"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."

∫

Elara looked down at the drink in her hand, the clear liquid already distracting her from her task at hand. It wasn't her first drink but it would certainly be her last as she knew that sobering up would increase the chances of finding the assassin hiding amongst the unfamiliar faces of the new senate. Everyone was in a genuinely good mood, unaware of the massive price set on Dane Purs head.

She darted towards the back of the ballroom, studying the hands of each person she passed in case she saw a gun of some kind. She dared to leave her spot against a glass wall, scanning the room every few seconds.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Leia questioned, her greying hair braided on top of her head. "Or do Jedi have no time to enjoy themselves?"

"I'm trying to." Elara promised, bringing the fancy cup to her lips and taking a small sip. "I have something strong in my cup so it makes it look like I actually am enjoying myself."

"It's not your scene." Leia laughed. "It's not Han's either."

Elara shrugged. "I'm trying to fit in but the only thing I have going through my head is which bounty hunter is after the senator."

"Do you have an idea?" Leia asked, trying her best not to seem nosy.

"I suggested Lara Fett, she's notorious and dangerous but a complete genius who is able to manipulate situations like these." Elara crossed her arms, thinking. "Dahlia suggested Wong Q'ar, the Rodian bounty hunter who recently escaped from jail."

"Is Purs well protected?"

"I'm trying to put all my faith in my young padawan to protect Purs if something was to happen." Elara sighed.

"I've been told that my brother has all the Jedi in this room searching for the assassin." Leia put on a grand smile as guests greeted her and passed by.

"The more the merrier." Elara raised her glass. "I'd assume Lennox is on this guys case right now as she's fantastic at tracking."

"The amount of pride you hold for your fellow companions is both captivating and soothing." Leia wrapped an arm around Elara, her smile faltering. "Where's my son?"

"He had something important to do, I tried to get him to come but he's very stubborn." Elara explained, trying to add some humour.

"He gets it from me." Leia winked.

Elara's transmission device went off and Dez spoke in a low and staticky whisper. "We have a target. Human male, blue eyes, blonde hair, around thirty."

"Loud and clear." Elara confirmed, looking over at Leia. "I'll find you when we get this guy."

"May the force be with you."

"And with you."

Elara took off to the grand staircase of the ballroom, thinking she'd have a better view of everyone from there. Whilst making her way to the top of the stairs, she ran into Kentaro dressed in his best but no physically looking the best.

Shocked, Elara looked at the bruised boy. "My god, what happened to you?"

Kentaro shrugged, wincing at his movements. "Fell off a speeder on the way here."

Elara's eyebrows furrowed. "The must of been one hell of a fall."

"No kidding." Kentaro muttered, being ripped apart from the inside. "Have you talked to Master Solo recently?"

"I have." She nodded, still examining the padawan.

"Did he say anything to you...anything unusual?" Kentaro uttered out.

"No." Elara lied. "Just some questions."

"Oh." He shook his head slightly. "Okay."

"We've targeted him to be on the east side of the ballroom." Vega spoke on the transmission. "He's heading to your side Palace."

There was some more staticky muffling before Palace replied. "Someone get an overlook."

"I'm on it." Elara returned the command, running towards the balcony and searching the east for the blonde. "Target spotted."

The blonde walked towards the group in which Dane Purs chatted away in. Cybele stood close to the senator, looking everywhere all the time. Elara noticed Palace's purple hair closing off on the bounty hunter. Before the bounty hunter had a chance to draw his gun, Palace swooped in from behind and cut off the bounty hunter's hand. Dez running to the scene shortly after and saying his favourite line. "Jedi business, go back to your banquet."

Palace looked down at her transmission. "We got him, meet us outside the ballroom."

The multiple new order of Jedi, Cybele, Luca, Kentaro, Pai, Dez, Vega, Palace, Lennox, Dahlia and Elara all replied with the same usual remark. "Roger that."

Amongst the time they took to make it to the hallway, Master Skywalker appeared before them. "I applaud each and every single one of you. This reflects you as teachers and students."

"Enough with the speech." The bounty hunter grumbled. "Let's get this over with."

Luke looked down at the hunter and smiled. "As you wish."

"You are under arrest for attempting an assassination on Dane Purs of Rodia, you have the right to remain silent." Dahlia looked down at the scanner in her hands. "Pearl Karstag."

The blonde and rather handsome bounty hunter grunted. "Those things sure do come in handy, don't they sweetheart?"

"No amount of charm will reduce your chances of imprisonment." Dahlia glared at him. "Nice try though."

"What can I say? I'm a smooth criminal."

Elara snorted, shaking her head at his foolishness. Her curiousness failed her as she had no interest in discovering his motive or intentions. "Master Skywalker, may I leave now that we've found him?"

"You won't stay for the banquet?" Luke questioned.

"It's not my thing." Elara shrugged, playing with a piece of fabric from her dress.

"It's true." Vega wrapped an arm around her best friend. "El here isn't the proper kind."

"If you must." Luke agreed. "Good job Master Jane."

"Thank you Master Skywalker."

She watched as her elder master walked into the ballroom, going straight to his sister with a large embrace. Elara looked back at her friends and their padawan learners, smiling widely. She raised her hand to wave, knowing she'd see them tomorrow, then began her journey to Ben.

∫

As told, Elara checked into the Sleeping Rose as the lingering day obliterated rapidly by the falling night. The once peach and purple sky was engulfed by black. A canopy of stars radiated the night sky as Elara closed the hotel room door behind her and sat on the bed, waiting.

Eventually, Ben appeared like the sudden night itself and kissed her softly, passionately, quickly. The moon under siege by stars seemed to lighten the night bringing forth stars that shone and hung in the blackness, making the mood of the situation much more darker and scarier than it should be. Clueless Elara tangled her hands into the boy's hair and kissed him until her lips became swollen, only questioning anything once they parted.

"Your heart is beating extremely fast." Elara muttered, placing both her hands on his pale cheeks. "What has gotten into you?"

Ben assured her. "I've never been better."

"You've been scaring me these last few days." She admitted. "I thought something horrible happened."

"I wouldn't say it's horrible." He shook his head. "Something has happened Elara but I cannot tell you."

The darkness radiated off of him like the stars in the sky but she was blinded by the light she still saw. "Will you tell me one day? I want to help."

Torn, Ben looked away from her. "I have faith you'll figure it out yourself."

Laying in his arms, Elara mumbled. "You asked me if I loved you, and I know my answer.

Ben swore his heart stopped, he even moved his hand to his chest to check. "Don't tell me, not now."

"Okay." She gulped. "I won't."

"Elara Jane I want you to promise me something and you must do this or something terrible will happen and the burden I will have to carry will be unbearable." He began. "Swear to me."

"I swear." She blinked. "What's going on? You aren't telling me anything!"

"You will not go to the Jedi Temple under after dawn." He stated. "God damn Elara please, if you know your answer don't go the Jedi Temple until after dawn."

She wasn't stupid but she was also being blinded by the power of emotion. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I told you that you'll find out eventually but for now, please just lay in my arms and let me hold you." He pleaded.

"If you swear that I'll find out eventually, I will stop questioning you." She confirmed his wishes.

"I swear."

She kissed his cheek, lingering a second before pulling away. "I won't go to the Jedi Temple until after dawn."

"Thank you."

A/N: I'd like to give a warning for the next chapter. It may be a little too graphic, as in violent, emotional, painful and extreme BUT IF YOU ARE ALL ABOUT THAT STUFF, READ ON!