Chapter 7

As the Commenor's Dream sped toward it's rendezvous point Merak sat staring at Ori who was sitting quietly with her eyes closed. Mira walked back to them both after plotting the fastest course. She didn't want the empire following.

She took a seat by them both and shook her head.

"After all these years you still have skills with your saber. So why the duel blade?" Mira asked B.C.

B.C. didn't open her eyes.

"It's easier for me, my arm isn't what it used to be, it's become sluggish, so the duel blade helps maintain my speed. Though I'm rusty, I guess old ways never truly die after all."

"Your not a hermit are you Ori? Are you a fallen Jedi? Or maybe a Sith? All I know is the Sith are known to use a duel blade." Merak asked, his arms crossed and his distrust evident on his face.

B.C. Just shook her head.

"Your not to bright are you. If your the kind Skywalker is recruiting these days, I'm surprised the empire hasn't wiped you out."

With that statement Merak pulled out his light saber and activated it.

"Take that back!" Merak shouted. Mira stood up and glared at him.

"Put it away or I will put you in a holding cell."

"Mira I don't know what she did to you to make you trust her, but I don't. Clearly she's a Sith, we should put her in a cell. Your mind may be clouded, not mine!" He stated in an agitated tone.

B.C. shook her head and sighed.

"Kid, if you don't deactivate your saber, I'll be forced to take it from you. You of all people should know a light saber isn't a toy to be taken lightly." B.C. said. " And Mira knows it's not a wise move to get me angry."

"Get on your feet traitor!" Merak yelled. Mira placed her hand on her own saber, the last thing she wanted was Merak tearing up her ship. B.C. stood and glared at him.

Merak took a fighting stance, B.C. stood with her hands to her sides.

"Take your best shot. If you can." B.C. said very calmly.

"B.C. this is my ship dam it, Merak put your saber down NOW!" Mira said sternly.

Merak's eyes widened "What did you call her?"

"That's right kid, You know me as Ori, the hermit from Tattooine, but that's not who I'm really am."

Merak didn't lower his saber, but his hands were shaking.

"But..she's..dead." He stuttered.

Taking her chance and with a speed Merak had never seen, she whipped around him, disarmed him and used the force to throw him against the wall pinning him there.

"No, I'm right here. I took on a new name and a new life. But you had to find me out didn't you. People like you are the reason I prefer the company of droids." B.C. glared at the young Jedi. She threw his saber to Mira and as quickly as it started the fight was over.

B.C. took in a deep breath and walked out of the cabin. Mira grabbed Merak by the collar.

"If your seriously trying to screw up this mission your doing a fantastic job. I'm keeping your saber until we get to the temple. Then I'm going to clearly put into the logs that you shouldn't go on another mission. If she doesn't kill you I will. She doesn't follow our laws or any laws for that matter. I'll go talk to her. Be glad you still have your head. Before the war she would have had no trouble killing you and keeping your saber for a trophy. She's no Sith, in fact she's the farthest thing from one, nor is she a Jedi. Now go to your cabin and stay there until we land. You disobey me and I'll make sure your stripped of your title and will never leave the temple again." Mira said coldly. She had to fight hard to keep her anger from taking over.

She tossed Merak aside and went to look for B.C. The young Jedi went to his cabin as he was told. Mira found B.C. sitting on a bench shaking. She sat beside her friend.

"B.C. You ok?" Mira asked, concern crossing her face.

"It will stop eventually." B.C. said weakly.

"What is it?"

"Side effect. My artificial limbs aren't what they used to be. Using them in quick succession tends to wear them out and shocks my body. Also wears me out trying to fight the tremors. Please keep that dolt away from me. I'd hate to spill blood and get your ship dirty."

"I've sent him to stay in his cabin. There's a cabin down the way where you can rest until we get to the temple. Skywalker will want to see you. Now you said you were here to get your droid out of my ship. Can I help?"

B.C. smiled.

"Yeah, Will be nice to have the old man back." B.C. said, as she stood up she winced and held the wall for support. Mira stood and assisted her friend.

"Let me help you to your cabin."

"No, I'll be ok, do you have a download port on this ship?"

"By the main computer on the bridge." Mira stated.

"Lead me to it." B.C. said.

Mira helped B.C. to a chair near the port. B.C. gave a whistle and her droid rolled up.

"Activate download sequence hunter 33." B.C. said to the droid.

It unfolded into what looked like a large metal scorpion complete with tail. It's eye was a blue light that was moving back and forth. It gave Mira a chill. Mira watched as the tail opened to reveal a download plug. The tail went instantly into the port and a hiss and whir was heard. The download sequence had begun. B.C. closed her eyes and Mira could sense her friend had fallen asleep. She took a seat near then and watched the droid for anything that would signify sabotage. Though B.C. was a friend of hers, it was B.C. who sabotaged her ship by hooking her original droids CPU up to her computers system and it had taken control. She then looked to B.C. and thought about what it must have been like hiding from the Jedi and the Empire on a planet made of sand.

After about an hour the droid had finished and Mira was running a check. She smiled when she realized her ship was finally free of the droid programming. She sat down in a chair at the com, away from B.C. She was waiting on a response.

"Mira Conte, secured link open." Came a voice on the other end.

"Master Skywalker, our mission is complete, we are returning, though there has been problems." Mira said.

"Master Skywalker here, good to hear from you. What have you found out?" Luke said.

"She's alive, we have her aboard, but there were problems. She's not what she used to be. We will need a med unit and healers standing by. " Mira said.

"Alright we will, what of Merak?" Luke asked.

"Master, He's not the Jedi you think he is. There were many flaws and I am requesting that he be knocked back to padawan for more training. Besides almost getting me killed, he also endangered the mission and clearly doesn't have the emotional control to be a Jedi Knight yet."

"I see. We will have to talk about that more when you get here. Fly safe. I will have a new mission for you when you return."

"Alright Master Skywalker."

"May the force be with you Master Conte." Luke said.

"And with you. Mira out." Mira stated and then sat back in her chair. It wouldn't be long now and she'd be rid of Merak and on a mission with a real partner.

Merak sat in his cabin going over in his mind what had happened. He balled up his fists.

"How dare she not tell me. I should have put the clues together. How dare I get shown up by a bounty hunter who was in hiding. Now I'm going to loose what I worked for, all because a master Jedi doesn't like me. I will get her back for this. She can't do this to me." He grumbled.

Mira walked to her own cabin to meditate. She sensed the ill will toward her and shook her head.

"Merak, your taking a path I can't follow, I do hope Master Skywalker can put you back on the path of the light side. I can't fix the mistakes your master made, but I'm hope by making you a padawan again, whom ever is your new master will be able to show you the error of the way of the dark side. We all fight it, but each of us must make our own choice on which side to let win." Mira thought to herself.

As they got closer to their destination, Luke also could feel the presence of the dark side and knew he would have to have a long talk with Merak once they landed.