I really didn't expect SO many reviews! Thank you so much supporters, it's guys like you that keep me writing :)
The reason I'm updating so fast is because I actually already wrote half the story. I just wanted to see how popular it would actually be.
Amara stood completely still, too shocked to move. Plo faced her, all past calmness and control now gone. "Skywalker and Kenobi were sent on a mission to liberate Pythros from the Separatists. We were unaware it was a trap set by the terrorists. Kenobi was the intended victim, but the Jedi were forced to change plans when Dooku's armies attacked. They took Skywalker as an improvised plan."
She swallowed, trying to release the lump in her throat. Her mouth was dry, and her hands trembling. If she accepted, she would be forced to re-enter the life she had vowed to leave behind. If she refused, the man like her brother would be murdered. She looked at the Jedi, her expression full of distress. "What do you want me to do?"
"The Jedi need your help, Amara." He said her name slowly. He didn't believe the girl Ahsoka was truly gone.
She didn't hold his same convictions. She slowly turned off the engine, and climbed off her speeder. She stood up and faced him. "Plo…I can't. I can't go back. You know that."
"I'm not asking you to re-join the Order. I'm just asking you to help us. Help Skywalker."
She shook her head, and leaned against her speeder. Her heart and mind were torn. But she knew she couldn't let him die. She would never be able to live with herself. She looked at him again. "The Jedi must not know who I am. Ever."
Plo nodded. "I wouldn't tell them. You'd just be part of the OUCO, partnering with the Order to stop a terrorist hostage case." He almost seemed to smile behind his mask. "I'm glad you've accepted. I truly am. You may choose three partners from the OUCO to join you. That was in their message. I'll meet you at the spaceport in an hour."
She climbed back onto her speeder, and re-ignited the engines. She looked back once more, and saw him staring at her. She bit her lip, and sped down the road. The wind blew back her lekku, sending it flying behind her. She was grateful for the cool breeze on her burning face. She was semi-conscious of the few tears that managed to escape from the corners of her eyes.
What had she done?
She didn't remember the rest of her trip back. When she finally snapped herself back to attention, she was standing in front of HQ, her speeder parked neatly in the garage. As if nothing had happened, just a casual joy ride. She spotted Lux running towards her, his face overflowing with relief. She let him grab her, embrace her, kiss her. She hugged him back. She felt so safe in his arms.
He pulled away slightly, and looked at her, joy shimmering in his eyes. "I'm so glad you're alright. I was ready to come after you." She smiled, but didn't answer. She pressed against him again, allowed him to rub her back, releasing some of her tension. When she didn't talk, he pulled away again. "Amara, what's wrong?" His relief was morphing into new anxiety. "Who was it?"
"It was Plo Koon."
"The Jedi? What did he want with you?" There was just the slightest bit of hate in his voice. He had never trusted any Jedi, except her. When she had left the Order, he had automatically blamed the Jedi, hated them for hurting her. The hardest part of her life had brought them closer together.
"He wants me and some of the OUCO to deal with a terrorist hostage crisis that the Jedi have been drawn into because of the war." She couldn't look him in the eyes. "And I accepted."
His eyes grew wide. "What?! But…but why? After what they did to you – how they treated you…"
"Lux." She had to stop him. She knew that he hated the Jedi because of her. Because of her pain. But she needed to make him understand…this was different. "That was two and a half years ago," she explained quietly. "Yes, I don't want to re-join them. Yes, they hurt me. But Lux…the hostage is Anakin."
He lowered his head. He understood now. He knew about her close relationship with him. He knew everything about her. That's why she loved him so much. That's why he had to understand. And he did. He looked right into her eyes, his heart overwhelming with understanding…and love. He lowered his head to hers so he could whisper into her ear. "Then I want to come with you."
She nodded. That had been her intention. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you behind," she replied, relief obvious. "I also want Amber and Ker to come. But they won't know what's going on. To them, the OUCO is just partner with the Jedi to help solve a case."
He leaned down, and kissed her gently on the cheek. He was so tender. So loving. She kissed him on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much for understanding."
"Understanding what?"
Lux and Amara turned to see Amber and Ker standing there, grinning. Ker raised an eyebrow. "Understanding what?" he repeated, smirking.
Amara pulled away, slightly blushing. "We're going on a mission to Coruscant," she stated quickly. "We're going to partner with the Jedi Order in order to stop a terrorist hostage crisis."
Amber's face lit up in a grin. "We're actually teaming up with the Jedi? The actual Jedi Order? We're in on it? To solve a hostage case?!" She was a lifelong admirer of the Jedi.
Ker seemed a little less excited. He, like most of the OUCO, doubted the Jedi's capabilities during the Clone War. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He knew about Amara Lux's distrust for the Order.
Amara nodded. "I'm sure. We need to work with this. The terrorist threaten to kill their hostage if we don't partner with the Jedi."
Amber's eyes were shining with excitement. "When?! When?! When?!"
Despite her tension, Amara had to laugh. So did Lux. Seventeen-years-old, the brunette girl was eager and always ready for excitement. "An hour. We're going to meet with Jedi Master Plo Koon in an hour."
Amber let out a squeal of delight. Blond headed Ker chuckled at his girlfriend's excitement. "Amber, calm down." His smile faded a bit. "This is a serious situation."
Immediately, Amber lowered her head. A terrorist hostage crisis was serious. "I know."
Amber and Lux began walking toward HQ. "Let's go inside and pack lightly." She bit the bottom of her lip in anxiety.
'Please…let me be doing the right thing.'
"Answer me!"
The blowing fist struck him again. He crumbled to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Two masked men walked over and heaved him back to his knees.
The attacker spat on the ground. "Well – Jedi?! Where are the plans?"
The victim, a twenty-two-year-old man with piercing blue eyes, gazed up in anger. "How can I tell you what I don't know?! I don't know where the plans are, Kalzin!"
Kalzin bent down, and hit him again. He fell to the ground. This time, Kalzin himself grabbed the young Jedi by neck and hauled him upwards. "Let me make this very clear for you, Skywalker. Unless you give me any information you hold, I won't wait for the OUCO or the Jedi to find you. I. Will. Kill. You!"
Skywalker looked up again, barely able to hold his head up straight. "You won't get away with this. Obi-Wan and the Jedi will…"
"Will what? Find you? Rescue you? Come in, and destroy me, the bad guy?" He scoffed, and began laughing. "You aren't dealing with Dooku and his petty battle droids, boy. You think you know pain? You know nothing. I'm not even in charge here, and yet I have you on your hands and knees – like a dog!"
The two armored men approached again, and grabbed his arms. Anakin was forced to his feet, wincing in pain as his shattered shoulder was slammed against the wall. Kalzin grinned. "Take him back to his cell. Then, it's time we deliver another message to our Council friends."
One of the men nodded. "Yes, sir. The message?"
Kalzin thought a moment, rubbing the scar that ran all the way up his neck and across his face. He brushed a lock of his filthy black hair away with his crooked hand. "Tell them, that we're done playing. Unless they want this Jedi Knight slaughtered and the Coruscant Holocaust to begin, they will begin playing our game. In two hours, if they do not meet me with a Jedi and member of the OUCO unarmed, I will presume that they aren't willing to save his life, and I will begin my purge." He turned, and looked out the window, staring out over the rocky hills and the small, blood-red stream that trickled over the cliff. "Tell them…that the game has begun."
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