Chapter 7

"I command you to allow me to see my own daughter!" Senator Bel Iblis' voice boomed and echoed through the large corridor outside Lizabea's room. It had been almost two weeks since the attack and the senator was adamant that there would be no more attacks. He was certain the assassin would have given up after the failed attempt at the Independence Ball. Katiara had become so protective that Lizabea hadn't left her room once; the Jedi even went so fat as to personally install laser-proof glass in all the windows. Sure, a lightsaber could cut through, but it was unreasonable to think a force-user was behind the threats. She wasn't taking any chances, not until she had a strong lead on the case.

"I am the one who employed you here and if you don't let me…I'm sure the Emperor would love to know of your presence here," Garm Bel Iblis irrationally threatened. Katiara knew his demand was out of desperation and she couldn't believe he would ever turn her in; it would be like handing the alliance over to the Empire.

"Senator, don't make empty threats," Katiara simply replied, her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently. She took a deep breath. Maybe it was a bit absurd for her to keep the small girl away from her family. A small visit couldn't hurt, or so she hoped. Katiara's hand came up to rub her temples; so much stress. "Fine, but you have to consent to allow me to search you. I know you would never harm her on purpose, but it's possible that someone may have planted something on you."

The senator was reluctant but finally gave a solemn nod, his arms crossed stubbornly. Katiara crossed her eyes and opened her mind to the force. She hunted for any sign of danger on his person. For some reason, Katiara was disturbed when she found nothing. The blonde Jedi took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "You're clean." She turned and waved her hand over the keypad to Bea's room. She had rerouted the wires so that the door could only be opened with the Force. The door slid open with a hiss.

Lizabea looked up from her playthings, her eyes suddenly bright. She put down her dolls and stood, jumping and giggling with joy at the sight of her father. Katiara began to enter the room but the senator stopped her. "Please, some privacy. You've searched me and know I have nothing dangerous on me. You'll probably be of better use keeping an eye on things out here anyways," he said and passed by her into the room to sweep his daughter up in his arms.

For a moment, Katiara wasn't sure if she was going to obey him or not. However, the sight of him and his daughter made her decide it would be all right; plus, if she watched further, she knew the pain of her parents' death would return. She let the door hiss close. Exhausted, Katiara collapsed against the door, her head leaning on her arm, which braced her body. "Getting tired?" Someone said mockingly, surprising Katiara. She looked up at the voice quickly, only to find it was Logan.

"What do you want?" she inquired, her frustration clear in her tone.

"Maybe I want to see my sister, or maybe I was just walking down this way or it's even possible that I was truly interested in your well being," he replied, speaking allusively so that Katiara had no idea what his real motivation was.

"Well, I know it's not that that last one," Katiara said, rolling her eyes as she turned to lean against the door with her arms crossed. "And I don't know why you would be 'just walking down this way'. So you must want to see your sister." Or maybe he just wanted to annoy her, which was definitely likely.

"Logan…" Katiara sighed, her shoulders shagging. The dark haired young man looked her way, seemingly intrigued by something. "…I really don't want to play games today. It's been a long two weeks and those threats are still coming without any hints. It seems like this guy would try something again, I mean, he really can't be more obvious than neks!"

"Kat, come on. You're such a drama…" Logan began to accuse, but the Jedi cut him off.

"Don't call me that!" she said harshly, and it was not even close to what he expected. Katiara hated for anyone to call her 'Kat'. It had been a nickname for her when she was younger, when her parents were alive. Now it was only a reminder of what she had lost. "If we don't catch this guy, sooner or later he is going to figure out a way too get her. It's only a matter of time before…" but Katiara could finished her sentence.

Seemingly out of thin air, a small piece of paper floated to the floor. She looked up quickly, stunned at it's presence, then glanced at Logan. He was just as surprised. Then both went for the letter but Katiara gave the senator's son a stern look and he backed down. Picking up the paper, she gently unfolded it and read:

A Jedi is only dangerous with the Force on her side

But two Jedi can cause a strange and surprising divide

More powerful than justice, there is something more

You have fallen into my trap, now choose the right door

Katiara dropped the note and swerved to wave her hand over the keypad. The door slid open to reveal simply a girl and her father. Both parties were confused; Garm Bel Iblis shouted for an explanation, seeing the distraught on the Jedi's faces. "No one in…" Katiara turned quickly, hastily thinking the enemy must be in the hall, just awaiting a way to enter, but she ran into Logan's chest. She looked up slowly, as if brought out of some sort of rash spell. He held her shoulders firm to keep her from moving, looking at her with fear for a moment before raising his head to address his father.

"Another threat. But…it just dropped out of nowhere. I don't know how…" Logan began but couldn't explain further. The senator rose up quickly, pushing a button on his belt, which signaled his personal guard. He ran for the door and rushed passed his son. The door hissed as he left, shouting for his men to search every corner.

Katiara closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the mystery. She let her head fall forward to rest, trying to escape this moment to understand what had just happened. How could the letter just fall out of nowhere? Perhaps out of the ceiling but so quietly? And what did it mean? It seemed like magic, but Katiara knew that only the Force could conjure something like this. "Logan, what's happening?" Lizabea asked quietly, having not moved though confusion covered her face.

Her words snapped Katiara out of her thoughts. She released she had been rested against Logan and looked up with flushed cheeks. He didn't seem to have minded. Katiara turned to face Bea, her hands sliding off Logan's chest. "It's nothing to worry about, just a bug problem," the Jedi said, trying not to sound worried. She was surprised when her hand slid off of Logan's chest and – instead of falling to her side – was caught by his own hand. She turned and looked at him sternly, though her mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

"Bea, it's getting late. Why don't you go prepare for bed?" Logan gently instructed his sister, though his eyes did not move from the blonde in front of him. Lizabea didn't respond, but skipped off to her dressing room to change and wash her face. Katiara relaxed a bit when she heard the door hiss close, knowing Lizabea couldn't hear them.

"Logan, something strange is going on. I think that someone may be using the Force. It might be a Sith or a Jedi even, I don't know. But it's more dangerous than I thought and we've got to…" Katiara began to rambling, letting her thoughts on the situation flow out in words.

"Oh hush, Katiara," Logan interrupted her, though his words were not as harsh as she would have expected. He took a step closer to her, letting his free hand rise to stroke her hair in a claming manner. "You worry too much, you do know that right? We know it's not a Jedi: that just wouldn't make sense. They've been wiped out or are hiding. Except for you ofcourse. And it can't be a Sith: Vader is all the way across the galaxy with his minions and everyone knows the Emperor is…"

Katiara cut him off, not when she spoke but when her hand slapped his off her face and snatched her hand from his. "Stop distracting me, Logan. I know very well that you don't think I'm needed here. Well, I'm here and I want to do my job the best I can, and quickly! You're not helping," she told him as she crossed her arms, pacing a few steps away, trying to figure out the puzzle before her.

"Distracting?" Logan simply replied and Katiara knew what he was assuming. She hoped…she knew he was wrong.

"Don't get any ideas. Not distracting like…that, just…uh, you are so frustrating!" Katiara said roughly, obviously having no clever words to say now.

"I'm frustrating?" Logan simply laughed, somehow amused at the situation. She could hear him taking steps toward her. She tried to ignore him. She tried to focus on the case, on the letter. She somehow couldn't. "You are probably the most stubborn woman I know. No wonder my mother doesn't like us spending time together."

"Oh, like our arguing and fighting is anything like 'spending time together'. The way we bicker you would think we were…" she halted her thoughts and took a different turn. "…Sworn enemies, ready to rip out the other's throat! Stop playing games, I see right through you." Now Logan was directly in front of her again. Her heart began to beat fasted. It must have been the intensity of the situation; the assassin must be close by.

"Really? I don't think you do," Logan said, though his words seemed a bit harder than previously. Katiara wasn't sure what she had said. She looked to the side, trying to stop him from looking at her. "I think you need a break. Have you even slept? You're taking this whole case too far; you need to relax."

"I'm fine. There will be time to rest after we catch whoever is after Lizabea," Katiara responded quickly, it was what she had already resolved in her mind. There was no time for breaks or relaxing, not with the enemy close by.

"Am I going to have to resort to old habits to get you to listen to me?" Logan said almost playfully, though she noted a hint of anxiety in his eyes. She felt her muscles tense in suspicion. Old habits? She had no idea what he was thinking until she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and then brushed her hair while his other hand moved around her waist. He looked into her eyes and began to lean closer, his gaze drawn to her lips. Katiara's hands unwillingly drifted up his chest to his neck and shoulders, her eyes closing in submission. Just before his lips touched her's, something flashed through her mind.

But two Jedi can cause a strange and surprising divide

Divided from the Force? Her eyes snapped open and Katiara turned her head from his. She heard him sigh, his breath caressing her cheek and neck. "I should check on Lizabea," she said without emotion and went to the dressing room, leaving Logan alone in the room.

To Katiara, the situation seemed to be getting more desperate for now it personally involved her. Whoever was sending the notes knew she was a Jedi and knew that Logan was Force-sensitive. Beyond how they knew this was the fact that the note implied she could somehow be divided from the Force, a thought that terrified her. Or maybe the assassin was sending her a warning? Or maybe taunting her? Or just being poetic?

It made the blonde's head spin as she sat on a small sofa by the window, watching Bea sleep. The moonlight shone through, giving just enough light for her to read the letter over and over again, trying to solve the riddle. But maybe it wasn't a riddle; every single letter seemed to be so blunt, so obvious. And now, she hoped that the warning wasn't as she assumed.

And Katiara knew there was one way to avoid it: avoid Logan. If they had no contact, Lizabea would be safe if only because Katiara would be focused on protecting her. She closed her eyes only to have the dark eyes of her nightmare snap open. She didn't know how to handle these kind circumstances. Katiara focused on the Force, trying to meditate but eventually falling asleep.