I own Ayame and Kamuro. Everything else belongs to their respectful owners.

The ship raced to a shuttle port a few miles from the battle. As they got closer, Ayame became painfully aware of how in trouble Anakin and Obi-Wan were. Obi-Wan was hurt, and Anakin was even worse. As Ayame followed Yoda in, she got her first look at Count Dooku. He was sweating slightly from fighting both Anakin and Obi-Wan, but still looked extremely refined and regal. His white hair was slicked back, and his face showed a greying, well-groomed beard. He turned when he saw Ayame and Yoda, and smiled.

"Master Yoda," he said, his deep voice resonating around the hanger.

"Count Dooku," Yoda replied.

"And Ayame Melma, I presume?" Dooku said, looking at Ayame. "A pleasure to finally meet you."

"I wish I could say the same, Count," Ayame replied.

"Well, nevertheless, you have interfered with our affairs for the last time," Dooku said simply. Using the Force, Dooku started sending various objects at the pair, from metallic parts on the wall, to the rocks on the ceiling. Each time, Yoda repelled them.

"Powerful you have become, Dooku," Yoda said. "The Dark Side, I sense in you."

"I've become more powerful than any Jedi," Dooku replied. Ayame heard a small tinge of a jealous Padawan in his voice, a tinge that she heard far too many times. "Even you," he added, and shot Force lighting at them. Ayame interfered, absorbing it and firing back her own. They fought for a few moments, before Ayame deterred his last attack.

"A Jedi with that power? Interesting," Dooku commented snidely.

"Much to learn, you still have," Yoda said.

"It is obvious that this contest cannot be determined by our knowledge of the Force," Dooku said. There was a hum as he activated his lightsaber. "But by our skills with a lightsaber." He saluted and took a stance. Ayame pulled out her own weapon, but Yoda stopped her. He pulled out his blade, and with a fierce cry, leaped into battle. Ayame stood and stared. She had never seen Yoda fight before. Suddenly, sense took hold, and she ran over to where Obi-Wan and Anakin were lying. Anakin was barely conscious, his right arm severed at the elbow. Obi-Wan had bad slashes on his arm and leg, but he was awake and okay.

"Master Ayame?" Anakin asked softly.

"Shh," Ayame replied, quieting him. "Save your strength, Anakin." Placing her fingers on his temples, she transferred some of her own energy to him. Once she was certain he was stable, she turned to Obi-Wan.

"You shouldn't be here," he said.

"Where else would I be?" she replied. Obi-Wan was about to answer, when they heard the creaking of metal. A nearby column crumpled at the base and started to fall towards the three of them. Ayame threw up her hands with such force that the column went flying. It was caught mere inches off of the ground by Yoda, who had made a move to save them. As Ayame and Yoda caught the column, Dooku jumped into a waiting sail ship and escaped. Moments later, Padme ran in with a squad of troopers. She ran immediately to Anakin, who Ayame was helping to his feet. Ayame helped Obi-Wan get up, and the group returned to the gunship that brought Padme here.

Once back on board the massive starship, Ayame checked on Kamuro, who was suspended in a kolto tank. She stayed just looking at him for a few moments, allowing herself to feel pride, sorrow, and resolve. She handed a chip with her message on it to a medical droid, who would give it to Kamuro when he woke up.

Anakin was undergoing limb replacement when Ayame arrived to check on him, so she couldn't see him. A medical attendant informed her that the procedure was going well, and that everything should be a complete success. Ayame thanked him, handing him a chip with her message for Anakin, and left.

Obi-Wan was sleeping. This was the hardest one that she had to do. She placed her own communicator on table next to his bed, blinking with the message she left for him. She leaned down and gently kissed him on the forehead. "I love you," she whispered, and left.

Yoda, Master Windu, and several other Council members were waiting for her at her ship.

"Remember everything you have learned," Yoda said.

"You are venturing down a potentially dangerous path, Ayame. Don't allow the Dark Side to completely take over," Windu added. The other Council members nodded in agreement.

"I do not find this as a wise course of action," Master Ki Adi Mundi said.

"If I do not get myself under control, I may end up hurting people more than helping the war, Master," Ayame said. "I am a liability until I have attained control." Mundi merely nodded, satisfied with her answer.

"Be well, Ayame. May the Force be with you," Yoda said. Ayame bowed to him and the Council, who all bowed back. She boarded her ship and took off, allowing the Force to be her guide. A voice called to her from a planet not far away. She gave herself to the will of the Force, and it pulled her away.