also tell no one about your Force-sensitivity. Not even Revan." Vandar concluded.

"Why? If she has this 'bond' like you said...why wouldn't she be able to tell that I'm different." Carth said.

"Because, Commander, she won't be around you much."Vandar finished.

A/N: Surprise? Not really...no one can ever be happy...that is what I found out. But don't worry! It will all work out in the end...I hope. Do not forget to review!