Eris: Yo. Thanks for sticking with me this long. Happy New Year! Atton and I stayed home and he was passed out on the floor by the time the ball dropped.

Atton: Hey! I had a rough day. Besides, you slept all morning so you would be able to stay up.

Eris: It's okay! Everyone else in my family was asleep too, so no harm no foul. Anyway, I get to introduce another character! We've only just begun, my dear readers, and there is sure to be plenty more characters, romance, and flashbacks to come.

Recently, I was asked who the main character was. Originally it was Colton, the Jedi Knight, But after writing several chapters, I realized I was focusing more on everyone's favourite Mandalorian Smuggler. I do believe my original goal of following senor Jedi has morphed into focusing on Aishlinn. Both of them are the main character, I suppose...

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Star Wars. Atton is living with me, however, and there's the slightest chance I might kidnap Canderous.

Chapter 7

Colton's blood ran cold as Sol finished telling him her vision. If the Sith were going to take over Ryloth, they could build a large stronghold close to the Republic's main planets. Ryloth was a planet the Republic used for receiving ryll, a potent spice that was once again being used for medical purposes, and if the Sith overthrew the Twi'lek home world, it would cripple the Republic's medical supply. Kolto was what they mainly used, but due to the more fierce threat from the Sith, the Republic needed more anesthetics for the injured. Ryll, which had been used illegally as a drug for many years, was considered. Recently, they were re-mining it for medical purposes instead.

Colton offered Sol a quick goodbye before rushing from his room toward the council room. Someone would be awake; the council seemed to never sleep all at the same time.

Master Juhani and Master Tsuviete were both awake and meditating when Colton entered. Their eyes flashed open at his entrance; both Jedi Masters knew something was wrong and their fears were intensified by Colton's worried expression. He bowed.

"Excuse me, Masters. Forgive me for interrupting you at this time of night but Sol had another vision last night."

Juhani stood in alarm, motioning Colton to come closer. "What did she see?"

"The Sith are going to force Ryloth to break away from the Republic so they can take it over." Colton explained. Master Tsuviete sighed and ran a hand over his scarred, bald head.

"We must stop them. Colton, allow us to converse with the other members of the council before we make our decision on how to proceed." Master Tsuviete said. Colton nodded.

"Yes, Master."

Colton bowed once more and left to return to his room. The Jedi Knight shook his head slowly, feeling the beginnings of a migraine coming on. Sometimes it could be so stressful to be a Jedi… He hoped that they could get to Ryloth in time to stop the Sith assassins; he hoped they could save the poor, innocent young woman as well. Colton ran a had through his blond hair, pushing open the door to his room.

Sol was still sitting on the edge of the bed when he walked in. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Shouldn't you go back to your room to try to get some more sleep?" he asked. Sol shook her head, stifling a yawn. She fidgeted nervously without speaking. Colton moved to sit beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I'm… scared. Scared to see again." she answered. "Can I… can I sleep in here with you?"

Colton swallowed at her earnest expression. "Um, well you see—" he broke off when her face fell. Colton sighed. "Fine, just—"

Sol smiled again and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Colton was glad for the darkness that hid his reddening face. "Thank you, Colton."

Colton gave her the bed and he moved to sit in the chair not too far away. He pulled it closer so Sol could hold his hand as she slept. She smiled at him, her orange eyes bright and warm.

Good night, Colton."

Colton smiled back. "Good night, Sol."

Sol's eyes slid closed and within minutes she was fast asleep. Colton rested his head on his arm, watching the Tusken princess as she slept. She was so peaceful; Colton couldn't help but admire her beauty and her good heart. She was also quite intelligent. It had been two, maybe three days since he began teaching Sol Basic ad already she was practically fluent.

Colton worried about Sol; he had come to care a great deal for her during their travel to Alderaan. Would the Sith continue to pursue her, even here?

What about Aishlinn…? A small voice in the back of his head questioned. Colton pushed thoughts concerning both females out of his head. He was a Jedi; Jedi could not love.

And he needed to sleep.

With Sol's quiet breathing lulling him to sleep, Colton contemplated what the best course of action would be concerning the events in Sol's vision. Honestly, Colton didn't know what to do. He decided that sleep was best at the moment; he had time to figure everything out in the morning.

A couple of rooms down, Aishlinn was struggling with her own insomnia. Tegrit was curled up in a blanket on the small sofa while Ash was tossing restlessly on the bed. It was strange sleeping somewhere not moving through space. With a frustrated sigh, the smuggler threw the itchy, white sheets off of her body and made her way out of her "room", not bothering to grab her jacket or a blaster. Ash had forgone leather pants and belly shirts in favor of sleeping in black shorts and a gray t-shirt. She slid on her combat boots, deciding not to lace them.

Perhaps a night walk would help clear her head and tire her out enough so she could sleep.

While exploring yesterday, she and Tegrit had found a nice open expanse of grass that gave off a feel of Datooine. It was peaceful there and Ash figured she could sit there for hours and not have to worry about being disturbed. Aishlinn took a seat on a large boulder; she leaned back, resting on her arms, and stared up at the lovely night sky.

What was wrong with her? She'd never been so restless before. Was it because she was on one of the main Republic planets? Smugglers didn't usually take sides concerning Sith or Republic (or even "Jedi" for that matter), and most weren't accepted into Republic space with open arms. They were technically criminals.

Aishlinn stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. A light breeze decided to grace her with his presence, chilling her slightly and causing her to curse the fact she didn't bring a blanket or (at the very least) a jacket. Her hair lightly fluttered in the wind and she pushed the offending strands out of her face; looking up, the smuggler smiled at the hues the rising sun cast over the midnight blue sky.

Something shifted in the grass somewhere to her left, but Ash didn't think much on it; she figured it was either the wind or a small animal.

"Mom…" she whispered, "I wish you could be here." She chuckled darkly. "I know you wouldn't be proud of me; I guess I've lost my pride. I ran away, Mom, and I'm sorry. I wish—" she broke off, looking down at her feet in the cold grass. She curled her toes under her feet and resisted the urge to cry. Warm tears traitorously pooled in her eyes anyway.

"—I wish there was something I could do to make you proud, wherever you are."

The wind brushed by her again, leaving her with no response. Ash smiled sadly, stood, stretched her muscles (sore from staying idle for so long), and prepared to head back to the Jedi council building. However, a fierce, low growl stopped her in her tracks. Aishlinn slowly turned back around only to see a Horned Kath Hound standing there. Ash swallowed hard.

Yeah… a lot like Datooine… fraking Kath Hounds and all… she thought to herself moments before the gray beast pounced. Ash jumped out of the way, but one of its horns caught her leg anyway. She yelped in surprise, cringing at the pain. Blood poured from the long, jagged slice on her leg and Aishlinn started to panic. She was outside by herself with no way to protect herself from the vicious beast.

"Never thought this would be the way I'd go…" she mumbled to herself. Her eyes glanced around, looking for something sharp she could use to defend herself with. There wasn't anything.

The Horned Kath Hound lunged again, this time managing to get its teeth around her arm. She had thrown it up to protect her face; Ash decided that she'd rather injure her arm than her head. She shouted in pain as it chomped on her flesh. She struggled to get free, knowing that she would die if she couldn't get away. It was then that she saw a double bladed sword fly through the air and embed itself in the Horned Kath's head. The Horned Kath Hound released its grip on her arm, slumping to the ground: dead. Aishlinn looked up to see a man standing nearby in a position showing he had thrown the sword. He slowly walked over to where she was on the ground, yanking the sword from the beast's skull and offering her a hand to help her stand.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Aishlinn nodded numbly, noticing he had silver eyes and snowy hair. She took his offered hand and allowed him to move her over to the boulder she had been sitting on moments before the attack. The man tore of a strip of his white robe and began bandaging her sliced open leg and mutilated arm. Ash was in shock; she could barely believe that her life had just been saved by this man.

"What's a young woman like you doing out here at this time of night?"

"Thinking."

He chuckled quietly. "That doesn't seem like a good enough reason. Do you happen to have a death wish? Many Kath Hounds have made their homes in these plains. It's dangerous at night; didn't you know that?"

"I'm afraid I'm just visiting for the time being." Ash responded, feeling some of her usual vigor return. "Thanks for saving me. Sorry, but I'm usually not this unprepared."

"Perhaps you require assistance back to your living quarters?"

Ash shook her head. "Naw, I'm fine. Thanks for bandaging me, though." She stood up and took a step toward the Jedi Enclave only to have a jolt of pain travel up her leg and cause her to collapse. The man grabbed a hold of her, keeping her from folding up like a lawn chair on the ground. Ash grinned sheepishly at him.

"I might need some help…"

He laughed again, moving her arm so it wrapped around his shoulder. "It appears so. My name is David, by the way."

"Aishlinn Vorren."

"It's nice to meet you, Aishlinn."

Ash grinned at him, offering a mock salute. "Likewise. By the way, just call me Ash."

David nodded his agreement. "Then I shall. Where do you happen to need assistance to?"

Ash nodded in the direction of the enclave. "I'm stayin' there 'til the Jedi give me a new ship." She answered. David raised an eyebrow at that.

"A new ship?"

"Now listen here," Ash said sternly, "I'm not one to just spill out her life story to a complete stranger."

"Pity. I did just save your life too…"

Ash chuckled. "By me dinner at least and then we'll talk." She joked lightly. David laughed as well.

"Pick you up tomorrow then?"

Ash nodded. "No later than six tomorrow afternoon."

"It's a date."

—

"Force, Ash, what happened to you?" Colton asked, concerned. He had run into Ash and David as they entered the enclave as he was getting ready to see if the Jedi Masters had decided what to do yet. He had forgone his precious mission to make sure Aishlinn was alright. Plus, he was worried about her new friend, whoever he was.

"I'm fine. A Horned Kath attacked me, but David killed it and bandaged me up." she answered off-handedly. Colton turned to observe the other man; he was a few years older than Colton with silver eyes and short white hair. That and the fact he was wearing Echani fiber armor alluded to David probably being an Echani warrior of some sorts.

"Why didn't you kill it? You've shown that you're a capable fighter." Colton bristled. He didn't like the fact that some stranger had saved the pilot. Ash snorted.

"I didn't realize you had a boyfriend." David said. Ash laughed, her face turning red from the effort.

"Colton is a Jedi. They can't form romantic attachments or something like that. Plus, we just met like four days ago." She explained. "What's up with you, Captain? You're usually not this concerned about me."

"Sol had a vision last night." Colton said, changing the subject. Ash pursed her lips in irritation, but allowed him to speak. "The Sith are going to take over Ryloth. I have to go see what the Masters are going to do about it."

Ash stiffened at the mention of Ryloth. "Ryloth? I want to come with you to see what they say."

Colton nodded and began walking to where the Masters were. Aishlinn gave David a quick explanation and a goodbye before following the Jedi Knight.

All four masters were waiting for the two. Colton bowed.

"Masters, I came to see what conclusion you have come up with."

Juhani nodded. "We've decided that we're going to send you and Sol to Ryloth to stop the Sith assassins. You have shown that you are capable enough on your own and it will be good to bring Sol in case she sees something else."

"Excuse me, but I want in." Ash said, interrupting the Cathar as she spoke. "I can pilot the starship for Colton and Sol and I also happened to be pretty handy with a blaster."

Juhani nodded. "Very well, Miss Vorren. I leave these two in your care." She smiled at Colton. "Good luck, young Knight. I feel that you will be tested greatly on this mission."

"Also, if the Tusken Princess happened to see another planet where something similar may occur, we wish for you to go and put an end to that as well." Master Tsuviete added. Colton bowed.

"Yes, Masters."

He grabbed Ash's wrist and pulled her out of the room. They walked in silence for a moment before Ash remembered something.

"Wait a minute," she said, stopping Colton in his tracks, "I should have asked for a ship. I'm still grounded."

Colton nodded. "Yes, but—"

"And I'm not letting someone else drive. I've spent enough time not behind the wheel of a ship."

"Colton!" Sol yelled, running down the corridor and bringing a halt to Ash's tirade. "What did the Masters say?"

"We're going to Ryloth to stop it, including Ash and Tegrit." Colton said. Sol nodded, smiling shyly at Aishlinn.

"Okay."

"I'm gonna go get Tegrit. You go speak to the Masters." Ash told Colton. He nodded, returning to the council room.

Ash quickly made her way to her room so she could clue in her co-pilot/best friend about their change of plans. The Sith were targeting Ryloth; Cassoal was on Ryloth. Ash may not have known the former slave girl for very long, but she still didn't want anything to happen to the young girl's planet.