I flick up my hood with a sigh, leading the way back the alleyway. I already regret doing this so much. I could use a Jedi mind trick, but I don't want to in front of Lux and Lok. Besides, Thorkil would start asking again.

I glance back at him. He's behind me, and then it's Lux and Lok. Thorkil is watching me, and I feel very uncomfortable. I increase my speed, turning back to look where I'm going, but Thorkil speeds up as well. I scowl in the darkness of my hood. And then, an idea comes to me. As we reach the market place again, I stop, and Thorkil walks into me. I stumble and crash my left arm into the wall of a shop. I hiss in pain.

"Whoops. Sorry," he glances at me uncomfortably. I push him out of my way.

"I need to speak to Lux," I announce. When nobody moves I add, "alone"

Thorkil and Lok wander off, Lok pulling a face which clearly says "Why would you leave me with him?" I turn to face Lux.

"Okay," I say, steering him behind a stall out of sight, "I am fed up already,"

"Your own fault," Lux points out.

"I know. But from now on, I will be watching your every move, and I will come to rescue you. You just won't see me," I explain my plan to him.

"So what do I tell them?" Lux rolls his eyes at me.

"I...uh...needed to do something," I say.

"Well, that's a brilliant plan. Can't we just leave them two?" Lux frowns at me. I look at Lok and Thorkil who are standing in the middle of the street waiting for us.

"I'm not sure. What would be the excuse?" I say quietly, frowning.

"Jedi business. Or senator business. Or both. I don't know," Lux shrugs, waiting for my reply.

"We'll go alone tomorrow. We'll have more time then," I say, looking up at the sky.

"Fine. I'll see you later then," he turns to go, then spins around, places a quick kiss on my cheek, and runs off. I don't know how to respond to that.

I wait a few seconds until I sense them leave. I walk into the open, blending myself into the crowd. I go back to the side road, and hurry toward the staircase for a fire exit I saw earlier. I hurry up it, and it leads me to the third floor of the shop, which appears to be the living quarters. I'll have to jump if I want to make it to the top.

I glance into the empty street below me, before stepping back and jumping up. I jump higher than I usually do, landing on my feet. It would be awkward to pull myself up with only one hand. I hop into the small roof top garden.

By crouching, I can see over the wall and the entire market place. This is going to be interesting. At the moment, Lux, Lok and Thorkil are crowded around a gadget store, and appear to be talking about them enthusiastically. Well, they seem to be happier enough. I watch them for a few more minutes as they wander around, going nowhere in particular.

And then suddenly I have a bad feeling.

I tense, listening carefully for any sign of commotion. My eyes frantically search the square, but everyone looks innocent, I can't find anything suspicious, yet I can't get rid of the prickling feeling at the back of my mind, telling me to widen my senses, because something isn't right.

I search again, and still find nothing. Why do I feel so uneasy?

The force whispers to me, warning me. But I push it away, confused.

Move.

Without a second thought, I dodge to the right, no idea why I'm listening to a voice I don't know. Whatever it was, whether it was me or the force, whispers the word into my ear. For reasons unknown, I follow the order without a second thought.

A noise that almost deafens me explodes, literally, right next to me. A shot from a blaster blasts rock and sandy dust into the air, blinding me. I lay down, away from reach as the rubble rains down on me. I cough violently in the dust as another shot explodes the rock above my head. It shatters instantly, and I throw my arms over my head.

As I roll to avoid the flying rock, I can only think of how stupid I was.It wasn't Lux in danger.

It was me.