The sun burned down out of a cloudless blue sky,washing every thing in a brilliant golden light. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and stretching my arms above my head.

I then laid my head on my knees, blinking the remaining traces of sleep from my eyes and watched smoke from last night's fire drift lazily from the snow white ashes and into the sky.

I heard Obi-Wan exit the forest, a frown creasing his forehead. When he caught me looking, the frown disappeared.

He smiled weakly and nodded at me, but concern rolled off of him through the Force.

"Is it possible for me to go on ahead without you?" he asked softly, avoiding my direct gaze.

"No!" I responded, scowling. "You don't know what parts we need to repair the ship. And besides," I said, standing up. "You wouldn't leave me alone with a Sith wandering around would you?"

He sighed in defeat and I grinned triumphantly. I started ahead, and heard Obi-Wan muttering something about teenagers and how I was just like my father. I chuckled and heard him laugh behind me, but it sounded forced. My smile slipped. What was bothering him?

_______________________

Around noon, we stopped for lunch. I sat against a tree, just noticing how badly my legs were trembling. I unwrapped a ration bar from my pocket and took a bite, tasting nothing.

Gazing upwards, I watched the dappled sunlight play peek-a-boo in the broad, dark green leaves.

I closed my eyes and felt all the life forms in the jungle through the Force. Suddenly, a dark energy swept through the Force, casting a dark shadow. Terror sliced through my veins, snapping me back to reality. I screamed and scooted away from the tree, mud coating the bottom of my pants and something slicing into my palm.

Obi-Wan heard my terrified shouts and came running.

"I felt it too," he started, pulling me to my feet."It was the Sith."

I nodded, examining the shallow slice on my palm. Red oozed from the cut, but it didn't look deep enough for stitches.

"I've never expire pure fear like that before," I responded, pouring water from my canteen to wash away any dirt from the cut.

I then looked down at the ground searching for a sharp exposed root or something that had cut me. I saw something white in the mud. I tugged on it, and a white square attached to a leather cord popped free. I peered at it closely, examining the shapes carved into the surface. It was beautiful, in a simple way. I cleaned off a spot of mud and put the necklace on and tucked it under the collar of my shirt.

Obi-Wan had his back to me as I stood up, fingering the leather cord slung around me neck. It felt important, although I had no idea why.

Obi-Wan turned back to face me and said,"Shall we move out?" I nodded and started after him, skirting large, clear puddles. I paused after catching a glimpse of my reflection. Half of my hair had slipped out of it's braid and my face was scratched and covered in dirt. My clothes were muddy and torn, and my cape was slung over my shoulders.

"Are you coming?" Obi-Wan called from ahead. I leaned over and splashed some cool water on my face, attempting to wash some of the dirt from my face.

I then stood up, my fingers swiftly undoing the braid and running my hands through the wild tangles before re-braiding it. I caught up to Obi-Wan just as I finished braiding. He nodded at me, but his face was rather pale and he looked very worried.

"What's bothering you?" I asked, absentmindedly fingering the leather cord.

"Nothing important," Obi-Wan muttered back, although it looked like the whole galaxy was resting upon his shoulders. I was about to ask again when I heard something drifting through the trees. I perked up, scanning the dense forests around us. The sound was a low buzzing, like a bunch of machinery was operating just a few steps away from us.

"Is it the Sith?" I asked softly, trailing behind Obi-Wan. He gave a small shrug, his face tight with concentration. I too reached out with the Force, and felt the same dark force I had sensed earlier directly ahead of us.

My breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded as I drew my lightsaber from my belt. Last time we met the Sith, he kicked our butts. But this time, we had the element of surprise.

I knelt down in a bush next to Obi-Wan, holding my breath.

We stared in amazement as hundreds of beings scurried around several huge machines that  whirred nosily. Several white square buildings dotted the area, and I counted three in total. More beings scrambled in and out of the buildings, chittering in Basic and a few other musical languages I didn't understand. In the middle of the chaos stood the Sith, towering over the other beings as he waved his arms, directing them.

I glanced around, soaking in everything when I spotted a familier head of shaggy blonde hair. I clutched Obi-Wan's arm, my nails digging into his arm.

"It's Cody!" I whispered loudly. Obi-Wan started to shake his head, but I stood up and began to slink through the trees surrounding the camp, headed toward the place I had seen Cody.

My heart leaped for joy when I spotted him, and I grabbed his right arm and tugged him into the tree line.

"Cody! You're here!" I whispered excitedly. Confusion flashed across his face and he removed his arm from my grasp.

"Cody? What's wrong?" I asked, watching his left hand stray to the blaster at his hip.

"Who are you?" he asked, and I recoiled. When I didn't answer, he exclaimed loudly, "I know you!" That drew the attention of several aliens that loitered nearby. The aliens began to speak, and I spotted the Sith ambling towards us.

Obi-Wan dashed out of the trees beside me and gripped my elbow, the other hand holding his already ignited lightsaber.

He Force shoved the stormtrooper away from me, and pushed me to the ground, shielding me from the laser blasts from the oncoming aliens. The Sith stood there calmly, watching as Obi-Wan easily defending the two of us.

While Obi-Wan defended me, I was on my knees, my heart pounding and tears leaking out of the corner of my eyes. I thought. . . I thought it had been Cody. Gathering my strength, I stood up and ignited my lightsaber.

"Cover me!" Obi-Wan shouted over the screams of the blasters. I nodded and Obi-Wan took off, darting for the Sith.The lightsabers clashed with a shower of sparks. I caught all the laser bolts on my violet lightsaber.

I was so focused, I didn't hear someone sneak up behind me until I heard the sound of a dagger being pulled from it's sheath. Before I could turn around, something grabbed a fistful of my hair. I shrieked and watched a glass blade slice through my hair. The hand let go and I turned around, Cody's lookalike holding locks of my hair. I raised my lightsaber, but I couldn't bring myself to kill him. So I turned and ran into the incoming fire, twirling my lightsaber to protect myself.

I then noticed something beautiful. Glimmering on the outskirts of the camp was a very familier starship.

"Obi-Wan!" I shouted with joy. "It's Rouge Starfall!" Obi-Wan glanced up and then ran towards me, and together we dashed towards my ship.

Using the Force, I jerked the ramp open and ducked inside. I slumped into the pilot seat and began to flick switches and jab buttons, hoping my ship had been repaired. With a start, the engine roared to life and we lifted off the ground.

I sighed with relief as we left the atmosphere. But the relief didn't last long. Obi-Wan limped over to me and stared out the front of the ship.

"Vader."