They had ducked into a bare room at one point, letting themselves catch their breaths. If the other bounty hunters had noticed she was gone, they could not hear it. According to her memories they were in the deepest bowel of the temple. How had he gotten up here so fast?

"Soren, thank you," she threw him a small smile which he answered readily.

"Don't sweat it. We just need to get out of here," he practically waved her off.

"How?" They couldn't just hide out here. Boba Fett and others will start tearing the temple apart once they find she was no longer there.

"I think you know how. We have gone this way so many times before," he teased. This was no time for teasing! They had to leave this place and go their separate ways again. Maybe she'd buy him a drink for getting her out of here, but she'd need to find another home… again. Best without any baggage from her old life. She cannot keep onto anything from her old life, not like before. Though… she had to swallow, how would she go about earning her keep? Her line of work brought in bounty hunters like a steady stream. With her face on a bounty request… she could never work in a clinic. She'd be useless. Utterly useless. A leech on a community. She felt sick.

"Down that mountain? Are you mad? They'd immediately see us!"

"They are probably still bashing their heads in. If we are fast enough we can slip into the jungle without them noticing," he continued laying down a plan she could only shake her head on.

"I don't think that will work. You know that we would have to sneak through the main hall just to get to the entrance," she countered while frowning. Where had he been for so long? Was he convoluting this temple with another place?

"Can you get that collar off," she felt stupid for not asking sooner, but… she just wanted it off now. To feel again.

"Altharya, why do you have a Force suppression collar?" Soren asked instead not moving from his spot. She froze. Surely he'd know by now? Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Why was he trying to get her to admit to her being Force-sensitive?

"How would I know?" she shrugged, cringing slightly at the lie, "I woke up with it on me after getting knocked out."

He winced in sympathy.

"Why do you ask?" There was a flicker on his face. His mouth had twisted slightly and the bridge of nose had a miniscule crease in it now. Something was up, her shoulders tensed slightly.

"I was wondering," he shrugged his face smooth again. She probably was imagining things now. Definitely what she was doing. Soren was her friend. At least her friend up until he had left with his parents to live somewhere else. Not that he told her back then where and what he would be doing.

"Well, can you please get it off? It is rather uncomfortable," she prodded further. Please, please, just get it off.

"I don't know how to remove it," she added sheepishly, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. He sighed while walking over. Finally she got a good look at him. The last time she had seen him had been six years ago at the local spaceport. His nose wasn't as crooked then. Broken nose… Nothing too unusual she supposed. But the scar... She knew she was staring when his hands finally settled on the collar to remove it. Red and purple around the edges, it stretched from his right temple down to the bridge of his nose. All jagged and it looked like it healed badly. What had happened? It was as if someone had attacked him with a vibrosword! How had he not lost his eye?!

"I guess my scar is obvious," he sounded nonchalant, but somehow… oh by the Force. She barely felt the collar come off. The void she had felt was suddenly filled again. Her ears were rushing and she felt herself buckle and fall to her knees as her senses were flooded with … images, a presence near her blinking steadily then… pain. She groaned. Her hand flew to where her heart was, an ache spreading from there. An arm around her shoulders brought her back, her vision swimming from the rush of images finally.

"Altharya?" He sounded unsure, almost… sad. She couldn't dwell on it.

"I am sorry. I am probably dehydrated," she spat out an excuse without thinking. His raised eyebrow pretty much told her he was not buying it. She could only hang her head in shame. Now she could no longer deny it. She had a connection to the Force.

"No," he said slowly withdrawing his arm leaving her cold and… alone. "But given what it is, we need to get going. Now."

She rolled her eyes while scrambling back on her feet. What had she said not minutes ago? That they had to get a move on.

"Why did you never tell me?" He suddenly asked. Was he seriously asking her why? After so many times he wished death to the Jedi when they had played together in the evenings?

"Why do you think?" She retorted looking out of the doorway to see if anyone was coming. Her senses in the Force were confused still and she couldn't reach out to sense people far away. The training had never been there.

"Al, don't you think I deserve an answer?" His voice sounded tense from behind her and the back of her mind flickered. Of all things, did they really have to discuss this now? Can't they just leave and talk about it in a safer location?

"Can't it wait?" She saw nothing outside. Maybe they could hide out somewhere in one of the more hidden niches down here. Like the times they used to play hide and seek.

"No, it cannot," she flinched at the steel in his voice. Why? Why now? Didn't he realise that Boba Fett was after her? Hadn't he said himself they needed to move?

"Soren, we cannot stay here!" She argued back squinting her eyes at him. Something like this wasn't important right now!

"Al, you answer right now or…." Was he threatening her? She instinctively took a step back and his face twisted in horror.

"I am sorry, Al. But… this is all so confusing. Suddenly there is a bounty on you," she drew a big breath. So that was how he was able to find her? What had he been up to since the last time she had seen him?

"Can I tell you after all of this?" She pleaded, her stomach knotting itself in fear. How long would the others battle each other up there? Soren sighed.

"Fine. You owe me big time," he spat and pushed past her down the corridor.

"Come," he waved for her to follow.

"Where?"

"Somewhere they will not look," she rolled her eyes at his back. Cryptic? Really? Just because they cannot dally? What was going on?

"Can you please be more specific?" She gritted out.

"Only if you stop lying," he rounded a corner briskly down another corridor. Were they… oh Force. They were going to the Rancor pit? All there was were bones!

"Soren?" Confused she caught up with him. She could not even get a grip on him with the Force. It was as if her senses were colliding with a durasteel wall that was his mind.

"You know you are lying my face and you know that I know," he sounded hurt now. Almost like her friend from all those years back. She had to choke back a sob. What was she even thinking? He was her friend still. He rescued her! Of course he would be still her friend if he did that. She was being silly.

"Soren, I am sorry," she tried and winced a bit at how her voice wavered.

"Sorry for what?" He pressed now. Her throat tightened at the aggressive undertone. Was she sure that was her friend? No no, silly…

"I am sorry for not being able to tell you right now?" She explained. This… insistence of him to constantly slap this question into her face was unnerving her.

"It's alright. After this, all will be well," her stomach sank when he said that. Though why she wasn't sure of. Surely she should feel elated? Maybe she was feeling elated, just her body was messing up her reactions given they could be chased down right this very moment.

Dim grey light filtered into the Rancor pit when they entered. Her nose curled as the putrid smell of decayed flesh hit her nose. It smelled as badly as all those years ago.

"Are we hiding out here?" She asked. They could hide in the Rancor's cage. It was fairly hidden in the darkness after all and there was small door leading to a path up to the main hall.

"I had hoped to get us to the other side of the bounty hunters by using this detour," Soren scratched the back of his head. Clever… Then they'd just have to make their way down the long winded path into the jungle and go from there? She couldn't think of anything else.

"How did you know that I would be here?" She suddenly asked. He flinched slightly. That was weird?

"I saw a bounty out for you and I was close by so I thought I would help out a friend in need," he replied smoothly. No hesitation, no stuttering. So he was not lying. Her nerves calmed a bit and her stomach lost most of its nervous knots. She was safe now. Or as safe as she could be right now.

The ceiling shook and resounding boom made her hands fly to her ears to cover them.

"What are they doing up there?" she asked eyes wide. Hopefully they won't bring down the temple on top of them.

"What do you think?" Soren sounded irritated now "They are killing each other. Just so someone can claim the bounty on your head."

"It was not my idea that they kill each other!" she argued back, feeling sick now. Frowning she stared at his armored back. Armor? Since when was he wearing armor?

"Soren?" She stopped to draw a breath before continuing "What do you know?"

There was more to this.

"What do you know?" He countered automatically, sounding almost absent mindedly. They moved towards the middle of the arena, stepping into the light from the fight above them. How many were there? All of them were here for her. For her. She did not feel the tears building up. When they spilled she could only curse herself for giving in. This was no time for crying. She could cry later, when she was safe!

"I only," she stopped talking briefly as Soren turned around to her, his face softening at her tears. But she continued, "know that they were suddenly after me. I ran and… got captured. The only reason why I can think of is my sensitivity."

The word "Force" had been on her tongue, but in the end she could not bring herself to say it. It would mean admitting what she was really. Why people were dying to capture her. Erana's charred corpse suddenly appeared in front of her inner eye. She was dead because of her. Oh Force… Bile was in her throat again, this time also pressing against the back of her nose.

"Al, the Empire wants you alive," Soren said softly as yellow light of a flame burst illuminated his face briefly. There were yells, but they were so muted she might as well could have imagined them.

"I heard," she answered quietly. Hopefully no one could hear them from down here. Impossible really, but was she really going to take that risk?

"Do you know why they know you are Force sensitive," she winced when he said it out loud. Undeniable now. She wished she could wind back time. To… she really didn't know. Was it inevitable? Had she slipped up too many times? Only the real obvious reason was that her face and biodata had been in the Jedi temple. Apparently they weren't wiped?

"How should I know?" she bit back. All those questions, they were uncomfortable. Something was going on and she couldn't put her finger on it.

"I don't know? Why would Darth Vader of all people put a bounty out on your head. Alive!" She recoiled. Darth Vader? The one person her mentor had always flinched whenever he got mentioned in the cantina. Right hand man of the Emperor. According to most a merciless employer, but if the job was done well the rewards were astronomical. Only the best competed for the bounties placed by him the rumours implied.

"Darth Vader?" she whispered in horror. Oh no. Oh by the Force. Her throat twisted into several knots and her vision zoned out. Was she breathing? She could not tell! Breathe… No air! Her chest tightened painfully, squeezing any air she had left out. If Vader was after her… no wonder Boba Fett had gone after her. What did he want with her? Wanted he to kill her himself? Why? The inquisitors were for that.

"Yes, Al. Don't you see. You will not be safe anywhere!" Soren sounded urgent now. Not safe anywhere? She had to swallow hard, as she finally drew a short breath that stabbed her lungs. He was right. There was no way that the bounty hunters would let up. What could she do?

"What should I do?" It seemed like she had to trust Soren. Not that it was hard. Well, it shouldn't be.

"Trust me, once we are out of here we can work out what you can do. But right now…" He looked up making her follow his lead. The fight above them had stilled? She could not hear any explosions, blaster fire nor could she see any fire. Did that mean only one was left standing? Snapping her eyes back into the direction she thought Soren would be, she felt his hand land on her shoulder.

He was tugging her towards the Rancor chamber now, their feet shuffling silently across the floor. She must not make a sound. Whoever was left standing would be now going after them.

The beast master chambers were bare, only a small light on a table in the middle of the room. Soren switched it on, dousing them in pale blue light.

"We can stay here for a while they try and find us," he muttered taking out a holo-device. She eyed the device. It was small, smaller than anything she had ever dealt with. The clinic was running on old technology, anything newer wouldn't reach them for several decades one of the nurses had told her on her first day. Where had he been for all those years?

"Shouldn't we keep moving?" She wondered out loud, her eyes glued to the buzzing light source. It didn't sit right with her to sit here. Like a pouch of credits sitting on a table in a cantina filled with thieves. This wouldn't end well.

"Trust me they will look in the main hall first. Especially Boba Fett," Soren reasoned while he pushed several buttons on his device. It whirred to life and he set it on the table near the light. A holographic map of the temple took shape and she stared in wonder. Where had he gotten that map from?

"How would you know that?" She was curious now. This Soren was more confident than the Soren she had said farewell to. But she really didn't think he'd flinch at her question. Her eyes narrowed on their own. Why would this question be uncomfortable for him?

"Just trust me," he muttered while he stared at the map intently.

"My ship is here," he pointed towards the small tower to the side of the temple. She knew what spot he was talking about. A small hangar out of view and easily missed if the person didn't know where to look.

"So like the old times?" She asked, hopeful now. Maybe… she could get a good head start and disappear. It was not the first time she had done it. She could do it again, with or without help. But that was on Soren to decide. He got a wistful look on his face when she said that.

"Aye, just like the old times," he turned off the map, his face gaining more shadows. He looked more sever now. Somehow… it made her uneasy. Silence fell over them, the air somehow seemed denser and breathing became more difficult.

"Do you think it is a good time to move?" She asked to break the tension. He looked up sharply, giving her an intense stare. Her body shrank away from it instinctively. What was up with him?

"Aye," he sighed, rubbing his face with his left hand. Tired. He was tired. The sooner they were out of here the better.

"But before we go," he piped up again. A groan left her lips before she could stop herself. It only earned her an annoyed side glance, but it didn't deter him. "You need to tell me why you never told me you were Force sensitive."

"Can't it wait? Why are you so insistent on this?!" She snapped back. Why did he need to know now? They could talk about it when they were far away from here and no bounty hunter behind them for a few clicks.

"I need to know, Al! We were friends for so long. Why couldn't you trust me?" He shot back, leaning over the table towards her. This wasn't good.

"You left when I finally decided you could know!" Tears were back, the familiar pressure against her eyes. Why couldn't they just move?

"Yes, I left. You could have told me before!"

"And what then? You would be gone, I didn't know if the knowledge would pose any danger to you or your parents!"

"All those years I thought you were some… former slave girl who got freed! No, you were a Jedi from the temple. You somehow survived Order 66," suddenly her chest constricted. Yes, she used to be a Jedi. Not really, her training was rudimentary at best. Her mentor didn't bother to train her further. If he even knew about her sensitivity. The Jedi who had dropped her off here hadn't said much to him.

"Yes, I survived by sheer luck," she said in a low tone now. This was ridiculous.

"So you admit it!" He pointed a finger at her now. She was tempted to bite on it. Then she had to shake her head. No thinking like that.

"I was never a Jedi," she blurted out.

"Yes you were."

"I was a Youngling! Barely any training in the Force! I was never one to begin with!" The first tear spilled and she angrily wiped at it. What surprised her when Soren started chuckling. Surprised she looked up and saw the familiar smirk.

"I just remembered how we bickered where to go to get our snacks from," he said suddenly. She frowned. Had he lost his mind? Yep, he has lost it.

"I remember," she answered cautiously. Then she frowned.

"You said Darth Vader wants me alive," Soren looked sad as soon as she said it, "do you know what he will do with me?"

"I will make sure you won't get anywhere near him," Soren promised while putting his right hand over his chest.

"What do you know though? You said you saw the bounty," she had to know. It burned in her mind now. What would Darth Vader want with a failed Youngling like her anyways? Soren cringed.

"I see he shielded you too well," he started.

"I can see that. Now tell me," she demanded.

"Sheesh, Al, don't rush," he threw his hands up at her glare.

"Guess I deserve it for insisting before. But Darth Vader has Inquisitors. He trains them. I guess he wanted a new Inquisitor. You were the candidate he picked I guess? I do not know any more," he looked to the side. A sign he was making a decision. Something heavy settled in her gut. An Inquisitor. She was a medic! No soldier! What did she know of killing?

"Let's just go," she said weakly, "and get out of this temple for good."

"Aye," Soren walked around to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. His armored gloves gave no comfort however, only cold running down her spine.

They walked in utter silence. The dark pressing down where his hand had been while she trailed behind him. Up and further up they went. Hopefully, she prayed now, they wouldn't run into Boba Fett. She had a feeling… no she knew that Soren would die if they met.

The main hall was silent. A stark contrast to the chaos that had been there when Soren had freed her. She strained her ears for any signs of other bounty hunters or Boba Fett being nearby. Nothing. Only the light thudding of their boots. Good. Almost too good. She shook her head. No need to dwell on her chances right now. Wherever Boba or any surviving Bounty hunter was they were hopefully on the other side of the temple.

Outside the lighting was a dull grey, but it still made her squint her eyes until they got adjusted to the light. The storm had let up, so she had been out for the whole night. It was morning now then. At least that was what she thought. Give or take a few hours.

When they finally stepped through the stone arcs into the full open, she had to stop. Finally, she breathed a lungful of fresh air. Her mind calmed considerably. Her eyes were tempted to close so she could feel everything around her again. No, she had to press on. Later.

She walked past Soren who had thrown her a quizzical look to what she was doing. Almost free, she could practically taste on the ozone in the air. The bridge was wet, but wide enough that she didn't need to worry about slipping. How often had they run across it when they could? She had almost forgotten.

"Altharya?" Soren suddenly asked behind her. He sounded resolute. Almost as if… he had made a decision. Frowning she turned around to her friend. He looked lost on that bridge. As if he didn't belong there. Idiot, of course he belonged there!

"What is it?" She cocked her head to the side. Her eyes trained on the man in front of her. So different from the boy she had last seen. A man… she realized now and she wanted to kick herself… wore a bounty hunter's armour. A professional. Of course! He said he knew about her distress because he saw the bounty. Who else would look at bounties other than a bounty hunter? She was such a moron! Just what had he become?

"This is not a temple," her frown deepened. This was not a temple? What? He had a pained expression on his face now when he opened his mouth again, "This is a monastery."

A monastery?

"Why does it matter?" She shrugged.

"You fled a temple."

"And? There is more than one temple in the entirety of this galaxy," he shook his head.

"Nevermind, it is just… how could I have missed it? Back then. You kept calling it a temple and to me it was all the same. Now it makes all sense. You thought this was like your previous home," he shrugged back at her.

She turned around to look at the tower where he said he had put his ship. So close. Maybe she had substituted one temple for another.

Turn around!

Her head snapped back and she came face to face with Soren pointing a blaster in her face.

It all went still. Time could have halted for all she cared, her heart was beating in her throat and all breath had left her. She was drowning. He looked pained. His hands shook but his eyes had this determined glint. He was going to kill her?

"Soren?" Her voice was barely a whisper and it cracked towards the end.

"I am sorry, Al. I cannot let you become one of them!" His hand steadied. Why was he hesitating?

"But… we are getting out of here?" Why was this a problem? Please please, by the Force put the blaster down. They were friends!

"Even if we did. Boba Fett will continue to hunt you. I know him. I don't want you to suffer. I can give you a fast and painless death. Anything is better than being under Darth Vader," he was pleading with her. Why he didn't just shoot was beyond her.

All words had escaped her, her mouth glued shut as she stared down the blaster barrel. What was she to do? Beg for her life or plead for the quick death he promised her?

Soren was prepared to kill her… Kill a friend. She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Screams filled her ears. Smoke stung her nose and eyes. The floor shook beneath her. She was 11 again, alone, scared and curled up in a nook in the Jedi temple. Soren was no longer in front of her but a Clone trooper aiming his rifle at her. Her knees were buckling and she could feel herself dropping, the palms of her hands scraping on the rough stone. The smoke was choking her now. He just stood there, the rifle still aimed at her face. Why was he not shooting? He had her at his mercy! Just shoot damnit!

Her face was against the stone now, the his boot on her cheek pressing mercilessly against her cheekbones. Pain erupted in her temples as she stared in Kine's dead eyes. Her small hands scraped against debris in panic trying to find purchase while the other had closed around her fellow Youngling's cold fingers.

"Altharya!" Who was yelling her name? It sounded like someone was screaming underwater. She shifted her eyes up to the trooper.

No Clone trooper. Soren. Soren's boot on her face.

He said he would grant her a quick death. This was not quick! More tears and snot ran down her face. She must look pathetic. But he promised. He had killed Kine! No that was impossible… He killed her! No! Get it together. HE KILLED HER!

A lightsaber suddenly sprang through Soren's chest. It was red. It had been blue! She remembered it clearly! It had been blue. Red? Why red? Instead of the Jedi who had gathered her in his arms and soothed her tears back then, it was Boba Fett. Where was the lightsaber? There was only a blaster in his hands.

She had lost her mind. Soren had his eyes ripped wide open and his mouth. Was he screaming or was that her? She could not tell. Then everything blurred together in swirl of green and black, more screaming. Her ears screeched at the noise and she could only bury her nose into the unyielding stone. The cold seeping into her skin, but it didn't dispel the images of Kine's body. Or the bodies as the Jedi who had rescued her had carried her to safety into the bowels of Coruscant until they could leave. So many dead….

Her body was shaking, cold fingers were grasping around her heart, her lungs, her spine. Hands were on her face now, armored hands. Like the Jedi's hands was. Blinking she felt her head being moved up. There he was, the Jedi. Smiling soothingly down at her. Her hand reached out for him and his soft cloak, the one she had buried her face into so many years ago. Instead of cloth she met hard metal armor. Frowning she squinted her eyes at the blurry face of the Jedi in front of her. Fingers were now on her forehead, her mind jumping to the sensation. How often had Master Renstan done this when she had started screaming in the night? It was all a foggy memory now. The arm that wound itself underneath her shoulders felt familiar though. Her body was lifted into a sitting position and she felt herself pressing her face into a hard and cold armoured chest plate. Her fingers gripped cloth and she held onto it with all her might. The body in front of her froze. Master Renstan, they couldn't stay here! The hands on her back shifted, lower until it was around her knees while the one on her head wound itself underneath her shoulders. Feeling herself being lifted, she burrowed her face upwards until her nose was nestled where the neck met the shoulder.

They were moving. The steady rhythm of being jostled started to slowly dispel the fog around her eyes.

Green cloth? The cloth underneath her fingers didn't feel like the right texture either. It smelled differently too. More metallic, somehow she could also smell smoke clinging to it. Slowly her mind stopped spinning and she heard the way the man who carried her walked. She had heard the pattern before…

Boba Fett. Of course. He had grabbed her during, her cheeks burned with shame, her episode. She had thought that he was Master Renstan. A groan escaped her and Boba stopped moving. She felt his helmet rotate against the top of her head.

"Done?" His modulated voice echoed in her head. Done? Right now? Yes. Ever? No. Weakly, she nodded. Then she froze. She should not obey him! But she also had no strength left to oppose him or run. Oh Soren… She was sorry. Deep in her gut she knew Soren had not survived.

She was roughly put down making her stagger her first few steps while he yanked her through the main hall by her right forearm. Numbly she stared ahead. In a few days' time she'd be delivered to Darth Vader and she'd never be able to come back here. There was nothing here for her anymore, only Soren's bones.

May the Force preserve them all.

An: I would like to know your thoughts of what has happened so far. Review, pm me, constructive criticism is welcome and wanted. My friend on AO3 ShaeTiann edited this chapter so massive thanks to her. Until the next chapter!