Chapter 11 up. Enjoy.

The next morning, which could only be a few hours after Saganu delivered me back to my room, I was awoken by Dr. Yonca. Not that I'd slept. Too much was about to happen for me to turn my mind off enough to sleep. I ended up meditating through the night.

"Are you ready to get outta here?" She asked happily. I had noticed the good doctor was always happy. Probably the reason she seemed to be a good doctor.

I nodded.

"Before we go, I just wanted to say it's been a pleasure meeting you. You're nothing like what I thought a Jedi would be like."

"It was nice to meet you as well. Thank you for taking care of me, while I was injured."

I followed her out of the room and down the hallway to the armory room I had visited the previous day. In the room, there were a half dozen men, including Saganu, all preparing for the journey ahead. Saganu smiled at me, no trace of the previous night's sadness anywhere on his carefully guarded face.

Once again, he handed me the cold war gear I had worn the previous morning, but this time he also handed me the gear I'd been wearing at the time of my capture, minus the hole caused by the blaster bolt, which had been repaired.

Silently, I got dressed. The room was eerily quiet. Once everyone was ready, we headed outside, where several speeders were being prepped.

"You'll ride with me, if you don't mind." Saganu said.

I nodded. I was actually a bit thankful we wouldn't have time to talk about what happened in his quarters the night before. I already had enough contradictory information running through my head.

Saganu got on one of the bikes, then held his arm out to assist me to get on behind him. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Hold on tight. I'd hate to lose you somewhere between here and there." He shouted over the sound of the multiple bikes.

"Don't worry, I have no desire to fall off." I shouted back.

Saganu shouted something in Cheunh and we were off.

I held on tight, hoping I wasn't causing Saganu any discomfort. If I was, I couldn't sense it in him. Over the entire time I'd been held captive at the station, I hadn't really sensed anything from him. He was a master at keeping his emotions controlled and hidden, even from a Force user.

We rode for several hours. The entire time, I focused on my master, sensing her presence getting closer and closer. I could tell now that there were two Jedi with her. I began to feel nervous, not just about seeing my master again, but about the safety of everyone involved in this prisoner release. I had come to care about the Chiss from Zero Station and I didn't wish for any blood to be shed on my account.

I also took the time to think about what I would tell my master about my time away. They would ask what happened. Where I was being held and what I learned, since they most likely were told I was taken by a group of Chiss. This was the moment of truth. Would I betray Saganu's trust and tell the Jedi and Republic about the Chiss or would I be like every other Chiss on our side and keep my lips shut.

I contemplated my choices until we began to approach a series of five tents, all covered in snow, implying they'd been set up the night before. We stopped several yards away, our presence being watched by several beings. One of which was Master Kiwiiks. Her silhouette was hard to miss, even in cold weather gear.

I got off the bike and Saganu followed. The other men stayed mounted. He pulled something out of the bike's storage compartment and handed it to me. It was my lightsaber. I hadn't even really thought about the fact that I didn't have it on me. I took it, attaching it to the outside fastener of my jacket.

"It's been an honor, Zanthia. I will cherish the time we have spent together." He took my hands and held them.

"As will I. I can honestly say, this has been one of the most eye opening experiences of my young life. I thank you for it."

"Perhaps fate will have us meeting again." He said, giving my hands a final squeeze, then releasing them. He then gestured to my people. I took a deep breath and headed towards the camp. Once I was just over half way there, I heard the speeders behind me rev their engines and head off the way they came. By the time I made it to the camp, they were gone.

Jedi were not supposed to form attachments, but Master Kiwiiks wrapped me into a hug as soon as I was close enough.

"Thank the Force you're alive. I felt you get hurt. Are you alright?" She asked, almost too fast for my brain to register.

"I'm fine, Master." I replied.

I looked over and saw Master Orgus and his padawan, Toukath. Behind them stood Lieutenant Harking, who had a very distinct look of relief on his face. I managed to pry myself away from my master, and for her part, she looked slightly embarrassed by her reaction.

The Lieutenant approached us carefully, like he was afraid to disrupt the moment.

"Should we follow them, Master Jedi?" He asked Master Orgus.

"No!" I said, perhaps a little too forcefully.

Master Orgus looked at me. He seemed to be analyzing me, but I didn't back down or shy away from his gaze.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary, Lieutenant. They have a long head start and there is no reason to risk the lives of your men, considering Zanthia seems to be in one piece." He said in his usual stoic manner. Internally, I sighed in relief.

"Very well." Harking said, turning to his men. "Pack up camp, we leave for Aurek in ten." The soldiers milling about jumped to the task of breaking down the camp.

He took my hand and squeezed it gently. "Nice to see you're okay." He said to me, with a hint of a smile, before turning to assist with the breakdown.

"Once we get back to the station, we'll get you checked out by the doctor, then we'll talk." Kiwiiks said. She sounded much calmer, but was still concerned.

I nodded. The big question still hung in my mind. What was I going to say when they asked about the last week. I still wasn't sure.

To Be Continued...