Some hours had passed as the Thranta had made it's journey through Hyperspace, the entire journey all Ayanna could do was cry from the pain. It was agonizing, a pain only she and Li could suffer from. She could feel every muscle and every organ intense with pain. To Kalin or any other the serum would have no effect. But suddenly her cries were silenced as she passed out. Her body was soaked in sweat and her breathing eratic. But it was uncertain where this remedy would be found, even if it was on Felucia at all. But one thing was clear, time was running out, and perhaps it was already too late.

Kalin tried to treat her the best he could. Her head was boiling. But once he got out of hyperspace, he moved the ship inside the atmosphere of the planet and landed in the middle of nowhere. He had no idea where to begin. This was such an exotic world and he knew the Felucians were a kind race, but he also knew that things could get very dangerous here. He heard of Acklay's living here and of Bull Rancors, which were most dangerous. Jabba's rancor was only a baby compared to these monsters who had giant tusks.

He tried to make contact with the Felucians, though he had no idea where he would find them in this wildlife. Kalin suddenly felt ripples in the Force. He felt something beneath the ground and out of instinct he ignited his lightsaber holding his blade down above the ground. Then he waited for a moment and stack the blade right into the ground. A few seconds later a native climbed up and held his hands up. It had a weird expression, but Kalin felt it had Force potential.

"Look I don't mean you any harm... I'm just hear because my friend is poisoned... And I need help to find an antidote!"

He turned of his lightsaber as a gesture of trust, though the Felucian still seemed skeptical about him.

The Felucian stared to him for a moment, did it even understand what he was saying to it? But it nodded as a gesture to take it to Ayanna. They walked back to the Thranta, managing to avoid the various beasts and creatures that roamed in the jungles along the way. As they approached Ayanna who was unconscious on the bed, it pressed it's hands on her chest where the wound was. Pushing out some of the poison from the hole in which is had been injected. The Felucian then ran outside, looking around for something, clearly some form of plant life. And within the hour it returned with countless sticks, branches and flowers. And it began to mix them on the floor of the Thranta, until it became a fine paste. The felucian glopped it up in it's hands and then fed it to Ayanna, making sure that she did indeed swallow it. Then, it merely stood next to Kalin, saying nothing, but watching to Ayanna. There they stood for what seemed like hours, and suddenly, the Felucian just left. Without giving a further gesture. However, almost as soon as it did leave, Ayanna turned slightly as she slept. The sweat on her forehead seemed to be drying up, and the area around the wound was no longer glowing orange, but simply that of healing tissue.

As the Felucian ran out of the ship, Kalin thought to himself 'That was odd... Strange creatures, these guys!'. Though it seemed that it was very unfriendly to leave at such haste without saying anything, it did also look like Ayanna was healing.

The wound started to heal and her skin colour returned to normal, so that gave Kalin at least hope she was getting better and he made it on time to save her. But outside something else was happening. He heard the roaring of a giant animal. He walked outside and in the distance he indeed saw something that resembled a rancor far too much than he hoped for. It was indeed a bull rancor where he heard from. He had never seen one. This was the only explanation, Kalin could find for the Felucian's sudden disappearance.

Kalin kept a low profile, and hoped it wouldn't spot the Thranta. The rancor had already spotted it though, so he was forced to take action. He made a high leap towards it cutting through one of its tusks. It roared in anger and try to grab Kalin with its arms. Though because it moved so slow, it gave Kalin the upper hand. Then Kalin made another high leap onto its back and climbed his way up to its head. There he plugged his lightsaber right into its skull, killing it almost in an instant. It stood for a few seconds, shaking until it finally fell to the ground.

This caused others to hear the impact of its fall though and Kalin was alarmed other monsters would follow. He hurried back inside the Thranta to leave the planet before his ship would get crushed by such force. He first went to check onto Ayanna. Then he went to check the hyperdrive. It seemed that the impact had damaged it. Kalin immediately tried to repair it, but it would take some time to do so.

Some hours passed until Ayanna was finally awake. She placed her hand on her chest as it still ached from where the injection had been pierced in so violently. But she was alone. She sat up for a moment, shaking her head as she tried to collect herself. She was back on the Thranta, she knew that much, which was at least better than where she had last been. She got herself to her feet, though she was a little shaky on them, and made her way to the cockpit. To her complete relief, Kalin was there, sitting looking out at the fungi forest that was all around them. She slumped herself down and sighed, "I..... Wh..... What happened?..." She asked a little bewildered.

"It's a long story... Well actually it's not... simply said, your brother poisoned you... I hurried my way to Felucia and with the help of a native here, you got cured. It was very close otherwise you would be dead. We do have another problem though. I've been working for hours on the hyperdrive. It got damaged by the huge impact of a dead rancor bull. Luckily the ship hasn't been attacked yet by other monsters."

Kalin stood up and looked at the galaxy map as he talked, "We'll never find parts for it to repair the hyperdrive... How are we gonna get ourselves out of this one... Besides don't forget we're still stuck with Ventress. She was constantly talking to me about the former apprentice of Vader... How he killed Shaak Ti on this planet, though she claims she might still be alive..."

Ayanna listened, still quite dazed as he explained everything that had been gong on since she had been out cold. Even though he said it was simple to explain, to her it just brought up one question after the other, "So.... Eh..... You've been busy....." She said in a sleepy voice, "But em..... Thanks Kalin..... Thanks for saving me.... Not many would have....." She said as she smiled to him, "Well, where should we start looking for these parts?..... And what was this about a bull rancor?..." She said with a half worried tone.

"Oh... He's dead now... Don't worry about that! We've got other things to worry about, cause on this planet, there's no sign of technology, so we'll have to find a way to repair the hyperdrive ourselves or we're screwed!" He said.

Then a loud noise could be heard, but it didn't sound like an animal, it sounded more like a ship and sure enough, when Kalin walked outside the Thranta he saw what he feared to see. It was the 'Devastator', Vader's flagship. It stayed high above the ground, until an Imperial shuttle left its hanger bays. And Kalin could already guess who was on board.

The shuttle landed and Vader walked down the ramp. How could Kalin talk himself out of this one. The first thing to do was clouding his fear from Vader, though he wasn't sure that could be done with a man of his strength. If he could still be called a man, that is.

"My lord, it's a welcome surprise to see you hear! I have good news! I found her at last! Ventress! I captured her here."

Vader stared at Kalin, which gave Kalin the impression he was skeptical about what he said.

Ayanna walked out of the ship after Kalin, and was surprised to see Vader standing there before them. She was still greatly weakened from the serum she had been given, and not so much in control of her thoughts as she would hae been normally, "L.... Lord Vader..... It is unexpected to see you on a planet such a this........" She aid as she stumbled a little but then stood to attention at Kalin's side. She knew that this was not going to be good, perhaps they would even both be killed for what had happened in the past days. She only hoped that Kalin knew what he was doing, and could get them both out of this mess in one piece.

A delta-shuttle just landed afterwards and a squad of Stormtroopers ran out and stood in formation.

"Search the ship!" Vader commanded, "Bring me the prisoner, bring her alive!"

"Oh don't worry, my lord, she can't possibly escape!"

A few minutes later the stormtroopers left the Thranta 'empty-handed'.

"No prisoners were found on board, sir! We found that in one of the cabins, the prisoner had burned a whole through the ship."

"That's impossible! I took her lightsaber away! She couldn't have escaped!" Kalin spoke shocked.

"Well we found nobody on board, sir... She clearly escaped..."

Kalin waited and didn't dare to look to Vader to admit his 'failure', but he said determined,

"Just give me a chance my lord, I'll find her again!"

"Perhaps, but that will have to wait... For now my stormtroopers willl search the area and we need some discussion on board my star destroyer, Kalin..." Vader said coldly.

Kalin nodded as he trembled. Both Kalin and Ayanna entered Vader's shuttle as they were taken back inside the star destroyer.

Ayanna still felt a little out of it, but she was aware enough to know that this was not good, she tried to speak with Kalin quietly, because she was not sure if this was deliberate of him to let Asajj Ventress escape, "Kalin.... Did you..... Is she?..." She said as she tried to just suggest it without saying much more on the matter. She hated being around Vader, especially now. She only hoped that he would not try to speak to her about anything, as she would be far too easy to read.

Hoping Vader wouldn't notice it, Kalin nodded at Ayanna's question, though he preferred she wouldn't have asked, cause the chances were too high Vader would have noticed. The shuttle was now close to the hanger bay as it lifted up its wings close to its top wing, forming a flipped 'V' shape.

The shuttle rose and Kalin looked over to Vader, who didn't move at all. It almost looked like he was sleeping, but even if he was the man could sense anything. The ship landed in the Devastator as they finally left the shuttle walking straigthly to the bridge.

The escape pod had had a rough landing as it crashed its way through the enormous trees and fungi of the planet, but before too long Ayanna was safely landed and on the ground. She looked up to the sky, seeing the Devastator as it disappeared into space. Now she was on her own, but this was at least a decent planet to be alone on. With the plant life all around her, she could control it all. Which could prove useful if she was to run into Ventress. As Kalin had told her, she still had to be on the planet, there was no way that she would be able to escape other. She managed to find her way back to the Thranta, which was a relief for her as at least she now knew it's exact location and she could begin to track down the old witch. She saw that there were still troopers in the location, but she kept out of their way as best as she could. She didn't want to be mistaken for Ventress. She used the plants to help track where the woman had taken her steps, but it was still not going to be easy for her to find her. As she continued to follow her senses, she came across something unexpected. The ruins of an old city, it had been there clearly for many years and had since been taken back by nature as it was completely covered. She began to make her way through, she knew that Ventress had to have come that way. But it was almost complete darkness on the inside, she called out into the dark void, "Ventress! Nyx here..... Please show yourself.... despite our differences..... I want to talk to you..... I don't come here at the will of the Empire or of the Sith Academy.... But at that of Kalin Thalis.... My master....." She said as she hoped that Ventress would reply to her.

From the shadows of the old city another shadow appeared stepping in the light, revealing Ventress. Her white skin brightened as she looked over to Ayanna.

"So the little plant girls has returned. Kalin sent you?! I thought he might. I guess he was unable to come himself... Oh well... I'll just have to deal with you then."

She stepped closer to Ayanna. Her skin was also paler due to the fact it was so dark here and most things were dead.

"Hehe, your skin is getting paler... We almost look like sisters, you know we could have been sisters, we are not that different! Oh but what am I saying, what is Kalin after... Is he still interested about the 'Son of the Suns'.

He told me about your encounter with Li, if you want my help, you'll have to tell me more about him!"

Ayanna sighed, she did not want things to get violent, it would only ruin her chances of reasoning with her, "Li just used me to get to Kalin...... I think he either wanted a way to get you into his posession, which was one of his demands, and also to be accepted back into the Sith Academy by returning you as a prisoner, but in actuality I can't say for sure what he was after..... But in it all, when he and Kalin fought, I was poisoned..... I nearly died, but Kalin brought me here and was able to get an antidote just in time..... Asajj....." She said as she stepped forward a little more, "I'm not going to pretend that I suddenly like you, but perhaps we can gain something from each other...... If you kill me here, and I don't doubt that you could.... You wouldn't gain anything at all.... There are troopers out there hunting for you, and you know that..... I can get us out of here..... If you'll trust me and work WITH me...." She said in a determined voice.

Ventress laughed like a maniac, but not too long as she knew all too well that it could draw the attention of the stormtroopers,

"Oh you should hear yourself begging for my help, little flower girl. You know that's how he called you sometimes, 'His little flower'... Somehow I had the impression that he did care for you... I could be mistaken of course, but what does it matter now, he betrayed all of us now, the bastard. He's no different than Dooku was. It was stupid for me to believe he was a friend... But we all make mistakes, right, little flower girl?
Okay, I will help you... But if you dare to betray me as Li did, then I will kill you on the spot! I just hope 'betrayal' isn't a family trait.." She grinned.

"What do you propose we do... Cause at the moment, we're stuck here, there are hundreds of Stormtroopers scouting the planet. Do you hear that noise? Scout walkers... Clearly Vader wants me back badly!"

"We have to get back to the Thranta...... The hyperdrive is damaged so we have to stop by at a nearby system and get it fixed, which is going to be even more troublesome.... In the meantime, let's just get back to the ship, and if any troopers try to stop us.... Then we'll kill them..... I'm seriously doubting that Kalin or I have serious connections with the Empire anymore..... I felt like an outcast before, but at least I was an 'official' outcast as part of the Sith Academy, now I don't even feel like that...... Come on..... We have to get moving..... It's starting to get dark.... I have my ways with plant life, you have your skills..... We can take them easily....." She said as she began to walk ahead of Ventress into the fungi forests. She stuck hard to the roots of trees as she listened to the footsteps of the troopers. She knew that the closer they got to the Thranta the more dangerous things would become, but they had little choice.

Through the darkness two lightsabers ignited as the stormtroopers had spotted them. Ventress showed that despite her age she skill had her lightsaber skills at her side and took out an Imperial AT-ST in just a few moments. With her double-bladed lightsaber she managed to take out almost the double amount of stormtroopers han Ayanna did. Both ran quickly to the ramp of the Thranta. As the ship rose they could feel the air being sucked out of the cabin which made the ship unstable.

"It's that damn hole, Kalin made in one of the cabins! He made it so I could escape, a brave act, but also a foolish one!" She said and clenched her teeth. The ship could still lift off, but it was badly damaged and more repairs would be needed if they could make it out of here, than just the hyperdrive...

"Wait...... Help me....." She said as she lifted a large slice of metal that lay on the ground, which had fallen from the Thranta when Kalin had helped Ventress escape. She lifted it using the Force as her ally, placing the piece back where it had come from, and together using their lightsabers, they melted the metal back together again, "It's not perfect.... But hopefully it will be able to hold until we reach another system.... Then we can get it repaired properly..... We don't have much choice anymore do we....." She said as she quickly climbed up the ramp and into the cockpit of the ship, "Which system should we go to?...." She asked as she opened up the starmap.

"Obviously plants don't have brain, so I should have known you don't have them either!" She laughed as she took a look to the galaxy map herself

"Here! The Lianna system is nearby and highly advanced for an outer rim planet. Despite the fact there is a Tie-Fighter factory, the system is pretty neutral and doesn't favour the Empire."

She looked to Ayanna with a large grin,

"If we want the ship repaired I think we have to take our chances. We're not going to find another system that is advanced enough to repair this wreckage!"

She nodded, "Right, I'll trust your LONG years of experience on this one......" She spoke as she began to set the coordinates, "Do you mind if I ask something?...... What happened to you? After Dooku betrayed you?..... You can tell me to mind my own busines, I'll understand....." She said as she tried to make peace with the old woman.

She sighed and showed her first signs of humanity,

"I'm not sure you would understand, Ayanna. The man was like a father to me and he betrayed me when the Jedi attacked our fortress on Boz Pity. The only one who showed pity was a Jedi called Obi-Wan Kenobi. Probably you've heard of him, "He showed me pity and I hated him for it."

"Though when he talked to me as I felt my life ending, it was like he was the only one in the end who truly cared for me. If it wasn't for his blasted apprentice I would have... Well... Who knows what would have happened. They though I had died, but I found myself awake on a transport to Coruscant, but I never wanted to get to the imperial city! I wanted to get as far away from their and decided to live a life of solitude and pay for my sins... That is when I found myself on planets like Aargonar... That is when I first saw little Kalin and one of my targets, Saiya Skywalker... But I swear I wasn't the one who killed her! It was..." Ventress stopped speaking. She couldn't bear to say to Ayanna who the real murderer was.

Ayanna was very surprised by how honest she had been with her, but she decided not to respond bitterly with her and instead be understanding, "I know of Obi-Wan...... Kalin and I even met him.... He's still alive.... Though I'm not even sure if it was wise that I told you that..... But I can assure you I am telling the truth...... Kalin only spoke of his mother every so often...... Do you know how she died? Who did kill her?" She asked curious if Asajj would know the answer.

"She was killed because she was a Skywalker. You wouldn't believe me if I told you that I saved Kalin from being killed too, but using a mind trick on him I made him forget. Why did I save him? I don't know... Maybe because I wanted to do something good for once and I already found out interesting information about him concerning his destiny. That is why I couldn't allow him to get killed by the same assassin... She just killed him because she felt she had to... I couldn't blame her, but on the other hand I didn't approve. The Dark Woman would never have approved..." She silenced her, "Sorry I'm getting old... Just stop listening to this old nonsense" She said as she gave a fake grin.

"The Dark Woman was my grandmother..... But I guess you already knew that...... You seem to know everything....... Listen..... I know you don't like me but I'm sorry if I was rude to you during our first encounter.... You did choke me after all...." She said with a hint of a smile as she joked, "I don't have any desire to betray you or do anything that would hurt you.... But I do want your help with Kalin.... I'm doing this for him..... And there's no one else I would do this for..... I feel as though I owe him or something, I can't explain it..... Just a gut feeling I guess....." She said as she tried to be more friendly towards Ventress.

Ventress gave a genuine smile at Ayanna for her kind words,

"You love him don't you? But I have to warn you that your entering a dangerous path. I'm not just talking about the Dark Side. There is more than just 'Forbidden attachments'. No all fates of the 'Son of the Suns' are not a pretty sight. Even if Kalin walks away from his path, he'll still meet a dark ending. Not that I want you to give up hope for him. I guess it is worth fighting for. There's so much of Anakin Skywalker in him, though they are not close related. I wonder why he doesn't call himself Kalin Skywalker, cause he has more in common of a Skywalker rather than his father. He wasn't his real father anyway... Maybe it's something I'll never understand, but do not think I don't know what 'love' is, Ayanna. I understand it very well. I felt love for many people. For my mentors. But love hurts... Too much!"

She never once worded that she ever loved Kalin, but to have it told to her, as an observation from someone else was a little unsettling, "He doesn't love me so I won't bother him with my feelings..... I'll serve him until he has found no further purpose with me, or I die......" She said as she thought once again of Li, more and more she felt certain that she would die because of him, she then thought once again of Kalin ,"You don't think he knows..... Do you?.... About me?....." She asked a little worried and embarassed, "I certainly hope not.... It's best that he never knows it I think..... He has too much to deal with, far greater and more important things....."

"Well why do you think he doesn't love you? Because you never told him you love him, did you? You seem to be the same kind of stones who hit off each other. Kalin loves you and you love him, but none of you dares to confess. It depends on who makes the first move. Though Kalin shields his love more than you do. I think he does it because he fears his master would sense it. Probably he already did, no matter how hard Kalin shields it."

"I think we have to focus now on the ship and get it repaired Ayanna. We're nearing the Lianna system, so get us out of hyperspace."