Then there were three.

The rose colored rifts that now played off the darkened walls seemed to smile at the quarry that still remained in its clutches. It stood ready to devour them, to consume their essence and shroud them in darkness forever.

Its colors reminded him of the ghastly figure in the carvings he had come across earlier.

"Dolash, I stand ready as I'll ever be. You give the word."

The next few moments seemed like an eternity. The swelling dark energy surrounding the sphere and the adjacent rift covered walls pulsed with activity.

Hopefully they wouldn't fall prey to the spheres dark unveiling of hidden truths and future hardships.

May the Force Be With Them...

Trazu saw movement out of the corner of his eye and when he turned to look at it his eyes widened in shock. What the ziss... He thought as his instincts kicked in and he rushed toward the girl. Knowing she was possessed by a spirit he didn't want the same thing to happen to her as what seemed to have happened with Katria and Barris and knew he had to stop her from making a terrible mistake.

He snatched her up by her clothing as he passed and pulled her away from the chamber until he was sure she was far enough away to be safe. It had been a little difficult to do so, since she was about his size.

"Lavality!" He said in a near shout and a bit harshly. "What the ziss are you doing here!? This place is far too dangerous and you should have stayed on Naboo." He added with a groan. "Man...Asri must be going through the mother of all guilt trips because of this..."

She blinked and looked at Trazu. "Huh.... why'd I just go in there?" she asked herself and looked away.

"This palce is far too dangerous and you should have stayed on Naboo."

Lavality looked away. "Boring... they never allowed me out to do anything fun." she said; although her childlike innocense was something she never revealed

If the spirit had a form right now, Trazu would've seen the spirit a tad furious, if not winded at the almost near death experience.. well... second near death experience of her life. Damn girl... I already died once I don't need to die a second time....

"Man..... Asri must be going through the mother of all guilt trips because of this..."

Lavality smiled. "I'm sure she'll show up, although when she does I think I'll be in trouble." she sighed before looking back into the chambers. "Shouldn't you be with Master Dolash?"

The spirit shook her head, again unnoticed, but before she could say anything Lavality spoke up. "I'll stay here..... bah.. no fun" she folded her arms over her chest and looked away

Childish.... she seems to not mind acting like a kid around Trazu or Asri for some reason, but when around Maskis and the others she acts adultlike... why is it different around them... the spirit pondered this question

Meanwhile, back on Naboo

"WHERE IS SHE!!!" Maskis yelled as he searched every room in the temple. "LAVALITY!!!" he shouted before running into a room full of female's, and getting a really nice wake up call about what happesn when you go burging into a room full of girls

Dolash, unfortunately, had been too distracted by the fractured echoes of the Force to notice Lavality - or that Trazu had hurried off to secure her. He gently touched the sphere, and all of a sudden found himself mentally plummeting into the deep, oceanic depths of the Force. Instantly he knew something was wrong.

Marek was there, with him, and Dolash could feel the power of his padawan helping him navigate upstream. Without Trazu, however, they simply lacked the energy to flow against the current - the Force felt staccato, arriving not in a steady wave but in horrible battering waves. It was not the sickly cold of the darkside nor the comforting warmth of the light, it wasn't the Force in any way shape or form. It was terrifying absences of it, like a blockage.

Although physically Dolash was standing still, inside the Force Marek and he were in great risk of being swept up in the flow - the energy in this place, although disturbingly punctured, was still too strong for the two of them alone. Dolash struggled to keep a mental hold on Marek now, trying to guide their way back, but the Force is deep and dangerous to navigate.

Hold on. He urged mentally to the padawan You must reach your body again, you must find yourself in the blinding swamp of energy in this place or risk being swept away! Focus on me - follow me - and we can get out!

"You better..." Trazu sighed. "Cause I don't think the Fleet would apprecate you nearly getting yourself killed pulling a stunt like that."

It dawned on him that neither Dolash or his padawan seem to have taken notice of his sudden disappearence from their side. Looking back he let out a curse when he saw Dolash touching the sphere: they hadn't noticed at all and plunged in without him!

Quickly he ran back to their side and at first was at a loss as to what to do. He had no idea how deep they were in, if they were in danger of any kind, or how to find them once he went in. Gritting his teeth, he carefully grabbed hold of Dolash and Marek with his hands and allowed himself to go mentally into the Force through Dolash's physical contact with the sphere.

It felt like he just stepped into a tornado and he almost got swept away from the shock of the sensation making him break his concentration. He regained control quickly and through his physical contact with both Dolash and Marek he was able to move forward. And it was through that contact that he was able to find them and successfully added his full energy to the group.

Sorry I'm late... He said to them mentally. I'll explain later...

Lavality watched from the entrance

The spirit watched threw her eye's. Hopefully they'll make it through

A grin formed on Lavalitys face. "They will...."

The spirit blinked. I didn't even SPEAK to you... how'd you hear me?

She shrugged. "I heard you clearly...."

The spirit was astonished, for the past few months she'd only been able to communicate to Lavality by talking to her through her own mind. But for some reason she wasn't to hear her just fine now

Lavality walked over to a near by rock and sat down and watched, laying her head down on both palms of her hands. "You think I could help?"

The spirit tryed something, and soon took a ghostly form. Her form was that of a female Trandoshan, she held a Tera Kasi weapon in one hand.. her other was completely free. She folded both arms. You've been practicing your Battle Meditation techniques. You MIGHT be able to lend them a hand... but you realize you'll be worn out

Lavality smiled, then shook her head. "I have you..."

The spirit also smiled. Very well

Lavality got down on her knee's and went into a meditative state, she saw everything around her... and began to meditate and control some of the things happening. "Let's hope I don't cause more harm than good" she said to herself

Hold on. Dolash urged mentally, You must reach your body again, you must find yourself in the blinding swamp of energy in this place or risk being swept away! Focus on me - follow me - and we can get out!

Marek fought the mighty force current to join Dolash. The swirling swells of energy would eventually overwhelm them and it was important that they remain as close together as possible.

The closer Marek got, the harder it was to fight its pull. He could feel himself becoming weaker by the moment.

Then another presence entered into the tumultuous phenomenon. Trazu was back.

Sorry I'm late... He said to them mentally. I'll explain later...

With a renewed vigor, the three of them anchored themselves on each other, using one another as counter balances. They reached out into its very heart seeking some divine revelation or perhaps it was some measure of salvation they searched for.

Zolar followed the example set by Dolash and matched his every move. That is, until something shifted. The current changed the direction of its flow, and then changed once more. Which was followed by sporadic flashes of force bolts that encircled them.

He too joined the mental banter, What is going on?

At that very second, a bolt of force energy struck him in the chest. The blast sent him flailing into a nearby wall instantly breaking his connection with the others and the sphere. Sliding down its expanse allowing nothing but a low groan to escape his lips, he plunged into unconsciousness.

Some minutes elapse...

Though he felt very groggy he eventually came too and what he saw when his eyes adjusted, was something that defied reality.

What?!?!?

As he gazed about at his surroundings he was startled to find that he was no longer within the confines of the cave, nor the central chamber. He saw clouds, clouds of lavender, pink and orange. It felt so familiar yet so alien all at the same time. Marek was also beginning to visualize the surrounding structural remains that seemed to trap him.

Where the...

He was alone amongst the ruins, without a clue as to where he was.

Dolash found himself guided gently back to his own body, restoring the connection between physical and mental again. In the back of his head, he had the strangest sensation as though someone else had guided him there - not Marek or Trazu, but someone else.

He opened his eyes, and said "Well, that was more informative then I thought, but there's still no clue as to -" He turned, and saw Marek sprawled on the floor.

With an exclamation, he dashed over to his padawan, but he was clearly unconscious. As Proq and Jubaz reentered the room, Dolash quickly checked his vital signs and propped him up against the wall. At least he was definetly alive.

"It may have been too much for him..." said Dolash aloud "Trazu and I hardly made it out ourselves." He turned back to see Trazu, who seemed fine. Then, he noticed Lavality. "Well, that explains your sudden disappearance just as we entered. This seems odd, though - perhaps this is even something the Force has sought to bring to pass..."

Dolash paused, thinking. "We must move Marek to somewhere safe and continue to check on his condition. Whatever he is seeing or is being made to see, is for him. As for Lavality, you will be coming back to the ship immeadiately, young woman - and I won't hear any excuses! Sneaking off like that, some of the Masters are so old at the Temple I can imagine they're having heart-attacks at the news you are gone."

Dolash turned back to Marek, and lifted him with ease. "Trust in the Force..." he whispered to his student, before following the group towards the exit of the caves.

Lavality stood there. "I'm... afraid... that.... won't be possible..." she said before falling to the ground

One spirit appeared next to Lavality, while another got thrown into the wall; even though she was a ghost now the wall crumbled. The spirit got up and looked at the blackened one

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" The trandoshan spirit yelled

"Back off Akisi!! This girl has enough life force to sustain me! I'm taking her!" The blackened spirit shouted back. Lavality's unconcious body lifted off the ground and soon both her and the blackened spirit vanished

The trandoshan stood there for a few. "damn it all!" she yelled while slaming her fist into the wall, although nothing happened due to her being a spirit in ghost form. She turned to Trazu and Dolash, but before she could say anything she felt Lavality's own life force, something else was draining it; then it occured to her. that virus.... after being in her mind for so long it had laid doment, now that I'm out of her body and it's being inhabited by someone else

She turned around, the other spirit had only been gone a mere few seconds before reappearing. This time in Lavality's body; the girl looked at the Trandoshan

"Krevlok... no.. you are no longer Krevlok.. you are just a ghost of some Akisi who died long ago..." where the words that came out of Lavalitys mouth

"Get out of her body! Swen!" The trandoshan yelled

"No... you'll have to KILL me first!" Where the words that came out

In one hand lavality held a giant vibro lance, the other however was her lightsabre, and the Trandoshan didn't need a second to notice that the lightsabr would not activate

"Stupid thing." the blackened spirit snarled. "I'll enjoy killing you." he pointed her finger at the spirit Trandoshan, then at Trazu, and Dolash. "Wait... no.... after you kill me I'll possess that Trandoshan, his mind is weak and he already allowed that other spirit in; this'll be a cake walk"

Krevlok stared at Lavality. She couldn't attack lavality physically, only mentally, but she knew that she would cause a lot of harm to Lavality either way. "Please Master Trazu, Lord Dolash... help her!" Withthat she looked back at Lavality, the girl then looked at Trazu and the fight started; Krevlok couldn't do anything but watch, and pray that Trazu doesn't harm her any more than she already is. But she also knew one other thing: That virus is running active and she was afraid of how long it would take this time.

Lavality ran across the ground, the vibro lance in her hand; she raised it up and swung it around, intent on hitting Trazu

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something.

When he turned to direct his gaze in the direction of the commotion he could make out a group of about ten children. They in turn were being accompanied by two men, who appeared to be Jedi-Knights, given they both had ignited lightsabers. They were running, but from what, he couldn't tell.

Then he heard one of the men call out to the children and they all seemed to halt at once. At this point, the moving crowd was only about seven meters from Mareks position. Naturally he listened in.

"Younglings, stop right here." he called out to them as he disengaged his lightsaber, "Hurry, gather round me."

Marek recognized the voice almost immediately, it was himself.

"Shauna you’re the oldest," he singled out the tallest girl in the group "You remember the tunnels that I showed you, yes?"

She was crying, but was able to acknowledge him with a nod, "Yes Master Zolar."

"Good, I want you to lead the rest of the younglings into them, follow the path all the way to the end, there will be people there who will help protect you," he assured her.

"But...But Master Zolar, you can't go back there, they'll kill you," she exclaimed throwing her arms around him.

He returned her embrace. There was nothing more heartbreaking than to witness the pain of a child, especially emotional pain.

"Shauna, go now," he told her.

She let go of him and began to move the group of younglings to the tunnels in which Zolar had ordered. However, before disappearing around a chunk of column she looked once more to him.

"Master Zolar, may the force be with you..."

A grin slipped on his face, "May the force be with you too, Shuana, now hurry."

Without a second notice Zolar and the other Jedi, whom Marek did not recognize, took off in the direction they were first running from.

Marek took a few steps to actually try and catch a glimpse of what they were running towards and what the children were so deathly afraid of. What he saw would haunt him no doubt. Billowing stacks of smoke rose from raging fires and the smell of death permeated the air. He could make out what appeared to be dozens of lightsaber combatants and thousands upon thousands of what looked like infantry but of what he couldn't tell, the battle was going on too far out of his visual acuity to make out any fine details.

It was then he heard Dolash's voice.

"Trust in the Force..."