I awakened with a start.

Although sleep still clung to my eyelids, I sat up, and although my leg pained me, I was on my feet. It was morning, Ashoka was out there, alone, and there was no time to lose. Already, I was losing light.

Grabbing my light saber, I staggered out of the tent. The early morning light was a great contrast from the shadows of the tent, and as I left, I was stunned. Closing my eyes, I shook my head to try to clear the fog, but I only proved to stir up the storm within my skull. Hidden by my closed eyelids, a rock caught on my toe, and before I knew it, I was flying towards the ground.

"Whoa, kid!" Stance shouted and wrapped his arms around my torso. Hauling to my feet, he prevented me from falling. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"To find Ashoka," I replied and pried my eyes open. Standing before me was Stance, and behind him, sitting around the bonfire were Chopper, Gear and Doc. Gear was fiddling with a few pieces of metal, Chopper was buzzing exasperatedly, and Doc was poking at the fire's glowing embers with a stick.

"I understand that you want to find Ashoka as soon as possible, but let's eat first, and while you eat, maybe Doc can check out your leg. What do you say?"

Simultaneously, I felt the emptiness of my stomach as well as the sharp pain coming from my leg. Stance was right; in no way was I ready to go looking for Ashoka. "You may be onto something there," I remarked and smiled sheepishly.

Chuckling, Stance draped my arm around his shoulder and assisted me in hobbling over to the bonfire. Hanging over the dying fire was a pan of turnip-like vegetables and the remains of last night's stew. The smell was less than appetizing, but I vowed not to complain.

"How'd you sleep, Ezra?" Gear asked me as he scooped me a bowl.

At his question, my troubled dreams immediately rose to the front of my mind. "Fine," I muttered.

"How's that leg?" Doc questioned as Gear handed me the bowl.

"It hurts, if that's what you're asking," I replied and sampled my breakfast. At the taste, I shuddered but somehow swallowed.

"Let me take a look," Doc said and lifted my leg into his lap. At his touch, my muscles immediately tensed, and although I'd tried to hide it, I knew Doc had noticed my unease.

Moments passed as the soldier unwrapped my puncture wound, and soon it was exposed. I immediately noticed the red skin surrounding it, but soon afterwards, I noticed the blue liquid seeping from it.

I knew I wasn't imagining things when Doc grimaced and shook his head. "I was afraid this would happen."

"It's the blue spores, isn't it?" Gear asked, and Doc nodded.

"I don't understand," I murmured, "I thought that I'd received a vaccine?"

"Yeah, you did, against the hallucinations the spores cause, but the vaccine did nothing in the area of infection," Doc explained and sighed, "I don't have the supplies to treat this. If it goes unchecked..."

"Gear, go fetch my knife," Stance interrupted, and the trooper immediately obeyed.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to clean Ezra's wound as best I can," he replied.

"You're just putting off the inevitable," Doc said and crossed his arms. "And tromping around the jungle in search of your crazy friend isn't going to help."

"Her name is Ashoka," I growled, and Doc rolled his eyes.

"Ezra, I hate to say it, but he's right," Stance whispered, "Looking for Ashoka won't help your condition. It'll only worsen it."

Biting my lip, I pondered his words. If what Doc said was accurate and there was nothing he could do to cure me, then what difference would it make whether I died beneath a giant mushroom or a tent? Even so, the concept of dying wasn't exactly something I was excited about.

"I guess that's just one more thing we have to do," I said finally.

"And what's that?" Doc harrumphed.

"We have to get help."

"Trust me, the Empire will do anything but help you, and that's saying you'll even make contact--"

"I'm not going to contact the Empire," I interjected, "I'm going to contact my friends."

"Oh so there's more of you?" Doc drawled.

"Ezra," Stance spoke, drawing my attention, "How exactly are you going to do this?"

"You said before that you contacted the Empire," I explained, "And I'm assuming you did that on the crashed Star Destroyer?"

"Yes, but kid, it's been years since any of us have gone back there," Stance commented, "Not even Gear could get it up and running again."

"Maybe, but Gear wasn't a thief," I explained, "I was, and as a trait, thieves are pretty good at getting into places, even communications." I paused to pat Chopper affectionately, "And plus, I have a droid."

"So that's the plan then?" Doc mocked, "Trek through the jungle to the Star Destroyer, a day's walk, and hope that you're able to tap into the radio frequencies?"

"Yep, pretty much," I confirmed.

"What about finding Ashoka?" Stance asked.

At his question, I quieted. There was not a good chance that I would have the strength for the long walk to the Star Destroyer as well as any other searching I did for Ashoka. No, I'd only have enough strength for one. Which would I choose? Would I go to the Imperial ship and save myself, or would I search for Ashoka and give her the vaccine, simultaneously crushing any hope for my own survival?

As I mulled over my options, I found myself gazing at the faces surrounding me. Stance had said that they'd been on this poisonous moon for years with no hope of rescue, and although Doc wasn't my favorite person ever, he and the others had helped me when I'd so desperately needed it. This was my chance to repay them; if I could contact General Sato, I could get all of us off of this cursed rock.

But I'd be leaving Ashoka alone to die.

Neither option was right, and although it pained me, I made my decision.

"We'll head for the Star Destroyer and hope that Ashoka will find us on the way there," I explained and swallowed my rising guilt.

"Forgive me if I don't share in the same hope," Doc sneered.

Immediately Stance glared at him but said nothing. I didn't know if he was simply tired of fighting or if he agreed, but I didn't focus on the thought for long. Instead I stared at Stance as he took the knife from Gear and dipped it into the flickering flakes.

I knew what he was going to do; he was going to burn my wound. It'd help slow the infection, but from the way Gear shifted and avoided my eyes, I knew the process was going to hurt. Taking a deep breath, I shoveled a spoonful of food into my mouth.

It was a silly notion, but I thought that maybe I'd be so focused on the horrid taste in my mouth that I wouldn't feel the burning as Stance pressed the hot metal against my leg. A moment later, I discovered how silly a notion that had really been.

Another chapter!! What did you think? Comment and let me know!! Don't forget to vote!!

Before I close, I would just like to say how grateful I am to all of you. Three days ago, this book was practically undiscovered. Your feedback has been amazing, and I would personally like to thank each and every one of you.
Until next time,
Julie :D