Writer's notes: Updated 10 NOV 06 - Aerin continues to have tactical inspiration from her former self. However, she continues her slide into darkness and rage. I wanted to give a little more depth to Belaya before I knocked her off. You might be wondering about the bureacracy side story...this stuff is real, sorry to say.

I forgot to say in a previous chapter that I had read about a Marine major at the Battle of Tarawa, who strode nonchalantly up and down the beach as bullets and grenades went off all around him as he urged his men off the beach. I thought Carth should be cut from the same mold. Apparently, the major survived unscathed.

Sand Castles – Part II

Castles made of sand,
Fall into the sea-
Eventually
Jimi Hendrix

The Dune Sea

Surrounded by Dark Jedi, Aerin stood up quickly to face her attackers, igniting her light saber. Blaster fire was still going on around the sandcrawler, indicating that her companions were engaging some other enemy. A faint voice sounded in her head, I am coming, hold on.

Aerin stepped cautiously to her right, attempting to circle the hostile group. Outnumbered, she took a stance from Ataru, lithe and acrobatic. With her left hand, she drew her second light saber and a deep blue blade crackled forth. "What you want me for? I'm just a merchant trying to make a living," she said, trying to stall for time.

The Dark Jedi laughed. "A merchant, wielding a pair of lightsabers. Malak will enjoy your sense of humor." They flung their brown robes off to reveal gray, form fitting jumpsuits.

The three fanned out and rushed at Aerin, trying to blitz her. She reversed direction and scrambled quickly to the left, trying to keep them from using their numbers against her. One Dark Jedi thrust his ruby blade at her and she parried it downward. Before she could riposte, the second Dark Jedi took the offensive, driving her back. She batted his attack away and spun, slashing with both of her weapons. The third Sith came up and interposed his lightsaber between her attacks. Then, with a flick of his wrist, orange lightning shot forth from his hand and enveloped her body.

The Padawan howled in pain, backing up to avoid another strike. Smoke billowed from her robes and Aerin blinked to clear her head. The Dark Jedi wasted no time and they hurled themselves at her with reckless abandon.

Aerin dodged behind a pile of debris as a red lightsaber slashed, striking the pile instead of her neck. Sparks flew into the air, blinding the Dark Jedi for an instant. Aerin seized the moment and thrust one of her weapons into the chest of the assailant. The sizzling blade of light entered his torso like a hot knife through creamy butter. Aerin withdrew the blade sharply as the Dark Jedi staggered.

Before she could recover her guard, another Dark Jedi kicked her in the head. She sprawled backward, her head ringing. White hot spots danced in her vision. Although dazed, she could see the wounded Sith fall, spitting up gobs of blood. The other two moved quickly to flank Aerin as she crawled to regain her feet.

As one lifted her lightsaber to finish Aerin off, the young Padawan pointed upward. The Dark Jedi hesitated for a split second and then turned to see Bastila somersaulting through the air.

Bastila was a blur of orange and auburn, spinning wildly. She landed, making a massive downward cut with her lightsaber, cleaving the Dark Jedi from shoulder to belly. The Sith woman collapsed to the sand without a sound and Bastila turned to face the last opponent.

Aerin stood and moved to Bastila's side. Together, they pressed forward, their movements seemingly choreographed. A moment later, Juhani ran up to flank the Dark Jedi.

Aerin smirked. "It seems like we have come for you," she said as she launched a feint high and then switched to the low line. Bastila moved simultaneously, slashing a wide arc at the enemy's head. The Dark Jedi parried Bastila's strike and their blades locked in a sparkling death grip. Aerin saw her opportunity and continued in low.

"No, we need him alive," called Bastila, seeing the dark-haired Padawan moving in for the kill. With her lips curled in a sneer, Aerin slashed the Dark Jedi through the midsection with a powerful Shien stroke. Her blade cleared through to the other side of his body and she spun, twirling her lightsabers in front of her. She then pushed both weapons above her head, points toward the heavens.

The Dark Jedi's upper body toppled over leaving legs still standing. Bastila looked at Aerin and her face went white. "I-I wanted to take him alive…. You didn't need to kill him."

The field was silent once again except for the howling wind.

Aerin breathed deeply. She powered down her lightsabers and seemed to diminish in power. "I'm sorry. It was the heat of battle. I could not stop myself."

Bastila's hair fluttered in the hot, dry wind and she wiped sand from her mouth. "Remember, Padawan Dakar, all life is sacred. Do not forget that. Come now, we must attend to the body of Knight Belaya."

Juhani's face twisted in shock. "Belaya…is dead?" With a scream, the Cathar rushed over to the immobile form of her mentor, lying in the burning sand. Dust had coated her eyes, which were just starting to cloud over. The feline Padawan cradled Belaya's head, rocking and humming some alien tune. "No," she whispered over and over.

Slowly, the other members of the team gathered as Aerin knelt besides Juhani, holding her. Aerin glanced up to see Canderous. He was about to say something about death with honor, but the look on the Padawan's face silenced him.

Off to the side, Commander Ergot raged about the damaged sandcrawler. "How are we going to voucher this? Who approved this battle? The Minister of Finance will be furious! There will be hell to pay!"

Aerin scowled and stood up sharply. She shoved Canderous' large frame out of the way and marched over to Ergot, grabbing HK-47 along the way. The droid spoke, "Query: Shall I warm up my flamethrower, Master?"

"Yes, but you use it only on my command."

"Statement: With pleasure, Master."

Bastila saw this and rushed over to Aerin, standing in her way. "Padawan Dakar, there is no chaos…."

Aerin stopped short. She flexed her hands for a moment and then balled them into fists. "Padawan Shan, he insults us. One of our own has died and he frets like an old woman about credits."

"There is no death…."

Aerin gulped hard. She wiped her face as tears threatened to burst from her eyes. She bit down on her lip and said through gritted teeth, "There is the Force." She put her hand in front of HK-47. "Sorry, HK, stand down."

"Objection: That meatbag would be perfect, medium rare."

Aerin started to let out a bitter laugh, but the look on Bastila's face made her stifle it. She turned around and walked back to Juhani. Canderous intercepted her. An urgent look was on his face.

"I know you have lost one of your own, but we must depart here quickly. I could've sworn I saw Calo Nord in those dunes. He was the one, who killed Belaya."

The Padawan nodded gravely and her mind spun with confusion. What are we going to do? Did Belaya mean for me to lead the quest? I don't want this.

With mixed feelings, Aerin moved to Juhani and sat in the sand beside her. "Juhani, we must go. Let us put Belaya to rest." She placed her hand gently on the other Padawan's arm.

The Cathar did not look over, but growled, baring her sharp teeth. "No…don't touch her. She was my mentor…she believed in me when I had fallen. Please," she said, the rage in her face fading to be replaced by a pleading look, her eyes big and misty.

"Take a minute. I know what Belaya meant to you," Aerin said soothingly despite her own pain. She then looked up at Carth and Bastila. "Please make preparations to depart. Belaya wanted us to head southwest. I'd like to gather up the belongings of the fallen Sand People, they might be useful. Throw in those moisture vaporators we got from the Czerka too."

Bastila nodded, a long-forgotten feeling of subservience creeping into her mind. She and Carth took the others and began gathering the items as Aerin had requested.

Juhani glanced meekly at Aerin as they sat with Belaya's body. She started to speak, but choked for a moment. Then, the Cathar took a deep breath and her lips moved. "I never thanked you, Padawan…for saving me that night at the grove. I had fallen to the Dark Side and you brought me back. I've always wanted to know why you didn't just kill me."

"Perhaps I'm not the best one to speak, but everyone deserves redemption. I believe that…. As such, I should not have killed that Dark Jedi. I let my emotions get the better of me."

Now it was Juhani's turn to reassure Aerin. Her face softened and she put her hand on Aerin's back. "You did the right thing. We are too far from civilization to control a captured Sith. He would have been a danger to us all."

Aerin forced a smile. She fought to believe Juhani's words.

The Cathar stood, choking back emotions. Hot tears ran down her cheeks and her whole body shook. "I am ready," she said in a cracking voice. "Let us put Belaya to rest."

Juhani touched the fallen Jedi Knight's arm lovingly and smoke began to rise from the body. Soon, the flames reached skyward, licking hungrily over Belaya's body as it lay on a makeshift bed. Aerin squeezed Juhani's shoulder and the two turned away and entered a speeder. There, the Cathar lay her head in Aerin's lap, moaning softly in despair.

As mid afternoon approached, the team flew off to the southwest, in search of the tribe of the Sand People.

The Desert Sea – 218km southwest of Anchorhead – Late Afternoon

Canderous lay in the sand on the reverse side of a dune, overlooking a primitive encampment. He scanned the Dewback-Hide walls surrounding the camp and saw numerous Tusken Raiders, patrolling the perimeter. Blaster turrets lined the pathway to the front gate.

"This is not going to be easy. We could try to blast our way in from the side," the mercenary suggested. His red Mandalorian armor, taken from Sherruk, blended in reasonably well with the sand and would give him some camouflage.

The heat continued to beat down upon the team despite the suns lowering toward the horizon. Bastila took a long drink of water and then dug through her pack and pulled out a set of robes taken from a Tusken Raider. "I think that Rodian anthropologist was right, we should seek a peaceful solution if possible. We could wear these robes as a disguise and pass through the Sand People's perimeter. Once in the camp, we can negotiate."

Canderous gave her a condescending glare. "Have you been smoking Iridorian Grass, Princess? These people don't negotiate, or have you forgotten the battle we just fought. They need to be exterminated."

Bastila sneered. She was about to give a scathing retort, when Aerin spoke, "We cannot defeat the entire encampment. I will go in with Bastila, Mission, Carth, and HK. HK will translate for us. If there is any trouble, Canderous, you will create a diversion."

Commander Ergot, who had been lying nearby, interjected angrily, "Who put you in charge, Missy? This is a Republic mission and no one should put a Mandalorian in charge of anything. We need to submit our request for authorization to interact with the Sand People to higher headquarters. The operational plan needs to be approved days in advance. You people are out of control."

Aerin's eyes widened and her face registered disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? We're in the middle of nowhere and I trust this Mandalorian with my life, which is more than I can say for you."

Suddenly, everyone burst angrily into the conversation until Ergot pointed forcefully at Carth. "Captain, you need to control this woman."

Onasi cocked his head and a wry smirk creased his lips. "Commander, you best shut your mouth right now or you will find yourself walking home." Ergot would find no allies here.

HK's eyes flashed. "Warning: I will tear your fluid-filled carcass into tiny pieces if you malign the Master again. Your molecules will-"

Aerin raised her hand to silence everyone. "It's okay, HK. Thank you. I think the Commander understands now that we do not have time for silly approvals nor can we worry about vouchers for credits."

She waited silently; almost hoping Ergot would renew his verbal assault. I could just say HK fried him before I could stop it. Fortunately, she was disappointed and the Commander kept his mouth shut.

With a sarcastic smile, Aerin pulled out a set of Tusken robes and unwrapped them. "Excessive oversight and unreasonable bureaucracy almost doomed the Republic when they fought against the Mandalorians."

The big mercenary nodded in agreement. "Your Republic forces were slow to react and never took the initiative…that is until Revan took command."

"There is no need to bring up the past," urged Bastila, a nervous expression on her face, her lips pinched and her eyes narrowed. "Let us not dwell on someone, who is long dead." She turned back to the group and a look of disappointment clouded her features. "Belaya had told me before she died that it was her wish that Padawan Dakar lead the Quest Team in the event of her demise. Although I am senior, I must yield to the will of the Force as Belaya saw it."

Aerin looked stunned for a brief moment. "Uhhh, no. I'm not ready for this."

"Padawan Dakar, Bastila is right; it is the will of the Force," Juhani stated earnestly. "I can feel it."

In turn, Mission, Zaalbar, Canderous, and HK nodded. Aerin sighed deeply. The weight of such responsibility clouded her soul. I will have to lead these people to death and despair. How can I order someone to go to their doom? Belaya, it should have been I, who was killed. Master Zhar, I need your council.

But the Force was silent.

Aerin looked at the sand, blowing across the dunes beneath a perfect, blue sky. She licked the grit from her lips and then nodded slowly. "I shall accept this responsibility," she said grimly. Aerin searched the recesses of her mind for clues as to what she should do next and an untapped corner of her brain became unlocked. She looked around at the anxious faces surrounding her and thought for a moment.

"I want to divide our team into two units. Carth, you will lead the Red Team and Bastila will lead the Gold Team. Should I become incapacitated, Captain Onasi will assume command."

Carth nodded, understanding the need for a clear chain-of-command, but Bastila furrowed her brow. Being relegated to a lower position didn't seem to sit well with her. Noticing this, Aerin addressed her. "I'm sorry, Padawan Shan, but this is for the good of the quest. Captain Onasi's experience will give us the greatest chance for success. This does not mean you are not important, as I trust your judgment very much."

Bastila was appeased, but a sudden sense of déjà vu gripped her. She seemed to recall bowing to another's will and it did not turn out very well.

Aerin continued to outline the duties of each member and finished with a sand diagram of their ingress route to the camp and their line of retreat, which would be covered by the marines.

Canderous watched intently as Carth quipped, "I see you learned something at the Naval Academy. Despite being a Jedi, don't forget your roots."

Aerin looked up from the sand drawing. "I know that respect and wisdom are not automatically conferred upon a leader merely because of their position; it has to be earned and learned."

Carth gave her a funny look. I've heard that before somewhere….

Aerin stood and looked around. The team looked back at her, awaiting her next word. Strangely, her apprehension dissolved. Being in command…it felt familiar, almost welcome. With a smirk, she said, "Let's go, before I change my mind."

Republic Marine Captain Durren set up a sniper position, overlooking the camp as Aerin put on the Sand Person garb. Mission slid one of the tan robes over her head and it fit like a tent with her sleeves hanging past her hands. Aerin chuckled and cut the sleeves and hemline of Mission's robes while tying a rope around her waist. "Mission, we're going to find Griff. I know he's in there."

The Twi'lek tried to smile despite her worry. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine being in the middle of a desert expanse, trying to rescue her brother from nomadic tribesmen. Having been enclosed in duracrete most of her life, her head spun as she looked around at the vast openness of Tatooine.

When they had donned their disguises, they stood and began walking through the dunes to the great encampment. Aerin mused that it looked like a giant sand castle. Bastila caught up to her and said quietly, "We must make haste, Malak may be aware of our presence on Tatooine and that thug, Nord, is still out there."

With HK leading the troop, they easily moved past the Tusken perimeter. Every so often, a raider would bellow some greeting and HK would growl back at them.

Finally, they reached the entrance to the camp. Aerin strode through a series of damp leather thongs, dangling from wooden beams and supports. The odor of leather tanning was overpowering and Aerin wrinkled her nose beneath her terrifying mask.

Man, this reeks. How do these people live like this?

As she emerged on the far side of the hanging thongs, a group of Sand People stood there, preparing for a raid on some Czerka operation. They saw her and stopped, observing her intently. Then, one of them howled an alert; they had been discovered.