"You seemed pretty cozy with our new friend Anton today," Kasen said, the sarcasm in his voice thick as he pronounced the word friend.

I frowned. "Jealousy is dangerous, Kasen."

"Jealousy! That's what you think this is?" His blue eyes were flashing with anger.

I rolled my green eyes. "What else would it be, stupid?"

"Oh, I don't know – intelligence, maybe? What if he's some kind of criminal, Keelee, what then? What if he kidnaps you – thinking we're lying about our 'royal, dead parents' and thinks you're of some worth to him? We are lying, you know. Do you expect me to run across the galaxy to find you and give him his demands?"

My eyes were burning now, the rage that I kept shoved deep down surfacing, just like it had this morning. "I guess you wouldn't; not the way you're talking."

"Well, why should I, when you are so quick to get attached to someone else?"

I gaped at him.

"Attached?"

"Yes, Keelee, it was written all over your face. But even if it wasn't, I could feel it, you know. I'm not stupid. I'm Jedi, too, in case you've forgotten. But I guess you think now that you've forsaken your vows, I must have, too."

"And you didn't when you kissed me?" my voice was tight with emotion.

"Maybe I shouldn't have done that."

Suddenly I was lunging toward him, eyes blazing in the reflection of my wielded blue lightsaber. I had knocked him to the ground, surprise as my ally, and now he was pinned at the waist beneath my knees.

"Keelee," he coughed.

I was breathing wildly, chest rising and falling with all the grace and calm of a tromping bantha. My nostrils flared, and I could feel my throat was dry.

Coming to his senses, Kasen had both of my wrists in the grasp of his strong hands, and put me on my back, straddling my legs to keep me pinned.

I wanted to shove him off, but he was much stronger than I, not to mention heavier.

"Keelee, turn it off," Kasen's eyes and face were hard as stone, unreadable other than authoritative.

I fixed him with a hard, determined look before extinguishing the blade. He squeezed and bent my wrist, causing me to drop the hilt, and I frowned deeper.

"What is wrong with you?" His blue eyes were full of concern now; he had let go of my wrists and gently moved next to me.

Surely, he trusted me far too much.

"I don't know," I said, sitting up and hugging my knees to my chest.

"You scared me, Keelee. Do you know how hard it is to do that?"

Now I was crying, sobbing with my forehead pressed to my bent arms.

Somehow, Kasen's affectionate tone always kept my heart pliable when it begged to turn to stone.

"I… I didn't want to hurt you, Kasen," I whispered, trying to keep my voice even though my throat was tight.

"I know," he said softly, moving next to me. He was stroking my hair now, and I did not fight him when he gently pressed my head to his chest.

"Do you hear that?" he asked.

"Hear what?" I sniffed.

"My heart," he explained. "Can you hear it?"

"Of course I can," I said; my voice dry and hoarse.

"Know this: The day I lose you, is the day it stops beating."

I looked up at him, wide-eyed and fearful. But in his crystal blue eyes, there shone nothing but honesty and conviction.

Now I was crying all over myself again.

I just sat there, tears flowing from so far down inside I feared they'd never stop.

But Kasen was patient, and dedicated; he simply held me, stroking my hair and rubbing my back and whispering words of comfort.

When I had finally composed myself, the suns were setting, and I knew we'd better get home. Lana had warned us about the natives, the sand people, and how much they hated outsiders.

I squeezed Kasen's right hand as we walked, and he squeezed back, gently but tightly, and I was comforted.

"Kasen," I said softly, sniffing since my nose was now drippy.

"Yes?" his voice was low and full of adoration.

"I turn sixteen tomorrow," I said, just remembering.

"That's wonderful," he beamed.

"I've never gotten a gift before," I mused, "but I really want to find Obi-Wan, just to see him – to see that he's alright, at least."

"Who do you suppose he was fighting on Mustafar, if he was even there?"

"I don't want to think about that," I shook my head.

But I did think about it.

The answer was terribly obvious.

And as quickly as it come, the fleeting comfort I had felt was far gone again.

………

"Keelee," he whispered; voice hoarse and beseeching. "Help me."

"I can't," I tried to scream, but my mouth wouldn't open.

"Help me, Keelee," his blue-green eyes pleaded. "Help me, please!"

I sat up straight, heart racing. But I was careful not to make a sound.

I pulled on my light brown Jedi robe, and tucked my lightsaber into my belt.

Breathing deeply, heavily through my nose, I stepped into my tall, dusty boots and I rushed silently from the cave-home.

My mission will succeed tonight.

There was a strange chill in the air that night. A million stars twinkled overhead as a breeze seemed to come from literally nowhere. I focused on keeping my breathing slow and even as I fast-walked across the sandy stretch.

I didn't know my destination, but my heart was leading now.

I fumbled with the glow rod I had stuck awkwardly against my right hip, tucked in my belt. I turned it on, careful to point it to where my feet were rather than where any strangers could see. I kept it tucked under the long flap of my robe, still hearing his voice calling out to me from the deepest part of my inner self.

I was still angry at the Order, but the Force was guiding my motions this night.

The farther I went, the more I questioned the Force's leading. My heart was pounding with fear, no matter how much I willed it to calm. It was simply restless.

I had heard rustling nearby three times now, and it was getting more frequent.

I'd even heard a grunt once, but I had prayed that it was a stray nerf or something.

So far, nothing had come out where I could see it. But I was still afraid.

I quickened my pace, trying to reach the caverns I saw far ahead, in the distance.

By the time I could make out entrances to the caves, my breath was ragged and hard to come by. I suddenly had the urge to crawl on hands-and-knees the rest of the way as my calves burned, my throat ached.

I noticed lightness in the sky, turning the twilight a midnight blue, stirring up the once-black abyss with a lighter hue.

It can't be much farther now, I assured myself silently. I will find him.

But there was that rustling.

And it was dangerously close this time.

Panicked, I dropped to my knees, and rolled onto my back, trying to pull together every ounce of self-control I had to slow my breathing.

If they think I'm dead, they won't bother with me, right?

I hoped so.

But as the sound drew closer, I knew I was wrong.

Very, horribly wrong.

I heard the stomping of feet and the gruff, animal-like noises even closer, and my heart was beating so hard it was making me feel light-headed.

Then the footsteps were right by my head, and everything faded to black.