Chapter 5: Nightmares

"Kaie! This way!"

Oh no. Not again. Sweet Force, please not again.

I followed my master down an empty hallway, running as fast as I could. Running, running, always running. I took a quick glance over my shoulder and winced. Those Sith never gave up, did they?

"iKaie!/i Hurry up!"

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying." Don't talk. Run. Keep running.

Wait… don't run. Wake up. I stopped, bending over slightly, breathing hard. A Jedi wasn't supposed to feel like this after just a little bit of running. What was wrong with me?

My master turned around, and beckoned to me. "Kaie, come on. We've got to get out of here."

I shook my head. "You go on. I'll hold them off."

"But-"

"No buts! Get out of here."

I knew he wouldn't. He never had. Every time I relived this, he never left me. I gasped as a stun bolt hit my shoulder. The pain only lasted a second before I started to go numb. This was not good. I saw Jeren Rak fall in front of me. I tried to turn, to fight off the Sith. But then I fell, too.

The next thing I knew, someone was shaking my shoulder frantically. Voices began to penetrate the thick fog encasing my mind.

"Is she alright?"

"How did they get her?"

"Is she the only one?"

"Give me that and hush."

"Wha- what's going on?" I asked, pushing myself up.

A strong yet gentle hand on my shoulder pushed me back down. "That's not the best idea at present. Stay down."

"Where am I?" I tried again.

Details started to come back to me: the mission… the Sith… that split second of pain. And…

"Master!"

My head hits the ceiling as I jump up and out of my bunk on my ship, which is currently docked in a little-known space port on Coruscant.

Yelping, I rub my head and collapse back onto the bunk. Sithin' nightmares. I wish they'd go away.

Once you do what you have to do, they will.

Sighing, I go to the galley. Nightmares always make me hungry.

Are you listening to me?

I don't have much choice about what to eat. I'm not much of a cook.

Kaie, you need to listen to me.

No. I don't.

Yes, you really do. I can help you.

Why didn't you help me when I fell?

You weren't ready yet.

I roll my eyes and turn to my snack. This is another sleepless night I'll have to suffer through.

Do you remember why you're here?

In your words or mine?

You're here because deep down, you know what you did was wrong and you want to go back to the way of the Jedi.

You're starting to sound like Jeren…

Good. Someone needs to take his place in your life.

No one can do that. I have- had only one master.

And it wasn't the Sith.