"Stance, what's going on in there?" Another voice called from the outside of the Phantom, and I cringed. One Storm Trooper I could've handled, even in my condition, but two? Not a chance.

"It looks like we've stumbled upon two Jedi and their droid, Gear," the soldier apparently named Stance replied, "An older and a younger."

"Jedi?" Gear cried.

"Oh, calm down," Stance growled and walked over to where Ashoka lay. "The youngin' is injured, and the older is out cold." His gun still pointed at me, the soldier tapped Ashoka's shoulder.

"Don't touch her!" I shouted and lunged forward, calling my light saber to my hand.

Twisting around to face me, the Storm Trooper fired, but I deflected it into the ceiling. Bringing my light saber down, I sliced off the barrel of his gun. Dropping the useless weapon, Stance danced out of the way, looked me over once, and then charged with nothing but his bare hands.

Evading my weapon, the soldier punched me in the thigh, right near the glass shard, sending me toppling to the floor. As I writhed in pain, he stepped on my hand, forcing the light saber from my grasp. Leaning over, he snatched it off the floor.

"Stance?" Gear called, hysteria leaking into his voice, "What's going on?"

"Nothing to worry about," Stance replied and pointed my light saber down at my throat, "The youngin' just needed to learn a lesson."

"Get off him," a voice snarled from behind Stance. Craning my head, I saw Ashoka holding one of her light sabers in her hand. Her other hand, her injured one, she held tenderly against her chest.

"Hey, Gear, we might have a problem."

"What? What now?"

"Get in here!"

"I don't think so," Ashoka snapped and brought her weapon closer to the soldier's neck. "If you want to live, you'll release the padawan and tell your friend to stay outside."

"Well, if you want the padawan to live--" Stance retorted, bringing the light saber in his hands nearer to my chest, "--you're going to have to let me go."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Then it looks like we're going to have a problem," Stance commented and then sighed, "Look, lady, I didn't mean for this to happen. Gear and I, and Doc back at camp, we want to help you."

"Yeah, right," I scoffed from where I laid on the floor, "Like we're supposed to believe you, a Storm Trooper."

"The Galactic Empire didn't do us any favors," Stance said, "We're the only ones on this planet, your ship is demolished, and the both of you are injured. Right now, we're your best bet."

"Master, he's got a point," I remarked, and Ashoka glared at me. Promptly, I shut my mouth.

"How do we know we can trust you?" The Commander snarled.

"You don't," Stance admitted, "All you have is the word of a soldier and his promise of safe passage."

Lowering her eyes, Ashoka focused on the blood that was trickling from my wound and the pool that was beginning to form. For a few moments, she just stared, pondering, and finally, she deactivated her light sabers and stepped away.

"Good girl," Stance said and deactivated his--my--light saber and placed it inside my back pack. Once he'd slung it over his shoulder, the soldier carefully bent over and helped me to my feet. For a few moments, I stood on my own, but those moments were short-lived, for I soon threatened to collapse. Before I could fall, Stance wrapped his arm around my waist, supporting me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"No problem, kid, and don't worry, as soon as we get back to camp, Doc'll fix you right up," he replied and turned his attention to Ashoka. "Ma'am, I can see that you're injured, but do you think you could use your light sabers and--"

Before Stance could finish his sentence, Ashoka stepped forward and quickly began to cut a doorway into the side of the Phantom. It wasn't long before she finished, and as soon as she was, she stepped aside and motioned us forward. Nodding at Ashoka, Stance and I shuffled through the newly formed door and stepped outside.

"Gear!" Stance shouted.

"Oh, there you are," Gear stammered as he peeked out from behind the Phantom, "I'll have you know that I wasn't hiding."

"Why do I even bring you along?" Stance muttered, "Gear, come over here and introduce yourself."

*^*

Once introductions were made, our group of five began to travel towards the 'camp.' Gear led the line, his blaster in hand, and Chopper and the Commander followed close behind, clutching her injured wrist. Stance and I brought up the rear, and since we were the slowest, I was easily able to survey our surroundings. In the place of trees, huge mushrooms grew above our heads. Looking underneath the mushroom heads, I watched as blue dust sprinkled from the fleshy gills and onto our heads.

"What is this blue stuff?"

At my question, Stance's supporting arm stiffened. "Just try not to breathe it," he ordered.

"Why not?"

"That dust is the reason why only three people live on this planet," he stuttered, "Now five."

"Oh," I murmured and snapped my mouth shut. Glancing nervously at the fungi, I tried to monitor my breathing.

It wasn't five minutes later before I started feeling lightheaded from the blood loss. As a result, I began to stumble and trip more and more often, and eventually, Stance stopped moving.

"Let me carry you."

"I'm fine," I tried to reassure him, but he shook his head.

"Kid, I know you're trying to be strong, but sometimes the greatest strength is admitting you need help," he murmured. "Let me carry you."

Biting my lip, I looked ahead to where Gear and Ashoka were walking ahead of us. From the looks of things, Gear was telling the Commander about himself, and occasionally, she would laugh, if uneasily.

"Oh, I see," Stance commented, "You don't want to let your Master down."

Unwilling to explain that she actually wasn't my Master, I nodded.

"Well here, I have a way you can help me out," the soldier remarked and pulled his helmet off his head, revealing bright green eyes and red hair. "Could you hold my helmet for me?"

At his request, I rolled my eyes.

"C'mon," Stance urged and placed a hand on my shoulder, "I'd appreciate it."

"All right, but only if you agree to carry me," I jested and smiled weakly at him.

"You drive a hard bargain, kid," Stance murmured and winked, "But I think I'll take you up on that offer."

After handing me his helmet, Stance carefully hoisted me up onto his back. After a few slight adjustments, the two of us were on our way once again.

"Thank you, sir."

"Please, kid, considering all that you're doing for me, you can call me Stance."

"Ezra," I murmured, and the soldier smiled.

"So how'd you get the name Stance?" I asked after a few minutes had passed, "Its not hard to figure out Gear's and Doc's names, but I can't figure out yours."

"Well, it's a long story, but basically, when everybody else fled, I held my ground because I wouldn't leave the wounded behind."

At his words, warmth flooded my body. "It suits you."

"I think so too."

Here are a couple more chapters. Hope you enjoyed them! The next chapter will be in Ashoka's perspective, so that's exciting.
Until next time,
Julie :D