Jensen stood gazing upon Amalia, after Zeta spoke his words there seemed at least stillness an uneasy stillness within Jensen that seemed he could not shake. Zeta words spoken however softly seemed to speak in volumes to his soul. And however cryptic those words seemed to be on the outside, for some reason to Jensen somehow knew exactly what the Sith Lord meant.

After a few moments Jensen looked up at Gash, who now stood before him.

And surprisingly Zeta was gone…

Jensen looked around the area slowly, Zeta was no where to be found. Kenshin and Han were off in the distance…

He looked downward and there lying before him was Amalia’s saber. Jensen picked it up and looked at it again. He then looked back down at Amalia…

"I think this belongs to you." He said as he gave the esteemed saber back to her.

Sleeping

That had been the keyword between Jensen’s and Zeta’s conversation, and for some reason every time Zeta uttered that word it burned him.

And the uneasiness grew within him along with an ill feeling.

"Come on Amalia, wake up." Jensen said quietly in a panic stricken voice.

Time had no meaning for the inert body of Amalia Azalin, no time, no place.

Existence was but a misconception.

Life had escaped her, and she had finally been given the peace that she had sought after.


She would not deliver into peace.

Not today.

Truth would become her new succession.

The Jedi would have to struggle to find it, but eventually, she would find truth.

Deep down in her soul, truth would be found.

***********

Jensen's own patience would be tested. He would wait for some time. Hours perhaps.

So stubborn.

Perhaps he had the belief in hope.

It didn't matter.

His panic would fade with one simple expression.



Lifeless eyes sparked recognition....


The Jedi lived again....

As the hours passed Jensen became that much more worried. He was engulfed in deep thought on just what to do in his particular situation, and he waited. She was obviously not moving and wasn’t going to anytime soon or so it seemed he thought, he paced back in forth. Worry had crept onto his face….maybe she was lost. He then sat again, and looked back down at her.

He began to see what he couldn't believe at first.

Eye movement, he looked down as the Jedi master began to stir.

"Hello, Master Azalin…" he said quietly and smiling a little and obviously relieved she seemed okay.

"Welcome back, you gave me quite a scare there."

"Careful, you might be a little sore…"

And he offered to help the jedi master back on to her feet.

The padawan was taken by surprise when the one called Darth Zeta suddenly vanished. He gave his surroundings an alert scan but everything seemed to be alright at the moment.

Kenshin suddenly noticed Master Amalia stir and swiftly strode over to help Jensen help her. The padawan gave a relieved smile.

"Welcome back..." he said quietly kneeling to help the Jedi Master up.

It took Amalia's eyes a moment to focus on their surroundings, hazy vision doing its best to try and escape the woman's focus.

Once Amalia's vision cleared up, her brown eyes slowly moved to look at Jensen.

She recognized the look of relief that settled into his smile, yet she could not comprehend his expression; she could not understand why the expression was there.

How odd, he felt relief and all she could feel was bitterness.

Was she supposed to feel relief? Was she supposed to be happy to find herself alive once more?

Amalia tried not to dwell on the matter as her gaze fell to look onto Jensen's outstretched hand. Her gaze broke away very quickly, settling on his face instead.

Her face twisted into a look of repulsion, a clear-cut and obvious reaction to her own feelings of bitterness.

Jensen was no one familiar to Amalia, yet the man that kneeled beside Jensen was.

Kenshin Katarn.

A different expression crossed Amalia's face as she set her sights on Kenshin, a look of indifference crossing her face.

There, in his own eyes, the same look she had seen to cross Jensen's face, relief.

Again the expression made no sense to her, she desperately tried to make common sense of what she was seeing, but couldn't.

Both men were seemingly willing to help her rise to her feet again.

However, the bitterness that she felt was too heavy on her mind and spirit; she was not willing to allow them to help her.

Yet still, through the bitterness, the woman held courage, the courage and willingness to stand on her own two feet, on her own, without help.

Stubborn perhaps? Yes, maybe so.

Yet it was still her determination, Amalia's way of fighting the darkness that besieged her.

She did not try to stand on her own two feet but one time, but several times, each time falling back onto the log again.

...And each time her face would fall into a deep lapse of concentration, anger creeping into her once gentle features.

Both men appealed to help her to her feet, fully aware of her signs of struggle.

"No! I don't want your help!"

Giving it another effort, the Jedi reached out with the force, grabbing the nearest, longest and thickest stick she could find, she force pulled the item to her shaking hands.

Using the stick as a means for support, she stood, though a bit wobbly.

Do or do not, there is no try.

A simple phrase, one well remembered even with the traces of the darkside running through her veins.

Amalia's face settled into quiet composure as she looked at both men, her voice quiet.

"Why are you here?..."

Kenshin blinked when Master Amalia gave him an indifferent look. Was it a sign of recognition? And what about Jensen? Did she recognize him? The padawan pushed these thoughts aside, he was to worry about the situation at hand.

Kenshin had sensed her bitterness, it was quite obvious with her expression and tone. He watched, his passive but his gaze piercing, as she pushed them away and attempted to stand by herself. He watched as she stubbornly tried over and over, traces of anger creeping onto her face as she failed.

Traces of the Darkside she had inside. Yet she had courage.

Kenshin broke out of his scrutinizing gaze when she actually spoke a phrase that didn't imply for them to 'back off'.

"Why are you here?..."

Kenshin answered almost automatically.

"To help you find Hope so you can see the Light."

Jensen stood as he watched Amalia attempt to stand, traces of anger on each attempt she tried. He wasn't quite sure of what to make of the situation. Anger was not a trait a Jedi Master held within, or any Jedi for that matter.

He gave a quick glance to his right over at Kenshin - Jensen was obviously confused.

"Why are you here?..."

Kenshin spoke first, then after that Jensen paused for a few more moments. Still yet confused a bit with her uncharacteristic demeanor, Jensen quietly sighed then spoke.

"My name is Jensen Bettencourt, I was on my way to Kahn's home when I saw you unconscious, not knowing who you were or what the situation was I decided to investigate. I apparently walked into a trap and was held captive by a Sith Lord.

Soon after Kenshin came to help with the situation as I was being outnumbered, the Sith Lord's apprentice appeared, than another came, a Dark Jedi I believe.

It was through our conversation I figured out who you were.

The Sith was doing something strange, he acted as if he needed me alive. It didn't make sense why he would kill a Jedi Master and not a Padawan. So I assumed you must be alive in some way. It was almost as if we were bait, as if he was waiting for someone.

Soon after he left, I don't know why."

Jensen paused for a short while.

"I decided to stay I was worried about you…"

Jensen looked over at Kenshin.

"Kenshin stayed as well, that's why we are here."

An inquisitive look stretched across the features of the Jedi Master's face, her gaze directed at Kenshin for the moment.

"Hope?"

Amalia's gaze pierced at Kenshin's own gaze.

She would have rested a hand under her chin had she been able to do so, something she had picked up on doing whenever she was studying another intensely. However, her hands were used to hold onto the stick that now kept her feet planted firmly on the ground.

"...Why, dear Kenshin, what would ever make you think that I would be looking for hope?"

The question followed through with a very faint smile from Amalia.

It was an implemented smile, one that easily hid bitterness in its aftermath.

Amalia's gaze did not waver away from Kenshin as her own private thoughts drifted to connect with the other Jedi Padawan.

Well, looks as if someone has had a rather busy day then...though haven't we all.

The Jedi did not make it aware to Kenshin that she was speaking to Jensen through the force. Such an action was only done so that she could easily keep tabs on both men at the same time.

Continuing to keep her thoughts private between herself and Jensen, she silently, without facial or verbal expression, awaited Kenshin's response.

Worried??? Ah, I understand, Jensen Bettencourt has decided to be a hero. How....sweet. Your act of bravery is duly noted and well commended.

It was clear that the woman's words inflicted only bitterness and contempt.

She's alive...

A jolt ran through Leia as the realization dawned. For no apparent reason, she looked to the sky as if searching for answers.

Alive... but on whose side now?

Kenshin shifted slightly uncomfortabley and looked to the ground, breaking the eye contact between them. If he could read her mood, she probably could read his as well.

"I'm not sure now if you want to find hope...

...or if you need our help too. You might be well on your way to finding it whether you know or not.

But the eyes say much about a person. Yours are dark and muted with bitterness and contempt, but there is also an almost insane shine of will in them.

That shine is good."