PROLOUGE:

The murkiness of space enclosed the Station Northstar as it orbited around a green planet. Stars light years away flickered around it. It was not a busy place but there was enough activity that all docks were always full with ships full of every kind of cargo. Recently, there had been some disputes over who had the right to collect the tax on it, whether it belonged to the sellers and traders that ran the station or did it belong to the planetary system on whose border it laid.

The space station itself was owned by a wealthy business man who had made his fortune by cornering the market on medical supplies. He washed his hands of the dispute almost as soon as it had started. Both the planet and the station asked him to reasonably end the problem but he had ignored their pleas. In a last ditch effort to not go to war over their mutual problem the station had requested the help of the Jedi. In short order the argument had been resolved and a reasonable solution was made for both sides. The Jedi would soon be returning to the Academy on Yavin Four.

A shadowy figure, dressed in dark leather pants and tunic, crouched between two shipping crates, in a stale loading bay at one of the far reaches of the spaceport. The lights were down due to the evening hours and the people responsible for maintaining the spaceport had long since left for their homes. The evening's festivities had not yet started in celebration of the treaty so the spaceport was not overly crowded. This spot had been chosen do to the location, no one would be down this far unless they were the passengers or the crew of the ship that shared her company. Breathing quietly and remaining still the figure waited for her prey to appear.

Footsteps.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," an older voice said beyond the corner of the crate," You made the territory negotiations go smoother then I had expected. I wish you could stay for the celebration but I understand the need to return to the Academy."

The scuffing of feet stopped a short distance from the figure's hiding spot," Trust me, Chancellor, the negotiations gave my Padawan some good practice. What we teach at the Academy is not as insightful as, how should I put it, on the job training."

The voices continued to speak but the figure had stopped listening. There was a time and place to listen and there was a time and place to act. As her Master had put it many times, strike well and strike first. Now was not a time to think, as she let the Force flow through her. Her blue eyes fell closed at the sensation. It burned through her like a forest fire out of control. Her senses heightened and her awareness broadened. She could almost make time stop as she let the hate flow through her. It came on so strong that at times even she was worried about whether or not she could contain it. Her eyes opened again and a much different color showed from her usual pale blue and then she attacked.

There was a startled gasp. A drawing and activation of a lightsaber. A cry for help cut off in the dark. Finally, there was nothing.

The shadowy figure stood above the bodies of the people who were not long ago talking about mundane topics. Two human men who were older, one of which was wearing the telltale brown cloak of a Jedi Master, and finally an adolescent female bearing the markings of a Padawan learner. Her eyes did not have time to register the threat that had taken her life. The shadowy figure stood above the three bodies staring for a moment to make sure her job was done. The Chancellor had been an accident she had not really meant to kill him; he had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, she felt no remorse.

The shadowy figure shut off her blade and the cool blue light that covered the large room was now gone. With it she felt the dark side recede a little, she could almost feel the yellow Sith eyes fade. Her job was done and her Master would be pleased at her efficiency. From behind the crate she had used as cover she recovered her black cloak. Throwing it over her shoulders and pulling the hood low over her face she made her way back onto the main concourse of the spaceport. People were just starting to celebrate the peace that had been brought to the area. She made her way silently through the crowd and no one really took notice.

"Have the ship ready," she stated coolly into her comlink," We are finished here."

A confirmation came from her droid over the comlink and as quickly as she had come she would leave. There was always another mission. Always something that her Master had assigned for her. That was the way of things. That was all she had ever known.

CHAPTER ONE:

Nomi Antilles ran through the thick forest that surrounded her. Her green eyes sparkled as she ran pushing herself to her physical limit. There was easiness to her steps since she had run this path on Yavin 4 for almost seven years now. She dodged low branches and hurdled fallen trees as she went, smiling at the fact that the trail did not burn her legs like it had when she had first arrived. She ran passed the small temple by the lake where she had spent many hours in mediation. Her short blonde hair was braided in rows and ran along the shape of her head. She wore a simple pair of khaki pants and Jedi tunic opting to leave the Jedi robes she usually wore behind in her room. As she came to the end of her trail the walls of trees parted to a large open area that served as the Jedi Academy.

She had arrived at the Jedi Academy when she was fifteen years old and was one of the older students that had been accepted that year. Even though Nomi had been new she had done well honing her skills and it was not long before she was being trained with students who had been there twice as long as she. She found the more hands on training more agreeable then the boring classroom lectures on healing and the greater good. She was more proficient at the studies that let her shine as an individual and not be graded by a standard test. With luck she had made it through, now she was nearly graduated and well on her way to joining the Jedi Police Corp.

The Jedi Police Corp selected a group of exceptional students who would be put on the front lines of any situation they were called to. Whether it be a planet torn by civil war or a smuggling ring that needed to be brought to justice, if the New Republic asked for it, then the JPC was there to help. They were their own inanity in the New Republic, though. While the JPC helped the New Republic it was not responsible to it. The JPC were the protectors of the Jedi Code and were not governed by outside forces. Only the Jedi Council could call the JPC into action. That way the JPC could not be held down by the corruptions of the government.

The thought of the prestigious group brought a smile to Nomi's face since she had only found out that morning that upon graduation a job was hers if she had wanted it. Many of her friends had joined the group and the excitement of being with them again made her excited. Besides, the only other thing an out of work Jedi could do was teaching at the Academy or take on a Padawan learner. Both of which Nomi was fine with when she was old and gray but right now it was time to prove herself not only to her teachers and friends but to herself. If she could not have the skills in the field to survive then why she should pass her skills on to the next generation of Jedi Knights?

She took a long breath when she reached the end of her run calming her racing thoughts and took a moment to stretch. The trail stopped at the base of the largest Massassi Temple in the Jedi Academy. The temple had been built long before her grand-parents were even alive but there was a presence in the walls that made her believe that it was a living thing. Many Jedi and Rebel soldiers died on this planet or in its orbit. Many said that the temples were magnets for lost souls and that if they died here they could not escape. The temples were built by the indigenous people of the planet that were completely eradicated by the Sith Master Exar Kun. The one Nomi stood in front of served as the primary housing for the students and staff. It also was used for most of the first year training. Surrounding the area was massive grass ways that were used for training grounds for anything from lightsaber training to general classes on ship repair and maintenance.

A Mon Calamari named Adi was standing outside the temple's main entrance and upon seeing Nomi leave the tree line headed in Nomi's direction. Adi's orange skin and crisp white robes stood out against the green landscape. Pushing a stray piece blonde hair out of her eyes Nomi turned to her friend," One day and four hours," she smiled," But who's counting."

"Yes, who indeed," Adi responded, letting the amusement into her voice," Did you hear anything back about the JPC yet?"

Nomi could not cover her smile," Yeah," she could barley keep from jumping," I'm in!" She slid her arm into the sleeve of her tan jacket that she had left laying by the edge of one of the training fields before her run. Nomi then picked up her utility belt and fastened it around her waist, adjusting her lightsaber so it hung low on her hip. It was a comforting weight. She had spent four days with no sleep to finish her lightsaber. It was a Jedi's tool and their weapon. To Nomi it was her most price possession.

Adi smiled, at least as much as a Mon Calamari could," So I guess I should congratulate you then. Are you sure you don't want to stick around and help me teach the fine art of Jedi healing next year?"

"Are you kidding I haven't fraternized with anything of the female orientation since Gor'sek's and my trip to Hapes, you know, with that students can't date anyone here in fear of interfering with their studies rule. Besides, I could barely sit through that for a term and now you're telling me you want me to help teach it.? I want to get off this rock for awhile see if I'm worthy to teach. Besides, who better for you to practice on then me?" Nomi pointed at her chest as her voice trailed off.

It had hit her like a stun blast in the chest, sucking the air right out of her lungs. Nomi pushed her palm into her temple trying to make the pain go away. Two voices cried out and then there was nothing. Silence. Darkness.

"Something's happened?."

"That's two attacks in as many weeks?."

The already broken conversation was interrupted by the Academy loud speakers calling all students and teachers to the main throne room that served as the chow hall and meeting area for all students. Neither Nomi nor Adi waited for the announcement to repeat itself before turning and running for the temple's entrance.

When it appeared that all the students were into the throne room Master Skywalker walked to the center of the stage to address the students. He had aged well for how old he really was and the trials he had been through in his life. His boyish looks were now lined deeply and his sandy blonde hair was more of a shiny gray. He leaned heavily on a wooden cane but rumors ran through the halls that Master Skywalker did not really need it. When a time came that he needed mobility he would call upon the Force and his youthful movements would return to him. If not for the Force that was flowing through him he would have probably died by now but it kept him alive much as it had for Master Yoda who had trained him.

The large room quieted with a simple rise of the respected Master's hand," There has been a disturbance in the Force, as I am sure most of you have felt. Without any doubt this was done by the same person or person's that was responsible for the death's of Master Loland and Jedi Knight Baden. I fear that there will be more loss if extreme caution is not taken." A long breath was taken before the aged Master could proceed," It's with a heavy heart that I state that all graduation festivities will be cancelled for tomorrow. The graduation will continue as planned but no one will come in orbit of this Academy. Not unless they are cleared through myself and the security staff, also no one will leave, unless under the same approval."

Protests erupted from the students many looking forward to returning home for the break or having family come in to see the graduation. The students were again silenced by the mere movement of their Master's hand," This is to be done for your own safety. Among those killed today was a Padawan. You will be safe if you are here and that is why I intend to keep you. Now everyone but the graduates are dismissed. I would like to speak to them about tomorrow's events."

The shadowy figure landed her ship, The Rancor, into Station Alpha's bay. She left her droid, Debo, to power down the ship as she made her way to her Master's chambers. Many of his students were up roaming the hallways going to and from classes. As they saw her approach they moved to the sides. It was their way of showing her respect as well as acknowledge that she was their Master's second in command. The position was not one that was easily obtained, it had been sought and fought for. The only way someone else could have the title would be to challenge her to it. No one had the courage to do so. She was the most resourceful and vengeful fighter among them, defeat would not only mean that they would return to the bottom of the pecking order but they would be scarred from their experience.

She strode up the hallway undeterred until she met Darth Chen outside their Master's office. Darth Chen was the only student who let his intentions for her title be known. He had not acted upon it yet but she knew it was only a matter of time," Nice hit, Gauge. Do tell, was it hard to take out two old men and a little girl?"

Gauge observed no chivalry in his voice," I was doing what I was ordered to do."

Chen threw his head back in a fake laugh," One day, you will fall from grace. I will be His number two and then I will dance on your grave."

Gauge cracked her neck left and then right," Why wait." She moved herself into a defensive position and wait for Chen to attack. The outer office door opened and out stepped their Master's personal secretary. Gauge glanced at her showing a small smile. The female Twi'lek was a pale blue color and her curves made obvious by her tight fitting clothes. It was not all that long ago that Gauge had had her way with the woman on her desk while waiting for audience with her Master. Gauge's bloodlust had run beyond her control and it had been satisfied by the secretary. Even though her Master had frowned upon her actions.

"Vada," Gauge let a slight purr in her voice," Is He ready to see me?"

The color rose into Vada's light cheeks," Yes, Gauge, you can go in."

Gauge brushed passed Chen," If you will excuse me."

In passing Gauge caught the sense of Vada's desire. It flowed from her like a stench. Gauge was appalled by it. Once one had been her conquest she very rarely returned to it. Gauge found humor in the secretary's wanting though and gave a low chuckle. The outer office door closed behind Gauge but not before she heard Chen punch the nearby wall.

Nomi and Adi made their way up to the front of the room where Master Skywalker patiently waited. They stood with six others who had been chosen to graduate this term. Unlike other schools the Jedi Academy only let one graduate if the teachers approved it. There was no grade, there was only hard work and determination that got you to graduation. You had to be offered to graduate first by a teacher. Many students turn down their first offer in an effort to perfect their use of the Force. Then it is decided by the board of teachers as to whether or not one was to graduate. If one teacher thinks that someone had more to learn they were to remain at the Academy until the decision is overturned. It was a trying process for the students as they had to come before the board many times to plead their case. Everything from coursework to after graduation goals were looked at before a student was chosen to graduate.

Nomi knew all those who stood around her. They had been through everything from mind tricks to levitation together. The group of students were the best of the best at the Academy. They helped by tutoring the younger students and had formed an unbreakable bond among themselves. There was nothing she would not do for any of these people and she knew that they all felt the same. Whatever was hurting the Jedi, Nomi wanted to stop them, wanted to help end the Jedi's suffering. Many of these people Nomi shared a lunch room table or dorm room with. It was hard for her to believe that they would soon be spread through out the universe.

"Tomorrow you all have your whole life as a Jedi Knight in front of you," Master Skywalker made a point to look each of them in the eyes and into their minds. Nomi felt the calming touch of the Jedi Master on her consciousness, letting her know that her doubts were not unfounded," I want you all to know how very proud I am of all of you. Some of you are staying here to teach until you're ready for a Padawan of your own. Some of you will not. I just wanted to tell you that the Force will always be with you, as will these walls, and as will I."

Nomi and Adi caught up with two of their fellow graduates while at dinner that night. Selecting their table in the center of the room the four friends sat down together for their last supper together as students. They were all quiet for awhile knowing what was on the other's minds but unwilling to speak of the events of earlier that day. The trials of the outside universe did not always filter down to Jedi Academy. Nothing had ever really hit this close to home.

"I heard it was Master Bied and his Padawan that were the latest attacked," Nomi heard her friend Renny say, around a mouthful of food. The tall human hunched over his food as if protecting it from thieves. The shadow of his dark beard beginning to make its appearance with the late hour. Everyone murmured that they had heard the same.

"It's horrible," Gor'sek, a Twi'lek shook his head causing the tails that wrapped around his shoulders to move. Even though Gor'sek was already a pale shade of green it seemed deeper as he replied," She wasn't any older then seventeen or so was she?"

Renny swallowed a large amount of food and then spoke," The thing that gets me is that CEO guy who owns the places. I mean, we've sent out two sets of Jedi to clean up messes that he should have taken care of himself." Renny shoveled another spoonful into his mouth and began to talk around it," We're getting killed for a guy who doesn't care what happens to his people. If it were up to me I'd stop sending Jedi in to help him."

Nomi shuddered at the thought, swallowing the last bit of her meal. The rumor floating through the halls was that the Sith were rising again. The thing was that most of the Jedi that now protected the galaxy were told stories about the Sith to scare them as newbies to the Academy. No one outside of Master Skywalker had met a true Sith and the mere thought of them was enough to make Nomi's skin crawl. They were the follower's of the Dark Side of the Force, basically pure evil. Fear, anger, and aggression were the main components of the Dark Side. The last of the Sith was Darth Vader. He alone was responsible for the genocide of the Jedi. Only two Jedi had survived, Master Yoda and Master Kenobi, both of which had to go into hiding for many years. Vader had died more then fifty years previous with no real apprentice to replace him. Sure there had been a couple people or groups who claimed to be Sith since then but they had been little more then uneducated on anything to do with the Force and happened to have a lightsaber. Not anything that a couple Knights could not handle. Which was exactly what they would all be tomorrow at this time, Jedi Knights.

"The Sith in the old holo-vids are so much scarier with the yellow eyes," Adi added," It's just not natural. Well, for humans to have them anyway." She has added that after pointing to her large yellow eyes on either side of her fish like face.

Nomi stared down at what was left of her food, realizing that if there were true Sith out there she should not be spending her last hours in this place gossiping about them. Standing she picked her tray up off the table saying over her shoulder," I think we all need a little lightersaber practice, what do you guys say?"

She did not have to look back to know that all those present at her table stood to follow her. No one passed up an opportunity to duel, even if it was just with a training remote.

With the hood of her cloak lowered around her shoulders Gauge walked into the main chamber of her Master. His chair was pointed away from her, which she had already expected since he never turned to greet her. She made her way to a small circle in the floor that was just in front of her Master's desk. There she kneeled onto one knee and kept her eyes on the floor," It is done, Master Gerton."

"Were you seen?"

"No, my Master."

"The two you killed were strong," she could hear his chair turn to face her but did not look up. There was a rustling of papers as her Master set his work aside," I think that every Jedi in the galaxy felt them die. You strike fear into the hearts of the Jedi and the easier they turn," he came around the desk and raised her chin so she could meet his eyes," Your mother knew that."

She fought back the flinch she felt coming at the mention of the weak woman. She felt the dark energy roar through her like a wild fire. It coursed through her veins as if it were her own blood. She felt her eye's start to burn and knew that the yellow tint of the Sith was slowly making its way to her pupil. That woman betrayed her, that was the woman who had left her here to rot with this?she stopped her thoughts as her Master smiled," Yes," he hissed," that's the hatred I am looking for. Whether it is directed at me or others, I don't care that's what you need to kill them all and I have no doubt that you will."

He stroked her face roughly with his manicured fingers. Even with his very cultured look the smell of death radiated from him and it made her eyes water. He pushed her face away," Go," he hissed as he moved back around his desk," Shower and eat something. When you wake I want you gone again. You are to meet up with Darth Chen for your next task."

He threw a data card onto the desk and turned letting his guest know that she had been dismissed. She stood in one fluid motion used the Force to call the data card to her hand and left the office. She paid no attention to Vada as she exited.

Nomi did a signature parry, parry, thrust move as the training remote swooped close to her head. Deflecting the first two shots with her green blade, Nomi thrust hard into the center of the training remote and smiled as it dropped in two pieces on to the old cargo room floor.

"Sith babies, Nomi," Renny called from the sidelines," The training remote is not supposed to be destroyed?"

"Sometimes I don't find them challenging enough," Stated Nomi turning to Renny with her blade still lit. She twirled it around her body, keeping her muscles warm," Sometimes I think I need more then random blaster bolts to teach me," She shrugged with a wicked smile," I think sometimes I need a sparring partner."

The gauntlet had been thrown at Renny's feet and all the Jedi training in the cargo bay had heard it. Nomi Antilles was the best duelist at the Academy but Renny towered over her by a foot and was build like a chiseled piece of granite.

"You want a fight, Antilles," Renny stated rolling his massive shoulders and switching on his orange blade," Then it's a fight you're going to get."

Blades crashed together with an arch of sparks and a whine of electrical power. A group of students had gathered in the cargo bay at the base of the Great Temple. It had been used by the rebellion to store the X-wings before the attack run on the first Death Star. It had been converted to a training area for lightsabers do to the expansive area. Many fellow students stopped to watch two of the most promising students' battle. Word was obviously spreading from the small group since more began to crowd around the fighters making an oval. What Nomi lacked in size and strength she more then made up for in speed, intelligence, and patience. Renny fought much like a gladiator with a battle ax, slamming down heavy blows upon his opponent, but lacked a plan on how to disable them. Renny relied almost entirely on his strength. It was a battle not for life but just for an exercise in the other's ability. While it looked very much like they were trying to kill one another Renny and Nomi let the Force guide their movements. This allowed them the freedom to fight at almost full strength and not have to worry about whether or not they would hurt one another.

Renny low cut towards Nomi's left side and had it easily deflected with a downward parry and a slight move of her feet back. Nomi then brought her blade around for a series of attacks towards Renny's upper body. He blocked left and then right moving back until he was against the far wall. Nomi thinking that she had him pinned smiled too soon and let her plans be known. Renny jumped into the air, aided by the power of the Force and easily cleared Nomi's head with a forward flip. Instinctively, Nomi brought her blade behind her head to block the on coming blow. Crouching low, she rolled to her right and came up swinging. Renny for the most part easily blocked her attack, even though Nomi again had him moving backwards.

Nomi sunk deep within herself and let the Force flow through her. Thrust, parry, thrust. Even with the differences in size the two combants were equal. Sweat dripped from Nomi's brow. Deciding to change things up she activated the other blade on her lightsaber, now instead of a saber she had more of a staff. Her short blonde hair clung to her head as if she had just gotten out of the refresher. She could tell by the labored breath that was coming from Renny the he was also just as tired. She just needed to be patient and the opportunity to finish this fight would be over. Just need to wait him out, she thought, eventually he will slip up.

Then there it was, as clear to her as the man that was standing in front of her. Renny put all his weight on his back foot every time he moved to block her. If she could knock his blows off balance then that would be all she would need. Redoubling her efforts, Nomi attacked at Renny's blade and true to her thoughts he was thrown out off of his game. Quicker then many could register Nomi swept kicked Renny's legs out from under him. His lightsaber flew from his hand, thankfully all lightsabers have a safety that once they leave their owner's hand they deactivate, and he fell into a pile on the cargo bay floor. Nomi stood above him, laughter in her sea green eyes, and her blade inches from his chin," Do you yield, friend?"

"Ouch," Was all Renny could say from his position on the floor," Yeah, yeah I yield, O' mighty one."

Nomi turned to the sound of cheering and realized that half of the Academy was in the cargo bay to watch the fight. She smiled and raised her blade into the air," Jedi," She yelled with pride.

The resounding replies of,"Jedi," could be heard through out the walls. Nomi helped her friend to his feet and smiled as he dusted himself off. Renny would be leaving with her tomorrow for the Jedi Complex on Coruscant. She looked around at the faces in the bay trying to make a memory of this moment.

The Gauge brushed her long black hair out of her face as she read over the next mission that she was to take on. According to the data card the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 was having a graduation class leave for Coruscant the next morning. She and Darth Chen were to intercept the small cargo ship, just as it broke Yavin's orbit, and kill those who were abroad. A risky plan since the Jedi Academy was one of the most secure places in the galaxy. To attack so close was incredibly daring. She felt a smile at the new challenge that presented itself. Even if it did mean that she had to be in an enclosed area with Chen for most of it. Fortunately, he would be doing the flying and leave her alone to finish her part of the mission.

It appeared to be four graduates, two pilots, and a droid. The shadowy figure glanced over the picture files that were included. The two pilots were human and had nothing in their bio files that made her think they were going to be an issue. Mainly they were retired squadron pilots and ran the shuttle back and forth for the Academy. The four students on the other hand drew most of her attention. There was a human male named Renny Rist who by looks was going to be a worthy opponent but she had ways of working size against him. There was a Falleen female named Zacar which could be interesting since the species has a chameleon like skin and can blend in about anywhere. They were also almost as well known for their sexual prowess, with their long, lithe bodies and dangerous temperament. A Gamorrean by the name of Bors, which almost made her laugh. Gamorreans were known for their odd personalities and pig like features. The shadowy figure could only imagine what the beast did with a lightsaber. The last picture stopped Gauge cold, it was a human female. Nomi Antilles, the data card read, from Hapes a world cluster that was run by a matriarch. The figure took in the woman's face and tried to place where she had seen her before, coming up with nothing.

"She is beautiful," the shadowy figure said aloud. Gauge's blue eyes intently staring into the green ones of the Jedi woman," Too bad."

She put the data card on the table next to her bed. Laying back she closed her eyes and hoped tonight the nightmares would keep themselves at bay, she had a big day tomorrow.

Chapter 2:

Eight students sat in the front row of the grand audience chamber. The eight students had been the ones hand selected by the Masters to graduate from the Jedi Academy this term. There were the boring, never-ending speeches that take place at all graduations, these specific to using only the Light side of the Force and being the essence of calm and patience. In formal Jedi robes and with the mass of humanity in the Main Hall things became warm and the graduates were fighting a losing battle to maintain that patience. With the formalities out of the way each student was in turn told to stand. Each were honored with a list of their accomplishments and were given praise by the students, friends, and family that sat around them. Master Skywalker walked to the center of the stage and spoke clearly," I give to you," he motioned to the ones standing in front of him," Jedi Knights."

The cheer that rose up from the hall was deafing. The celebration was felt by all and as one the eight graduates drew their lightsabers and raised them above their heads. They did this as a time honored tradition to salute the Knight's that had come before them, their fellow Knight's present, and to the Knight's that would follow. Nomi stood between Adi and Renny as they turned to the audience. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had made it. She had graduated from the Jedi Academy and was going to be a member of the Jedi Police Corp. Everything she0 had ever wanted for herself was falling into place.

Nomi Antilles had just finished packing the rest of her bags onto a skiff to be taken out to the cargo ship that would be taking them to Coruscant, the capital planet of the New Republic and the location of the Jedi Complex. Their ship was an old bodied Lambda-class shuttle that had been the escape shuttle that Master Skywalker had used when the second Death Star blew. The ship was older then all the students that would be riding on it that day but it had been upgraded with the newest technology and safety systems.

Adi stood with her at the edge of the landing zone," I've got a bad feeling about this," Adi whispered close to Nomi's ear.

"Adi," Nomi turned to her friend," We've been over this. Me and Renny are just going to have a short flight to the capital and then we're going to meet up with our JPC contacts. We will call you as soon as we get there. Besides if anything happens half of Green Squadron is here already for jungle training so I'm sure they'll scramble ships before we can even make the call for help."

Adi's eyes still betrayed her uneasiness but she tried to shrug it off for her friend," Someone would have to be stupid to come after you anyway. In between you and Renny they would have their hands full?"

Adi had been cut off by being lifted from behind into the air," Hey," Renny said," You don't worry about us. If we need fixin' up we know where to find you." He ended and placed Adi back on the ground.

"I will miss you both," Adi stated in a sad tone," I will see you again soon."

"Of course you will."

"May the Force be with you, Adi."

"And you, my friends," Adi said it so softly that she was sure that her friends did not hear her as the made their way to the ship.

"Gauge."

A voice came into her conscious but it did not register.

"Gauge," the rough voice came again," It's show time. Get your head out of the clouds."

Gauge shook her head trying to clear her thoughts but her blue eyes remained cloudy," Sorry," she apologized, though she did not mean it," No rest for the wicked."

Darth Chen just grunted and studied the panel in front of him. She looked over at him to see if he had picked up on her unease. His slicked back blonde hair and rosy cheeks made Darth Chen look like a gentle enough man but Gauge knew that looks could be deceiving. He was bringing the ship out of light speed and was beginning to set up for the attack on the Jedi shuttle. They had discussed tactics after they had embarked and had decided to set up an ambush on the far side of the planet Yavin. The Jedi shuttle would have no choice but to clear the large orange gas giant prior to their own jump to light speed. They would only have time to get two shots in. They had decided that the most important was the communications array and second the sub-light drive engines. The later of course would be more difficult to hit. According to the time frame that they had come up with, they had about 10 standard minutes to prepare for the on coming battle.

"Go stand by the gun turret," Darth Chen ordered not looking up to see if she had heard. They both had their jobs to do, his was to fly and hers was to kill. Simple as that.

She sat in the upper gun turret and let her eyes close. She thought of the visions she had had the night previous, hoping that they would help fuel her rage. She saw the blonde woman standing above her and watched helplessly as she knelt and wrapped her arms around Gauge. Gauge felt something within her that she had not felt in many years. She looked down at her battle raged body and cursed at the fact that she did not have enough strength to pull away. The feelings inside of her scared her. She realized that she did not want to leave this woman but knew that in her condition she would not be the one to make that decision. There was the sharp burning pain of a lightsaber wound and burns marked most of her body, she knew what that was like, wounds were something that frequented her in her profession. That was not what scared her. Nor was it the life force that drained out of her. There was no fear that her life was about to be over and there was nothing she could do to stop it and this woman who held her would be there to witness it. She looked into the green eyes of the woman who was hovered above her and watched as they filled with tears," I'm sorry, love," she spoke and Gauge found herself falter at the words. What did she say?," Stay with me." She's sorry, love. How can she love me? No one loves me. I hurt the people that love me. Gauge felt the woman through the Force wrapping her consciousness around hers. Never had she felt more protected and cared for. Then as quickly as the feeling came it was taken away as Gauge felt the last of her life slip from her body.

Gauge opened her eye's, yellow from the evil that plagued her body," I am up."

"15 seconds to contact."

Gauge hunched over the fire mechanism waiting," 10 seconds," Darth Chen gravelly voice sounded in her earpiece.

Two shots rang out from the forward cannons. On her screen she saw that Darth Chen's shots had landed. No communications would be coming from the Jedi's ship. It banked back towards the planet, leaving it's engines in clear range of Gauge's guns. The Jedi shuttle came to a halt as she let loose a rapid succession of fire and completely destroyed the ships engines.

"You've got less then thirty seconds to get to the top hatch."

Gauge did not hear the warning though as soon as her shots were fired she was already on the move.

Renny and Nomi had sat down at the small table and were about to begin playing a round of Sabacc when the ships alarms began going off. Soon the whole ship rocked like it was being hit by an asteroid. Nomi threw her cards down and ran to the front of the ship into the bridge," What's going on," she demanded.

A co-pilot turned to her," A ship," he stammered," Out of nowhere just took out our communications array?" The pilot's hands flew over the control panel trying to turn the ship back towards the moon.

A second quake went through the ship. More alarms went off," What was that?"

"They just took out our sub-light engines. Better prepare yourself, kids, I think were about to be boarded," the graying captain said from behind the ships main panel, desperately flipping switches.

Nomi turned to find Renny standing right behind her. The unspoken truth of the situation hit them both," Arm yourself and try to get any word out to the Academy about what has happened," Renny ordered to the pilots.

Nomi charged up the small corridor to the room she had just been in," We'll hold them off for as long as we can."

The other two Jedi sensing that something was wrong were already on their feet lightsabers drawn but not activated. They set up a typical diamond formation looking back to the lower hatch. They could hear the ship come closer and finally hook on to their own. There was much shuffling of feet and repositioning of hands on their lightsaber handles. The hatch whined as it began to open. Boris, the Gamorrean, stood point and set his lightsaber ablaze waiting for their uninvited guest to appear. What came next was not what was expected. A thermal detonator bounced once onto the floor and blew on the upward bounce. The foursome had been taken by surprise so no one had had time to move. The explosion happened while the detonator was at Boris's knee level. It blew his lower legs off and threw the rest of the Jedi to the far end of the room as is they were rag dolls. Small fires sprung up around the cabin area causing black smoke to fill the area. The lights flashed as the electrical power was being rerouted to more essential functions. Nomi's fingers went to her brow and came back smeared with her own blood. Boris was squealing on the floor trying to crawl to safety.

A shadowy figure landed on the smoky floor and silently regarded them. It was clad in all black. The face was hidden behind the hood of a cloak. Boris rolled on to his back and coughed once before he was cut down by a cool blue blade. His death gasp hung in the open room. Nomi was paralyzed by her fear at that moment and could not move. She could only watch. First, Zacar got up and squared off with the shadowy figure. Within two strikes Zacar had fallen next to Boris, a mortal wound to her abdomen making sure she would never get up again. Her eyes met Nomi's and the horror in them was felt by all the Jedi on board. Nomi watched helplessly as the beautiful Falleen's eyes went blank.

Suddenly, a barrage of blaster fire filled the cabin. It pinned both Renny and Nomi to the floor. One of the blaster bolts struck the dark figure's outstretched palm, absorbing it but it did not stop it from deflecting the rest of the shots. Using it's lightsaber, the dark figure sent the remaining bolts back towards the bridge. As quickly as the fire fight had started it had stopped. Nomi did not have to look down the corridor to know that both of the pilots were dead. Now there was no one flying the ship or attempting to get a distress call to the Jedi Academy that was only just out the cockpit window.

Two Jedi and two pilots down, thought Nomi, this has got to be the Sith assassin.

Nomi meet Renny's eyes. She read what they said there, either they fight together as one or they would both die to this Sith. In unison they were on their feet and had blades moving for attack. The shadowy figure dodged the on coming attack and used the Force to have Boris's lightsaber fly into their waiting hand. Nomi and Renny attacked as one unit. One striking for a lower area, while the other would strike for something on the upper body but each attack was fought off with little hesitation by the shadowy figure. As Renny thrust for the attacker's face, Nomi stepped into attack the right side. With grace that even the most skilled swordsman would envy the shadowy figure moved it's body left and brought it's head down, so both attacks missed. In a wide ark the shadowy figure brought it's lightsabers around for a counter attack. Nomi sensing through the Force moved out of the way just in time. Renny was not so lucky. The attacker's one lightsaber caught under the left arm pit and slashed straight through to his right shoulder. The other lightsaber came down and met the top of Renny's stunned face. He fell to his knees and then face first on to the deck.

Sadness ripped through Nomi's very core," NO," came the cry from her lips but she did not recognize the voice. She was on her feet and attacking before she could even think of what had just happened. She sliced through the air aiming for the attacker's throat but instead cut through the thick cord that tied the cloak and the top of one of the attackers lightsaber handles. The figure hesitated for a moment throwing the useless lightsaber aside and shrugging off the cloak.

Nomi stared in horror at the tall, beautiful, dark headed woman across the room from her. The woman's eyes glowed yellow," It was you," She spat at the woman," You did this to us."

A simple nod was all Nomi got back in reply. The woman sliced downward and across in one fluid movement but Nomi was already moving to block. Nomi counter attacked and cut across the woman's upper arm. Much to Nomi's surprise the woman did not even seem to notice. Nomi's arms were beginning to tire and she felt her blocks being less and less effective. Using all of her reserves she just barely blocked a cut to her torso. The block had only diverted the blow though and the attacker's saber buried itself deep into her lower thigh. Screaming in pain, Nomi just reacted. Nomi struck the woman hard across the face with her closed fist. Snapping the Sith woman's head back. The Sith woman fell back onto the now bloodied floor momentarily stunned. The dark woman's hand came to her brow and her fingers came away with her own blood. The woman brought her fingers to her lips. Nomi stood above her with her blade pointed at the Sith woman's chest and had tears running down her face," Why?"

A smirk," I was doing what I was ordered to do."

With that purple lightening flew from her fingertips and Nomi found herself being slammed up against the far wall. She fell in a boneless heap on the floor having no control over her bunching muscles. The Sith woman walked over to her and kneeled next to her body. She stroked Nomi's face as if it was almost an afterthought. The woman hovered above Nomi studying her. Blood seeped from the cut on the woman's face and blood ran a jagged path down the side of her sot covered face. Raw power came off of the Sith assassin in waves," I have to go," she said again stroking Nomi's cheek," But this is not over."

Nomi could not respond. She watched in awe as the woman stood to her full height and scanned the rest of the ship. She focused one last time trying to find Adi across the distance. Nomi was unsure if her call for help had been heard she just passed out on the floor of the ship and waited for death.

"Gauge," a voice screamed over her comlink," Get back on the ship or I'll leave you for the Jedi to find."

It had been her third warning to get back to the ship because of the scanners picking up in enemy vessels coming their way. Looking around the small room five were dead and one was very much on the way. Gauge knew that she should just finish off the little blonde but could not bring herself to do it. The third degree burns that covered most of her upper body would kill her if the rescue teams did not get here in time and Gauge decided that that was close enough for her.

Stealing one last look of the blonde Jedi, Gauge jumped through the hatch and slammed them both closed," I am on, get the Sith out of here."

Before she finished her sentence the ship was already undocking and moving to the location for their jump to light speed. Gauge looked out the window at several on coming ships. Standard Y-wing class, slow but if they caught up to their ship they would have a hard time fighting that many off. She was relieved to see the stars go streamline announcing their jump into hyperspace. She found herself a small bacta tank and some bandages and set about fixing her wounded arm. The cut was not deep but it did take a good sized chunk out of her arm. She smiled at the thought of the woman who had given it to her. Such power and passion in a little package, a nice package but small just the same. Maybe when she returned to the Master's facility he would allow for a little time off. With so many missions in rapid succession she needed to blow off a little steam.

There was shouting all around her. She opened her mouth to answer but nothing could come out of her dry lips. She smelled burnt skin and realized that it was her own. Looking down at her body, most of her jumpsuit had been burnt away exposing the blackened skin underneath. The sight was too much for her to understand and her body retaliated, she vomited on the floor next to her body. Someone turned to her," We've got one alive," and she remembered being lifted into the air. Then there was nothing.

Gauge lay awake in the middle of a group of women, all of them blessed with the ability to sleep. Since the last attack on the Jedi, Gauge had been granted a small leave when she returned to her Master. She had spent her free time in the only way that she knew how. She found herself a seedy hole in the wall bar and found herself some of the best companionship that money could buy. But now even after hours of strenuous activity, sleep would not take her. Every time she closed her eyes there were green ones that filled her mind. She could hear the woman sob in her own ears as if she was standing above her again. What was her name? Nomi, that was it, the woman who would forever haunt her dreams. Or so it seemed in the days since her last mission.

Gauge stood from the mess of limbs not caring if they stirred in their sleep from the movement. She began to pull her black clothes back on. Once she was dressed she threw a couple hundred credits on to the table in the center of the room and left. It was time to return to her Master. It was not wise to abuse his generosity so she would be returning one day earlier then he had really expected her. That way she would have downtime waiting on her next orders.

She stepped out into the sunlight of mid morning on the back water planet she was on. Squinting in the sunlight made the cut on her brow pull which caused some painful irritation. Again the image of Nomi Antilles filled her mind's eye. If only?Gauge pushed the thought away before it could have a chance to finish. She pulled her hood on, thankful that she had bought a new black cloak, tucking her equally dark hair inside it, and made her way down the street, toward the dock, and her waiting ship.

She felt weightlessness. Slowly Nomi began to open her eyes. What she saw surprised her. She saw the medical unit at the Jedi Academy through a haze of red, which she figured meant that she was floating in a bacta tank. The smell of bacta was nothing nice but its healing properties were enough to start wars over if the supply ran low. She felt a presence beside her tank and turned to see Adi standing there looking in at her. Gingerly, Nomi moved her hand and placed it on the cool surface separating the two. Nomi could read the anguish on Adi's face. She had been right, they had been attacked. It all came back to Nomi in such a rush that if she had been standing she would have dropped to her knees. Boris, Zacar, and Renny were all gone. She closed her eyes and opened them again just as quickly when she realized that the events of that morning were going to be replaying in her head for some time. The tall woman with the yellow eye's haunted her.

She spread her awareness outward until she touched Adi's mind, How long have I been in here?

Three days, came the answer, You'll be able to come out in about 12 standard hours but even then you'll be on bed rest until the doctor says you can return to active duty.

And where is this doctor that I have to sweet talk into letting me up? Nomi saw Adi point to her own chest and knew she would not be getting off light duty for awhile.

Did they catch who did this?

Adi lowered her eyes from Nomi's heavy gaze and she received her answer.

Nomi sat on the edge of a bunk in the medical ward and looked at the scar that used to be a large hole in the center of her thigh. She had been lucky, if she had not hit that woman she could have easily lost her entire leg and now would probably be getting fitted for a prosthetic instead of getting the okay to leave. At the top of her robe she could see the lightening shaped scarring that ran along her chest and shoulders. She felt a tear trace down the side of her face thinking to herself that she was the only one left.

Adi sat across the room from her and was going over the last of Nomi's paperwork," I think we're all done here."

"You sure," Nomi said with a humorless smile," Cause I was just getting used to the food."

Adi laughed a little, it was something that she had not done in many days since the attack. It sounded foreign to her ears, Nomi had been sure on that ship lying on the floor looking up at that woman that she would never hear the sound of anything again, let alone laughter.

"You know that Master Skywalker wishes to see you as soon as you feel you are ready to talk about the attack."

Nomi's head dropped to look at the floor," I don't know if I'll ever be ready to talk about it. I will go see him though, probably as soon as I get out of here. The more I tell him the more I think I might feel better. No matter when I talk to him about it it's going to be hard. I mean, Adi, we lost Renny?I," Nomi voice cracked, so much for a Jedi's control over their emotions.

Adi quickly came over to Nomi and hugged her with her strong Mon Calamari arms. It was the first time since the attack that either of them had cried.

Master Skywalker's office was in the top of the great temple. Nomi was riding in a repulsor lift on the way to have her debriefing with him. She was not looking forward to this talk the two of them were about to have but she knew the sooner that she talked to him the sooner the Jedi would be aware of the threat that they faced. Nomi went over what she knew in her head so she could easily recount it to Mater Skywalker. The Sith had been a woman but she was not alone. She could not have docked the ship and attacked them; there had not been enough time. There had be a pilot. The woman was skilled with both the Force and her lightsaber. So she had been trained. This brought up the fact that the woman had told Nomi she was only doing what she had been ordered to do, so she was the apprentice. There had to be a Master. That realization made a chill run through Nomi's body as the lift stopped. What had she had she been taught, there are always two, an apprentice and a Master.

Master Skywalker was waiting for her at the door and took her hand when she got off the lift," Nomi," he said," I am very glad that you are all right. I mourn for the other students that were lost but I take happiness in the fact that you survived."

"Thank you, Master," Nomi replied as she was motioned to sit in a chair across from Master Skywalker's desk. She noticed that a holovid screen had been set up to one side of the large desk. It took a minute to recognize who the face was on the screen but finally she passed on her greeting, "Hello Commander Ellan. I hope you accept my apology for not being in training."

"The absence has been excused and you place in the JPC is still open should you want to continue with us," the Commander had worded his offer so she was given the option to back out if she had liked.

"No, Commander. You will see me in training as soon as I am cleared to leave Yavin 4," Nomi stated with much confidence. The smile that graced the Commander's face let her know that that answer was what he was hoping for.

Master Skywalker cleared his throat," Shall we begin with the debriefing. I have called Master Commander Ellan to witness the testimony since it will be the JPC's new priority to take care of this Sith problem. Any details that you can give us about this threat would be appreciated."

Nomi closed her eyes for a moment and then launched into the telling of what happened that morning. She shared the fighting style, the skill level with a lightsaber, and the uses of the Force that she had seen by the Sith woman. Nomi told them that she thought that there were at least two acting person's during the attack, one pilot and the Sith woman but she also shared that she thought that there was a Master calling for the missions from else where. Master Skywalker and Commander Ellan had stopped her periodically throughout the telling to ask questions or get clarification to a part. Neither seemed surprised when she told them that she believed that the woman was extensively trained.

Commander Ellan's head moved closer to the screen," What do you really think about the woman, Nomi, because with you joining JPC, you will be facing her again. Do you think you can handle that?"

Nomi closed her eyes thinking of the look of shock on Renny's face as the blade sliced through him," Oh, yes, Commander. I have no problems going after her."

" Good," Commander Ellan stated," There is a team of JPC coming to Yavin 4 that are in route right now who will be conducting an investigation on the attacked shuttle. You are to meet up with them upon arrival. All the things you will need will be abroad the ship," he smirked a little," We figured we could count on you to stay on."

With that the debriefing was over and the holovid shut itself off. Master Skywalker got up and escorted her back to the repulsor lift," Be careful, Nomi, vengeance is the way of the Dark Side. Clear you mind of it before you meet this woman again."

Chapter 3:

Gauge shied away from another flying object that was hurled in her direction by the man, who by all accounts, looked like he was sitting quietly at his desk," A survivor," he stated in a coarse whisper," You incompetent fool," another object sailed in her direction. Only this time it came from behind and Gauge did not have time to duck before it collided with the back of her skull. The pain coursed down her spine but she did not show her pain. That would please her Master and she did not want to give him the benefit.

She had come back a day early, like she had planned but it also happened to be the day that the news of the attack days earlier had been broadcasting over all the galaxy. Her head slammed sideways with the impact of what used to be a decorative vase. Pieces of ceramic fell to the floor around her. She felt dizzy and was glad at the fact that she had already knelt before her Master. She fought to keep her eyes open, not because she was fighting unconsciousness but because she knew that a certain pair green eyes would be there to haunt her own.

"I do not send you on missions were there are to be any survivors," He stood and slammed his fist down on the top of his desk. His eyes bore yellow into her," You are supposed to be the best. That is why I pick you. If you stop being of use to me then I will retire your services," His voice straining with the power behind it," If I did not have such a short time frame involving this next mission, you would not be so lucky."

Gauge knew the truth in his words. Her Master was not the most forgiving person in the galaxy. Retiring her services meant that he would drain the Force from her, making his own powers stronger. It was a well known fact that she had not started out as a powerful Sith. Once he had learned to take power from others and make it his own was when he became a Master Sith. Gauge had watched as several students had displeased the man before her and watched as the Force was ripped from their souls. Then if he was in a gracious mood he would kill them, usually in a slow painful process. If he was not he would send them off to some deserted planet, with no Force, and no way to get home. Gauge prayed to whatever God that was listening that if he did become tired of her services he would be charitable and kill her.

"What is it you wish of me, Master?" Gauge tried to ask without letting the pain seep into her voice. Her head throbbed with every breath she took. She could feel the blood trail from her scalp, down her neck, and finally settle on the collar of her tunic. As the blood dried it became sticky under the leather.

Her Master laid out a file and small black box on the table top," In the file you will find the bio of one Jedi Master Skimpis. She is an expert on the Sith. So much so that three weeks ago she was taken care of by some of my operatives on Tatooine. Fortunately for us, no one has been looking for her. Since she was deep under cover no one even knows that she is missing."

"You are going to take this," her Master lifted the small black box," It's a small holocam. Projects an image of just about anything to whatever is wearing it. The image of Master Skimpis is downloaded into it. Master Skimpis has received an encrypted message ordering her immediate return to Coruscant. There she will help a task force locate and destroy the Sith assassin and anyone associated with them. Your mission will be to collect as much information as you can and send back to me. When I feel the time is right, the Sith will strike the Jedi Complex on Coruscant," he paused as a small smile pulled at his mouth," you will be given no advanced notice of the attack. All contacts with this facility will be cut off. You have two contacts in the Complex that will be reasonable for sending me the information. If you are found, you will not be rescued."

Her Master finished almost daring her to tell him that she was not going to do it. He knew full well that this was a suicide mission. If she was found out the Jedi would certainly kill her for the crimes she committed against them. If she was not found she would certainly die when the Sith attacked. She would be alone, without backup or an escape plan. Gauge reached forward on pulled both the items off the top," It will be done, Master," she stood to leave;" I will not fail."

Nomi was sitting in a briefing room in the Center of Jedi Intelligence on Coruscant. This would be her first briefing with the Jedi Police Corp. She looked around the room taking in all the people who were there. Most of them were dressed like her with blue formal uniforms on. Several of those around her wore certain insignias to signify rank of a certain distinction. Her uniform was plain though and not as comfortable as her usual Jedi robes. On her belt she carried more then just her usual lightsaber. Her utility belt carried everything from rappelling line to a blaster.

She noticed that the people in the room had divided themselves up into smaller groups. Nomi guessed that the groups were the various squads that the JPC had in it's arsenal. Being new she was not part of a team yet. That was why the meeting had been called. To discuss the new threat that the Sith posed and to decide what they were going to do to stop it.

Commander Ellan stood at the front podium and gave a brief summary of why they were all there. He finished by recounting what Nomi had told him during the debriefing. He then turned to her in the crowd,"Everyone, this is Nomi Antilles," He gestured for her to stand which she did with some shyness," She will join up with Team Blue. She is one that we all will need to listen to because unlike any of us, she has seen this threat first hand and has survived."

Ellan continued on about team assignments and then turned the floor over to a Master Skimpis that Nomi had never heard of before. The woman got up and said a few words about her background and credentials. The woman's face was graced with high cheek bones and she wore her long blonde hair straight down her back. She walked with the kind of authority that only someone convinced of their own self worth could walk. Nomi had to hand it to her though she was strikingly beautiful. Nomi felt strangely like she knew her but was sure that if she had met her that she would have remembered. Master Skimpis raised her eyes and met Nomi's from across the room. There was something there, a small touch through the Force, Nomi knew that for sure but as quick as it came it was gone again. She settled back into her chair and listened to the briefing not letting her mind wander to Master Skimpis again.

A little while later Nomi had made her way to the grounds that the Jedi used for lightsaber training. She had brought her blade along but was content to sit and watch. After a real battle the thought of going into the ring with another person kind of scared her. She watched others battle across the open field noting who the more capable fighters were. She found that most were on the same team as herself, which if she thought about it made sense. Blue Team was known for tactical deployments. Other teams had specialization in piloting or interrogation but Blue Team was the elite of the elite. Nomi very much doubted she would have been placed on the team as a rookie had it not been for her experience with the new threat.

"Is anyone sitting here," a soft voice asked from behind.

Nomi turned into the sunlight and saw the outline of someone," No go ahead."

As the figure came around the bench Nomi realized that it was Master Skimpis. The blonde woman sat down next to her and stretched her long legs," Nice day to watch a duel."

The only thing that Nomi could think of to say was," Uh, Yeah." Her brow furrowed a little. Think, Stupid, find something witty to say! "Do you duel?" The question came out of her mouth all jumbled and she felt a flush come to her cheeks.

"No," came the reply," Not really. I feel like once you have been in a fight that your life depended on it is very hard to go back into practice ring and fight among friends."

Nomi turned amazed at what the Master had just said. She was sure she was not hiding her awe struck look," Were you reading my thoughts or are you just that lucky?"

"Anyone who has been in a battle and survived thinks twice about dueling for fun. It is human nature to fear something that holds so much power over us," Master Skimpis turned and smiled at her," You should not stop practicing though. At some point you will be in a battle again. You must remain sharp. Maybe, one day when you are feeling more up to it you and I can duel," the Master flashed Nomi the most unbelievable smile," And, yes, I heard about your own run in with the Sith assassin. I have not actually seen her. I was on her trail just before I was called back here. Sometime, I would like to speak to you about that."

Nomi nodded her head. She figured that lots of people would be curious about that but she let the subject drop," What were you doing before you got here?"

"You know," Skimpis replied, leaning back on the bench behind and lacing her fingers over her flat stomach," The usual classified stuff, things I can not share. But the information that I had gathered backs up most of your theories on the Sith, very intuitive, Nomi."

Nomi could not help the pride that she felt by the praise she was getting from Master Skimpis. She nodded her thank you and turned her attention back to the training field. Not that she was trying to be rude to the woman sitting next to her but she felt that she would have nothing of interest the talk about with this woman and a Jedi Master was more then a little out of her league.

"I hear you are form Hapes," Master Skimpis stated," Beautiful place. I love the fountains. Queen Mother Tenel Ka was not so bad looking in her younger days either."

Nomi's jaw dropped to the ground, she was sure of it. It was no big secret that she was from Hapes, that was not what surprised her. The Jedi Master had just expressed fondness for a woman. Most Jedi Masters whether they were involved or not kept a tight lip on affections of the heart. Even though love was now allowed in the Jedi it was still frowned upon by those who wanted the older ways. All the spice on Kessel, Nomi thought, I might really be in trouble.

"Yes," Nomi started in about her home planet," Hapes is really beautiful in the spring?"

Nomi sat in the small bunk room that she shared with three other members of Blue Team. Grayson Tillet a Chiss male that served as the lieutenant for the team. He had the most years of experience on the JPC. He was a hardened man with a no nonsense kind of attitude. He kept his bunk made and his uniform military pressed. The red eyes and blue skin took some getting used to since Nomi had never met a Chiss before but she soon became accustom to it. Tasha Whitelighter a human female was the moral center of the group. Her first thoughts were usually unselfish ones and her personality matched well with Tillet's. Nomi had not seen anything to prove or disprove her theory but she believed that their feelings ran more then just comrades. Rounding out their group, almost literately, was Rega Porkins. He was a round human with a heart of gold buried somewhere deep under an oversized frame. What he lacked in physical endurance he more then made up for in flying ability and ship repair skills. He could fly anything with wings, he often said, and if it had no wings he could make them.

Tasha had welcomed Nomi to the group and they had become fast confidants. The two had known of each other a short while at the Academy and had many mutual friends. They shared the female side of the living quarters which was joined to the male living quarters by a small living area in between. They had been built in such a way that team members learn to depend on each other and build trust.

Days had turned into weeks and Nomi found all of her spare time devoted to Sith research. Nomi found herself spending many nights late in the library watching old holovideos and reading articles on the subject. Several nights she had company in the form of a Jedi Master. Master Skimpis had not been shy about the offer to help with her research but Nomi had declined. Nomi knew that she had a growing attraction for the Jedi Master. It was not the physical attributes that Nomi found the most appealing but more of the connection she felt. Whenever they were around one another their senses pick up on the other almost immediately. Nomi had been unsure if Master Skimpis had the ability until she walked into a JPC briefing. Without announcing her presence Nomi watched as Master Skimpis turned and met her eyes from across the room. Master Skimpis's eyes revealed that she too had felt their connection.

Nomi thought that Master Skimpis more intelligent then she let on. If Nomi had a question about something that she had read she could find the answer by asking the Master. Nomi could simply walk into the Master's office and before she left she had clarity. Master Skimpis always greeted her with a gentle smile and stopped whatever she was doing at the time. Nomi always thanked the Master for her help and was always given the reply that she was no bother. Her visits never lasted longer then it took to find the information she was looking for. She was surprised by the fact that she was so shy around the Jedi Master. Nomi tried to keep her feelings secret but she knew that would only last so long.

Tonight was no exception in Nomi's schedule. She found herself pouring over old texts that did little to help her find a weakness in a Sith. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was well past dinner. Her stomach, as if also realizing the time, grumbled. Should have brought a snack in here. I wasn't really planning on staying this long.

There was a tingling sensation down her spine at the same time as a clearing of a throat behind her and Nomi turned to see the outline of Mater Skimpis leaned against a nearby bookcase. Nomi looked up and down the figure and came to the conclusion that she wasn't just attracted to the Master's look but it did not hurt either. The Jedi Master's power through the Force surrounded her like an shield. Nomi sat in awe over the way the woman carried such strength.

"I figured I would find you here," Master Skimpis moved into the light that Nomi sat under." Have you eaten?"

Nomi felt her face flush," No, I was just about to finish here and then grab a bite."

"Well," Master Skimpis extended her hand," Come on then. Let's go grab something and I will let you pick my brain for awhile."

That's not all I'd like to pick, Nomi thought ruefully. She knew that a relationship with the Master would be complicated. After all it was frowned upon for Knights to fraternize with the Masters in such a way. None the less she reached out and took the Master's offered hand. It was warm under her fingers and she held it until she was fully standing. Which had been a little too long but Nomi had always been one to play with fire.

Nomi was trying to sneak back into her room late at night, hoping she would not wake a sleeping Tasha. She stepped inside the door and was startled by the lights truning on," All right spill it, girl," Tasha said in a voice that meant she was going to believe just anything.

"I don't know what you mean," Nomi tried to play it off like she had been home all night. She moved into their room and deposited her utility belt on her bunk. Not being put off so easily Tasha followed her and effectively blocked the door.

"Really," Tasha put her hands on her hips," Let's weigh the evidence. Late night arrival, twinkle in your eye, and a smile on you lips. You were with her weren't you?"

Nomi closed her eyes, Might as well fess up.

"Fine," Nomi smiles," I was with Master Skimpis. Can you blame me? That woman is gorgeous. She's smart too, the amount of information she's got on the Sith is unending. It's hard to believe that she's only been tracking them for five years."

Tasha threw her arms up in the air in a mock temper tantrum," Yeah, I'm sure that you're so excited about the amount of information she has," Tasha used her first two fingers on each hand to quote the word, information, as she said it.

Nomi threw her pillow at Tasha," I'm getting in the shower."

"You probably need one. Make sure the water is cold."

That night Nomi slept fitfully. Her dreams were haunted by the day of the attack. She saw the woman walk towards her and she felt no fear. She felt a longing that gnawed at her core. As she lay prone on the floor she felt none of the pain that she had experienced on that day. It surprised her that she had free range of movement as well.

The Sith woman knelt down next to her and lifted her upper body to her own," Nomi," the woman said, how did she know my name," I am sorry. I love you. Please forgive me."

Nomi felt sorry for the woman above her. She watched as her own hand reached up to put a stray piece of black hair behind her ear. She placed her palm flat against her face bringing the eyes of the woman up to look into hers. Instead of the ugly yellow that they had been that day they were now a blue like she had never seen before. Her thumb brushed over the small scar on her brow.

"No worries," a voice answered and she realized it was her own. She brought the face above her down to her own. Their lips met and the connection of the two was tangible. Nomi's eyes fell shut and all her focus was on the dark woman that she was kissing.

She sat straight up, gasping for air. She felt the flush on her cheeks and the rush of excitement through her veins. Sweat ran down her face and the sensation was enough to make her shiver. What in the Sith was that?

Gauge rested on the sofa in the room that had been given to her by the Jedi Council in her time here. The surroundings were modest but it was nice to have a place to herself. She has observed much in her short time on Coruscant. The Jedi here were far too trusting, taking her on tours of their facilities. Everything from the defense systems to the recreation grounds, where the Jedi honed their skills, was recorded and sent on a secure frequency back to her Master. It was on the training grounds that she had meet Nomi Antilles again. She was surprised about how unmarked she was from the attack. Gauge still carried a small scar above her eye where the young woman has struck her. She was just as powerful as she remembered her being but there was a reservation to Nomi now. Gauge knew that it was there because of her. Despite herself she felt a sort of resentment about it.

Gauge had begun to feel a growing attraction to the petite woman. She had begun to look forward to their daily meetings at the training grounds. Several times now they had met in the Great Library to look up information on the Sith, staying late into the night. Nomi was certain that there was a way to block the Force lightening that rendered her immobile the last attack. Nomi had worked out a theory that if there was a way to contain it and used it against the Sith that would be their only line of defense. It was a good idea, one that Gauge had encouraged Nomi to follow. If Nomi had had that line of defense a month ago Gauge highly doubted she would be sitting in the land of the living.

Gauge unclipped the holocam from her belt and placed it on the cushion next to her. The essence of her disguise faded away and she shook her head so her black hair was free to rest on her shoulders. She hated the holocam, it made her feel like she was wearing a full body suit and she was sure that it hindered her movement, even though it probably did not. She was unsure how the device would work if she would like to have any extracurricular activities with a certain young Jedi. She thought again of the green eyed woman who she found herself spending most of her waking moments. If only there was no war. If only her mother had not been so weak. If only a lot of things maybe she would have a chance with Nomi Antilles but there were no ifs now. She was on the wrong side with no chance of a conversion. She rubbed her scratchy eyes and made her way to her bunk.

The sun was high above the field when Nomi and Master Skimpis walked into the middle of the training grounds. It had taken long hours of convincing on the part of Mater Skimpis to get Nomi to go out on the field with her. In all reality it only took one moment to convince Nomi to duel with the Master. Master Skimpis had placed her hand on top of Nomi's and stated," I will not hurt you," Nomi looked into the brown eyes and knew it was the truth," Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

And with that it was settled. Master Skimpis said that it was alright to be afraid but to give up the lightsaber all together was not realistic for Nomi, or any Jedi for that matter. If she wanted to help the Jedi fight the Sith she needed to practice her skills. No one knew how close the fight with the Sith was but everyone knew it was coming. Most of all was Master Skimpis.

Nomi swung her blade in slow arcs remembering how it felt in her hands. Master Skimpis stood out of her way and let her reacquaint herself with her weapon. After all it had been close to two months since the attack and Nomi was more then a little nervous about hurting someone or herself with her clumsy actions. She held the blade parallel to her body and closed her eyes. She opened her mind to the Force and let it flow through her. Letting her senses move about the field she felt the other combatants and Master Skimpis. The Master as always was the essence of calm through the Force. Nomi shivered as Master Skimpis reached out to her and touched her senses lightly, letting her know that when she was ready they could begin. Taking in a long deep breath, she again opened her eyes and nodded to Master Skimpis.

Master Skimpis approached her at a slow easy pace and waited for Nomi to make the first move. Nomi slashed tentatively and had it easily block by the tall blonde woman standing in front of her. Again, Master Skimpis waited for the attack. Nomi delivered a combination of blows and was again blocked. Nomi's confidence grew with every swing and finally the tension in her shoulder's dropped and she felt her body begin to take on a mind of its own.

Master Skimpis sensed the change and after a block she counter attacked. There was a look of fear in Nomi's eyes just for a second but she brought her own blade up in time to stop the attack. Then the fight was on. Both fighters pushing each other to their limits. At one point Master Skimpis had the tip of her blade between Nomi's breasts. Nomi's eyebrows hiked to her hairline," Give up, Knight," it was more of an order then it was a question. Nomi could see the teasing in the Master Jedi's eyes. Nomi gave her a sly smile and activated her second blade.

"Never," Nomi sweep her blade in a upward motion and knocked the Master's blade away from her body. She then back flipped twice and when she landed she motioned Master Skimpis to come and get her. Master Skimpis laughed and ran to greet her with her blade swinging. From there the fight lasted for almost an hour with no clear winner being decided. Both dusty and tried duelist left the field but Nomi's confidence had returned to her.

Days later Gauge found her way out to the training fields and was not surprised to see the activity. She had not seen Nomi since their exercise and had missed the woman's questions and easy laugh. In the center of the field fought Nomi Antilles against a much larger opponent. Gauge found herself to be staring as Nomi dominated the duel. Supple arms and legs in constant motion. Hair the color of the sun reflecting the artificial lights. Eyes that came alive with determination for the first time since Gauge had seen Nomi on Coruscant. Gauge found a seat in the bleachers and sat back to enjoy watching the woman move.

If only she was not the enemy.

Sadness sunk into Gauge's core as she watched the duel with glazed eyes. Sadness was not an emotion that she had much experience with and she found it to be debilitating. If Nomi knew the truth there would be nothing but hatred left for Gauge and even though Gauge found it easy to hate she could not bear it if Nomi was corrupted by it. Nomi would never understand the reasoning behind her actions. She would never understand that if Gauge could have taken that day back she would, even if it meant giving up her own life. She would never feel anything but disgust for you.

Gauge shook her head to clear her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she calmed to raging storm that was just beneath the surface. Always just beneath the surface, a caged animal that wanted so desperately to be free. Gauge was certain that if she gave into her own demons that Nomi would be able to feel it through the Force. Gauge knew that there was a connection between them and had been very cautious in the uses of her powers. She is not your enemy. You are.

Nomi had taken a young Jedi up on the offer for a duel. Master Skimpis had said that she needed to continue with practice and since their own duel the anxiety of it had dwindled. Now she found herself in one of the most challenging duels she had been in. The man, while large compared to her size, was smart and seemed to guess her every move. Parry, parry thrust. Nothing seemed to faze this man. He even smiled at her at one point almost to seal the fact that she was unable to finish him off.

Nomi drew deep within the Force and felt the familiar sensation of a certain Jedi Master. When the combatants turned Nomi found herself facing the small set of bleachers that lined one side of the field. There sat Master Skimpis watching her. Nomi met her gaze for only a moment but she could hear the Master's thoughts as plainly as if she were on her shoulder.

You can do this.

Nomi found her center and redoubled her efforts. The man was on the retreat backing slowly towards the edge of the field. Nomi swung hard from her left and when their blades collided the man lost his grip on his blade. Before the handle hit the ground Nomi called it to her out stretched hand bringing both blades together in an X across her front. The man put his hands up in a sign of defeat. Nomi deactivated both the blades and handed the borrowed one back to its rightful owner. Smiling Nomi exited the field and made her way to Master Skimpis.

"Not my choice for your first duel," Master Skimpis replied as she walked up," But you did well none the less."

"Thank you, Master, you have taught me a lot in the last few weeks and in appreciation of that I'd like to take you to dinner," Nomi said the last part in such a rush that she was sure the Master Jedi had not heard her.

"I accept," came the whispered answer.

Nomi could not place the emotion that was behind the voice but chose to disregard it," Tonight then, pick me up about seven." Nomi turned and did not look back as she made her way towards the dormitory. Had she turned she would have seen a look of longing follow her off the field.

Gauge starred at her reflection in the mirror. Why are you doing this? She intently asked herself. You were sent here to kill her and the rest of the Jedi. Why are you going to dinner with her?

Her face starred back at her. She had no answer. She had feelings running through her head and she did not know what they were. She could name them, sure, but she had never felt these feelings before. The excitement that was making her blood pump felt so much different then the rage. The happiness that filled her void where only loneliness had lived. There were more feelings there, ones she did not understand. Complicated feelings that only left her questioning everything she knew. These emotions were not her path. These were not the feelings that she had been trained to recognize but all the same they were slamming her consciences like an aerial bombardment.

She wanted nothing more then to cut these alien thoughts from her head. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. You can do this, she thought to herself, it is only dinner with one of the people you were sent here to spy on. You are just building her trust so you can turn it against her. She looked painfully at her reflection as the holocam shrouded her figure with that of Master Skimpis. Only dinner.

Nomi stood in front of Tasha in their small living area," Are you sure I look okay?"

Nomi wore a floor length pale green evening gown that was strapless. She had borrowed it from Tasha, who being royalty on Naboo, had several in her closet that she never wore.

"You look fine," Tasha said picking little pieces of debris off the dress," You're going to knock her dead."

"It's only dinner."

Tasha snorted and crossed her arms," Only dinner with the only thing that you've been obsessing over for weeks. I mean come on you talk in your sleep."

Nomi turned open mouthed to her roommate. She thought back to various dreams that she had had about a tall dark woman, who was not Mater Skimpis. Knowing what those dreams entailed she felt a strong blush grace her cheeks.

" I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't do you?" Tasha walked over to the adjoining wall to the guy's room and rapped on it with her knuckles," The walls aren't thick, Nomi. Don't believe me, ask Porkins?.He'll tell you."

There was a knock on the door and Tasha rushed over to open it. There stood Master Skimpis blonde hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a tailored black pants suit that brought out every curve on the muscular woman's body. Tasha was at a loss for words at the moment but thankfully the Jedi Mater saved her," Hello, Tasha," Master Skimpis nodded her head in acknowledgement," Is Nomi here?"

"Um, yeah she right in here."

Tasha moved to the side and the Jedi Master stepped into the room. Now it was Nomi's turn to be in shock. It's not that Master Skimpis was unattractive to begin with but she was stunning now. Nomi found her tongue," Master Skimpis, you look nice." Nice, what are you two years old? Sith Lords, pull you head out of your ass.

The Jedi Master simply blushed and offered Nomi her arm," Shall we go?"

"Sure, lead on."

At the restaurant Gauge has a hard time not blatantly starring at her companion. She had known that Nomi was a beautiful woman but she was strikingly so tonight. The restaurant itself added to the romance that was shared between the two women. The table that Gauge had reserved was on a balcony overlooking the courtyard of the Jedi Complex. The lights of the city glowed behind them and above they were covered by the blanket of the night sky. It was by far the most extravagant place Gauge had ever been in. At the door she had hesitated for a minute, suddenly unsure as to how ever thought she could do this. Nomi had taken her arm again, with a small smile, and simply stated," Come on, I'm sure dinner is getting cold."

Gauge had come to the conclusion somewhere in between the ordering of drinks and the arrival of their food that she really did not want anything to happen to the woman sitting across from her. She hated herself for thinking that but trying to fight the feeling off was like trying to stop breathing, it seemed like a totally natural reaction, to care for this woman. Did I just think that? She took a sip of her water. I am sure I did. That is why I could kill her before and why I can not do it now.

"You're quiet this evening, Master Skimpis," Nomi said from across the table," Is there something bothering you?"

Gauge fumbled with the amount of thoughts that ran through her head. She tried to think of a cover, some story she could make up to get her out of the mess she was in. Her brows knitted together and she decided for the first time in her life to be honest," There are things that you do not know about me." It was out before she could stop herself.

Nomi smiled that sort of shy smile that Gauge liked that lead her to believe that there was more going on inside that beautiful head then she knew," I agree with that statement, Master Skimpis, the same could be said about me."

You think, Gauge thought, I killed one of your dear friends and almost killed you. What do you think of me now?

"No," she shook her head to reaffirm her point," I mean there are things about me that if you knew you would be hurt by them." Her eyes pleaded with those across the table," I do not want to hurt you, Nomi."

Nomi reached out and took her hand across the table," Look, I'm a big girl. If you're worried that the relationship between us is something that the Jedi Council will frown on and you don't want to pursue it," Nomi stopped and swallowed a little before she started again," Then that's fine. I understand."

Again Gauge shook her head. The hand resting in hers burned like fire to the touch. Softly, a finger traced along her knuckles. It was only a slight sensation but there was more affection in that touch then she had felt her whole life. She knew that she was too close. Too close to telling this woman everything. Too close to turning against all she had known. Nomi, what have you done to me?

"Nomi," she closed her eyes and waited for the words to form," The Dark Side is stronger then you think. In this war everyone is guilty of it. Some more then others," she knew she was not making any sense to the woman she was trying desperately to connect with," You felt the Dark Side the day you were attacked. You still do, it eats away at your resistance every time you think of that day. I felt it the day you dueled with me on the training fields."

Nomi sat back in her chair, pulling her hand with her. Gauge missed the feeling of having it close to her. Nomi's eyes began to tear up," So, what you're saying is that you don't want me because I've been touched by the Dark Side? That's really funny, you know," Nomi brought one hand to her nose as if to stop herself form talking," You were the first person who I thought could understand what happened to me on that day. I trusted you?"

"You can trust me," Gauge sat forward in her chair and took the hand back into her grasp," I want you to trust me. You make me feel things that I am not supposed to feel. Confusing things that make my chest tighten and my eyes water. There are things that if we do this," gesturing to the clasped hands on the table top," you have to know about me, that I want you to know about me, and you have to be alright with them."

Nomi eyed her suspiciously from across the table," Like what kind of things?"

Gauge blew out a large amount of air through her mouth, here goes nothing.

"Well," she suddenly found the top of the table very interesting," May name is Gauge, not Mater Skimpis, it is just Gauge."

The look of surprise on Nomi's face quickly turned to fear as the Jedi complex was struck by what looked to be a proton torpedo. The floor of the restaurant shook with the after shocks of the blast made its way across the court yard. Both Jedi jumped from their seats before a second bombardment hit the building.

Chapter 4:

Nomi ran with the woman who she had been having dinner with, a woman until a few moments ago she was sure she knew. Now her head tried to wrap around the fact that Mater Skimpis was not Master Skimpis at all, she was a woman named Gauge who bore an uncanny resemblance to the Jedi Master. Only to complicate things further while in the middle of their soul bearing conversation the Jedi complex was under attack. The two had immediately left the restaurant and were running to help.

Nomi was grateful that she had opted against the taller heals that Tasha was going to make her wear with the dress. Tasha, she thought, I hope she's alright. From street level the damage did not look that bad. From their table on the balcony they had gotten a bird's eye view of the damage. The only thing that looked like it had been hit was the communications tower and the landing platform. It was a crippling first strike because the star fighters that are kept at the complex were unable to scatter for defense and with the communication tower down they could not send any messages to star fighters who were already in orbit. The last thing that either of them saw was a cargo ship landing on the roof of the Jedi Temple. They had not stayed long enough to count the bodies but the group that had disembarked from the ship were definitely a hostile.

A question came to Nomi then. She did not know where it had come from but decided to ask it anyway," Did you know anything about the attack?"

Gauge did not stop to answer until they were in the repulsor lift. Her comlink chirped in her pocket and she was thankful that it helped her have a reason not to answer Nomi's question.

"Skimpis," she stated matter of factly into the transmitter. She looked over at Nomi," Go ahead." This is it, she thought, they're here. Could have picked a better damn time.

"Master Skimpis, Commander Ellan, the complex is under attack. We've begun evacuation proceeding for all nonessential Jedi. What is your status?"

"Repulsor lift," she looked at the panel," between floors four and five. I have Nomi Antilles with me we will be in the briefing room in under ten. Give us time to suit up."

"You're clear."

Nomi stood in the corner of the repulsor lift with her arms crossed," You didn't answer my question."

Gauge felt frustration boil to the surface she fought very hard to keep it under control," I am sorry," she stated almost flatly," I did not figure that it was something I had to stop and discuss with you."

"You weren't surprised."

"Excuse me?" Nomi's questions were starting to bother Gauge. The tone behind the words was fierce and Gauge found it threatening. Her first instinct was to counter attack but her heart kept reminding her that it was Nomi she was talking to and to tread lightly.

Nomi shook her head and looked to the floor," You weren't surprised when the attack happened. Startled but not surprised. You mind explaining that."

The repulsor lift came to a stop and the door swung open. Nomi's eyes still burned into hers. You've been truthful so far?"You are right. I was not surprised," Gauge got off the repulsor lift and began running to her room," Like I said there are things in my past that if you knew would hurt you. This happens to be one of those things. I am not on their side," Nomi looked at her," I am not really on anyone's now."

Nomi ran down two doors farther then the one that Gauge had stopped at. Before either entered their sleeping quarters Nomi warned," If you attack a single Jedi I will cut you down myself."

Two doors shut in unison. Both Nomi and Gauge knew that the words spoke in the hallway were not empty threats.

The briefing room was crammed with four teams of Jedi, Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. It took only a few minutes for the group to assemble. Nomi sat with Blue Team dressed in Jedi battle fatigues and her lightsaber hung on her hip. Around her utility belt she had added a thermal detonator, a small pistol, and a trip mine. She had been relieved when she returned to her room and found that all of her team was okay. Tasha was already dressed and had already gotten out her equipment and had her lightsaber in hand when she walked in the door. Blue Team would be the on point team for the assault since all the members were trained in close quarter urban fighting. Everyone except for Nomi but she was the only team member to fight a Sith.

Commander Ellan took the podium and spoke quickly," We are under attack. Local authorities have set up a perimeter around the Complex." He pointed to a holovid of the building and showed breifly were the locals were.

"We believe the group is in the upper levels, here and here. We've dispatched two teams of snipers to track their movements. The motive for this attack, at present, could be guessed but is not certain. Do not fire unless fired upon. Blue Team will be on point. Yellow and Green I want that starship that is parked on my roof secured. We'll need the ships nav computers to know where it came from. Red team you'll be standing by with the Council. They are not to be taken out of this facility. Is that clear?"

Positive replies were sounded throughout the briefing.

"Master Skimpis will be going with Blue Team as team leader. There are believed to be twenty hostiles. Keep comlink channels clear of any non-emergency traffic. Let's go and may the Force be with you."

Gauge felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Twenty hostiles, she thought to herself, Darth Chen has to be leading them. The only other person Master Gerton has sent on such a large scale mission is me?She and Blue Team were making their way slowly towards the enemy's position. She was in no hurry to meet with Darth Chen. His tactics would not be on the level and guessing from the way they had never gotten along he would take great pleasure in personally dispatching Gauge.

Her thoughts trailed off as her earpiece came alive with excited voices. Bringing two fingers to her ear she listened to the frightened voices.

"Under attack?.,"came a man's voice," Sniper Team One is down?.Requesting immediate assistance this location?."

There was a roar of a lightsaber and the link went dead. Porkins brought a small computer screen that he wore on the back of his wrist into her field of vision. He pointed to two locations where the sniper teams had been stationed. From where the teams had been positioned if the invaders now controlled the areas that the Jedi were hoping to use as a bottle neck to trap the Sith. Team one's location over looked a large hallway that connected many of the complex's corridors, all points leading to the center. The second location was overlooking the training grounds that stood in between the living quarters and the corporation side of the Complex.

She silently gathered the team around her and tried to ignore the heated gaze of one Nomi Antilles. There would be some Sith left behind to guard the return route and the others would continue on to finish the objective. Gauge knew this because she had trained all of the students in battle techniques. Darth Chen, though a good fighter, lacked imagination and would probably use the same tactics. If they could take back team one's original location they would be able to cut off any chances of the Sith's escape.

Gauge sent Tasha and Grayson up to secure the corridor ahead and then sent Porkins thirty seconds later. When it was Nomi and her turn to round the corner Gauge stopped. In one fluid motion she took Nomi's arm, spun her, and brought their lips together. For a long moment the whole universe disappeared. Gauge pulled away first remembering that they were, in fact, in danger. Nomi took moment longer to open and focus her eyes. The anger that had been there was gone replaced only with a look of determination.

"I am sorry," Gauge fumbled over her own words," I just did not want to not know what that felt like."

Nomi's expression did not change.

With that Nomi ducked around the corner following in her teams footsteps. Gauge stepped out behind her certain of only one thing. That she would make very certain that Nomi Antilles did make it through this alive and unscathed.

Nomi was relieved that they had made it to the central hallway without running into any of the uninvited guests. Her face felt flushed and she did not know if it was from the adrenaline of battle or the kiss that Gauge and her shared. She knew that she cared very deeply for the woman who was now craning her neck to get a visual on the invaders. She lied, yes, but it's not the name of the woman that you're falling for?.It's the woman. Nomi just hoped that whatever else Gauge was hiding she would be able to deal with it.

"There they are," Gauge whispered to the group, pointing to an overlook about fifty yards away and a story up," It looks like there are only two of them."

"Looks can be deceiving," Nomi spoke up. She made no effort to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

Gauge tried to hide the crooked smile on her face but Nomi saw it anyway.

"Tasha, Grayson," Gauge talked as she drew her plans on the dust covered floor," I want you to hug the walls and get to the stairways on either side. Porkins, I want you to make you way to that gaudy sculpture in the center. Using it as cover I want you to lob a thermal detonator over the railing," Gauge paused." Make sure you count it off so they have no time to throw it back."

Nomi crossed her arms," What about me?"

"You and I will be providing cover fire."

"But I'm better then both of them with a lightsaber," Nomi protested.

Gauge stood up to her full height and towered over Nomi,"If you do not like my orders then you can go back up the hall. This is a Sith attack force. They are reviled by none in the galaxy."

Nomi came to the realization that she was not in charge. She had been given an assignment by her commanding officer and she was to follow it. If she did not her team could get hurt, Gauge could get hurt," I was out of line," Nomi offered.

Gauge just nodded at her before turning to the rest of the team," Porkins, you are up first."

Porkins moved across the open area. He already had the thermal detonator in his hand all he had to do was release and throw. Blaster fire erupted from above and behind him. He ducked and dodged where he could but mostly he just hoped he was fast enough. He slid to his knees and used his forward momentum to cover the rest of the distance between himself and the sculpture. Ticking off three seconds he let the detonator fly. He heard it bounce once on the balcony above and then it blew. Pieces of ceiling fell down around him.

"Eat that," he whispered to no one in particular.

He popped out from behind the sculpture and helped Master Skimpis and Nomi provide cover fire.

Grayson and Tasha followed Porkins out in the fray but hung close to the wall that led to a spiral staircase that would lead to the balcony. Reaching the base of the stairs they holstered their pistols and ignited their lightsabers. Blasters would do them no good if the attackers decided to meet them on the stairs. Taking them two at a time until they reached to middle section where they heard an explosion above them.

"I didn't hear any screams," Tasha whispered.

"I didn't feel anything from the Force either," Grayson pulled out his comlink," Blue 2 to Blue 1. Did you have visuals on the kill zone?"

"Negative Blue 2," came Master Skimpis' reply over open coms," Proceed with extreme caution. I have got a bad feeling about this. Porkins get to the stairs, Blue 2, your standing orders are to secure Sniper team two's location. Go."

Just as the words cut off four heavily armored Sith dropped over the balcony railing. Effectively cutting the team off from one another.

Gauge, for the first time in a long time, reacted with no thought of herself. When the commandos dropped from the ceiling she dove from her hiding place and provided cover fire for the team that was stranded on the stairway. Much to her credit she took one of the commandos out with a two to the chest and one to the head combination shot. Had she really had time to think about it she would have realized the she had just signed her own death papers. She took out one of her own, a Sith. The only family she had ever really known. Her Master would not be pleased. He probably already knew about her changing sides.

Getting the attention of the rest of the commandos she dropped her blaster to the floor. Moving her head from side to side, to stretch her neck she pulled her lightsaber. The blue glow lit the surrounding area. The Sith discarded their sidearms as well and as one lit their own blades. The red hue mingled with blue dosing the room in a purple haze.

"Do you really want to do this?" One of the masked figures asked.

"You know he'll find you." Added another one.

"And then," the third one chuckled" You will die."

Gauge circled the group and waited. Using the Force she pulled the dead man's lightsaber to her hand and had it ready for defense as the trio attacked her. She blocked and parried but could not find the time to counter attack.

Suddenly, one of the men she had been fighting squared off to her left. She heard the sizzle of another lightsaber being activated and knew that Nomi had joined the fight. Smiling at her opponents she doubled her efforts against her attackers. She changed her blade direction at the last second and separated one of the men with his right hand and forearm. He grasped his stump and in his moment of weakness she Force pushed across the room. There was a sickening snap pop announcing the breaking of his spine.

Turing to the second man she wasted no time. Bringing the blades quickly up the man's sides she had rendered him armless and with a quick spin cut him in half.

Her coms came to life at that moment," Blue 1, this is Blue 2. We have secured team two location. Do you copy?"

"Loud and clear. Hold for the rest of the team."

She turned to see Nomi finish off her opponent. They starred at each other for a moment and then Nomi's face was covered by a look of horror. Understanding came over Gauge's face as she heard to blaster shots cry out. The first blot hit her in the lower back as she turned. Stunned she dropped both of the lightsabers. She was surprised that it had not hurt the way she remembered it had. The second shot caught her on her side just under her ribs. Now that's the pain I remember. The third caught her in high on the left side of her chest and she finally saw him. The one handed man that she had left for dead was sitting against the far wall. In his one still working hand he held a semi-automatic blaster.

"He will kill you traitor?." His words were cut off as a lightsaber blade sunk deep into his chest. The last blaster bolt that shot from the gun glanced along the right side of her face. It burnt her face from her eyebrow to her chin, her cheekbone to her ear. It was all she could take. She felt herself slowly sinking to the floor. Arms caught her from behind and guided her softly.

Nomi face was close to hers," You need to hold on."

"Let me go, Nomi," Gauge felt a tear track down the side of her face," You do not know who I am. What I have done?..to you." The last part was said in just a whisper,

Nomi shook her head," I need a med team in corridor one NOW," she screamed into her comlink," We have wounded."

Nomi threw the comlink to the side and did not wait for a reply. She brushed Gauge's bangs away from her forehead. She gently rubbed her thumb over the scar on Gauge's brow. Gauge's breath caught in her damaged chest. The shot to my back, it didn't hurt because it hit the holocam. She can see me, she knows.

Gauge could not mask the fear in her voice," You can see me," She took in a breath she could feel herself growing weaker laying here in this woman's arms," I am sorry, Nomi, I am so sorry."

Nomi placed a hand over Gauge's eyes and thankfully oblivion took her.

Nomi watched as Gauge jumped out into the open and shot down one of the commandos. She stayed back for a moment while lightsabers were drawn. From some reason something was telling her not to join the battle but to wait and watch for a moment. What she saw surprised her and rocked her to the core. I know this technique, she thought to herself. I've seen it before. Not from Master Skimpis but from the Sith assassin.

Nomi lit up her lightsaber and got the attention of one of Gauge's opponents. She felt the Dark Side creeping into her conscience. How could I have been so stupid? She was right here this whole time. She pushed the attacker's blade away from her body. With a quick jab she stabbed him through the chest, dropping him immediately. I was starting to feel something for her. HER! She turned to Gauge who met her cold gaze.

The sound of blaster fire pulled her out of her thoughts and back into reality. She stood in disbelief as the blonde image that she had come to associate with Gauge turned into the dark haired assassin that she had been seeing in her dreams. She watched as Gauge's lightsabers hit the ground next to her feet as she began to turn. Gauge put up no resistance. Nomi winced as a second shot tore into Gauge's side. What am I doing? I can't sit here and watch her die. She needs to be brought to trial. I need to speak to her, ask her why?Nomi's thoughts trailed off as she cocked her lightsaber back to throw. While she was doing so a third shot buried itself in the left side of Gauge's chest, knocking Gauge off balance. Nomi flipped her lightsaber's safety, let go of the handle and, watched as her blade landed true to mark but not before a fourth shot was fired.

Gauge and the commando shooting at her began to sink to the floor. On instinct, Nomi lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Gauge's waist. Slowly she rested her on the floor and looked into the eyes that not long ago had looked into hers almost this same way. Nomi was surprised at what she saw on the wounded face, remorse. There was even a tear that ran from Gauge's good eye.

Nomi looked into brilliant blue eyes that were slowly fading," You need to hold on." Please try.

"Let me go, Nomi," Gauge's eyes pleaded with her and her breath came out in short gasps." You don't know who I am. What I have done?to you."

Nomi knew that Gauge was fading away as she lay here in her arms. She quickly picked up her comlink and shouted orders into it. She did not wait for reply as Gauge's breath was becoming more labored. Nomi watched as her own hand came up to stroke the hair off of Gauge's forehead. Her thumb traced the scar above Gauge's eye that she knew she was responsible for. It's just as if I were dreaming.

Something suddenly changed on Gauge's face," You can see me."

It was a statement filled with despair. Nomi could feel Gauge's remorse flowing through the Force. It touched her to know that Gauge felt something other then what she felt on that day," I am sorry, Nomi, I am so sorry."

Nomi knew that it was a sincere apology, one begging for forgiveness. Forgiveness that she was not ready to give. She placed her hand over Gauge's eyes so she would not have to look into them anymore and in a move that would have made Adi proud sent Gauge into a healing sleep.

Nomi sat in the conference room rubbing her hands together. They were still covered in Gauge's blood. Everything had happened so quickly. Her mind was still reeling from the effects of the day. It had started with her excitement of going to dinner with Master Skimpis, a woman that she was beginning to feel very strongly about. The day had ended here in the briefing room after an attack by the Sith. Now the woman that Nomi had grown to care for was not at all who she thought. There was a quiet mummer in the room but Nomi could not concentrate on the voices around her. She just looked at her hands.

Commander Ellan came into the conference room just as fresh from the battle as those that were present. His usually crisp and clean uniform was filthy and tore. He glanced quickly to Nomi as to reassure himself that she was still here and not running for the nearest transport. He cleared his throat as he made his way to the head of the table, bringing all Jedi eyes to him.

"The threat has been eliminated," he plainly stated letting no emotion into his voice. He looked from one Jedi to another and came to rest on Nomi," There was a spy among us. She is in custody but is in critical condition. We have a Jedi medical team in route from Yavin and it will be here by morning. I'll start around the room, share observations and questions."

Porkins was the first to speak," How is Master Skimpis?"

Commander Ellan's head bowed toward the table top," Master Skimpis was not who she appeared. She was actually the Sith assassin that attacked the cruiser leaving the Academy. She wore a small holocam so we could not see her true identity."

Grayson huffed loudly at this," There is no way that she could have been with us for that long and none of us known. We're smarter then that."

"Apparently not," Nomi did not meet anyone's eyes at the table. Of all the people present she should have known who Gauge really was. Nomi had spent countless hours with the Master Skimpis imposter and it had not once occurred to her their true identity. She had let her emotions cloud her judgment.

"This is no time to place blame. We need to conduct through investigations into this attack. They were not here to kill us all and as far as we can tell nothing was taken. There seems to be no motive," Commander Ellan paused for a moment," Anyone else have anything to add as far as what they saw tonight?"

The discussion opened back up. Many of the Jedi shared what they had seen about the attacking force. Weapons used, techniques while in battle. All of them had come to the conclusion that if the spy survived then she would be interrogated.

Commander Ellan finished the debriefing," I would advise all that can to sleep we will need you for the oncoming war."

Chapter 5:

Nomi could not sleep. She wandered the halls of the Temple aimlessly. How did I not know? I touched her, dueled with her. I should have picked up on it. Her heart wrenched in her chest. She knew that her feelings were why she had not figured it out. She closed her eyes and all she could see was the haunted blue ones that had stared back at her. Her breath caught in her chest. She leaned on to the near by wall for support.

I don't know what I feel anymore. She must have tricked me. Confused my heart in some way, I should not feel this way. Even with that Nomi felt a loss in the connection that she shared with Gauge. She had not felt her since the woman had gone unconscious in the corridor.

She stopped at one of the windows that overlooked part of the city. Outside she could see the balcony that earlier that day she had shared dinner with her enemy. She again closed her eyes remembering the conversation that had taken place in what seemed like a life time ago.

"You can trust me," Gauge sat forward in her chair and took the hand back into her grasp," I want you to trust me. You make me feel things that I am not supposed to feel. Confusing things that make my chest tighten and my eyes water. There are things that if we do this," gesturing to the clasped hands on the table top," you have to know about me, that I want you to know about me, and you have to be alright with them."

Nomi knew then what she had to do. With a new determination she made her way to Commander Ellan's quarters.

"Nomi," Commander Ellan had obviously had as much trouble sleeping as she had," what can I do for you?"

They stood in the doorway to his quarters just as the sun was cresting the skyline.

"I want to be on the interrogation council," She stated in a manner that left little room to argue.

Commander Ellan shook his head as if he had not heard her correctly. When she made no indication that she was backing off her request he stammered," Nomi, I think that due to the closeness of your relationship with Master Skimpis' impostor that you should not be allowed your request."

"Commander Ellan," Nomi had to struggle to keep her tone level," I have built a relationship of sorts with Master Skimpis' imposter, yes, but I believe that it will only be a benefit not a weakness. Before the attack she had begun to open up to me. She told me that her real name was Gauge. I believe she will tell me everything I ask with me doing the prompting."

Commander Ellan thought for a moment about the argument that she had made. At the end he simply nodded his head," I will grant your wish on one condition. If I feel that the interrogations are not going as I think they should be you will be pulled from the assignment."

Nomi nodded that she understood, turned on her heel, and made her way to the medical ward.

Adi met Nomi at the entrance to the medical ward," Nomi, thank the Force that you are all right. We were sent out as soon as they called for us but we received no word on who the people were that were injured."

"Right," Nomi could not fight the small smirk that tugged at the corner of her mouth," You just assumed it was me because I'm always getting in over my head, right?"

Adi gave a fish's best impression of a smile," No, I'm just used to having to patch you up. Also, I got a call from Gor'sek on the way here. You need to call him. His Padawan and he are on Corellia. He too wants reassurance that you are not dead."

They passed through the doorway and into the busy triage area. Many of the Jedi in the upper levels had injuries though none was life threatening. Many of the medical staff in the ward were concerning themselves with them. Adi and the other Jedi medics called from Yavin 4 were part of a specialized unit that only dealt with Force induced trauma and prisoners of war. There were two Jedi guards standing at attention outside on of the rooms. Both bowed their heads slightly as Nomi and Adi passed. Adi took the medical chart from the doctor who was currently supervising the medical wing. After he excused himself Adi scanned the chart.

"What can you tell me about this patient that I can't read in her lab reports?"

Nomi shrugged a little unsure of what to tell Adi," She was the Sith assassin. She was posing as Master Skimpis. I trusted her." Nomi quickly looked to the floor knowing that her last sentence was one she should not have voiced out loud.

"She was Sith, Nomi, they are trained to deceive," Adi reached out and put her hand on her friends shoulder," You are not the only person that she tricked."

"But I am the only one that should not have been," it sprung from Nomi's mouth with more venom then she had meant. How could she tell Adi how betrayed she felt. How could she tell Adi that she let her emotions cloud her judgment? She felt responsible for the attack. She felt responsible for all the people who were hurt by this woman. To Nomi the guilt was almost unbearable. Nomi look at the prone figure that floated lifelessly in the tank. Gauge's face was one of peace now but Nomi knew that it had all the potential in the universe to turn wicked. Nomi restrained the urge to put her hand on the glass in the attempt to reach out to the woman.

Adi saw the inner war going on inside of her friend and knew that only Nomi could calm herself.

"It's been a long day," Adi was slowly moving Nomi towards a bed near where the Sith's bacta tank stood," Have you slept?"

Nomi mumbled a negative response under her breath," I am to start interrogations on the prisoner as soon as possible. That's why I'm here; I figured I could start now."

Adi helped Nomi position herself on the cot," You both need your rest. Besides you can't talk to her until I finish with the rest of her charts."

Adi let humor into her eyes as she watched sleep take over her friend. There would be a time and a place for Nomi to tell her the whole story, it would just not be today.

Gauge could feel the activity around her. She felt people around her. One's that were not openly hostile to her but hostile none the less. It could only mean that she was still on Coruscant. Which meant that she had been left for dead by her Master and probably soon would be by the Jedi that surrounded her. It was not the first time that Gauge felt fear but it was the first time in a long time she felt she actually had something to lose.

She decided to concentrate on her surroundings so that the anxious fear would not over take her. She felt weightless but settled all at the same time which could only mean that she was currently floating in bacta. Great so they are going to heal me then kill me.

Spreading her focus out farther she felt the pain of all the people around her. Physical and mental pain flowed unhindered through out the room. This pain Gauge knew she was the cause of. There was another new feeling tugging at her that she could not put a name to. It made her sick to her stomach and made her wish she had never came to this place, had never been a Sith, had never been born. Gauge knew that this was only a fraction of the overall damage that she had caused these people. She had been assigned to hunt them down. How could she have done all those things and never felt the shame she now felt. Shame, yes that is the word.

Focusing again on her surroundings she found the essence of determination. In the mist of all the chaos there was one soul that stood out more so then all the rest. The determination the flowed from the person startled Gauge and then the obvious hit her. It is Nomi. She is here. She knows everything. She will want answers when I wake. What will I tell her? Gauge felt the presence so close to her that she felt like she could reach out and touch it. Gauge knew what she would have to do. She knew what she would tell Nomi. The truth.

Nomi stirred in her slumber and rolled over on to her side. She could see Gauge's lifeless body floating in the bacta tank. She looked so peaceful hanging there in nothing. It almost made Nomi forget all the things that Gauge was responsible for. A stoic mask covered Nomi's face as she moved to stand. Reaching her hand out she touched the side of the tank and closed her eyes. Focusing her mind solely on Gauge she began to open herself to the Force. She was not surprised to find Gauge on the other side of that wall waiting her arrival.

Have you been waiting long? Nomi asked in a nonchalant way, she might as well start out light.

I do not really know how much long is. Came Gauge's reply. I assume you have questions for me.

I have been assigned to interrogate you. Nomi could almost feel the laughter against her hand. It was at my request.

From you I expect nothing less. What would you like to ask me?

Why?

Because that's what I was ordered to do.

Nomi remembered the day on the ship leaving after graduation. She remembered Renny, how he had died because someone was doing what they were ordered to do. That's not good enough.

What do you want me to say? That I enjoyed it because I did not. Very few in the galaxy are given the opportunity to choose their destinies. This is what I was trained to do. I was ordered to do it.

Your answer is not good enough. You are strong and intelligent and you could have stopped whenever you wanted?.Nomi found her thought cut off.

You are right I could have stopped but I knew if I had I would not be here to have this conversation. But maybe you would prefer that. Gauge could feel the heat flowing through her veins and knew she had to keep it in check or risk hurting Nomi.

I didn't say that so don't you dare put words in my mouth. I think for both of our sakes we should change topics.

Agreed.

You are not the Master are you and there is more then just the Master and apprentice that we think.

Again Nomi felt laughter with the reply. There are more of us then you can imagine. For every one of you there is one of us.

That doesn't go with the Sith code. Only one Master and one apprentice. That's always been the way of things. Tell me, what is you Master's name. Tell me everything. If you don't the Council will find other ways to get you to talk.

Whatever you ask me I will answer. His name is Master Gerton.

Nomi stepped away from the tank for a moment to grabbed a data pad and begin the recording of the interrogation. Pulling a stool up to the side of the tank she regained contact and started again.

What is the plan? Why were you sent to kill the graduates. Why the attack of the Jedi Complex?

The plan is something I was not part of so I do not know. I was sent because I am the best. He attacked because when your enemy goes to ground you give them no ground to go to. That and he wants me dead.

Why does he want you dead?

Because I failed my mission. I left a survivor and therefore I am no longer of use to him. I was sent here to gather intelligence for them but I had no idea when the attack was to take place. Please believe me.

Why did you let me survive?

Because I knew I loved you.

Nomi sat back from the tank removing her mind from Gauge's. Her whole world was spinning out of control and she was certain that she would never get it back to normal again. She could barely grasp the things that had happened in the last twenty four hours, let alone figure out how a Sith could learn to love. Nomi had no doubt about the words, though, when Gauge said them Nomi could feel her emotion through the Force and it was almost overpowering.

Nomi took a long, cooling breath and returned her hand to the side of the tank, Why are you telling me this?

Because I am a dead woman. There is no escaping my Master.

The Jedi can protect you.

Again, Nomi felt the laughter against her hand, Nomi, I betrayed my Master by killing those men and protecting the Jedi. There is no where I can go that he can not follow.

You're safe here?

No, he has spies here. He is a business man that has ties to everything.

We will protect you.

What Jedi is going to lay down their life for me, Nomi? I am a Sith, no one cares if I live or die.

No, you're wrong, Nomi's reaction was felt strongly through the Force, I care very much if you live or die.

Nomi sat alone by the darkened training fields trying to sort out her feelings. She felt dread and joy. Sorrow and confusion. Everything seemed to hit her at once and her head was reeling from the words spoken to her. She's a Sith how could she know what love is?

"It's not as easy as you think," a voice from behind her said.

Nomi turned to see the ghostly figure of a man not much older then herself. He wore the cloak of a Jedi but was not one that she recognized. "Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important. It's what I'm hear to say that I think might help you," he sat down next to her and looked over the fields. Nomi looked over at the figure. Around him shone a pale white light. Nomi knew that some of the most powerful Jedi could communicate from beyond but she had never witnessed it," I used to sit just like this and look over the city. See," extending his long arm he pointed to a far off building that housed the Galactic Senate," My love was always there. When I thought of her that was where I looked."

"I thought Jedi's weren't allowed to love?"

He turned and looked at her with a small smile on his boyish face," In my time we weren't but I hear that they no longer enforce that rule."

Nomi smile back at him," It helps when Master Skywalker is the first one to break it. He and his wife are the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy."

"I know," The man lowered his head and a small amount of pride seeped into his voice. Turning his eyes to her again he stated," Someday that could be you."

Nomi looked at him trying to understand what he was trying to tell her," She's a Sith. She killed my friends, am I just supposed to forget about that?"

"No, never," the man shook his head as to emphases his point," Forgiveness is something that must be done if you two are to move on from this."

"Who says I want to move on?"

"Your heart does," the Jedi again smiled at her," You're emotions are something you can not hide, Nomi. You can't run from them no matter how hard you try. I tried to bury my love but it only made me angry that I had to. I was furious that I had to keep secret the one thing that made me happy," he stopped for a moment and again lowered his head," Then there was the threat of it being taken away and I could not leave it to the Force. I fell into a trap and lost everything."

"I don't understand."

"One day you will be forced to chose a life with Gauge or without her," as Nomi shook her head his voice took on a commanding tone," Let me finish. Once that happens there will be a time where you will want to take the easy way out to help her. But know this; if you take the quick and easy path you will suffer the same fate as I."

"But I still don't know who you are," Nomi let a soft edge into her voice," All this advice coming from someone I don't even know."

"Advice of the one's that come before you is advice that is not to be taken lightly."

Nomi sat quiet for a moment and thought over what was just said. She felt no clearer for her feelings now then she did when this stranger entered in with his own two credits. "I still don't know what I should feel about Gauge. She was Master Skimpis and now she not?"

"Master Skimpis and Gauge are one and the same. You know how you felt about her before the disguise vanished. You know how you feel about her now. You've just buried it deep in the hopes that it was not true. When the time comes you will know."

The figure stood and began to walk back the way that he had come.

"Wait," Nomi stood as she called after him," I would like to know who I am talking with so?intimately."

Again his boyish grin touched his features," I was once the most powerful of all Jedi. I was the one who was to bring balance to the Force. I once had the love of the most powerful Senator in the galaxy. All of this I lost and in its place I became the most feared man in the galaxy. Until the love of another rescued me from myself and the Dark Side. Gauge will need you before the end. One way or another."

He turned again from her and disappeared into the air. Nomi stood to stop the man but halted when he vanished. Standing stock still Nomi tried to grasp what had just happened. She knew who she had been speaking to and she had to speak the Master Skywalker. She had to tell him that his father had just paid her a visit.

Gauge felt the bacta around her stir and felt herself being lifted from its tank. She winced as the artificial light hit her eyes. There were two orderlies and one doctor in the room that she could identify. The doctor struck her as being most peculiar do to the fact that she was a Mon Calamari," Move her on to the bed, carefully." Gauge quickly sized the doctor up and decided that she was not a threat. The two orderlies gently rested her on the medical bed and she was grateful for it's comfort.

When the orderlies backed away Gauge was reminded that she was not in friendly territory. Standing just outside her room were two heavily armed guards. Turning her attention back to the Mon Calamari she asked," How long have I been down?"

The Mon Calamari turned her head to meet Gauge's face. Gauge noticed that there was no hostility in her eyes. Even if Gauge was the enemy this doctor still considered her a patient, first and foremost. She reached out and began scanning with a handheld data pad. Gauge recognized the brand's seal on the back of it.

"You were in the tank for three days but you're not out of the woods yet."

"No," Gauge looked up to the ceiling and allowed the doctor to look over her," I imagine not."

The Mon Calamari chuckled, "Spoken like someone who has already given up hope."

It was now Gauge's turn to chuckle," Where I come from there's no such thing as hope."

The Mon Calamari nodded as she checked the scarring left from Gauge's wounds," Then it's a good thing that we are not where you are from."

Commander Ellan sat across his desk from Nomi and Master Skywalker was broadcast across the screen that sat to one corner. Nomi could see the deep lines from lack of sleep on Commander Ellan's face and knew that she was responsible for some of it. Having woke Commander Ellan in the middle of the night two night's in a row.

"Tell me, Nomi," Master Skywalker's voice was the essence of patience," Why such the early meeting?"

"I've started interrogations of the Sith prisoner," Nomi started with the obvious and then would head into the stranger events of yesterday.

Commander Ellan leaned forward on his desk," But she was not coming out of the Bacta until this morning. How is this possible?"

Nomi looked from Commander Ellan to Master Skywalker before she began to speak," It's something that Adi and I did when I was in the med ward on Yavin 4. Remember that speeder bike race that ended badly? I would get scared and she found a way to talk to me while I was in the tank to calm me down. I used it to start interrogations with Gauge."

Master Skywalker wore a very amused look on his face," Interesting, Adi never mentioned this practice to me."

"Adi was unsure how you would feel about it, Master."

Master Skywalker bowed his head," When you see the head of my medical department will you tell her I'm pleased."

"Of course, Master."

Commander Ellan cleared his throat drawing the attention of the two Jedi," So what did you find out, Nomi."

Nomi's brow furrowed," At this point not much, sir. She stated that she had been ordered here by her Master. Master Greton. No background on him just yet, probably a false name, like Darth Sidious," Nomi referred to her noted that she had taken down. Gauge believes that the attack was just a scare tactic. This Master Greton just wanted to prove to us that he could do it."

Both Master Skywalker and Commander Ellan sat quietly. Both had taken notes down about what she had just briefed," Did she say how many of them there were?"

Nomi nodded her head," She said for every one of us there are there is one of them."

Gauge tried not to become agitated with the doctor's prodding and pocking. The Mon Calamari had been at it for the last fifteen minutes and Gauge was sure that she had checked over everything.

"You about done now, Doc?"

"Just a few more tests," the Mon Calamari pressed onto her left shoulder where there was the most scarring from the blaster bolt," Is it tender when I press here?"

Gauge felt her eye's start to water," Yes," Gauge could not remember feeling pain before. She had been injured before but without that Sith rage running through her the feelings were more intense," It is a little tender."

The Mon Calamari made some notes on her data pad," Physically, on a scale from one to ten, how are you feeling?"

Gauge chuckled a little," This what they teach you in med school?"

"Actually, I never went to med school. Trained in the healing arts at the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. Trained specifically for Force trauma, prisoners of war, post traumatic stress, that sort of thing," the Mon Calamari shined a light into each of Gauge's eyes," Which describes what you are."

"Do you have a name, Doc."

"My name is Adi," the Mon Calamari sat at a low desk in the corner and try as she might Gauge could not muster the strength to follow her movements. Gauge's eyes hurt when she tried and her scarring on her shoulder pulled painfully when she tried to turn her neck," I believe that you will survive, Gauge. From the older scars it seems you are used to this kind of treatment. I will keep you here for a few more days to watch you progress."

Gauge watched her stand out of the corner of her eye but was still flat on her back looking to the ceiling," Then what will happen to me,"

Adi moved back into her line of sight," That has yet to be seen but I very much guess it will have a lot to do with our friend Nomi."

Commander Ellan remained silent for many moments," Thank you, Nomi, I would like to keep you on as the interrogator for this prisoner. I think that you were right in the fact that your previous relations with the Sith will benefit us."

"Commander Ellan," Master Skywalker spoke clearly from the screen on Yavin 4," I am sure that there is much you should attended to now with this new information. I was wondering if I might have a private moment with my student."

Commander Ellan stood and turned to Master Skywalker," Of course, Master. I will take my leave."

Nomi did not look to Master Skywalker until she heard the door shut behind Commander Ellan.

"What troubles you, Nomi?"

"Even on Yavin you can read my thoughts?"

"No," Master Skywalker shook his head," But I have gotten used to reading body language. Does the assignment of interrogator bother you?"

Nomi shrugged her shoulders," Yes," she stopped unsure why she had answered what she did," I am unsure of my feelings toward the prisoner."

Master Skywalker sat quietly for her to finish but when she did not he spoke up," What you felt for Master Skimpis you do not want to feel for the Sith woman?"

"No," Nomi answered honestly," I want to hate her for what she's done."

Tears tore angry trails down Nomi's face and she brushed them away.

"She does she not deserve forgiveness? She risked her life for you and your team during the attack. She could have killed you all. We've all fallen to the Dark Side before, Nomi, no Jedi is perfect. Look at me and where I came from. Look at my father, in the end I forgave him."

Nomi looked at her Master through tear soaked eyes," Yes, Master, I know. He came to me last night. He told me that I should not bury my emotions. That hiding them away will only make me bitter. He told me about your mother and about you. He told me that Gauge will need me before the end and I will choose to help her or I won't."

Master Skywalker leaned closer on the screen, knowing eyes looking deeply into hers," I think you've already made your decision, Nomi. Now you just have to be able to accept it."

Continued...