After a long walk through the city of Lessu, Ayanna and Kalin found themselves lured towards the entrance of one establishment of the popular city. Unlike the others, this did not spark the interest of low lives who wished to empty their pockets to the young twi'lek females, but instead a place where business was born.

They continued inside, pass a long marble and lead bar, lined with business officials and young ladies, on into the main dining area. All were dressed in the best attire seen in Lessu, which was somewhat of high class for a planet such as this, but for someone from Coruscant, it was not the highest of taste. Each business official had on his arm a young female, some of humans but mainly of twi'lek. The fact there were human slaves gave them the advantage.

Ayanna was not sure why this place seemed to draw her in particular, if anything it was the last place that her mother would have been spotted.

"There must be something here....." She said quietly to Kalin, who as yet had no idea why they were in such a place.

"So what's your plan?... 'My slave'...." Kalin quietly spoke, he didn't need to keep up his act as nobody could hear him. He just loved it.

Ayanna tried to keep herself from smiling, she couldn't deny that she found his playful banter amusing. She honestly had no idea where to start looking for where her mother had been on this wretched planet. All she had as a clue was an old receipt which had nothing on it except some miscellaneous figures and the name of the planet. She wasn't even sure if it had any connection properly to the place, but the fact that the old woman back on Nar Shaddaa mentioned her mother was on her way here, it was confirmed.

Out of the crowd came a familiar face, Ayanna could not place her finger on it. A man who was staring at her, walking towards them. She seemed to freeze and could not find the strength to move herself an inch. As the figure neared, his eyes moved from her to Kalin, and then smiled.

"Kalin Thalis! Well why am I not surprised to find you on Ryloth, and having bought a slave no less!" The man said smiling.

"Hey I didn't expect to see you here! What brings you on Ryloth? Same reason as me? Slave girls?" He laughed.

"Something like that yeah..... Always liked this place.... It's the most honest planet in the galaxy...... So what's this I hear about you and Vader being good old buddies now? How much did that cost ya!" He laughed.

Kalin started to brag a bit, "Just skills my friend! Just skills!" He grinned.

"Yeah right! Well if it was just the skills then you must have improved a HELL of a lot since I last knew you!" He said, playfully mocking.

"Is that jealousy I'm detecting?" He gave a fake sigh, "Typical! Just typical...."

Ayanna at this point had said nothing but remained frozen still, the stranger then turned his attention to her.

"And who's this lovely creature? How much did she set you back then Kalin? 2,000 credits? More? Less?"

"Was a bit more! You don't get them so cheap these days! Why? Interested to buy her?"

"Hmmm.... That could be an interesting offer...... 1,000! Take it or leave it! I'm not made of credits you know.... Unlike some I don't have 'Daddy Vader' paying my way!" He laughed.

"1,000? You kidding me? No you can forget it my friend! I'm not selling her for such a ridiculous price! In fact I would ask for ten times more! You'll have to come up with a better offer or she stays with me..."

"Hmmmm, what's her name? She's em.... Not the talkative type is she..... I've seen chairs talk more that her!" He joked.

Ayanna still had not spoken which was out of character considering what they were discussing about her, but her mind was far elsewhere.

"Her name is Ayanna, Ayanna Nyx...... She's just dressed as a slave, she's not really my slave.... Yet!.... But we're looking for someone around here.... If only she talked herself.... Ayanna... Say something.... You two could have been friends in the academy if only you'd studied at the same time...."

Ayanna still said nothing but Kalin's friend then took the liberty of taking her hand and kissing it.

"Nice to meet you Ayanna Nyx, I'm Li Sotaro......"

She gave a slight nod but nothing more, but her eyes would not leave his.

"What's wrong with you?.... Usually she just won't shut her mouth! Now she doesn't say a thing.... Wish only the timing was right!" Kalin kept on joking though he could sense that she was feeling afraid, so kept on a little suspicion why she was afraid in front of Li Sotaro. Then it crossed his mind, could the Li she mentioned be Li Sotaro? There was no such thing as coincidence. So Kalin became more cautious in his words.

"If only she kept on her training, then she wouldn't be following me like a lost child! But now she's following me everywhere! Makes it more tough for me to do my duty, you know?"

"Oh don't listen to him Ayanna, you'll get there in the end, I'm sure of it!" He said laughing at Kalin's words.

"I doubt that! If she continues like this, she can kiss the Academy goodbye I'm afraid..... See? She doesn't even dare to stand up for herself!" Kalin kept putting Ayanna down so that if the occasion came to confrontation, Li would certainly underestimate her, "Back on Nar Shaddaa, it was a close draw! Vader ordered me to kill a nest of Jedi..... But of course I had to drag her along.... I can't tell you the number of occasions I had to save her pretty neck!"

"Ah I heard about that mess on Nar Shaddaa, that was you guys huh? Well, at least you got it sorted..... Well if you're fed up with this one's company I'd be glad to take her from your services..... I'm heading back to Korriban anyway.... I can give her a few tips and if she doesn't improve, then I'll ask for her to be reconsidered...... Fair deal?..... At least then you won't have to put up with her...... But I bet she's not so bad once you get to know her....." He smiled to Ayanna favourably.

"Well, she's my responsibility, and if you screw it up..... And she gets killed.... I'll be the one who has to answer for it, so no thanks! I think I'll keep her.... for the moment that is...."

"Fair enough..... Want to grab a drink? I can't stay long but I can afford to stay for one drink.... Maybe two..."

"Oh sure, why not...... I'll have some jawa juice, get her the same....."

Li nodded and walked over to the bar, leaving Kalin and Ayanna alone for a few moments.

"So what is it with you? Is this the guy you've been talking about? Is that why you're feeling so scared?" He whispered to her.

"I.... I don't know..... It was so long ago..... But... There is something..... I don't know...." She said quietly.

"You must have sensed something..... Anything..... Something familiar?"

"I don't know.... But... But I'll try to.... Talk more... I'm sorry about that..... I just.... I just lost my words for a while there....." She said preparing herself.

"Okay, watch out he's coming back..... And try not to feel so afraid..... If I sensed it, then most likely he did too.... If he is the guy, he's playing with us!"

"But he's your friend! Surely you must have heard something or sensed something yourself..." She asked.

Kalin couldn't reply for Li was already back with the drinks.

"There you go..... Well, the colour seems to have come back to this one...." He said referring to Ayanna.

"Yes.... I'm feeling much better...." She said bluntly.

"Aaaah! She talks!" He laughed.

"Yeah, it's a miracle..." He said trying to sound sarcastic, "But yeah, surely there must be more to it for you being here on Ryloth..... I don't think you're here for the girls..... Or the fancy dancing.... That's not in your character....."

Li sat back enjoying his drink, "Well, afraid I can't go into it too much my friend..... I've been sent here to spy on someone....."

"You were sent here to spy? That's new! Normally you're sent out to butcher someone"

"Well that could be on the cards, depends how the first act plays out... You know how it goes.... You observe, you analyze the situation and then you act....... Oh same old, same old....."

"Okay I get it, I get it.... Anyway, we can't stay much longer either..... Unless she has something to say...." Kalin said giving Ayanna a slight nudge under the table.

Ayanna was trying desperately to overcome her fear, and the only way she could do that was by acting in the manner of the last thing she felt like doing in this situation.

"Oh common Kalin..... You're such a bore.... We can enjoy a few drinks.... It's nice getting to speak to another man besides you....." She laughed.

"Okay, whatever! So yeah, when did you actually arrive here? We arrived here shortly..... We were sent here to kill someone, actually someone who almost looks the same as you...." He laughed.

"Uh oh, don't tell me I've done something to upset Vader now have I?" He laughed, "Well I arrived here a few days ago..... Can't say it's been very exciting though..... Will be glad to get back to Korriban and reassigned....."

"How long have you been with the Academy?" Ayanna asked.

"Oh a long while now..... Seems like forever..... What about you?" Li asked, staring at her intensely.

"Just a few months......" She said as though a little ashamed.

"Oh Kalin! She's just a baby and you bash her so much..... Give her time to spread her wings a little!"

"Bash on her? You should see how she handles a lightsaber! Even a gungan would handle it better than her! Seriously, I hope she graduates someday but I don't think that will happen very soon..... Wait a sec...... Sorry my comlink is going off......"

Kalin watched to his comlink to see Vader's image appear.

"Kalin, I need to speak with you now! In private!"

Kalin looked to both Li and Ayanna, "If you'll excuse me....." Kalin rushed out as he did not want to test Vader's patience.

Kalin found a spot where nobody could see or hear him.

"What is it My Lord? With all due respect, but I cannot leave Ayanna alone for long.... She might be in danger......"

"That is exactly why I'm contacting you Kalin! I told you she was not ready with this, but you had to rush off anyway! I heard word from the Academy that Li Sorato is on Ryloth also..... You can't allow her to confront him!"

"Why is that my Lord?" Kalin gulped.

"You fool! She's in grave danger! Li left unexpected to Ryloth, the Academy was spying on him as we keep him under surveillance...... He is a very dangerous man, that is why we often send him for assassination missions..... You know how dangerous he can be..... But that is not the only reason I am contacting you..... By now you probably know Li is the one Ayanna is looking for...... The one who killed her parents.... And thought he had killed her.... Until recently.... But that is not everything......"

"Yes I know he killed her parents..... Why are you telling me this my lord? I should return before something happens......"

"Listen to me Kalin..... More than a decade ago, Li and some of his fellow Dark Jedi left the Academy once more with no assignment.... They were tracked down and we had him trialled for abandonning his orders...... He was punished but as a talented assassin, we released him...... Now that he knows Ayanna is still alive, he surely will kill her...... But the reason that he wants to do this act, is because they are brother and sister......"

"What?! That's not true.... That's impossible...."

"Yes, it is true..... For reasons unknown, their mother abandonned him on Ryloth as a baby and he swore his revenge on them....... Now he will complete his vengence on Ayanna..... On the very planet where he was abandonned no less..... No doubt some kind of poetic justice in his eyes....."

"Sorry but I have to go My Lord, I'm just terrified something has happened!"

"Report back to me when this matter has settled..... Li cannot escape that planet alive..... He already abandonned his order once, we cannot permit it again.... He must be killed..... I don't care who does it, I want him gone!" Vader's image then disappeared.

Worried, Kalin ran back towards the dining area.


Earlier....

"If you'll excuse me....." Kalin said quickly rushing off.

"Oh well, that's what happens when you become Vader's pet...." Li said jokingly, finishing his drink.

"I wouldn't call him that..... He's a great Dark Jedi...... A great Sith Lord....."

"Sith Lord?..... You certainly have been spending too much time with that guy.... So what inspired you to become a Dark Jedi yourself, little Ayanna....." He said, staring into his empty glass.

"I don't know...... I always held so much hatred and anger...... When I met Kalin, he gave me the opportunity to use that energy to my advantage......" She said, being cautious and wishing Kalin would return quickly.

Li seemed to look up, to where Kalin had rushed out, as though he was wondering what Vader had to say that caused him to leave in such a rush.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be alright in time..... Just train and one day, you may even be able to challenge me...." He smiled.

"Oh that would be something....." She said in a serious voice, looking directly at him.

Li looked up at her a little surprised by what she had said, and giving a hint of a laugh.

"Excuse me for a few minutes..... Will be back in a tick...." Li left in the same direction as Kalin had gone.

Ayanna began to breath rapidly again, the fear coming back to her, but then a burst of adreniline caused her to get off her seat and follow him. She worried that he went to track down Kalin.

She crept down the dark corridors which seemed to lead in to the back entrances of the establishment which was more for slave dancers and servants. She continued to walk very carefully around the corner until she was suddenly grabbed by the neck and forced up against the wall. She nearly gave a scream as she was attacked but the tight grip on her neck prevented any sound from escaping. It was Li, holding her up with a twisted look of hatred on his face. He pulled Ayanna back down to his level while still choking her with his hand.

"You couldn't just sit and wait could you...... Just had to tag along....... Why did Kalin run off?...." He said waiting for a reply from her.

She continued to struggle, unfortunate for her she had no lightsaber or weapons of any kind, and he was far too strong for her to over power him at this time.

"The both of you..... You make me sick with your pitiful act!! How the hell are you walking around these days?..... I admitt, I nearly died of shock when I saw you standing there with him..... You look just like 'her'..... Thought I had seen a ghost......."

He ripped away part of the material that was attached to her bikini, revealing an old rounded scar on her right shoulder which went right through to the back. He then licked his tongue across it as he hissed at her maniacally.

"You think being penetrated with a lightsaber would've been enough to kill such a little girl..... And burying you..... You must've had a stronger will than your mothers....."

Ayanna began to struggle, trying to kick him, and claw at his with her hands. But he continued to tighten his grip.

"No no no...... I could easily kill you now, little Ayanna...... But now I see you're not even worth it..... I expected so much more for you......." He turned his head as he began to hear footsteps coming his way, "No Ayanna, you're going to live...... But I will find you again, when you are more worthy of my blade!!" He then violently headbutted her, knocking her unconscious instantly. As he heard the footsteps draw nearer he picked her up and held her in his arms.

From around the corner of the corridor came a waiter who looked surprised at them.

"Hey, can you give a guy a hand? Where are the bedrooms? This one has drank too much but I'm still owed a lot more fun with her!" He smiled.

The waiter was used to this kind of thing and pointed him to the stairs. Li quickly carried her up, entering one room and slamming her onto the bed. He looked down at her, slapping her face as she still lay there still. From his pocket he grabbed his lightsaber and carefully burned the scarred flesh at her shoulder until it was bleeding and sore.

"A nice reminder for you..... Little sister...." He then ran out of the room, locking it behind him. His days on Ryloth had come to an end.......

When Kalin returned to the dining area, there was no sign of either Li or Ayanna.

"Blast it! Where could they be?" He focused his sensed but luckily he could feel a sign of life coming from Ayanna.

He used his senses to find her again. He ran fast upwards and made his way to some dirty old corridors. Within a few moments he felt he was getting closer.

"She must be here!..... Somewhere....."

He saw several doors and in a rush he opened them all which was often embarassing seeing a sight he surely didn't want to see! But eventually he found a room where Ayanna lay unconcious. He shoulder was opened and bleeding, as was her nose. He ripped off his sleeve and wrapped it around her shoulder so that it would prevent the bleeding. He then carried her outside, back into the Thranta where she could recover.

In anger he whispered to himself, "I swear, if I find that guy, I'm going to kill him! I always knew there was something strange about him....."

He made his way back to the Thranta, but he kept a sharp eye out for Li, but he could not sense his presence. Hopefully Li did not know in what ship they arrived. But it would not be unlikely if he did.....