So...we've finally hit season two! Woohoooo! I'm so excited! Progress is great! (And I have several episodes I'm just itching to do haha

Thank you for your reviews (And patience, considering we're going through this entire series. It's a monstrous task that I know is going to take a while, but we're already on season two, yay optimism!) Don't forget to keep the reviews up!

Enjoooooy!

"Don't let up! We've almost got them!" Aayla commanded from her place on the bridge.

Zelina had to admit, it was nice to be on the bridge when it wasn't ready to crash in a fiery inferno. Currently, Aayla and Zelina were assisting Anakin and Ashoka in capturing Cad Bane who they had been told stole a valuable holocron; they had him cornered, and at the moment the star destroyer Aayla and Zelina were in charge of was shooting down the second to last Separatist ship Bane was in command of. Zelina stood firmly at Aayla's side as the ship exploded in flames.

"I sure hope that wasn't the one Bane was on Master," Zelina murmured.

"It wasn't," Aayla assured her before turning to one of the many clones aboard the ship. "Cut off the last one's escape before they try anything. It's the one we want," Aayla informed the crew. Across the battle zone, Zelina could see Anakin's ship moving to intercept as well.

"It looks like Ani has the same thought," Zelina quipped.

"It would appear so," Aayla mused.

"Ma'am, we're receiving a transmission from General Skywalker's destroyer," one of the troopers said.

"Patch him through," Aayal commanded. Soon enough, they could hear Anakin's voice coming through the communications system.

"Master Secura; we're taking care of this last ships hyperdrive system before we board it; I'm absolutely sure that Cad Bane is onboard, as well as Master Ropal."

"Board the ship Skywalker? Our destroyers aren't equipped for a boarding because we expected to land on the planet!" Aayla stated dubiously.

"Yes, the Admiral has already expressed his concerns with me, but I'm coming up with a plan."

Zelina smiled as she saw the Separatist ship take a hit right where they wanted it too not long after Anakin spoke.

"I will send my Padawan to assist you. I am sure she will prove some sort of use for you," Aayla said with a sigh.

"That would be much obliged Master Secura. Zee, do you still have my com frequency?" Anakin asked.

"You know I do; with all the times we tend to cross paths, it's something I figured it would be handy to save."

"All right then, I'll tell you when I think of something."

"Copy that Ani," she said before the connection ended.

"Padawan, try not to blow up the ship will you? There's things we need on there," Aayla said. Zelina gave her a mock wounded look.

"Master, you know I'm not that reckless," she said, smiling slightly.

"Not usually, but when you get with Skywalker you tend to be a little reckless," Aayla said with a knowing smile.

"I'll try to be careful Master," Zelina said, bowing slightly before she turned and left for the hanger.

"What are our orders Commander?"

Zelina smiled at Cruiser, the Captain of the little group that would be boarding with her. He was a favorite, a good friend of Zelina's. "We're waiting for General Skywalker to contact us so we know how we're going to be boarding this Separatist ship. I'll let you know once he enlightens me to the situation."

"How are we supposed to board with no assault craft?" Cruiser asked curiously.

Zelina shrugged. "That's up to General Skywalker, hence why we're waiting. Don't worry about it Captain; just leave that part to me."

"Yes Ma'am," Cruiser said shortly with a nod.

The com attached to her wrist went off and she signaled for Cruiser to come over. "Du'ahn."

"Zee, I figured it out," Anakin said immediately.

"Well tell me what popped into your head genius," she said with a snicker.

"Ahsoka thinks it's genius," Anakin said, sounding very much like a child at the moment before his tone adapted a serious nature again. "We're going to use the walkers, have the ship drop them onto the Separatist ship from above."

Zelina glanced over at their ship's walkers, studying them closely for a moment. It could work…they were pressurized, and they had magnetic feet that would allow them to stick to the Separatist ship…

"I see what you're thinking," she said with a grin. "Have you already told Aayla so she can direct the destroyer into position?"

"I called her first."

"All right. I guess I'll be there in a moment."

"We'll meet in the middle."

"Copy that." Zelina cut the connection before she turned to Cruiser. "You heard him Cruiser. Have the men load up into the walkers; they'll suit our needs just fine."

Cruiser nodded, and Zelina was almost positive that he was grinning underneath his helmet. "Yes Ma'am!"

Zelina grinned, rushing in the opposite direction to get suited up for the conditions before plunged into battle.

Zelina took her position on top of the walker, staring at the Separatist ship below as the claw let go of the walker and started to slowly fall in its direction.

It was times like these that she was glad she wasn't afraid of heights.

They landed on the Separatist ship on the opposite side from Anakin's group, and the moment the magnetized feet touched the surface the gunners opened fire. Zelina's purple blade blazed to life, deflecting the fire of startled droids. The light fire didn't last long. Soon, vulture droids were joining the mix. That was Zelina's cue, and she jumped from her post on the walkers, full throttle towards the vulture droids.

So far into her attack, Zelina felt a chill go down her spine, a feeling of bad things to come. She didn't like the feeling, but she didn't let it distract her from her current path.

Keep your mind in the present, both Ur-Sema and Obi-Wan had told her before. That was one of the principles that helped her adapt with her uncanny foresight gift.

Zelina was weary when, after dispatching the first wave of vulture droids, she was met with no further resistance. There were no reinforcements to come at them; this boarding was a little too easy in her mind.

Like they had agreed, Zelina's group and Anakin's met in the middle. As she came over her bend, she could see R2 flying by to open the hatch so that they could break through. They didn't say anything when they met up, but they did once both teams were safely onboard the Separatist ship and moving through the corridors.

"Pretty ingenious plan you came up with there Ani," Zelina said as they hurried through the halls.

"Well, we still need to find a way off the ship. Instead of all of us crowding up the bridge, how about you take your men and lock down the hanger bay and destroy the escape pods. We're not going to let Bane get away this time."

"Yes sir, General," Zelina said with a smirk that Anakin promptly returned. She slowed to a stop and signaled Cruiser. "We're in charge of making sure Cad doesn't try to make an escape. We're locking down the hanger bay and destroying the escape pods; escape pods should be the first thing we come across."

"On it ma'am," Cruiser said, already rounding up the rest of the group. With that, that turned and headed in an opposite direction from Anakin. Zelina was already thinking about hijacking one of the Separatist crafts in the hanger bay for their own escape. Knowing Anakin, he might not have thought that far yet.

Zelina wasn't very optimistic about the sudden tremor in the ship on their way to the hanger. The next moment, she received a transmission from Aayla.

"Padawan, one of the engines exploded, you'd be wise to avoid the aft section of the ship."

"Yes Master, I will," Zelina said promptly. "We're already headed towards the hanger bay, I believe we've passed that section, we shouldn't be anywhere near it anytime soon."

"Admiral Yularen suggests that you evacuate as soon as possible."

"You know Ani won't go for that Master; he won't leave until he either has what we came for or there's no other option."

"I know Padawan; I was just making it known to you."

"Thank you Master."

Zelina cut the communication, and no sooner had she done so did Anakin contact her. "My my, I must be rather popular today."

She could practically see him roll his eyes. "Zee, we're going to start looking for Master Ropal. How's your side of things coming?"

"Escape pods are destroyed, we're headed to the hanger bay as we speak. I'm going to be taking a high ground position, just in case you're wondering. I like attacking from above."

"Yes, I know, I still haven't forgotten when you surprised me back in the Jedi Temple. You know, jumping at a Jedi from above is a good way to get yourself impaled by a lightsaber."

"Hey, I was bored, and you made it way too easy for me."

"Sure, Zee, focus on the mission."

"I blame you for the change of topic," she called before he cut the transmission, causing her to snicker.

The power went out just as they were creeping into the balcony of the hanger bay, peering down below at the droids spotting the room.

"This is going to be a quick and easy job," Zelina informed Cruiser. "After we take out this group, do you think you can hold down the hanger while I join up with General Skywalker? I have the feeling I'm going to be needed elsewhere."

"Of course ma'am, we can handle this," Cruiser assured her. Zelina nodded.

"Let's secure the bay then."

With a smirk, Zelina launched from the balcony, dropping below and taking out three battle droids before they even realized what was going on. Up above, Cruiser and the others provided cover fire as Zelina moved from droid to droid. Eventually, the troopers also dropped down from above to come and help. It only took a few minutes to take control of the hanger.

Zelina turned to Cruiser. "Hold this hanger down Cruiser; I'll be back with General Skywalker and the others as soon as possible, all right?"

"Copy that ma'am."

With that, Zelina slipped out the door, rushing through the corridors with nothing but the Force to guide her. Danger was in the air, and she didn't know where she was going, only that she was headed somewhere she was supposed to be.

Her com link went off, startling her from her current contemplative state. "Yes?"

"We found Bane; we're pursuing him right now," came Anakin's voice almost immediately.

"What direction are you headed?" Zelina asked curiously, still following the Force.

"To the gunnery room it seems, why?"

Zelina turned the last corner and Anakin came into view just as Bane darted into the gunnery room.

"That's why. Hi there Ani, just following a prompting from the Force, that's all," Zelina said casually as she drew up beside him. "By the way, the hanger bay is secure; Cruiser and the rest of my crew are holding it down for us. I felt I was needed elsewhere and now I'm here."

There small group stood tense at the entrance, the Jedi in front with their lightsabers ablaze. It seemed Anakin accepted the fact that she was there, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Welcome Jedi, we've been expecting you!" Cad Bane said as the lights in the gunnery came on, revealing rows of battle droids and super battle droids.

"I see why I was needed here now…" Zelina muttered.

"Kill them!" Bane barked, and the droids opened fire. Immediately, Anakin, Zelina, and Ahsoka started to deflect as many shots as possible as the clones fired back from behind. Eventually, being the people they were, they started to advance, weaving and deflecting as they rushed into the middle of the fight. Anakin, it seemed, had eyes solely for Bane, and Zelina had the sneaking suspicion that was because he had a personal bone to pick with Bane after the hostage crisis back at the Senate.

So Zelina decided she was going to help his progress a little, and focused on taking down any droid that tried to take a shot at Anakin.

When the gravity was turned off, most people would have been grumpy. Zelina, however, loved the change; anti-gravity just made more things possible.

Zelina deflected in midair for a few seconds before she hit the ceiling, kicking off of it towards the floor and cutting down a good chunk of the battle droids. She kicked off the ground at an angle, cutting down a few more droids on the way. She kept up her back and forth kick offs, cutting a decent path of destruction along the way.

Somehow she managed not to get hit by any of the blaster shots at the same time. There was the occasional bolt that grazed her, but other than that they missed. At the same time, she made sure her path of destruction gave Anakin more attack room, hoping he'd be able to get at Bane a little easier if she cleared enough of the droids for him.

The gravity turning on wasn't a welcome change, but she still managed to land on her feet, regaining her balance and focusing on Bane and Anakin two meters away from her. Bane snatched up the holocron between them before he gave a sickening grin and taking off. Anakin, she knew, would be distracted by the trooper that Bane had managed to knock off of the ceiling. Her ears were ringing from all the noise, but she powered on after Bane. He couldn't get away with that holocron, they had to get it back.

The moment she rushed through the door Bane had run through, she felt the danger in the ship heighten, but she didn't let the danger stop her. She kept her focus centered on her goal of Bane as the door behind her slid shut.

Eventually, Bane slowed to a stop outside of another door.

"What's wrong Cad? Forgot your key?" Zelina asked mockingly, holding her lightsaber ready.

"You're not much of a challenge youngling," Bane said with a smirk. Zelina did her best to keep from rising to the bait. She hated when people judged her abilities on her age; she was hardly younger than Anakin, just roughly three years. "I've got you right where I want you."

Bane raised his blaster, firing at Zelina, who raised the lightsaber to deflect the bolt quickly, aiming it at Bane's wrist com she'd noticed he was using to control all sorts of actions through. Bane hissed in anger, but Zelina was already advancing on him, and he moved quickly to avoid her violet blade. He kicked the lightsaber out of her hand, but she was quick to grab his hand, knocking the blaster aside, bringing his arm over her shoulder, and elbowing him hard in the chest before flipping him over her shoulder and onto the floor.

Now, they could see each other eye to eye, and a spark of recognition flashed through his eyes before he grinned. "Perhaps I did underestimate you…no matter…I won't be making that mistake again."

"I'm sure you won't," she said coolly, holding out her hand for her lightsaber without letting her eye off Bane. Bane, however, was quick to get back on his feet, and she found herself locked in hand to hand combat with him. She dodged a punch, attempted to sweep his feet out from under him, and was in the process of twisting out of a headlock when suddenly Bane latched onto her shoulder and pressed a button on his wrist com, a move she hadn't been expecting. Suddenly, she felt the familiar feeling of electricity coursing through her as she let out a cry of pain, cursing herself for getting into this situation again.

Not again.

She'd made a serious mistake in following Bane without any backup.

And now she was going to pay for it.

She didn't have much longer to think about how stupid she had been before she was shocked into unconsciousness.

(A few moments earlier)

"Ahsoka, help me with this!"

Ahsoka was at Anakin's side in a flash, helping him cut through the locking mechanism on the door that Anakin had seen Zelina disappear through.

"Why didn't she listen to me?" Anakin growled. "It's a trap; she shouldn't be taking Bane on alone."

"Perhaps she didn't even hear you; she seemed pretty focused Master," Ahsoka said, sounding like she was trying to cover for Zelina. Anakin scowled.

"Sometimes, she makes my recklessness look like obedience to the letter," Anakin grumbled under his breath.

Their focus was cut short whenever an explosion suddenly rocked the gunnery room. For the second time recently, Anakin found objects from above rushing to squash him. This time, however, it was large chunks of metal instead of rocks. Hastily he gathered the Force around him, reaching out to catch the debris before it could squash Ahsoka and him.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out like that, and Anakin found himself lying on his stomach, barely avoiding getting squashed by the debris. Ahsoka was somewhere by his feet, equally trapped.

This was going to make helping Zelina a little harder.

Speaking of Zelina…

Through their bond, Anakin suddenly felt a strong sense of pain and a flash of panic, and he knew she was in danger. Rage bubbled up inside him. Bane had captured her again. This time though…this time Anakin wasn't going to let him get away with it.

Calling on the Force, Anakin pushed all of the debris aside easily, freeing both Ahsoka and him from the rubble. He reached out to help Ahsoka up, who seemed to notice his faraway look.

"What's wrong Master?"

"Zelina…" he murmured, staring off towards the door for a moment as his mind raced. He was pulled from his musings when he suddenly heard Rex's voice on the other side of a huge pile of rubble.

"General Skywalker! Commander Tano? Can you hear me? Are you all right in there?"

"Yeah, we're all right; get back to the hanger with Commander Du'ahn's men. Find a transport and wait for us as long as you can."

"We're on it sir!" came Rex's prompt reply. Anakin turned away from the wreckage, turning on his com link to Zelina's frequency.

"Zelina, do you copy?" he asked in concern, already moving towards the door. Maybe he was wrong and she was perfectly fine…

He received no answer.

However, he did receive an incoming transmission from Admiral Yularen

"There's a power surge headed towards the bridge; if you're there get out immediately. You must abandon your mission!"

"I…don't have the holocron memory, and…Commander Du'ahn got misplaced in the firefight…" Anakin said slowly, knowing that the Admiral wasn't going to approve.

"The ship is tearing itself apart!"

"Move off to a safe distance Admiral, and await my signal for evacuation," Anakin said before shutting the com off.

"Ahsoka, we need to get finished on getting through this door," he said firmly. No sooner had the words left his mouth than his com link went off again.

"You're popular today Master. Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Ahsoka said, hurrying to the door with her ignited lightsaber.

It was Aayla. Oh, how he wasn't looking forward to this conversation.

"Skywalker? What's happened? I can't contact Zelina and I sensed pain through our bond!"

Anakin sighed. "We got separated. I was held up and she rushed on to take Bane alone. I think he has her. I felt her pain through our own bond. Ahsoka and I are going after her and Bane right now."

"Make sure you get her back Skywalker," Aayla warned softly.

"I will Master Secura, you know I will."

When Zelina came back to, she realized she was bound. One of the first things she did was stretch, so she was immediately met with a shock from the binders on her wrists. She yelped, immediately bringing her hands back together as she slowly sat up, doing her best not to disturb the binders again.

"I'd be careful there. Those binders have been specially designed for Jedi. The more you struggle, the tighter they get," Bane said cruelly from above her. Zelina scowled.

"That wasn't a struggle Bane, that was just a reflex," she said with a roll of her eyes. "If you want me to open the holocron, forget it; I won't do it."

"Oh, I bet you wouldn't youngling. But I know someone who will. I haven't forgotten how strong of a bond you seemed to have with Skywalker when I saw you two at the Senate building. He'll come running to rescue you, and I'm sure that he will do anything to insure your safety."

"I think you're overestimating how much he cares for me Bane. He won't open that holocron," Zelina said harshly.

"Why don't we get him here faster so we can ask him ourselves," Bane said with a cruel smile, reaching for his wrist com again.

Zelina braced herself, but that didn't make the shock any less painful, and Bane had the setting rather high.

So, she screamed.

"Sir…a-a Jedi…two Jedi are coming!"

Zelina had never been so relieved and terrified to hear those words in her life. Bane was watching her drag herself to her feet as the droid continued.

"One of them looks very unhappy!"

The droids statement was followed by the telltale sound of Anakin-sized destruction.

"It seems your friend has gotten the message," Bane said with a grin, activating a shield to keep Zelina in. She clenched her fists, glaring at him hatefully before the door opened and Anakin and Ahsoka walked through the door, lightsabers ablaze.

"You have nowhere left to run, bounty hunter," Anakin said darkly. Zelina tried not to shiver at his tone of voice; that tone was usually the sign to lay down your weapons and beg for ounce of mercy.

"Let me worry about that Jedi," Bane snarled at Anakin as two super battle droids took aim at Anakin and Ahsoka. Zelina watched nervously from her side of the room, hoping that Anakin wouldn't do anything rash.

"If I activate this control, the outside airlock will open and she will be sucked into oblivion. Do you think you can kill me and then save her before she's pulled out into space? It's a horrible way to die…" Bane threatened, hand already on the necessary controls. All he needed was to apply the right amount of pressure and she would be dead. "Besides, isn't negotiation the Jedi way?"

The droids slowly came closer and Ahsoka tensed for a fight. Anakin, however, had locked gazes with Zelina, an internal struggle obvious in his eyes. She could see it in his eyes when he made his choice, and she wasn't too happy about it.

"What do you want?" Anakin said dejectedly, deactivating his lightsaber. Ahsoka stared at him in shock.

"Master, we can take them together," she insisted. Anakin could see how backed into a corner he really was though, and he ignored her.

Bane continued to talk anyway. "This holocron carries information I've been paid to collect. I can't unlock it, but you can. The last Jedi who had it wouldn't open it; I hope you don't make the same mistake."

Anakin glared hatefully at Bane, eyes sliding back to Zelina before softening slightly. She stared back with equal intensity.

Don't do it Ani, please don't, I'm not worth it, she thought to herself.

"We don't have much time; hurry it up Jedi, or she dies!" Bane said sharply.

"Master…" Ahsoka said in a strained voice, eyes darting between the two super battle droids that were coming closer to them.

"Anakin, you have a duty that comes first, don't do it!" Zelina finally said sharply as Anakin squeezed his eyes shut. She knew he had caved into Bane's demands.

"I have a promise that comes before the duty Zelina," Anakin said softly. He looked back at Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, go back to the men, go help them; I can sense they need it. I can handle this."

Ahsoka looked absolutely stunned. "Master, no, I'm not leaving you here!"

"Go Ahsoka," Anakin said sharply, pushing her lightly out of the room. "They need you; I'll be fine."

Before she could argue, Anakin shut the door behind her, turning back to Bane. He kneeled down, rolling his lightsaber over to the bounty hunter.

"Anakin, no!" Zelina said desperately.

"I can't let you die Zelina," he said gently before he sat back. "We'll deal with the holocron later."

"How touching," Bane stated with a smirk before he tossed the holocron in front of the kneeling Anakin. The super battle droids stood down, retreating to their corners but keeping their guns trained on Anakin.

Zelina watched Anakin in resignation speckled with awe. The awe came from simply watching how the Force reacted around her friend. It was quite a phenomenon; so much power and light fluctuating around one single person who focused themselves to simple tasks. He was capable of great things over time. Whenever he did reach his full potential, he would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

Zelina watched as the holocrons corners came off, hovering around the holocron piece in the middle. The blue light that glowed from within never failed to fascinate her.

"Now I will combine this holocron with the memory crystal I acquired from your dead Jedi friend," Bane stated, placing the crystal in the middle. The holocron shifted, the corners attaching once more but at a different place than originally before the holocron fell into Bane's waiting hands. "My employers will be most pleased."

Zelina saw Anakin's eyes dart to their lightsabers, and she took the split second in between the movement and the action that would follow to throw herself at the closest thing that she could hang onto. She held that little ledge as tightly as she could; her life counted on it.

While Anakin took care of the super battle droids, Bane activated the air lock, which opened behind her. She immediately felt the pull of space, hanging onto her little ledge for dear life with a small cry of surprise. The force of the pull from space yanked her rather roughly, agitating the binders around her wrists and causing a powerful shock to go through her. Somehow, she managed to hang on, but her spasm cost her and she didn't have as great of a grip. Even now, she could feel herself slipping, her grip not well placed enough anymore or strong enough to resist the pull of space.

She saw the shield deactivated, and not a moment too soon Anakin was beside her, pulling himself up to shut the air lock. Before he could, she lost her grip, and for a few heart stopping moments she was flying towards the nothingness of space. His left arm shot out, grasping her in a strong grip before she could be taken from him. She felt him reach forward, stretching out with his fingers before he finally hit the button that closed the air lock and they both fell to the floor with a thud.

Before she could even get to her feet, Zelina found herself sweapt up into Anakin's arms, unable to breathe because of how tightly he was hugging her. "An…Anakin!" she gasped out. He didn't give up on the intensity of the hug.

"Why do you keep scaring me like this," he said gruffly before he pulled away, holding her tightly by the arms and staring into her eyes. "What were you thinking taking Bane on by yourself? Why didn't you wait for me?"

"I didn't even know you were coming!" Zelina said in defense. "I thought you two were busy so I took matters into my own hands. I know, I know, I messed up, but now's not the time to talk about it, we need to get off this tin can before we get incinerated to a pile of ash."

He nodded, handing her lightsaber to her. "I think you'd like this back."

She took it with a grin. "Yes, yes I would."

"You need to take better care of it. How come I keep finding myself in possession of your lightsaber?"

"That's a mystery for another time," Zelina said, already rushing out the door. The ship was rumbling dangerously by now. "Come on, we still have time to get out of here."

"Rex, I hope you found us a ride off this bucket!" Anakin shouted into his com link. He had taken up point on their mad dash towards the hanger bay, which Zelina didn't mind. So long as he didn't run them into some larger problem.

"We've got to leave now; the reactor is going to blow, we cannot wait!" Rex responded immediately, his voice full of urgency.

"You'll have to. I'm going after that bounty hunter!" Anakin said, snarling the last two words. Zelina frowned; he was obviously on a vengeance path. For a moment, she thought of humoring him and letting him go through with his vengeance plans, but she knew that wasn't the best choice; not only now, but in the long run. When Anakin went on a vengeance path, it usually didn't turn out well.

She grabbed his arm just before he started down the corridor that would lead them to Bane. "Anakin, stop."

"What are you doing?" Anakin asked, confused. Zelina nodded towards the corridor on their right.

"We need to go that way; we don't have any time for Bane, we need to get off this ship before it explodes."

"I can't let Bane get away! Not now, not after what he just did," Anakin said firmly, a fire in his eyes that Zelina recognized all too well.

"We will get Bane later; if we go after him now, then we're all going to end up dead. If we're all dead, than we won't be of any good to anyone."

He looked like he was about to argue more, the fire in his eyes growing, but Zelina wasn't going to have it. Not right now; they couldn't afford it right now.

"What would Padme think?" she asked sharply. Anakin paused. "What would happen if you died because you had to go on a vengeance path that resulted in your death because you didn't have the patience to wait for another day? We need to go now Anakin. If you won't leave him for yourself, or for me, or for the men, than at least leave him for Padme's sake."

Anakin looked away, but Zelina knew she had him. "All right…you're right."

Zelina nodded, softening her tone. "Come on Anakin…let's get out of here."

When they arrived in the hanger bay, the troopers were already loaded onto the ship, ready to go but waiting on them. Ahsoka stood on the ramp, searching the room anxiously for the two of them. The relief on her face when they came through the door was palpable from across the room.

They slowed down as they saw a scuffle up above, and Zelina watched in surprise as Bane fell off the balcony to the ground below, obviously dead.

Well that settles that, Zelina thought to herself.

"Come on, come on!" came Rex's voice, and Zelina and Anakin were pulled out of their stupor, rushing onto the ship.

"Are you okay Master?" Ahsoka asked as Anakin and Zelina got on the ship. When he nodded she turned to Zelina. "Are you?"

"I'm fine," Zelina said with a hearty nod.

The ship paused by the trooper on the balcony who had shot Bane, and Anakin helped him onto the ship.

"Trooper, did you get the holocron?" Anakin asked him carefully.

"No sir…" the trooper replied tiredly.

"I'll get it Master!" Ahsoka said eagerly, already gathering herself to jump. Anakin held out his hand.

"No time; Rex, get us out of here," Anakin ordered. Ahsoka reluctantly retreated from the ramp, staring wistfully at the ship as it disappeared. Zelina plunged deeper into the ship, searching for her men. Most of them were there; there was a handful missing. They'd held their own, just as Cruiser had assured her.

Speaking of Cruiser…

"Are you all right Commander?" Cruiser asked her. Zelina turned to him and smiled.

"I'm fine Captain, thank you. What about you?"

"A little banged up, but I'll be all right ma'am."

Zelina nodded, clasping his shoulder. "Good…you and the men should get your rest whenever we get back to the star destroyer."

"I'll see to it ma'am."

Zelina moved back to the back by Anakin, frowning slightly. Something still felt off…there was no longer a feeling of danger strong in the air, but something didn't feel right…

"Well, it looks like the holocron was destroyed…but at least the Separatists didn't get it," Ahsoka said sadly from Anakin's side. Anakin looked away, a contemplative look on his face.

"Huh…Bane's dead but…I can still feel him…"

Zelina frowned. That was odd but…it couldn't be right…

Another thought struck her, pushing any thought of the strange sensation to the back of her mind. "We should probably contact Aayla and tell her that my team and I will be on your destroyer."

Anakin smiled a little. "Yeah…I don't want her thinking something happened to you." His smile faded away, and he suddenly became serious again. "We are going to talk later about all of this."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Zelina assured him. She would enjoy a talk with him. Anytime spent with Anakin was time to be treasured, especially recently with death constantly looming over them.

They had to make the most of their lives; they never knew what the next day—the next moment—could bring.